Jennifer Garner has worn many hats in her life — award-winning actress, businesswoman, and hands-on mom — but when it comes to raising kids, even she admits it’s no walk in the park.
In a recent chat about her organic baby food brand Once Upon a Farm, Garner opened up in a surprisingly honest way about the emotional highs, the unexpected lows, and why motherhood is still the toughest job she’s ever had.
Raising Kids or Raising Capital? Garner Has No Doubt
During a fun rapid-fire Q&A session with her business partner John Foraker, Garner was asked a simple but revealing question: what’s harder — raising kids or raising money? She didn’t hesitate for a second. “Kids!” she exclaimed.
Foraker, the CEO and co-founder of Once Upon a Farm, agreed without missing a beat: “Kids, absolutely.”
Garner is mom to three children — Violet (19), Fin (16, who came out as non-binary last year), and Samuel (13) — whom she shares with ex-husband Ben Affleck.
And despite juggling her successful acting career and a booming food company, she says nothing compares to the challenge of parenting.
The Baby Food Struggles That Sparked a Business
Believe it or not, Once Upon a Farm was born out of Garner’s own frustrations in the kitchen.
She’s always loved cooking, but making baby food? That was another story.
“I had made my kids baby food. I did not like that process,” she admitted.
“It’s very confusing.” That hands-on struggle inspired her to team up with Foraker and build a brand that now has an estimated worth of $100 million — and a mission that goes far beyond profit.
Violet’s Honest Essay Adds a Layer of Complexity
Garner’s recent talk came just days after her daughter Violet made headlines with a vulnerable essay in the Yale Global Health Review.
The piece, published May 18, detailed a tense argument she had with her mom during the Los Angeles wildfires in January.
While Jennifer, who had volunteered to help during the disaster, was visibly shaken by the fires, Violet — a self-described climate-aware Gen Z’er — admitted she was “surprised at her mom’s surprise.”
The essay pulled back the curtain on the very real, sometimes messy conversations between a strong-willed mom and a passionate teenage daughter.
Shutting Down Those Never-Ending Pregnancy Rumors
Garner also took a lighthearted moment to poke fun at a recurring tabloid obsession — the constant rumors that she’s pregnant.
When asked if Once Upon a Farm might go public soon, she quipped, “They also say I’m pregnant,” making the crowd laugh.
She’s dealt with this before. Years ago, fans speculated about a “baby bump” in one of her Instagram photos, which she quickly and firmly addressed: “I am 48, have three healthy kids, and am not — and never will be — pregnant.” It’s clear she has no time for internet nonsense.
Speaking Up for Kids Who Go to Bed Hungry
But the conversation took a serious turn when Garner was asked about looming cuts to federal programs like SNAP and WIC, which provide essential food support to low-income families.
“It’s like we’re being told to feed kids fresh, nutritious food — which is obviously great — but then we’re also talking about cutting the very programs that help families do that,” she said. “It just doesn’t add up.”
Garner pointed out a heartbreaking reality: 90% of kids dealing with food insecurity in the U.S. live in rural areas, often in communities where fresh food simply isn’t available.
“Even in places where food is grown — like Central Valley in California — the only place to shop might be a gas station convenience store,” she explained.
Using Her Voice and Platform for Real Change
As a longtime ambassador for Save the Children, Garner has taken her advocacy to Washington D.C. and rural corners of the country alike.
She shared stories from her visits to California’s Central Valley and New Mexico’s Navajo Nation, where local food banks told her that Once Upon a Farm was sometimes the only fresh food kids had ever tasted.
The company’s goal, she said, is simple: provide one million fresh, healthy meals to children in rural America.
And with a new initiative called Feeding Millions, Garner and Foraker are confident they’ll hit that target by June.
Supporting Women and Teams That Inspire Her
To wrap things up, Garner shared one more passion project — her involvement with Angel City Football Club (ACFC), an LA-based women’s soccer team.
She was brought on board by none other than Natalie Portman, whom she called “so incredible and elegant.”
Once Upon a Farm now partners with the stadium, and Garner hopes the investment continues to boost women in sports and inspire families across the country.
A Mom, a Founder, and a Fighter for Families
At 53, Jennifer Garner is proving that you don’t have to choose between being a mother, a business leader, and an advocate for change.
She’s doing all three — with honesty, humor, and heart. Whether it’s shutting down silly rumors or standing up for hungry kids, she’s showing the world what real influence looks like.