Can You Afford Fresh Meal Delivery?
/If you have been following the blog for a bit, then you KNOW how much I LOVE the fresh meal delivery services. We often alternate between Home Chef, Blue Apron and Hello Fresh on a regular, usually weekly, basis.
Many of the benefits for these delivery services include: fresh ingredients delivered to your door, no hassle of shopping for ingredients, restaurant quality meals that are tasty and delicious, as well as the simplicity of having someone else decide on what's for dinner. Customers also have the option to SKIP or POSTPONE meals at any time.
COCONUT CURRY LENTILS - HOME CHEF
However, one of the biggest complaints I hear regarding fresh meal service delivery is that it's TOO EXPENSIVE. Most people can't rationalize spending $10-$12 per serving (on average) for these meals. So instead of asking whether or not you can afford this type of service, I challenge instead to ask yourself whether or not it's WORTH IT?
PORCHETTA STYLE SANDWICHES WITH BABY KALE PESTO & MARINATED CUCUMBER SALAD - BLUE APRON
Money, our budget and how we work food into our budget is really about the choices we make in our lifestyles. Deciding on whether or not to give up $25 a week for Starbucks coffee is something many of us do much more readily than giving up the same $25 on fresh fruits and vegetables. Pay $5 for Organic Lettuce that will feed you for a week? No way! Pay $5 for your Tall White Chocolate Sugarfree Mocha Latte you'll drink in 15 minutes? SURE!
SMOKY CHICKEN TACOS WITH CHARRED CORN SAUTE'D - HELLO FRESH
The real question is deciding whether or not it is WORTH IT for you to make some adjustments in your budget and your lifestyle to allow for fresh meal delivery.
It's WORTH IT for me to stress less through the week, knowing that what I'm going to make for dinner is already planned out.
It's WORTH IT for me to have quality, fresh ingredients on hand to use for dinner every week.
It's WORTH IT for me to save time and mental energy by not having to shop for the ingredients to prepare the meals.
It's WORTH IT for me to have someone else coming up with restaurant quality recipes each week, when I know I could never THINK of some of these ideas.
It's WORTH IT for me to have something new and exciting to try and look forward to for dinner each week.
BEEF AND CHEESE ENCHILADAS WITH SWEET CORN - HOME CHEF
For many, it may be a matter of just making a few simple changes in your daily lifestyle and habits, if you really want to fit fresh meal delivery service into your budget. In addition, fresh meal delivery will decrease your budget from the grocery store, because there will be at least three meals a week you won't be purchasing in your weekly shopping trip.
Consider the following:
Cut out 4 days of Starbucks specialty coffees (Still enjoy on Fridays for a treat!) = $20 (2 meal servings)
Reduce fast food visits by two weekly = $10 - $30 (1-3 meal servings)
Pack your snacks and stop visiting the vending machine at work = $10 (1 meal serving)
Consider trading a movie theater visit for a night in with Redbox and recipe from fresh meal delivery = $30 (3 meal servings)
FLAT IRON STEAK AND BLEU CHEESE SALAD - HOME CHEF
For me, fresh meal delivery helps make my lifestyle more streamlined. It helps making healthy choices and stressing less about food THAT much easier. Having someone else do the mental work of deciding what and how to prepare dinner allows me to spend more time doing the things I REALLY want to be doing. Creating new, interesting recipes each week has both inspired my interest in cooking and increased my cooking skills. Even I'm impressed with some of the meals I've made!
How do you think fresh meal delivery service could change your eating habits? What small changes or swaps in your lifestyle could you make to fit fresh meal delivery into your budget?
You may also enjoy - Full Home Chef Review
Join our FREE Facebook group to watch my video, Cooking with Home Chef.
Fresh Meal Delivery Service Discounts
If you would like a discount on your first box of fresh meal delivery, please check out the links below!
Home Chef - Receive $30 off your first order using this link - https://www.homechef.com/invite/QNbNvs0j8XwG
Hello Fresh - Receive $40 off your first order using this promotional code at checkout - HJCMDK
Click here for the FREE 7 Steps to Stress-Free Meal Planning Guide!
Amber Madden is a Licensed Counseling Associate specializing in Eating Disorders and Obesity. She is the Clinical Director at Madden Wellness Counseling, PLLC. She utilizes her skills in addiction to assist her clients in with Binge Eating, "food addictive" patterns, and develop a positive approach to overall health and wellness. She has a passion for assisting clients in achieving their health goals and learning to love nutritious foods and exercise. For more information visit www.maddenwellnessky.com .
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