Meal prep services are a new trend in the food delivery industry. With these services, you need not spend time preparing your daily meals and can instead focus on other tasks.
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What are meal prep services, and how they work
Meal prep services are great for people who want to eat healthily but don’t have time to cook. These services offer pre-made meals that you can order and then pick up from their location.
These companies provide you with balanced, nutritious meals, so you don’t have to worry about counting calories or skipping a meal to avoid getting hungry.
The food is premade and delivered to your door, which means it’s easy for busy people (or those who travel often) who want to eat healthily but can barely find the time or energy to cook.
The food is usually pre-cooked or has been prepared in advance, so it’s ready as soon as it’s delivered! Meal prep services are perfect for weight loss, muscle building, and even just getting back on track after a rough holiday season!
Pros of meal prep services
Taste better: When you make your own food, it is not always the most appetizing. Often times it tastes bland or overcooked. This is because we often have a hard time estimating amounts and cooking times when we’re making our own meals. With meal pre-made service, the workers know exactly what is going into your food, so it will taste good every time.
Less stress: If you dread being stuck in traffic for an hour just to get home to cook dinner, a meal prep service could be your new best friend.
Save time: You no longer have to spend hours in the kitchen cooking every single day. Meal prep services take care of this for you with their food!
Fill your freezer: If you are short on time and don’t want to cook, a meal prep service can give you healthy, nutritious meals that will last for more than one week!
Save money: The prices of these services depend on how many meals you want per week. Meal prep services usually cost between $5 and $15 per meal.
Improved weight loss/weight management: Weight loss is more easily achieved with a better diet and a healthier lifestyle. Services like Macrobite providing fresh, healthy foods or low-calorie meal plans can help you lose weight.
Reduce food wastage: With meal prep delivery services, food wastage can be reduced because of the reduced number of meals ordered and consumed.
Cons of meal prep services
There are also many disadvantages to these services that users need to be aware of before subscribing.
It can be expensive: There are many different plans that these companies offer, and the price depends on how much you order from them. Some people argue that the prices might seem a bit cheaper at first but they will end up paying more because they have to buy more food which adds up in the end.
The quality varies: People also say that not all the food delivered is as good as it should be. Some people also argue that it’s better for them if they cook on their own.
They can’t share: It’s hard for people who live with others to enjoy these meals together since deliveries happen in one box, and everyone has their own.
Packaging waste: There are many steps taken in packaging, labeling, and storing food. This has caused excess packaging materials that can be recycled or reused. More often than not, these materials are thrown away and end up in landfills which causes environmental pollution.
Alternative to meal prep services
Hiring a meal prep service is not the only way to eat healthily. With some creativity and planning, you can prepare healthy meals for your family yourself.
Planning & Preparation: Make a list of all the ingredients you need and make sure that you have enough time to prepare them. It can be difficult to find good ingredients if you shop on the go.
Prepare most of your meals in advance so that when you cook or reheat them, it takes less time. Invest in reusable containers for storing leftovers and freeze portions of your meals in advance to make life easier when it’s time to heat up dinner.
Healthy eating habits: Keep track of what you are eating by jotting down everything that goes into your mouth in a food journal app such as MyFitnessPal or LoseIt! If you’re keeping track, it becomes easier to stop after one more slice at dinner if all that’s been eaten is dessert.
Final words
The answer to this question is not a straightforward one. There are both positives and negatives to meal prep services.
If you have a busy schedule, which can be difficult to make time for in between working and getting kids off to school and activities, then it’s a great convenience for someone else to prepare your meals.
On the other hand, these services can be costly, and for someone who likes cooking or has the time and energy to make these pre-portioned meals, then it might not work well for you.
As with everything, it depends on your lifestyle and preferences.
