Does it seem impossible to watch television without seeing an ad for a meal delivery service? These are extremely common nowadays including Sunbasket bowls and similar services. You are probably wondering if these services are a good deal or if you could possibly just be wasting your money. However, the truth is, it really depends on your own lifestyle, savings goals, and eating habits. To help you decide, there are a few pros and cons so you can decide whether it is the right choice for you.
Pros
Eat at Home More
One of the biggest advantages of a meal delivery service is the fact that you can prepare meals that are considered “restaurant level” right in your own kitchen. If you frequently dine out a few times a week, using a meal delivery service will save you money in the long run.
New Techniques & Recipes
If you tend to make the same meals day after day or are new to cooking, a meal delivery service will help you come up with new ideas and help you learn new skills. All meal planning kits consist of recipe cards that are detailed. Once you figure out some new favorites, you will be able to make them by purchasing the ingredients on your own.
Reduce Food Waste
If you normally purchase more groceries than you need, a meal delivery service will help you with that. All meals are portion controlled. You should not end up with any food waste if you follow the recipes accordingly. This also means that you won’t waste any money.
Cons
Costs
The costs associated with meal delivery services will vary but can average around $10 per person. This is probably more than what you would normally spend when purchasing groceries on your own, but not as much when dining out. Many of these services do offer discounts when you first sign up. You may even try out a few boxes at a discounted rate before you make the choice of continuing long-term.
Excessive Packaging
Most of the ingredients are packaged individually, in addition to the rest of the things that come in the box. There will also be cold packs to help keep the food safe and fresh. You may want to consider committing yourself to recycling if you can to avoid a sky-rocketing carbon footprint when throwing away all of the packaging.
May not Like all Meals
Chances are still high that you will run into a meal that you don’t enjoy, even though these services allow you to choose the particular ingredients that you don’t want. This is almost inevitable, even with meal delivery services. But you will still reap the enjoyment and value from these services if your palate is adventurous. You will also avoid dietary restrictions and food allergies.
Monitor Membership
Meal delivery services require a certain number of meals that you must purchase on a weekly basis. However, they don’t require you to sign a contract or commit to a certain number of meals in total. While this may seem like a plus, you will still have to monitor your membership constantly. For example, if you plan on leaving town for a week or two, you will have to remember to pause your delivery. Forgetting this while you are gone will result in a leaky cardboard box waiting for you when you return.
If you are interested in trying a meal service company, don’t just try one and stick to it. There are so many to choose from. Instead, consider all of your options to find what works best for you.
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