To think meal prep box costs are hard to justify

[Dimsexy]

I finally decided to try one of those meal prep boxes. Always resisted due to cost but wanted to at least give them a try.

It was easy my to prepare, tasted nice etc but doing the sums just don't see how cost can be justified long term.

If I bought the ingredients in the supermarket individually it would be at least 50% less.

I know the whole point is paying for the convenience and not having to spend time shopping and meal prepping but the premium just seems sky high! We could afford it now if we wanted to but when I compare costs of 4-5 boxed meals for two vs what we'd get for same money in supermarket it seems insane!

I feel like I must be missing something as I know these boxes are really popular and I'm constantly bombarded by marketing messages for them - is it all just hype??

smply.in/5W511X

Apologies for the PP who PM’d me for the Simply Cook link - it won’t copy onto a PM, so here it is!

This. I mean, I thought that was obvious. You’re paying for your ingredients to be measured out, put into small packets with instructions and delivered to your home. Of course it’s going to cost way more than buying everything yourself.

I find the ease can be achieved with a slow cooker and bags of frozen veg and meat.

Casserole beef, casserole veg, a couple of bay leaves, frozen dumping and granules = four portions of dinner for about £6.

Mmm, frozen dumping…

:D my phone must be too used to dumpings since my son has started wildcard pooing everywhere.

Ha ha is “wildcard” also a typo? Or some sort of very weird game?

We both like cooking but don’t like meal planning so Gousto is great. I also like the variety and trying out lots of different cuisines, without having overflowing kitchen cupboards. I don’t care if it’s more expensive - not everyone is trying to save money.

Didn’t like Simply Cook - very salty and fake tasting. Plus they kept sending us random stuff we hadn’t ordered.