How Green Chef Helped Kickstart My Health Reboot

As far as healthy eating and fitness are concerned, this past year has been a big giant ooof for me. I’ve been lucky enough to keep healthy and happy, but I've also developed some bad habits. I spent a lot more time inside, and as a result, my sofa cushions have developed a Lindsey-sized imprint.

I’m not exactly what you would call “naturally active.” By nature, slippers are my favorite fashion accessory, so I’ve always had to force myself to get off my buns and move every once in a while. For me, motivation is a vital resource that is always in short supply, and exercise has to be scheduled or it just won’t happen. When gyms shut down and recommendations were made to stay inside, I had every excuse I needed to press pause on my normal workout routine. 

My diet also took a hit. Carb-fests, comfort foods, and richer-than-usual desserts took up more and more space on the menu and started to squeeze out veggies and lean proteins. Before I knew it, the effects started to show: I was lethargic, tired, and dragging my feet all the way to the kitchen. Something needed to give, and I knew that if I was going to make lasting changes they’d need to be significant. 

As someone who’s been obsessed with subscription boxes for the last 7 years or so, I decided to stick with what I know. Why not use my favorite retail pastime to fuel my health reboot? 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Green Chef (@greenchef)

There are plenty of meal delivery subscriptions to choose from, but I knew I needed to pick just the right one. I came up with a checklist:

• healthy meals (because that’s the whole point)
• veggie-centric recipes (because my diet was lacking in greens)
• tasty food (so I’d actually want to eat it)
• good-sized portions (so I wouldn’t be sneaking off to the kitchen for more food)
• transparent nutritional info (so I could log my meals and track my calorie intake)
• big menu (so I have lots of meals to choose from each week)

Looking at the various options,  I decided to go with Green Chef, a meal kit delivery service that’s healthy and certified organic. When you sign up for Green Chef, there are three different menus to choose from each week: Balanced Living, Keto + Paleo, and Plant Powered. I’ve never been that keen on Keto dieting, but I’m an open-minded eater who enjoys eating vegetarian meals at least a few nights a week. Across all three menus, there are 20+ meals to choose from, and the recipes are packed full of healthy ingredients. I’d reviewed Green Chef quite a few times before, so I didn't have any concerns about the food. I knew I could count on Green Chef to keep my taste buds happy.  

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Green Chef (@greenchef)

I signed up for deliveries, put a padlock on my kitchen cabinet where I keep the chocolate, and summoned up my resolve. As with any dietary shift, it took me a few days to settle into my new routine. For the first little while, I kept on craving the salty snacks and sweet treats that had previously been a core part of my diet. Before long though, I settled in. 

For my first few deliveries, I selected meals from the Balanced Living menu. Given that I was giving up a lot of the delicious indulgences I’d gotten so used to eating, I didn’t want to restrict my options more than necessary. Keeping meat and gluten on the menu as I allowed time for the healthy changes to sink their talons into my lifestyle seemed like a wise move. To go along with my new diet, I also got back in the exercise groove, forcing myself to at the very least go out for a walk every day. 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Green Chef (@greenchef)

Wouldn’t you know it? After only about a week, it was like someone swapped out my batteries. I had energy again. I felt a spring in my step. I actually felt EAGER to double down and keep going. For weeks three and four, I opted to order from the Plant Powered menu, and I didn’t miss the meat from my dinnertime meals in the slightest. To my surprise, I actually found myself looking forward to veggies and getting excited about fresh summer salads!

I’ve now been going strong for over a month, and I feel great about getting closer to my health and wellness goals. Now that the changes have taken hold, I’m not sure I really need to rely so fully on Green Chef to keep me on track, but I’m going to keep my subscription active as I transition back to planning my own meals. The recipes have given me lots of inspiration, and I’m excited to recreate some of them with my own ingredients. I'll probably still order a box from time to time if I need a break from cooking.

I'm feeling pretty great, and I’m proud of myself for not letting my bad habits become a permanent lifestyle change. To be honest, I still spend a lot of time sitting on my favorite sofa. (I do work from home, after all.) But I’m spending a lot more time in sneakers and a lot less wearing my slippers. 

Want to learn more about Green Chef?

About Green Chef

The Subscription Box: Green Chef

The Cost:

• 2 PERSON PLANS:
  • 3 meals per week, 2 servings each, for $12.99 per serving + $8.99 shipping
  • 4 meals per week, 2 servings each, for $12.49 per serving + $8.99 shipping
• 4 PERSON FAMILY PLANS:
  • 2 meals per week, 4 servings each, for $12.49 per serving + $8.99 shipping
  • 3 meals per week, 4 servings each, for $11.99 per serving + $17.98 shipping
  • 4 meals per week, 4 servings each, for $11.49 per serving + $17.98 shipping
• 6 PERSON FAMILY PLANS:
  • 3 meals per week, 6 servings each, for $11.49 per serving + $26.97 shipping
  • 4 meals per week, 6 servings each, for $11.49 per serving + $26.97 shipping

ACTIVE DEAL: Limited Time Only! Get $250 off + free shipping
CODE: MSA200

Ships To: Green Chef currently ships to most zip codes in the United States, with the exception of AK, HI, and some parts of LA. You can check to see if Green Chef delivers to your zip code while signing up.

What do you think of Green Chef? Let us know in the comments!