Eat Your Veggies: Get Slim & Healthy with Gobble Green

Even though we like brussels sprouts about a thousand times more than we did when we were five, we still have trouble fitting them - and other veggies - into our diets.  Since our daily dose of green M&M's doesn't quite count towards the daily 'green' quotient in a healthy diet, we decided it was time we sought some much-needed advice from Jennifer Clary of Gobble Green, an online food delivery service whose meals and snacks are 100% vegan, 90% organic, and completely delicious.  We thought nothing would ever replace our favorite mac and cheese, but Gobble Green's macaroni and "cheese" has us hooked. 

Not only did Jennifer offer us some great tips on eating more vegetables and living the vegan lifestyle, but she was also ever so kind as to offer Broke Girl's Guide readers a 15% discount off of the Gobble Green Slim Down or the Gluten-Free Slim Down. Just use promo code BROKEGIRLSSLIMDOWN at checkout!

BGG: What are some go-to healthy meals that you love?

JC: From the Gobble Green menu, I’m a sucker for the “Meat” Loaf, Chili, and any of the pancakes. The Breakfast Oatmeal is also pretty awesome. As far as non-Gobble Green options that I prepare at home, I tend to go for really simple snacks and meals like apples with peanut butter or quinoa with steamed vegetables.

BGG: What are affordable ways to incorporate more plant-based foods into one's diet?

JC: Plant-based foods are no more expensive than any other sustenance. I mean, you can certainly find a can of beans for less money than a steak at any supermarket. The thing that I think new vegans struggle with isn’t necessarily large food shopping bills; rather, it’s a lack of variety until they become comfortable with the lifestyle and start experimenting. When my partner, Kevin, and I first went vegan, we quickly became bored with our diet because we would buy obvious vegan staples and eat them day in and day out. Man cannot live on tofu alone! Honestly, our desire for greater variety was one of the motivating factors for us in founding Gobble Green. 

Gobble Green has really passionate vegan chefs and bakers who come up with great-tasting meals for us and for our clients now. It’s a game changer for people like Kevin and I who don’t always have the time or motivation to cook but who want to eat a balanced vegan diet. On the other hand, for some people cooking is a passion and that’s also wonderful! Cookbooks like The Kind Diet and Veganomicon offer a wealth of exciting vegan recipes which can be made affordably with relatively inexpensive raw ingredients.

BGG: What are the long term financial benefits of the vegan lifestyle?

JC: The reality is that going vegan now will save you money in both the short term and the long term. Some of the most versatile vegan foods like beans, rice, vegetables, pasta, and peanut butter, are substantially cheaper than chicken, beef, and fish at the grocery store. Even buying more expensive specialty vegan products like Gobble Green can be cost-effective. On most Gobble Green meal plans, the meals average between $3.00 -$5.00. I don’t know about you, but I used to drop more than $5.00 every day on my lunch break before I went vegan. Plus, I recommend taking into consideration all the money you'll ultimately save on medications, doctor bills, and weight-loss plans by eliminating unhealthy, artery-clogging animal products from your diet. If you don’t believe me, read this.  

Your decision to go veg won’t just help your personal wallet, either. It will also help to bring down the national debt. Our nation currently spends between $60 billion to $120 billion annually to treat heart disease, cancer, obesity, and food poisoning which are byproducts of a diet rich in meat and dairy products. Be a part of the solution!

BGG: What's the biggest misconception about a vegan lifestyle/vegan food?

JC: Hands down, the biggest misconception about being a vegan is that you can’t consume sufficient protein to be healthy without eating meat. I can’t tell you how many parents write in to Gobble Green in a sheer state of panic every week because their teenager has announced that they are going vegan. They are so freaked out that their child’s growth will be stunted and that their newly-proclaimed vegan offspring is destined for chronic fatigue, anemia, and even premature death. Of course, Gobble Green reps call all of these concerned people and calmly inform them that the protein myth in regards to veganism is just that….a myth. Then, we send them all here to learn how vegans can easily consume protein in healthy, balanced amounts. We also encourage them to support their new vegan family member! There are so many benefits to eliminating meat and dairy from your diet. Even as recently as February of this year, the German Cancer Research Center completed a comprehensive 21 year study of 1,904 subjects which showed that non-meat eating men reduce their risk of early death by 50% and that non-meat eating women reduce their risk of early death by 30%. This undertaking by the German Cancer Research Center is only one of many such studies about veganism and longevity. Time and time again, science has shown that a vegan lifestyle can be extremely healthy when followed correctly. So take a step back and look at the facts before condemning vegans on nutritional grounds; we’re getting enough protein, we promise!

BGG: Can you suggest one or two grocery stores in the LA area that are vegan/veggie friendly?

JC: Well, I don’t grocery shop all that often because I’m very fortunate to have access to Gobble Green; however, in a pinch I’ve found that Nature Mart on Hillhurst Avenue is great. In fact, they carry a ton of vegan friendly products—not just food. I usually pick up my shampoo, conditioner, and face wash products there because they are organic and because animal testing is not used on the items I’ve seen sold in their hygiene section.

BGG: Last question! Are there any restaurants you love for finding healthy food that won't break the bank?

JC: When I go out to eat around LA, Native Foods and Real Food Daily are my top picks. Both are relatively affordable with plenty of entree options under $10.