A couple of offers flushing down to my mailbox regarding meal kits like $185 first 5 boxes plus reward points etc
I have watched some youtube unboxing videos and also searched for feedback online, some example links are down below.
It got me thinking and considering trying it out.
Apart from the promotion, what is the drive for you to get a meal kit provider rather than grocery shopping and meal prepping?
Or what is the reason not going for it?
I imagine it depends on the service. I used to buy stuff from Atlas, it came in a box of a whole lot of loose veggies, standard supermarket-style packaging for meat and some premade sauces that they had made in bulk and packaged up in recyclable plastic tubs.
That's not really any different from what I'd buy from the supermarket, it was just in more measured amounts. Probably a lot less waste than a supermarket, where they throw out anything that goes bad, these guys are ordering exactly what they need wholesale and sending it to customers.
Atlas is good because the premade spice mixes and sauces are delicious, which takes a tonne of the work out. Stopped using them though after their expensive Christmas box was crap.
I'd never heard of Atlas, so had a look. According to their site, they "…deliver to all Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra metropolitan suburbs, as well as some regional Victoria and NSW locations."
I'm unaware where they are based, or if they have multiple bases, but there has to be some inefficiencies in getting the produce to their base(s), and then distributing it to individual residences.
There would be waste at their processing base(s); we just don't see it.
No doubt there's waste, I'm just questioning whether there's significant waste compared to any other way of acquiring food, including supermarkets.
Not sure I'd call any way of getting food "environmentally friendly" unless you grow everything you eat in your own garden or make sure everything you buy is sourced from less than 100km away. Being from Melbourne myself (where Atlas process it) where I know they're sourcing the food fairly locally which makes them probably better for me at the least, I can't speak for anyone else.
There's waste on any number of levels, but there's also efficiencies on any number of levels. Supermarkets have huge amounts of spoilage, everyone travels individually to/from the supermarket, lighting, inefficient refrigeration/freezers to make it more accessible, not to mention buying out of season produce from all over the world. Atlas have subbed products before simply because they couldn't find local supply.
tl;dr Waste isn't specific to meal kit boxes, it comes with food in general.
@freefall101: I certainly agree, specifically in relation to our 'usual' options of supermarkets etc. But you hit on the key points:
- Source locally
- Grow you own
- Eat seasonal produce
We occasionally get one when there is a significant promotion and keep it only while it is cheap.
The recipe cards, while not amazing, are convenient and handy to refer to. We have a folder full of them and it is easy to flick through and pick things for the coming week.
The recipes are typically low effort for a decent feed and seem to only get included in the first place if they're straight forward to make. Generally they're pretty quick to make - excluding once when it said 45 mins prep for a shepherds pie that took more like 1.5 hours.
Or what is the reason not going for it?
Not really worth it IMO. Gotten a few boxes myself, you pay a lot just for convenience's sake. Plus, had a few times where the ingredients are either a) really small (like capsicums, tomatoes, etc.) or b) a bit scuffed (bruises veges/fruits). The recipe cards are quite handy tho, they taste decent.
I don't like meal planning or shopping but do like cooking.
If I didn't get a meal kit I'd eat crap food
Why Are You Choosing for Meal Kit Boxes?
Because people are stupid
Yeah, whats with the title
We have been using Pepper Leaf in Melbourne for over 4 years. It comes down to not having to go to the supermarket and decide 5 evenings worth of meals. The quality of ingredients is overwhelmingly excellent. The other advantage is you are not doing a weekly shop where you are tempted to buy non essential items or junk food treats. Other household items like detergent are either bought from Aldi or ordered online when there are specials.
Could a dedicated OZ Bargainer prepare those meals for less yes I am sure. We hate having to schlep to a large supermarket once a week which is not something we have had to do for over 4 years now.
The plastic packaging is on par or less than what you would get from a supermarket. The rest is paper/cardboard that can be recycled Pepper Leaf does not use EPS foam boxes.
Apart from the promotion, what is the drive for you to get a meal kit provider rather than grocery shopping and meal prepping?
Some recipes were half decent. The convenience is a good, but as soon as I get close to full price, i quit.
I used the "free" ($10 shipping) hello fresh week 1 box which came with 3 meals, 2 servings each meal.
All meals were quite delicious and they were a fun activity to do with the partner.
However, they are prohibitively expensive in the long term but I enjoyed the experience nonetheless.
I anticipate it becomes more worth it the more you buy, i.e. the larger your household
I have some of these to give out. PM me with your address.
Also got a free box available if anyone wants it. PM me.
I only ever got hello fresh because it was $16 delivered. If these boxes weren't so expensive, I would get them just to try new things. 3 of the meals hello fresh sent me were so good I have made them over and over again.
I'm pretty sure that Hello Fresh has recipes on their site, so no need to buy just to try something new.
I don't like the look of some of the food on their website, so I won't try it. If it's already in a box at my house that I've paid for, I will certainly try it.
Waste, on any number of levels.
Non-environmentally friendly.