What is Meal Delivery?
Meal delivery is a popular choice among busy professionals. It is the best option to enjoy tasty, delicious, home-made meals with minimum time spent in the kitchen. Meal delivery kits are designed to fulfill any dietary requirements, helping people to balance their family lives, professional activities, and perhaps even juggling childcare without compromising on the healthy properties of fresh meals.
Why are meal kits so popular?
Nowadays, meal kits are the new food trend. Research indicates that the current meal kit delivery market in the US is worth $1.5 billion and it is continuously growing, with one out of every four people ordering meal kit delivery in 2016. The main reason for its popularity is that people are willing to choose meal delivery kits due to its convenience and simplicity.
Another reason as to why meal kits are preferred is because each ingredient has been carefully selected by trained professionals who also craft excellent recipes which are suitable for any cooking skill. As a result, more and more people choose meal delivery kits to cater for their nutritional needs.
Benefits of a Meal Delivery Service
Skipping Shopping
As the delivery company selects all the ingredients for the chosen recipes, people no longer need to visit crowded grocery stores. One core benefit stemming from this is that the company chooses healthy and nutritious foods, avoiding the traps of buying food that is labeled as healthy when, in fact, it is not. This means that anyone can have a healthy meal without being required to read nutrition labels or possess advanced know-how when it comes to cooking and foods.
Customization
Another major benefit of meal delivery services is customization. There are various companies that offer diverse options to suit any lifestyle. For instance, most of them now integrate options that cater to the paleo diet, keto, gluten-free meals, and vegetarian diets. Other options are available too, such as supplementing the protein amount.
Weight Loss Meal Plans
When people cook by themselves, it is often difficult and very time-consuming to monitor the calories in the meal. As a result, carefully portioned meals from meal delivery companies are the best way of losing weight effortlessly. This also eliminates the possibility of overeating and saving time. Lastly, as each portion is limited, there is no way of snacking when it is not necessary, and there is no waste, either.
Time Management
Most people do not only spend hours shopping, but also prepping the ingredients, the meal, and doing the dishes (before and after). For business professionals or anyone who wants to benefit from more time with their loved ones, meal delivery services are the way of managing their time without compromising on food quality.
Balanced Meals
Another caveat of cooking at home instead of having healthy food delivery is that it is difficult to monitor all the nutrients in the food. For a healthy life, essential vitamins and minerals need to come from delicious meals, thus eating enough protein, healthy fats, and healthy carbs. This is also relevant in case of dietary restrictions as it is easier to follow with a plan when ordering meal delivery kits containing only allowed ingredients. As well as offering a balanced diet, more affordable meal delivery services can be a good option for students looking to achieve a balanced diet on a budget.
Types of Meals Delivery Services
Under 30 Minutes
Most companies offer general plans with recipes that can be cooked in less than 30 minutes. Some other options include partially cooked ingredients that take 6 steps or less to assemble and it is ready in 15 minutes.
Specific Diets
Most companies cater for different diets, although it is difficult to choose one that has all types. The common ones included in food delivery services are vegetarians, ketogenic diet, dairy-free, low-calorie, and low-carb. This smoothen the transition to a new healthier lifestyle for some, and provides quick, easy, and delicious options for all preferences and needs.
Kid-friendly
For individuals with children, meal delivery services offer plenty of choices that satisfy even the fussiest kid. They are often considered as half portions and most can be customized to fit anyone’s needs and preferences.
Beginners
Another common type of food delivery service is for those who are not so skilled in the kitchen. Usually, the kits include detailed instructions on how to cook each dish to perfection with visual clues and hints and tips. Meal kits can be a healthy and more affordable alternative to eating in a restaurant or ordering a take-out.
How to Choose the Right Meal Delivery Service for You
Size
Some companies can cater to larger families, while others can provide for a maximum of four people at once. Before choosing the right service for you, consider whether the size of their meal kits is suitable. Food delivery services are also ideal for single individuals and people who are working from home.
Price range
Another crucial consideration is the price range. Some services are pricier than others because they might offer premium meat cuts or fancier meal options. However, the majority are relatively affordable and fortunately, there is a wide range of options available including free food delivery or discounts applied to larger orders. Check out our guide to getting the most out of your meal delivery service.
Time and Skill
One more important aspect is the time and skill. Some meals require up to 45 minutes to be cooked, others can be finished in under 15 minutes. This is important when it comes to time management and availability to cook each day.
The customer’s skill set is essential as some recipes, especially those that require more time to prepare, might demand higher culinary skills than pre-cooked meals. In this case, it is important to find companies that offer the best easy meals and detailed recipe cards that explain each step.
Kitchen Appliances
Lastly, it is vital to consider the availability of kitchen appliances, tools, and utensils. Some brands offer all the kitchenware needed for the recipe (either complimentary or from their online market), whereas others will expect customers to already be equipped with pots, pans, and even most spices. Basic ingredients such as salt, pepper, and butter are also not included.
Bottom Line
All in all, meal prep companies have become the new trend due to convenience and comfort. They save time and offer everyone the fair chance of having a healthy meal prep, despite the hectic schedules. To find the best meal delivery service for you and your dietary needs, you must conduct thorough and careful research into as many meal delivery brands as possible.
Our team of experts have tried, tested, and reviewed several meal delivery companies available across the US to help you with your search. Each brand is rated out of 10 on a range of features such as plans and pricing, delivery services, organic and sustainability, and customer support and benefits. Every company comes highly recommended to help you to reach your body goals and maintain a safe and healthy lifestyle.
