If you had told 8-year-old me in the 80’s—standing on a chair in the kitchen, glued to PBS cooking shows—that one day I’d own a meal prep business, I probably would’ve said, “Well… obviously.”

Cooking has always been part of who I am.

I started in the restaurant industry at 17 and never really left. Over the years, I’ve done just about everything you can do in a restaurant—serving, bartending, training, managing—you name it. I spent a decade in management with brands like O’Charley’s, P.F. Chang’s, and Panera Bread in Virginia, and later worked along the Myrtle Beach oceanfront after moving here in 2011. I was even a corporate trainer, certified to teach new hires every position in the restaurant.

Food isn’t just my career—it’s in my DNA. My family has owned multiple restaurants, and today, three of my siblings are in the food world too, running businesses from California to Virginia to North Carolina.

So yeah… you could say this was inevitable.

How Little Bites Began…

Little Bites officially started back in 2016, when I got a cottage license and began selling baked goods out of my home at local farmers markets. It was exciting… and also a learning experience. That version of the business didn’t quite take off the way I’d hoped, so I put the idea on the back burner.

(But not for long.)

There were actually two different times I came close to opening a bakery café—but something always felt just a little off. Timing matters, and deep down I knew it wasn’t right yet.

In 2020, I stepped away from the restaurant industry and took a turn into something completely different—managing a med spa. It was a big shift, but like most detours in life, it ended up leading me exactly where I needed to go.

A Personal Turning Point…

In 2019, I made one of the biggest decisions of my life and had gastric bypass surgery. Since then, I’ve lost 130 pounds—and more importantly, I completely transformed the way I think about food.

That journey taught me what so many meal plans miss: it’s not just about eating less—it’s about eating right. Proper portions, balanced meals, and prioritizing protein became non-negotiables for me.

It also gave me a level of empathy and understanding you just can’t learn from a textbook.

In 2022, I became a Certified Nutrition Coach so I could pair my real-life experience with professional knowledge—and help others navigate their own journeys in a realistic, sustainable way.

Then It All Came Together…

In 2023, I started cooking again—but this time, it was simple. I began making meal prep for the people I worked with.

No big business plan. No grand opening. Just good food, made with care and built around the same principles that changed my own life.

And then… it caught on.

What started as a few meals quickly turned into something much bigger. Before I knew it, I was cooking out of my home full-time, building Little Bites one order at a time. For a year and a half, that’s exactly what I did—early mornings, long days, and a whole lot of passion.

Then came the opportunity that changed everything: a chance to lease a commercially licensed kitchen.

I took it.

Where We Are Today…

On February 1, 2025, Little Bites Kitchen officially opened its doors.

And this time—it felt right, but I was scared to death!

Every step leading up to that moment—the early failures, the almost-openings, the career shifts, the personal transformation, the late nights cooking at home—was part of the process. Nothing was wasted. It all built the foundation for what Little Bites Kitchen is today.

Now, I get to do what I love most: create flavorful, high-quality meals that make people’s lives easier, healthier, and a lot more delicious—without sacrificing the things that actually matter, like taste and satisfaction.

Why I Do This

For me, food has never just been about eating. It’s about connection, consistency, and care.

It’s about knowing someone had a long day and being able to take one thing off their plate—literally.

It’s about proving that meal prep doesn’t have to be boring, bland, or restrictive.

And it’s about helping people feel better in their bodies—because I’ve been on that journey too.

Little Bites isn’t just a business—it’s years of experience, a lifetime of passion, and a very personal mission.

And I’m so glad you’re part of it!

Bonus!

That was a LOT! If you made it this far through nearly 50 years of my journey to this point in my life, I thank you wholeheartedly. Whether you are a regular community memember or you have been on the fence for placing your first order I want to thank you for getting to know me a little deeper and what keeps me going. It is YOU so text the word “STORY” to 854-241-5855 and receive 10% off of your next order!! This offer won’t last forever so act now!