Meet Sara! The Mom Behind Bella’s Kitchen
This working momma showed up this past year not only balancing her day job and mom life, but starting a new business during COVID! I’ve really enjoyed getting to chat with Sara about how Bella’s Kitchen is offering more healthy baby-led weaning options in a world where kids options are so often over looked!
Sara is originally from El Salvador in Central America, but has lived in Arkansas for 14 years. After graduating at the University of Central Arkansas and meeting her now husband she decided to call Arkansas her new home. She has 1 daughter, Bella (1 and the inspiration behind Bella’s Kitchen) and 2 step children: Emily (22) and Garland (18).
What’s one thing people would be surprised to know about you…
I am actually an introvert even though I can come across as an extrovert.
Favorite things to do with your kid(s)?
Now that Isa is the only one living at home, I love when the three kids get together and play. It’s really sweet to see them bond despite their age gap.
Why did you decide to raise your family in Little Rock?
I moved to Little Rock after graduating UCA and stayed because of work and then I married Edmond who loves living in Arkansas, and I have really grown to love it as my home as well.
What’s your favorite thing about raising your family in Little Rock/Benton/Bryant area?
The sense of community. Somehow everyone seems to know each other! During COVID I have seen our community pull together and help each other in many ways.
What’s your best mom hack that makes life easier?
Meal planning makes life a thousand times easier. It kills the constant back and forth of “what do you want to eat tonight? I don’t know- what do you want to eat? No, I asked first”.
What are your favorite things to do/places to eat in Little Rock/Benton/Bryant?
I love taking Isa to the Museum of Discovery and the Little Rock Zoo. Food wise, I love The Pantry, The Fold and Ocean’s.
Self-care is so important as momma’s who give so much, what’s something you do just for yourself?
I work out 3x a week at Unleashed HF and at least 1x week at Core Concept Fitness. I’ve always loved working out and it is a great outlet for me. I like exercising in the morning before Isa wakes up.
What’s something you can’t leave the house without?
My cell phone. I guess like most of us these days I enjoy staying in touch with my family and friends.
What is your least favorite mom job? (packing lunches, dishes, bath time, laundry….)
Laundry by far.
Tell us about your career outside of being a mom.
I am a Senior Account Manager at First Orion, an Arkansas based technology company that provides call scam protection and visual enhancement to benefit some of the world’s leading mobile carriers, enterprises and mobile users, empowering people to trust their phones again.
I am also the Founder of Bella’s Kitchen, a direct-to-consumer children’s, and families’ meal prep company in Little Rock.
What prompted you to start your own meal prep business?
Bella’s Kitchen was created after I needed to start feeding Bella solids, and I could not find any prepared baby-led feeding options. Our family loves eating fresh, nutritious foods and when I couldn’t find anything else but highly processed purees at the store, I knew there had to be another solution. As a working mom, I know how hard it is to have a home-cooked meal ready before bedtime. This is how Bella’s Kitchen started and why we keep coming up with new recipes and products specifically for families.
How has the Little Rock/Benton/Bryant community been instrumental in getting you to where you are now?
I think it goes again to the sense of community. There are so many people that have given me so much support and encouragement. For example, my friend and esthetician Aimee-Claire Feland introduced me to Meg Green. Thanks to this connection, we started a collaboration for our family-style meals.
How has being a momma yourself shaped you as a business owner?
It puts things in perspective. I love my business …but nothing can compare to the responsibility of being a mom.
What’s your favorite part about being a business owner?
My brain never sleeps. Or at least it doesn’t feel like it does. So being a business owner gives me the opportunity to try new things and ideas. It also gives me the power to course correct quickly.
How do you balance being a mom, wife, and business owner? Do you experience mom guilt? How do you handle it?
Every day. I don’t think mom guilt ever goes away. Whether you work at home or outside of home, there’s always some sort of mom guilt. I try to make the best of our time together worth it and be present.
Anyone special you’d like to thank for helping you through parenthood?
My husband. He has been an amazing partner and very supportive. It helps that he’s already a pro at it.
When parenting gets hard, what’s something you tell yourself that gets you through?
That time goes by very fast. I know you hear it all the time but I’ve experienced it first hand with my step kids. They have grown into incredible adults and I can’t believe it’s been six years since I first met them.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve gotten from another mom?
Don’t be so hard on yourself. We are all just winging it.
Name one thing you want your kid(s) to look back on and remember about their childhood and you as their mom.
That I love them first and foremost.
What are your future plans and goals?
To grow the brand and make it into something meaningful. To fulfill my mission to offer healthy alternatives for families with busy schedules.
Follow along with Sara and Bella’s Kitchen on all the socials for the latest meal updates!
Also for this week only you can get 20% off any toddler, big kids meal or lunch box with coupon code LRMOMS this week.
Website: https://www.bellaskitchenus.com/
Instagram and Facebook: @bellaskitchenus
