I started my plant-based journey in 2007. At the time, I was an undergraduate student focused on my small world on campus. Documentaries, cable, a large refrigerator, and unlimited cell phone data were not in the cards. My search for weekend jobs led me to a house-sitting gig for my boss, where I was volunteering. I was welcome to watch tv, hello Netflix, and snack on her food when I stayed at her house. A lot of her food was Morning Star, a brand with which I was not familiar. I chatted with her about her food preferences and asked why she chose black bean patties over frozen chicken patties. She introduced me to the benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle and recommended I watch Forks Over Knives the next time I am over. This documentary changed my life. Knowledge is power. That was the beginning, and I continued to learn, read, and evolve my food preferences. I tried eating vegetarian only for a few years, pescatarian, then went back to a regular diet. I kept changing my diet each time I made a mistake and ate something I was not supposed to. I felt I was no longer inside of the box I put myself in and had to give up. Over ten years later, I have made a lot of changes since that time. Today, as seen in my previous post, I strive for plant-based and minimally processed as much as I can. There are various buzzwords for this diet including flexitarian, 80/20 rule, and even paleo. I try not to focus on labels, or cut out foods, but rather focus on adding healthier options to my routine.
The most challenging part of these goals is the investment of time to figure out my weekly menu. There are so many resources available to create nutritious, quick, and delicious meals, for which I am very grateful, but they all take time. First, I have to sift through and decide what recipes I want to make. Some require you to take a chance on a new set of ingredients, spices, or techniques. While these investments are a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon, they are not practical for weeknights. I should also mention that I am not a fan of meal prepping. This is a hill I will die on. Do I like leftovers? Sure. Is it convenient? Absolutely. Do I want to eat all of my food, sometimes almost a week old, from reheated containers? Definitely not. I inevitably find myself bored and placing a carryout order if I am not adequately prepared at the start of the week. I head to a local spot for a freshly prepared vegan meal, always more expensive than the home-cooked version, or conveniently ordering pizza. Ideally, I want freshly prepared and diverse meals. Solving all these issues would help me achieve my healthy lifestyle goals.
Enter Purple Carrot. Purple Carrot is a food subscription box that delivers vegan recipe kits. Purple carrot focuses on whole foods, including vegetables and whole grains. Every week you choose a minimum of three dinners from a menu with about eight dinner options. Each serving cost $11.99, totaling $71.94 per week for two. They provide a discount on your first order. Most meals are for two, but some options are available for four. The foods are often a variety of ethnic spices to pack in flavor and makes you feel like you are eating out at your favorite Indian or Chinese restaurant. Basil gnocchi, Indian curry, mango rice, and gochujang flavored sweet potato have all been on our dinner table. We started this food delivery kit three months ago due to limitations getting to the grocery store, but will stay for the convenience, health, and quality. I hope to do monthly roundups of Purple Carrot and discuss some of my favorite recipes.
Overall, this service is a game-changer for staying on track with plant-based eating goals. Purple Carrot ensures that three days a week, I am adhering to my goals. I love eating nutritious and delicious meals that I prepared. And my weeknights are enjoyable and low stress. You also still have a few days a week available for cooking or eating out, depending on the number of meals a week you order. But, if you are anything like me, you will crave those stops less and less as your comfort with plant-based dishes increases. I plan to review my favorite Purple Carrot dishes monthly, but if you have more questions about this service, let me know.
How do you achieve your goals and eat healthy during the week?
