Let Sonali Prepare You a Miracle Meal

By Nilpa Shah

Posted on March 28, 2018

13 min read

1,029

In search of a better lifestyle, Sonali Raja is the brains behind the healthy food options that are taking the market by a storm.

Her brainchild ‘Miracle Foods’ was born in 2016 out of mere frustration and as a gateway to a healthier lifestyle. Today, at 27, Sonali has a spring to her step that most entrepreneurs yearn for.

The founder of Miracle Foods talks to Mkazi Magazine about her game changing healthy yet vibrant meal options. One look at her meals is all it takes to convince you to change gear to this healthier option.

Tell us about yourself.

I come from an amazing, food frenetic family where delicious food has always been the source of bringing the whole family together. I graduated from the University of Sunderland with an Honors Degree in applied business computing. Thereafter I worked as a programmer; building websites, networking, etc. in IT related fields. I have also worked as a sales manager in the wholesale and retail stationary market.

Tell us about your journey in business. What inspired you to start?

Due to my extreme working hours, I had neither the time nor the energy to cook a decent meal, let alone pack anything for lunches. This led me to order meal options from nearby restaurants or fast food joints. It was extremely disappointing to see what limited options were available for someone who was trying to have a plant based diet whilst simultaneously trying to balance the intake for healthy eating. Eventually these bad choices led me to weight gain, and health issues followed suit. I was devastated to say the least! At this point, I decided to shift focus to myself. And Miracle Foods was born. As I put the word about Miracle Foods out there, I was overwhelmed with the number of people who were on the hunt for fast, healthy, hassle free meal options – just like me!

What resources did you start with and how did you use them?

We began as a two man team; my house-help Solomon and myself. It was pretty challenging initially, as he did not know how to chop or cook any vegetables, but he was always so eager to learn something new and eventually turned out to be my biggest help in kitchen. We started off Miracle Foods in my kitchen, and still operate from there. The preparation, assembling of meals and final packing are done by Solomon and me. We work hand in hand.

I was completely hands on with all other business aspects. From creating websites to social media marketing, working on graphics, answering calls, following up on orders, to shopping; you name it and I did it! The biggest support I had was from my husband Raj. He would drive me around so I could deliver food to my clients door step on schedule. At the start, working hours were insane. I would be in the kitchen by 6am and by the time I got back home from deliveries it could be as late as midnight.

What has been the most effective way of raising awareness of your business and getting new customers?

Social Media Marketing worked well for us. People saw our healthy options that looked interesting and were willing to give it a go. Word of Mouth certainly helped in getting new customers. Referrals are key.

What have been your biggest challenges so far with running your business and how do you overcome them?

When people hear the word “salad”, the first impression is always an insufficient bowl of flimsy leaves with a few slices of tomatoes that cannot be counted as a meal. Overcoming this issue was to explain how they are designed to make sure there is perfect balance of proteins, carbohydrates and greens. How each salad is different from one another and the texture, flavor and ingredients are precisely picked to accommodate dietary restrictions. The amount of protein and carbohydrates makes this meal heavy, that people often find it difficult to finish it in one go.

Tell us about your team.

We have one person dedicated to only cleaning and making sure all counter tops and equipment are sanitized/ cleaned before every use. We have two people dedicated to all the chopping, cooking and assembling. One person for quality checks, shopping and final packing before it has been dispatched, including alterations based on clients preferences complete with name tags and details.

One person handles marketing, answering calls-emails-messages, following up with clients, payments, and delivery coordination. Three people handle multiple deliveries per person.

What do you love most about running your own business?

The self-satisfaction that it comes with. When you are able to bring a change in a person’s life or overcoming challenges on a daily basis in your business, it is just rewarding! The best is when people take an extra step to just call or meet you in person just to tell you how much they appreciate what you have done for them. That extra mile you always take in your business to fulfill a request makes it worth it at the end of the day.

How do you keep motivated through difficult times?

I believe in myself and what I do. Once you do so, nothing and no one can stop you from achieving things which you would not have even thought of in your wildest dreams.

What’s the biggest lesson you have ever learned?

Success is not a destination, it is a journey! After every stormy night there is rainbow, never give up!

How has entrepreneurship changed you as an individual and your lifestyle?

It has brought change in every aspect of my life. I crave for new experiences; learn new skills, my brain sort of refuses to turn off as it is constantly brainstorming an idea. I started reading more than I ever did. Being in control made me a person who wants to constantly critically evaluate things with broader perspectives.

No matter how irrelevant an idea sounds, it can be turned into a new venture. Entrepreneurship helps rub shoulders with other like-minded individuals, whose struggle and love for passion in what they venture into appeals to me.

Free time, which is rare with entrepreneurship; has made me appreciate the quality of life I have now. It helps me make time for my hobbies and family, that you otherwise take for granted.

If you could go back in time, what would you do differently?

Nothing! The whole process was brilliant. The struggle, failures, taking baby steps at a time, stumbling and getting back up is what has made Miracle Foods what it is today. This motivates me to do better than yesterday!!

Where do you see your business five years from now?

I see Miracle Foods to be a preferred option not only in Kenya, but across the borders into East Africa.

What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs?

It’s not who we are that holds us back, it’s who we think we are not! Just go wild! Put your head down and get to work, regardless of the hours and you most definitely will see progress!