Meal kits: what's the point?
leanitup123
Posts: 489 Member
IMO it's just as easy to go to the store, buy a bag of salad mix and a can of tuna or a box of pasta and some cooked chicken. Why are people spending $X.XX dollars a month on meal kits like Hello Fresh, Blue Apron, etc.
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They're called "children". Many of us like to eat, but don't like to cook.7
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Will state up front I have never used them myself but have considered it: Convenience (going to the store isn't that simple for some...store a long way away, etc), not having the think about what to cook, new recipes to try (easier to get others to try stuff if it isn't "some crazy recipe you got online"), not having to make decisions, not knowing how to cook (they are more or less cooking lessons in many ways), and not having to eat the same stuff over and over (because many recipes out there make enough for 6-8 people, not everyone is fond of leftovers), variety. The benefit of services like Hello Fresh and Blue Apron isn't money. That said, I can think of arguments against too, ultimately why I haven't tried them.9
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I don't get it either. But I'm sure a meal that you make with blue apron is a lot better than a bag of salad mix and a can of tuna lol29
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lol OP and I eat the same thing.
I don't know. I hate cooking and can't imagine I'd enjoy assembling something I paid X amount for either. Gimme the bag of lettuce and some hot dogs.3 -
All the prep work is done except the actual cooking. That said, the one I looked at was pretty high calories per serving for most meals.0
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I just spent a wedding shower with a gaggle of young women. They are all twenty-something. They talked about the trouble collecting all the spices to make a particular dish, and a few expressed interest in pre measured spice packets.
I think I managed not to look incredulous but then again I've been cooking a lot longer.
Why would I buy "pumpkin spice" when I have cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and cloves in my cupboard?
I'm enough of a snob that I am loving my Garam Masala (itself a blend) in my curry dishes.
Cumin and chilli for Spanish themed dishes.
Ginger and soy sauce for Asian inspired.
Oregano and garlic in Italian.
Heck garlic in everything.16 -
I think it's a combination of learned helplessness and perceived convenience.25
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kommodevaran wrote: »I think it's a combination of learned helplessness and perceived convenience.
Throw in a measure of laziness and I think you've got it.
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kommodevaran wrote: »I think it's a combination of learned helplessness and perceived convenience.
Throw in a measure of laziness and I think you've got it.
Actually, I think laziness is just that - a combination of learned helplessness and perceived convenience. I love easy and simple and never do anything unless I have to, or really want to. The only difference is that I'm no longer as sucked in by marketing propaganda, so my meals are now more nutritious and varied, balanced and tasty, cheap and flexible.7 -
I grew up in a communist country during the 80's when food in shops was totally basic and unexciting. I now live in London, with an abundance of supermarkets, specialist food stores, ethnic food stores, the biggest Whole Foods in England nearby...so I LOVE going food shopping. Whenever I see adverts for those pre-planned meals, I just laugh - why would I want to give up something as exciting as food shopping and end up paying a premium for somebody else's food choices? They are definitely not for me.31
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Delivery to the door means more than anything else for some people. It's a choice.
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I dont use them myself - but it is just a choice, if people think the benifits outweigh the added cost, good for them.
I'm sure I do lots of things myself that could be done cheaper if I wasnt "lazy" - I could sew my own clothes, bake my own bread, wash dishes by hand, grow my own vegetables......
Why would I give up something as exciting as sewing and end up paying a premium for somebody else's fashion choices - well, because , for me, sewing is not exciting and I am quite happy to buy pre made clothes in shops that other people have designed.
I accept some other people feel that way about cooking and meal decisions.25 -
WendyLeigh1119 wrote: »They're called "children". Many of us like to eat, but don't like to cook.
Very true1 -
Convenience and getting to try new foods without buying all the spices can be handy for some. This is like saying why go out to eat when you can eat lettuce and tuna at home. Different people like and prioritize different things. Nbd.20
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It's a convenience, like anything else. If I lived alone, I might try it. Probably too pricey for more than one person.1
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Hmmm, maybe I'm a child who is lazy, helpless and can't cook.
Or possibly, I'm an adult who likes having a box of high quality fresh veggies and meat/fish delivered to my door from time to time. With the service I use (once a month or so), I still need to do the prep and add some spices, sauces and staples - I get a pantry list the week before.
My reason - for those of you who are prepared to not be patronising for a millisecond - is that I like trying new recipes, I'm on my own for four weeks out of five (husband works away) and when I'm on my own I get bored with meal planning and like to having someone else do it now and again.
I am quite capable of finding recipes, making a shopping list and cooking - for one or more people. But sometimes I don't choose to do that. Just as sometimes I choose to eat out, sometimes I buy something convenient (like a cooked chook or a bag of salad), sometimes I have a cheese and Vegemite sandwich for dinner. I don't see why getting a box of nice produce on my doorstep is something so strange.
Yes, it's more expensive than doing my own shopping and cooking, but I don't eat out much when I'm on my own, so I'd say it all balances out. And even if it doesn't - well, that's my choice and my priorities!
Edited to add: if anyone in Western Australia wants to support a great local business, have a look at Dinner Twist.52 -
I don't use them myself because there are 4 of us and it's just not in our budget. But living in a very small, rural community where I can't get a lot of the more "exotic" ingredients makes those services pretty attractive. I kind of like the convenience of not having to drive an hour each way to pick up groceries for something new and yummy. Not everyone lives in a city with access to everything.11
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Convenience and getting to try new foods without buying all the spices can be handy for some. This is like saying why go out to eat when you can eat lettuce and tuna at home. Different people like and prioritize different things. Nbd.
This is the only reason that I'd consider buying a meal kit. It would have to be a dish that I'd never make on my own, but am curious to try. I'd rather not buy a full size spice if it is something specific to a dish that I may never make again.
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I did home chef for a while - it simply came down to cost effectiveness - even with factoring in shipping, to buy the limited amounts that I needed for certain recipes (because I would need a full bottle rather than the limited amount in the serving) was cheaper and less wasteful - only need 3 spring onions - I'd get that, rather than having to buy a whole bunch that I might not use elsewhere3
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Wow lol the judgement.
It's called choice and different priorities for people.
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