I’ve been trying to eat better without spending a ton, and I’m curious if any of the lower-cost meal kits are actually worth it. I saw EveryPlate mentioned in a list from https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/best-meal-delivery-service/ as one of the more affordable options, like around $5 a serving, which sounds great on paper. But I’m wondering if anyone here’s tried it or something similar and can say if the portions are decent and the meals actually fill you up.
Right now I spend a lot on random groceries that don’t always go together, so I’m thinking a meal kit might help with that too, just have everything portioned and planned out. But if it’s still ending up more expensive than buying basics in bulk and cooking from scratch, maybe not. Curious what others think, anyone using these regularly on a budget?
by Bigest_Smol_Employee
9 Comments
EveryPlate is pretty good. The meals are not bad and are usually pretty easy to throw together. My problem is that the meals are not always filling and the motivation to cook after a long day isn’t always there.
No…
You should go to Walmart and buy the 16oz cans of black beans. Crack the lid drain the beans, if they haven’t been vandalized with oil the juice is good to pour in a cup and drink. Then pour the beans over 3 flour tortillas, I like the La Banderita or Guerrero brand 20 packs of tortillas, to make three bean tacos or a large tortilla for a burrito . And pour some hot sauce on them, I like Tapatio(spicy) and Bontanera (mild) or try Valentina
Definitely more expensive than cooking yourself. I regularly make myself meals for less than $5.
Protein on sale, frozen vegetables, and carb along with pantry staples is less than $5 easily.
Probably healthier for you too
It will always be cheaper to do it yourself.
I used everyplate for a year. I really enjoyed most of the recipes, and appreciated not having to think so much about meal planning. The inconsistent deliveries ended up making me unsubscribe. Usually boxes would arrive during my work day, so that I could come home, grab the box, unpack, and cook dinner. But sometimes, the box didn’t get delivered until well into the evening, and we ended up getting takeout out of desperation. Now, when I check their website, deliveries for my area are on Wednesday, meaning I wouldn’t get to reliably have a meal until Thursday night: almost the end of the week.
They do their best to hide the real pricing from you, but it’s over $5 and there’s a hefty shipping fee. Several meals per week are “premium” or have premium add-ons. Those can double the price per meal.
I did really enjoy the food, and have kept some recipe cards to cook regularly. The recipe cards are always available for free, though, so you can cook them on your own if you’re willing to do a little work to figure out portion sizes and seasoning blends.
Also, if you’re an inexperienced cook, the recipes are laid out clearly step-by-step, and you learn some solid cooking skills by following them.
Cooking and meal planning are skills, and you will be able to budget MUCH more effectively if you spend some time mastering them.
You can use their recipes as a guide, but buying the ingredients yourself is cheaper. Remember, these meal kit companies usually offer meals with ingredients that are fairly cheap to supply anyway.
Check out an app called [Mealime](https://www.mealime.com/). It helps with planning your meals, and the meals are similar to what you’d get in a subscription box, but you do the shopping. It can generate a shopping list and you can even order the groceries online from Walmart, Kroger, etc. There is a free version and a subscription version with additional menu options.
I’ve tried EveryPlate and Dinnerly. For the first box or two when they give you the biggest discounts, I would say it’s worth it. But for regular price when the deals run out, it’s super expensive.
These will always be more expensive- and by quite a mark up at that. Going to a budget grocery store like ALDI with a shopping list and meal plan for the week, buying ingredients not frozen meals, and learning a few basic recipes will always be 10x cheaper than any of these meal kits.
Only someone who can’t cook & regularly orders Uber Eats would find these businesses worth the cost. Search YouTube for healthy frugal recipes. You can feed yourself well for a fraction of this price.