My days are usually It started with me waking up 10 minutes before I needed to start work, gulping down an energy drink, logging onto my laptop, and then getting a headache around 3pm when I realized I hadn't eaten a thing. (not to mention one nutritious thing). Between my ADHD hyperfocus and concurrent ADHD time blindness, I tend to eat like a toddler and accidentally letting produce go bad out of sight is absolutely insane. Sometimes I feel like a Sim from SIM 4wandering around the house aimlessly searching somethingdidn't realize my Needs bars were all flashing red. When I remember to eat, I'm a snacker and I probably eat charcuterie or Adult Lunchables for 90% of my meals. I like containers. I love finger food. I'm a gourmet cannot don't want to think too much about their next meal.
Garden cup. Gardencup is the answer.
Gardencup is one meal subscription service sends freshly prepared, single-serve salads, bowls, soups, produce and snacks to your door. And I'm a little sad I tried it because now I don't think I can stop using them.
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Gardencup is a little different than some other popular meal delivery services because you can completely customize your order each week. Choose a six-pack or nine-pack, build your package (vegan and vegetarian options are available), and choose your shipping frequency. Order totals vary by item. Protein-packed salads cost $12, while snacks and produce cost $6 to $9. you can Sign up for a gardening club after placing at least five orders to earn a percentage cashback. You can pause or skip automatic deliveries and cancel shipments easily in your account settings.
Photo: Louryn Strampe
Each jar is packed full of goodness. The filling salads are smartly packaged, with dressings and wet ingredients on the bottom and fresh vegetables on top. Just shake them up when you're ready to eat and you'll have a fresh, delicious salad in no time. They're also tightly packed – sometimes I have to eat a few spoonfuls of unpeeled spinach to make enough room inside the jar to shake it thoroughly. Of course, you can also pour the whole thing into a bowl. For products like Producecups—sliced pineapple or apples with almond butter, carrots and celery with hummus—or spreads like tuna salad, you just need to do some research. (Note that you will need to bring your own crackers.)
The first thing I love about Gardencup is how easy it makes my life. I thought about money, doctor's appointments, going to the gym, growing my career, maintaining friendships, my unfortunate emails, the general state of the world, and whether I could beat Get a cool-toned purple lipstick or not? (I can't.) Even though I love good food, the last thing I want to think about is having to eat the same horrible meal three times a day. Gardencup allowed me to use autopilot for a short time. I reached into the refrigerator, grabbed a cup of Something, and ate it knowing that it was nutritious and ultimately tasted delicious. Sometimes the meals are a little bland—my chicken pho could have benefited from a little black pepper, and I'll add my own dressing to a few salads if I don't review them. But the trade-off is absolutely not an issue for me and my lifestyle. 'It's better to have a cup of food and need to add your own sauce than not have a cup of food at all. And these weeks, eating well more easily and regularly with the help of Gardencup means cooking or dining out feels more like a luxury and less like just another thing on the list More of my to-dos.
Photo: Louryn Strampe