We were lucky to catch up with Alejandra Valdez recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alejandra , appreciate you joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
Our mission at Viva Fit Kitchen is to build healthier communities by providing them the convenience of nutritious balanced meals. For me, food changed my life. In 2016 after a long day of walking at the zoo, my feet became so swollen, this had not been the first time but it had been the first time they stayed swollen for DAYS! I knew that I was pre-diabetic and that if I continued down the unhealthy habits I had that it wasn’t going to end well for me. Much of my family on both sides had diabetes and my grandma had almost passed away from diabetes some years prior.
That motivated me more than ever to change my life around. I already loved to cook so I started doing so much research into foods to aid in a healthier weight, foods that would nourish my body, foods to fuel me for my new active lifestyle. In a year’s time I dropped 70 pounds. The weight drop gave me so much confidence. The real win was how I felt inside. I started feeling so much more energized. No more sluggish days, no feeling tired 24/7, my energy was radiant! The start of that journey really showed me that what you put in your body shows up in every aspect of your life.
Food has most literally changed my life and when something like that happens… you want everyone to experience it. I knew that others needed this. So many people stuck where I was because being on a “diet” is hard. I made it a lifestyle, I made food with flavor, and food that nourished the body. Now Viva Fit has reached hundreds of homes in the Iowa and Nebraska communities, making it easier for people to live a beautiful and healthy life.
Alejandra , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Viva Fit Kitchen is a Mexican inspired healthy meal prep service. We want everyone to be the best version of themselves & that most certainly starts with what you input into your body. Viva Fit was inspired from my own journey of health and transformation. Food saved and changed my life. In 2016 I was pre-diabetic, and in one year I was able to change the trajectory of my life around through food and physical activity. We serve our local Omaha, NE and surrounding areas providing hundreds of homes with convenient, healthy, and balanced meals as well as event catering services that provide options for everyone to enjoy!
Growing a food business is far from easy, but looking back, starting at my moms house, getting into a commercial kitchen, working with corporate clients, building industry partnerships, this journey of health & entrepreneurship is my purpose. I am so passionate about entrepreneurship that I co-founded an entrepreneurship community in Omaha, called Embolden, to help others connect and grow & that aligns with my purpose to help people become the best them.
Getting started is the hardest part, you need to believe in yourself enough to know that you can achieve it, and then you just need to take the first step; the rest will be history from there.
Truly blessed to do what I do, I get so fueled by customer reviews and knowing that my business is really changing lives out there. My purpose is bigger than just me. Life transformations are happening and to get to be a small part of that journey for someone is so fulfilling.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
Collaborations. We can not build alone. Collaborations and community are essential for growth. Create partnerships with those in your industry.
We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.
Many times your business will start as a side hustle. Especially non-tech industry businesses, where you are mainly boot strapping to start up. I knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur since I was in high school and my naive mind thought… well I can run a business and be a corporate leader too! Little did I know I was eventually going to have to choose one or the other.
I worked 50 hour weeks at my corporate career and took time building my business after getting off work. For over 2 years I was sleeping minimal hours (would not recommend that part), but I was in the hustle, and was pure ambition that kept me going at times I was so exhausted. I made it intentional to be involved in the community and to get my name out there.
As my business grew I started to realize I could not do both, grow a corporate career and a multi million dollar business. There will never be a right time to take a leap of faith but there are ways you can take calculated risks. At year three in business, I decided to no longer work a full time corporate career. I was able to make this decision by paying myself a salary. When I was able to finally cover my bills, I knew I was ready to take my side hustle into a full time business. The year I took a bet on myself we doubled our annual income! Proving the concept of believing in yourself will get you results!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.vivafitkitchen.com
- Instagram: @vivafitkichen // @ladyav // @emboldennetwork
- Facebook: Viva Fit Kitchen
- Yelp: Viva Fit Kitchen