FK Your Diet: The Beloved Homestyle Restaurant in Florida Is Redefining Success by Giving Back

If you want to move people... feed them.

FK Your Diet is a beloved homestyle restaurant in Florida and I was thrilled to speak with co-owner Doug Miller about his intriguing restaurant.

Miller, in coordination with his girlfriend Amy Eldridge, has established more than a restaurant in South Florida; he's created a movement that is changing lives, one foster child at a time. 

It’s not every day that I have the opportunity to chat with real-life heroes, and although the owners of FK Your Diet shy away from the accolades, their efforts have dictated otherwise. Instead of heroes, the owners of this family-style restaurant in Florida, believe they’re a “band-aid to get to the solutions - hoping other restaurants can be inspired by their actions.”

Small-town heroes are the backbones of our communities. They’re the silent voices making the biggest impact on the hearts and souls of others. Sometimes inspiration comes when you least expect it, and I believe Doug and Amy will inspire you, too. 

What exactly is FK Your Diet? 

If you asked me, I would simply reply that it’s a small-town restaurant in southwest Florida, serving large portions of comfort food, while donating five percent of its proceeds to foster kids charities. But this local Florida eatery is more than that; it’s an organization on a mission to change the world. In fact, Miller states that the business is a “social enterprise disguised as a restaurant that has figured out how to use resources to give back to the community.”

Currently, the owners operate two restaurants, one in Fort Myers and the other in Punta Gorda. The restaurants are housed inside quaint buildings painted in bright orange, pink, and green with meaningful quotes on the walls. My favorite, a quote by Maya Angelou — “Be a rainbow in someone else's cloud" — is a simple but impactful desire that Miller and Eldridge aim for every day. 

Of course, the edgy name might sound like a gimmick, but it's one Miller welcomes: “If you’re gonna be a gimmick, then honor the gimmick, and make sure the product is worthy of the cost.” The owners have done just that: the name was created at a bar in Ohio, where the pair lived before retiring to Florida. Once Eldridge researched the FK domain and saw that it was available, the rest was history. Naturally, some folks frowned upon the edgy name, but after realizing the vision behind it, Eldridge said those folks have become FK Your Diet's biggest champions.  

The edgy name takes on several meanings 

The primary mission of FK Your Diet is to feed foster kids. So, you guessed it: the FK stands for foster kids. After losing his parents at an early age, Miller spent 12 years in the foster care system. As he traveled to several homes throughout California, food was one of the only things that made him feel “worthy and loved.” 

Although he didn’t always receive the best food, occasionally, he would hit the jackpot. Those were the meals that had lasting memories and are on the menu at the restaurants.  

For Miller, food is love, and cooking for others is the best way he shows his deep affection for his fellow humans. 

Since opening its first location in 2018, the homestyle restaurants in Florida have fed millions of people. From foster children to single moms to people suffering from homelessness to local organizations (and more), nobody leaves hungry. The portion sizes are massive, too, adding an additional layer or meaning to the restaurant's name. If you’re watching your waistline or you’re counting your calories, be prepared to kick your “diet” to the curb here. 

Some of the menu items include biscuits and gravy (Miller’s favorite), a hearty breakfast of fluffy homemade biscuits with thick and creamy sausage gravy, served with potatoes and two eggs that's both stomach and soul filling. The belly buster breakfast burrito, meanwhile, lives up to its name—this one-pound burrito is stuffed with your choice of meat, scrambled eggs, potatoes, cheese, and fresh veggies (for an additional charge). You might need a box to take your leftovers. 

And speaking of leftovers, according to Eldridge, many of their customers live on a budget by themselves, so FK Your Diet aims to provide hefty portions so that customers can have seconds. This adds even more meaning to the organization and its mission. Nobody goes hungry, and you’ll have more than enough to take home with you. Beyond breakfast that is served all day, other menu items include the Southern fried chicken sandwich, juicy burgers, salads, and more. 

Giving back to the community

Although the restaurants are the primary way Miller and Eldridge help their community, I was impressed by the additional charity work they have undertaken. After Hurricane Ian, a category four storm that ravaged the Fort Myers area, the owners distributed over 500,000 meals to those in need. And during the pandemic, over 20,000 meals were made for first responders, essential workers, and folks in the area. 

What's more, FK Your Diet also hires young people from the community (some are foster kids, many with challenges or disabilities), while providing a safe space for them to work and progress in life.    

Something that stood out to me the most was when Miller mentioned that foster kids often feel unseen. Therefore, his effort to brand the FK organization has branched out in many directions. Through partnerships with local businesses, FK is now assisting foster children as they transition from their temporary homes into society. Miller’s heartwarming nature is evident in his mission, as he states, “once a family, always a family.”

No kid is left behind, and no kid goes hungry.  

Should you visit FK Your Diet? 

Absolutely! Not only will you receive a heaping plate of mouthwatering homestyle food, but you’ll also be helping a foster child feel seen. Furthermore, if you visit the Fort Myers location, you might meet Miller as he enjoys greeting the customers daily. His greatest reward is hearing how much the patrons enjoy his food and spreading love to everyone he encounters.  

If you can’t make it to one of the locations and you would like to help, I’d recommend donating online or purchasing meals for those in need. Between the mission to help the less fortunate and the delicious food prepared with love and purpose, this hidden gem is one of the must-visit restaurants in Florida. And in the words of Doug and Amy, if they can "figure out how to make this work, what could happen if a major restaurant group tackled this issue?” They may not think so, but they’re small-town heroes in my book.  

Are you ready to FK Your Diet? Visit the website to see a complete menu of this small-town restaurant in Florida, serving some of the best comfort food around. You can also discover more about FK's mission and how you could help, too.

Do you want to visit the area or are you planning a road trip soon? Use our Only In Your State itinerary planner for a full list of fun things to do in Florida.

Many thanks to Doug and Amy for all that you do and for allowing us to share your mission and journey with our audience. Y'all are affecting positive change in the world, one meal at a time.