copper and cloves challenge

The Copper + Cloves Challenge is all about breaking out of the habit of ordering in and getting into the habit of meal prepping so you can prepare quick, easy and nourishing meals at home, even during busy weeks! I conducted a series of polls on Instagram to understand your eating habits .i.e, how often you order in, why you order in etc. I found that nearly 83% of you order in thrice or more in a week, out of which, 20% of you order in on a daily basis. I asked you your main reasons for ordering in and you said it was mostly because you don’t have enough time to cook or because you don’t know how to cook. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying ordering in is something we should never ever do- but the rise of home delivery apps and our busy schedules have turned this into a daily reality. That is a trend in urban areas, and I get that it is the most convenient option sometimes- but we have to ask ourselves about the impact of this on our health (are we reaching for the healthiest option? Are additional oils and salt added to the food so it keeps?) and on the environment (although increasingly moving away from plastic packaging, it’s almost impossible to avoid totally). While doing my research, I found a survey that said nearly 22,000 tonnes of plastic waste is generated in Bengaluru alone, due to home delivered meals. The numbers are staggering. So, I challenge you to not order in at all for 6 days in a row! Instead, practice planning ahead a little bit, meal-prepping and prioritizing home cooked food! If your habit is ordering in lunch to your desk at work, have a look at my free recipe e-book for ideas for lunch on the go! If dinner after a tiring day is when you find yourself scrolling and ordering, practice prepping some bits in advance when you aren’t tired (I suggest a nice Sunday afternoon, with your favourite music playing) so that there’s things ready in the fridge to quickly pull together a satisfying meal. Eat slowly, and consciously, enjoying that feeling of having taken care of your well being by putting in a bit of time for your nutrition and the planet (it feels good I promise!). Eat without distractions- focus on gratitude for home-cooked food and the flavours and textures. It makes for an enjoyable eating experience, I promise. The Copper + Cloves Challenge is to not order in for 6 days in a row, but the longer term purpose is to help you to see planning, cooking and eating in this way isn’t as much of a barrier as it seems. Let’s break out of the weekly ordering habit and order in occasionally, perhaps when having a night in with friend when you really fancy a type of food that’s hard for you to make at home (for me it’s always momos or pho!). Let’s make it about the excitement of trying a new restaurant’s interesting cuisine, not your daily default. Connecting with your food, cooking mindfully and eating consciously can be a part of your new normal.