Imagine 365 days of cooking at home with no outside dining or take out. Some may consider that a nightmare. For one Ashburn mom it’s been the only way to safeguard her family during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The experience also stirred up a dream and countless blessings.
As of March 16, Yolanda Latimer, a corporate recruiter and a single-mother of three, has hit the one-year milestone with no food prepared outside her home. Her three-year-old daughter, Savannah, has chronic lung disease (LCD) and is immunocompromised. She was born prematurely at 23 weeks and weighed just over one pound at birth and spent the first few months of her life at Inova Children’s Hospital in Fairfax.
To protect Savannah, Latimer made the decision to move her family to only home-cooked meals once the stay-at-home orders went into effect.
“My children (oldest two) understand what it means to sacrifice for things greater than themselves. We have all made sacrifices to keep Savannah safe. She’s the only one who won’t know the magnitude of that until she herself gets older,” Latimer said.
In later years, Savannah will have documentation of this time, however.
Latimer began chronicling her food creations and it didn’t take long for people to notice. Friends and family encouraged her to start a blog and social media accounts. After watching Former First Lady Michelle Obama’s ‘Becoming’ documentary, Latimer said she felt inspired to make it happen.
By late June, Latimer had cooked meals at home for more than 100 consecutive days and created her LLC and launched her website www.londaslaboratory.com. She never had formal cooking training, just a passion and a newfound love to cook.
Her eldest son, Isaiah, came up with the name “Londa’s Laboratory”.
“One day, he came in the kitchen and saw me blending away making a smoothie. He said, “Mom, every time I come here [kitchen] it’s like you’re in your lab. You’re always making something new,” Latimer said.
The Londa’s Laboratory blog and background story made local headlines and received national attention as well. Her Instagram and Facebook have grown to more than 2.3K followers and is continuing to climb with new virtual cooking lessons and even a curbside menu offered to locals.
“It hasn’t been easy but embarking on this entrepreneurial journey, turning my passion into a business, while minimizing risk to my daughter has been nothing short of amazing,” said Latimer.
To celebrate the one-year mark, Latimer says she plans to cook but also order take out for the first-time. Likely it will be pizza— Savannah’s favorite, she said.
Although breaking the exclusive eating at home rule, Latimer plans to continue cooking for her family and expand her business. Reflecting on this past year, she said the experience has opened her eyes and heart to the unimaginable.
“It has taught me what a passion for cooking, consistency, and labor of love can do in just a year. Had it not been for the pandemic, none of this would have been a thought to pursue.”
A little more about Yolanda Latimer
Latimer has lived in the Northern Virginia area for the last 15 years. She first learned to cook in her grandmother’s kitchen. According to her blog, Latimer’s grandmother taught her how to properly season and fry chicken and pork chops. She also learned a lot from her father growing up— including forgoing measuring utensils.
Latimer is a member of INOVA Fairfax NPAC (NICU Parent Advisory Council) and also a Hungry Harvest Hero. As an ambassador, she helped deliver fresh produce boxes to 12 families in the NICU during the holidays. Latimer is also a member of the Loudoun chapter of Mocha Moms Inc., a member of Black Women at The Center, and a member of NAACP Loudoun chapter.
Congrats Ms. Latimer this is so amazing and inspiring! Many blessings to your family! 🤗🙏🏾