Meal kits have been around for a while, but after the pandemic started, their popularity skyrocketed. You probably see advertisements for meal kit delivery services everywhere, including on television, in magazines, and in your social media feeds. Once a week, you may get a box stuffed full of tasty ingredients or premade meals sent to your house.
No one can dispute that meal delivery kits aren’t convenient but are they worth the cost? Pricing for meal kits usually comes at a premium, and, except for meal service providers like Freshly, you still must cook the meal.
Here are a few pros and cons.
Pros
Easy Preparation
One of the main selling factors for meal kit boxes is this. All of the ingredients for your meals are sent completely prepared, washed, labelled, and ready for use. Your supper can be prepared with a minimum of effort. All you have to do to begin preparing dinner is to take the packages from the refrigerator that your recipe requires and open them.
Planning ahead
You can maintain control over your dinner using a meal kit. You can count on pulling out a kit that has everything inside to prepare a delicious meal regardless of how wild or unexpected your day was. Sometimes, going to the grocery shop might be overwhelming. If you don’t compile a list of the precise ingredients you need for each meal, you’ll have to visit the market more frequently, which takes up time throughout the week. You don’t have to worry about receiving food that you are allergic to or have temporarily removed from your diet because many of the services let you tailor your meal plan to fit your family’s dietary needs as well.
Waste Less
The majority of meals are prepared to serve a certain number of people (usually two or four). Most importantly, this indicates that you are just purchasing the items required to prepare the precise number of servings. For instance, you only purchase the quantity of frozen peas you require rather than having to purchase the entire bag.
Cons
Pricey
When compared to going to the shop to purchase the particular ingredients for a meal, a meal kit delivery service is more expensive. This is logical. In essence, the service shops for groceries and prepares meals for you before delivering them to your door. To fit in more time for your career, family, workouts, etc., you are paying a little bit extra. Dinner can feel like conquering Everest if you have to balance a career, kids, and home maintenance. However, paying a little bit more to hire some assistance with dinner preparation might be absolutely worthwhile.
Packaging Waste
Each component is individually wrapped and labelled. Also keeping your ingredients cold and fresh during transit is the box it’s packed in, the padding and insulation inside the box, and the ice pack/cooling supply. Many packages are created as a result. Thankfully, a lot of it is recyclable, but there are still a lot of materials at work. It’s debatable whether that’s worse, better, or essentially offsets the decrease in food waste, but for the end user, it means there will be more trash and recyclables to take into account.
Not Preservable
You must eat on schedule if you want to get the best value for your money. The majority of meal kits contain fresh ingredients that expire after a certain number of days if not consumed. Consider a service like Daily Harvest, which offers frozen meals, smoothies, and overnight oat bowls, if you want to try a meal service programme but you can’t or don’t want to eat on a schedule every single week.
The Takeaway
Every meal kit subscription service has advantages and disadvantages. Each household must determine what works best for their dietary preferences and financial situation. Every household loves the range of healthy options and convenience that meal kit delivery services provide. You won’t need to rush to put together a meal anymore. You may always plan your meals with services that offer prepared meals or meal kit options. Many providers offer a “trial” period where you can try the service at a reduced price. If you’re thinking about using a meal kit service, give it a week or two before deciding if it’s the right fit for you.
