Green Chef is a Sustainable (Eco-friendly) Meal Kit Company

Green Chef is committed to sustainability and paves the way for meal kit companies with their innovative recyclable packaging and eco-friendly practices.

What is Sustainability and Why Does it Matter?

Broadly defined, sustainability means, the avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance. With regards to the food industry, sustainability means that food production, distribution and consumption play a critical role in the health of our environment, society and economy.

Did you know that an estimated 40% of food is wasted in the U.S. annually, amounting to $162 billion in food waste? If not wasted, this food could have served over 58 million meals in the U.S. annually, according to CORR Concepts for Sustainable Living. Lessening or eliminating food waste has environmental, social and economic benefits for U.S. families.

Meal Kit Companies Have a Smaller Carbon Footprint

Food production has a huge carbon footprint, and according to CORR Concepts for Sustainable Living, one study estimated it is responsible for 19-29% of annual greenhouse gas emissions. 

But, according to a study conducted in April 2019 by the University of Michigan, it was determined that meal kit companies, such as Green Chef, have a carbon footprint that is 25% lower than meals made from store-bought groceries. This is attainable due to pre-portioned ingredients and a streamlined supply chain process. Typically the pre-portioned ingredients in meal kits lead to less food loss and waste. Green Chef offers consumers a significantly more sustainable approach to eating and meal planning. Throwing away less of what we eat is an impactful way to reduce carbon emissions. 

Shipping meal kits to thousands of homes can cause emissions, however meal kits are often delivered alongside other mail on normal routes and this last stage of distribution accounts for 11% of grocery store meal emissions, but only 4% for meal kits. The University of Michigan Study also says that by skipping brick-and-mortar retailing, the direct-to-consumer meal kit model avoids the food losses that commonly occur in grocery stores, resulting in large emission savings.

Green Chef Uses Recyclable Packaging

The plastic and packing materials required to keep food fresh to ship direct-to-consumers can play into carbon emissions. But, fortunately Green Chef has taken massive steps towards sustainability with all of their packaging, and have practices in place to help offset their direct carbon emissions and plastic packaging in every box. As a family that recycles and tries to do our part to help the environment, I found it very interesting to learn more about the packaging materials that Green Chef uses. 

Green Chef is committed to producing recyclable packaging when possible, the only exceptions come into play when there is a food quality or safety reason. With that said, Green Chef is the first meal kit company to utilize ClimaCell material. ClimaCell is a curbside recyclable insulation that serves a similar function to styrofoam. It is a patented material made from renewable plant-based components and paper. ClimaCell is a great insulator for perishable food products, and the company’s mission is to “protect products with packaging that protects the earth.”

What’s in Green Chef’s Packaging?

Green Chef Boxes

The Green Chef boxes are made of 40-60% recycled cardboard material. You can reuse the box for storage or break it down and recycle it with your curbside pick-up or local recycling facility. 

Plant-based Package Insulation

As mentioned above, Green Chef boxes come insulated with a material called ClimaCell. This is a proprietary plant-based insulator. It contains a thin layer of kraft paper on either side to hold it together. The material is also curbside recyclable.

Reusable Ice Packs

The Green Chef ice packs are filled with a soluble, non-toxic gel. The outer layer of the ice packs are made of #4 plastic film. You can easily reuse the ice packs by saving them in your freezer or store at room temperature for later use. The other option is you can cut a slit and drain the gel, rinse the plastic, and recycle wherever #4 plastic is accepted.

Compostable Meal Kit Bags

The Green Chef meal kit bags that contain all of the ingredients are made with 100% post-consumer recycled paper. You can reuse the bag if it is clean or recycle with your curbside pick-up. The other option is these meal kit bags can actually be composted at home or through your local composting facility. The plastic baggies used for individual ingredients have a number on them that indicates the type of plastic and where it can be recycled, if recyclable. 

Green Chef’s Sustainability Partners

Green Chef has also strengthened its commitment to sustainability by partnering with numerous organizations that hold high standards when it comes to the environment. Some of these organizations include: The Sustainable Packaging Coalition, Spoiler Alert, Plasticbank, Temperpack, and the US EPA Certified company SmartWay.

Additionally, Green Chef is USDA-certified organic company and utilizes organic produce and eggs in their meal kits, and works with local farmers on sourcing products. They keep animal welfare in mind and the proteins contained in the meal kits come from animals that have been raised with high welfare standards.

Healthy Meal Kit Delivery with Green Chef

If you would like to try-out an eco-friendly meal kit, Green Chef is a great option! Green Chef meals are easy, healthy and tasty! Choose the meal plan that best serves your individual or family’s nutritional needs including: Keto + Paleo, Plant-Powered or Balanced Living. Click here to learn more about Green Chef and get a special discount on your first order!

Sources:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0921344919301703?via%3Dihub

https://www.corrconcepts.com/sustainability-101/why-sustainability/

One Pan Chicken Fajitas

This ONE PAN RECIPE is easy to prepare and cook! With prep and cook time, this delicious meal can be done within 30 minutes (20 minutes of which you don’t need to do anything while the oven does all the work). More good news is that this recipe is kid-friendly!!

The below recipe feeds two adults with potential leftovers for the next day or could be enough for one meal for a family of 4. Don’t be afraid to add more chicken and veggies and increase the seasonings if you want more fajitas! I sometimes make TWO PANS for recipes like this so we can have them for lunches or a second quick dinner during the week ;)

One Pan Chicken Fajitas Recipe

Ingredients:
Cut-Up chicken breast (1lb) 
Sliced bell pepper (I used 2)
1/2 red onion peeled and cut 
1 tbs organic extra virgin olive oil
1 tbs cumin 
1 tsp chili powder 
1 tsp paprika 
Handful of fresh or 1 tbs dried cilantro 
1 pressed garlic clove
Salt + pepper to taste 

Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix all ingredients in large bowl and then add to sheet pan. Cook for 20-25 minutes. That was easy!!

Garnish with lettuce and gluten free shell. (Pictured is an almond flour shell) Can also add optional organic shredded cheese, hot sauce and a dollop of plain greek yogurt (as a sub for sour cream).

One Pan Sausage, Asparagus + Sweet Potatoes

One Pan Recipes are meant to make your life easier! You can significantly cut-down on cooking time without sacrificing the taste or nutritional benefits of a healthy meal! I can’t stress enough the importance of using high-quality meat for this recipe as sausage can come with lots of unwelcome preservatives and fillers. I recommend getting organic when possible, and if not look for the nitrate-free varieties.

One Pan Sausage, Asparagus and Sweet Potatoes Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 package of organic mild chicken sausage (or preferred flavor.

• 2 sweet potatoes

• Bunch of asparagus

• Everything But the Bagel Seasoning

• Pink salt + pepper

• Extra virgin olive oil

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

2. Cut up sausages, dice sweet potatoes and cut the ends off of the asparagus.

3. Add to sheet pain and drizzle with olive oil, Everything But the Bagel Seasoning (I got it from Trader Joe’s), pink salt and pepper.

4. Cook for 25-30 minutes.

   If your sausage is precooked already may want to remove it from oven sooner than the veggies, depending on the consistency you like (we prefer that grilled taste so I leave it in for the duration).

5. Let the pan cool and serve using spatula for easy removal.

**DIY Everything But the Bagel Seasoning

The Everything But the Bagel Seasoning blend is a favorite in our house for breakfasts, lunches and dinners! If you don’t have it handy, you can easily make your own blend! It consists of sesame seeds (white and black), sea salt flakes, dried minced garlic, dried minced onion, and poppy seeds. Combine the ingredients and sprinkle on the meat and veggies.

TIP: If you like spicier food, by all means you can use a hot or seasoned sausage blend instead. The mild version we use has a little bit of a kick to it already, so combined with the seasoning it’s quite flavorful.

Taco Lasagna

Taco Lasagna: A mexican twist on the traditional comfort food! And it will fill-up the family for more than one dinner! I used all organic ingredients. If you are vegetarian, leave out the meat and add extra beans. For vegan or dairy-free use all beans and a plant or nut based cheese instead. 

Ingredients:

-Small corn shells
-1lb grass fed ground beef
-1/2 package of mild shredded cheddar (I like the thicker 365 brand bc melts like mozzarella)
-1 can garbanzo beans
-1 can black beans
-2 bell peppers (color of your choice)
-1 handful of romaine lettuce
-1 handful of fresh parsley
-Organic taco seasoning packet
-1 Tsp cumin
-1/2 an avocado
-1 container of salsa (I prefer the 365 black bean corn salsa)

RECIPE:

1. Preheat oven to 350. Brown the ground beef on stove top, mix with taco seasoning. At the same time add a drizzle of olive oil and heat can of garbanzo beans, black beans and diced bell peppers with cumin in a pan on low to medium heat. 

2. Once meat is done add the bell pepper/bean mixture to the the meat pan and stir. Add jar of salsa and mix well. 

3. Spray the bottom of Pyrex dish or wipe with olive oil. Add 6 corn tortilla shells for the bottom layer. Then top with the meat mixture, then cover with shredded cheese. After that, repeat the next layer by adding another 6 shells, then meat mixture, then cheese. 

4. Cook in oven at 350 for 20-25 minutes, until shells are crispy. Let cool and top with chopped romaine lettuce, cilantro and diced Avocado--can also drizzle on some fresh lyme juice. Cut with a knife and serve with spatula like lasagna.

Creamy Chicken + Wild Rice Soup (Dairy-Free)

This recipe is a healthier version of the famous Panera soup that I developed from scratch. I used all organic and fresh ingredients! This soup is dairy free and you can make it vegan by leaving out the chicken and using all vegetable broth instead of a combo of that an bone broth. Cream-based soups are delicious and satisfying during the winter months, but they can pack lots of extra calories and fat, so this recipe is a better-for-you alternative! Plus, bone broth is one of the best foods you can feed your gut this time of year to help fight and prevent illness and strengthen your immune system. If you are lactose intolerant, sensitive to dairy, or live a vegan lifestyle this is a great way to still enjoy a rich soup! 

Ingredients:

-4 cups of bone broth (1 container as you may use more)

-4 cups of vegetable broth (1 container as you may use more)

-3 cups of wild rice

-1 box of organic pre-cut chicken breast or 2-3 small organic chicken breasts cooked on the stove top over olive oil, salt and pepper. 

-1/4 cup of nutritional yeast

-1/4 cup of raw cashews (soaked prior to blending)

-1 regular potato or 2 small potatoes

-1 tbs white wine vinegar

-Olive oil

-Pink salt and pepper to taste

-Handful of fresh parsley

-3 large carrots

-3 large celery stalks

-1/4 cup of diced red onion

-3-4 cloves of fresh garlic

-1 can of organic cannellini beans

RECIPE:

1. Soak the cashews. Can do this overnight or I prefer to boil a small pot of water, remove from heat and then cover the cashews for 15-20 minutes. Drain once the time is up.

2. While the cashews are soaking you can boil a pot of water to cook the potato. Can leave the peel on if you prefer. I used two small golden potatoes and did not peel them prior to boiling. Once cooked set aside to cook and cut into small pieces. You can also cook the chicken breast if you did not buy the organic packaged version. Cook in olive oil with salt and pepper, remove from heat and use food scissors to cut into smaller pieces, set aside for later. 

3. Heat a large soup pot on the stove top with olive oil and add cut-up carrots and celery, diced onion, and press the 3 garlic cloves. Stir in 1-2 cups of bone broth and cook until the veggies start to soften. 

4. Add the wild rice to the pot mixture for 2-3 minutes. Stir in the remainder of the bone broth and vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Let simmer for 15-20 minutes with lid on. 

5. While the rice is cooking in pot, combine the cooked potato, raw soaked cashews, and rinsed beans into a food processor or blender and blend until smooth. I added a little bit of water to help the consistency blend easier. You may want to use a spatula to scrape the sides and blend a few times to make sure the mixture is smooth. 

6. Add the cream mixture to the soup pot and stir well. Add 1 tbs of white wine vinegar, 1/4 cup of nutritional yeast, pepper, and salt. If you are using chicken, now would be the time to add the cooked chicken to the pot as well. 

7. Cook on low heat until rice reaches desired texture. Make sure to stir frequently to prevent the rice from sticking together or the bottom of the pot. You may need to add more broth or water as the cream mixture will be pretty thick, it depends what kind of consistency you like. I added more broth at the end and let it heat for a little while before serving.

Top with fresh parsley and can serve with oyster crackers or fresh bread if you eat gluten. 

Can store in the fridge and enjoy as left-overs, but may need to stir in more water prior to reheating as it will thicken up from being stored.