With school back in session and work going full speed ahead (though, when is it not?) fall is a season where it can be especially difficult to find time to cook for yourself and your family. Try as you might meal prep each Sunday, something always gets in the way: whether it be a kid’s soccer practice, a ballet recital, or a much-needed wine night with your gal pals. Even when you do get to meal prep, eating the same old chicken and veggies for five days straight is never fun. Then, when you’re left to your own devices on the weekends, you’re likely to indulge more than usual, which can create an unhealthy cycle.
One way to avoid the stress of meal prep is by subscribing to a healthy food delivery service. Now, we know what you’re thinking: pre-packed meals that are delivered to your door, can they really be healthy? In fact, yes they can! While microwavable prepped meals can be loaded with additives and preservatives, there are healthy food delivery services out there that can provide you with nutritious, balanced meals that are made fresh for you every single week. When searching for a healthy food delivery service to subscribing to, here are some of the key things to look out for:
Find a service that prioritises plant-based ingredients
One of the hardest parts about eating healthy is making sure that you get enough fruits and vegetables into your diet. Trust us, we can’t count the number of times that we’ve gone to the grocery store, and stocked our cart with fresh produce, only to have it waste away in the fridge when life gets in the way, as it is wont to do. We’re pretty sure that you’ve been in that spot a time or two as well. In order to avoid letting your produce go to waste, you can subscribe to a healthy food delivery service that focuses on crafting meals with a hefty serving of fruits and vegetables in each meal. Be on the lookout for a healthy food delivery service that offers hearty fruit breakfast smoothies, filling salad lunches, and dinners that incorporate a good blend of vegetables and protein for a menu of well-balanced weekly meals.
Get fresh meals delivered weekly
Another great part of subscribing to a healthy food delivery service is that all of your meals are prepared and delivered directly to your doorstep each week. That means not having to make the long and arduous trip to the grocery store, so you can spend your downtime actually relaxing. To ensure that you’re getting the best quality food, choose a healthy food delivery service that drops off meals once or twice a week. This ensures that your pre-portioned meals will stay fresh until it’s time to eat them. If there’s ever a day when you don’t get to eat a certain meal, you can freeze the meal and defrost it when you have time to enjoy it. Typically, food that you freeze can last for about a month.
Look for meal service with a healthy dose of variety
When subscribing to a healthy food delivery service, you want to pick one that has a varied meal plan, so you’re not eating the same things day after day. Often, meal delivery services will send you their menus for the following week in advance, so you can choose what you’d like to order for that week. Some of these services even allow you to swap out different meals if one dish contains something that you’re allergic to or just an ingredient that you’re not a fan of.
Get the meals you need on weekends as well
As we mentioned above, sometimes the weekends can be a food free-for-all. In order to avoid overindulging on your weekend meals, find a healthy food delivery service that offers weekend meal options, so you can make sure that you’re getting your much-needed dose of plants, fibre, healthy fat, and protein, even when you’re having fun.
Don’t forget about snacks
Finally, you’re going to want to find a healthy food delivery service that also incorporates nutritious and delicious snacks as a part of your plan. Great snack options include hummus and crackers, fig-based granola bars, and protein-packed muffins. It’s always a good idea to have snacks on hand in case of hunger strikes before your next meal.
Takeaway
Finding the time to cook healthy meals for yourself throughout the week can be a struggle, but with the help of a healthy food delivery service, you can ensure that you and your family get the nutrients you need with well-balanced meals that are dropped off at your door throughout the week. What kinds of healthy meals are you most excited to try?
Tommy Williamson did his degree in psychology at the University of Hertfordshire. He is interested in mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.
