One of my favourite sayings when it comes to forming healthy habits is to “Make the decision not to decide.” We only have so much willpower, and I’ve found tremendous power in finding ways to automate my weekly to-do’s.
A creative (and nourishing) way to make the decision not to decide is to sign up for a weekly or bi-weekly produce box from a local farm or cooperative.
No matter where in the world you are, one of the best ways to get acquainted with the seasons is to sign up for a local farm box. What can possibly be easier than having the freshest produce delivered straight to your door?
Though they exist across the world, the first box I signed up for happened to be while living in Sweden, and it completely transformed my grocery shopping experience.
Rather than drag myself to the sterile, fluorescent-lit aisles of the grocery store, where I would waste time and occasionally fall victim to impulse purchases, signing up for a vegetable box meant less soul-sucking grocery shopping, saved money, and saved time.
It also meant eating with the season and supporting local farms.
So when I came to Bellingham, searching for local produce delivery was one of the first things I did.
Introducing: Dandelion Organic Delivery, in Bellingham, WA.
Beyond investing in your local community, you get the added benefit of synchronizing your body and gut with in-season nourishment – receiving the most potent nutrients directly from the soil.
It used to be a luxury to have something like a strawberry year-round. In many parts of the world, it still is a luxury. For those of us living in a western society, that luxury is easy to forget with an overabundance of food that’s constantly available – in every size, shape, and form imaginable. Has this constant availability diminished our ability to practice patience?
When we live by the seasons, we appreciate the days and months it takes for a berry to blossom: first into a flower, and slowly into satiating fruit. The practice of patience doesn’t end with growing food, but can send ripples through the rest of our lives. When we focus our appreciation on the things we take for granted, the perspective of our world shifts in magnificent ways.
Now, in a time of mass abundance, returning to seasonal availability from local farmers is, ironically, the real luxury.
So, how does choosing local, slow food help you to make a decision not to decide?
When we automate our habits, we spend less willpower making healthy decisions for ourselves. It takes willpower to resist the chocolate bar or soda at the store, and eventually that willpower wears out… leading to choices that do not have our best long-term interests at heart. By choosing a service like Dandelion’s, we remove temptation and have more energy left to apply to more important matters.
Our food choices are habits, and our daily habits shape who we are.
We often think of habits in relation to small, daily actions like: drinking our ounces of water, exercising, and maintaining a reading goal. But our habits shape most of the ways we live our daily life: including our grocery shopping. What we buy, how much, and how frequently. When life is busy, it’s easy for our food choices to shift into automation.
One way to take back conscious choice of our eating habits is to sign up for a produce box delivery. The great thing is that it doesn’t require too much brain work. At least, that is, until you get the box – which is why Dandelion Organic provides delicious recipe ideas in each weekly newsletter.
Ingredients
8-10 ripe apricots (about 1 lb), halved and pitted
1 cup coconut cream
1/2 cup honey
1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tsp vanilla extract
Cardamom Syrup:
1 1/2 c. water
3/4 c. coconut or maple sugar
10 cardamom pods, crushed
For serving:
apricot slices
2 tbsp (or more) pistachios
Instructions
To Make Your Cardamom Syrup:
Combine water, coconut sugar, and cardamom pods in a small saucepan. Heat over medium-high and bring to a boil. Stir occasionally until the sugar dissolves.
Remove the pan from the heat and allow the cardamom to steep for at least 10 minutes. If you have spare time, feel free to let it sit longer for a stronger flavor infusion!
Strain the cardamom pods from the syrup and discard. If you’d like to save some syrup to drizzle on top, set aside 1-2 TBSP for serving.
Make Your Ice Cream!
Mix cardamom syrup and apricots in the saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook for about 5 minutes - or until tender.
Let the mixture cool completely. Add to a blender or food processor, combining with coconut cream, honey, lemon juice, and vanilla.
Chill the mixture in the fridge until cool (at least 2 hours). Once ready, prepare with an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s directions.
Serve with fresh apricot slices and pistachios! Drizzle with leftover syrup if you have any. Enjoy!
