Are Meal Kits Worth It in 2026?
Picture two weeknights. In one, you’re pacing a grocery aisle at 6:17 p.m., Googling “what is garam masala?” while your cart fills with one-off ingredients. In the other, you open a box, skim a 20-minute recipe, and dinner lands on the table before homework is done. The core question behind both scenes is the one readers ask us most: are meal kits worth it once you factor in cost, time, and what you actually eat?
Short answer: for many busy households, yes—especially if meal kits help you cut restaurant orders and food waste. Pure ingredient-for-ingredient, grocery shopping is usually cheaper; but when you add in the “life costs” (time, leftovers you never use, impulse buys, midweek takeout), meal kits can net out as good value. Below we show when the math works, what to watch for, and how to pick a plan that fits a Canadian or U.S. kitchen in 2026.
- What Are Meal Delivery Services?
- Can They Save You Money?
- Can They Save You Time?
- Unseen Benefits of Meal Kits
- The Final Verdict
This post may contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on a link and end up making a purchase, I may earn a small commission. Read my full disclosure here.
What Are Meal Delivery Services?
Meal delivery services ship pre-portioned ingredients and a recipe to your door so you can cook without the planning, list-making, or guessing. Popular options include HelloFresh, Chefs Plate, Blue Apron, Fresh Prep, and Goodfood; plans typically cover two to four servings with flexible weekly skips. Realistically, they trade a slightly higher per-plate cost for simplicity and consistency.
How Much Money Can A Meal Kit Save You?
Pure ingredient-for-ingredient, grocery shopping often wins. Independent tests routinely find DIY groceries undercut a comparable kit recipe by a couple dollars per serving—before you count your time. Where kits pull ahead is the whole-week picture:
- Save on takeout: Swapping even one $20–$30 delivery each week can make a kit week cheaper overall. (Restaurant inflation has been sticky.)
- Reduce waste and impulse buys: Pre-portioned herbs, sauces, and proteins mean fewer half-used tubs and wilted bunches—often the hidden cost in “cheap” grocery weeks for small households. Canadian data consistently flags household food waste as a budget drain.
Pricing reality for 2026: mainstream kits typically sit ~$8–$14 per serving at steady state, with heavier discounts on the first 2–4 boxes and separate shipping on some plans. Use promos to try, but judge value at your ongoing rate.
Let’s break down why a meal kit can actually cost less than going to a grocery store:
High-Quality Ingredients
High-quality ingredients often come with a high price tag; however, meal kit services like HelloFresh have their own local farms built to give you the best produce and meats for the lowest price. This has allowed me to eat healthy food without sacrificing my monthly budget.
For a more detailed breakdown check out my post on HelloFresh vs the Grocery Store
HelloFresh
$11.49Per Serving
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Food Waste
If you routinely toss produce or proteins, meal kits’ pre-measured portions help contain that cost and reduce guilt. Leftovers from 2- or 4-portion recipes also double well for lunch the next day.
Dining Out
The biggest benefit of meal kits is that they allow you to save money on eating out. Let’s be honest, the idea of planning and cooking dinner after a long day at work is daunting. There has been more than one occasion where I fell prey to takeout fatigue. Predictable 20–35-minute cook windows make it easier to pass the “should we just get takeout?” test.
My monthly budget and I have finally been able to get along!
Meal Flexibility
Meal kits follow a system where each week they are delivered straight to your front door, however, you have the option to skip a week. I cannot tell you how helpful this feature has been.
Life can be very busy and more often than not I find myself planning my schedule around when I should go grocery shopping. Now with a click of a button, I no longer have to worry about using the produce in my fridge out of fear that it’ll become rotten.
How Much Time Can A Meal Kit Save You?
Meal kits compress planning, shopping, portioning, and guesswork into a single box. If meal planning and a grocery run cost you 60–90 minutes a week, that’s time you get back—plus fewer “what’s for dinner?” spirals at 5:30 p.m. Recipe cards also make timing predictable, which helps you slot dinner between real-life commitments.
Unseen Benefits Of Meal Delivery Services
Since I started ordering meal kits I’ve noticed several benefits I didn’t foresee:
Trying New Cooking Techniques
I used to fall into a routine where I would eat the same meals because I knew how to make them. When I got my first recipe card from HelloFresh, I was put a little outside of my comfort zone.
It was totally worth it!
Once you get out of your cooking comfort zone, you realize that the same ingredients you once used now have completely different possibilities.
Being More Conscious Of My Carbon Footprint
As an individual, it is sometimes easy to forget how big of a role we play in the environment. Oftentimes we choose the convenience factor over what’s right, leading to impulse purchases and more waste.
Each week I received my box, I found myself wondering “Where did my food come from?” I think when food is laid out in a grocery store you don’t always stop and think about it.
This led me to read more about sustainability and examine how my life plays a role in this process. After spending hours reading about sustainability, carbon neutrality, and ways to reduce food waste, I came to these conclusions:
- I should prioritize my local grocery store or buy local ingredients
- I should prioritize fresh ingredients
I don’t think I would have had this internal reflection had I just continued to buy groceries at the store.
Enjoying Cooking
I think one large thing that most people forget is that food should be created for more than just satisfying your hunger. Since ordering meal kits, I have reignited my passion for cooking and fell back in love with the process.
I’m nothing more than an amateur home chef, yet I now find more enjoyment in preparing a meal instead of opting for takeout food or dining out.
The Final Verdict
In our view, meal kits are worth it when they replace delivery, reduce waste, and give you back weeknight time. If you already meal-plan, batch-cook, and love grocery Tetris, groceries will remain cheaper most weeks.
Pros
- Super convenient; predictable 20–35-minute dinners
- Reduces planning stress and food waste
- Helps cut restaurant orders
- Teaches transferable techniques
Cons
- Per-serving cost usually higher than groceries
- Packaging can add up (check recycling)
- Specialty diets may need extra filtering
Bottom line
If you’re juggling work, kids, or just decision fatigue, meal kits are a smart tool—not a forever contract. Use intro promos to test, keep boxes for your busiest weeks, and measure value by your whole-week spend and stress, not just price per plate.
If you’re interested in reading more about my experiences check out:
How to choose a meal kit service you’ll love
