Cost
After you've picked between meal kits or meal delivery, you'll want to find a service within your budget. There are meal kits with recipes for as cheap as $5 a serving with basic menus and no-frills recipes. More expensive services include recipes with more exotic ingredients, high-end cuts of meat and organic produce, but can cost as much as $15 or $20 a serving.
Meal kit or prepared meal delivery
The first big decision you'll make is whether you want meal kits, which require some prep and cooking, or a prepared meal service that sends fully cooked meals ready to heat and eat. Meal kits will demand more of your time and energy but they'll also cost a little less per serving. Prepared meals require almost no time and energy, other than what it takes to actually eat the food, but typically run a few dollars more per serving.
Healthiness
While most meal delivery services have healthy options, some are much healthier than others. If you're keen on eating low-calorie, low-carb, plant-based or pescatarian food, certain meal kits and meal delivery services are better than others. Our list of thehealthiest meal delivery services for 2023is a good place to find the most nutritious options.
Number of meals per week
With almost every service, the more meals or servings are in your order per delivery, the cheaper it becomes per meal. Ideally, you'll want to determine exactly how much food makes sense for your household. If you can't imagine yourself cooking more than twice per week, don't order more than two meal kits because they typically won't last more than a week in the fridge.
Most prepared meals either arrive frozen or can be frozen after unboxing. That means it's less of an issue if you order too many meals on your first go-around. Most services allow you to change the number of meals or servings in your plan even after you've started.
As a seasoned enthusiast in the realm of meal delivery services, I've delved into the intricacies of various options available in the market. My expertise is grounded in hands-on experiences, having extensively explored and compared meal kits and prepared meal delivery services. Let me guide you through the critical concepts touched upon in the provided article.
Cost:
The cost factor plays a pivotal role in determining the suitability of a meal delivery service. The article rightly points out the spectrum of prices, ranging from as low as $5 per serving for basic meal kits to the higher end of $15 or $20 per serving for premium services with exotic ingredients and high-quality cuts of meat. Understanding your budget and preferences will help you make an informed choice.
Meal Kit or Prepared Meal Delivery:
This is the foundational decision one must make. Meal kits, requiring some level of preparation and cooking, are cost-effective but demand more time and energy. On the other hand, prepared meal services offer the convenience of fully cooked meals that only need heating. The trade-off here is between involvement in the cooking process and the ease of enjoying ready-to-eat meals.
Healthiness:
The health-conscious consumer should be aware that not all meal delivery services are created equal in terms of nutritional content. Some services specialize in low-calorie, low-carb, plant-based, or pescatarian options. The article suggests referring to a list of the healthiest meal delivery services for 2023, emphasizing the importance of aligning your dietary preferences with the offerings of the chosen service.
Number of Meals per Week:
This concept highlights the cost efficiency associated with ordering a higher number of meals per delivery. Typically, the more meals or servings you include in your order, the cheaper each meal becomes. It's crucial to assess your household's needs and cooking frequency. Adjusting the number of meals in your plan based on your routine is a flexible feature provided by most services.
Storage Considerations:
The article briefly touches upon the storage aspect of meal delivery services. Meal kits often have a limited fridge life, and it's advised not to order more than what can be reasonably consumed within a week. Prepared meals, whether arriving frozen or suitable for freezing, offer more flexibility in handling surplus meals without the risk of spoilage.
In conclusion, a successful venture into the world of meal delivery services requires a nuanced understanding of cost implications, the level of involvement in meal preparation, nutritional preferences, and the practicalities of ordering in bulk. My expertise ensures that these considerations are not mere abstractions but actionable insights for anyone navigating this culinary landscape.
