Why didn’t we do this sooner?! That is the question Mark and I have been asking.  I mentioned in my last post HERE that we wanted to try a meal delivery service. We looked into a few but decided to start with Plated, mostly because of the $30 off the first week promo.  Now a few weeks later, we have been thoroughly enjoying cooking together and ALL (seriously) of the meals so far have been delicious.  Before, I did the majority of the cooking but Mark has always been the king of omelet making in our house.  With Plated we are both learning more about cooking and trying something new together…which may or may not involve smoking up the whole house while attempting to fry pork belly for the first time.

On Mondays, our Plated box is delivered to our front door in a temperature controlled box made of reusable/recyclable packaging.  Inside are the instructions & ingredients needed for 2 full meals for 2 people.

A summary of our thoughts so far…

PROS

• Convenience…they couldn’t possibly make it any easier
• Options/customizable
• Recipes/foods we have never tried before
• Fun, bonding time for the two of us
• Everything is pre-portioned, no guesswork
• Fresh, quality ingredients
• No commitment, can skip weeks
• Don’t have to think about “what’s for dinner?”
• Fewer trips to the grocery store
• Less waste
• DELICIOUS (I already mentioned that above but its worth repeating)

CONS

• Cost

Honestly, this is the ONLY downside.  However, we aren’t throwing away ingredients that we purchased and spoiled because they didn’t get used before they expired (I’m not even talking about just a day or two past the expiration date, I’m talking health hazard…this was our reality) We have even had leftovers a couple of times for lunch the next day.  It may not be for everyone, but we have decided to budget accordingly so we can continue.

What we have made so far…

Pork Belly BLTs ~ with tarragon aioli

Sesame Chicken Long Life Noodles ~ wish spinach & mushrooms

Saucy Meatball Sliders ~with classic Caesar salad

  Skillet Roast Chicken ~ with caramelized fennel and potatoes

 

It is refreshing to look forward to making dinner and to think of it as an activity instead of a chore.  If this fits in your lifestyle & budget, I definitely recommend giving it a try.

Have you ever tried one of these services before? Which one? What were your thoughts?

 

 

*This is not a promotion or endorsement for Plated, just our honest opinion.  BUT, if you are interested more information, their website www.plated.com.*