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Above the Grain Taking the convenience of meal planning one step further, out of Lakewood Ranch comes the Above the Grain menu of premade dishes that are both nutritious and delicious. Founder Jenn Burns explains how in the modern world, we have replaced wholesome, clean plant matter and animal foods with a high-carb, low-nutrient and highly toxic chemical diet. Noting that this is not how our bodies are designed to be fed, she points to ever-increasing instances of osteoporosis, cancer, obesity, diabetes and heart disease that are the result. It's pretty obvious why she chose to go back to basics with her company. She is passionate about the foods she puts on her customers' plates and delivers to their door. The program requires a monthly commitment, with a two-week trial available in order to figure out the appropriate combination of plans and portion sizes. With the standard plan, each delivery contains five different pre-plated dishes that include one portion of meat and one veggie side. Regular and large protein portions are available at a cost of $75 and $80 per week, respectively. That breaks down to $15 or $16 per meal. You can customize the deliveries for an individual, a couple or a family of four. There is also a $10 charge for the convenience of having the week's worth of food delivered directly to your home or office. Taking into consideration any specific dislikes or allergies (discussed at the point of initial sign-up) the menu each week is selected by Jenn herself, with the aim of not repeating a recipe for at least six weeks. She notes that PeachDish With this Atlanta-based company, you select two meals to be delivered on the day of your choosing. A subscription to the service is not required, but sampling it as a "guest" costs an additional $12 to $27 for shipping, based on destination. e meals themselves are priced at about $12.50 per serving. e menu puts a slightly Southern twist on the mailed meal concept. We tried the Chicken with Barley, Greens and Apple, along with a Balsamic-Onion Pizza with Gruyere and Arugula. e pizza was especially pleasing, which is something we would not typically think to make at home on our own. e pre-measured ingredients (local and organic produce, pastured and humanely- raised proteins, dry goods, herbs and a few spices) arrived in a large box with colorful recipe cards providing reasonably foolproof instructions. Overall, the steps were easy to follow, but we found the prep and cook times to be a bit underestimated. e chicken dish specifically took about double the time listed. GreenBlender When in need of a pick-me-up to get going in the morning, a lot of folks lately are looking no further than the kitchen blender. So GreenBlender offers subscribers five smoothie recipes each week, as well as all the pre-portioned, prepped ingredients needed to make 10 12-ounce servings. Each serving comes to between $4 and $5 each, depending on the plan selected. e shakes are touted as a natural way to clear up your skin, boost energy levels and heighten mental clarity. Did we feel prettier, bouncier and smarter as a result? Maybe just a little. It's true, though, that the program succeeded in feeding our minds…the recipe cards did more than just list the ingredients to be obliterated into smithereens, they also educated us on how the nutrients, fiber and vitamins were affecting our overall well-being. e bright chefs behind these concoctions want their clients to feel nourished both inside and out. Overall, we found this to be a great starter kit for someone easing into a diet and lifestyle change, or not yet versed in the science of building a beneficial yet yummy smoothie. LOCAL, PRE-PORTIONED AND HEALTHY Continued on page 70 Subscribe at GravitasMag.com | 17 Subscribe at GravitasMag.com | 17

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