Bountiful Baskets has been an AWESOME experience for us. “Us” being a young family of four – Lauren (me), Jason (the husband), and our two-year-old daughters. I started my “Healthy Eating” journey when my girls started eating solids. I soon realized that if I wanted my girls to eat healthy, I was setting a bad example! I knew what healthy looked like, but my food focus was on saving money by couponing (which often encouraged me to buy unhealthy foods – a box of cookies for 47 cents is still an unhealthy box of cookies!) and only buying produce when it was on sale (which limited the variety – and thus the appeal – of eating fruits and veggies).
So, it was time to change. I heard about Bountiful Baskets through friends at church, and was thrilled to give it a try. At first, I was overwhelmed with so much produce, with plenty of stuff we don’t usually buy, either because one of us didn’t like that fruit/vegetable or because I didn’t know how to prepare it. But, once I started researching healthy eating, I realized that if we wanted to eat right, we should be going through a minimum of one basket a week for our family to meet its nutritional needs.
So, I stepped up to the challenge! For a whole year I challenged us to consume a basket every single week. I don’t like to see anything go to waste, so our fruit and veggie intake skyrocketed. We snacked on fruit during the day. For dinner, I reduced the amount of meat, grain, and cheese in our recipes and instead put in more produce. The easiest dishes we found to incorporate whatever was on hand are stir fries, burritos/fajitas, salad, coconut curry, and spaghetti sauce with added sauteed vegetables. Once we figured out how to use them, the veggies were almost always gone by the end of the week. Any fruits left by the next week were sliced and put in the freezer (smoothies) or dehydrator (great “on the go” snacks for the kiddos).
In September 2010 I weighed 210 pounds. By August 2011 I weighed 155! I have been able to keep the weight off for nearly a year and a half now, because I made a permanent change in my eating habits through Bountiful Baskets. (I did also start working out on the elliptical 4x a week for 30 minutes a day – bribing myself with my favorite TV shows! These two lifestyle changes made a huge difference, and I feel great!) In the last few years my girls have been exposed to all kinds of different produce, prepared in all kinds of different ways! (Believe it or not, one of their favorite dinners is salad – with a generous helping of ranch dressing, of course!)
From March 2011 to May 2012 I decided to run a Bountiful Baskets site in my neighborhood, until I moved away and passed on the site to others. Running the site was a great experience. I made lots of friends, loved getting some fresh air in the morning, and took joy in helping others lead healthier lives with Bountiful Baskets produce! I’m so glad Bountiful Baskets came into my life and has brought about this miraculous change in my family. Thanks BB!
Great health success story, Lauren! How awesome to hear that you love your children enough to make a dramatic change to help them learn how to be healthy! I’ve found some amazing books on Raw Foods Recipes and also lactic-fermentation recipes like “Dilly Beans”, Kim Chi and so many other fantastic and deliciously good-for-us foods! I wish everyone would help their children learn at the start what real, good food is! 🙂
Thank you so much for the reply. Wow, do I ever feel not so very smart!! A co-worker actually told me that they used to refer to zucchini as ‘baby elephants’ — so, I was kind of expecting that. Oh well…definitely got me. Have a wonderful day.
Baby elephants – It was an April Fool’s joke. 🙂
I can’t seem to find any information about this, have emailed and haven’t received a response, and am hoping that you can answer a question. What in the world is a “small baby elephant”???! Thank you so much for your help. I know they offered this last week and it is a one-time offer, so won’t come along again…but maybe next year; and I would like to be informed and better prepared.
Yes. 🙂 You can’t get the add-ons without first contributing for a basket.
Thank you so much for your quick answer!
Can’t seem to get a response from anyone so wanted to ask you. I am fairly new to BB and tried to order just the granola since I will be on vacation but it won’t let me without ordering a basket. It will not let you enter a “0” for the basket. Do you know if a basket is required? Thanks so much!
We love your story… BIG time. My wife decided to make some huge changes too. Being a type 1 diabetic there is NO cure but weigh gain can make things harder on her body. She was at 158 her heaviest and the depression kicked in. So she went on a full life change and decided to do something about her weight – kicked all the white stuff from her diet (pasta/flour/rice) and wow the weight came off that easy. She’s now at 145 (took 2 month) and her goal for her height is 135-139 and she’s excited and the best part she says “She doesn’t have to starve to do it) – she is 100% all about healthy eating. We joined the Basket program after the start of our new healthy way of living – we love that this program is helping us save money now.
Donna ~ Visit http://www.bountifulbaskets.org and click on the locations link. I believe we do have a site in Tennessee! If it’s not close to you, visit this link http://www2.bountifulbaskets.org/?page_id=69 and read up on how to get one started near you!
Hi-I stumbled on this co-op on pintrest. I was wondering how to start one where I live. There isn’t ANYTHING like this in TN.
You inspire me!
Fantastic!!!
I love your story and Bountiful Baskets Goals and Results. My mother Sue just received her first basket and was overwhelmed with the fresh, beautiful tasty vegetables. I am thankful for people sharing the opportunity like you. I live in California but would love to have access to Bountiful Baskets. I am a type 1 diabetic (45 years) and fruit and vegetables are what we all need. Thanks for sharing.
Way to go, for you and your family! I am going to challenge myself the same way. We use most of the food in our basket, but it never fails that I forget to use something, or just don’t rise to the challenge of finding a new recipe. Thank you for the inspiration!
I just heard about Bountiful Baskets a week ago, and am so ticked that I didn’t remember to check in yesterday and today. I am a vegan and love, love, LOVE my fresh veggies and fruit. I am very much looking forward to next week, I’ve set my calender to remind me this go around.
AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!
You hardly look like the same person! What a beautiful family too. This is a really great story, thanks for sharing!
Your story is so inspriational. I am so excited to see that you are teaching your adorable twin daughters such great eating habits. Even better you have found a healthier you which ensures you will be with them longer. Way to go.
Wow! You look amazing! Way to go!
What an inspirational story! You look great! It’s just me and my 17 yr old son and I wish we could get thru a basket a week. Right now we go every other, but I need to find a buddy to share with so we can get one every week… Thanks for sharing your story 😉
Wow, way to go! 🙂
You look great, Lauren! Thanks for the fantastic story. This week was our 3rd week of BB and I too, am researching and learning about new veggies and their preparations. It’s been enlightening…