Whether you’re used to cooking from scratch or just thinking about starting, it can still be daunting to plan menus, choose recipes and source ingredients. If that’s the case, you might enjoy the convenience of a meal kit delivery service.
Instead of pouring over cookbooks and recipe websites and heading to the store for missing ingredients, you simply pull a box out of the refrigerator. Inside is everything you need to cook a complete meal, including fresh vegetables, meats, premeasured spices and step-by-step instructions that even a beginner can follow. Thirty minutes later, you’re sitting down to a delicious and wholesome dinner.
Meal kit delivery services are one of the hottest new trends in the grocery business, tapping into the desire to eat more fresh food and prepare more meals at home. It’s also a fun and painless way to develop (or dust off) your kitchen skills and add a lot more variety to your menus. Fresh ingredients are shipped to your door once or twice a week in cooler boxes. Plans can be customized according to household size, the number of meals you want delivered each week and dietary preferences such as vegetarian meals. Some companies offer vegan, low-carb, dairy-free and gluten-free options as well.
You will, of course, pay a bit more for the ease and convenience of having someone else do all the planning, shopping and measuring. Meals generally range from $9 to $12 USD per person. But meal kits are still likely to be cheaper — and more nutritious — than restaurant food. The portions are often substantial enough to leave you with leftovers for another meal. Premeasured ingredients also cut down on food waste. For example, you won’t have to spend $7 on a jar of some unusual herb or spice, most of which will then sit in your cupboard. And with a growing number of companies entering the meal kit business (even Martha Stewart is getting in on the action!) competition should keep quality high and prices reasonable.
Here are a few to consider:
1. Martha & Marley Spoon
With the launch of Marley Spoon, Martha Stewart has thrown her well-heeled hat into the meal kit arena. With a focus on seasonal ingredients, meals from Marley Spoon arrive pre-portioned so there’s never any food waste. Each meal comes with a step-by-step guide to make the cooking experience easy and enjoyable.
2. HelloFresh
Thanks to a collaboration with chef Jamie Oliver, this meal service will have even novice cooks turning out impressive meals. Most meals are ready in 30 minutes and require minimal prior cooking experience. HelloFresh offers classic (omnivore), vegetarian and family-friendly plans. You can choose your own recipes or let them surprise you.
3. Blue Apron
Choose from a two-person or family plan and receive two to four meals per week with a special emphasis on seasonable and sustainable ingredients. Recipes come with complete instructions but are geared to the advanced beginner to intermediate cook. Blue Apron also offers a wine-pairing program that includes a half bottle of wine specially selected to complement each meal.
4. Green Chef
If eating organic is a priority, Green Chef is the meal kit service for you. It’s certified organic and offers vegetarian, gluten-free and Paleo options along with conventional meals. Given the higher cost of organic ingredients, it’s not surprising that Green Chef is one of the pricier options, with meals averaging $15 per person. One nice feature is the ability to order larger kits if you’ll be cooking for a group larger than your usual household.
5. Purple Carrot
Purple Carrot specializes in vegan meals, with adventurous yet reliable recipes. If you’ve always been a meat-and-potatoes type, this would be a great way to experiment with plant-based cuisine. Choose from a plan that serves two (three dinners per week) or four (two meals per week).
6. Home Chef
A good choice for those with food allergies or dietary restrictions, Home Chef enables you to select recipes that are lower in carbs or calories and free of soy, nuts, dairy, shellfish and/or gluten. You can also order kits that serve from two to six. Recipes tend to be familiar and simple to prepare. Nutrition information is available online for all recipes, and breakfast and smoothie kits are available as add-ons.
Note to Our Canadian Readers
With the exception of HelloFresh, most U.S.-based meal kit companies are not yet delivering in Canada. However, a network of local Canadian companies is filling the gap. Try The Jolly Table (throughout Canada), Goodfood (Quebec and Ontario), Chefs Plate (Ontario and BC), Cook It (Quebec) and Fresh Prep (Vancouver).
