All-Around Pinay Mama

REVIEW: The Good Box PH

August 11, 2014

Have you ever experienced meeting aquaintances that you haven't seen for years that instead of asking "Uy, kumusta ka na? (Hey, how are you?)" they would say, "Bakit ang taba-taba mo na? Anong nangyari sa'yo? (Why are you so fat? What happened to you?)."

When you hear that remark, oh how it hurts! Your self-esteem drops tremendously that all you want to do is to evaporate, become invisible, or run away and swear that you don't want to see or talk to those people again. Lol! Joke lang!

In our society, being fat is ugly. Correct me if I'm wrong but we have to face the fact that most of us especially guys adore stick figure models and artistas. With this kind of mentality, pharmaceutical companies are taking advantage of it, selling different diet pills that promise instant super model body effect to hopefuls not mentioning that exercise and right diet are still needed to achieve the goal.

I gained weight in a span of 14 years. I wore size XS (extra small) clothes when I was in high school then eventually became S (small) when I was teaching, XXL (double extra large) after my first pregnancy, and finally M (medium) or L (large) after my second pregnancy.

In 2008, while taking B. S. Nursing, I decided to cut my carbohydrate intake and refrain myself from eating too much sweets especially chocolates for a month. I decided to remove rice from my diet and ate little bread and fruit as substitutes the following month and thereafter. I had to watch my sugar intake because of having Gestational Diabetes during my first pregnancy. I was at risk of getting Diabetes Mellitus after giving birth if I wouldn't watch my carbohydrate intake. I also did the "no meal after 6:00 PM" religiously. I lost lots of pounds and the change was noticed by my friends and classmates. I felt good! I was so proud of what I achieved!

Eventually due to the demands of excessive exams, related learning experiences, and the revalida before graduation, I unconsciously brought back the usual carbohydrate intake that I used to have. I became overweight again. Then another pregnancy with Gestational Diabetes followed after graduation. My doctor told me that I should strictly follow the diabetic diet. It was a wake up call! I had to maintain the prescribed diet for the love of my unborn child and to avoid getting worse after giving birth.

I was stubborn indeed. I missed eating big chocolate bars and a pint of ice cream in just one sitting. I indulged again like there was no tomorrow.

Now I reap what I sow. I could feel that something's wrong with my body whenever I take rice or sweets in excess. Currently I'm back to cutting my carbohydrate intake but I am so lazy to look at the labels of the food I eat or count my caloric intake. For me, anything goes! Bahala na si Batman!

When Mommy Bloggers Philippines invited us to sign up on a product review in collaboration with The Good Box PH, I didn't miss the chance. I was thankful to be chosen.

On August 7, Thursday, at exactly 11:00 PM, my GoodBox 1200 kcal diet sampler was delivered right on our doorstep.

Before discussing my GoodBox experience, here are some of the Frequently Asked Questions about the program as stated on http://thegoodboxph.com/faq/:

What is The Good Box?

"TheGoodBox delivers healthy, balanced, and nutritious meals made from naturally-grown and fed produce. We delivers 5 meals a day, 5 days a week, to your home or place of work."

What are the delivery schedules?

"TheGoodBox has two (2) delivery schedules for your convenience: AM delivery: 6:00am-10:00am (Mondays – Fridays), PM delivery: 5:00pm-9:00pm (Sundays – Thursdays)."

"You may choose the delivery schedule that best suit your needs. You may also specify the exact time (time specified should be within the delivery time schedules) that is most convenient for you. However, we cannot promise that it will always be delivered at that exact time; it can only do its best to keep within your specified time."

How do we pay for our meals?

"Payment can be settled via bank-to-bank transfer. We will email our bank account information once you have accomplished our order form and right after it has confirmed your order. We also accept Cash upon Delivery."

How do I order one week meals?

"You may click the “Book My Good Box” tab on the uppermost right hand corner of any of the pages in the website."

"Click the corresponding GoodBox meal-week in the calendar and choose the delivery schedule that will appear below once you’ve chosen the meal-week. Fill-in your name, email address, telephone number, and the meal program of your choice (i.e. 1200, 1500, 1800, 2100, 2400, and 2700 calorie meals). You may also choose from the special diet plans (i.e. South Beach, Diabetic, Hypertensive and Pregnant-Diabetic) Then fill-in your special requests, if any. The special requests may also include additional orders of Bayani Brew, and/or Impact."

"Please don’t forget to click the “Make Booking” button below. An information sheet will appear after clicking the “Make Booking” button. Please fill this in. An email will be sent to you right after completing this information sheet. Another email will be sent to further confirm receipt of your order and your details. After your order has been scheduled and confirmed, we will contact you via email regarding payment details, and to confirm your preferred delivery schedule and your address."

How do I know which meal program to order?

"You may refer to the Average Calorie Requirement by Age, Gender and Activity Level Chart here or you may accomplish the “Nutrition and Lifestyle Questionnaire” here, and Ms.Fia will email back your suggested calorie intake."

What goes into each GoodBox meal?

"Every ingredient that goes into each meal is meticulously planned and prepared by our chefs and staff to give maximum nutritional value, to use only the freshest, most natural ingredients, and to entice the senses with taste, smell and color."

How do you prepare TheGoodBox meals?

"We make sure that the kitchen and its environs are meticulously clean and tidy. Our staff is required to wear hairnets and gloves and to change into standard uniforms and clogs to minimize contamination from the outside. We use only purified water for all cooking needs. We also use Extra Virgin Olive Oil, canola oil (only if necessary), and sometimes High-grade Coconut Oil."

The Good Box PH claims that...

It can be a great alternative for those who would like to (but do not have the luxury of time) maintain a healthy, nutritious and delicious diet. It’s the GoodHealth, GoodValueforMoney alternative!

Now, I would like to invite you to take a look at my set of 1200 kcal meals:

PACKAGING

Most of the food items were neatly packed in sealed and labeled reusable/microwavable plastic containers. The label stated whether I was going to chill or heat the food. They were placed further in a biodegradable plastic bag and protected by an eco-bag upon delivery. Two copies of the list of contents and further instructions were stapled on the eco-bag and placed inside the plastic bag respectively. In case one was lost, I would still have an extra copy. There was an option of returning the eco-bag to the rider upon receipt.

For those who are availing at least one week meal program, the eco-bag may be returned the next delivery day to help reuse and recycle. There is also an option of non-inclusion of utensils to reduce trash.

BREAKFAST

Time: 7:00 AM

What I ate: Banana Oat Bars, Juice,Fruit

Calorie Count: 340 kcal

The sweetness of Banana Oat Bars was just right for me. They were chewy and crunchy. The taste was flat at first but as I continued chewing, the combination of oats, nuts, and fruit burst in my mouth. Delicious!

I had a bite right after taking them out of the ref. They were very hard. So I let them stay in room temperature for five minutes to make them softer. I had history of Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJD) so I had to chew them slowly to avoid straining my jaws.

The juice tasted like Kalamansi with Honey. There was no label to tell what kind of juice it was. Nevertheless, it was refreshing and awakened my senses.

I'm a coffee drinker and my morning is not complete without a cup of hot coffee. Surprisingly, the juice became a very satisfying alternative. Its sweetness balanced the taste of Banana Oat Bars although I wanted it to be less sweet.

The small fruit (apple) was fresh, crunchy, and juicy.

Eating this meal gave me a jolt! I felt so full! The experience was like I ate rice and viand. When I drank water, wow, the feeling was so nice! Actually, I already had a full tummy by not finishing half of the fruit and juice. But I had to consume everything to cope up with the chores and my motherly duties.

This breakfast was a real booster! I still craved for coffee but I had to control my urge. I really wanted to see how this plan would work for me even just for a day.

MORNING SNACK

Time: 9:30 AM

What I ate: Macaroni Salad

Calorie Count: 120 kcal

I liked the Macaroni Salad. The dressing was very light but flavorful. I never thought that red onions, celery, and pepper could make a salad taste perfectly!

LUNCH

Time: 11:45 AM

What I ate: Chargrilled Chicken with Mint and Currant Couscous, Salad

Calorie Count: 320 kcal

This was my most favorite meal of all!

Let's talk about the salad first. It was made up of fresh lettuce, wheat croutons, and if I wasn't mistaken, the dressing was made from pureed cucumber. So immaculately good! Heavenly!

Chargrilled Chicken with Mint and Currant Couscous meal was delectable. Why I loved this more was the fact that it was breast, my most favorite part of the chicken. I didn't have to remove bones from it and it was grilled perfectly! It blended well with the couscous. I liked the hint of mint and the cucumber sauce balanced the flavors of the course.

AFTERNOON SNACK

Time: 2:30 PM

What I ate: Fruit and Cheese Roll-Ups

Calorie Count: 150 kcal

I didn't get hungry easily due to the heaviness of my lunch. When I consumed the afternoon snack, I wanted to eat some more. The serving was too small for me. Bitin! But I had to refrain from grabbing another snack to give justice to the diet plan.

The snack literally melted on my mouth. The harmony of pineapples, cheese, and crepe was superb!

DINNER

Time: 5:30 PM

What I ate: Vegetable Gumbo, Brown Rice

Calorie Count: 258 kcal

When I opened the container, Vegetable Gumbo didn't seem to have an appeal. It was meatless and I couldn't imagine how it would taste like. I was expecting a dull meal but once I tasted it, it was unbelievably impeccable!

The presence of brown rice made me happy, happy, happy! What an excellent way to end The Good Box PH experience!

It was a nice feeling that in a day, I filled my body with real healthy food, free from preservatives and junk. It also served as a jumpstart for me to watch what I eat on the days to come.

If this kind of diet will be strictly followed with the right exercise and more water intake, you'll get the desired weight, look and feel good about yourself, and be back in shape.

If you have an extra budget and can afford any program from The Good Box PH, I encourage you to avail its services. You don't have to count all the calories of the food that you're going to consume because its team will do it for you by providing you ideal meals that are yummy and satisfying. It's like you're not eating diet food. Now I know why celebrities who are into this kind of diet program can sustain their discipline. The bland food that I was expecting was way beyond fallacious.

The 1200 kcal meal (5 meals a day, 5 times a week) is worth Php2,750. You may check out The Good Box PH's very affordable pricing of the other menus HERE. You'll see that it's way cheaper than its competitors.

I may not substantiate the effect of this diet plan because I only tried a one day meal. But to sum it all up, even if it's just a short involvement, what I can guarantee is...