Florida-based Journeyman plumber Omar Harris has been in the trades for 10 years now and currently focuses on commercial and residential drain cleaning. While he loves nothing more than putting a smile on his customers’ faces, outside of the job, he also has a passion for health and wellness.

In Part 1 of our two-part interview, learn all about Omar’s love of cooking and family — and how meal prepping has changed his life on the jobsite. 

We’ve read interviews you’ve done with national food-focused publications like The Kitchn. Would you say that you have a love for cooking and food in general? 

Yes. I especially like taking a meal I could buy pre-made but instead prepare it myself in a way that’s healthier. I love to make pizza, for example. Of course, you could just go pick up a pizza at any pizza place, but I like to make mine myself because I can know and choose the exact ingredients. I think natural ingredients just taste better — real cheese, real tomato sauce, real dough. My kids love it, too. We prep the dough together, put it inside the oven, check if the crust is crisp, and put it back in the oven until it’s just right. It’s a lot of fun. We also like making homemade tacos and spaghetti and meatballs from scratch, too. I stick with simple meals because I know that’s what I’m great at! 

Is cooking one of your favorite things to do with your family? 

Cooking is one of my favorite things to do with my family. I feel that it shows my kids that if you put work into something and do it right, the end result will be worth it. When you’re teaching your kids how to cook the basics, it gives them a bit of independence, too. Even just the responsibility of tracking how long something has been in the oven — it’s a simple life skill you need as an adult, and it can translate to other areas, too. If you forget about something too long, it’s going to burn (literally or metaphorically). 

Did you cook as a child?

I cooked a lot with my grandmother, who made a lot of great food. We’re Jamaican, so stuff like oxtail, rice and peas. She would have me help her in similar ways to what I’m doing now with my own kids — “Hey, you’re going to pour this much water into the pot and we’re going to let it sit on the stove for 45 minutes and then you need to check on it.” Back then I didn’t have a timer, though. I would put on a TV show and remember that I needed to get back to the kitchen halfway through. So, my love of cooking stemmed from her. Especially baking, because she would let me lick the bowl when we were done baking something. I think spending time in the kitchen together is just a great way to bond with your family. 

As a plumber, I know your schedule can be a bit hectic. How do you establish a healthy routine with your meals throughout the day? 

I meal prep for at least a few days ahead of time. If I meal prep on a Sunday, the meal prep will usually last two days. Turkey sausage or turkey bacon with eggs is a go-to. I like to get eggs directly from a farm, so I have to make sure I eat them within a few days because they go bad faster than eggs from a grocery store. I also eat a lot of turkey sandwiches and fruit like watermelon, grapes and oranges. 

How has meal prepping benefited you? 

Meal prepping makes it possible for me to not leave the jobsite during lunch. That just kills your lunchtime, which is usually only 30 minutes. If you’re on a construction site like a lot of us, on a high-rise for example, you have to stop work, lock up your tools, go downstairs on the buck hoist, and come all the way down to the floor to the lunch bus. Usually, it’s all unhealthy food, too. The food is out in the open, and everyone is touching everything — just not the cleanest environment. I couldn’t tell you how many times eating from the lunch bus downstairs has given me food poisoning. Then, you have to waste another 15 minutes going back upstairs to eat. By the time you go back upstairs and take one bite, it’s time for you to come back to work. After many experiences like that, I decided to start packing my own lunch. 

Now, my meals are healthier, and my breaks last a lot longer because I’m not wasting time. I get 30 to 45 minutes of relaxation off my feet, which is so important on a construction site. 

Is there any advice you would give to fellow plumbers looking to improve their eating habits? 

I would say try to meal prep as much as you can. You will save a lot of money instead of spending a good $200 a week going out to lunch. And like I said, you’ll get more rest taking your lunch with you rather than having to leave the jobsite to go buy it. It’s not something you need to jump 100% into. Of course, I take breaks. On a Friday, maybe you want to eat out with your friends, celebrate payday and splurge a little. So, I encourage anybody who’s going into the trades or already in the trades just to do your very best. But, meal prepping is a great place to start.