For anyone looking to sign up for a meal delivery service these days, they’re going to be greeted with a ton of options. There really are food subscriptions for a variety of needs, from frozen dinners you just have to heat up, ingredients you use to prepare a home-cooked meal, and even boxes dedicated to those who just love to snack!

There are plenty of benefits to using a meal delivery service. However, if you haven’t been convinced that you need to jump on the food subscription bandwagon just yet, the reasons we’re about to share will change your mind.

1. Preparing the Meals Gives You a Cooking Lesson

A meal delivery service such as Hello Fresh or Blue Apron is going to require you to put in a little extra effort when it comes time to prepare your meals. These boxes in particular provide you with the ingredients you need to prepare a delicious dinner and you have to follow their directions to cook it up yourself.

By choosing one of these boxes, you’re essentially getting a cooking lesson in the comfort of your own home. Plus, there’s no need to pay extra cash to attend a local cooking class! Not only will you learn a lot about cooking these new dishes, but it’s sure to leave you feeling much more confident in the kitchen, which is always a great feeling. So, even if you’re not a pro in the kitchen just yet, you can still easily prepare these meals right in your own home.

2. They Help Eliminate Food Waste

Another great thing about signing up for a meal delivery service is that many are customizable to suit your needs. If it’s just you and your partner who need to prepare dinner, many food boxes provide you with exactly the right serving size for each meal. This means it cuts down on food waste and prevents you from having too much leftover food that you might wind up throwing out.

There are also boxes that cater to families, giving you plenty of servings for you, your partner, and your children. It’s important to figure out what best suits your needs, but either way it’s perfect for ensuring you prepare exactly the right amount of food for every dinnertime meal.

3. It Saves You Time & Effort

When you know a food box filled with delicious ingredients will arrive on your doorstep every week, it saves you a lot of time and effort. All you’re really required to do is choose the meals you’d like to eat each week and wait for them to arrive. This means you don’t have to spend time planning meals and making grocery lists. Plus, you don’t have the added stress of dealing with those long grocery store checkout lines because everything you need is on its way to you.

4. A Meal Delivery Service Can Save You Cash

At first glance, it may seem that a meal delivery service is quite expensive, but when you think about it, many allow you to save money. Meats and fresh produce are often quite costly when you purchase them from the grocery store or your local farmer’s market. And the great thing about these services is that many of the companies have relationships with farmers and suppliers.

This typically means that you can count on better quality ingredients, but it also means you’ll see a cheaper price in the end. You really have to think about how much you’re currently spending on groceries each week and how much the food subscription will cost you. In doing this, you’ll typically find it balances out or the boxes are cheaper than what you’ve been spending.

5. You’ll be More Adventurous With Food

Many of the food boxes available today will allow you to be more adventurous with the meals you eat. When you’re planning your weekly meals and doing the grocery shopping yourself, it’s easy to fall into a rut where you don’t try anything new. A meal delivery service will present you with options each week and allow you to choose what you’re interested in.

The great thing is, these meals are often created by professional chefs and typically outside of what you’d normally prepare in your own kitchen. Not only are you able to try new dishes and expand your palate, but you’re able to strengthen your cooking skills by testing different techniques and learning about different types of cuisine.

6. It Allows You to Enjoy Your Time in the Kitchen

And finally, cooking is a great stress reliever. Not only do you have the opportunity to learn something new, but it’s perfect for unwinding at the end of a busy day. Plus, it’s even more fun to get your partner or your kids involved and bring everyone together into the kitchen as they eagerly anticipate a fresh, home-cooked meal.

These are all great reasons to sign up for a meal delivery service! So, if you’re ready to take the plunge and try one out, all you need to do is a little research to find the one that’s best for you.

Dan Scalco

Over the past 6 years I've unboxed and reviewed hundreds of different meal kits, food delivery services, snack boxes, and more. I created Food Box HQ as a way to share all of my experiences.