The Conversation
“This year, I’m going to start cooking more and eating healthier.” Sound like a familiar resolution? While it’s easy enough to say, it’s actually pretty hard to go from dining out almost everyday to being a master at preparing your own food.
1. Plated ($10-$15 per meal): Plated addresses a problem a lot of us have. Sometimes we need certain ingredients, but grocery stores only sell it in certain amounts, resulting in wasted money and spoiled food. After all that, we still have to prep all the food! This is where Plated comes in. You choose a meal online, they send you pre-measured amounts of each ingredient, and a step by step recipe guide with chef tips to help you create the meal. This is perfect for those who want to start off with cooking a few meals a week, without the waste.
2. Pop Up Pantry ($17 per person): Pop Up Pantry is similar to Plated, except they focus on helping you create a 3 course, gourmet meal. Login to create a taste profile, and they’ll give you meals to choose from accordingly. After you pick your meal, they send you the ingredients, step by step instructions, printed menus, and also wine pairing tips. Meals like wild boar ragu with truffled polenta or portobello wellington are perfect for when you’re trying to impress your date on Valentine’s Day ;).
3. Luke’s Local (varies): Want some groceries, and also some pre-made food? Then Luke’s Local is perfect for you. You can tell from the name that Luke’s Local focuses on sourcing fresh, local ingredients. What’s unique about Luke’s Local is that not only do they provide groceries with each Meal Box, like a CSA, but they also include some pre-made meals and snacks. They also have different meals for different diets — including omnivores, vegetarians, and gluten sensitive diets.
4. Blue Apron ($10 per person, per meal): Blue Apron is another subscription meal service, but instead buying one meal a la carte, you buy by the week. Each weekly subscription includes 3 perfectly proportioned meals delivered for free. Like the other delivery services mentioned above, the ingredients are provided, but cooking is up to you! Fortunately, you’ll never need any fancy cookware besides the basics.
5. Full Circle (starts at $21 a week): Looking for fresh, organic produce every week? Full Circle is a CSA that delivers locally sourced, organic foods weekly. You can skip weeks without any charge, and we like how they have multiple different sized boxes. Usually CSA boxes come in one size, but you can order a sprout size box (serves 1-2 people) or the full harvest box (serves 3-5) people.
6. Peapod (varies): Looking to buy groceries while you’re waiting during your commute? Peapod helps you do that! Peapod was the first company to pioneer virtual, interactive grocery stores on train platforms, so that you can ensure even your commute time isn’t wasted! What’s great about Peapod is that not only do they have these virtual grocery stores, you can also shop online or with using your phone with their app. Or, if you’re in the mood to actually go to the store, you can order online and pick it up in person. Peapod really does it all.
7. FreshDirect (varies): FreshDirect, one of the originals. Started back in 2002, FreshDirect is grocery delivery, plain and simple. What’s great about the company is that it has a huge assortment of groceries, and they focus on fresh and sustainable foods. We especially like how the website tells you how long your foodstuffs will last, and when the best season for the item is.
8. Amazon Fresh (varies): It’s Amazon for groceries. Need we say more?
9. PostMates (starting at $7): Need groceries in a jiffy? Postmates is a mobile app that has someone buy and deliver your groceries, all under an hour. If you want more than just groceries, your Postmate can also pick up food from restaurants in the area. What’s even better is that you can actually get to know your Postmate. A photo, experience level, and number of jobs is all listed for your Postmate.
10. Instacart (starting at $4): If you don’t mind waiting a few more hours (3) and would rather pay a little less for delivery than PostMates, then check out Instacart. Like PostMates, it’s a mobile app grocery delivery service. If you’re a loyal Trader Joe’s fan, then Instacart is the mobile app for you as they mainly shop with Trader Joe’s and Safeway.
With all these services, even we’re convinced to go fully digital with our grocery shopping. What service piques your interest the most? Let us know in the comments or on Facebook or Twitter.
Nanette is an all around food enthusiast who loves transforming basic everyday foods into something delicious, and of course, full of sprinkles. You can see more of her at www.nanettewong.com.
More From Recipes
It can be intimidating to step out on your own and build a business from the ground up. As part of our collaboration with Office Depot, we're talking with Selfmade alum and solopreneur Colette Lawrence, the faith-based motivator and relationship builder behind The M.E.E. Movement, about ways in which women in business can find success.
B + C: How did you know M.E.E. Movement was your business to start?
The M.E.E Movement represents motivation, empowerment, and encouragement for women. It is what represents me. I did not know at first that it was my business to start, but then the thought of monetizing what I loved came to me. It scared me, however. I registered the business in July 2020 and have been slowly building my wings since.
B + C: What's one strategy that's helped you start your business?
Thinking through and researching what the requirements are to start my business, and then asking questions of people who are in the business. Not all advice worked; however, it helped me to figure out what I needed to do and not to do.
B + C: Did you always know life coaching would be your entrepreneurial path?
(Smiles) No, I did not. I 'stumbled" on it. I knew that people were always coming to me for advice and I found that I loved having conversations with them, especially with women, young and old.
B + C: What was your most valuable takeaway from Selfmade?
My most valuable takeaway was the first day of training: Get out of your own way. There were a lot of great moments and important takeaways from every presenter. However, getting out of my own way, pushing past doubts, was for me my most valuable takeaway. Doing something that I had never done before took courage. If I do not focus on what is happening with me mentally then I cannot deliver to my clients successfully.
B + C: What's one piece of advice you would give to female entrepreneurs on the brink of starting?
Get out of your head. You have something to offer. You have what you need to succeed so go ahead and do it.
B + C: How do you stay motivated?
I stay motivated by listening to music and listening to motivational speakers, and sometimes someone will just reach out and talk about the impact that I made in their life. That adds the extra juice or sauce I need to pummel through the day.
B + C: What's your best organizational tip?
Keep a diary and journal. It's the best way for me to keep organized and it also provides a source motivation as I record not only my "losses" but my wins as well.
B + C: Who inspires you in the entrepreneurial space?
Shirley Toliver – She motivates and empowers and makes me always want to show up.
B + C: What has receiving the Office Depot scholarship to Selfmade done to help you start or grow your business?
The scholarship was a blessing in that all the areas that were covered offered valuable information that I needed, from social media to HR. As a new business owner, I needed to know this to increase my own personal awareness in what it takes to run a successful business. The candidness of the presenters made it easy to see myself in their shoes and helped me to realize that I can also get there.
Thanks Colette! You can follow The M.E.E. Movement on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Want to feel motivated to take the next step for your business? Let Office Depot OfficeMax give you the confidence you need with a suite of business services & solutions to help you put your best foot forward. Make a good first impression with business cards & build the business pitch of your dreams with custom presentations. With Office Depot OfficeMax you'll find the tools to reach new customers with confidence.
Head to Office Depot's Selfmade page to check out even more amazing business resources (and discounts!) to help you accomplish more on your entrepreneurial journey. These offers are available for a limited time only, so be sure to take advantage of all this goodness while supplies last. Want to join the next Selfmade cohort this summer? Check out all of the scholarship details right here.
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