Jennifer Garner has always been candid about her life as a mom, but recently she shared some fresh insights about what really tests her patience — and it’s not what you might expect.
While chatting about her organic children’s food brand, Once Upon a Farm, she revealed just how tough raising kids can be, especially compared to running a business.
During a fun rapid-fire Q&A, Jennifer was asked which was harder: raising children or raising capital for her company.
Without missing a beat, she said, “Kids!” Her business partner, John Foraker, the CEO and co-founder, agreed wholeheartedly.
From Baby Food Battles to a $100 Million Company
One struggle Jennifer recalled from her early days of motherhood was making baby food.
Despite her love for cooking, the process of preparing baby food felt confusing and frustrating to her.
That challenge actually helped inspire Once Upon a Farm, which she co-founded with John and has grown into a business now valued around $100 million.
The Family Side: Kids, Arguments, and Growing Up
Jennifer is mom to three children she shares with ex-husband Ben Affleck — Violet, 19; Fin, 16, who came out as non-binary last year; and Samuel, 13.
Recently, her daughter Violet stirred up attention with a heartfelt essay about a tense moment they shared during the Los Angeles wildfires, highlighting the complexities of their mother-daughter relationship.
Violet expressed surprise at her mom’s reaction to the fires, since she’s grown up knowing climate change means wildfire threats are inevitable.
Jennifer, meanwhile, was still processing the shock of the disaster as she volunteered to help.
Addressing Rumors with Humor and Honesty
Jennifer also took a moment to address some long-standing rumors, including the amusing one about a possible pregnancy.
When asked about the “quiet rumors” of her company’s potential IPO, she joked, “They also say I’m pregnant.”
She even set the record straight years ago when fans thought she had a baby bump in an Instagram photo, telling them she wasn’t pregnant — just possibly gained a little weight during COVID-19.
Fighting for Children’s Nutrition Amid Government Cuts
Jennifer’s conversation went deeper when she spoke about the proposed government cuts to programs like SNAP and WIC, which help feed women, infants, and children.
She pointed out the contradiction in pushing for healthy food while simultaneously slashing vital support that families rely on.
“It’s a no-brainer that kids should eat simple, fresh, nutritious food,” Jennifer said, “but how can we expect that if we cut funding for the programs that help families put food on the table?”
She highlighted the alarming fact that 90% of food-insecure kids live in rural America, where even places surrounded by farms often only have convenience stores selling processed food, not fresh produce.
Real-Life Experiences with Save the Children
Jennifer’s passion for this cause comes from hands-on work.
She’s been on trips with Save the Children to places like Central Valley, California, and the Navajo Nation in New Mexico.
There, she learned that Once Upon a Farm was sometimes the only source of fresh food those kids had ever seen.
Her mission with the company is to increase access to healthy, simple foods for children, aiming to serve one million meals to kids in rural areas by June, thanks in part to a partnership with Feeding Millions.
New Partnerships and Future Goals
Before wrapping up, Jennifer encouraged everyone to check out Angel City Football Club, a project she’s invested in thanks to encouragement from Natalie Portman, whom she described as “so incredible and elegant.”
This partnership ties into Once Upon a Farm’s efforts to promote healthy living and community support.