Today we’d like to introduce you to Patricia Bourassa.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Patricia. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
A little over 10 years ago, I started a lifestyle transformation after a friend encouraged me to tackle a half-marathon; that experience redefined everything in my life. Pretty soon I was chasing down anything with a finish line and within a few years, I was into endurance events including ultra-marathons and adventure races. This new-found passion created a focus on diet and nutrition for health and performance. Fast-forward to today, as a new mom, that same interest in nutrition is naturally an important aspect of caring for my daughter and I became really tuned into the nutritional requirements for kids. Food plays a critical role in well-being, behavior, brain development, and I wanted to create a foundation that will set her up for success long-term.
Before starting this, I was an executive for a software company and time was a rare commodity. Once my daughter began to outgrow milk and purees, I started evaluating easy, healthful options, particularly for daycare. What I found was entirely underwhelming. It was clear that the best and only option was home cooked meals, but like most parents, I faced a tension with time. It was hard enough putting dinner and breakfast on the table every day, now prepping and packing a lunch added another daily responsibility in an already chaotic day.
Honestly, I assumed there would be a subscription-based service for this specific need. It made sense and it’s a very popular service model. I personally use Freshly for work lunches, and Hello Fresh for dinner, so I was sure I would find something. But there wasn’t! That’s when I decided to fill the gap myself, and Fresh Lunch by Yellow Box was born.
After speaking with many parents about their personal struggles with nutritious foods for their kids, I realized this challenge extended well past daycare and into the school system. I established a model and plan that would build a business to provide quality and nutritious foods that are both affordable, and easy, for busy parents. Time is precious and juggling demanding careers, a household, and kids, it’s hard! Every minute you can get back is valuable and we want to help families get back lots of theirs.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It’s certainly had some bumps, but overall, it’s been smooth, considering the magnitude of what we are trying to do.
Fortunately, I have been able to surround myself with talented and experienced people in the formation of this business. From technology to marketing, as well as a wonderful chef/engineer, I have a terrific team to augment my expertise.
One major challenge has been finding resources in Houston to support a start-up like ours. There is a lot of support for oil & gas, aerospace, and medical science, but we don’t fall into those categories. In general, Houston falls behind in offering support and investments for entrepreneurs, but fortunately, I have seen a lot of focus and progress from the city in this area; it’s really exciting to watch it expand! Organizations like Station Houston, Houston Exponential, the Houston Angel Network are really changing the landscape and work hard to create access to resources and support. In fact, working with Houston Exponential, we were recently fortunate to receive an investment from the McNair Houston Ignition Fund. We are honored to have been selected and this helped to put a boost in our plans and ensure we can get this business to the starting line.
We also have great support from parents in the community; people are really excited about the service and they want to see us succeed.
Of course, another challenge has been juggling toddlerhood while building a business from the ground up, but that is to be expected!
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Fresh Lunch by Yellow Box – what should we know?
Fresh Lunch by Yellow Box is the only kids’ prepared lunch meal delivery service of its kind in this part of the U.S. Lunches present unique challenges in logistics and is a major pain point for parents everywhere.
The right nutrition is crucial for proper development and in our busy lives, nutrition quality for kids is easily overlooked. Still today, in 2018, 1 in 3 American children are obese. Unfortunately, many people assume this is a socio-economic issue, and it’s just not. Obesity is just one result from malnutrition. Poor nutrition also lowers brain power, creates irritability, and inhibits focus. Even moderate under-nutrition can have lasting effects on children’s cognitive development and school performance.
Unfortunately, kids are not regularly fed what they need to perform at their best every day at school and extra-curricular programs without a substantial focus and time investment from the parents. Unfortunately, the high availability of over processed and refined foods offers an affordable and quick, but entirely lacking solution, and often the marketing will lead you to believe it’s adequate. Schools are often no better, even private schools. They have tight budgets, and must consider volume and scale, and often what kids end up with is carb + carb + carb and soda for lunch.
Our meals are age-targeted for nutrition and contain the macro-nutrient ratios recommended for a balanced diet; this is what really sets us apart. Grocery store solutions package an array of snacks like crackers, cheese, and meat slices. I don’t believe this is ideal and we hand-craft cooked meals that can be eaten cold and are appealing to kids. Also, by delivering directly to the house, we hope to provide quality nutrition that every family has time for.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I have a wonderful team helping to build this business, and it wouldn’t happen without their time, commitment and talent. I am also grateful to have a very supportive husband and a strong community of friends and family that are all offering what they can to help us get launched.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.freshlunchboxes.com
- Email: info@freshlunchboxes.com
Image Credit:
Houston Exponential
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