In recent years, meal prepping has garnered more attention as more individuals recognize how food impacts their health, energy levels, and appearance. But perhaps your busy schedule makes it almost impossible to plan and cook healthy meals during the week. Or maybe cooking isn't your strong suit, but you prefer to enjoy delicious, home-cooked meals without the hassle.
Additionally, sometimes, subscribing to these services can be more cost-effective than cooking from scratch. Whatever your reason for considering meal prep delivery services, this article will guide you through everything you need to know before committing to any subscription.
What exactly is a meal prep delivery Service?
A meal prep delivery service is a business model where companies deliver pre-portioned and cooked meals to their subscribers. Although often confused with each other, convenience food and meal prep delivery are two separate entities. The difference is that convenience foods are also cooked and ready to be consumed by buyers, but unlike meal prep delivery services, these foods are more focused on having a longer shelf life rather than being organic. Food scientists consider them ultra-processed foods, which can lead to poorer health outcomes.
Another term often confused with meal prep service is meal kit, where the company delivers pre-portioned, partially cooked food along with recipes to prepare at home. With this service, you will need to dedicate some more time to getting the food fully prepared before eating it.
How do meal prep delivery services work?
One thing that makes these services so appealing to buyers is their convenience. You do not have to do much; the company takes care of almost everything from ingredient sourcing to recipe planning to cooking, then delivers it straight to your doorstep. All you have to do is refrigerate or freeze it to prevent decomposition and heat it in a microwave when you are ready to eat.
Additionally, it's vital to know exactly what you're going for. Ask yourself this question: What type of diet do you prefer? It could be keto, low-carb, or specific to your goals, such as weight loss or weight gain. Typically, the meal prep delivery service will need this information to draw out a diet plan for you. Conversely, you can go ahead and customize each bowl with food ingredients that suit your preference.
What types of meals are offered by meal prep delivery services?
Meal prep delivery services typically offer a wide range of meals to cater to the needs of each client. The type of diet you choose should be something you like and align with your health and nutritional goals. Some of these diets include, but are not limited to:
Vegetarian or vegan meals
Gluten-free meals
Paleo meals
Dairy-free meals
Furthermore, these companies use food ingredients that can be stored in a fridge for a longer time, without going bad. For example, imagine freezing cooked pasta and reheating it; it doesn't sound palatable, right? Also, most meal prep services make options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And you get to select how many days a week, you would want food your meal prepped.
What is the cost of a meal prep delivery service?
The cost of meal prep depends on the options chosen. Usually, you have the option to choose either breakfast, lunch, or dinner, or even all of them, and then you select the number of days in a week you want your meals to be prepped. A typical price range per meal is $5 to $20.
Are meal prepping delivery services cheaper than takeouts?
Honestly, there is no specific tag I can attach to each option to determine which is more cost-effective. However, from my experience, I would say that meals made in bulk or in batches are more likely to be cheaper than preparing a new dish every time. Just think about it; the energy (whether electricity or gas) used in making the meal, buying groceries in bulk once a week is better than driving to the grocery store each day. Additionally, meal prepping makes it easier to count calories, ensures portion control, and decreases impulsive eating.
How are the meals packaged and delivered?
Partially or cooked foods are bound to decompose when exposed to air for a limited time. That's why meal prep delivery services make a concerted effort to properly store foods in air-tight containers. They use a machine known as the meal prep packaging machine to remove air from the container while tightly sealing the food. Another way these companies ensure that food quality is never compromised is by using the ILPRA speedy tray sealer to pack each food item separately.
Are the meals ready to eat or do they require cooking or assembly?
Meal-prepping delivery services specifically deliver well-packaged ready-to-eat meals. All you have to do is store it well and heat it when you are ready.
Are nutritional information and ingredient lists provided for each meal?
Yes, meal-prepping delivery services often provide the ingredient lists, and nutritional value of each food, as well as calories, sugar, protein, and salts to help you make informed food choices when selecting the meals.
Among the various meal prep services available, meal-prepping delivery services stand out as the best choice. This is due to their convenience; meals are already fully cooked and you simply need to warm it up for consumption. Not only does this option prioritize your health, but it also saves you time and money. All you have to do is select the meal plans you prefer or discuss your goals with them so they can assist you in choosing the best options. If you live in Texas and you’ve been asking yourself, 'What are the healthy meal prep near me?' One of the best meal-prepping delivery services in Houston is Promeals.They offer a wide range of meal plans, including high-protein, low-carb, keto, and plant-based meals, along with healthy snacks and many more. Their meals are not only mouth-watering but also packed with high nutritional value. Moreover, they are affordable and safe, with the average price per meal being a reasonable $12.80. Click here to check out their meal plans today.
