How can LeafSide meals be both shelf-stable (no fridge needed), and healthy? Doesn’t that require preservatives and a lot of processing?

Because LeafSide meal packs only use dried ingredients, and because we often use the drying technique that best preserves the full nutrition of fruits and vegetables (especially vitamins, minerals, & phytonutrients): freeze-drying. We never use any preservatives.

The recommended consumption timeframe on a LeafSide meals pack is thus set by the more sensitive ingredients, which are typically nuts or coconut, with 2 months as the lower limit to ensure the best taste (some nuts last longer, and many recipes don’t use coconut). As mentioned elsewhere, if you expect to take longer to consume the meals, putting them in a fridge or freezer can extend their best-taste period at least 2-3 months or longer.