Healthy Nation Holds Grand Opening For New Frankfort Cafe

FRANKFORT, IL — Two years ago, Joseph Lenard decided to use his 20 years in the food industry as a chef to create a new eating option for Frankfort residents. He started Healthy Nation Catering, delivering freshly prepared meals for customers to heat up at home.

Now, Lenard is expanding his business with Healthy Nation Cafe. Like the meal service, this new venture uses fresh ingredients for healthy dishes high in nutrients and low n preservatives. But instead of delivering food to the home, the cafe will offer ready-to-eat meals in a dining-out setting.

The restaurant, 19810 S. Harlem Ave., will have its grand opening Wednesday, May 9. Customers can order off the new cafe menu, which pairs food items with smoothies. Or diners can build their own fruitful creations at the açaí bowl bar while listening to live music brought in for the opening event. (Açaí bowls are thick smoothie-like dishes made with frozen, mashed Brazilian açaí berries and mixed with other fruit or oatmeal.)

Most of Healthy Nation Cafe's menu items will be gluten-free, and the restaurant will offer plenty of vegetarian dishes, too. Lenard also plans to rotate the cafe's menu seasonally in order to use the freshest ingredients available and ensure he's serving high-quality dishes.

And just because Healthy Nation Cafe will offer a dine-in option doesn't mean the catering service is going away. Customers can still order individually packaged, prepared meals delivered cold to their homes through the business' website. Orders received by midnight Thursday will be delivered Sunday evening. According to Healthy Nation Catering's website, the service's delivery area covers "Schaumburg to Schererville, Chicago to Manhattan."

Healthy Nation Cafe Grand Opening

Where: 19810 S. Harlem Ave., Frankfort

Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday

What to Expect: Customers can listen to live music while they try the new ready-to-eat menu items or create their own dish at the açaí bowl bar.

Phone: 708-325-8685

More Info: Go to the business' website and Facebook page for details about the new cafe and the prepared meal delivery service.

Photos via Healthy Nation Catering