Seattle Sutton’s Healthy Eating Weblog

           When I started Seattle Sutton’s Healthy Eating almost 23 years ago, I didn’t have the vaguest idea about the quality and quantity of management required for the production of large numbers of healthy, tasty meals.  Here is the basic question that has one answer at one time and another at another: how to coordinate a variety of specific tasks; all the while–by the way–doing our utmost to maintain our perfect delivery record.  Sometimes I feel that

            Quality control is an issue, of course, and we have the highest standards we can imagine.  This requires carefully managing the whole process, from acquisition of food through preparation, packaging, shipping, and delivery.

            As you may know, our meals are never frozen, which means we must maintain the temperature somewhere in the high 30s or very low 40s until the moment our meals reach their final destination.

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            As a nurse, I helped run the Marseilles medical clinic.  My husband was the doctor.   He handled the medical.  I helped the patients and managed the clinic.

            That was relatively easy, compared with today’s challenges.  We have more than 140 employees, including management.

            The main thing is to find the right people, put them in the right place, and make sure they follow the Healthy Eating rules, and share the Seattle Sutton’s Healthy Eating vision. 

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            Easier said than done.  America is built on free enterprise, including the fruits of a myriad of entrepreneurs.   That’s me.  The whole thing started when I noticed that people who needed to eat healthy to live wouldn’t prepare meals from a menu.  So I did it for them. 

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           There are two types of employees, as I have noticed and come to believe.  One type might be labeled “paycheck seekers”.   That’s their sole reason for working. And then there are the blessed others who want to improve and move forward.  These  I understand, because I’m like them.  So I support them. 

           Our HR department encourages the latter category and manages the former.

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          While I’m on the subject, our company is family owned and family operated.  I’m on the Board of Directors and so are my daughters, Sarah and Ruth.  All women!

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         Did you know that if you smile, you increase activity in the part of your brain related to happiness?  So if you want to feel better, smile!

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         Next week, I’ll use my blogs to respond to some questions you’ve raised.  Some are in the published comments; others I’ve grouped according to topic so that I can answer them directly.  Thanks so much for your interest in our meals program.