Oct 5, 2022

October 5, 2022 - Advertisement - Like many moms, Joanna Parker, our NZMOpreneur of the Week, was excited to get her kids to eat healthy meals, yet struggled with the idea of ​​planning and cooking the meals her kids were eager to eat. She knew others were feeling the same way, so she posted on a Facebook mom group offering to cook healthy meals for her kids. Although Joanna wasn’t ready to become a big business entrepreneur, the overwhelming response she received made it clear that this could be in her future. Enter Yumble, a healthy and delicious meal plan featuring organic ingredients and options that take the stress out of cooking even for the pickiest of eaters. But this is no ordinary food service—bright packaging like Joanna’s touches, fun extras like stickers and tabletop theme cards, incentives for kids to choose their own menu, and cool prizes like toys and tickets to Disney World to redeem for One point system. Children up to the age of 12 are (literally) eating these fresh, balanced meals. We chatted with this Englewood mom of three to find out how Yumble makes meal time fun, what advice she takes when she doubts herself, and what to do with an indulgent treat in Bergen County. The latest go-to for - Advertisement - Joanna Parker, our NJMOM Entrepreneur of the Week and founder of Yumble. Tell us a little bit about your family background. My husband, David, and I have been married for 15 years and have 3 children. Stanley, named after my husband’s grandfather, is 12 years old. Eleanor, who is named after my grandmother, is 10 years old. And our youngest Jane just celebrated her 8th birthday. We have been living in Englewood, where my husband grew up from, for the past 13 years. It’s a warm community, and we’re lucky to have friends here who truly feel like family. I also love that we can grab dinner in NYC and get home in about 12 minutes, but that’s only if it’s a zero-traffic type of night, which often isn’t enough. - Advertisement - Please share a bit about your career background, and about what (if anything) it has proven to be helpful to your business. I have taken a somewhat winding road to reach this point. Before becoming an early childhood education teacher, I worked in product development at Macy’s, which I did for a few years. And then I was a stay-at-home mom for a while before launching Yumble. I’ve always loved healthy food and am very excited to make sure my kids eat well, but my prior career has helped with this business as well. Working at Macy’s taught me about research and product development, and working with children in teaching gave me a deeper understanding of how they react to positive reinforcement and engagement strategies. The most important point in launching Yumble was how difficult it was to come up with a healthy dinner that my kids would be eager to eat. I decided to post to a Facebook mom group to see if parents wanted me to cook their kids’ meals too, and was met with a resounding yes. That’s when I came to know that people need it and it will be highly appreciated. Joanna Parker, our NJMOMpreneur of the Week and founder of Yumble, with her husband, David, and their children. What sets Yumble apart from other food delivery services, and what are some favorite meals? Yumble is the only delivery meal service for kids that rewards kids for making healthy food choices. We are convenient for parents and can help them relax knowing that their kids will be eating healthy. But what makes us unique is that we empower children to make their own healthy choices by encouraging them to choose their own food with the help of their parents. Kids like to feel liked and in control. We empower them to do so, and that increases their chances of getting excited about the food and eating it. As a favorite, since kids are crazy about things they can get their hands on, Pizza Pocket tops our best-selling list. It’s hand-baked, filled with cheese and homemade marinara sauce, and has broccoli on the side. And our chicken nuggets (healthy, of course) and mac and cheese are also on heavy rotation for most families ordering. What do you hope your children learn by watching you run their business? Most importantly, I hope my kids see if you think you can make the world better in any way, then you should go for it. I also hope that they know that following your commitments is essential and that hard work pays off. Kids love to have food on hand, and Yumble delivers! Introducing the Yumbles Egg n’ Cheese Pocket Meal, along with some fun extras. Please share something about the “fun” aspect of your business that makes it more than just food. Because the premise behind Yumble is to empower kids to make the right choices and get them excited to eat, a great deal of our meals are interactive (like dipping portions of food into dipping sauce), or meals as fun additions. Comes with such as a sticker sheet or conversation starter card to prompt for fun mealtime discussion. What’s your go-to method for self-care? I like to start my day with exercise when the house is completely quiet so that I can spend two hours before the chaos. I’m also working on separating my mom’s hat from my work hat because those lines can easily blur, especially while working from home. An ad from Yumble shows all the healthy food options for kids. Please share your favorite NJ businesses and what you like about them. As a family, we love to kick off the weekend with our latest obsession, Bianco Nero Gelato, a new gelato location in town. I highly recommend the Belgian waffles with gelato on top. Another favorite is Marcia’s Attic for Kids, a unique and exclusive children’s clothing and accessories store. The owner is so friendly and always helps me find what I am looking for especially when I am short on time, and it is such a friendly neighborhood. And the gym is where I like to be at 5:30 every morning, surrounded by like-minded locals who like to push themselves hard. I feel a great sense of camaraderie and support there. What are some of your family’s favorite activities or things to do in NJ? Flat Rock Brook Nature Center is a nature preserve and environmental education center in Englewood that has long been a family favorite. When the kids were little we always went to the playground. Now, we go out there often and love to explore and discover new paths. It’s also the best place to drop the rocks and spend an afternoon unwinding. Please share the best advice you have ever received on NJMOM entrepreneurship and would like to share with other mompreneurs as well. You’re doing better than you think – this is the best advice I’ve ever received, and it came from an old friend who was a mentor to me. There will always be moments when you doubt yourself and feel that you are not doing well on one or both fronts. No day will feel perfect, but when you look at the big picture, you’ll realize you’re doing a great job. Keeping this in mind, I have learned to clear those doubts. When you’re running a business and you have a family, there will always be obstacles, hurdles, and challenges, but there will also be lots of highs, victories and successes. Keep an eye on your passion – there’s always a reward in the end! For more information on Joanna Parker and Yumble, please visit their website, Facebook, and Instagram pages.