One of the highlights of the last few weeks has been my new veg and food box delivery every Thursday. I was running a list of the benefits of “doorstep boxes” in my head yesterday and came up with the ones below.
From supporting local growers to less waste to the “surprise factor”, the advantages of shopping and eating like this are massive – especially during this pandemic, and especially now, when how we live and what we eat doesn’t just affect us personally, the effects ripple through our communities and impact our planet.
So I thought I’d share 15 reasons (I’m sure there are more, please add!) why I’m loving my organic fruit and veg box, along with some summer lunch ideas.
One of summer’s pleasures is layering a big bowl of salad full of colours…rich purple beets, sun-ripened tomatoes, mixed leaves in Pantone greens, sweet yellow corn, wild aromatic herbs, crunchy orange carrots, a dash of vinegar, honey and a generous glug of a good olive oil.
So off the top of my head, here are some of the big advantages of setting up an organic delivery box subscription (if you’re looking for one close to you, The Soil Association has a list on its website).
- You know the produce has been freshly picked and has a higher nutrient value (compared to supermarket produce which isn’t as fresh because of the logistics and storage involved prior to it hitting the shelves in the shop)
- Organic boxes are low impact and better for the environment (nothing is flown in, there are no exotic fruits that have travelled long distances en route to the supermarket – and you’re not driving to the shops burning up fuel and contributing to air pollution)
- Delivered straight to your door, saving time (you just need to be at home or have a safe place for delivery)
- No plastic (although my box does sometimes contain strawberries in a plastic box)
- Returnable or easily recycled packaging – ie the box
- You reap all the health benefits of eating organic
- You’re supporting local growers and farms and community enterprises
- You end up eating a wider variety of fruit and veg that you might not usually buy if you were shopping for food yourself, and maybe discover new veg you’ve never tried before (which can be a good thing nutritionally)
- By eating “in season” you thrive in sync with nature
- Flavour is often better (I find this with salad leaves and the herbs like mint, basil and thyme, especially)
- The produce doesn’t have to look “perfect” (case in point: ODDBOX “rescues” ugly fruit and veg from being thrown away and they also work with food charity City Harvest who collects ODDBOX’s surplus produce and “uses it to feed those going hungry on the streets of London”)
- You won’t have to recycle any fruit or veg packaging like clingfilm, plastic trays or cartons, etc etc etc used in supermarkets
- You’ll find yourself naturally shifting towards a more plant-based, fibre-rich diet
- The surprise factor (!) admittedly there will be items you don’t like (mine has been cabbage which I would normally never buy but I’ve been using it to make a carrot and white cabbage coleslaw with walnuts and crisp, finely chopped apples) but overall the spontaneity of trying new recipes based on what appears in the box on any given Thursday has been fun
- Fundamentally, organic farming respects and helps protect wildlife and wildflowers, and – maybe the most fundamental point of all – this is how we’re supposed to eat and live, to thrive, stay healthy, and look after our collective abode – Our Planet.
CONTENTS OF ONE BOX Carrots, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes, Leeks, Onions, Beetroot, Coriander, Mint, Cucumbers, Courgettes, Cabbage, Red Leaf Lettuce, Batavia Lettuce + Apples, Strawberries, Galia Melon, Lemons
SALADS
VEGETARIAN & FISH DISHES
SWEET THINGS
Apple Compote with Cinnamon and Walnuts (topped with Greek yoghurt and eucalyptus honey)
Not related to the organic box at all, but I made some dark chocolate and almond butter “chocolates” – delicious and so easy! Gently melt some dark chocolate with a little coconut oil, drizzle it into an ice cube tray, add a thick layer of almond butter (you may have to slightly melt it) then drizzle another thin layer of dark cho on top.