October is National Women's Small Business Month, making it a great time to explore what helps make female entrepreneurs successful. One woman, Shana Greenbaum, has climbed the ranks in growing her small business from the ground up, transitioning from a small family setting to becoming a regional powerhouse, and is now being honored as a Culture Champion.
"I'm thrilled with being named to the top 100 list and how the business has expanded and flourished," said Shana Greenbaum, founder of Healthy Fresh Meals, a home delivery meal prep service. "We look forward to seeing what comes our way in the near future and beyond.”
Healthy Fresh Meals was recently added to the list of 2025 Honorees in Culture Champions, an annual list of the 100 brightest small and mid-sized businesses in America. The list is put out by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce each year. The company, founded in 2016, has grown to employ over 20 staff members and is a leader in the industry in the Washington, D.C., area for providing healthy meal prep services.
The company was founded by Greenbaum, who was raised to care about eating healthy, by a mother who was a professional bodybuilder. As healthy eating was instilled in her from a young age, it remained a part of her life into adulthood, where she realized that eating healthily didn't come easily for all families and seniors. Many of them are pressed for time, lack the desire to do meal prep, or feel they don't have access to all the necessary ingredients to make healthy meals.
Once she discovered the problem that many families were experiencing, which was a significant barrier to eating healthier meals, she set out to take her love of healthy meal prep to the next level. She developed a plan and menu to offer the service to local families, helping them to have healthy, delicious meals delivered right to their door each week. Rather than opting for takeout meals from restaurants, Healthy Fresh Meals are more in line with healthier home-cooked meals, use higher-quality ingredients, and are more affordable. Individuals and families can choose their meals from an online weekly menu, knowing that they are all prepared by professional chefs, always fresh, and delivered right to their door.
The impact this has had on the community is far-reaching, as it helps provide families with more quality time together, ensures that everyone is eating healthier, and helps people prioritize their to-do lists. They no longer have to go grocery shopping, prepare the meals, and then do a bunch of kitchen cleanup. It's allowed people to eat better without all the effort, stay on track with their goals, save time, and minimize food waste.
There are some things that Greenbaum feels women with small businesses may want to consider to help their business flourish, which include:
Have a strategy. It's essential to determine the type of growth desired, such as acquiring more clients or increasing revenue. Every woman needs to know her audience and set smart, attainable, and measurable goals. These can be re-evaluated as required, but they will at least provide a map to keep things moving forward.
Network intentionally. Being around other female entrepreneurs is always a good idea, because there is a lot to learn. Seek out those networking opportunities that make sense and are women-centric, so that strategic encounters can take place. There's no way of knowing the power of what can come out of such interactions.
Focus on branding. It's essential to have strong branding so that the company stands out and people understand its purpose. Ensure that branding focuses on building a community, helps people who need your service find you, and that the message being delivered is clear and easy to understand.
Build a strong team. Growing a business isn’t something people can usually do on their own. Having a good team is essential, so be sure to hire those who understand the vision and commitment to quality. A strong team can do wonders for growing a business and is crucial to the company's reputation and customer loyalty.
Scale Services. Growth is easier if there is something to scale, whether it is a product or service. Keeping this in mind, consider what can be done to scale the product or service to increase revenue. This may include offering packages, courses, franchises, and more. Explore the options.
"Many women have small businesses, and with some effort, they can grow and strengthen them in their community," added Greenbaum. "It’s a great thing to be able to solve a problem for people and know you are helping them to be healthier, too. I give people more time in their lives to do other things, which is amazing.”
According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, women are major drivers of new business applications that are being filed. They report that from 2021 to 2023, there was a monthly average of 440,000 new business applications filed in the country, representing a 45% increase over the prior four-year period.
Healthy Fresh Meals offers a home delivery meal prep service to residents in the Washington, D.C. area, including those in Virginia and Maryland, with expansion plans. They offer an extensive menu of items to choose from, which changes weekly. The meals are all prepared by a team of professionally trained chefs, offering well-balanced options for both adults and children. They offer a wide variety of options each week, including meals specifically designed for athletes, as well as high-protein, low-carb, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and more. The meals are nutritious, great for picky eaters, and there are no subscriptions. There are breakfasts, lunches on the go, dinner entrees, family meals, and healthy treats. To learn more about Healthy Fresh Meals and see a menu, visit the site at: https://www.healthyfreshmeals.com/
