If there’s anything I’ve learned in college, it is that it is extremely easy to neglect the maintenance of a healthy diet in the midst of school. Luckily, produce delivery services like Plow to Porch are here to serve our community with organic, pesticide-free groceries that make it more convenient to eat quality meals on a time crunch. 

Photo Courtesy of Plow to Porch

According to company owner Pam Plesons, Plow to Porch’s mission is to “simplify the purchase of local fresh organic/pesticide free produce and other local foods in order to inspire good nutrition, support local farmers, protect our environment and make eating healthy food easy and affordable for everyone.” It all starts with weekly or biweekly box subscription packed with fresh fruits, vegetables and other ingredients based on seasonal availability. The box also conveniently includes easy-to-follow recipes to go along with the ingredients so you can focus your attention on school instead of stressing over meal planning. Plow to Porch also offers all kinds of add-ons to complement your box, such as eggs, sustainable meats and even fair-trade coffee and teas.

While it can be tempting stock up on instant ramen and energy drinks to get through your days, it’s important to always remember to take care of your body by eating real food, and Plow to Porch can help you do so. Eating real food can help you maintain good health and a high quality of life since it is loaded with the vitamins and minerals you need to stay healthy and it even reduces the risk of disease. Fresh produce is also generally lower in sugar and higher in fiber and healthy fats than most processed foods. Another great thing about opting for fresh, real food is that it’s good for the environment. Food production takes an extreme toll on the environment, but we can do our part to help the planet by supporting sustainable agriculture, as this reduces energy needs and decreases the amount of waste production. 

There’s also an assumption that processed food is cheaper than fresh food, but that actually isn’t true. Buying real food costs less in the long run, as an analysis of 27 studies from 10 countries found that eating healthier food costs about $1.56 more than processed food per 2,000 calories. Though this amount may not seem like much, it definitely adds up, so you could save money and have a healthier diet by buying and eating real food.

Photo Courtesy of Plow to Porch

In addition to providing a convenient method to maintaining a healthy diet, what makes Plow to Porch such a great option for students is that they offer a variety of different box sizes and themes, so you can pick the perfect box of produce that will accommodate your needs whether you’re cooking for one or eating with all your housemates. It can be overwhelming to shop at a big supermarket with rows and rows of different products, so Plow to Porch simplifies all of that for you. 

In addition to the variety of produce options that they offer, Plow to Porch’s website is also extremely informative and easy to navigate. It tells you exactly what you should be expecting in your box each week and where the items are sourced from. Their team also publishes a detailed newsletter with photos and recipes to help you with your meal planning even more. Check out what was in their boxes this week and the recipes that were included.

 

Produce: 

  • Strawberries
  • Black Splendor Pluots
  • Pixie Tangerines
  • Purple Cabbage
  • Tomatoes
  • Bunched Carrots
  • Bunched Golden Beets
  • Yellow Beans
  • Loose Spinach and Red Onion

 

Recipes:

  • Strawberry Spinach Salad
  • Golden Beet Slaw
  • Tomato Onion Beans
  • 15-Minute Purple Cabbage Chicken Lo Mein
  • Three-Ingredient Pluot Crisp

 

So start this school year with a healthy mindset and diet. You’ll get great quality ingredients while making a difference by reducing your carbon footprint.

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Winnie Lam
Winnie Lam serves as the 2020-2021 On The Menu Editor. She has an unhealthy obsession with Trader Joe's and she loves all things matcha.