Lessons Learned From Trying A Meal Delivery Service

Every night it happens… work, school pick up, feed the dog and then bam… DINNER time. Again? Seriously these people must eat several times a day and it never stops. Yes, I know it’s part of life. But as a mom of little ones who works fulltime, the quick evening routine can sometimes sneak up on you.

Early in our parenthood journey we would grab whatever from a drive-through or throw something frozen in the oven, then switch off parenting and adulting to make it to bedtime, until the next feeding. Those first few years with two under two were all about survival. But with young kiddos, eating out on the regular did not suit our budget or waistline. As our two girls grow, our family is finding a groove. We have been able to change up our routine to add some intention and healthier options.

Each week, we typically try to meal plan and prep for grocery shopping. We usually rely on our staple meals but end up forgetting an ingredient or two requiring another trip to the store. I would ask my husband, “What do you want for dinner this week?” and he would respond, “You know me, I’m not picky.” Well, that is not helpful as I dove down the rabbit hole of Pinterest recipes.

A few months back, another mom friend sent me a link to try a week of healthy meals delivered to our door. Well, who could I say no?! Our taco and pizza night rotation had gotten a bit old. A few days later, the food arrived in an ice-packed box. I was ready to switch it up.

Here’s what I learned along the way, after giving meal delivery a try.

1.) You get to try new flavor combinations and cuisine. I have discovered many new types of food because the meals include combinations I have not tried before. From vegetarian enchiladas with poblano peppers to flatbread pizza with honey on it. We have liked it all.

2.) You get to try new cooking methods and techniques. The recipes come with step by step instructions, an ingredients list, the tools needed from your kitchen and pictures showing the progression. It has pushed me to try new things beyond boiling water and inserting a baking pan into the oven. It has really inspired changes in how we cook other meals as well.

3.) There is very little waste, they often send just what you need. The meals come with a recipe card and bag with all of the pre-measured food and seasoning you need to create the dish. It cuts down on the excess. I don’t have to buy produce in bulk when I only need one tomato or invest in a special spice just for one recipe. After trying new seasonings though, we have added some to our spice rack to use again which is nice.

4.) You can keep the recipes you love, to make it again. Just follow the list and buy your own ingredients the next time around if it is good enough to land in the rotation. We have found some new family favorites that help keep our menu fresh.

5.) Low stakes for a “not-so-confident” cook. These popular kits typically include three meals a week. You can take leftovers for lunches and use your staple meals to round out the rest of your dinners. The option has helped us spice up our weekly menu.

Overall, we have enjoyed trying different meals. Some weeks we get it, some we skip. It’s very flexible. As an incentive, the service you choose usually offers codes to share discounts with friends or free weeks for the future. If you are considering a meal delivery service in your home, I would encourage you to give it a try.

Have you tried a meal delivery service before? If not, how do you keep things interesting? Share your menu tips!