Finding a restaurant that checks every box—clean ingredients, crave-worthy flavors, and something everyone at the table will enjoy—can be a challenge. That’s exactly what inspired Truce, one of Middle Tennessee’s newest fast-casual dining concepts. As part of Nashville Fit Magazine‘s Ultimate Nutrition Guide, we sat down with founder Matt Frauenshuh to learn how his family’s passion for wellness led to the creation of this brand-new restaurant, why quality ingredients are at the heart of every meal, and how Truce is already making its mark on the local dining scene.

1) How did Truce come about? Origin story?

Truce really came from my own life experience. As a dad of four, always on the go, I’ve felt firsthand how hard it can be to find a place where everyone at the table is happy –and where you don’t feel like you’re compromising on quality or ingredients just because you’re short on time. We saw a clear gap between fast food and traditional dining. So, we created Truce to bridge that gap with real, clean ingredients, no artificial additives, no seed oils and a menu designed to be both craveable and nourishing. The goal is simple: to “keep the peace” at the table so families and friends can reconnect and enjoy the experience together.

2) Why is wellness important to you? Any personal experiences?

Wellness is important to my family. While our kids are active in sports, my wife Beth and I also ensure we are staying fit and making healthy lifestyle choices. Beth is focused on clean eating, while I enjoy focusing on protein and food that satisfies. We couldn’t find anywhere that did both of those things well, so it was our mission to create that.

3) Favorite menu item and why?

I have so much love for our entire menu, it is so diverse. I’ve poured over every dish and the decisions that went into craft in our menu that features more than 180 scratch-made items prepared daily. If I had to choose, a few favorites include our Orchard Superfood Salad, Glazed Pork Belly Bites or the Real Deal Cheese Curds.

4) What does it mean to you to have created a new popular wellness and nutritious spot in Middle Tennessee that is already doing so well!

We’ve been blown away by the love and excitement we’ve received from this community. It’s been so great seeing some of the same faces visiting several times. More than anything, we’re grateful to hear feedback from guests that Truce is helping people solve the mealtime dilemma. We have already had the honor of celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, reunions, new babies and so much more with our community in the short time since we’ve opened.

5) Outside of Truce, what are some of your favorite ways to recharge and practice self- care?

Outside of prioritizing my faith daily, a few of my favorite ways to fill my cup are to spend quality time with my family, travel to new places and spend time outdoors. This summer I’ve had the chance to do just that.

Author: Tala Shatara