The mumpreneurial Bali dream

Every now and then I come across these truly inspirational mums who seem to have it all figured out: balancing a promising career with raising tiny humans while managing a riveting creative lifestyle and setting themselves as an example to the ones around them. On top of it, they are lucky enough to do it all from groovy Bali! How very annoying (I tell myself every time some of us remember we have to put the kettle on four times before actually getting a cuppa right because even little tasks are huge challenges when your day is ruled by a tiny army of little people)…

Yet, every successful project hides two very hard working hands, a busy planning ahead mind and a great deal of dedication, so much more than we can actually see on the surface. Here’s a chat with a cool mum of two who had started a flourishing baby food brand triggered by her children’s needs and love for motherhood…Here’s The Mini Muncher Bali and a fun chat with the cool mum behind the project, a glimpse of her daily adventures and some brave moves across the world while loving motherhood. 

1. You’re a mum who moved to Bali. Nice tan, gorgeous flavours, amazing weather…It sounds like you’re living the holiday dream people would kill for. But I’m sure there’s more…Including a great deal of hard work! Tell us a bit about yourself.

Actually I’m from Melourne Australia and packed my bags for a 2 year stint in London which turned out to be 13 years living in the UK. In 2011 my partner got offered a job which he wasn’t going to pursue. After many discussions and myself being totally up for the move we decided to start a new life in Bali. I quit my career of 10 years, packed our belongings into boxes and made our way to Bali with our soon to be 2 year old daughter.

2. How did you decide on starting a business and Mini Muncher Bali in particular?

Finding out my daughter had allergies after she was 7 months changed my world in the way of cooking. To be honest I never really enjoyed cooking and couldn’t cook to save my life, however I wanted to provide my daughter with healthy additive free food from the get go and needed to learn fast! The addition of Lola being dairy, egg and peanut free was a huge challenge in the beginning. How do you make a cake without eggs??? Having a degree in Heath Science I’ve always had an interest in health and nutrition and this was the time to begin doing research and learning about adapting to our new way of life without the foods that would create an anaphalactic attack on my daughter. This is how my journey and passion began. Nothing would make me happier then to see my daughters face light up with joy to be able to eat dishes she wouldn’t be able to normally by me adapting different ingredients. This makes it all so worth while! Giving birth to my second child Dexter and almost living in Bali for 1 year I saw the great need for healthy, organic baby food. The only baby food available in Bali at this point in time was Heinz jars and at random other branded baby food pouches. I have always made my kids food from the very beginning from scratch. Upon many friends living in Bali and others coming for a holiday asking me what do I feed my baby in Bali and making them food I decided to create my own business making exactly that!

3. How important do you feel nutrition is in our children’s development?

Nutrition I believe is of such great importance to children and their development. By starting them young and from the very beginning to eat healthy wholefoods, they will carry these practices to when they are in their adult years and the rest of their life. Teaching them the importance of food and how it nourishes the body from inside and out is also a key factor in helping children understand the benefits of good food. I often discuss with my children about the meal we are having so that they learn about the different foods we eat and set the right foundations for them to explore food when they are older.

4. Where does your inspiration come from? Who do you follow (if you do)?

My inspiration comes from so many different sources. I often discuss with my kids what they would like to eat and make things from their suggestions. I also follow various types of accounts on IG ranging from kids food to foodie accounts different websites and also create recipes from my own knowledge of food over the years. I eat with my kids every day so I want food that will nourish all our bodies and be flavorsome. I also follow a lot of plant based accounts. As a family we don’t fall under any particular labels however we are a high plant based eating family (apart from the Hubby) and I totally enjoy challenging myself with eats and treats that are plantbased rather than the norm. I guess also having a daughter with allergies has also contributed to a more plant based diet.

5. How does a regular day of your life look like?

A busy one! Sometimes I feel like a Yo-Yo!! Ha ha. I get up around 6 am with the kids. Have breakfast and get them ready for school. School starts at 8 am so we are typically out the door at 7.30. After school drop off I head to work usually from around 8.30-2pm where I do back office work, emails, etc, cook and prepare and deliver the school lunch, meetings, orders etc. I pick up my kids from school at 2.45 and then head home where I prepare dinner, do homework with my daughter and multitask working from home in the afternoons. Bedtime is typically around 7.30 ish for my kids and then I have a wee moment to myself. If my partner is home in the evenings (maybe 1-2 times a week) I spend time with him. On the nights he is at work I usually work in the evenings also.

6. You’re what we call a ‘mumpreneur’. How do you keep a healthy balance between your work and family life?

Oh WOW! For me it’s more of a passion than anything else and I totally love what I do. I’m fortunate enough that I can be a hands on Mum and be there for my kids from the time they wake up to the time they go to sleep. I am home with them in the afternoons when they return from school and I am grateful I can do that, all be it managing them and work at the same time. We often take weekends away as a family and I usually get together with other Mums and kids on a Friday night where the kids play and us ladies have a great catch up with some food and some wine. No matter what my family always come first especially my kids. I’ve learned to manage everything else around it over the years and it definitely keeps me on my toes.  

7. What’s your favourite side of motherhood? And the most challenging 🙂

I guess I enjoy it all. From the pregnancy up until now. Like a lot of us Mums I question Am I doing a good job? Am I a great role model to my children especially my daughter? However I do stop and think and remind myself that I am only doing the best that I can. I am not perfect by any means but the main thing is that I love, adore and want only best for my children. So far collectively with my partner and “Daddy” to our children I think we manage that as well as we possibly can ; )

8. Which are your best tips for mums on the go you’d like to share?

Plan, prepare, be organized, make double portions of food and make good use of your freezer!

Dragon Blast Smoothie with Strawberry and Cream

Here’s Silvija giving us a Mini Muncher recipe in case you decide to take your family to Bali any time soon: ‘It takes absolutely no time to have a smoothie in the mornings or anytime of day with the Mini Muncher Smoothie range. Hassle and mess free yet packed with nutrition for both kids and adults. The smoothies are coconut water based as it contains five essential electrolytes that are present in the human body. These include: calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium and sodium. It also aids in hydrating the body. Suitable from 10 month+ and all to enjoy. All natural, organic, no sweetener added with the addition of flaxseed meal which are a rich source of dietary fiber, manganese, vitamin B1, and the essential fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid omega-3. Pick and mix your flavors and create your own unique combination.

This morning I simply took the Dragon Blast and Strawberry Cream flavors out of the freezer, let it defrost, shaked it and poured the dragon blast into a glass. I placed the Strawberry and Cream into a blender and added some hemp seeds and Maca powder for added #nutrition, vitamins and protein. The kids also had some oat and banana cookies (which I have been making for years) to accompany the smoothie making it a complete meal for breakfast.’

If you are seeking more info or tips, questions or any have baby diet enquiries, get in touch with Silvija Rumiha.

www.minimuncher.com

www.facebook.com/minimuncherbali

minimuncherbali@gmail.com

+62 8786 230 5959