Last Month Deirdre Pizzoferrato, founder of Beanstalk Express, LLC (BeanstalkExpress.com) launched “The Snack Time Survival Kit” – a first to market “parenting tool” that helps parents take back their kids from the unruly snacking habits that are fueling household battles – and an epidemic of childhood obesity.

A common sense solution is what led Pizzoferrato to develop “The SnackTime Survival Kit” 3 years ago while raising her then twin toddlers.
“Being a Registered Dietitian didn’t give me an ‘Easy Pass’ when it came to raising my own kids,” explained Pizzoferrato. “I learned first hand just how challenging it is to balance kids, work and life! I started off with noble intentions of raising healthy and self-moderated eaters, but I had completely underestimated how challenging the preschool years are. Without systems and tools, the path of least resistance became irresistible. It wasn’t long before my noble intentions were replaced by carte blanche snacking and drive-thru windows.” In a search for solutions that came up short, Pizzoferrato developed her own, “The SnackTime Survival Kit”, and her boys took to it instantly. After repeated success with friends and family, Deirdre realized that this was a product whose time has come.

“Just 20 years ago, children were consuming about 450 calories a day from snacks, but they were more active then. Today, kids are consuming over 600 calories from in-between meal snacking, and are far less active. This creates the ‘perfect storm’ for weight gain and obesity. By changing one of these variables we can slow, if not reverse, this epidemic.” Her new product, “The SnackTime Survival Kit” promises to do just that by teaching this generation healthier snacking habits.

By combining visuals of healthy snack cards and time telling clocks, “The SnackTime Survival Kit” creates a visual snack schedule that redefines mindless snacking by empowering kids with decision making abilities and accountability. And in the process, helps cultivate long lasting healthy snack preferences, self-control and moderation – important skills lacking in today’s snack-obsessed culture.

The timing of this launch couldn’t be better. Just last month, First Lady Michelle Obama announced that childhood obesity would be her top priority during her stay in the White House. Her mission, in her own words, is “To put in place common-sense initiatives and solutions that empower families and communities to make healthy decisions for their kids.”

Mymompreneur: What has been your biggest business challenge as a mompreneur?
Deirdra: One of the biggest business challenges about being a mompreneur is going it alone. I definitely have a lot of advisors and mentors, but when it comes to getting the job done, it’s all up to me. And being both boss and employee can be very tricky – some days I can plow through a punch list and still manage to vacuum the house, bring the kids to their after school activities and cook dinner. Then there are the other days when I’m cleaning the breakfast dishes and starting dinner at the same time, and all the while thinking, “What have I accomplished today?” So it comes down to having self-discipline, and without the comradade of co-workers or “the boss” – this can be challenging.

Mymompreneur: What are you most proud of?
Deirdra: Professionally, I would say I am most proud of taking an idea and bringing it to fruition. I think I’ve been a “think tank” much of my life, and had, like many other, been inspired by the Oprah shows showcasing the success stories of the Crocks “Jibitz Lady”, and Julie Aigner-Clark of Baby Einstein! But it was these pioneer mompreneurs and their success stories that gave me the inspiration and courage to go for it. And I am!

Mymompreneur: What would you change or do differently if you could start over?
Deirdra: Hands down, it would be my approach to manufacturing.
I went into this venture with a lot of “positive thinking” – which is valuable in and of itself! But when it comes to manufacturing in China, visions of handshaking and high profit margins don’t just “materialize”! If I could start over, I would use a sourcing agent who performs due diligence on the factories before even a bid is submitted, and have quality control established at the start. I’m fortunate that I was able to implement a solid QC team early into my first production run, but had I used a sourcing agent from the start, I might have saved a lot of time and money. Inventors and business owners need representation and advocacy throughout the manufacturing process – otherwise, expect the unexpected when that container arrives!

Mymompreneur: How do you find work life balance as a mompreneur?
Deirdra: To be honest, there isn’t always a balance! Some days I’m a full-time mom, and other days I feel as though I don’t look up from my computer screen all day! The important thing, however, is to make peace with this fact, otherwise it becomes a perpetual juggling act between “mommy guilt” and “non-productive” work anxiety! For me, I try to maintain a couple of constants that I can do for and with my family. For example, I absolutely love to cook, so every night we sit down together to a home cooked dinner. There’s no TV, no computers, no distraction. And this is where I can find balance.

Mymompreneur: What advice would you share with other mompreneurs or women interested in working for themselves?
Deirdra: Definitely join up with like-minded women on forums like Mymompreneur.com. Starting one’s own company can be a terrifying and lonely venture, and if we listened to the naysayers of family and friends, then nobody would ever succeed! This is why it is so important to be surrounded by those who can see the forest through the trees! Social networking within these communities offer incredible advantages, everything from business solutions to just hand holding! Just because we’re “going it alone” doesn’t mean it has to feel like it!

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