Gobias - thanks for sharing that experience. I used to live in AZ too and I sometimes miss it terribly (mainly when someone else tells me they live there!) and I also totally get what you mean about not wanting to cook, LOL.
I do have something like this put on by one of the local farms in my area. The only concern I have, and this is me being totally honest with myself, is that I do not know how to cook and I don't think I could/would get the full use out of everything. I mean, the things that can be eaten alone - like fruit or carrots, those would be OK. But really, I know NOTHING about cooking. At all. I've only cooked chicken breasts like 4 times in my whole life. Sad but true. And I have a very busy schedule due to my job so I feel like the prep time would kill me.
The one thing that might work, I just thought of, is to use those items in a daily green juice drink. I have been eyeing the NutriBullet. I bet I could use most of the veggies that way, and just have a green drink each morning.
Candice - you used to live in AZ...so you feel my hot pain!
The blender idea is a great one and if you were eyeing getting one, I highly recommend it. I could have written your response to me not too long ago. Let me back up on my experience with Bountiful Basket (BB), Market on the Move (MOM) and the yearly bulk produce deliveries.
My girlfriends were the ones who told me about these co-ops. I never went through with any because I didn't need 60 lbs of produce even if it was only $10 (MOM). I didn't feel like purchasing BB because I shopped at the grocery stores weekly and got my needed produce. I didn't get the yearly bulk produce because I never canned/preserved/froze food. Then I went ahead and got BB a few times and loved it. The basket is prepared for you so all you do is pick it up. The basket is different every week and 99% of the items are ready-to-eat and don't need to cook. (I guess technically it is 100% ready to eat, but I don't like raw brussle sprouts).
The problem I was having was that I would always have leftovers. I then asked my girlfriends about juicers and they kept saying get "Vitamix", not juicers, so you keep all the fiber and nutrients. I went ahead and bought the Vitamix (I think any blender would do) and use it every single day I am home - I am not exaggerating. I no longer have leftovers because I throw carrots, herbs, spinach, kale, romaine, celery, cucumbers - almost anything that comes in the BB in my smoothies. I also make hummus with the veggies and soup with the veggies in the Vitamix. My S.O., who doesn't cook or eat vegetables, now comes home and has nightly smoothies with....drumroll....veggies! On the weekends he uses it more than I do and eats up all my produce. The key, if your palate isn't used to veggies, is to start with a higher concentration of fruit in your smoothies and shift to a higher amount of veggies. I don't follow a recipe, I just use what I have on hand. Some concoctions have not been great, but now I know what flavors complement what.
I have found that the BB basket is cheaper than going to the supermarket and has a much wider variety than if I went to the supermarket. If I do end up having leftovers even after the smoothies, I freeze it. Simple.
As for MOM, you don't have to get all 60 lbs. You can get what you need or share or give away, etc. I don't do MOM as much because I have to do the shopping, whereas BB is done and ready for you.
As for the yearly produce deliveries - I am not going to lie - it is a lot of work. I went out and bought canning equipment and canned with friends who taught me how NOT to kill my family with botulism. Now once a year I get the delivery and have peaches, nectarines, apples, pears, tomatoes, sauces, juices, etc for the remaining of the year. I am actually in the midst of my delivery for this year and it did take me 6 hours on Saturday to can a bunch of items. I will be canning this weekend also and it will take another whole day. But for me 2 days out of the year isn't bad.
I am not getting any kick-backs on these co-ops, I just don't want you to discount them because you don't cook. Maybe I made it sound like a lot of work - but the BB is done and ready for you and you can eat it all raw. I don't know if I made it sound like a lot of work - I don't elaborately cook either and am also very busy.
Your write-up of what you eat could have been my menu a few years ago! Here is what I noticed - in the time it took me to cut out Sunday food coupons, review the supermarket ads, go shopping for my processed food, bring it home, unpack it, take it to work, walk it to the microwave, read the directions, cut a slit in the plastic over the meat, peel back the plastic over the veggies, cut out the plastic over the dessert, microwave on 50% for 7 minutes, peel back cover, stir, continue cooking for 8 minutes on High, let sit for 2 minutes....etc....I could wash and cut up my produce the night before and take it to work. I made myself change my thinking in how eating healthy and fresh was easier or just as fast as a ready-to-eat meal. I no longer cut coupons (since the majority are for processed food anyway), I go to the supermarket very rarely (since I get the co-op) - basically just to get eggs, greek yogurt, pantry items and don't have to stand at the work microwave waiting for my meal to be done.
And believe it or not, I seem to get a lot of variety. I make it into stews/soups (chop, throw into pot, add liquid, cook), spreads/hummus (throw in vitamix), salads (chop, serve). I add beans to both soups and salads, nuts to salads, have peanut butter celery sticks. Smoothies (throw in vitamix, add liquid/ice). See, all very easy and really not time consuming. I don't eat meat, so can't comment on that.
I am with all the others - prep the night/week before. I don't actually do that since I need that 15 minutes the night before to "decompress" and chopping things with a knife helps me do that (LOL). It seems daunting but really try to change your thinking - as one poster said - you have time to buy foods that will make you feel sluggish which is a cycle of you then being too tired to shop/prep your meals. Eating clean/raw really gives you a boost in energy.
We are all very busy but please take the time to make yourself feel better. I just got back from a business trip out of the country so am feeling so sluggish due to travel and airline food. I was actually fantasizing about getting home and eating healthy!
Good Luck - we have all been where you are and have felt like you are feeling. It is great you are trying to make a change. Everyone has great ideas.
OMG - sorry this is so long!
