Are meal delivery services worth it? USA TODAY weighs the pros and cons

“What's for dinner?” may be the eternal question. You answer it one night, only to have to figure it out all over again the next day. 

If you're looking to lighten the mental load, a meal delivery service could help. Whether it provides pre-portioned ingredients or fully cooked meals, a meal delivery service can take work off your plate.  

But with subscription costs and shipping fees, you may be wondering whether meal delivery kits are actually worth it. 

The answer all depends on your lifestyle and priorities. USA TODAY took a closer look at meal delivery services, including how much they cost and common pros and cons.  

Key points

• Meal delivery services can save time on meal planning and grocery shopping for busy individuals. 
• While convenient, meal delivery services are often more expensive than traditional meal planning and grocery shopping.
• Benefits include reducing food waste and introducing new recipes, but drawbacks can include excess packaging. 

Who meal delivery services are best for  

Meal delivery services tend to be best if you: 

• Don't have a lot of time to cook during the week 
• Are feeling overwhelmed by meal planning and grocery shopping 
• Want to reduce your reliance on takeout and groceries  
• Can afford the potentially higher costs compared to groceries 
• Are in a particularly hectic season of life  

When meal delivery services may not be worth it  

On the other hand, meal delivery services may not be worth it if you: 

• Are on a tight budget and can spend less at the grocery store 
• Are not interested in tackling new recipes every week (as with a meal kit service)  
• Have a larger family or picky eaters at home  
• Have strict dietary needs that the meal delivery service can't support 

How to get the most value from meal delivery services  

One way to get the most value from a meal delivery service is to take advantage of new customer promotions. Many meal services offer steep discounts to first-time customers, giving you a chance to try the service and see if you like it.  

It's also helpful to compare your options so you can find a meal service that fits your budget and dietary preferences. If you're going away, make sure to pause deliveries so you don't pay for food you don't need.   

"If someone is trying to reduce takeout, simplify weeknight meals, learn cooking skills or create more consistency with eating at home, [meal delivery services] may provide meaningful lifestyle benefits beyond the direct dollar amount," says Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Danielle Smiley.  

Whether meal delivery services are worth it all depends on your priorities. If you're aiming for more convenience and less meal planning, a meal service could be a great fit. If sticking to a strict budget is your goal, you may find lower costs at the grocery store.  

What are meal delivery services and how do they work?  

Meal delivery services ship food straight to your door on a regular schedule, often weekly. There are two main types:  

• Meal kits: Services like HelloFresh and Green Chef come with pre-portioned ingredients and recipes for you to follow. 
• Prepared meals: These services, like Factor, send fully cooked meals that you simply need to heat up and eat.  

You can often select meals from various options, depending on your dietary needs and preferences. You can also choose how many meals you want at a time and the number of servings. 

Many meal kit delivery services operate on a weekly schedule, but you can skip or pause deliveries. Since meal delivery services plan dinners for you, you don't have to figure out dinners for the week, shop for groceries or portion out ingredients. A major plus for busy singles, couples and families alike. 

How much do meal delivery services cost on average?  

The cost of meal delivery services vary depending on the provider and type of service. A meal kit service will cost a bit less than a prepared meal service.  

HelloFresh, for example, costs about $12.50 to $14 per serving. Six dinners that feed two people costs about $150 per week, for example, while six dinners that feed four people costs $300 per week.  

You may also have to factor in shipping fees, which could cost around $10 to $15, as well as sales tax in some locations.  

Benefits of meal delivery services  

Here are some of the main benefits of meal delivery services:  

• Provides convenience and saves time: Meal delivery services can significantly reduce the mental load of planning dinners. You'll also save time you would have otherwise spent writing shopping lists and navigating the grocery store.  
• Reduces food waste: Meal delivery services offer pre-portioned ingredients or dinners, so you're less likely to end up with old produce or other ingredients going bad in the back of your fridge.  
• Introduces you to new recipes: If you opt for a meal kit service, you'll learn new recipes and break out of a dinner rut.  
• May replace costly takeout habits: Meal kits are usually cheaper (and healthier) than getting takeout multiple times per week.  
• Supports your dietary preferences: You can often choose a plan that meets your needs, whether that's vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, high-protein or another diet.  

Note from the editor: As a working mom, one of the hardest parts of my week is planning healthy dinners. Even with grocery pick-up orders and post-it note planning, I still find myself opting for takeout or freezer dinners. Meal kits changed that. Even two meals planned per week make a huge difference and takes the question out of “what’s for dinner.” 

Drawbacks of meal delivery services  

Before you sign up, it's worth being aware of potential drawbacks too:  

• May cost more than groceries: Meal delivery kits may be more expensive than groceries, since you're paying extra for convenience.  
• Might not cover all your meals: Some meal delivery kits only take care of dinner, so you'll still have to figure out (and pay for) breakfast, lunch and snacks.  
• May use a lot of plastic and packaging waste: If your box comes with individually packaged ingredients and ice packs, it could create more waste than a trip to the grocery store.  
• Could be time-consuming to tackle new recipes: It can take longer to cook new recipes than familiar favorites.  
• Might not appeal to everyone: If you have picky eaters at home, it could be tough to find a meal delivery service that appeals to every member of the family.  
• Meals could add up if you forget to pause your subscription: Meal delivery services often come automatically. If you're away for a week and forget to hit pause, you could end up overpaying for meals you don't need.  

Note from the editor: I do think a major part of buying meal kits is keeping up with the cooking. Even with pre-planned meals, 45 minutes of cooking isn’t always doable with an active toddler running around. That’s when I found the pre-made meals were the best. Just put it in the microwave and two minutes later, dinner is served!  

Meal delivery services vs grocery shopping: Which is more cost-effective?  

Groceries are still generally cheaper than meal delivery services, especially if you avoid impulse buys, shop sales or buy non-perishables in bulk. It really depends on your lifestyle, though. 

"[Meal delivery services] can be more cost-effective when you’re cooking for one to two people and often end up buying ingredients that go unused or spoil," says Dr. Qianzhi Jiang, pediatric and family dietitian at The Nutrition Changer. "It can also be cheaper if you tend to order takeout or dine out frequently." 

For larger families, you can typically get groceries for less than meal services. For example, a "thrifty" grocery weekly budget for a family of four is $231 and covers all meals, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), while six four-serving meals with HelloFresh is $300 and only covers dinners.  

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to buy groceries or meal kits?

Not usually. Meal kits are typically more expensive than buying your own groceries, but save you time by planning meals for you.

What is the best rated meal kit?

HelloFresh and Green Chef are often cited as top meal kits for their breadth of meal options and deals.

What are the disadvantages of meal kits?

Meal kits can be more expensive than groceries, they also come with packaging waste. Not all meal plans are ideal for large families, and some portions can be smaller than expected.