In the whirlwind of parenting, finding time to prepare and enjoy family dinners can be a challenge. Natalia Duarte, an Evanston resident and mother of three, understands this struggle all too well. Her solution? Time2Savor, a new family-style catering service launching in August, designed to bring the joy of home-cooked meals back to busy families.
Duarte’s journey began eleven years ago when a friend unexpectedly delivered groceries to her doorstep after the birth of her third child. This simple act of kindness left a lasting impression and inspired Duarte to create a service that would pay this gift forward to other families.
From Personal Struggle to Professional Solution
After moving to Evanston from Pittsburgh in 2026, Duarte found herself grappling with the daily challenge of feeding her family of five. With children aged 16, 14, and 11, coordinating schedules and preparing meals was a daunting task. Duarte recalled the unhurried family dinners she and her husband enjoyed as children growing up in Mexico, and she was determined to recreate that experience for her own family.
Through her involvement with the Evanston Professional Moms Network a chapter of the national Professional Moms Community Network Duarte discovered she was not alone in her struggle. Many working moms cited dinner as one of their biggest challenges. This realization, combined with her business background and an MBA, led Duarte to envision a hyperlocal meal delivery service tailored to families.
The Birth of Time2Savor
Time2Savor is more than just a meal delivery service; it’s a solution designed to alleviate the physical and mental load of making dinner. Duarte conducted a community survey to ensure she was meeting a genuine need and hired a professional chef and a nutritionist to develop kid-friendly, nutritious recipes.
The service offers two family-style dinner portions a week, delivered together on Monday. Families can choose between a Family portion, which feeds up to four, or an Abundance portion, which feeds up to six. To keep things simple and reduce decision fatigue, Time2Savor offers only two menu options each week, inspired by the fixed menus of small family-run restaurants in Mexico.
Hidden Vegetables and Conversation Starters
Understanding the struggles of getting kids to eat vegetables, Time2Savor’s meals often include hidden veggies in comfort food favorites. Recipes like meatloaf packed with peas and carrots, and pastel azteca, a Mexican-style lasagna made with tortillas, are designed to appeal to both kids and adults.
Each meal delivery includes a card featuring a magic question a conversation prompt borrowed from the Professional Moms networking circles Duarte facilitates. These prompts are designed to keep kids engaged at the table and foster meaningful conversations. Duarte recently tried out a magic question on her own family: What do you know about the day you were born? The response led to a heartwarming exchange between her kids and their grandparents.
Looking Ahead
After a successful four-week pilot program in June, Time2Savor is finalizing its menu for its official launch in August. Duarte plans to keep the model simple initially, focusing on helping families with two dinners each week. However, she hopes to expand the service in the future, adding a second delivery day and offering add-ons like seasonal desserts or homemade tortillas.
Duarte’s ultimate goal is to inspire families to savor the time they have together. She hopes Time2Savor will help families recreate the sobremesa the Spanish concept of lingering around the table after a meal, simply talking and enjoying one another’s company. As Duarte puts it, While we certainly want families to savor good food, the heart of our mission is helping them savor the time they have together.
