Dinner in a Box – Delivered!
“Hmmm…what should we have for dinner tonight?”
“Honey, what’s for dinner?”
“Chinese take-out? Yes.”
“What do you mean you don’t have anything planned? It’s 8 o’clock already!”
“I’m way too tired to cook; besides there’s nothing to cook, let’s do take-out again.”
Do you ever feel like there’s not enough time in the day to worry about meal planning? Are trips to the grocery store a chore? What if… fresh and healthy foods could be delivered to your door every week? Better-yet, what if… the ingredients came with the exact amount needed for a recipe that was included in the box. Believe it or not, these options are out there!
Three of the most common companies doing this are Hello Fresh, Blue Apron, and Plated. I took some time to visit each of these company’s websites to see what the rave is all about and this is what I found…
How does it work?
All 3 companies have their own “subscription” plans. When you subscribe to getting a box delivery, you are subscribing to a year-long plan, which, at first, seems like an overwhelming commitment. However, each company allows for you to pause or cancel your subscription at any time.
Types of plans vary between companies but for the most part you can sign up to get 2-6 meals/week for 2, 4, or 6 people.
Free delivery to your doorstep in an insulated box keeps the food at the right temperature until midnight of delivery day.
On average, how much does it cost (varies between packages)?
Hello Fresh: $10.44/person/meal
Blue Apron: $9.17/person/meal
Plated: $12.00/person/meal
What kind of nutrition information is provided?
While Hello Fresh and Blue Apron only provide the calories, Plated provides a whole nutrition facts label for each of their recipes, which can be found on their website.
Is it worth it?
While some might look at the prices above and think, “I might as well eat out if I’m going to spend that kind of money,” it’s important to consider the time and effort saved, fresh food options, better portion control, and not having to deal with the hassle of loading up and going to a restaurant. The boxes come to you with all of the ingredients pre-measured so there’s no waste and you don’t have to spend time on planning. While you still have to cook, it’s an awesome way to learn more about cooking while trying different foods and recipes.
For more information, follow any of the links below to the different sites. Happy dining.
-SY