Englewood resident and mom Joanna Parker has always been a foodie. Like many New Jersey moms, she dreamed of an easier way to cook healthy, creative and fun meals for her kids. Meal prep from “soup to nuts” was just too stressful and time-consuming.
After chatting with other moms facing dinnertime struggles and noting the popularity of meal delivery services for adults, Parker had a eureka moment. She recently launched Panda Plates, a healthy dinner delivery service that is just for kids. Read on for the details on this NJ-based company that is taking the guesswork out of dinnertime.
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The Scoop
So how does Panda Plates work? Parents place weekly online orders for healthy dinners to be delivered to their doorstep. You can select 3-5 pre-made meals per week, for as many weeks as you’d like.
The food arrives tightly packaged with ice packs so everything stays cold and fresh. Just heat up the meal in the microwave or oven and dinner is ready within a few minutes. Helpful directions and recipe cards are included in each package so parents know how long to cook each meal before kids dig in.
There are many dinner options offered, including Potato Pierogi, Sweet Tofu, Sweet & Sour Meatballs, Chicken Pops and Mac & Cheese. There are also add-on culinary options, such as homemade banana coconut granola. New this fall are international-themed dishes, such as Peri Peri Chicken from Africa, that come with placemat maps of the origin country.
Parker acknowledges that not every child will like all items offered on the eclectic menu. With that in mind, every week includes choices both traditional and unique. Additionally, parents can specify any food allergies or special dietary requirements when signing up for their child’s weekly subscription. Veggies are usually provided as a side with every dinner meal. Holiday and seasonal snacks include banana coconut muffins, blueberry corn muffins and apples with honey for Rosh Hashanah week.
A Family Affair
Panda Plates has become a family business. It was Parker’s husband David who strongly encouraged her to go for it when she launched Panda Plates, and he has now joined the company. Additionally, Parker’s three kids all chime in on the foods they like. “And they are indeed opinionated!” jokes Parker.
The company currently employs a small but growing team of approximately 25 people, including a professional chef and delivery drivers. The teams work out of a kitchen space in Edison. Panda Places has been growing rapidly thanks to Facebook parent groups where members typically gush about the food quality and prep ease.
Recently Panda Plates teamed up with a large NJ-based pharmaceutical company and a major Manhattan retail company to offer the service to employees. The feedback from participants has been very positive. Parents love that Panda Plates is delivered at work so they can easily heat up a healthy dinner as soon as they arrive home. “The goal of Panda Plates is for families to have a happier work/life balance,” says Parker.
Business Acumen
Parker’s advice for busy moms is to try your hardest to separate “home mom” from “work mom.” She jokes that she survives on “very little sleep!” most days. Parker also avoids checking her cell phone and email when the work day is over, or during mealtime, so she can savor every second with her husband and kids.
“It was definitely hard to transition from stay-at-home mom to working mom,” says Parker. “I went from zero to sixty. But if you have an idea for a business, just go for it. Chances are, if you see a need for something, others do as well, and they’ll be very interested in your product.”
When not wearing her chef and momtrepreneur hats, Parker and her family enjoy spending time at Van Saun Park or strolling through the streets of Hoboken. They also love to check out holiday events at the JCC on the Palisades and to visit the Morris Museum.
Hero (Top) Feature Image: Facebook/Panda Plates
Additional Body Images (in order) Courtesy:
Panda Plates
Rachel Sokol
Panda Plates