Once upon a time, the whole family sat down to a home-cooked meal. That meal was usually made by Mom and included food from each of the four food groups. That’s what we knew and – let’s be honest – it had its good points.
Fast forward a few decades. We know a lot more about nutrition and many of us choose to eat healthier (go veggies!). That’s great. What’s sometimes not-so-great is the fact that many of us simply don’t have a lot of time to shop and cook a healthy meal. Between work, homework, and other activities, it’s sometimes easier to reach into the freezer or grab takeout. We can still put together a healthy meal that way, but we may be missing out on the great feeling of accomplishment that only comes with creating a complete dinner with your own two hands.
Thanks to Purple Carrot, you can find a good compromise. If you haven’t heard of it, Purple Carrot is a meal delivery service that provides everything you need to make three healthy dinners. The ingredients are measured for you and everything is neatly packaged. Simply follow the directions on the enclosed recipe cards, and you have a great meal in no time.
I was provided with a trial box. Of the three meals, my favorite was the Mapo Tofu with Steamed Bok Choy and Jasmine Rice. The steps were easy to follow and I finished everything right on schedule. The portions were big (I had leftovers) and, even though the ingredients sat in my fridge for four days – everything was fresh and bright.
You can choose meals plans to feed 1-2 or 3-4 people. Every week you get a preview of the next week’s meals. If you don’t like the options, you can elect to skip that week’s delivery. The majority of the packaging is recyclable or reusable, and nutritional information is included.
If you want to know more about Purple Carrot and the plans and meal options visit the website (you’ll find a code for $20 off your first order) and read our prior review. If you want to know more about the man behind Purple Carrot – Andy Levitt, Founder & CEO – keep reading!
Chic Vegan: Purple Carrot provides great vegan meals. Do you follow a vegan diet yourself?Andy Levitt: I am actually of the “everything in moderation” mindset, so I am not fully vegan – though I do eat primarily a plant-based diet. I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease in 2012, and after transitioning my diet to more plant-based meals and less animal protein, I found it made a huge difference in how I felt, and it has actually altered the course of my disease.
AL: The Forks Over Knives documentary was really what inspired me. At the encouragement of a good friend, I watched the documentary with my wife in 2014 and knew at the moment what I had to do. I really felt compelled to raise awareness around the tremendous health and environmental benefits that come from plant-based eating, and I left my longtime career in pharmaceuticals behind to start Purple Carrot. It was a pretty big shift from promoting the value of Western medicine as the antidote for chronic health conditions to focusing on food as medicine, and helping people eat more plants for their health and that of our environment.CV: What are your biggest challenges? Your biggest rewards?
AL: As the meal kit delivery industry continues to grow, our biggest challenge is to have our story resonate with people so that they feel like that are part of something greater than themselves by being a Purple Carrot subscriber. I’m incredibly proud of what we have achieved so far as a company, to have earned a recognized spot in the national conversation around meal kits is beyond what I could have hoped for. It’s great to know we are making a difference by helping people across the country to embrace a healthier lifestyle.
Happy dining!
