Cook-At-Home Meal Kits For The Consumer Who Likes Cooking, Not Shopping

Though cook-at-home meal kits have advantages and disadvantages, they are “here to stay,” says CPG Matters editor John Karolefski. Related to the online grocery shopping/delivery trend, meal kits are also ordered online, where Web sites show enticing photos of the food. The meal kit service shops for the groceries, then delivers pre-measured ingredients, recipes, and cooking instructions. The mainly dinner meals average $10 to $12 per plate, though some specialty and organic meals can cost as much as $30. Advantages: large portions; fresh food, locally sourced, even organic; precise ingredients (no waste). Disadvantages: lots of prep work; badly proof-read recipes; usually no nutrition info.