About Thrive's Beginnings & Our Mission

I am Naomi Andrick, founder of Thrive Meals, a nutritionist and a meal prep expert dedicated to helping people enjoy the foods they love while maintaining a balanced, healthy lifestyle. At Thrive, we create meals that nourish both body and mind—without deprivation, guilt, or restriction.

But my journey to this work started long before Thrive Meals existed.

At 22, I had just given birth to my son. It was a gorgeous spring day, and I knew I should take him outside. But I couldn’t. I felt trapped and uncomfortable in my own skin after gaining 50 pounds during pregnancy. For years, I had equated my worth with my size. I lost weight before, but through extreme restriction—not in a way that was healthy or sustainable. Now, I felt stuck.

Then, as I sat on the couch, Oprah came on TV. She was interviewing Bill Phillips, the author of Body for Life, who spoke about movement—how even the smallest action could create change. Something clicked. I walked into my kitchen, grabbed two cans of soup, and exercised while my baby slept. It wasn’t perfect, but it was something. That same day, I ordered the book.

That decision changed everything. I started exercising, strength training, and—most importantly—learning how to eat. Not by depriving myself, but by fueling my body in a way that allowed me to feel strong and energized. For the first time, I wasn’t just chasing a number on the scale—I was building a life that actually felt good.

As my own transformation unfolded, I realized I wanted to help others do the same. I became a personal trainer, then a nutritionist. At first, I worked one-on-one, helping clients clean out their kitchens, teaching them how to grocery shop, and showing them how to eat in a way that felt sustainable. I saw the impact firsthand—how knowledge and small shifts in habits could completely change a person’s relationship with food, and with themselves.

Still, I never saw myself as a business owner. I was waitressing while coaching nutrition on the side, balancing work and single motherhood. Then, in 2020, everything shut down. For the first time in my life, I was forced to slow down—and in that stillness, I realized I didn’t want to just survive anymore. I wanted to thrive.

People from my gym started asking if I could prep meals for them. At first, it was just a few orders. Then more. Before I knew it, I was running a full-scale meal prep business out of my home. Eventually, I moved into a shared restaurant kitchen, waking up at 3:30 AM to cook before the restaurant opened. In 2022, I found my own space—a woman who believed in me offered me a deal, helping me get on my feet.

Today, Thrive Meals serves thousands of meals a week. We have a brick-and-mortar location, satellite pickup spots, and a growing community of people finally finding freedom with food. I see it in the parents who order for their kids, the office workers who feel more energized, and the clients who walk into our café, realizing they can eat delicious food without guilt.

For years, I believed I had to shrink myself to be worthy. Now, I know the truth: I was never meant to shrink. I was meant to build something bigger than I ever imagined.

And the best part? I get to help others do the same.