What Am I Paying For? How Meal Kit Companies Cut Corners To Lower Cost

Meal kit services have revolutionized the way we approach home cooking, promising convenience, health, and sustainability. However, the allure of affordability may come at the cost of compromising on quality. While you might gravitate to the cheapest options when choosing meal kits, those choices might not be worth saving a few dollars.

6 pitfalls of cheap meal kits from Protein Chefs:

1. Lack of variety

2. Low quality ingredients

3. You’re limited to your own amateur skill set

4. Stale produce

5. Loaded up with artificial preservatives

6. Excess plastic packaging

Here’s a closer look at some of those low quality ingredients and artificial preservatives commonly found in cheap meal kits.

Low quality ingredients:

• Sodium nitrite

• Potassium bromate

• Benzoates

• Sulphites

• Artificial colours

• Artificial flavouring

Artificial preservatives:

• Sodium benzoate

• Potassium sorbate

• Sulphites

• Nitrites

If you find yourself relying on meal kits, here are some things to look for to make sure your meal kit company isn’t cutting corners just to make their products seem like good value:

• Good reputation, for example mentioned in health magazines

• Fresh, high quality ingredients

• No artificial preservatives

• Wide range of options

• Supports local

• Sustainable packaging

While affordable meal kits promise convenience and cost-effectiveness, it's crucial to be aware of potential shortcuts that may compromise the overall quality of your meals. By understanding the pitfalls and prioritizing key factors like reputation, ingredient quality, and sustainability, you can make informed choices that contribute to both your well-being and the environment. If you are looking to say goodbye to meal kits but miss the convenience of them, consider getting matched with a personal chef.