Meet Dr. Shaneka Baylor | Functional Nutrition Pharmacist and Franchise Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Shaneka Baylor and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Shaneka, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Entrepreneurship has always been something that I’ve thought about and have tried several different things over the years. I always wanted something that I could call my own and the opportunity to be around for my family if something happened. As an only child, it has always been important to me that I can be available for my parents if they need me, especially as they age. I am also interested in starting a family and though that starting my own business would afford me the opportunity and the freedom to be a work from home.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am the proud Franchise Owner of Chefs for Seniors DFW Mid-Cities South. What I love about Chefs for Seniors is that we not only provide healthy meals for seniors, but we also provide companionship and build great relationships with our clients. Unlike traditional meal preparation companies, we grocery shop at our clients preferred grocery store and then go into our clients homes and prepare a week’s worth of meals. These meals are 100% customizable to our clients dietary needs and their taste preferences.

As a clinical pharmacist, one of the things I continually came across was patients with different health conditions such as diabetes and hypertension (high blood pressure) and even though they may have been seeing a dietitian, they still struggled with what to eat, how to cook it, portion sizes, or had mobility issues that made it difficult for them to prepare the foods they needed to maintain and/or improve their conditions. Having the opportunity to provide this service is exciting because it helps to take the pressure off of the clients. They can connect us with their healthcare provider and we can make sure they are eating healthier meals based upon the healthcare providers recommendations.

This business has been a labor of love. I opened my doors in 2019 and took a leap of faith and left my fulltime pharmacist position in November 2019. In February/March 2020 the news of COVID19 began spreading and as quickly as I hired my first chef, I had to let her go. I stayed persistent , attending virtual networking meetings and advertising locally on NextDoor. I got 2 clients and serviced them weekly throughout the first 8 months of the pandemic. Once restrictions eased a bit, I was able to hire 2 chefs and start to attend some in-person events while following COVID19 guidelines. Now, 3 years later, my territory has grown and I have 4 amazing chefs. I can truly say that persistence is key and to continue to believe in yourself and your dream. I believe the service we offer is valuable and I held on to that even when I could not reach the people I needed to.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would definitely hang out in the Bishop Arts District. It is a great place to walk around, shop, and try different food places.

Klyde Warren Park because they always have different activities, especially when the weather is nice and I love the different food trucks.

Dallas Arboretum

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My best friend, Ericka Smith, definitely deserves a shoutout. Before I had the courage to say the words out loud that I wanted to leave my full time job she was right there listening to my hopes, dreams, and fears. She has continued to support me through the ups and downs and always gives me the space to be me.

Website: chefsforseniors.com/arlington-irving-tx

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefsforseniorsmidcitiessouth

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/ cfsmidcitiessouth

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chefsforseniorsmidcitiessouth