Summer CSA Review

So my last pick up for my Summer CSA is over and I didn't sign up for the Fall/Winter version. While I think it is a great concept here is why it doesn't work for our family (but first you must always start with the positive : )

What I liked:

1. Right from the farm veggies are delicious and sometimes the grocery I shop at lacks in the organic section.



2. Pick up was easy. We picked a place that either my husband or I could get to.



3. I got to try some veggies I wouldn't normally try like bok Choy, cabbage and some weird alien broccoli/Cauliflower mashup.



4. It did force me to eat more veggies in the summer and be a little creative with the menu.



5. You are forced to eat seasonal which is good for you.

Things I didn't like

1. SO MANY VEGGIES. Even doing a half share and getting to swap out things we liked better each week we had so many that I felt like I had to eat all the time to use them up. I should have had a better plan of sharing, freezing or giving stuff away each week.



2. Cost of $20 was very reasonable for the amount we got but I have to see if I will save some money just buying what I will eat per week.



3. I missed some veggies that I didn't get enough of or they just don't grow. Mushrooms for omelets and celery to munch on. I never thought I would say that!

If you haven't checked it out here are some recipes I made with what I got.

Tuna "Noodle" Casserole

Spinach & Zucchini

Ride along on the Food Trigger Detox Train

Hi, my name is Sarah and I am addicted to food. Yes, sadly it has come to that. As in any journey you will have bumps, detours and wrong turns along the way and I am fighting hard againt all that right now. Over 2 years ago I was focused and learned a lot of new things that helped to improve my overall health and fitness level. I was excited to share what I had learned with others.

Then somewhere over the past 8 months I stopped applying what I had learned and got caught up in a lot of bad habits. I quickly learned it is one thing to KNOW something and a whole different ballgame to APPLY it. I was doing challenge groups and trying hard to get back into it but the struggle has been real. It has come to the point whre I need to have a serious intervention and deal one on one with my food issues. Hence I am starting my 30 days of removing food triggers from my diet and I am inviting you along for the ride!

Based on the Whole 30 concept (Highly suggest you read that or "It all Starts with Food"), I am removing the foods that are connected to bad habits for me including grains, sugar in all forms, alcohol and dairy. I am also not going to be making any treat items like paleo pancakes or donuts even if they are technically ok. I am still on the fence about making smoothies and will be using some supplement drinks I use for running. My biggest bad habits right now include craving sweets after meals, stress eating, late might eating and not being able to stop eating once I start on certain foods like sweets.

I started last Monday with a 3 Day Refresh program which always gets me back on track but by Wednesday I as ready for more food options. I have been focusing on lean protein sources, LOTS of vegetables and few fruits and healthy fats. Foods are very similar to the 21 Day Fix plan (although a little more strict) but I am interested to find out if not keeping track of portion size makes a difference for me. This past weekend I faced a lot of temptations but held strong. I am starting week 2 and the only side effect that has been rough is my lack of energy but that was to be expected until my body adjusts. Looking forward to seeing where the next weeks will take me.

If you are interested in what I am eating follow me on Facebook or Instagram @lifestyleforward.

Joining the CSA – Dare to be Adventurous

I have been thinking about joining a CSA for a while now but just couldn’t get myself to sign up. Since this year my life is focusing around the one Word CHANGE, I decided this summer it was time to take the leap of faith and give it a try. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) has become a popular way for consumers to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer. A farmer offers a certain number of "shares" to the public. Typically the share consists of a box of vegetables, but other farm products may be included. Interested consumers purchase a share (aka a "membership" or a "subscription") and in return receive a box (bag, basket) of seasonal produce each week throughout the farming season.

 Here are the reasons I wanted to give it a try:

Fresh Produce
Let’s face it, it doesn’t get much fresher then right from the farm. Since I was born with a black thumb and lack of patience to grow my own garden this seems to be a good answer. I also have found it very confusing to find the right from the farm products at grocery stores and produce stands now. You really have to ask questions to make sure it is right from the farm or if it was trucked in from somewhere else.

Food Adventure
With a CSA you have an idea of what is going to be available that week but you don’t know exactly what you get until you get it. It sounded like a great way to force me to try some new veggies and ways to cook up my old favorites since I will be eating them a lot.

Forced to Eat my Veggies
Because I am also super cheap I am hoping that instead of letting my veggies go bad each week I will be forced to eat them. Eating more veggies can only be a good thing.

For my CSA this year I have loved what I have gotten so far. I am making a lot of salads, omelets and smoothies to use up the amble supplies of vegetables I am given each week. It has given a little more structure to my weekly meal plans because I plan our meals around what we are given.

Ideally you want to start a CSA at the beginning of a growing season (Spring, Summer or Winter) but many farms let you sign up during the season for a prorated fee. I encourage you to give it a try for one season and see if it changes your eating and shopping habits. 

3 Day Refresh Adventure

I decided to give the 3 Day Refresh Program a try because I have been hearing great stories about it and I got to a place where I really needed some extra help trying to reach my goal weight and just get back on track with my eating habits. I normally don't like the all shake approach as I know I can't stay on that long since I love food WAY too much but I figured 3 days wouldn't be too much to commit to.

Cucumber Salad

Day 1: Excited and ready to start. Got on the scale, took photos and knew I was really ready to start. My stress eating had crept up on me! Had my water then Shakeology and strawberries for breakfast. Lunch was Red peppers, almond butter and my Vanilla Fresh shake with an orange, snack was carrots and almond butter, Dinner was Cucumber salad with tomatoes and a shake with cinnamon. I drank my tea and the Fiber sweep in the morning. It doesn’t look good looking but it actually tasted good and you drink it pretty quick. I did some walking today but tried to keep it low key. Went to bed feeling good.

So Much Green it has to be Good!

Day 2: Woke up to my water, Shakeology with dark cherries and a healthy #2 so I know things are working. It was a busy day so I made sure I had my eating/drinking times in my phone calendar so it would tell me what was next. I had planned a run today with a friend so I was feeling a little more on the hungry side but stuck with it. I kept telling myself it is only 3 days! Lunch was Spinach salad with red peppers and olive oil, shake and 1/2 apple. Snack was celery with almond butter. Dinner was roasted asparagus with almonds and the shake.

Flavor your shakes to change them up!

Day 3: Ok I am ready for some real food but I am staying strong. Water, them Shakeology with 1/2 apple this morning. Got my fiber drink a little late because of a social event that I really didn't feel like whipping out my unflattering looking drink at. Lunch was cucumber salad with olive oil and oregano and shake with an orange again. Snack was celery with almond butter. Dinner was Spinach salad with asparagus and pumpkin seeds. Then I went to bed and was done.

Morning of Day 4 I weighed in…..5 Pounds lost! Now I know that some of that is water weight but you know what I don’t care. I found that the 3 day program was just what I needed to get me back on track and help me lose that bloated feeling. I didn't experience any yucky side effects like extra gas or bowel movements (TMI?)

 

 

A few key things that worked for me:

• 

  Favorite Tea on Ice!

  Having a great flavored tea made it a treat to look forward too. I changed it up each time for something different. Some cold and some hot too.

• Keeping busy. It helped that I planned activities to keep my mind of food but not too much so it was a pain to always be at home to make my shakes.

• Mix up your foods. Having something different everyday gave me something to look forward to.

If you are looking for help to lose a few pounds or to get your eating habits back on track, Email me at sarah@lifestyleforward.com and I will support you for YOUR 3 Days!