Are Meal Subscription Boxes Worth the Price?
By Randi Morse
Everyday it seems like more and more meal subscription plans become available. Signing up for a meal subscription plan has gone from being something only the very wealthy do to being something every busy suburban mom loves. But are meal subscription plans really worth the money that you spend on them?
Meal Subscription
What, exactly, are meal subscription plans? A meal subscription plan is a service that you pay for which provides ingredients and recipes to your doorstep. Each week a package arrives at your doorstep, generally in a cooler in order to keep the ingredients fresh, which includes all of the ingredients you will need to make the dishes that you are provided the recipes for. Many subscription services allow you to adjust and tweak your preferences so that you can get different boxes each week or so that you can revisit favorite meals.
The Pros
There are some good things about meal subscription services, mainly the convenience. I am someone who doesn't mind grocery shopping. Even though I don't mind gathering my own ingredients, I do have to budget a significant amount of time out of my day in order to drive to the store, do the shopping, and put away the groceries once I return home. I also have to figure out what I'm going to feed my family every week, which gets frustrating and a bit boring after doing it for so many years. Meal subscription boxes allow any family the convenience of being able to get amazing ingredients for delicious meals without having to do any of the planning or shopping.
The Cons
While they are convenient, meal subscription services request a premium price for their services. On average, most subscription services require at least a $10 per person meal minimum. The United States Department of Agriculture says that a man who is between the ages of 19 and 50 will spend less than $86 a week on groceries, and a female who is the same age will spend less than $76 a week on groceries. Even if we take the highest number you're still looking at spending only $4 a meal for men and $3.65 a meal for women. This means that you're saving around $6 a meal, which can add up very quickly.
Some people truly enjoy subscription boxes, and one of the great things about them is that you can sign up, give them a try for awhile and, if you don't care for them, cancel your subscription. If, however, you're worried about a budget, then a meal subscription plan may not be the best option for you.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Annapolis, Md.