My postpartum time is fast approaching. Before embracing a new chapter of motherhood, I’m on a mission to save time and money.
One goal: cutting down on grocery shopping and food prep.
After giving birth to my first son, I used DoorDash to deliver meals to my family, which quickly added up to hundreds of dollars per month. When I didn’t order takeout, my husband and I spent hours in the kitchen prepping, cooking and cleaning.
Now, with my second son on the way, I’m looking for more efficient and effective ways to have quick and healthy meals. That’s why I’m considering using meal kits for some, but not all, of my meals. Balancing meal kits with my freezer-stocked meals and other food options is a way to help me recover and bond with my family. I’ll explain why below.
How I’m using meal kits during my postpartum journey
I know the same meals can be boring week after week. My family likes variety, but we also want to avoid the urge to order from restaurants.
According to CNET’s newest survey, most adults (61%) don’t have meal kits because they’re too expensive, and 46% of US adults don’t want to commit to a meal kit subscription. But I found a few workarounds for both barriers.
Blue Apron’s Assemble and Bake dishes
Due to its healthy and comfort food options and overall value, Blue Apron is CNET’s top choice for meal kit delivery service (yes, we’ve tried them all). Blue Apron recently ended its subscription requirement, which gives me more flexibility to try dishes without a monthly commitment.
Here’s an example of a dish and side I planned to order from a local restaurant.
I’m considering Blue Apron’s Assemble and Bake meal option to make my recovery as easy as possible. It’s a one-pan dish with prep that will take my husband 5 minutes or less to prepare for me. And it’s cheaper than takeout.
For example, I can get four servings of Blue Apron’s Romesco Chicken Bake for $48.76, at $12.19 per serving. That’s cheaper than DoorDash, which offers one meal for $25 or $30, adding up to $120 for four meals. A meal on DoorDash would be significantly pricier, even as a DashPass member with fewer fees.
Plus, Blue Apron still offers meal kits and heat-and-serve prepared meals, all without a subscription. So I have plenty of options for around $11 per serving.
According to CNET editors, meal kits aren’t always cheaper than shopping at the grocery store for a similar meal. Five Blue Apron meals can cost one person $55 per week, not including taxes and shipping. But even if it’s not the cheapest meal option, it’ll save me time while keeping meals readily available.
Read more: Meal Kits Have Gotten Cheap, but Are They Cheaper Than Groceries?
Meal kit deals and discounts
I’m looking for other ways to save money and time on meals during my postpartum recovery. Every month, CNET lists discounted meal kit deals and offers to try other services.
For example, Dinnerly is a meal kit delivery service offering $140 off your first five boxes. That means I’ll pay $59, including shipping, for two servings of three meals. The offer could save me $28 per box, which brings those six meals down to $31 per week, totaling $155 for five boxes over the span of five weeks. That’s cheaper than Blue Apron’s meals.
Dinnerly requires a subscription, but you can skip, pause or cancel at your convenience. You’re automatically billed for your box weekly, but since I don’t plan for this to be my go-to, I may use Dinnerly’s special offer, then cancel later to avoid wasting money and food.
If you’re considering other meal kit delivery options, check any subscription rules, cancellation terms and minimum meal requirements before signing up.
Some credit card issuers offer cash back or deals on meal kit services, too. Sunbasket, Blue Apron and Home Chef are a few services to check for. Adding those to our rotation could give us some additional lunch options, adding variety in our fridge without spending too much.
Freezer and wholesale club meals
Though meal kit delivery services are convenient, sometimes the cost still doesn’t beat how much I’ll pay at the grocery store. I plan to freeze bulk soups, marinated meats and pastas in advance. I’ll likely get more food for my money with these dishes since I can prepare them for multiple servings.
Sam’s Club also offers prepared meals that I can have delivered or pick up curbside. For example, I can get a freshly prepared order of cheese manicotti with four to six servings for around $12 or herbed grilled chicken for $17 for six servings. Local restaurants also have similar deals.
I’ll likely reserve my wholesale club and freezer meals for dinner to avoid overspending on meal kit options for my husband, toddler and me. This way, I’ll still have a variety of options I can choose from weekly that don’t make a mess in the kitchen or require too much time away from my family.
