Meet Travis Turner | Chef/Coach/Athlete

We had the good fortune of connecting with Travis Turner and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Travis, what do you attribute your success to?
The most important factor behind my success and my brand is relentless refinement—Kaizen.

I didn’t wake up one day and become a chef, an athlete, or a business owner. I built it, piece by piece, through discipline, failures, and an unwavering commitment to improvement. I’ve lived the extremes—once an overweight kid who lost 140 pounds, then a chef in fine dining, and now an athlete balancing performance with nutrition. Every step shaped how I approach food, training, and business.

Meals by Chef T isn’t just about meal prep—it’s about optimization. Every dish balances flavor, function, and performance without sacrificing quality. I don’t do bland chicken and rice; I craft meals that fuel people for their goals while tasting like something they actually crave.

Success for me isn’t about getting comfortable. It’s about continuously improving, innovating, and staying ahead of what’s next—whether that’s making intra-workout treats with nootropic benefits, crafting functional cocktails, or helping clients achieve sustainable health. The moment I stop evolving is the moment I’ve lost what drives me.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Food is my art, but it’s also my science, my discipline, and my way of connecting with people. What sets my work apart is the balance I strike—flavor meets function, indulgence meets intention. I don’t just cook to impress; I cook to fuel, to heal, and to bring people together.

I take the precision and creativity of fine dining and apply it to meal prep, making food that people actually crave while supporting their health and performance. Every dish I create is about optimization—whether it’s an intra-workout Rice Crispy Treat engineered for energy, a macro-balanced meal that doesn’t taste like “diet food”, or an alcohol-free cocktail that boosts mood and recovery. The details matter, and I obsess over them.

Getting here wasn’t easy. The restaurant industry is unforgiving, and stepping away from that world to build something different was a risk. But I’ve never been afraid to take the hard road. I overcame challenges the way I approach food—through refinement. I failed, I adjusted, and I kept improving. I learned that success, like a great dish, isn’t about one perfect ingredient—it’s about how everything works together over time.

What I want people to know about Meals by Chef T is that it’s not just about eating—it’s about fueling a better life. Whether you’re an athlete, a professional, or just someone who wants to feel good in their body, food should be both a pleasure and a tool for performance. My mission is to make that a reality, one meal at a time.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend was in town, we’d keep it simple—great movement, incredible food, and the best of Houston’s energy.

Mornings start at Illuminate, one of the cleanest, best-equipped gyms in the city—serious training, no distractions. After that, we’re cruising The Heights Trail on longboards for outdoor cardio! Depending on the mood, we’d stop for a cortado at Da Gama or a ginger shot from JuiceLand to keep things dialed in.

Evenings are all about great food. My go-to spots? Bludorn, Prime 131, Katami, Pappas Steakhouse, Mala Sichuan, Fufu’s, India’s, and Asia Market Thai Lao. After dinner, we’d walk the Bayou Trail to catch the city lights, and if they’re up for it, check out Waugh Bridge to see the bats take flight.

To close out the night, we’d grab MoonTower Inn for a late-night bite or hit up a solid local taco spot—because nothing ends a good night better than great food.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Success isn’t built alone—it’s shaped by the people, experiences, and values that fuel the journey. My father’s relentless work ethic taught me that nothing worth having comes without effort, a lesson reinforced by the chefs and colleagues I’ve worked alongside. Their dedication pushed me to refine my craft and never settle.

My competitive nature drives me, but it’s my unwavering confidence through faith that keeps me steady. At times, that confidence has been mistaken for ego, but it’s always been about belief in my purpose. Chefs like Anthony Bourdain inspired me to see food as more than sustenance—it’s a bridge between cultures, emotions, and stories. And every chef I trained under left a mark, shaping how I create today.

At the heart of it all, my purpose is simple: to bring people joy through food, to heal through nourishment, and to connect through health and wellness, powered by real, natural ingredients. That mission keeps me moving forward every day.

Website: https://www.mealsbycheft.com

Instagram: @chef_travisturner

Image Credits
@joseph_Marzak