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Healthy Habits, the Secret to a Happy Life

What is it that makes us happy?

In the last several years, there has been a staggering amount of research on happiness. What places, activities, people, things, thoughts? The answer is not to take more vacations or buy your dream car (though those things can certainly be nice). The answer, it turns out, is in your habits.

Showing how eating healthy leads to feeling better

Let me explain, as this may sound underwhelming.

Our habits make up our day-to-day lives, and we have so many more of them (good and bad) than we realize. According to Science Daily, “Studies show that about 40 percent of people’s daily activities are performed each day in almost the same situations.” 

 

On an average day, you might wake up, roll out of bed, and put on your robe while you walk to the kitchen to make coffee (habit). While your coffee brews, you check the news (habit). You eat the same thing you eat every day for breakfast (habit), and it just keeps going from there. 

Overhead shot of a smoothie bowl breakfast

We can be very aware, or very unaware, of our habits.

Nighttime snacking might be a habit you want to break, while you’d like to pick up running 4 times a week. When you take control of your habits, you shape your life. And the great thing about picking up a healthy habit is that it snowballs into more healthy habits (read on to learn about “gateways”). 

 

The first thing you want to do is make it as easy as possible. Step back, think about what you want, why, what you might need to get there, and get it all prepared. It can be easy to gloss over the “why” with something obvious like “lose weight,” but hang around until you feel you’ve hit bottom. The real reason you may want to lose weight is to feel comfortable in your body or be able to chase your grandkids. Knowing your “why” and keeping it in mind changes a habit from something hard to something easy and in line with your values.

Start with small steps.

You’ll notice (faster than you think) how they add up to something huge. Maybe you decide to walk for a quarter mile each evening. After a while, the fresh air makes you want to stay out a little longer, so you go up to a half-mile, then a mile. Now that you’re outside all the time feeling good from the fresh air, you want to try running, so you jog that mile and feel invigorated. You get home and want to nourish your body, so you reach for fresh, nutritious, and satisfying food. Now you’ve picked up the habit of eating healthier. When you lay your head on your pillow at night, you sleep well thanks to exercise and a good meal. Now that you’re sleeping great and waking up rested, you feel fresh and ready for the new day. Those little things build on one another until you’re feeling balanced, calm, healthy, and full of energy. 

Gardyn buils healthy habits

It can be tricky to work on healthy habits.

That’s why I like to find what I call “gateways.” Having a dog can be a gateway to being outside and moving more. Choosing not to have a car can be a gateway to walking more and owning fewer things. Gardyn itself is a gateway to a healthy lifestyle. All you have to do is open the box, set it up, and wait for fresh, beautiful food to show up. Having gleaming produce in your line of sight all the time reminds you to eat it more. The beauty of the plants inspires you to cook delicious food packed with nutrients. You wind up sharing more meals around the table. It feels good, and feeling good makes it easy to pick up another healthy habit, which makes it even easier to pick up yet another, and so on. It’s such a simple start and requires so little of you to begin and maintain. So why not? Start small, take that first step, and feel your health grow.

Healthy habits leads to happiness

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A little bit of everything

Market favorites like Kale, Basil, and Butterhead with a mix of rare heirloom varieties to discover new tastes.

GREENS: Arugula, Breen, Buttercrunch (x2), Butterhead (x2), Green Mustard, Kale, Monte Carlo, Red Mustard, Red Sails, Rouge D’hiver, Swiss Chard, Tatsoi

FRUITS: Cherry Tomatoes, Jalapenos, Sweet Peppers

HERBSCilantro, Mint, Sweet Thai Basil, Thyme

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Pops of color and flavor

A mix of bright blooms and tastes featuring Sunflowers, Snapdragons and Mini Cauliflower.

GREENS: Hon Tsai Tai (x2), Purple Kohlrabi, Red Tatsoi, Arugula, Breen, Butterhead, Green Mustard, Kale, Mone Carlo, Red Mustard, Red Sails, Rouge D’hiver, Swiss Chard, Tatsoi

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FRUITS/VEGGIES: Mini Cauliflower (x2), Cherry Tomatoes, Jalapeños, Sweet PeppersFlowers: Snapdragon, Sunflower (x2)

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GREENS: Bok Choy, Bulls Blood (x2), Wheatgrass (x2), Arugula, Breen, Butterhead, Green Mustard, Kale, Mone Carlo, Red Mustard, Red Sails, Rouge D’hiver, Swiss Chard, Tatsoi

HERBS: Chervil, Holy Basil, Red Sorrel, Cilantro, Mint, Sweet Thai Basil, Thyme

FRUITS: Cherry Tomatoes, Jalapeños, Sweet Peppers Flowers: Chamomile, Fiesta Gitana

PLANT STARTER SET OPTIONS

RECOMMENDED

Breen, Kale, Basil, Butterhead (x2), Dill, Buttercrunch (x2), Green Mustard, Arugula

BEAUTY

Mini Cauliflower (x2), Snapdragon, Sunflower (x2), Red Tatsoi, Purple Kohlrabi, Hon Tsai Tai (x2), Dill

IMMUNITY

Bok Choy, Chamomile, Fiesta Gitana, Holy Basil, Chervil, Wheatgrass (x2), Bull’s Blood (x2), Red Sorrel

RECOMMENDED

Breen, Kale, Basil, Butterhead (x2), Dill, Buttercrunch (x2), Green Mustard, Arugula

BEAUTY

Mini Cauliflower (x2), Snapdragon, Sunflower (x2), Red Tatsoi, Purple Kohlrabi, Hon Tsai Tai (x2), Dill

IMMUNITY

Bok Choy, Chamomile, Fiesta Gitana, Holy Basil, Chervil, Wheatgrass (x2), Bull’s Blood (x2), Red Sorrel

All options also include 20 Gardyner favorites:

  • Greens – Arugula, Butterhead, Kale, Swiss Chard + 7 more
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All options also include 20 Gardyner favorites: Greens – Arugula, Butterhead, Kale, Swiss Chard + 7 more // Fruits – Cherry Tomatoes, Jalapenos & Sweet Peppers // Herbs – Thyme, Cilantro, Mint and Thai Basil

Welcome Set

A variety of easy-growing Gardyner Favorites

Greens:

Arugula, Breen, Butterhead, Green Mustard,Kale, Monte Carlo, Red Mustard, Red Sails, Rouge D’hiver, Swiss Chard, Tatsoi

Fruits:

Cherry Tomatos, Jalapeños, Sweet Peppers

Herbs:

Cilantro, Mint, Sweet Thai Basil, Thyme

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Winter Wellness Starter Set

Greens

  • Arugula
  • Bok Choy
  • Breen
  • Bull’s Blood x 2
  • Butterhead
  • Chervil
  • Green Mustard
  • Kale
  • Monte Carlo
  • Red Mustard
  • Red Sails x 2
  • Rouge D’hiver
  • Swiss Chard
  • Tatsoi x 2
  • Wheatgrass x 2

Herbs

  • Chervil
  • Cilantro
  • Holy Basil
  • Mint
  • Red Sorrel
  • Thai Basil
  • Thyme

Fruits

  • Cherry Tomatoes
  • Jalapeno
  • Sweet Peppers

FLowers

  • Chamomile
  • Fiesta Gitana

Treat Your Senses Starter Set

Greens

Greens

  • Arugula
  • Breen
  • Butterhead
  • Green Mustard
  • Hon Tsai Tai x 2
  • Kale
  • Monte Carlo
  • Purple Kohlrabi
  • Red Mustard
  • Red Sails x 2
  • Red Tatsoi
  • Rouge D’hiver
  • Swiss Chard
  • Tatsoi x 2
  • Arugula
  • Breen
  • Butterhead
  • Green Mustard
  • Hon Tsai Tai x 2
  • Kale
  • Monte Carlo
  • Purple Kohlrabi
  • Red Mustard
  • Red Sails x 2
  • Red Tatsoi
  • Rouge D’hiver
  • Swiss Chard
  • Tatsoi x 2

Herbs

Herbs

  • Cilantro
  • Dill
  • Mint
  • Thai Basil
  • Thyme
  • Cilantro
  • Dill
  • Mint
  • Thai Basil
  • Thyme

Fruits & Veggies

Fruits & Veggies

  • Cherry Tomatos
  • Mini Cauliflower x 2
  • Sweet Peppers
  • Jalapenos
  • Cherry Tomatos
  • Mini Cauliflower x 2
  • Sweet Peppers
  • Jalapenos

FLOWERS

  • Snapdragon
  • Sunflower x 2

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RECOMMENDED

Breen, Kale, Basil, Butterhead (x2), Dill, Buttercrunch (x2), Green Mustard, Arugula

SUNNY BOUQUET

Sunflowers (x2), Viola (x3), Matilda, Dill, Purple Basil (x2), Tokyo Bekana

TASTE OF ITALY

Basil, Oregano, Parsley, Rosemary, Lollo Rossa, Endive Lettuce, Arugula, Romaine, Kale Lacinato, Mini Eggplant

FARM FRESH

Mini-Strawberries (x2), Chervil, Bok Choi, Red Sorrel, Chives, Matilda, Fiesta Gitana, Kale Lacinato, Chamomile

All options also include 20 Gardyner favorites:

  • Greens – Arugula, Butterhead, Kale, Swiss Chard + 7 more
  • Fruits – Cherry Tomatoes, Jalapenos & Sweet Peppers
  • Herbs – Thyme, Cilantro, Mint and Thai Basil

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  • Rouge D’hiver
  • Swiss Chard
  • Tatsoi x 2
  • Tokyo Bekana
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  • Breen
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  • Kale
  • Matilda
  • Monte Carlo
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  • Tokyo Bekana

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  • Sweet Peppers
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  • Viola x 3
  • Sunflowers x 2
  • Viola x 3

Taste of Italy Starter Set

Greens

Greens

  • Arugula x 2
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  • Butterhead
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  • Green Mustard
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  • Lollo Rossa
  • Monte Carlo
  • Red Sails x 2
  • Red Mustard
  • Romaine
  • Rouge D’hiver
  • Swiss Chard
  • Tatsoi x 2
  • Arugula x 2
  • Breen
  • Butterhead
  • Endive Lettuce
  • Green Mustard
  • Kale
  • Kale Lacinato
  • Lollo Rossa
  • Monte Carlo
  • Red Sails x 2
  • Red Mustard
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  • Rouge D’hiver
  • Swiss Chard
  • Tatsoi x 2

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  • Basil
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  • Oregano
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  • Thyme
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  • Rosemary
  • Thai Basil
  • Thyme

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  • Butterhead
  • Chervil
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  • Matilda
  • Monte Carlo
  • Red Mustard
  • Red Sails x 2
  • Red Sorrel
  • Rouge D’hiver
  • Swiss Chard
  • Tatsoi x 2
  • Arugula
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  • Breen
  • Butterhead
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  • Kale
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  • Matilda
  • Monte Carlo
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  • Red Sails x 2
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Herbs

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  • Cilantro
  • Mint
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  • Thyme

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  • Fiesta Gitana
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Superfood Fresh Starter Set

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Greens

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  • Breen 
  • Butterhead
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  • Red Sails x 2
  • Rouge D’hiver
  • Swiss Chard
  • Tatsoi x 2
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  • Arugula 
  • Breen 
  • Butterhead
  • Green Mustard
  • Kale
  • Kale Lacinato
  • Monta Carlo
  • Purselane
  • Red Amaranth
  • Red mustard x 2
  • Red Sails x 2
  • Rouge D’hiver
  • Swiss Chard
  • Tatsoi x 2
  • Watercress
  • Wheatgrass

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  • Cilantro
  • Mint
  • Oregano
  • Thai Basil
  • Thyme
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  • Mint
  • Oregano
  • Thai Basil
  • Thyme
  • Wild Thyme

Fruits

Fruits

  • Cape Gooseberry
  • Cherry Tomatoes
  • Jalapeno

  • Sweet Peppers
  • Cape Gooseberry
  • Cherry Tomatoes
  • Jalapeno
  • Sweet Peppers

Flowers

Flowers

  • Radio Calendula
  • Radio Calendula

Bounty of Greens Starter Set

Greens

Greens

  • Arugula x 2
  • Breen x 2
  • Buttercrunch x 2
  • Butterhead x 3
  • Green Mustard x 2
  • Kale x 2
  • Monte Carlo
  • Red mustard
  • Red Sails x 2
  • Rouge D’hiver
  • Swiss Chard
  • Tatsoi x 2
  • Arugula x 2
  • Breen x 2
  • Buttercrunch x 2
  • Butterhead x 3
  • Green Mustard x 2
  • Kale x 2
  • Monte Carlo
  • Red mustard
  • Red Sails x 2
  • Rouge D’hiver
  • Swiss Chard
  • Tatsoi x 2

Herbs

Herbs

  • Basil
  • Cilantro
  • Dill
  • Mint
  • Thai Basil
  • Thyme
  • Basil
  • Cilantro
  • Dill
  • Mint
  • Thai Basil
  • Thyme

Fruits

Fruits

  • Cherry Tomatos
  • Sweet Peppers
  • Jalapenos
  • Cherry Tomatos
  • Sweet Peppers
  • Jalapenos