The topic of meal plans has often been debated as something that's both a brilliant way to save time during the week while also being a big expenditure. It's not always easy to determine whether the payoff is worth the price when some meal plans top out at $100 per week for the maximum number of meals - factor in regular grocery shopping, such as snacks, breakfast, and pantry staples, and, suddenly, it seems like no plan is worth the amount of money for an exact number of servings.
Alternately, the allure in having a gourmet dinner almost every night, no fuss over leftovers (unless you order extra servings, another benefit we'll talk about later on), and having everything prepped, measured, and shopped for is definitely worth some type of investment. Nowadays, meal plans can be tailored to each individual need, and with so many to choose from, the options are virtually endless. In the days where most people are at home for dinner now, the question of meal plans has been brought up more than once, so... is it worth it? We went to Reddit to find out the deets.
Compare The Long-Term To The Short-Term Solution
Many people on Reddit brought up the fact that when considering a meal plan, both the long-term and short-term benefits should be considered. Deciding whether or not something like this is sustainable in the long run is a good place to start.
Many meal plans, such as Hello Fresh, offer options for skipping up to six weeks at a time or reducing the number of meals ordered each week (or increasing them) if done by a certain day prior to the following week's delivery. This makes it easier to manage in the long-term and might be worth the effort. However, if it's a short-term solution, it might not be worth it in terms of price and serving size.
Value Vs. Creative Freedom Vs. Learning The Basics
The consensus according to Reddit is that those who were proficient or even professional cooks or chefs weren't the biggest fans of meal kits. The reasoning was anything from losing the ability to choose their own proteins as well as produce, as well as having to follow a recipe to the T in order to make the meal.
For those who didn't mind giving up some control and freedom, they appreciated the fact that no grocery shopping was necessary, the guesswork was taken out of serving sizes, and the hassle of planning a dinner from scratch was eliminated. Therefore, it was deemed a great option for learning the basics but can seem boring or redundant for those who are seasoned cooks.
Recipes And Unique Options
Another point that was brought up is the fact that many meal kits include full-sized recipe cards. Therefore, not only is the service and the food is paid for but with each meal, several recipes come to you free of charge, complete with portions and measurements. This means they can be recreated outside of the meal kit which does extend the benefits of the price quite a bit.
Additionally, the options included in many meal kits are varied and unique - one week, it could be something like a tandoori chicken while the next could be Tex-Mex-style street tacos followed by marinated steak with a mushroom sauce and roasted vegetables. Designing a menu to suit a certain lifestyle such as vegetarian is also an option with many meal kits, meaning trying something new or finding inspiration is as simple as placing an order.
Serving Sizes And Potential Room For Error
One of the biggest cons, when it came to meal kits for many, was the rigid serving size. While the servings are measured out to a science, there are rarely any leftovers which are one aspect of cooking that many people love, especially when the meal is delicious. In order to combat this, one would need to request the next largest serving size which usually adds more money to the overall price. Alternatively, there is some room for error with meal kits - whether it's a piece of produce that doesn't always get inspected thoroughly or an item that's missing, these things do happen.
While customer service help wasn't a major complaint, it can be frustrating at the moment to no have everything you need when you're depending on a meal kit for dinner. It doesn't happen often, but it is something to consider. Alternatively, the exact serving size is welcomed by some who are trying to control their portion sizes when it's the hardest - at dinner. Overall, with every meal kit nowadays featuring high-quality ingredients, it comes down to personal needs, household size, and a person's food budget.