Are Meal Kits Worth It?

The ready to cook meal kit delivery business is booming and experts predict that it is going to continue to grow. But is this new trend worth it? As with any service, there are pros and cons, and depending on your specific situation, it may be worth the money to you. However, here are some things to consider before signing up for any meal kit service.

Meal kits are convenient. Having everything you need for a meal delivered right to your doorstep with clear instructions on how to prepare the meal is a time saver. You don’t have to come up with an idea of what to make, search for a recipe or go grocery shopping. It also introduces people to new recipes and foods that they may have never considered trying on their own. This can also be a con to the service, however. Your meals are decided for you and if you don’t like a meal, you have already paid for it. Also, you can’t take advantage of promotions at the grocery store. For example, if pork chops are on sale, you typically would purchase extra and freeze what you didn’t use immediately. Or, buy and cook extra chicken to use for a lunch the following day.  Since the meal kit only includes the food for that meal and have predetermined portion sizes, you don’t have the option of using the left overs. Depending on your lifestyle and eating habits, it may be too small for you and you have to cook more of your own food to round out the meal. Additionally, many people have compared the price for the meal kit to buying all the ingredients at the grocery store. The consensus is that it comes out roughly the same. Except that you don’t typically buy a teaspoon of cumin; you would buy the more expensive container but then have it for many more meals in the future. The average price for a meal kit for two is $20 or $10/meal. This isn’t a terrible price for a meal and you would pay a similar price if not more at a restaurant. At a restaurant, however, you wouldn’t have to cook or clean up your food and dishes.

If you’re looking to try a meal kit service to save time and try new foods, it may be worth it. If you are trying to save money, however, it most likely will end up costing you the same or even a little more. If you decide to give it a try or just want to take advantage of the many coupons available, remember that they are all subscription services and you must cancel your subscription if you decide it isn’t for you; otherwise they will keep billing you for an unwanted service.