Ready-to-
Eat Meals

Former Garden Fresh Gourmet owner launches Mindful Meals 
to help people eat healthier during the quarantine.

ESTHER ALLWEISS INGBER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Jews in the D

C

lean Planet Foods is a new option for 
a reliable source of nutritious meals 
during Michigan’
s stay-at-home exec-
utive order. 
Jack Aronson, the philanthropist found-
er with wife, Annette, of Garden Fresh 
Gourmet — well-known for its line of fresh 
salsas — started Clean Planet Foods in 2016. 
A longtime proponent of healthier eating, 
Aronson got excited about producing food 
using innovative high-pressure processing, or 
HPP
. This scientific technique of cold-water 
pressure “makes our food last longer, without 
the use of artificial preservatives,
” he says.
The chef-inspired Clean Planet Mindful 
Meals, as Aronson calls them, come in 
6-ounce BPA-free pouches. The food steams 
in its own juices for 1 minute in a microwave 
oven, and the pouches can double as serving 
vessels. 
Several flavors are vegetarian or use plant-
based proteins.
Besides being convenient, “eating our 
meals saves people from having to go out to 
grocery stories,
” Aronson said. “People can 
buy the meals for their relatives and friends 
that can’
t get out. Orders can be shipped out-
state, too.
”
Mindful Meals cost $4 each but must be 

ordered as a case of 30 for $120. Aronson 
has pledged to give away 10 meals for every 
case purchased. More than 2,000 meals to 
date have helped charities feed a variety of 
populations.
“We’
re donating meals to students who are 
missing hot lunches at their schools,
” he said.
In early April, Food Bank of Oakland 
County distributed Mindful Meals to first 
responders, including police officers, fire-
fighters and medical staff. Firefighters in 
Ferndale also brought meals to local seniors. 
Selections include grilled chicken and 
broccoli over rice, fajita chicken and veggies 
over rice, chicken with corn over rice and 
either cheese or meat tortellini with tomato 
sauce. 
Aronson said upcoming flavors will be 
cheese or beef tortellini with a marinara 
sauce, a vegetarian bowl including beans and 
rice with olive oil and spices and a vegan 
bowl featuring vegetables, beans and rice 
with pesto sauce. 
It’
s considered clean food because the 
process of high-pressure pasteurization, 
conducted at Clean Planet’
s facility in Taylor, 
kills pathogens and bacteria. Food may be 
stored safely for 30-40 days in a refrigerator 
or six months in a freezer.

 “We cook it, seal it, HPP it, box it and 
then it’
s ready to ship or pick up,
” Aronson 
said.

RESPONDING TO THE PANDEMIC
Plans to start offering Mindful Meals moved 
up six months in response to the coronavirus 
pandemic.
 “We started this operation 10 days ago 
(in late March) out of a sense of urgency,
” 
Aronson said. “My crew retooled in 48 
hours.
” 
“Because of the talent of our team,
” he 
added, “we were able to launch a program 
that most food companies would take 
months to execute, if not more than a year.
” 
Aronson said he’
s protecting the safety and 
health of his employees by having them use 
a potent hand sanitizer made by Detroit City 
Distillery. Rolling curtains separating work-
ers at his production facilities also ensure safe 
social distancing.
Barbara Cohen of West Bloomfield recent-
ly tried her first case of Mindful Meals. 
“The food is very clean and so easy to 
prepare,
” Cohen said. Except for “too spicy” 
fajitas, she was happy with her meals and 
says she will order them again. 

28 | APRIL 23 • 2020 

Clean Planet’
s test kitchen at 2520 W. 14 
Mile, corner of Delmar Street, in Royal Oak, 
is the meal pickup point between 8 a.m.-
4 p.m. weekdays. Customers may place 
orders by phone or at the inside counter. 
Delivery for $10 is offered within 5-10 
miles of the location. More information at 
(248) 951-2140 or cleanplanetfoods.com.

COURTESY OF CLEAN PLANET KITCHEN

Annette and Jack 
Aronson

