If there’s ever been a good time to try out a meal delivery kits, it’s now, in the midst of a pandemic where we’ve been eating at home more than ever and have a never ending pile of dishes to show for it. If you’re looking to cut down on kitchen time and perhaps not have to go to the grocery store as frequently, subscribing to a meal kit service might be a great solution. Even if you rely more on Seamless than your own skills in the kitchen, you might want to give them a try. “Meal kits are amazing for people who want to build confidence in the kitchen,” says Abby Langer, RD, owner of Abby Langer Nutrition in Toronto. “They’re also fantastic for people who eat out in restaurants or get takeout a lot, and want to start honing their cooking skills and making more of their own meals.”
Of course, figuring out which meal delivery kits to try is easier said than done. At this point, there are so many available options that it can be hard to figure out which ones are right for you. That’s why we asked dietitians Langer and Nazima Qureshi, RD, MPH, author of The Healthy Ramadan Guide, to help us come up with the criteria you should look for when deciding on a meal service kit. Hopefully, this list will help you when you’re shopping for one that fits your needs (we also use their criteria when evaluating meal kit services for our SELF Certified seal of approval). Read on to find out what our experts say to look for when shopping for a meal kit service.
Meal Kit Service Evaluation Criteria
Customization
Look for a meal kit that offers you the ability to customize menus to fit your needs. That may mean looking for one that has vegan options or other dietary restrictions, or lots of flavor profiles. No matter what you’re in the mood for, a good meal kit service should give you the opportunity to experiment while providing appropriate nutrition. “The most important things to look for are vegetable-heavy meals, and a wide variety of choices,” Langer says. “You might want to try kits that have foods that you’ve been avoiding because you’re not confident about cooking them.”
Affordability
If you’re looking for a meal kit that will replace some of your weekly home-cooking needs, then you’ll want to look for a service that fits into your budget. “It is important to be able to afford these meal kits over time,” Qureshi says. “If it is not in your budget, then spending time meal prepping on the weekends may be a better option for healthy meals throughout the week.” When evaluating meal kits, be sure to understand the per meal cost plus any shipping or other fees so you can determine its affordability.
Order and Delivery Process
When it comes to putting food on the table, you want the process to be as uncomplicated as possible. That’s why it’s important to evaluate the entire ordering and delivery process when deciding on which meal kit to buy. Both of our experts recommend taking advantage of free trial kits, which many services offer. This way, you’ll be able to understand what the order and delivery process is like without having to fully commit until you’re ready. Is it easy to make weekly menu choices? Can you make changes easily? Does the box show up as described, and is it easy to track? All of these are important indicators to determine whether a service is a winner.
In addition, note if the company is taking the due diligence to work with shipping partners that are prioritizing food safety, speedy shipping, and alerting customers when their orders have arrived (i.e. the delivery person should be getting in contact with the customer if they’re dropping off perishable items, not just leaving a box on your stoop).
Ease of Use
Meal kits are all about convenience, so ease of use should be a factor when evaluating which one is right for you. “[Avoid] complicated meals that are time consuming and that have a ton of ingredients,” Langer advises. If your meal kit isn’t saving you time, it might not be the one for you.
Nutrition Profile
Cooking at home is one way to eat a little more healthily (though often easier said than done), so if healthier meals is one of your goals you should keep that in mind when ordering a meal kit. “One of the biggest issues I have seen with meal kits is that at the surface level they may seem healthy because they have healthy ingredients, but the recipes are put together with the priority to taste good so they end up having too many calories, too many carbs, too much sodium, or not enough protein,” Quereshi says. “Having a look at the macros and calories is a good indicator if the meals are nutritionally balanced.” Langer also recommends making sure a service provides vegetable-heavy meals, and understand the portion sizes of the service you choose. When evaluating meal kits, we look at whether or not nutrition info is easily available so customers can make informed decisions about what’s on their plate.
Overall Taste and Satisfaction
Of course, the meal kit service you choose should be one you actually like to eat. “The key to eating healthy consistently is eating food you actually enjoy!” Quereshi says.
How SELF Tests Meal Kits:
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Order a meal kit through the website (not through a brand rep), and get familiar with the customization features on the site. Note how many options are available for your specific meal preferences.
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Order a range of meals (six-plus) that you can eat throughout the week in lieu of your regular meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner, if all are available) and note how much the total cost comes out to versus a regular week of groceries or how much you’d spend on takeout for the same amount of meals.
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See how easy the delivery process is, and if the company is taking the due diligence to work with shipping partners that are prioritizing food safety, speedy shipping, and alerting customers when their orders have arrived (i.e. the delivery person should be getting in contact with the customer if they’re dropping off perishable items, not just leaving a box on your stoop).
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If it’s a meal kit that’s designed to be easy and made ready-to-serve, measure how fast the prep work is compared to the prep work outlined by the brand. And check whether or not the prep instructions are offering the best guidelines for heating and serving food.
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If it’s a meal kit that provides ingredients to prep and cook, follow the recipe cards or instructions that come with it, and determine how easy to follow the instructions are, and note whether the meals are coming together like the recipe suggests (and in the time table provided).
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Do a taste test for how tasty and fresh everything is after you prep it. Do you like the taste? Does it have enough flavor? Is there anything to note, like a high amount of sodium in a dish?
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Determine how hungry you are afterwards. Ideally, your meal is going to provide you with enough food to stay full, without needing to prep something else.
Experts Consulted for These Guidelines
Product Reviews Using These Guidelines
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