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I’ve stopped my weekly orders from Chefs Plate. Here’s why I’ve stopped doing it, and what I do instead. After all, I still have the app!
I used to order from Chefs Plate all the time. I loved their weekly meals, and they were great for my family. However, things have changed over the years, and I no longer place orders each week.
However, I still have the app on my phone. I make sure I go in and skip the weeks every single time. Sure, I could delete my account, but there is a good reason why I keep the app. It’s what I do instead of Chefs Plate that keeps my family satisfied.
3 reasons I don’t order Chefs Plate anymore
I actually did order two boxes recently. They were just for myself, and I was able to get six meals out of three because I picked something that could be reheated or that I could make in separate batches. It was while I was eating the meals, though, that I remembered why I stopped ordering the boxes.
Chefs Plate has become too expensive of an option
The company says that it offers good value, but it arguably doesn’t. Sure, I only get the items that I need to make the meals. It can help to reduce portion sizes and it can help to reduce waste. That depends on how you cook.
I actually find the boxes more expensive because of these individually packed options. Think about it. If I have three meals that all require carrots, I’d get a bag of carrots for much less than the company is likely charging for the individual carrots being sent.
The boxes have started to become too expensive for what they offer. It’s not like I’m cutting out grocery shopping, and over the years, they’ve stopped giving out everything, expecting you to have staples on hand.
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There isn’t enough food in the meals
I can either choose to feed two or four. I’m in a family of three, so I need that option. There isn’t enough food in a box for two, and there’s too much in a box for four. I end up having to get some of the same ingredients to pad out the meals.
This could be solved by offering a meal for three option. I hate that Chefs Plate hasn’t thought about this, despite clearly people asking about it because it’s in the FAQs. Other companies like them are able to do it, so why not them?
It again makes it too expensive. If I have to get a meal for four, then I’m wasting money and food.
The meals don’t have enough vegetables in them
Something that I’ve noticed more this time around is that there aren’t enough vegetables in the meals. I was trying to think about why it wasn’t a problem before, but it’s because I was adding in ingredients. As I needed to bulk out the meals, I would add in extra vegetables, and not always what was already on the list of ingredients. I’d add in extra vegetables.
One meal that I got didn’t have any vegetables at all, unless you count the shredded cabbage and carrots that were covered in a mayo and oil dressing. What happened to vegetables that are eaten fresh.
I actually struggled with my diet the last two weeks of having the boxes, and it’s a reminder of why not to get them again. The meals need to have more vegetables. Potatoes don’t count!
The only meals that were packed with vegetables were the salads and soups. That’s great, but you don’t want them all the time. Meals need some vegetables on the side. And more than just broccoli, as that seems to be a favorite of Chefs Plate*.
What I do with the Chefs Plate app
Yet, I still have the app. I don’t mind skipping weeks. I find that the app is useful for the shopping list.
When my kids and I are in a rut with meals, we’ll look through the app at the various meals that are coming up or the ones in the recent history. This is a great way to save some of our favorites and make them again. It’s also a great way to try something new.
You can see the full list of ingredients. While some of them are “spice blends” you can usually work out what will be in them to create at home. It’s going to be cheaper getting everything in bulk in the long run. I’ve worked out that the $60 box for three meals is way more than getting the individual ingredients if you shop in the right places. The meat is the biggest issue, but there are some great vegetarian meals if that’s a problem.
It’s also easier to switch out ingredients when you make them from scratch yourself. If you don’t like a vegetable, it’s not going to waste from the box. You can just get the substitution you wanted in the first place. Plus, you get to say how much veg goes into your meal.
If you are interested in Chefs Plate*, though, it can be good when you’re just starting out, or when you don’t have an odd number of people in your house.
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How do you make sure you enjoy cooking? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
