Inflammation is one of the biggest buzzwords in health and for good reason. It plays a role in many chronic diseases, but it’s not always a bad thing. Here’s what you need to know, and how the food on your plate can make a real difference.

What Is Inflammation?

The Good: Acute Inflammation

Think of the swelling around a sprained ankle or the redness of a mosquito bite. That’s your immune system doing exactly what it’s supposed to do. Acute inflammation increases blood flow and delivers oxygen, nutrients, and immune cells to sites of injury or infection. Short-term inflammation is a healthy, protective response.

The Not-So-Good: Chronic Inflammation

When inflammation becomes persistent, it can silently damage the body over time. Chronic inflammation has been linked to serious conditions including heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, Alzheimer’s, kidney disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and depression. Over time, it may also contribute to autoimmune issues and accelerated aging.

What Contributes to Chronic Inflammation?

Several lifestyle factors can drive ongoing inflammation in the body, including:

• Highly processed foods and chemical additives
• Environmental toxins and pollutants
• Smoking and excess alcohol
• Chronic stress
• Lack of physical activity

Why It’s Hard to Spot

Chronic inflammation often has no obvious symptoms, which is part of what makes it so tricky. If you’re curious about your own levels, C-reactive protein (CRP) is a common blood marker that can be tested during a routine wellness visit.

What Can Be Done About It?

The encouraging news: chronic inflammation is not inevitable. Many of the contributing factors, especially diet and lifestyle, are within your control. It starts with your grocery list. Choosing whole-food, nutrient-dense meals can help support a balanced inflammatory response. Beyond food, regular exercise, better sleep, limited alcohol intake, quitting smoking, and stress management all play meaningful roles.

What Makes a Food “Anti-Inflammatory”?

Many foods help the body fight inflammation. Foods rich in antioxidants, polyphenols (protective compounds found in plants), omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and pre- and probiotics can all help protect the body from chronic inflammation. 

If tracking all of that sounds overwhelming, here’s a helpful shortcut from our dietitian: the bolder and more vibrant a food is in color, scent, and flavor, the stronger its anti-inflammatory properties tend to be.

Look for:

• Aromatic alliums like garlic, leeks, onions, and scallions
• Bitter cruciferous vegetables like kale, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and bok choy
• Fragrant herbs and spices like oregano, thyme, basil, mint, cilantro, parsley, ginger, cinnamon, turmeric, and cumin
• Bright, colorful fruits like blueberries, raspberries, pomegranates, and cherries — plus beets
• Spicy, peppery foods like jalapeño, radish, and arugula

One of the most well-researched eating patterns centered on anti-inflammatory foods is the Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, fish, nuts, and healthy fats. 

We’ve developed meals that are built with this philosophy in mind. Every dish is packed with ingredients chosen for both their flavor and their inflammation-fighting properties, so you can feel good about what you’re eating without sacrificing satisfaction.

Do You Need to Change Everything at Once?

No, nutrition and health are not all-or-nothing practices. The idea of “starting a diet” can feel so daunting that it stops people from making any positive changes at all. Traditional “diets” don’t bring us health or happiness because they’re typically too restrictive to stick to long-term.

The great thing about the Mediterranean approach is that it isn’t a diet in the traditional sense. There’s room for everything on your plate. It’s about what you eat most of the time, not the treats you enjoy once in a while. A Saturday morning chocolate croissant? There’s absolutely room for that.

A simple place to start: try small swaps. Reach for whole grain bread instead of white. Scramble your eggs in olive oil instead of butter. Over time, these small choices become habits, and habits become a lifestyle. 

Good nutrition is really about finding balance, and joy.

Now Available: Anti-Inflammatory Premade Meals

Our new anti-inflammatory Prepared & Ready meals are hitting the menu starting March 29th!

This Ginger Citrus Beef Noodle Bowl supports your health goals with nutritious ground beef and a medley of stir-fry vegetables, served over a bed of chewy sweet potato glass noodles in a sweet and tangy ginger-citrus sauce.

The post Eating for Health: A Guide to Anti-Inflammatory Foods appeared first on Sunbasket.

Our mission is to empower people to live their healthiest lives – starting with what’s on their fork. But your healthiest life is completely unique to you, your habits, and your dietary needs (not to mention your tastes!). At Sunbasket, we remove all the planning, shopping, and guesswork, so that you can focus on eating your best and feeling even better. Now that’s a resolution we can get behind!

Ready to build your clean routine for 2025? Here’s why Sunbasket was voted the #1 Healthy Meal Kit.

Clean Ingredients & Dietitian-Approved Dishes

Our philosophy is centered around balanced dishes, whole foods, and maximum nutrition – achieved through fresh, clean, and non-processed (or minimally-processed) ingredients. Every dish is designed and approved by our chefs and dietitians to ensure that each weekly menu is packed with a huge variety of wholesome, delicious, and nutritious meals that tick all of our boxes. We’re proud to provide premium, sustainably-sourced meats and seafood, alongside organic fresh produce at every opportunity.

Convenient & Easy

You don’t have to keep hunting down healthy recipes, shopping for ingredients (and scanning all those labels!), and getting tired of the same old dishes on repeat. Sunbasket makes healthy eating easy – and fun!

Take the guesswork out of eating your best with healthy, time-saving meal kits. And when you’re really short on time, our line of Pre-Made Meals are ready to heat and enjoy in just minutes, and can easily be added to any weekly order. Plus, our Market aisles are packed full of breakfast options, snacks, and sides, so your kitchen can always be stocked with your healthy favorites.

Works For (Almost) Every Diet

Vegetarian. Mediterranean. Gluten-free, carb-conscious, low-sodium, heart healthy – we could really go on! Sunbasket’s diverse menu of healthy meal kits makes it easier to stick to almost any way of eating for the long term. Whether you’re following doctor’s orders, or just trying something new, every meal on our menu is tagged with key nutritional and dietary callouts so it’s easy to see which dishes work best for you. You can always click on any menu item to immediately see the full ingredients list and nutritional information, so you can manage your macros with ease.

Customize Your Clean Routine

Best of all, the entire Sunbasket menu is always open to you – no one-track plans here. Add dietary preferences and allergens to automatically have meals filtered and recommended, but if and when you want to switch it up, you’re always free to do so.

So go ahead – try a vegan dish! Try a new flavor! Give yourself a low-carb challenge! Your weekly menu is always yours to build, your way. Plus, certain dishes come with a “Choose Your Protein” feature, where you can customize the centerpiece of your meal, from sustainable meat or seafood options, to plant-based choices and many more.

No Matter Your Resolutions, Sunbasket Can Help!

While eating better, getting healthier, and losing weight are all common resolutions for the New Year, they’re not the only ones Sunbasket can help with. Our healthy meal kits can help you do all those things, while feeling more energized by the food you eat – and with more free time to pursue the rest of your resolutions!

Whatever your goals for 2025, feeling your absolute best can always help. And it all starts with what you eat. 

Ready to build your new favorite routine?

The post The Ultimate Healthy Meal Kit for 2025 appeared first on Sunbasket.

On the other hand, it can quickly become a busy, busy month in the kitchen, and let’s just say… maybe not the healthiest. We’re here to help. This year, we’re celebrating the return of our easy, gourmet Thanksgiving A La Carte Sides – the perfect plates to bring as a guest, add seasonal fun to a weeknight dinner, or just reduce the big day’s workload by a dish or two.

These stand-alone sides will be available to order as part of your normal weekly delivery on our 11/11, 11/18, and 11/25 menus. If you’re not a Sunbasket member already, be sure to sign up to get access to these effortless, delicious sides!

Butternut Squash Mac n Cheese

Available for menu weeks of 11/11, 11/18, & 11/25

Mac ‘n’ cheese is simply a must! This autumn-inspired Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese adds tender, seasonal butternut squash alongside a gourmet cheese blend, Calabrian garlic breadcrumbs, and classic elbow noodles. It’s a quick, easy side to bring to a last-minute feast, and perfectly kid-friendly for younger guests or school potlucks.

Classic Mashed Potatoes

Available for menu weeks of 11/11, 11/18, & 11/25

Rich, creamy potatoes are a staple of any Thanksgiving plate! Perfect for soaking up all the sauces and flavors, our Classic Mashed Potatoes make every bite better. Plus, you’ve never made mashed potatoes this easily – forget the peeling, boiling, and even the mashing, because our chefs did all the work. Just warm up and enjoy!

Sausage, Fennel and Apple Stuffing

Available only for the menu week of 11/25

Stuffing, aromatic herbs, and seasonally-spiced sausage – it’s all of our favorite things in one. Our Sausage, Fennel, and Apple Stuffing pairs sweet and savory for a satisfying side that brings out the best in everything on your plate. And if you bring this to a potluck? They’ll crown you there and then.

Roasted Carrots with Miso Honey & Sage

Available for menu weeks of 11/11, 11/18, & 11/25

A truly underrated Thanksgiving classic, roasted carrots are easy to get wrong, and even easier to end up boring. Not here – our Roasted Carrots with Miso Honey & Sage are umami-rich, delicately sweet, and jam packed with fall flavors. Even the kids will be back for seconds!

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta, Balsamic, & Romano

Available for menu weeks of 11/11, 11/18, & 11/25

They say nobody comes to Thanksgiving for the veggies, but we think this dish will change anyone’s mind. Level up the texture and flavor of a classic fall veggie with our seasonal Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta, Balsamic, & Pecorino Romano for a crispy, tangy, and nutty side dish nobody will skimp on.

Ginger Apple Crisp with Oat-Walnut Topping

Available for menu weeks of 11/11, 11/18, & 11/25

Skip the bland, boring store-bought pie and bring our Ginger Apple Crisp with Oat-Walnut Topping to the table. It’s warm, gooey, and packed with seasonal spices and brown sugar for an unforgettable treat. Don’t forget to share…

Gruyere and Black Pepper Biscuits

Available for menu weeks of 11/11, 11/18, & 11/25

Say no to plain dinner rolls! Infused with black pepper, Gruyère cheese, and our signature garlic-parmesan butter, these buttermilk Gruyère and Black Pepper Biscuits are simply a must. Hint: you can have these alongside any meal, especially your cozy stews and braises this time of year.

Baked Brie en Croute with Cranberry & Sweet Cherry Compote

Available for menu weeks of 11/11, 11/18, & 11/25

Sweet and salty unite for a delicious, gourmet, and easy-to-bake hors d’oeuvre – perfect for any occasion. Sure to be the highlight of any holiday gathering, or served as a special weeknight appetizer, rich Brie cheese is enveloped in flaky pastry and paired with a side of our bright cranberry and cherry compote.

Cranberry Cherry Compote

Available only for the menu week of 11/25

Cranberry sauce, with a twist! We simmered cranberries and sweet cherries together, with just a hint of orange for a bright, flavorful compote that’s ready to serve in just minutes. Sweet, tart, and ready to wow with every bite.

Make Thanksgiving Meal Planning and Prep a Breeze

Don’t forget, these sides will be available to Sunbasket members on our 11/11, 11/18, and 11/25 menus. Want us to handle the whole feast? You’ll also find many of these side dishes (and much more) in our Thanksgiving Boxes, available to order now!

The post Sunbasket’s A La Carte Thanksgiving Sides appeared first on Sunbasket.

We’ve expanded our single-serving, quick-heat options by adding Prepared & Ready meals to the menu. These meals are ready in minutes and feature innovative packaging that helps them retain their quality in transit. Read more below. You may have noticed that navigating the Menu has changed. We’ve created a Pre-Made Meals aisle, where you’ll find all of our Prepared & Ready meals. This makes it easy to find our single-serving, quick-heat meal options on the week’s menu.

Prepared & Ready – New!

Prepared & Ready, our line of single-serving meals, are frozen at the peak of freshness to lock in flavor and nutrients before delivering to your door. The innovative packaging helps the meals retain their quality in transit, and gives them a better shelf life.

Ready in just 4-6 minutes in the microwave, Prepared & Ready meals meet our dietitian-approved macros, and are chef-crafted with hearty flavors and clean ingredients.

Prepared & Ready meals are prepared fresh, and then frozen to retain quality and nutrients in transit. They are shipped in microwave-safe trays, or can be transferred to an oven-safe dish for heating. They should be consumed within 7 days.

Make Healthy Eating Easier With Pre-Made Meals

You can easily mix and match Prepared & Ready meals with regular Meal Kits. Just add a few to your weekly basket whenever you need quick options for dinner or lunch. These meals are also a great option for kids!

We’re here to take the guesswork – and the actual work – out of eating well. Our Meal Kits and Prepared & Ready meals make it easy to get balanced meals that fit your dietary needs, while still getting to enjoy your favorite parts of cooking. No matter what you choose from the menu, we’ll deliver nutritious meals that are tasty and convenient.

We hope you’ll get a chance to try one of our Prepared & Ready dishes soon, and when you do, we’d love to hear your thoughts. Your suggestions are what inspired us to develop more Pre-Made Meal options in the first place, and your feedback will help us make them better and better, each and every week. So, thank you – and enjoy!

  See next week’s menu.

Pre-Made Meals feature clean ingredients and no added preservatives. They do not include organic produce.

The post Menu Alert! Single-serving, quick-heat meals are now in our Pre-Made Meals aisle. appeared first on Sunbasket.

Ways You Can Manage Your Meal Kit Subscription

1. Forward to Your Travel Destination

A great way to manage your meal kit subscription is to simply take it with you! 

AirBnBs, VRBOs, and other vacation rentals often come with huge, family-friendly kitchens, but lacking basic ingredients that make it a bit complicated to cook your favorites. And cookouts while camping or RVing can be a blast, but the prep work and shopping can be even more of a hassle than usual. Heck, even a hotel-room microwave can handle our Fresh & Ready meal kits!

Try grill-friendly kits for your getaway to the great outdoors, or load up on Market favorites to fuel your road trip. Meanwhile, your favorite tried and true dinner kits can be easy enough to whip up away from home, and microwave-ready meals are perfect for easy, healthy, and cost-effective hotel eats.  

Depending on your schedule, you can receive your Sunbasket at home and take it on the road, or adjust your address to have a box shipped straight to your destination! Just add a new delivery address to your account and select it for the menu week you’ll be away. And if it is a hotel… be a good guest and give them a heads up, won’t you?

2. Send to Friends or Family

If you’re headed out of town, it’s the perfect excuse to send a friend or family member a thoughtful, delicious gift! Not many gifts can save your loved ones time, feed them well, and even spark up some family time or a date night at home. Plus, it’s the perfect thank-you if they’re pet-sitting or watering your plants.

Sending your Sunbasket to another home is as simple as clicking on “schedule” and then  changing the delivery address for the weekly order you’d like to forward. You can show the menu to your gift recipient so they can pick their favorites alongside you, or you can surprise them with your expert-curated selections.

3. Skip

The simple solution – skipping a delivery. Our meal kit subscriptions exist to make your life easier and work with your schedule, not the other way around! So it’s always possible to skip any weekly delivery before the deadline.

Just head to your delivery schedule and select the “skip” option. Check out our FAQ to see these steps in action!

4. Pause

Want to skip more than just a week or two? You can always hit “pause” on all deliveries until a specific week, which can be up to 12 weeks ahead! If you’d simply like to receive fewer deliveries in general, you can always adjust your delivery frequency as needed. Tweak your schedule or pause for upcoming weeks by logging into your account and clicking “manage meal subscription.”

Managing Your Sunbasket Subscription While Traveling Is A Breeze

Only one question left – where are we going next? With these easy options, managing your meal kit subscription while on vacation is more convenient than ever. Sunbasket kits can help you bring dietitian-approved deliciousness wherever you go, but it’s just as easy to redirect your order to a loved one, or skip a delivery whenever you need to. Happy travels!

The post 4 Reasons Why Sunbasket Pairs Perfectly With Your Travel Plans appeared first on Sunbasket.

Even if you’re not familiar with the term (short for Standard American Diet), you know exactly what we’re talking about. Cheap, highly-processed, and packaged foods were designed to get as many calories as possible into homes across the country during the ‘40s and ‘50s. America got hooked on convenience (and refined carbs) and forgot what real food is all about!

Today, we’re uncovering the links between the S.A.D. Diet and hypertension, obesity, and much more. But research is also proving that food can be medicine, as the right balance of diverse, whole foods can help us live longer, stronger, and healthier lives.
So if you’re hungry for something better, you’re in the right place! Our team of chefs and dietitians has dialed up a list of 30+ delicious things that immediately lift your spirits and give you energy. And bonus: adding these healthy foods to your diet will set you up for even more good things to come:

• Better heart health
• Reduced risk of certain types of cancer
• Weight loss and lower BMI
• Decreased symptoms of depression and fatigue
• Less inflammation
• Stronger cognitive function
• Improved gut health
• Managing type 2 diabetes
• Healthier emotional connection with food

Once you start eating healthy foods every day, you’ll see positive shifts in your physical, mental, social, and emotional life — the whole package. So start today by eating one, two, or three of these healthy foods, keep it up (we can help with healthy meal and snack delivery), and the sky is the limit for how great you can feel in this year and beyond. Go, you!

Healthy diet foods

Start simple with these nutrient-packed foods, and you’ll have a solid foundation to build on. Here are our top picks for the healthiest diet foods and meals you can eat every day, rotate throughout the week, or mix and match to create different meals. (with our meal kit delivery, you can get all of these healthy foods delivered right to your doorstep!)

Eggs

It’s time to set aside old myths about eggs being bad for your cholesterol. In fact, health experts say that eggs (and yes, we mean the entire egg) can boost your “good cholesterol” — also known as HDL. They’re also packed with tons of protein, making them a perfect everyday go-to.

Salmon

High in omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and vitamins, salmon has tons of health benefits. Among the biggest perks: fighting off depression and anxiety, promoting healthy skin, and potentially reducing the risk of heart disease.

Olive oil

One of the most versatile healthy foods of all-time, olive oil can be used for drizzling, dipping, cooking, coating, marinating, and more. And on top of tasting delicious, it can also lower the risks of metabolic syndrome and weight gain.

Oats

Whether you’re struggling with inflammation, watching your cholesterol, or battling type 2 diabetes, oats are the perfect everyday food for you. High in antioxidants and fiber, they can help lower cholesterol and improve blood sugar levels. Plus, they keep you feeling full longer.

Beans

Packed full of fiber and protein, beans are a healthy option for those who are on plant-based diets. Between lentils, kidney beans, and black beans, you can reap the health benefits while adding a lot of variety to your meals.

Sweet potatoes

Sweet potatoes are also a versatile superfood, and there are tons of delicious ways to prepare them. Whether you like them boiled, roasted, grilled, mashed, or as fries or chips, you’ll still reap the benefits of antioxidants and tons of nutrients.

Leafy greens

Chock-full of vitamins and calcium, leafy greens are the perfect way to add nutrient density to your diet without extra calories and fat. You can mix and match greens like spinach, swiss chards, and kale — using them as a salad base, mixing in with other soups and dishes, or complimenting other healthy meals.

Avocados

Avocados are one of the best-for-you fruits. That’s because they’re packed with tons of healthy fats (compared to other fruits that are a little higher in carbohydrates). Also high in fiber, avocados are great to eat on their own or add to virtually any dish.

Quinoa

Also great for plant-based diets, quinoa is filled with amino acids and fiber to promote regularity and energy. And if you follow a gluten-free diet — quinoa is a great alternative to other whole grains.

Chicken breast

Lean meat, packed with protein, incredibly filling…there’s really nothing negative to say about lean chicken breast. Another perk? There are virtually endless ways to prepare it, which makes it easy to add excitement and variety to your healthy diet.

Garlic

While we mostly think of garlic as giving us bad breath, the health benefits (and the flavor!) are totally worth it. Researchers have linked increased garlic intake to stronger immune systems, increased blood flow, and lower cholesterol.

Apples

Apples are not only nutrient-rich, but they’re also delicious and filling. With fiber, vitamin C, and numerous antioxidants, apples are an easy choice for adding healthy food to your diet.

Dark Chocolate

This may seem like cheating on your diet but dark chocolates are one of the most powerful sources of antioxidants. Dark chocolate contains relatively high concentrations of flavanols which improve blood flow and arterial elasticity.

Healthy snack foods

Whether you’re looking to stave off hunger, kick a craving, or get a quick energy boost, there are tons of healthy snack foods to reach for. Our favorites are simple, delicious, and packed with protein, fiber, healthy fats, potassium, and antioxidants:

• Bananas
• Nuts (particularly walnuts and almonds)
• Greek yogurt (steer clear of low-fat or fat-free yogurt, which can be packed with sugars)
• Cottage cheese and tomatoes
• Peanut butter
• Hard-boiled eggs and egg bites
• Berries (think any kind here: strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries)
• Veggies and hummus (use carrots, celery, or cucumbers for dipping!) 
• Carrots
• Edamame

Healthy foods that can be frozen

If you’re on-the-go a lot or don’t have time to shop or prepare all of your meals, consider stocking your freezer full of these healthy, nutrient-packed foods for no fuss access any time: 

• Whole grain waffles or pancakes
• Frozen fruit (mix them with yogurt or pop them into a smoothie!)
• Frozen veggies
• Grass-fed meat
• Lean soups (think ingredients like veggies, beans, chicken, quinoa, kale, etc.)
• Frozen salmon
• Frozen egg scrambles
• Frozen burritos or enchiladas (you can pack these with protein like lean meat, beans, and cheese in whole grain tortilla)

Add healthier foods to your diet with Sunbasket’s customized meal plans

One of the best ways to eat healthy foods every day? Have them delivered straight to your door. With a meal plan from Sunbasket, you can choose from the highest quality recipes — all crafted by award-winning chefs using health-boosting foods and ingredients. So, no matter your health resolution for the year ahead, we’re here to help every step of the way.

Ready to see this one through? Pick which meal plan is best for you and start today!

The post Eat Right, Feel Bright: 30+ Healthy Foods for Your Diet appeared first on Sunbasket.

How long to thaw? How long to cook? Roasted, smoked, or *gasp* deep-fried? Wet-brined, dry-brined, or not brined at all? But we’ll have to let you dive down those rabbit holes later. Because the first question to answer is – where do I find the perfect turkey in the first place? And if you’re anything like us, you’ve got sustainability on the brain. So where can you find a healthy, responsibly-sourced turkey? And while you’re browsing, what should you be looking for to confirm that your flock of choice doesn’t just talk the talk – but actually trots the trot? 

Sunbasket is here to help you identify responsible turkey-rearing practices, spot red flags on the ingredients list, and find the perfect bird for you and your loved ones. Let’s go turkey shopping, the right way!

Choose a Vegetarian Turkey

No, not a BeyondTurkey or ImpossibleTurkey. (Unless you’re into that!). We’re talking real turkey, but one that’s been fed a 100% vegetarian diet. Ideally, look for USDA Organic and USDA Process Verified logos, which means your turkey was raised on a certified organic farm, was never fed any animal by-products, and that all of the above has been verified by USDA inspections.

You’ll probably come across a turkey that says “100% Vegetarian, enhanced with vitamins and minerals”. It might sound questionable, but that’s a good thing! Truly free-range turkeys eat a foraging diet, which means they consume mostly vegetarian feed, but can also catch worms and other insects while they’re out and about. The next best thing is a vegetarian-fed turkey with an enhanced diet to help deliver some of those vitamins and minerals they might be missing. 

How to Spot a Humanely Raised Turkey

Conventional, industrial turkey farming is not pretty. The best turkeys will always be those raised with humane practices, including properly spaced barns, outdoor roaming access, and a complete commitment to zero growth hormones and zero antibiotics. 

Finding a humanely raised turkey isn’t too difficult, but it’s important to keep in mind that not all certifications are made equal. But plenty of transparent and trustworthy certifications are out there. One we’re confident in is the Global Animal Partnership (GAP) Certification. This program certifies six levels of animal welfare, from establishing minimum space requirements and maximum travel times as the lowest bar, and going all the way up to enforcing permanent pasture living, zero physical alterations, and zero travel time at the highest level, GAP 5+. 

It’s also good to research local farms and seek out those stocking heritage breeds. These farms will be virtually guaranteed to provide their birds a better life than their industrial counterparts, while doing more to protect biodiversity and keep traditional turkey raising methods alive. Keep in mind that the feathers on these turkeys can be darker in color, which occasionally results in “marks of authenticity” – slight discolorations on the skin which will not be visible once the turkey is cooked. This is completely natural and will not affect the delicious flavor!

Trot Away From These Turkey Red Flags

You’ve zeroed in on the perfect-looking turkey, and then your eyes drift to the ingredients list. You might be wondering, “Why is there anything on this list other than turkey?”, and that’s a valid point. The ideal raw turkey has absolutely nothing else in it. However, some turkeys come with a seasoning or rub, which can add a ton of flavor if you’d rather not do it yourself. So “normal” ingredients, like some salt, sugar, or spices are nothing to fear. 

As a fundamental step, always ensure your turkey is free of antibiotics, growth stimulants, and hormones. The latter two are actually illegal in the US, so you’d be hard-pressed to find one that doesn’t meet the basic criteria. But supermarket turkeys can also have some added ingredients that we’d rather shy away from, like gluten, casein, carrageenan, and artificial ingredients or preservatives. And lastly, beware the “self-brining” turkeys that are rising in popularity – they’re typically injected with a solution of fat, water, salt, and “flavor enhancers”. Better to thaw your turkey at home, then dive into your choice of rubs, marinades, or brines. (Have fun with it!)

Sunbasket x Rastelli’s Makes It Easy

Hosting a Thanksgiving feast can take a ton of planning, prepping, and thankless effort. And while we’ve equipped you with plenty of tips to source your perfect turkey, that doesn’t save you from actually having to cook the thing! So for those dreaming of a deliciously effortless Thanksgiving spread, we’ve got a solution for you.

For the first time ever, Sunbasket is delivering Thanksgiving Dinner boxes, including everything you need for a fantastic feast. And thanks to our partnership with Rastelli’s, our oven-ready turkey roast is sourced from American Humane Association-certified family farms in North Carolina, which have a long, rich tradition of poultry farming. The birds have regular access to outdoor pastures with plenty of grass and shade, are fed an all-vegetarian diet, and always remain antibiotic, steroid, and hormone-free. Explore the Original Thanksgiving Dinner and Chef’s Table Thanksgiving Dinner from Sunbasket and place your pre-order today.

Ready to start shopping? We thought so. Now that you know what to look for in a sustainable turkey – including ingredient list do’s and don’ts, the labels and certifications worth looking for, and the basics of humanely-raised poultry – all that’s left is finding the perfect bird. And of course, if you’d rather skip the stress, Sunbasket’s Thanksgiving Dinner boxes are here to make your hosting even happier. 

The post Tips For Spotting a Sustainably-Raised Turkey appeared first on Sunbasket.

The holidays are a perfect time to try this modern take on luscious rack of lamb. In this easy recipe, roasted rack of lamb is coated with a delicious pistachio herb crust that can be modified to be gluten-free with one substitution (see Chef’s Tips below).

For a limited time, you can add Sunbasket’s Australian grass-fed rack of lamb to your basket. It’s a perfect special occasion main course that will impress without much effort on your part.

Roasted Rack of Lamb with Pistachio & Herb Crust Recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes. Cook Time: 30 minutes. Serves: 4.

Shopping List

1 rack of lamb, frenched (8 ribs)
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup shelled pistachios
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/4 cup panko bread crumbs*
1 tbsp fresh rosemary
1 tbsp fresh thyme
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Tools
Food processor, medium bowl, non-stick skillet, parchment, baking sheet

Instructions

1. Prep the pistachio & herb crumbles

Remove lamb from the fridge and let it come to room temperature. Preheat the oven to 400°F. In a food processor, add pistachios, bread crumbs, parmesan, rosemary, thyme, salt and pepper. Process in the food processor until a very coarse sand texture forms. Pour the dry ingredients into a medium bowl.

In a small measuring cup, beat the large egg with a fork and add to the dry mixture. Blend well with hands or a large spoon. The texture should feel slightly moist and hold together when squeezed with your hand. If the mixture is overly dry and doesn’t hold together, add 1 – 2 teaspoons of olive oil. Set aside crumb mixture while you brown the meat.

2. Brown the rack of lamb

Heat a non-stick skillet on the stove over medium heat – add ¼ cup of olive oil. Once oil is hot, add the rack of lamb, and sear it on all sides, about 4 – 5 minutes total. It is helpful to tilt the skillet so that the hot oil pools around the thickest part of the rack.

Remove the rack of lamb from the pan and place it on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

3. Add crust and bake

Pat the pistachio mixture onto the rounded side of the rack, ensuring that it adheres. Remove any excess pistachio mixture that has fallen onto the parchment paper, or else it will burn when baked. Roast the lamb on the baking sheet in the oven for 20-25 minutes. Remove lamb from the oven – remove it from the baking sheet and let it rest for 10 minutes.

Serving Suggestion

Carve the racks between the bones to cut into chops. Enjoy!

Chef’s Tips

When coating the lamb with the pistachio mixture, make sure to remove any of the mixture that has fallen onto the parchment paper – or else it will burn in the oven. Make sure to remove the rack of lamb from the baking sheet once you remove it from the oven. The baking sheet is hot and leaving the lamb on the baking sheet will cause it to cook more.

* Substitute panko breadcrumbs with the gluten-free option to convert this recipe into a gluten-free main course. My favorite is made by Kikkoman. 

The post Roasted rack of lamb with pistachio and herb crust appeared first on Sunbasket.

Thanks to feedback from customers like you, we’re releasing a few new features we thought you should know about:

1. The Need for Speed

The website was upgraded to deliver an even faster mobile and desktop experience. Think 4x faster. More minutes back to you. What are you going to do with that time?

2. Better Navigation

Why can’t Sunbasket be for lunch? Or even breakfast? Introducing a new way of looking at your menu: My Week. We’ve eliminated the “Dinner” category so you can get right into re-ordering your favorite meals and digging into the menu based on the type of food you want. The top navigation bar and side nav will get you right into the meals you’re seeking even faster.

3. Faster Filtering

Prefer to eat Paleo, but also seeking meals that are high in fiber? Yep. You can now filter each week’s menu by dietary preference, nutritional values, likes, dislikes, and more. Your menu adjusts dynamically based on your preferences, with the best matches at the top. Look for the “Preferences” section on the left of your menu to adjust your settings and let the website spin up a list that’s just for you.

4. Shipping Maximizer 

This one’s not new, but it’s worth noting. A value we share with our customers is eco-consciousness. Not only does planet-positivity play a role in the fresh produce we select (Hello, organic kale. We you), it also informs our box capacity tracker. You can control how many boxes you’re getting and how much you’re maximizing each one. Check it out when you click on the cart.

5. Don’t Worry, Be Appy 

Did you know that managing your subscription is easiest using the Sunbasket app? Well, now you do. Download the Sunbasket app from the Google Play or App Store today. Then nothing will stand between you and total life domination—or more sleep.

Look for more account updates as the year progresses. And, keep that feedback coming.

The post 5 new ways to make Sunbasket even better appeared first on Sunbasket.

Plus, this diet doesn’t feel like a sacrifice. In addition to placing balanced ingredients and portions on your plate, Mediterranean-inspired meals focus on flavor-packed herbs that make each bite truly enjoyable. 

Get inspired to create your own meals with these easy Mediterranean diet recipes.

7 Delicious Recipes for the Mediterranean Diet

Lamb Chops with Spinach

Seared lamb chops pair well with creamed spinach and potato salad tossed with a tasty mustard vinaigrette. Sub out the lamb for steak when looking for an alternative. Prep time: 30 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes

See the Recipe

Tuscan Chicken and Farro

This texture-filled Tuscan chicken dish features pistachios and radishes in addition to nutty farro. Broccoli and Parmesan make it an even more delicious and nutritious dish. Prep time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes

See the Recipe

Black Angus Steak Salad

This refreshing steak salad packs a bite with lemon-pepper marinated white beans. Scallions and parsley add a fresh zip and the prep time is minimal.  Prep time: 8 minutes; Cook Time: 12 minutes

See the Recipe

Chicken and Greek Orzo

Fresh summer vegetables paired with chicken and orzo create a hearty, delicious meal. Rosemary, lemon, and feta really help bring this meal to life.  Prep time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes

See the Recipe

Curried Chickpeas on Pita

Get your sandwich fix with pita bread stuffed with curried chickpeas. The meal comes together quickly and is full of flavor. Prep time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes

See the Recipe

Salmon with Ricotta Polenta

Who knew you could make soft, creamy polenta without butter or cream? Just stir in fresh ricotta for a light, velvety, and out-of-this-world texture. Prep time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes

See the Recipe

Quinoa Fritters and Salad

These vegetarian quinoa fritters scream summer alongside an arugula salad topped with blueberries and walnuts. Panko breadcrumbs add a satisfying crunch to the fritters. Prep time: 25 minutes; Cook Time: 10 minutes

See the Recipe

Diet Tips

Follow these tips to incorporate more Mediterranean-inspired ideas and health benefits into your everyday meals. 

#1: Tap into olive oil

Olive oil is a type of monounsaturated fat that includes oleic acid, which has been shown to reduce inflammation and potentially reduce the risk of cancer. This type of healthy fat may also lower chronic disease risk thanks to its antioxidants. Drizzle some olive oil on a salad with a squeeze of lemon juice for an easy Mediterranean dressing. 

#2: Heap on the vegetables

Add more years to your life (and life to your years) with a plate full of veggies. If you aim for four servings a day, you’ll be in the Mediterranean zone. From winter squash to zucchini to tomatoes, there are so many options to choose from. Salads are always a good option for a side or meal (raw veggies are extra good for gut health). 

#3: Add crunch with nuts

Nuts make a filling and crunchy way to dress up your meals, either as a garnish on a meal or as a midday snack. They’re full of healthy fats, fiber, vitamin E, and more. Instead of fried nuts, choose either raw or roasted. Nuts have all the nutrition and health benefits you need in just a handful a day.

#4: Use more whole grains

Heart-healthy whole grains like brown rice, barley, and farro keep you energized and stave off hunger between meals. What’s a good portion size? A good rule of thumb is to reserve ¼ of your plate for whole grains, another ¼ for  protein, and half for vegetables.

#5: Don’t forget refreshing fruits

The Mediterranean is home to plenty of delicious fruits, like bananas, pears, and tiramisu. The Mediterranean diet is less about restriction than it is about balance. Sweets are enjoyed on special occasions. If you’re used to sweets more often, stock up on in-season fruit for eating whenever, wherever. 

#6: Swap red meat for fish

Like heavy desserts, red meat is eaten sparingly. In fact, most Mediterranean diet dinner recipes don’t showcase beef at all. Instead, you’ll find more heart-healthy options like fish and chicken as popular protein choices. With so many exceptional and satisfying plant-based recipes out there, it’s easy and fun to eat vegetarian a couple nights a week as well. 

A Great Option for Your Lifestyle 

Our menu features a number of diet preferences, including Mediterranean. This makes it easier than ever to plan meals that support your health choices no matter how busy life gets. All our meals use high-quality ingredients like organic fresh produce so all you need to do is pick out what looks good. You’ll get a box of everything you need to make healthy, delicious recipes in minutes.  See next week’s menu.

The post The Best Mediterranean Diet Recipes appeared first on Sunbasket.