The relentlessness of online advertising finally got the better of me.
In this era of price increases every time you turn around, a food box caught my attention. It claims to rescue produce that would otherwise go to waste, and says it costs less than purchasing produce at the store.
I’ve been using Odd Bunch for about 10 weeks now and have drastically expanded my fruit and vegetable consumption, and it has made a difference in my grocery budget.
For years, I’ve been trying to cut back on less-healthy snacks (read: chips, candy, other processed items). But when others are eating some of my favourite snack items, my willpower does not stand a chance.
To be fair, we’ve cut back on purchasing those snacky foods during our regular shops, but sometimes the need propels one of us to head over to the store and pick up a salty or sweet treat.
Portion control is another struggle in my home. I think I’ve finally convinced my husband that we don’t need to pour the whole bag of chips into a bowl for our evening snacking. Half the bag will still satisfy the cravings, and save us both a ton of empty calories.
But you know what’s even better? Snacking on fruits and vegetables!
Okay, so they don’t satisfy the salty cravings the same way, but they do satisfy the ‘I’m bored and feel like eating’ sensations that afternoon and evening snacking is often caused by.
What I like about the Odd Bunch weekly food boxes is that the items are (mostly) different every week. I have new and different fruit that I feel pressure to eat before it goes off, and I have to come up with a way to cook some less common (for us) vegetables that the majority of my family will enjoy – or at least eat.
I’ve been chopping and freezing fruit for my morning yogurt and grains/seeds meals, and I froze some grapes to keep my wine cold without diluting it! I’ve learned how to deal with both mangos and papayas (though I’ve learned I’m not a papaya fan), my more adventurous eater of a daughter has been trying these new-to-us fruits as well, and I found a great recipe for roasted squash soup.
Odd Bunch claims it saves food from being thrown away due to its “odd” appearance. I will say some of the items are smaller or strangely larger than you’d see in the store. They then curate boxes from the produce they’ve saved from local farms or grocery retailers and deliver them directly to your doorstep.
I do think the boxes offer significant savings from grocery store pricing. And I use them because it puts more fresh food into my home that I then feel obligated to eat before the week is out and the next box shows up.
It also means I snack on oranges and grapes, and cook more vegetables per dinner (in some cases), to ensure there’s room in my fridge and my menus for the next round!
Odd Bunch also has a rewards system that offers points per purchase, and for some ‘extra’ things like leaving reviews, and on your birthday etc. The points are then redeemed for money off future boxes.
I have yet to pay full price for a weekly delivery – I’ve found discount codes online and used some points. And the referral program also offers money off if someone uses your code. So far I’ve had one referral go through, which gave me $10, and the person who used my code also got $10 toward their first box.
While Odd Bunch is fully Canadian, there are sometimes American items in the box. I know, in this ‘elbows up’ era, that’s not ideal. But, distributing and saving these foods is still better than letting them go to waste. And Odd Bunch shows you where the food has originated from, so you can choose which box you want in your next order, and can substitute items. The first substitution is free, and each subsequent substitution will cost you $0.99. (Be mindful – sometimes it’s easier to switch which box you get, if you’re considering switching out more than one item!)
The list of what is coming in the next round of boxes is released on Mondays. I look at it on Facebook, but they also detail what’s in each box on Instagram and on their website, which is updated weekly on Mondays as well.
I can also attest to their ability to provide prompt and helpful customer service. A few times I have received a squished or overripe item, and each time I have been issued a partial refund and an apology. I have also had occasional issues with the website not doing what I want it to – not allowing me to input a discount code, or not letting me change juice selections for my weekly delivery. In those cases, the customer service was also prompt and helpful.
And the deliveries can be skipped if you’re away on your delivery day, or if you simply don’t need or want a box that week.
My household is four people, but I get a small box since fruits and vegetables are my preferred snacks, but not everyone else’s. A small box says it’s for one to two people, and it definitely could be, but we don’t need more than it provides for one week.
I love the idea of keeping food from going to waste while reducing my grocery bill. I’m eating healthier (and so is my family, by extension), saving money, and saving the planet, all for between $20 and $30 a month!
If I’ve managed to pique your interest, please get the $10 off by using my referral link. It helps both of us save money in the long run! (And if you put your email in and then decide not to, that’s fine too. You’ll have to unsubscribe from their emails, but there’s no hard feelings on my end!)
*This article was not sponsored – I enjoy the Odd Bunch boxes and chose to write about them of my own accord.*
Have you used a similar service, or do you get food delivered? I’d love to hear your tricks and tips for eating better in a convenient way. Leave me a comment and let’s chat!
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