Our greatest asset is our health, and nothing contributes to health like sound nutrition. It goes for busy parents of hungry teens as well as for seniors determined to eat well despite decreasing energy levels. It’s also uppermost in the minds of anyone working hard to maintain a healthy weight, or stressing over how to handle meal-prep while recovering from an op or health issue. Whether you fall into the ‘need-help-with-meals-right-now’ category, or you’re simply looking for meal-making inspiration or a smart way to entice your teens into the kitchen, meal kits can be the way to go.
Meal kits aren’t as recent as you might think, either – in fact, Kiwis-in-the-know have had access to them for over 15 years. What started out as a novelty, has now become an indispensable way of ensuring healthy eating at home becomes an everyday affair for people of all ages. What’s more, meal kits, with their fresh ingredients and carefully constructed waste-free recipes, also tick the sustainability boxes. As if we didn’t need reminding, food waste is now a massive environmental issue. Whether it’s the forgotten Click-Clack container of leftovers turning mouldy in the back of the fridge, or the supermarket lemons you didn’t manage to use before they started turning mushy, research points to landfill food waste contributing more to greenhouse gas emissions than the aviation industry! As any dollar-savvy cook knows, food waste also takes a toll on the weekly budget
It’s no wonder literally thousands of Kiwis are now having meal kits delivered, fresh, to their door, and wishing they hadn’t waited so long to do so! Arriving home after work, and scanning the pantry for ingredients you know aren’t there, has become a thing of the past for time-poor parents. As has the drive, dreaded by seniors, through busy traffic to a crowded supermarket. In fact, for those lucky enough to be enjoying them, a meal kit in the fridge, is like having an angel in the kitchen.
Meal kits have become go-to gifts for friends and families. They’re a loving way to help a tertiary-study grandchild through exam season, a friend or parent who’s recently home from hospital, or an adult child navigating the weary weeks following the birth of a baby. They’re a super exciting birthday gift for a teen who’s just discovering the art of cooking.
So, for those who haven’t already enjoyed the fun, convenience, and health-results of meal kits, just how do they work, and what might yours contain? Subscribing to a meal kit like HelloFresh (our favourite) is as simple as hopping online, and choosing a subscription individually tailored to your health, household size, and food preferences. Then, it’s ‘let-the-fun-begin’ as you choose the meals you’d like for the week. When your meal kit box arrives (and you don’t have to be at home to receive it in person), everything inside is carefully packed so even the freshest ingredients are still crisp and cool. You’ll find the recipes you need inside the meal kit box, too, and packaging is almost always recyclable. In fact, your only disappointment may be wishing you’d discovered meal kits sooner! Perhaps one of the best features of a meal kit delivered to your door (at least, when you choose a reputable supplier), is you can so easily pause, change, swap, or unsubscribe from your existing meal plan. So, whether you want to order in extra meals (great if you have the family or special guests arriving), try out a new way of eating (plant-based or calorie controlled, for instance), or cater for a special occasion such as a wedding anniversary or Christmas dinner, you can do it all via your online account.
It seems so simple and easy, and it is. But here’s a top tip to keep it that way: whenever or however you decide to test-drive (or return to) meal kits, be sure to first check out your supplier. Because reviews do count, as does customer service. Avoid any hassles by choosing right from the get-go!
There’s a reason why meal kits have been with us for over 15 years, and why Kiwis keep subscribing to them. It’s because healthy nutrition is non-negotiable. It’s a must, and sometimes, we all need, and deserve, a helping hand to make it happen! Good nutrition doesn’t have to mean more shopping, more planning, or more food waste.
Exclusive HelloFresh offer for GrownUps readers
If this article has inspired you to give meal kits a try, there’s never been a better time. HelloFresh has an exclusive offer for GrownUps readers, with up to $175 off your first five boxes for eligible new and returning customers.*
Click here to view the full offer details, use the discount code, and see whether HelloFresh could make healthy eating a little easier in your home.
*Terms and conditions apply.