Today we’d like to introduce you to Abby DeSantis.
Hi Abby, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My business kind of started unintentionally. In the fall of 2020, I was completing my health coaching certification and working as a nanny on the side, and the family I worked for asked me if I could cook them some healthy meals during the week (things they could easily pop into the oven after a long day of work and call it a day). From there, word spread quickly — friends of friends started reaching out, and before I knew it, I had a full roster of clients and a real business on my hands.
That experience really showed me how much people want to eat well but just don’t have the time or energy to plan, shop, and cook — and that’s where my passion for making healthy eating simple and accessible really started. I launched my first version of the business in Erie, PA, and after five successful years there, I decided to take a big leap and move to Florida to rebrand and relaunch as Vida Foods.
Now we serve the St. Pete, Clearwater, and Tampa Bay area, offering healthy meal prep and catering designed to make eating well easy, enjoyable, and stress-free. “Vida” means “life,” and that’s really the heart behind everything — food for the ease of life.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Definitely not always a smooth road — but I think that’s what makes it worth it. Starting out, I was figuring everything out on my own — from cooking, packaging, and labeling to marketing, finances, and delivery. There were a lot of long nights, trial and error, and moments where I had no idea what I was doing but just kept going anyway.
Moving to Florida and rebranding was a huge leap — I am starting completely from scratch in a new market, with very little connections or customer base. But it has pushed me to get creative, network, and step outside my comfort zone.
At the end of the day, every challenge has helped me refine who I am as a business owner and what Vida Foods stands for — making healthy eating feel effortless, even when running a business isn’t.
We’ve been impressed with Vida Foods Meal Prep & Catering, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Vida Foods is a healthy meal prep and catering company based in the St. Pete, Clearwater, and Tampa Bay area. We focus on making nutritious eating simple, delicious, and convenient — for busy people who want to eat well without the stress of planning, shopping, or cooking.
We offer both single-serve and family-style meal prep, as well as custom catering for events, offices, and gatherings. Every meal is made from scratch with balanced macros, real ingredients, and a lot of care — it’s food that’s both good for you and genuinely good to eat.
What sets us apart is the intention behind everything we do. Vida means “life,” and our tagline — food for the ease of life — really captures the heart of the brand. We’re not just selling food; we’re helping people create more space in their day, feel nourished, and bring calm back to mealtime.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud of how authentic it feels. From our packaging to our messaging to the relationships we build with customers, it’s all rooted in real connection and care. I started this business cooking for one family — and that same level of thought and personalization still shows up in everything we do today.
Whether someone orders weekly meals, hosts a catered event, or just wants to feel a little more supported through food, my goal is always the same: to make eating well feel effortless.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is creating something that genuinely helps people feel supported and cared for — through food, through connection, and through the little details that make life feel easier.
When someone tells me my meals made their week less stressful, helped them get back on track, or just gave them one less thing to worry about, that means everything to me.
I also care deeply about staying authentic — in my brand, my relationships, and the way I show up in business. There’s so much noise in the health and food space, but I never want Vida Foods to feel transactional. I want it to feel human — like someone thought about you when that meal was made.
That’s really my “why.” It’s not just about food — it’s about helping people feel a little lighter, calmer, and more at ease in their day-to-day life.
Pricing:
- Single-Serving Meal: $12.99-$13.99
- Two-Serving Family-Style Meal: $27.98
- Four-Serving Family-Style Meal: $55.96
- Catering prices coming SOON!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.vidafoodsflorida.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vidafoodsflorida/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vidafoodsflorida/
Image Credits
Stevee Elchynski (photo of me). Food pictures Abby DeSantis
