Meal prep is usually a concern for busy individuals. While getting takeout is a common option, reports find that 77% of people prefer home-cooked meals.
Frozen meals are alternatives to achieve this without being too heavy on your wallet. But if you want something more hearty and healthy, many recommend fresh meal delivery services instead!
So, how do they actually differ? Let’s delve into it.
What are Frozen Meals?
What are Fresh Meal Delivery Services?
Similar to frozen meals, fresh meal delivery services provide you with pre-cooked and packaged food. The main difference is that they’re made fresh when you receive them since they’re usually made for instant consumption.
Keep in mind that you can still store these for later. As opposed to frozen meals, they will likely have a shorter shelf-life. The key is to find the best storage method possible to help it last longer.
How Do They Differ?
Portion Size
The portion size for frozen meals tends to vary based on different factors, including the brand, cost, or type of meal. Even so, you can find options made for one or more in a single package.
On the other hand, fresh meal delivery services have fixed portions. Most brands follow specific meal guidelines, such as calorie limits, to ensure that each meal is the right amount for a single person. The downside is that they usually only offer individual meals.
Ingredient Quality
The ingredients used in the meals can determine the overall quality and taste. So, it’s important to choose options that offer the healthiest components.
Frozen meals are made to be convenient and affordable for people who have less time to prepare food in a day or want a quick and easy meal. The ingredients may vary, but due to their storage, not everything used comes fresh.
With fresh meal delivery services, you can guarantee fresh ingredients with every meal. As a result, it tends to bring out stronger flavors and feel better upon consumption.
Content Percentage
When choosing meals, it helps to look into the content percentages on the packaging, especially for sugar and salt. This way, you can ensure you get the healthiest option available.
Frozen meals are made to last long in the freezer. So, they tend to have higher components of salt. Others have more added sugar to achieve the right flavors even after freezing.
Fresh meal delivery services usually prepare meals based on certain guidelines. Because of this, the amount of sugar and salt feels more controlled. Moreover, you can consider options that let you customize the meal to your specific dietary needs.
Cost Per Serving
The cost of each meal per serving will vary according to several factors. But generally, frozen meals cost less compared to fresh meal delivery services, even if you buy them in-store.
Additionally, most fresh meal delivery services bring the food to your doorstep. So, it may amount to an extra cost to get the meals delivered to you.
Look Into the Differences of Fresh Meal Delivery Over Frozen Meals
Understanding how fresh meal delivery services compare to frozen meals can help you choose the best option for your needs. Moreover, it gives you a better picture of how they can sustain your health, all while fulfilling other priorities.
Want to learn more about fresh meal delivery services? Start your subscription with The Fresh Plan today for a discount on your first order!