Why Meal Kits Make Sense (For Me): Tip-of-the-Day #334

About four months ago I decided that my dinner rut was taking a toll on the way I was feeling about food. I found myself cooking the same things (with the same spices and flavor profiles) all the time and I nearly always used the same kinds of meats and veggies. BO-ring.

I saw an ad for Hello Fresh and looked into it. It sounded interesting. For me, the price was certainly right ($10 per meal) but equally important, the foods looked easy to prepare and delicious. I decided to give it a try.

The first couple of weeks I was receiving the classic box, which includes meat and seafood. I decided (unrelated to the really good food I was making with Hello Fresh) to try and wean myself off of meat and stick to a mostly vegetarian/pescatarian lifestyle. So, I changed my selection from "Classic" to "Vegetarian." Five months later and I've never looked back! For the first time in my life I am willing to follow a recipe! I have no idea why I was so recipe-averse before, but reading a recipe is easy and guarantees the outcome of your meal. I've combined foods I'd never considered combining, tried spices I don't keep in my spice rack, and found myself snacking post-dinner MUCH LESS because the meals I'm making are so fulfilling.

I have spoken so highly of this service that four of my colleagues at work are now using Hello Fresh! That said, there are other, similar services out there. I just know that my experience with Hello Fresh has been solid and the introductory offer to get started is downright fantastic. You can get $40 off your first week too, bringing the cost down to $20 for six meals!

For those of us who work or have families or both, a meal kit service is great for so many reasons. In summary:

  1. You'll get variety you never pursued on your own
  2. Everything you need to cook each meal is included in your box - there's no grocery shopping involved
  3. You spend far less per meal than you would on take-out or even grocery shopping (the way I shopped anyway!)
  4. Every meal can be prepared in 30 mins or less
  5. Recipes are easy to follow and even come with wine pairing suggestions!

I've heard a few folks squawk about the excessive packaging in each box, but honestly, I see that Hello Fresh is trying to minimize their footprint and each week there are improvements to make the packaging more eco-friendly.

If you find yourself in the same rut I was in, give a meal kit service a try. I think you'll love it!

Top Ten Reasons to Volunteer: Tip-of-the-Day #333

 
There are many reasons to volunteer. I can tell you that I do it because I know I'm supporting a cause I'm passionate about and that animals are actually finding homes because of the work I do with Jake's Place Cat Rescue. I did think this "top ten reasons to volunteer" round up was helpful however, so I'm spreading the love.
  1. It's good for your health! Studies have found that when you stop thinking about your own problems and focus on someone other than yourself, your stress levels start to decrease, your immune system is strengthened and your overall sense of life satisfaction increases.
  2. It's great for your career! It helps you create a positive impression, makes you more innovative, creative and gives you a range of useful skills.
  3. You can learn new skills! Employers love a candidate with a range of soft skills and luckily, volunteering gives you plenty of those. 
  4. Get real-world experience! Another amazing motivator for volunteering is the insightful, real-world experiences that volunteers gain in the field. 
  5. Make a difference. Volunteering, at home or abroad, gives you the chance to vote every day about the kind of community and world you want to live in. It gives you the opportunity to be apart of something bigger than yourself and use your civic responsibility for the greater good.
  6. Give back to a cause you believe in. Your reason for volunteering should begin where your passions lie. Let your love for animals, teaching or healthcare create positive change in the world.
  7. Change/save a life. Your actions, whether big or small will have an impact on someone’s life (in my case, cats.)
  8. Make real connections. Volunteering lets you meet people from all walks of life. It gives you the chance to form real relationships that can have a lasting impact on your life. You could meet your new best friend, future business partner or have a conversation that sparks a real change in your life.
  9. Gain a whole new perspective. This shift in perspective opens your mind to what is truly important, puts to bed age-old stereotypes and shows you how small your problems are in the grand scheme of things.
  10. Get inspired. You can use volunteering as a reason to get out of old routine and help you figure out what your next steps will be. Also good if your job is dull and you need stimulation outside of the nine to five.



If you live in the Bay Area and want to foster or adopt a cat from my organization, check out www.jakesplacecatrescue.org. =^..^-=