In the massive world of meal kit delivery services, EveryPlate has carved out a niche for itself as the go-to option for budget-conscious consumers.
With its promise of tasty, home-cooked meals at an unbeatable price, EveryPlate has attracted a significant following among those looking to save time and money on their daily dinners. However, as with any service, it’s essential to look beyond the advertised price and examine the true cost of subscribing to EveryPlate.
In this article, we’ll dive deep into the world of EveryPlate’s fees, exploring its pricing model and hidden costs.
EveryPlate Pricing Model
At first glance, EveryPlate’s pricing structure seems straightforward and incredibly affordable.
The company advertises a simple, no-frills approach to meal kit delivery, with prices starting at just $4.99 per serving. This is significantly lower than many of its competitors. To put it in perspective, HelloFresh charges around $10 – $13 per serving.
However, it’s important to note that this base price doesn’t include shipping fees.
EveryPlate charges a flat rate of $8.99 for shipping, regardless of the size of your order. This means that if you’re only ordering a couple of meals per week, the shipping cost can quickly eat into your savings.
The price per serving also varies depending on the number of meals and servings you order each week. Here’s a breakdown of the price based on the amount of servings you order and box size…
- A 2 person box with 3 meals per week comes out to $44.94 total or $7.49 per meal
- A 2 person box with 4 meals per week comes out to $55.94 total or $6.99 per meal
- A 2 person box with 5 meals per week comes out to $64.90 total or $6.49 per meal
- A 4 person box with 3 meals per week comes out to $71.88 total or $5.99 per meal
- A 4 person box with 4 meals per week comes out to $87.84 total or $5.49 per meal
- A 4 person box with 5 meals per week comes out to $99.80 total or $4.99 per meal
- A 6 person box with 3 meals per week comes out to $89.82 total or $4.99 per meal
- A 6 person box with 4 meals per week comes out to $119.76 total or $4.99 per meal
- A 6 person box with 5 meals per week comes out to $149.70 total or $4.99 per meal
Remember that those prices do not include the shipping fee.
When compared to the cost of grocery shopping for similar meals, EveryPlate does offer some savings. Estimates show that average cost of a home-cooked meal is around $4 per serving. With EveryPlate, you’re paying a bit more than that, but you’re also saving time on meal planning, grocery shopping, and the cost of gas/car maintenance.
It’s also worth mentioning that EveryPlate frequently offers promotions and discounts for new subscribers. These can include free weeks of meals, significant discounts on your first few boxes, or waived shipping fees.
While these promotions can make EveryPlate an even more attractive option for budget-minded consumers, it’s important to read the fine print and understand how much you’ll be paying once the promotional period ends.
The Hidden Costs Of EveryPlate
While EveryPlate’s attractive pricing is undoubtedly a major draw for many consumers, it’s very important to consider the hidden costs that may not be immediately apparent when signing up for the service.
One of the main selling points of meal kit delivery services is the convenience they offer. By delivering pre-portioned ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes right to your doorstep, these services can save you time on meal planning and grocery shopping. However, it’s important to weigh the time saved against the time spent on meal preparation and cleanup.
With EveryPlate, you’ll still need to spend time cooking and cleaning up after each meal. While the recipes are designed to be simple and straightforward, I’ve found that they typically take around 20-45 minutes to prepare (depending on the recipe). If you’re someone who values the convenience of quick, ready-to-eat meals, you may find that EveryPlate doesn’t fully deliver on this aspect and you may be better of with a pre-made meal delivery service instead.
Another hidden cost to consider is the environmental impact of meal kit delivery services. Based on my experience, each EveryPlate box comes with a significant amount of packaging, including plastic bags, ice packs, and insulated liners. While some of this packaging is recyclable, much of it ends up in landfills, contributing to the growing problem of plastic waste. If you’re environmentally conscious, this may be a significant drawback of using EveryPlate or any other meal kit service.
Finally, it’s worth examining the dietary diversity and nutritional value of EveryPlate’s offerings. While the company does offer a variety of recipes each week, the focus on affordability may come at the cost of ingredient quality and variety.
EveryPlate meals tend to be heavy on simple carbohydrates and processed ingredients, with fewer fresh vegetables and lean proteins than some of its more expensive competitors. If you have specific dietary needs or are looking for meals that prioritize nutritional balance, you may find EveryPlate’s offerings to be limited.
This raises the question: does saving money with EveryPlate compromise the nutritional quality and variety of your meals?
For some customers, the trade-off may be worth it. But for others, the hidden costs of limited convenience, environmental impact, and potentially lower-quality ingredients may outweigh the monetary savings.
What do you think? Is EveryPlate worth it? Let us know in the comments below!
