Conversations with Laura Bell

Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Bell.

Hi Laura, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Growing up in a Mexican family, cooking was part of the fabric of my life. Special treasures have been passed down from generation to generation and some of my fondest memories as a young girl were spending time in the kitchen with my mom, my abuelita (grandma), and my sister as we prepared holiday feasts for our extended family.
Fast forward a few decades, my husband Chuck and I landed in Cincinnati, Ohio; along with my entrepreneurial spirit and love for cooking. I found myself cooking for family and friends and even catering friends’ parties and get-togethers and was often encouraged to “share my talents with the world”. I considered opening a restaurant and even received a certification in the culinary arts. During my studies, the chef not only taught me so much about cooking nutritious international cuisine, he also helped me realize that at that time of my life, the demands of restaurant ownership were not in alignment with my life’s most important purpose, raising my young daughter.
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Andi was born with some health challenges; and looking back at it, those challenges changed our lives for the better and played a major role in this business venture.

​The moment that I learned that our daughter had a challenge, it became my mission to learn everything that I could to make sure that the food that she ate, and the lifestyle that she lived would keep her as healthy as possible.

I read everything that I could and listened to so many of the professionals, and I was surprised to learn that there was so much noise out there. I was fortunate enough to be introduced to an amazing functional medicine doctor who enlightened me and helped to reinforce what I had already known to be true. We should be eating the foods that the good lord put on this earth for us, in the most natural state possible.

For over a decade now, I have incorporated that philosophy into my family’s meals. I’ve adapted some of the “family treasures” to healthy versions and I’ve become adept at making new healthy creations of my own.

The more I learned, the more I wanted to learn, and as I did I began sharing my newfound knowledge with those I care about. The information was so well-received, and I found so much fulfillment in helping people, I studied and earned a certification as a wellness coach, with a focus on adapting healthy habits.

A core philosophy of mine related to changing habits involves the use of addition instead of subtraction. We all know that it is difficult to just eliminate something that we’ve grown accustomed to. The sense of deprivation turns into resentment; and that makes the change very difficult to sustain. On the other hand, when we introduce a positive option, whose benefits outweigh any trade-offs, it is very easy to let the less-productive option just fade away.

While preparing for my coaching career I focused my culinary efforts on developing delicious, healthy options for desserts and sweet treats. All my products are free of gluten, processed flours, processed sugars, and lactose. Many of my options are plant-based, and I use local farm honey, maple syrup, and fruits for sweetness.

I launched Laura’s Healthy Delights, to provide social proof that delicious and healthy can and do coexist. I’m so excited to announce that we are just months away from opening our first commercial kitchen and retail space, and this will enable us to provide that social proof on a much larger scale. It will also be the launching pad for our ongoing phases of growth, including cooking classes, online courses, and coaching.

I have been blessed with an incredibly supportive community of family and friends; both old and new. I’m so excited for the opportunity to grow that community by providing healthy options, promoting healthy habits, and “sharing my talents with the world”.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has been very gratifying to see that there is a market for my product. There are so many people who are looking for healthy alternatives, and so few options for healthy treats. When people try my products and find how delicious they are, the fact that they are wholesome and healthy are huge added bonuses.

The main challenge that I’ve faced is deciding the right time to scale. Until now, I have restricted sales efforts and growth as my primary commitment remained taking care of Andi. My self-imposed sales restraints also dictated that marketing, service, production, etc., etc., etc. all fell in my lap. Now that Andi is becoming more independent, the time is right to remove the governor and march full steam ahead.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Growing up in Mexico City with limited family resources, I learned early on that if I wanted any of life’s “luxuries”, I would need to earn them myself. My first job was at a neighborhood Video store with I was 14. By age 16 I found myself managing the neighborhood Blockbuster Video Store. I’ve never shied away from hard work; possibly because understood this was how I would get the nice things I wanted. I went to modeling school and spent several years in that field.
Looking back on my life, a trait that has served me well has been my willingness to take a risk. I was fortunate enough to have secured a job, being mentored by the head of business development in one of the largest companies in Mexico. It was a great job as at a young age I oversaw the start-ups of several new businesses. I was presented with a life-changing decision and opted to leave my family and career back in Mexico to follow my heart and get married and move to Cincinnati, Ohio.
Looking back on the last twenty years, the things I’m most proud of are that I’ve been able to be a good mom and role model for my daughter, a loving wife, and a grateful daughter.
I feel fortunate to have a passion and knowledge to be able to help people with their health and wellness.

What makes you happy?
First, my family makes me happy. I thrive on driving and experiencing growth. I love to learn and teach as that makes me feel fulfilled.

Contact Info:

• Email: laurashealthyd@gmail.com
• Website: www.laurashd.com
• Instagram: @laurashealthydelights
• Facebook: @laurashealthydelights

Image Credits
Laura Granado, Meghan Adamo, and Ximena Goyenechea Photography