Nutrition: What we think of “Meal Delivery Services”

Straight out of the gate – this blog is not about “food delivery” i.e. services like UberEATS and SkipTheDishes that provide food delivery to your doorstep from local restaurants in your area. These services are once offs and plagued by high cost, quality problems (cold food is the worst) and mostly quick access to fast food.

No, this is about the growing industry of meals or meal plan delivery services from companies that specialize in nutrition, food production and meal quality. They’re just not the same thing.

In today’s busy world, many people struggle to find the time to plan and prepare healthy meals. This is where meal delivery services come in handy. These services offer pre-made meals that can be delivered to your doorstep, saving you time and effort. We know the importance of a healthy diet and how meal delivery services can help with this.

Pros and Cons of Meal Delivery Services

Pros:

1. Convenience: Meal delivery services offer the ultimate convenience for those who have busy schedules. With pre-made meals delivered to your door, you don’t have to worry about planning or cooking meals.
2. Portion control: Many meal delivery services offer portion-controlled meals, which can be helpful for those who struggle with overeating.
3. Variety: Meal delivery services often offer a wide variety of meals to choose from, which can help you to try new foods and cuisines.
4. Quality: Good food made from quality and fresh ingredient sourced from producers that focus on quality and food technology.
5. Multiple vendors: today there are a good variety of companies that will give you what you want, at a price you can live with, and a service backed by decent customer service.

Cons:

The downside largely depends on your goal and reason for using such a service, but the primary concern is usually cost. If you are not careful you could spend multiples of you normal grocery bill with one of these service.

How to choose?

When choosing a meal delivery service, it’s important to consider your needs and preferences. Here are some factors to consider:

1. Budget: Determine how much you can afford to spend on meal delivery services.
2. Dietary needs: Consider if you have any dietary restrictions, such as gluten-free or vegan diets, and check if the meal delivery service offers options that meet your needs.
3. Delivery area: Check if the service delivers to your area, as not all services are available in all locations.
4. Meal options: Look at the variety of meals offered and see if they align with your taste preferences.

What to Look for from a Nutritional Point of View

We recommend looking for meal delivery services that offer:

1. Balanced meals: Look for services that offer meals that are balanced in macronutrients (protein, carbohydrates, and fats) and rich in micronutrients (vitamins and minerals).
2. Whole foods: Look for services that use whole foods as ingredients and minimize processed ingredients.
3. Transparency: Look for services that are transparent about their ingredients, nutrition information, and sourcing practices and partners i.e., who do they buy from.
4. Customization options: Look for services that allow for customization to meet your specific dietary needs and preferences.

Have a plan!

Make sure you know how you want to use the service you choose. You do not have to fix the whole problem with one company. Your grocery cupboard may be good enough to take care of your breakfast and snack requirements and you need only to supplement the lunch and dinner options. Or if you can plan for lunch then you are down to just dinner. That’s the meal that end at the end a tough day it is great to come home to and have little to no effort.

All the better if you are working from a properly structured meal plan and you know exactly what and when you are going to need. The great thing about the meal service providers is that in most part they all employ properly qualified nutritional experts and you an rely on their information and commitment to quality.

In Ontario there are some very good companies to choose from. Based on factors such as meal variety, customization options, nutritional value, and overall customer satisfaction, here are five of the meal delivery services available:

1. Fresh City Farms: This meal delivery service offers locally-sourced, organic meals made with whole foods. They offer a variety of meal plans to suit different dietary needs, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.
2. Goodfood: Goodfood offers a wide range of meal options that are customizable based on dietary preferences and portion sizes. They also offer a variety of add-on options, such as smoothies and snacks, to complement their meal plans.
3. HelloFresh: HelloFresh offers meal plans with a focus on fresh, seasonal ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes. They offer a variety of options for different dietary needs, including vegetarian, pescatarian, and family-friendly plans.
4. Feast Box: This meal delivery service offers globally inspired meals that are made with high-quality ingredients and customizable based on dietary preferences. They offer a range of options, from one-off meals to subscription plans.
5. Fresh n’ Lean: Fresh n’ Lean offers meal plans that are focused on clean eating and made with organic, whole foods. They offer a variety of meal plans for different dietary needs, including paleo, keto, and vegan options.

If you are a person on the go and need “ready-to-eat” options that offer quality, healthy but convenient meals then consider the like of:

1. Freshii: specializing in breakfast, snacks and smoothie options.
2. Meal In A Jar: they name says it all.

Spend a bit of time doing research and look for options that are right for you considering factors such cost, nutritional value and variety, delivery options and also any special dietary needs you might have.

Be aware of the subscription options, don’t get tied into any long term commitment and don’t be afraid to switch between companies until you find the provider that best suits your needs.

Look out for deals as all the providers run aggressive discount campaigns from time to time.