article & photos by Jamie Blotske

Living in a fast-paced world, it’s easy to see the benefits of meal prepping and why the fast-food industry is so successful. While it is an extremely convenient option, it eventually takes a toll on your wallet and health. 

Born and raised in Montana, Annie and Kalen’s long-time goal and mission are simple: Make Montana Healthy Again. In a world saturated with artificial flavors, dyes, and processed foods, Annie and Kalen want to get back to the basics of using real food. A nurse for 12 years, Annie learned to meal prep early on due to her demanding schedule, working 13–14-hour shifts. Kalen is a chef by trade who spent years working as a private chef alongside a French chef. They both have a passion for health, wellness, and bringing new and innovative flavor profiles to the table. Together, they have figured out how to make healthy food taste good using top-tier ingredients. 

Montana Meal Prep's early days began in 2023 during hunting season. As usual, Annie would prep meals for herself and her family. Kalen’s friends began to take notice of his delicious lunchtime meals and requested that Annie prep them some meals for an upcoming hunting trip. “When our friends came back, they urged us to start selling our meals to people. We started looking into business names, licenses, etc. We sat down and created a business model. Once our licensures were completed, Montana Meal Prep officially launched for business in January 2024!” they excitedly shared. Annie and Kalen use local beef, pork, and lamb from the Cowboy Meat Co. based out of Forsyth, MT. They use the Little Belt Company for their premium tallow line, called Yellowstone Tallow. “We take pride in fostering relationships with locally owned Montana businesses. We know that working with each other improves the economy in Montana, and it is an honor and privilege to give back to Montanans,” they said. 

It’s a family affair! While Annie and Kalen are co-founders and co-owners, their daughter, Shayla, works in the kitchen and delivers meals. Their younger girls, Olivia and Avery, are avid helpers and come to the kitchen weekly to help run orders up to the customers. 

Now that you know a little about Montana Meal Prep, you might be curious about what food dishes they prep and serve. “Our meals are protein forward, which means you’ll get 35-45 grams of protein in our light version and 60-70 grams in the regular version of our meals.” That’s a lot of protein! It’s a pretty well-known fact that Americans are severely undernourished in their protein intake. Annie and Kalen said, “Protein is the number one macronutrient someone should be consuming if they want to function at their best. If you want to be a higher performer at your job, as an athlete, in your home as a parent and/or spouse, then it is imperative you have adequate nutrition, focusing on protein, healthy fats, and complex carbs.” You can check out their delicious menu at montanamealprep.com!

A fun fact about Montana Meal Prep is that they render their own tallow from locally sourced beef fat. Why is that important? “Tallow is a superfood. It is nutrient-dense, provides essential vitamins that support your hormone production and skin and bone health, and boosts your immune system. Tallow is high in conjugate linoleum acid (CLA), which has been linked to lowering inflammation and supports fat metabolism and heart health,” they explained. Cooking with tallow has many health benefits, as it supports gut health and is free from inflammatory polyunsaturated fats and chemical processing. You can also purchase 16oz jars of their locally sourced tallow along with the meals. 

“Let us do the work. We do the shopping, cooking, and clean up. This saves you time from the kitchen and gives you more time with your family!” 

When considering Montana Meal Prep, Annie and Kalen would be the first to say, “Your health is worth it! Investing in yourself is priceless. Our nutrient-dense meals not only taste delicious, but they’ll leave you feeling energized, satisfied, and ready to take on the day!” Their meals are $15/per meal for a regular and $13.50/per meal for the light version, comparable to fast food, as those prices are ever-increasing. They like to ask, “Are you investing in your health? Or are you investing in your sickness?” We all know how daunting it can be to figure out healthy meals and shop for, prepare, and cook, all while keeping up with the demands of life. Annie and Kalen want you to know that they would love to take care of you in the food department. Who doesn’t want that? Check out all that Montana Meal Prep offers on their website and order a delicious meal, jar of tallow, pack of protein balls, and so much more! 

Originally printed in the May 2025 issue of Simply Local Magazine

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