Splendid Spoon {and a splendid Mae}

Somehow, 2020 is closer to its halfway point than to its origin, and most of us have spent the springtime months staying home as the pandemic has swept across the United States. March and April feel like a blur in my memory. And while I can only share my own perspective as a doula and mama of two, I can personally say that I will be grateful to resign from the roles of virtual education coordinator, 24/7 snack dispenser, virtual birth support person, and constant toddler entertainer.

I’m ready to touch my clients as they labor.

I’m ready to send Abby to school with a smile, a hug, a lunch, and a quick walk to the bus.

I’m ready to escape to a coffee shop by myself on the weekend while David plays with A+M.

My wishes are not urgent. I have been blessed that while our finances have gotten tighter and my husband’s industry is struggling, I’ve still never doubted our ability to buy groceries or to pay the monthly bills. We may have all gotten a bit claustrophobic at times, but we have never gone without. We’ve even managed to accomplish a few additional house projects. And we are celebrating so much this May: Abby’s final week of kindergarten, the lifting of #stayathome orders, summer sunshine, a community in our neighborhood that has sustained us, and (drumroll please) a PUPPY.

And on top of it all, I was able to try out a nutritious meal delivery service and fell in love. I rarely collaborate with companies right now in this season of life, but this woman-owned business has won my full approval and respect. When I received my first shipment from Splendid Spoon, I wasn’t sure if the quality and taste would measure up to everything I had read. But, the smoothies and grain bowls literally became my lifeline this past week back to taking care of myself and my body versus just eating leftover macaroni and cheese plus whatever else remained on my children’s plates.

Founder and CEO of Splendid Spoon is a mama herself and started this plant-based meal delivery service after she had her first baby and was constantly neglecting her own nutrition. Since then, the company has exploded in popularity and has meal options tailored specifically to busy women’s needs. Instead of the traditional “dinner” meal concept that many meal subscription services provide, Splendid Spoon offers the perfect breakfast, lunch, and light dinner options in the forms of smoothies, soups, and grain bowls for those days and times that we are most likely to grab a meal replacement bar or another cup of coffee. Instead, a powerful dose of fruits, veggies, plant-based proteins, and high-quality fats are ready and waiting for those on-the-go moments when we multi-task work, motherhood, and mealtimes.

My box arrived with five smoothies, a wellness shot, and five grain bowls. The smoothies were jam-packed with nutrients and not overly sweet (if you know me, then you know I prefer all my drinks on the less-sweet side). All but one of the smoothies were immediate favorites. Dragon Fruit Berry smoothie took the cake with its blend of pineapple juice, dragon fruit, raspberries, avocado, pea protein, chia seeds, vanilla powder, and Himalayan sea salt. YUM. Green Matcha was a close second.

And while the smoothies were good, the grain bowls delighted me. For the love…if I could afford not to, I would never meal prep lunches again 😉 From Moroccan flavors, curries, and a variety of other plant-protein-packed flavors, these nutritious bowls made the entire box worthwhile. I have spent so many of my weekends in the kitchen meal prepping (especially when I was a new mom of two and working 50 hours a week), so I would have something healthy to eat for lunch to fuel my long work hours and constant pumping and nursing sessions, but these grain bowls allowed me to skip all the prep and still take care of myself. I even had several mornings (gasp) of simply sitting on the couch, reading, and snuggling with Abby and Micah. I felt spoiled, to be honest. Downright, spoiled.

So, yes, I’m going to order again whether or not I ever post another review.

And, yes, I’m going to recommend Splendid Spoon to busy women, doula clients, new mamas, grandmas, and college students alike.

Matter of fact, not only am I going to order boxes for home, but I plan on taking a box across the country with me when we road trip (pandemic permitting) to camp and fish for a week with family up near Canada.

I’m a bit addicted.

And while I realize that plant-based eating is not everyone’s cup of tea, I highly recommend Splendid Spoon as the FOUNDATION of your day’s nutrition if you are in a busy season of life. I am not a vegetarian or a vegan (neither is the CEO of Splendid Spoon, by the way), but I discovered that it was easy to add additional protein at dinner and/or along side of the smoothies and bowls throughout the day when I felt that my body needed it. If over a decade of studying nutrition has taught me anything, then it is to be a student of your own body. Not a fad diet in the world will ever beat eating real whole foods, including lots of fruits, veggies, and healthy fats. And Splendid Spoon’s meals took away the stress of chopping, cutting, blending, and stirring while I was also busy this past week answering math questions, wiping butts, BUYING A NEW PUPPY, sweeping up crumbs for the gazillionth time, soothing, refereeing, planning, and holding.

That is a win-win.

Splendid Spoon was gracious enough to provide me with a discount code for anyone who wants to try a box. By clicking this link HERE the discount will automatically be applied to your order.

~~~

So, as our new puppy Mary Oliver or “Mae” sleeps in the corner while I type and I’m about to finish my last smoothie before kindergarten graduation “drive-thru” at Abby’s elementary, I would like to leave you with a few thoughts that have inspired this month for me written by none other than my favorite poet Mary Oliver from her piece “Don’t Hesitate.”

If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy, don’t hesitate. Give in to it. There are plenty of lives and whole towns destroyed or about to be. We are not wise, and not very often kind. And much can never be redeemed. Still life has some possibility left. Perhaps this is its way of fighting back, that sometimes something happened better than all the riches or power in the world. It could be anything, but very likely you notice it in the instant when love begins. Anyway, that’s often the case. Anyway, whatever it is, don’t be afraid of its plenty. Joy is not made to be a crumb.

JOY. IS. NOT. MADE. TO. BE. A. CRUMB. PEOPLE.

As I drove to impetuously buy a puppy this past week to dump a bucket-full of joy in my children’s laps, I repeated this mantra to myself. As I let myself focus on the beauty and simplicity of quarantine rather than the challenges of staying at home compounded with David’s job insecurity, I repeated these words. As I started the blood work for the next round of IVF, I reminded myself of this truth. As I spoiled myself with yummy food that was good for my body and my mind, I tasted it. Joy is not made to be a crumb.