Meal Kits vs Delivery Services: Key Differences to Know
Are you torn between meal kits and delivery services? With today’s busy lifestyle, these two options offer convenience and nutrition. But they’re different in many ways. We’re here to help you understand these differences.
This guide explores both meal kits and delivery services. We look at their pros and cons in depth. This way, you can pick what works for you. Let’s dive into our analysis of meal kits vs delivery services!
What Is a Meal Kit?
A meal kit is a service you can subscribe to. It sends pre-measured food ingredients and recipes straight to your door. Some parts of the meal might already be prepared. You get to select your recipes for each week, so you can always try something new or stick with a family favorite.
Wondering about the benefits of meal delivery services? With a meal kit, you can cook like a chef at home. The service takes care of meal planning, grocery shopping, and ingredient measuring. Convenient, right?
What Is a Delivery Service?
A delivery service links you to many local restaurants. Examples include DoorDash and UberEats. You can order food from a restaurant of your choice. Then, the delivery driver will pick up the food and bring it to you. You get fully-cooked meals, unlike meal kits. You can get food instantly for any craving.
Delivery services provide many choices, like sushi or pizza. There are options for every diet and preference. The quick delivery and variety make them a good choice for busy people.
Meal Kits vs Delivery Services: Pros
Now, you understand how meal kits and delivery services differ. Next, let’s focus on their benefits. This will help you decide which option fits your lifestyle and diet. Let’s begin with the positives of meal kits.
Meal Kit Pros
- Hone Cooking Skills: Meal kits are an excellent way to refine your culinary skills. The detailed recipes guide you step-by-step. It’s ideal even for beginners.
- Dietary Control: You have control over the ingredients. This is especially beneficial for those with dietary restrictions or allergies.
- Minimized Food Waste: With pre-measured ingredients, you use everything provided. This minimizes food waste.
- Variety of Cuisines: Meal kits often incorporate a diverse range of cuisines. You have the opportunity to cook and try international dishes.
- Quality Ingredients: Many meal kit services emphasize organic, locally sourced ingredients. You can be sure you’re getting quality food.
- Healthy Food Swaps: You can enjoy more nutritious versions of your favorite “unhealthy” meals.
- Time-saving: No need to spend time planning meals and shopping for groceries. Your meals for the week are sorted.
Delivery Service Pros
- Variety of Options: Delivery services offer a plethora of restaurant choices. They’ll satisfy every food craving you may have.
- Instant Gratification: You can get hot, ready-to-eat food delivered to your doorstep… within minutes!
- No Cooking Involved: Don’t enjoy cooking or simply don’t have the time? Delivery services are a perfect solution.
- Flexible Ordering: Order as much or as little as you want. No commitment to a weekly schedule or minimum order.
- Discover Local Restaurants: Delivery services can help you discover new local eateries. You might not have tried these otherwise!
Meal Kits vs Delivery Services: Cons
Meal kits and delivery services are great, but they also have some downsides. It’s just like a coin with two sides. Knowing these cons can help you decide better. It can lead you to the service that fits your life and needs best. Let’s look at the negatives of both meal kits and delivery services.
Meal Kit Cons
- Time-consuming: Meal kits do save you time on meal planning and grocery shopping. But depending on how much is pre-prepped in your meal kit, preparing the meal can take some time, especially for beginners.
- Limited Meal Choices: You are limited to the meals that each meal kit company offers. If you’re a picky eater or crave something specific, you might be out of luck. (But the best meal kits offer options to turn picky eaters into adventurous eaters!)
- Requires Cooking: If you’re not a fan of cooking or simply don’t have the time, meal kits might not be ideal for you.
- Subscription-based: Most meal kit services require a subscription. This involves a commitment that not everyone is comfortable with. Keep in mind that most meal kit services have a “pause” option if you’d like to skip a week or two.
- Potential for Waste: Despite the pre-measured ingredients, there can still be waste. For instance, the packaging it comes in.
Delivery Service Cons
- Late Deliveries: Sometimes, delivery services can run late. This might lead to cold or less appetizing food.
- Additional Costs: Delivery fees, service charges, and tips can add up. This option is more expensive than meal kits.
- Quality Control: The food comes from various restaurants. There’s less control over the quality of ingredients used.
- Less Healthy: Restaurant meals can often be higher in salt, fat, and calories.
- Availability: Delivery services are largely dependent on the restaurants around your location. If you live in a remote area, options may be limited.
- Environmental Impact: Delivery containers and plastic bags contribute to pollution.
Meal Kits vs Delivery Services: Costs
Let’s talk about cost. It’s a big part of choosing between meal kits and delivery services. Cost affects your budget and can change your mind.
We’re going to compare the costs of meal kits and delivery services. The aim isn’t just to find a cheap option. We also want good value for money and a service that fits your diet and lifestyle.
Meal Kit Costs
Meal kit prices can differ a lot. It depends on:
- The service used
- The number of meals
- Your food choices
Usually, a serving costs between $5 and $15. Fancy options or special diets might cost more. This price covers everything you need for the meal. It includes the recipe and even the delivery.
Meal kits may seem expensive compared to regular grocery shopping. But the ease, variety, and lower waste could make it worth it for some. Comparing prices of meal kit services can make eating healthy on a budget easier. Your choice should meet your dietary needs and provide quality food.
Many meal kit services have special offers for new customers. It could be a cheap way to try a service and see if you like it.
Delivery Service Costs
Delivery service costs vary. They depend on the restaurant, cuisine, and distance. Meals usually cost between $10 and $30. Delivery fees, service fees, and tips are on top of this. These charges can make delivery services more expensive than meal kits.
But these services often have promotions. These can include free delivery or meal discounts, reducing the total cost.
Some meal delivery services have subscription plans, too. These plans charge a monthly fee for free or cheaper deliveries. This is good for people who use the service often. Remember, cost is not the only factor.
Think about convenience, variety, and health as well. This will help you choose the service that fits your diet and lifestyle best.
The Verdict: Delivery services are undeniably more expensive than meal kits.
A study by CNET showed the average costs for each option:
- Average food delivery cost: $22 per meal
- Average takeout cost: $15 per meal
- Average meal kit cost: $6 per meal
If you want to save money, meal kits are the way to go.
Save Time and Money With Meal Kits
So, are meal delivery services worth it?
Meal kits and delivery services each have their own benefits. Meal kits give you a chance to cook with top-quality ingredients. Delivery services bring a wide range of food to you quickly.
Your choice depends on your preferences, your diet, your budget, and your way of life. The key is to choose wisely. This choice should not only make you happy but also be good for your health.
Enjoy your food, make the most of it, and don’t forget—good food = good mood!
It’s important to choose the right meal kit service if you want a positive experience.
Gobble, our meal kit service, simplifies home cooking by doing all the prep work for you. You can choose from a variety of 15-minute recipes each week, with several meal plan options like the:
The menu includes wheat-free, dairy-free, low-carb, and veggie options, too. You can skip or cancel the service anytime. No long-term commitment! Explore the joy of cooking with Gobble’s seasonal eating options today!
