We Started in a Cluttered Kitchen
Extendex Hub began because meal planning shouldn't feel like solving a puzzle every single week.
Back in 2018, our founder Callum was managing the chaos of a commercial kitchen and saw something that stuck with him. Staff would rush through prep work, skip proper planning, and end up with food waste that made him wince. When he left that job, he kept thinking about how many households probably faced similar struggles—just on a smaller, more personal scale.
So we built something different. Not a rigid meal plan service that tells you exactly what to eat, but a creative approach that teaches you how to think about food preparation in ways that actually stick. We work with people who want to cook more at home but feel overwhelmed by the endless decisions involved.
Explore Our ServicesHow We Actually Help
Most people who come to us aren't looking for celebrity chef techniques or restaurant-level plating. They want to open their fridge on a Tuesday evening and know exactly what to cook without thinking too hard.
Our sessions start with understanding your current routine—when you shop, what you typically buy, how much time you realistically have for cooking. We've found that working within your existing habits is more effective than asking you to overhaul everything at once.
Real Situations We Work Through
Take Sarah, who contacted us last year because she was spending too much on takeaway during busy work weeks. We didn't hand her a stack of recipes. Instead, we mapped out her schedule and identified which meals she could batch-prepare on Sunday afternoons.
Ingredient Management
One thing that surprised Sarah was learning how to buy ingredients that work across multiple dishes. She'd been purchasing separate items for every single recipe, which meant constant shopping trips and food going off in the back of the fridge.
The Practical Side
We're not going to pretend meal preparation solves everything. Some weeks are just hectic, and you'll end up ordering pizza. That's fine. What matters is having systems in place that make cooking easier when you do have the energy for it.
Our approach focuses on building what we call "flexible frameworks"—basic structures you can adapt depending on what's in season, what's on sale, or what you're craving that week.
Kitchen Organization Matters
Before anyone cooks a single thing with us, we talk about storage. Sounds boring, but it's crucial. If you can't find your good knife or your spices are buried behind canned goods, you're adding unnecessary friction to the process.
What Drives Our Work
Honest Communication
We're upfront about what's achievable. If a technique takes practice or a recipe needs expensive ingredients, we say so. No overselling, no unrealistic expectations.
Adaptability Over Perfection
Life changes. Dietary needs shift. Schedules get busier or calmer. Our methods are designed to flex with your circumstances rather than demanding you stick to rigid plans.
Practical Education
We teach you why certain preparation methods work, not just what to do. That way, you can troubleshoot problems and adjust recipes on your own as you gain confidence.
Waste Reduction
Food waste bothers us. We help clients plan portions accurately, store ingredients properly, and repurpose leftovers creatively so less ends up in the bin.
Meet Callum Whitlock
Founder and Head Meal Strategist
Callum's background isn't typical for someone running a meal preparation business. He spent his early twenties working front-of-house in cafes and small restaurants across Canberra, where he watched kitchen teams operate under constant pressure.
What struck him most wasn't the cooking skills—it was the organizational systems. The best kitchens ran smoothly because they had clear workflows, proper prep routines, and minimal waste. The chaotic ones were constantly reacting to problems instead of preventing them.
After leaving hospitality, he started helping friends with their grocery shopping and meal planning as a side project. Word spread through local community groups, and before long he was running workshops from his own kitchen.
Current Focus
These days, Callum spends most of his time developing new frameworks for clients who want to eat better but find traditional meal planning too rigid or time-consuming. He's particularly interested in helping people who've tried other services and felt like they didn't quite fit their lifestyle.
He's also been experimenting with seasonal eating patterns—not in a strict way, but helping clients understand which ingredients are naturally cheaper and fresher at different times of year. It's become a popular topic in our recent consultations.
Outside the Kitchen
When he's not working, you'll find Callum at the Fyshwick markets on Saturday mornings, chatting with vendors and keeping an eye on what's coming into season. He reckons you learn more about ingredients from ten minutes with a good produce seller than from hours of online research.
How We Work With Clients
Initial Assessment
We start with a conversation about your current eating patterns, cooking confidence, and specific challenges. This usually takes about an hour and helps us understand what's realistic for your situation.
Framework Development
Based on your assessment, we create a flexible meal structure that fits your schedule. This includes shopping strategies, prep timing suggestions, and recipe adaptations you can implement gradually.
Ongoing Refinement
We check in regularly to see what's working and what needs adjustment. As your confidence grows and circumstances change, we adapt the approach accordingly.
Ready to Simplify Your Meal Planning?
We're currently accepting new clients for consultations. Let's talk about building a meal preparation system that actually fits your life.
Get In Touch