I’m always fighting that gap between my intentions and my actions. I intend to eat healthful, produce-filled meals each week, but I need a little help turning that into action. If I haven’t selected a recipe ahead of time, I’m not likely to purchase more than a bunch of bananas or a few apples at the grocery store. When hunger strikes, I ransack the kitchen to find only cereal, ramen, and the odd raisin. If only someone would stuff my fridge and fruit bowl full of local, organic produce. Then I couldn’t help but eat it.
The next best thing is having a bin of fruit and veggie delights dropped off at my doorstep every other Friday.
I signed up with Green Bean Delivery a year ago and have been absolutely delighted with the decision. Every two weeks, the company delivers a small produce bin full of local and/or organic fruits and vegetables. I’m notified of the selection the week prior and have an opportunity to make substitutions. The advance notice also gives me a chance to plan the additional groceries I’ll need to turn my bin into many tasty meals.
That bin has been great motivation. I can’t stand the thought of $35 of produce rotting, so I do my best to make use of it all. Beefy and I have fine-tuned our corn salsa thanks to the many ears of local corn I’ve found in the bin. I’ve eaten entire avocados in one sitting without a bit of guilt. We’ve “beefed up” our Jiffy blueberry muffins with real, organic blueberries. I’ve roasted nearly every vegetable you can think of. (When stumped for a recipe idea, my go-to is roasting with olive oil, salt, and garlic.) Without Green Bean Delivery, I never would have begun experimenting with beets, nor would I have developed my Curried Beet and Sweet Potato soup. (Yum!)
The bin hasn’t replaced the produce I buy at the grocery store. If anything, it prompts me to buy more produce when I’m shopping so that I can fill out a recipe. I’ve easily doubled my produce consumption from last June.
I’m eating well and feeling good about supporting local and organic farms.
How do you incorporate plenty of produce into your diet? Anyone else subscribe to a produce delivery service?
Sporty Sunday is a recurring feature in which I share my fitness routine and offer and solicit advice. While this content might seem a little out of place in an outfit diary, a healthy, strong body is the foundation of my wardrobe. I hope to inspire my readers to be fit as well as stylish!
I have really been wanting to get on board with something like this. And sadly that company is just short of where I live (Middle Tennessee).
ReplyDeleteI've been trying to talk with my in-laws about getting involved with more local farms and the possibility of ordering a quarter cow and a CSA box. Still haven't convinced them.
I see their delivery vans all the time around Cincinnati! Thanks for the information on this delivery service, I really want to give them a try. I am not one to buy organic everything, but organic milk and organic produce are musts for me and my family!
ReplyDeleteI have a seasonal diat, and for twelve summers now I've been buying a carry bag's worth of produce at Findlay Market--Madison's and that nameless produce stand out front. ($20 usually.)
ReplyDeleteBut I don't mix it up too much, so I've thought about using the other one--Maggy May's, I think. They deliver to the office.
Maybe next winter. When it's too cold to walk, I'll just pick stuff up at Kroger, so maybe i'll do the delivery thing then. The variety does seem fun.
Yes! 2 years ago I started having organic fruit and veg delivered and it changed my life. I hardly have to go to the supermarket (compared to before, anyway). Even better, the quality is so much higher than stuff we can buy in the stores, it's like it's been picked that morning. I love it. And on Friday I signed up for local milk to be delivered - getting the good vibes of supporting local farmers.
ReplyDeleteDo you ever share your recipes? I'd be interested in the soup recipe you have.... :) Anna
I joined a local CSA this year - I pick up my "half-share" (which is plenty for my family of 2) every Thursday after work. We get an email the day before telling us what to expect. This week I got cucumbers, squash, a large cabbage, okra, tomatoes, 4 ears of corn, bell peppers and a bunch of basil and parsley. Earlier in the season I got Swiss chard, potatoes, bok choy, beets, and fennel and lots of herbs. I also get 6 fresh eggs each week. All for $18.75/week. I am cooking so much more at home and eating some new to me veggies. Everything tastes SO much better fresh. I can't believe the difference! I've already signed up for the fall season.
ReplyDeleteI've wondered about these produce delivery services. It's encouraging to know that it's working so well for you. Is this something you have to sign up for at the beginning of the season?
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love roasted veggies. It makes even ones that I hate super tasty. I found my initial inspiration years ago in one of Mollie Katzen's books, 'Vegetable Heaven'. I hadn't realized that so many vegetables could be roasted.
Oh, I second the request for you Curried Beet and Sweet Potato soup, if you like sharing recipes. Thanks.
ReplyDeletemaryeb - I think sign-up timing depends on the service. With Green Bean, I can sign up anytime. With a co-op type arrangement, it may need to be at the beginning of a season.
ReplyDeleteAnd I guess next week's Sporty Sunday will be my Curried Beet and Sweet Potato Soup recipe!
I have been toying with this idea, but I'm afraid that what you perceive as a motivation would be too much pressure for me. We'll see...
ReplyDeleteSonja
That's great! We did a CSA last year but with our work schedules the pickup didn't always work out, and about half of our produce went to the food bank. Although that's not necessarily a bad thing! We do have a decent amount of land to grow some things of our own, but definitely not an entire diet.
ReplyDeleteNow with all this extra organic material in your life, and chance you would consider vermicomposting?
I read a very interesting book The Dirty Life about a NYC transplant who married a farmer and they started their own CSA. It was entertaining, you might enjoy it as well :)
I've been using Bountiful Baskets for a couple of years now. They are a food co-op (mostly in western states, but expending all the time) and offer a decent deal, though they do require you to pick up early Saturdays.
ReplyDeleteThis summer I tried something different and signed up for a local CSA and so far it's been pretty awesome. I got a half share that gets picked up every week, and it's more than just the hubby and I can eat. I'm breaking out the canning gear to save some for later.
We also signed up for Green Bean and are loving it so far! This week we're testing our hand at eggplant parm!
ReplyDelete