With everyone sheltering in place to help flatten the curve of COVID-19 cases, many people are looking for ways to eat without leaving home. Prepared meal delivery services offer accessible prices and a range of food options to suit different diet types.
You simply order through a smartphone app and receive meals delivered to your door. Some meal kit services have family plans too.
How do they work?
A food delivery service takes orders over a phone, mobile app or online portal and delivers meals from a restaurant to the customer. These services may also be able to deliver groceries from a supermarket to the home. Customers can order from restaurants like McDonalds, Dominos and Burger King, or from third-party food ordering apps such as Grubhub, UberEats or Doordash.
Meal delivery companies offer two main types of services: meal kit delivery and ready-to-eat food delivery. Meal kit delivery services provide pre-portioned ingredients and detailed recipes for cook-at-home meals, while ready-to-eat meal delivery services deliver fully prepared meals to the customer. These services are typically subscription-based and are curated by chefs or dieticians. Meal delivery services are an excellent option for people who don’t want to cook or have limited kitchen space.
Most Meal delivery service allow subscribers to pause or cancel their subscriptions with no penalties. However, some services have a cut-off date for changes or cancellations. For example, a meal delivery service may only allow you to modify your order within four or six days before the next scheduled delivery.
A common challenge for food and beverage delivery businesses is the high transportation costs associated with perishable goods. To lower these costs, food delivery companies often employ technologies that streamline and optimize their shipping and distribution processes. For instance, route management software can help reduce fuel costs by optimizing delivery routes and reducing vehicle idle time.
What are the benefits?
Whether you’re married, single, or a parent with kids, finding the time to plan meals, go grocery shopping, and cook can be challenging. Meal delivery services can save you time, money and stress by eliminating these tasks from your to-do list. Instead of spending your weekends scouring restaurants or wandering the aisles of the grocery store, you can have nutritious, ready-to-eat meals delivered right to your door in as little as two minutes.
The majority of meal delivery companies offer a variety of options, making it easy to find the best match for your needs and budget. Most services share nutrition facts for each recipe, and some allow you to filter or tag foods according to your dietary restrictions. Some even have diets created by physicians or registered dietitians.
One of the biggest challenges with healthy eating is getting stuck in a food rut, so many meal delivery services rotate their menus regularly. This gives you the opportunity to try new recipes and flavors without having to spend time researching recipes or buying exotic ingredients.
Meal delivery services also make it easier to get more protein and eat less sugar, which can reduce your risk for type 2 diabetes. You can choose from a range of meal plans that help you lose weight, maintain your current weight, or even just reduce your sugar intake to improve your health.
What are the drawbacks?
Nowadays, it’s hard to watch TV without seeing an ad for a meal delivery service. These services have become very popular because they save people time by eliminating the need to shop for groceries or cook meals. However, there are some drawbacks to using a meal delivery service.
One drawback is that it can be expensive. Most meal delivery services offer a variety of different menu options, so it’s possible to find a plan that fits your budget. However, it’s important to consider the cost of these services before signing up for a subscription.
Another drawback is that some meal delivery services may not be the best option for people with dietary restrictions. For example, some of these services use ingredients that are not good for people with certain health conditions, such as gluten allergies or dairy intolerance.
Finally, some meal delivery services can be expensive if you order frequently. This is because these services often charge for shipping and handling, which can add up quickly. Additionally, some of these services also charge for extras, such as ice cream or soda. In addition, some of these services have a minimum subscription term, so you will need to commit to a certain number of weeks. This can be a disadvantage if you are not sure how long you will want to use the service.
How do I cancel my subscription?
Meal delivery services are a great way to add some variety to your weeknight dinners and get you out of the grocery store. They are also helpful for those with dietary restrictions like allergies or veganism. However, there may come a time when you want to cancel your subscription. Luckily, most meal delivery services make it easy to do so. You just need to follow a few simple steps.
For example, if you’re a subscriber of Blue Apron, you can easily pause or cancel your subscription from your computer. This is especially convenient if you find a new meal delivery service that better suits your needs. Blue Apron even offers a free trial for first-time subscribers.
Another popular meal delivery service is HelloFresh. The company makes it easy to pause or cancel your subscription on both its website and app. Just make sure to cancel before the cutoff date, which is usually five days before your order’s delivery day. Otherwise, the company will still charge your credit card and send your next shipment.
Other meal delivery services, such as Daily Harvest and EveryPlate, also make it easy to cancel your subscription. You just need to click the “Cancel Plan” button on your plan settings page. You’ll then be asked to choose why you want to cancel. After you’ve selected your reason, a confirmation that your subscription has been canceled will be displayed.
