Meal Kit Review

      A few people asked me my thoughts. I'm probably a marketers dream. Sometimes hearing the benefits over and over on something, even when my gut tells me I don't need this, I cave. Feeling in a meal rut as we are in this hybrid summer but maybe fall time of year, I wanted new to me meals. My YouTube mom viewing addiction has me seeing every meal kit from now until Tuesday marketed with great offers. I succumbed and tried EveryPlate, just a small three meal, two servings commitment.

      The verdict...quality was ok, recipes easy, results, tasty, but without that $1.99 per serving introductory price, which really was closer to $3, just too expensive for what they were considering I'm doing better at stocking up on loss leaders for my pantry and freezer. They'll come to $7.50 a meal once the promotion is done. Compared to a restaurant meals or take out, that's not bad, but there was no time savings other than shopping. I had to do all the prep just the same had ingredients been bought in the store. 

     I knew this, should have known this, but way too much packaging. A dozen tiny little packets with an ounce of seasoning here, and another of soy sauce there, miniscule amounts of shredded cheese and it was almost comical trying to sort and find what was needed. The recipe cards were nice, but noticed the directions were on line in the app, but only visible once you have a sign in account. 

     The protein was adequate for the serving sizes and had it just been me, nicely portioned for dinner over two nights, or dinner then lunch the next day. My son on the other hand, easily could have eaten both portions, and in fact did with the pork bolegnese penne. Another example, the Smashburger with caramelized onions and chipotle garlic aioli, with wedge potatoes came with just five tiny yellow potatoes. I could fit all five in the palm of my hand.

     There were little tips in the kits that I  think will help the food rut. I loved the caramelized onions and the chipotle garlic aioli from the burger meal so thinking outside of my normal was a win. Taking five minutes more to add citrus zest and juice to carrots or slice a nice piece of chicken on a slant made presentation of a relatively humble meal feel nicer than my boring baked chicken, rice and steamed vegetables. Using ground pork and tomato paste, but different seasonings makes either a nice taco/ flauta fill or a nice pasta toppings, so more versatility. 

Chili soy chicken with zesty carrots
and Jasmine rice 

     I got the "try it bug" out of my system. I'm committed to a second week, then may turn off the subscription. For a total newbie in the kitchen or someone who never would shop and relies on takeout or restaurants, these might be worthwhile. I think EveryPlate probably has more basic options but I've not tried others like Hello Fresh. My daughter tried Purple Carrot in the past and her experience was similar to mine; nice to break a rut but long term, just too expensive and convenience not worth the packaging waste. But if you really want to give it a try yourself, feel free to send me an email at samandcoffee65@gmail.com and I can send the discount link. I can't seem to find a code I can just post.