As a lifelong vegetarian, I obviously have a lot of vegetables in my life. Why did I need or want a CSA box? Partly out of boredom and partly out of curiosity, I signed up for a CSA box last fall. Over the past year, my diet has completely changed, as have my eating habits, in ways I never expected. Let me explain how.
How my CSA box has changed my diet
First of all, what’s a CSA box?
CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. Fruit and vegetable subscription “share” boxes that are sourced from local farmers and shared with consumers in their communities. Some are organic and some are conventional. While all CSA’s are set up slightly differently, most require members to commit to a size (small/med) and frequency to receive their box (weekly/bi weekly etc). Local and smaller farmers benefit from selling produce ahead of time to their members.
6 Ways I’ve benefited from my CSA box
I am trying new vegetables
I was pretty intimidated at first when I unpacked veggies I had never cooked with before. Winter root vegetables such as kohlrabi and parsnips were 2 that I had never prepared. I was forced to figure out what to do with them once I unpacked them.
My diet is much more varied
Sure, I always packed my cart full of veggies at the grocery store each week but they were the same veggies week to week. I was in a rut of eating the same 5 or 6 vegetables each week. I now have a much wider variety of veggies in my repertoire.
I meal plan more
When I get the list of what to expect in my box each week, I start thinking up recipe ideas. I am planning ahead each week with the ingredients I know I will receive.
I meal prep
I never really saw the value in meal prep until recently. Each Sunday afternoon, I am roasting vegetables and preparing meal bases for the week. The huge sweet potatoes from this month are prepped and ready for my go to Sweet Potato Toast breakfast .
Better Snacking
The past few weeks I’ve received celery and carrots which I immediately peeled and cut. Now, when I open the fridge looking for an afternoon snack, I have a healthy choice right in front of me. I am currently snacking on carrots and hummus or celery and peanut butter. No need to look in my pantry for something less healthy.
I am cooking much more creative meals
Having new produce each week has encouraged me to be more creative with my cooking. I love finding new ways to enjoy the veggies in my box.
Tell me-Do you vary your fruits and veggies each week or tend to stick to the same ones? Do you subscribe to a CSA box?
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This sounds great! I tend to stick to the same veggie week after week. I think it would be a bit intimidating to get something Ive never cooked with before! But also fun to experiment.
Exactly! Fun and intimidating
My husband is so bad about eating veggies, he’s dragging me down. A CSA would not work for us, but I love to try new veggies once in a while.
Perhaps if you had one delivered he might try some new stuff. My hubs does not eat any of it-so more for me
That black bean taco zoodle dish looks delicious. I would like to incorporate more veggies in my diet. I feel like when I get them I need to eat them right away because they go back quickly.
That’s one of the reasons I spend time the day of cooking a few things that I can then turn into meals later in the week
I tend to eat veggies, but normally the same ones over and over (same with fruits). I think I’ll look into splitting a CSA box with a friend as I know it would be hard to get through all the produce by myself!
That’s a great idea! Most of them have different sizes too so hopefully you can find one that works for you too
Ironically, my vegetarian husband is not a veggie lover, so I tend to stick with the basics or try to sneak veggies in. I love the idea of a CSA box though. I need to look into it.
I am so loving it! Maybe you could sneak some new stuff into his diet
I love CSA boxes! That sweet potato toast looks AMAZING.
Thanks it’s one of my fave breakfasts
When I received the Green Blender box to review for my blog, it opened up my eyes to a whole new world of ingredients! I love that the CSA box has done that for you.
It’s just great isn’t it?!
So cool! I really love that the CSA makes you try new veggies. If I didn’t have a garden, I’d totally do this.
Honestly the box sounds way easier too!
Next stop is my own garden!
Every once in a while, my husband and I will go to a farmers market and pick one vegetable that we have never tried before and make a meal out of it. The most challenging was Daikon which we made patties out of similar to hash browns.
it is fun to do that! I wish my hubs would be a little more adventurous on the veggies
That is a wonderful idea! Although I’m a carnivore, those black bean taco zoodles look divine! I have yet to try zoodles …and as much as I love pasta, I know it would be a much healthier choice.
You could try mixing them together at first to see what you think
My CSA box gave me anxiety, actually. On the one hand, it was awesome, on the other hand, this just wasn’t the summer to try it!
I had anxiety at first about how to use up everything. I got better at it as the weeks went by. You did have a stressful summer so maybe not the best time for you try it.
CSA box is a great idea. I love all veggies but I do tend to buy the same ones each week! This morning I was actually looking for parsnips for a change, but no luck. The CSA would be a great way to vary my vegetables.
I am really enjoying the variety. I guess it’s a little early for parsnips I remember them more of a winter veggie
You’re inspiring me to want to join a CSA!! Especially because you have a more varied diet now – I need some more variety in mine. I also love trying new fruits/veggies!
it’s a great way to mix things up. I can get in a veggie rut and tend to eat the same things a lot
I love this vegetable box programs! It definitely would force me to be a little more creative in the kitchen and also add so more variety to my diet! You’ve convinced me!
Fabulous! I hope you enjoy yours as much as I am
I really should consider doing this, for the exact same reason as you. My variety is pathetic, and my motivation to seek out new foods in the store is low…having them come to me like this would solve that dilemma.
OH yes!! It would be so perfect for you. Check out what’s available by you. Of course I am happy to give you ideas for recipes
This is something I don’t subscribe to but kinda wish I did. We have so many local farmers markets that I buy my fruits and veggies at so we’re still supporting local farmers.
That’s also a nice idea and a great way to try new things. I was finding I never quite made it to the farmer’s markets so this works better for me
Meal prep is so key to a healthy lifestyle. Just like planning workouts is key.
I totally agree! It really helps me stay on track
I just picked up my latest CSA this afternoon! They are really great for inspiring new recipes and adding more variety – I never had swiss chard or bok choy until doing a farm share! I just need to get back into using all the veggies before they spoil!
I love both swiss chard(in soups) and bok choy with stir fry. Yes I always get stressed about using everything before it goes bad. I just sent you a PM about running in Philly next week
I didn’t get a CSA this year just because the pick up time wasn’t great at our local farm, but I’ve loved them in the past! Instead I’ve been trying to visit the farm store as much as possible to stock up on veggies when I can.
I switched to one that delivers so I have no excuse!
love this! I’ve noticed similar benefits once I signed up for a CSA. I love how delicious it all tastes & how I have to try all sorts of new vegetables
Exactly! a great way to force you to try new foods
My CSA also changed the way I eat. I think that’s why I keep subscribing year after year. It forces you to eat healthy food! I still can’t get on board with celeriac root, though. It’s one of the most annoying vegetables we get.
We have an opt out for foods we never want on mine. I also got a lot of celeriac last year and I added it into some egg type breakfasts. I can give you a few ideas for them but they are not my fave
I tend to buy whatever veggies and fruits are on sale. I’ve always wanted to do a CSA, but I live in an apartment so I’m not sure it’s doable:(
Some CSA boxes are delivered while others require you to pick up so you would need to find out what is available near you.
Oh thank you for the reply:) I’ll have to do some research!
I need to find a CSA near me! I’ve only heard good things.
I am loving mine!
CSA boxes are such a great way to mix it up!
This is such a great post! I’ve always wanted to try a CSA and feel like I will sometime soon. I actually bought an artichoke for the first time this week (I usually buy canned and cook with those) and had NO idea how to cut it. I think a CSA would be great for these instances and learning to cook with new veggies!
Yes it kind of forces you to learn how to prepare new things
I used to get a CSA and loved it, but the farm no longer does it and I haven’t been able to find another one close to me. It really does help you to be more creative with meals and try new things.
It sure does! hope you can find another one that works for you
There is nothing better than fresh veggies. CSA’s are fun because you never know what you will get. I love how this forces you out of the comfort zone to push you into making new things!
Yes exactly!
I tend to stick to a lot of the same ones (mostly the ones I know Will will eat- haha), but this sounds like a great idea! Maybe I’ll see if there’s one near me.
It is a great way to mix it up and get out of a veggie rut
I’m pretty adventurous when it comes to food, but I still do get stuck in ruts, as well. Hello, asparagus almost every week (but I love asparagus). So much better to eat locally.
My biggest problem with a CSA is that my husband eats almost no veggies at all. I don’t think I could eat it all by myself.
We have a few main staples (there are always apples, bananas, and strawberries for fruit, and broccoli and cauliflower for vegetables in the house), but then mix it up each week. I think it helps to shop frequently during the week, rather than just once a week. That way we tend to buy a small amount of a variety of things rather than large amounts of the same thing.
Yes I do think it helps to shop a few times during the week to restock the veggies
Wow. Good for you:) sounds like it was a good decision you made when signing up for these. These boxes seem phenomenal and do the trick to mixing things up a bit. What all exactly come in them?
I don’t do CSAs because I truly love to grocery shop (weird, I know). BUT I feel like those lessons are ones I’ve learned over the years at specialty markets and farmer’s markets. Any way to get excited about veggies is a good thing!
I do like to go to the grocery to see new products that are out as well but I like having the challenge to cook with seasonal produce too
We got parsnips in our winter CSA last year and I think that’s the first time I had them. They are so good! I wish they were easier to find at the grocery store.
I think getting a CSA makes it easier for me to meal plan too. When it ends I’m like, wait, I have to decide which vegetables to get now? So much easier when someone else just hands me a big box full of veggies
I had parsnips for the first time last winter too. I was so scared of them at first
CSAs are so great! Right now, my kids are still super picky so I’m not sure everything would be used. One day… 😉
Well…my kids do not really eat what is in there either! I end up eating most of it myself
I’ve had a CSA before…always enjoyed the random veggies I don’t normally buy.
Yes definitely me too!
This is awesome! I have to look into a CSA here. It’s nice to have different veggies to experience!
I bet there are lots of choices for CSA boxes near you
I don’t belong to a CSA, but I alternate between Door to Door Organics and Hungry Harvest. I’ve definitely had to figure out some new meals with the stuff I’ve gotten. It’s fun to be “forced” to try something new (not that anyone in my house besides me will eat a lot of it.)
I am using hungry harvest right now and I love it
Peel, cut and have at the ready in the refrig. Great advice. I will do that this week.
We just got a spiralcutter for veggies. LOVE the zucchini noodles. Look forward to trying different recipes. Thanks for the great healthy eating ideas.
Great hope my tips help
Not only are your recipes creative, I love how colorful they are also. I heard once that the more colorful a dish is, the healthier it is. I don’t know if that’s true or not, but the more colorful dishes certainly tend to be some of the tastiest things I’ve ever eaten.
I agree the more flavors and colors the better tasting for me. And Thanks!