3 Popular Meal Kits Are They Right for You?
3 Popular Meal Kits Are They Right for You?
Spice Up Your Cooking with Meal Kits
Do you have the cooking blahs? Tired of planning meals and bored with your recipes? Reluctant to spend money on new ingredients you may not like? Well, fear not! A meal kit might be the solution you’ve been looking for. Imagine a box of chef-created recipes and pre-measured ingredients delivered right to your doorstep, taking the hassle out of meal planning and reducing food waste. No more staring at a bunch of parsley or a tub of sour cream wondering what to do with them before they spoil.
Meal kits have become increasingly popular in recent years, with a few dozen companies offering this convenient service. In this article, we will take a closer look at three of the largest purveyors – HelloFresh, Sunbasket, and Blue Apron – to help you understand the cost, convenience, and nutrition they offer.
How it Works
Each of the big three meal kit companies requires a subscription that automatically renews. You choose how many people you’re serving, the number of meals you want per week, and your dietary preferences. For instance, HelloFresh and Blue Apron start at $12 per serving for two services and two meals per week, but the more you order, the lower the cost. Sunbasket charges $12 per serving or more, depending on the recipe, regardless of the number of servings. All three companies offer a variety of add-ons, such as breakfasts, appetizers, snacks, and desserts. Additionally, the shipping cost is typically around $10 per box.
While meal kits may not save you a significant amount of money compared to grocery shopping, they do offer a more cost-effective alternative to takeout or dining out. HelloFresh even claims to be 75% cheaper than traditional grocery shopping, thanks to buying directly from suppliers and eliminating middlemen. However, be cautious of initial discounts that may require considerable spending to fully realize the savings. Watchdog truthinadvertising.org reported HelloFresh to the Federal Trade Commission for false advertising in June 2022 after uncovering deceptive discount practices.
What You Get
When it comes to variety, the big three meal kit companies do not disappoint. Blue Apron and Sunbasket offer more than a dozen recipes each week, while HelloFresh boasts over 30 options. Reviewers have praised HelloFresh for its delicious gourmet meals, although they mentioned that the preparation could be time-consuming with plenty of clean-up involved. Blue Apron focuses on upscale modern American cuisine but has limited dietary accommodations. Sunbasket, on the other hand, accommodates a range of diets and offers simple and easy-to-prepare meals, though some reviewers found the flavors to be occasionally muted. Sunbasket also takes pride in using 99% organic ingredients (excluding meat and fish).
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Menus change weekly, and you have the option to view them in advance, along with the recipes, nutritional information, and preparation time. You can customize your meal plan by eliminating ingredients, swapping them, or upgrading to more expensive options. Each meal kit includes everything you need, except for pantry staples like oil, butter, sugar, salt, and pepper.
According to Consumer Reports, meal kits generally provide mostly whole foods or minimally processed ingredients, making them a healthier option compared to restaurant takeout or ultra-processed foods. However, some recipes can be high in saturated fat and salt, and may skimp on vegetables. The good news is that you can always adjust the amount of salt, sugar, or butter to suit your taste preferences. Additionally, all three companies offer healthier meal categories, such as low-calorie or specific diet options like paleo, vegetarian, gluten-free, and more.
It’s worth noting that none of the three companies currently deliver meal kits to Alaska or Hawaii. Sunbasket also excludes Montana, North Dakota, and parts of New Mexico. To ensure freshness, the boxes are insulated, and the food is chilled with ice packs. However, if the delivery is delayed, there is a risk of the ingredients spoiling. In such cases, you may be eligible for a credit or refund, but you’ll have to purchase replacements yourself.
Planning Ahead
While meal kits save you time and energy on grocery shopping and meal planning, they still require some level of planning ahead. Each company has a deadline for choosing recipes for the following week, skipping a week, changing your delivery day, suspending your subscription, or canceling it altogether. Missing the deadline means you’ll receive a box the following week and be charged for it, which is a common complaint among consumers. To avoid any mishaps, it’s recommended to download the company’s free app and pay attention to reminder notifications.
So, if you’re looking to spice up your cooking routine and add some convenience to your life, meal kits are definitely worth a try. They offer a wide variety of recipes, cater to various dietary needs, and provide fresh, pre-measured ingredients right to your doorstep. Just remember to carefully consider the cost, customize your meals as needed, and plan ahead to make the most of this innovative and tasty solution.
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