Hello Fresh (and other home delivered meal kits...)

It's all the rage now. Get the ingredients for your meals delivered weekly--pre-measured in meal kits-- from companies like Hello Fresh. (I see their ads constantly on TV these days.) You can skip the shopping. Saves time! So convenient! Is it right for you?

That depends.

My daughter has been using Hello Fresh for the past two months. She is young, works full-time, drives several hours per day, and normally eats too much fast food. If this sounds like you--tight on time, stressed, eating out too frequently, overspending on prepared meals, maybe having health issues as a result--then this could be the answer you've been searching for.

These kits offer some positives:

1) There are a wide range of different kinds of meals to choose from, including stir-fries, tacos, chops, and pasta dishes. You can get meat-centric or vegetarian. If you have allergies, you can select meals based on avoiding those allergens.

2) The meals are fairly easy and quick to prepare. Recipe cards have photos of each step. Many meals take 20-30 minutes, some a little longer.

3) The ingredients are fresh, whole foods--not processed--and are mostly nutritious. All the meals contain fresh veggies. The food is definitely healthier than most fast food meals.

4) Most of the ingredients are portioned out so, as long as you eat the meals that you prepare, you don't end up wasting food.

5) Almost everything needed is included. Butter and oil for frying or sauteing is the exception to this rule. Condiments like vinegar, mustard, maple syrup, herbs and spices are all included.

6) Everything is cooked from scratch, including grains like rice, sauces, etc. This is a plus, because everything is very fresh, but also a negative because all of this scratch cooking takes time and energy.

There are also some cons:

1) The meals cost more than they would if you simply bought the same ingredients at the grocery store. Meals average about $10 per serving. If you are on a tight budget, you can cook at home for much less than this by purchasing stuff on sale or sticking with cheaper cuts of meat and veggies that are in season. Not cheaper than fast food.

2) Everything comes in tiny packages which means loads of plastic, glass, cardboard, and packaging that has to be recycled or thrown in the trash. This amounts to more work and a lot of waste.

3) Most meals are fairly high carb, containing grains like rice, tortillas, bread, or pasta. There are different companies that offer other kinds of meals, like Paleo, low-carb, Keto, etc. Hello Fresh does not.

4) Although many meals can be prepared in 20-30 minutes, this type of cooking does demand effort. Sweet potatoes come whole, and must be peeled before cooking and mashing. Rice must be boiled in a separate pot. Veggies must be chopped. Sauces must be made. Yes, everything is fresh, which is great, but there is quite a bit of work involved.

Would I ever choose a meal plan like Hello Fresh? No. I enjoy going to the store and doing the grocery shopping myself. I also enjoying saving money, and these plans are not cheap. But I don't need this convenience. For people who work full-time, have long commutes, often make unhealthy choices when it comes to food, and want to do better, these meal plans might be a perfect first step toward preparing and consuming more nutritious, home-cooked meals. Great for people who hate shopping!

Do you use a meal delivery service? Which one? Why did you choose it? Are you happy with the service? Please leave your comments below!