By SmashMeals Team — 2026-05-27 — Company News
There are normal days in the SmashMeals kitchen.
Chicken is cooking. Labels are printing. Meals are being packed. Somebody is looking for a lid that was literally just sitting there thirty seconds ago. The ovens are full, the fridge space is precious, and the whole team is moving fast because Thursday night orders do not wait on anybody.
And then there are days when WJHL shows up with cameras.
Recently, SmashMeals had the privilege of welcoming Kelly Goetz and WJHL's In the Kitchen with Kelly into our kitchen for a behind-the-scenes look at what we do, how we cook, and why so many people across the Tri-Cities are choosing fresh, healthy, 100% gluten-free meals.
The visit was not just for one quick recipe. According to the video, Kelly shared that they filmed three great episodes inside the SmashMeals kitchen. Those episodes will be rolling out on WJHL+, which Kelly described as WJHL's exclusive TV app available on platforms including Roku, Fire TV, and Apple TV.
What Was Filmed in the SmashMeals Kitchen
During the video, Kelly explains that the WJHL team filmed multiple episodes with SmashMeals, including meals and recipes that customers already know and love.
The featured items mentioned in the video included:
- Citrus Chicken
- Spinach Artichoke
- Egg White Omelets
Kelly also noted that these are the types of meals many SmashMeals customers already order, which is exactly what made the filming special. This was not a staged meal nobody will ever see again. This was the kind of food we actually prepare for real customers every week.
That matters. A lot of people hear "healthy meal prep" and picture dry chicken, sad broccoli, and a container that looks like it gave up on life before you even opened it. That is not SmashMeals. Our goal has always been to make healthy food taste like something people actually look forward to eating.
Why Local Media Coverage Matters
Being featured on In the Kitchen with Kelly is exciting because local food stories matter. The Tri-Cities is full of hardworking families, athletes, medical professionals, teachers, pastors, first responders, factory workers, small business owners, students, and retirees who want to eat better but do not always have time to cook.
SmashMeals is the dedicated gluten-free meal prep company in the Tri-Cities since 2017, serving Johnson City, Kingsport, Bristol, and surrounding areas since 2017. We are not a national box of frozen meals shipped from a warehouse across the country. We cook here. We pack here. We serve this region. And sometimes, when WJHL shows up, we even clean a little faster than normal.
Why 100% Gluten-Free Matters
For some people, gluten-free is a preference. For others, it is a medical necessity.
Celiac disease is a serious autoimmune disease where eating gluten damages the small intestine. The Celiac Disease Foundation estimates that celiac disease affects about 1 in 100 people worldwide, while many people remain undiagnosed. The FDA allows foods to be labeled "gluten free" when they meet specific requirements, including containing less than 20 parts per million of gluten — but for customers with celiac disease or significant gluten sensitivity, the bigger concern is what happens in the kitchen itself.
Shared equipment, shared fryers, shared prep tables, shared cutting boards, and shared storage can all create cross-contact concerns. SmashMeals was built to solve that problem. Our entire kitchen is 100% gluten-free — a dedicated kitchen with no shared gluten-containing equipment — no shared surfaces, no shared gluten-containing prep equipment.
Healthy Eating Has to Fit Real Life
Most people do not struggle with healthy eating because they do not know grilled chicken is better than a drive-thru cheeseburger. People struggle because life is full. Work runs late. Practice gets moved. The kids are hungry. The meeting goes long. The fridge is empty.
And suddenly, the best available nutrition plan is whatever can be ordered from the nearest window with a headset.
That is why meal prep works. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' American Time Use Survey, Americans spend measurable time each day on food preparation and cleanup. For busy families and working adults, saving even a few hours each week can make a major difference. SmashMeals exists for that exact gap — fresh, labeled, portioned meals that are ready to heat and eat.
The Food Featured in the Video
Citrus Chicken — proof that healthy food does not have to be boring. Bright citrus flavor brings freshness to lean protein. Clean, flavorful, and flexible enough to pair with vegetables, rice, potatoes, or low-carb sides.
Spinach Artichoke — comfort-food energy with a smarter approach. Creamy and savory while still staying balanced and satisfying. The kind of dish that helps people stay consistent, because nobody stays motivated long term by eating something that tastes like punishment.
Egg White Omelets — a high-protein breakfast that does not feel heavy. Especially helpful for customers watching calories, increasing protein, or trying to start the day with something more intentional than gas station coffee and regret.
The Taste Test Says a Lot
One of the best moments in the video came when Kelly turned to Doug and said she knew he had enjoyed all the meals. Doug's answer was simple: tasting the food was "one of the perks of the job."
That might be one of the best reviews we could ask for. Because at the end of the day, food still has to taste good. Macros matter. Ingredients matter. Gluten-free matters. Convenience matters. But flavor is what keeps people coming back.
Local, Fresh, and Built for the Tri-Cities
A national meal company can ship food to your door, but it cannot always understand the rhythm of your community. It does not know the local gyms, the school schedules, East Tennessee work life, or what it means when somebody says they are picking up in Kingsport, running to Johnson City, then trying to make it to Bristol before practice.
SmashMeals is built inside that rhythm. We know our customers because we live and work in the same area.
For Fitness Customers, Families, GLP-1 Users, and Gluten-Free Customers
One reason SmashMeals has continued to grow is that it serves several different types of customers without losing focus.
- Athletes trying to hit protein goals
- Parents trying to feed their family without cooking every night
- Customers on GLP-1 medications who need smaller portions, higher protein, and easier tracking
- Bariatric customers who need portion control and simple nutrition after being cleared by their medical provider
- Gluten-free customers who just want to order food without having to interrogate the kitchen first
- Busy professionals who want lunch ready in two minutes
The common thread is convenience with purpose. SmashMeals is not just "food in a container." It is food designed to help people stay consistent.
Watch for the New Episodes on WJHL+
As Kelly shared in the video, the SmashMeals episodes are expected to roll out over the next couple of weeks on WJHL+. Viewers can look for In the Kitchen with Kelly through the WJHL+ app on Roku, Fire TV, and Apple TV.
We are thankful for Kelly, Doug, and the WJHL team for coming into the SmashMeals kitchen, trying the food, and helping tell the story of a local business working hard to serve the Tri-Cities. And yes, based on the video, Doug enjoyed the taste testing. We cannot blame him.
Ready to Try SmashMeals?
If you are tired of grocery shopping, meal planning, cooking, cleaning, guessing macros, and trying to figure out what is safe to eat, SmashMeals is here to help.
Every week, we offer fresh, chef-made, 100% gluten-free meals with real macro information. Order online, choose pickup or delivery, and let us help make your week easier.
Orders close Thursday night at 11:59 PM for Sunday and Monday pickup or local home delivery. FedEx Ground is available for $30 flat to eligible addresses.
Visit SmashMeals.com to view this week's menu.
Eat Healthy… Live Healthy.