The summer months have come and gone, and now our schedules have shifted into school mode. For many American families, autumn is a time to get adjusted to a new school year, extracurricular activities, and ultimately, preparing for the holidays. With that being said, our available time to dedicate to meal preparation may be impacted negatively.
It takes time to plan out meals, take inventory, shop for ingredients that fit within your budget, prepare the meal, and clean up. In recent years, we have seen a spike in the use of meal delivery services. Think of this as a helping hand during a busy week – for a competitive price, you receive a variable number of meals that include all of the ingredients, in their respective quantities, and step-by-step instructions to create an instant family favorite in typically less than 30 minutes.
These meals, including Every Plate, Hungry Root, Hello Fresh, Blue Apron, Home Chef, Factor, and Purple Carrot, have skyrocketed in popularity due to their convenience, taste, and easy-to-follow steps – not to mention that you can keep the recipe card and add your favorites to your meal rotation! Let’s break down the pros and cons of utilizing these meal prep/delivery services.
PROS
1. Maximum convenience
Meal kits eliminate much of the planning, grocery shopping, and measuring by delivering pre-portioned ingredients with simple, step-by-step recipes. This reduces decision fatigue and makes weeknight cooking more manageable.
2. Exposure to new recipes
Many meal delivery services feature a wide variety of cuisines, ingredients, and cooking techniques, providing an opportunity to explore new flavors and expand your meal rotation.
3. Reduced food waste
Since ingredients are portioned specifically for each recipe, there is typically less unused food compared to traditional grocery shopping, helping reduce both food waste and unnecessary spending.
4. Can build up skills in the kitchen
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced home cook, meal kits provide a practical way to improve your confidence in the kitchen while learning new preparation methods.
5. Can lower food bill
If you frequently dine out because meal planning feels overwhelming, meal kits may help reduce restaurant spending while encouraging more home-cooked meals with your family.
6. Flexible for Different Dietary Preferences
Most meal delivery services offer options for a variety of dietary needs and preferences, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and high-protein meals.
Cons
1. Delivery Delays and Food Safety Concerns
While shipping has become more reliable, weather, transportation delays, and staffing shortages can occasionally delay deliveries. If a meal kit sits outside for too long or is exposed to improper temperatures, food safety may become a concern.
2. Portions may not be aligned with your nutrition goals
Because ingredients are pre-portioned, serving sizes may not align with your individual nutrition goals. For example, active individuals, growing teenagers, or endurance athletes may require additional protein, carbohydrates, or calories to adequately fuel their bodies.
3. May Not Save Time
Although meal kits eliminate grocery shopping and meal planning, they still require cooking and cleanup. Depending on the recipe, preparing a meal kit may take just as long as cooking a meal using ingredients purchased from the grocery store.
4. MEALS AREN’T ALWAYS NUTRITIONALLY BALANCED
Some meal kits may not align with MyPlate recommendations, which suggest filling ½ your plate with fruits and vegetables, ¼ with lean protein, and ¼ with fiber-rich carbohydrates. Many recipes are heavier on protein and starch, making it beneficial to add extra non-starchy vegetables or fresh fruit to create a more balanced meal.
5. INCREASED PACKAGE WASTE
Meal delivery services typically package each ingredient separately to maintain freshness and portion accuracy. While convenient, this results in more packaging waste than traditional grocery shopping, although many companies are working toward more sustainable packaging solutions.
6. LIMITED MEAL VARIETY
Most meal delivery services are designed primarily for dinner and are not intended to replace every meal. While some companies offer breakfast and lunch options, they are generally best suited for supplementing your weekly meal plan rather than providing every meal.
Olivia Chadwick
MS, RD, LDN
She has a passion for working with vulnerable populations, including older adults, those with special needs, low-income families, individuals with food allergies/intolerances, those with autoimmune conditions, and college students.. READ MORE
