Good Measure Meals

I am now in the second week of a meal delivery service, Good Measure Meals.  The nutritionists associated with the organization are a partner of the Women's 5K Training program.

For as far as I have come on the exercise front, eating healthy is still a foreign concept. I guess I have made some gains, first with Weight Watchers, and then by joining a text group from my Book Club of a few women who are also working toward weight loss, and get really creative in the kitchen.  

Good Measure Meals was a great first step toward joining them in their efforts.  All of the prep is done for you, and the meals are never frozen.  The pick up location closest to me is very convenient; I am usually on a run close by the YMCA on their Monday / Thursday evening pick up days.

I didn't really start GMM as a time saver.  I started because I feel clueless about dieting.  When I diet, I am the most boring person in the universe, and as such, its very rare that I keep it up for any length of time.  On the other hand, when I am "bad," I am BAD.  Chocolate moon pie?  Yes, please.  Girl scout cookies, mmm hmm.  Salt & Vinegar chips?  Now you're speaking my language.  So suffice it to say this program had its work cut out for it.

The food is surprisingly good.  I thought it would be bland, and scary (i.e. brussel sprouts and tofu), but the meals are actually quite tasty.  I have never been a breakfast eater, but the breakfasts are the best part, and I've noticed since I started that I have far less cravings, most likely because I am getting more quality nutritionally balanced meals.  Healthier food options are also plain ole more.  You can eat A LOT of carrot for the same amount of calories as a girl scout cookie, for example.  In fact, it typically takes me over an hour to eat their standard meal, and for a bit I was worried that I'd actually end up gaining weight because of the portions.  (Not necessarily that they're huge; more that I am very used to small meals + grazing).  I am on the 1200 calorie plan; that gives me a little wiggle room to add my own snacks, if needed.  With the amount of running I get in, that might be too low, but I never just stick to GMM 100% all week long, so so far okay there.

Another great thing about this is its healthy but not boring - usually when I try to start eating healthier it just doesn't last b/c I get sick of salads and grilled chicken, oh after about a day - with this you don't eat the same thing for five weeks which is great!

Lobster Ravioli was by far the best thing I've eaten in a good long time! Yum!! :)

Cons:
Just as with a grocery run, you do end up with food that you can't eat.  Whether it be an unplanned outing, or a last minute invitation, in just two weeks, I ended up tossing at least 3-4 containers.  The thought of freezing it just didn't appeal, either.  Of course, how many times haven't I bought a cucumber, or head of broccoli, and ignored it in favor of less desirable options until it shriveled up and died in my fridge?  So I would venture to say that on the whole, I waste less than before.  I also signed up for the lower of the two possibilities for total calorie consumption; this gives me a little wiggle room if I want to find a snack of my own.  And I like a 5-day plan verses a 7-day plan, so that I can eat up any leftover meals, and then have a cheat meal (or not even necessarily cheat; on Saturday, for example, I ate Salmon and asparagus at dinner.  Plus all the splurges (olive oil, Hollandaise) not perfect, but not a binge fest either.)

The more major con is that its still tough to do this and cater to the needs of a family.  They do not have any family-style enrollment option, except to put everyone on the family on an individual dinner plan.  I'd love it if they did a discounted 'family of four' dinner option.  I've considered putting the girls on just the dinner plan for a week, just to see how well (or not so well) they took to it.

For that reason, I do still see this as very temporary.  Either a few quick weeks until I've lost some more weight, or until I have learned how to eat this way, and then have learned to start doing it myself more out of habit, so that I can take it back and do it for the entire family, too.

The 5-day 1200 calorie plan is about ~$100.  For me, the queen of take out, this is pretty much even Steven.  On the other hand, I'm not sure I'd want to do it if I actually could learn how to cook on my own from it, and then start prepping myself.