Meal Kits vs. Ready-to-Eat Meals: Which Option Fits Your Life?
After a long day of work, school, and other family commitments, cooking dinner sometimes feels like the last thing we want to do. Because of that, meal and food delivery options are becoming a popular way for Canadian families to enjoy a quick, convenient dinner every day of the week.
The surge of new meal delivery companies over the past decade has left some feeling overwhelmed. With so many options, including meal kits and ready-to-eat meals, how do you choose?
Let’s explore the features of each and break down costs, convenience, nutrition, and flexibility so you can choose the best meal option for your family.
What Are Meal Kits?
Meal kits include everything you need to prepare a freshly cooked meal from scratch. They typically include all ingredients, pre-portioned for convenience, and a recipe card with easy-to-follow instructions. These kits are ideal for those who enjoy cooking but want to save time on food prep.
Meal kits are convenient because you don’t have to make a grocery list, shop for ingredients, or chop your vegetables. You also have greater flexibility to customize your meals with additional ingredients and spices, or to choose a different protein.
What Are Ready-to-Eat Meals?
Ready-to-eat meals are fully cooked, chef-crafted meals that arrive at your door ready to heat and enjoy in minutes. No chopping, no cleanup. Just really good food, whenever you want it.
They’re perfect for busy weeknights, but many people choose ready-to-eat meals because they’re curious about a cuisine they’ve never tried at home, or a flavour combination they wouldn’t think to make themselves. It’s a low-commitment way to discover something new, made with high-quality ingredients that are as delicious as they are nourishing.
Meal Kits vs Ready-to-Eat Meals: Key Differences That Matter
Both meal kits and ready-to-eat meals make quick, tasty dinners for your family. Both are great options for meal planning, but meal kits and ready-to-eat meals have some distinct differences that may affect your choices.
Time & Convenience
When you’re tired or hungry, both meal options help you get a tasty dinner on the table in less time than cooking from scratch. Both are popular meal options for those who value time and convenience.
However, how quickly you want your meal will impact your meal choice. Ready-to-eat meals are often ready immediately (for cold salads and entrees) or within a few minutes if they need reheating. If you have a bit more cooking time, meal kits can be a great option, allowing you to customize or add ingredients to your liking, such as swapping a protein or adding your favourite garnishes.
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Prep Time vs Reheat Time
The pre-portioned and prepped ingredients in meal kits do the heavy lifting for you, so you get all the satisfaction of a home-cooked meal without the hassle.
Ready-to-eat meals can be ready in as little as a few minutes, making them the fastest option when time is tight. Simply reheat them in the microwave, on the stove, or in the oven.
Cost & Value
Meal kits and ready-to-eat meals are similarly priced. They vary between $6 to $15 per meal. Prices vary depending on the meal kit company you choose and if you’re ordering any special holiday meals or from a celebrity chef collaboration menu. Regardless, you can’t put a price on the time you’ll save in the kitchen. Meal kits are ready in less than 30 minutes, and ready-to-eat meals are ready in two to three minutes.
Freshness & Quality
Both meal kits and ready-to-eat meals are made from quality, fresh ingredients. They’re best made and eaten within the 4 days of delivery.
Nutrition & Portion Control
With meal kits at the ready, you’re not stuck wondering what’s for dinner tonight and defaulting to ordering unhealthy and expensive fast food. They arrive at your door, with preportioned ingredients so you can better manage your portions and know how much you’re eating.
For those tracking their nutrition and macros, both meal kits and ready-to-eat meals will include a nutritional information sticker so you can reliably track your food intake and portion sizes.
Which Option Is Better for Different Lifestyles?
There are so many diverse and flavourful meal options for meal kits and ready-to-eat meals, so dinner never has to be boring. We’ve fed Canadians across the country, and here’s what they’ve told us about which meal options they prefer:
Busy Professionals
Busy adults value convenience and flexibility. They have little time for cooking, let alone meal planning. They value the flexibility to cook an easy meal some nights and have something they can reheat and eat on nights when they work late.
They often mix meal kits with ready-to-eat meals throughout the week, providing convenient options regardless of their schedule.
“I feel so much more inspired and positive about my kitchen time! […] And the portions are a good size too – so as 2 big eaters, my partner and I are full from the meal and usually have a snack-size leftover for one of us to have again later.” – Vasundhra
Active Families
It’s often easy to stop at a drive-through on the way home from soccer or gymnastics class with the kids. Parents recognize this isn’t sustainable for their family’s health (or wallet). With a few minutes spent selecting meals from a meal-prep website each week, families can have convenient meals for any day of the week, even after soccer practice.
On nights when the kids have clubs and activities, active families appreciate the convenience of a ready-to-eat meal. The weekends are quieter, so they may enjoy cooking a meal kit together as a family. Planning a mix of meal kits and ready-to-eat dinners helps with their busy schedule.
“My 14 yr old son made this dinner with some coaching from me. […] My other 14 yr old son is making tomorrow nights dinner….such super easy instructions…great for beginners!!!” – Kori
Home Cooking Enthusiasts
Many Canadians enjoy cooking or want to learn new kitchen skills. They enjoy the convenience of meal kits to practice their skills. It allows them to focus on cooking rather than shopping or food prep (which can be time-consuming).
Many meal kits are designed for novice home chefs. They include easy-to-follow instructions, often with step-by-step pictures or videos. It helps build their cooking confidence.
You can also build your cooking skills by trying your own recipes, like this Salmon with Fennel Pasta.
“As someone who cooks primarily for myself, I find that I cook more balanced meals with their service, and that my food waste has gone down (which I always hated). The menu options each week are a good mix of tried-and-true favourites, and new recipes to try if I’m feeling more adventurous.” – Sarah
Why Many People Choose a Hybrid Approach
Still deciding between meal kits and ready-to-eat meals? Thankfully, you don’t have to choose one or the other when it comes to feeding your family. You can choose a combination of meal kits and ready-to-eat meals each week, so you always have a meal option that matches your busy (or not-so-busy) schedule.
This hybrid approach also helps reduce last-minute dinner decision fatigue. You just need to pick a meal kit or ready-to-eat container from your fridge. Just imagine what you can do with the time you save.
The flexibility and ease of a hybrid approach to meal planning help reduce boredom, so you can use meal planning as a sustainable, long-term strategy to help your family eat smarter.
Along with your meal prep choices, you can still plan, shop, and cook your other favourite recipes throughout the week. Our Red Curry and Coconut Tofu recipe is easy, delicious, and ready in under 25 minutes, perfect for a quick weeknight dinner.
How Fresh Prep Approaches Meal Kits vs Ready-to-Eat Meals
Fresh Prep understands that Canadians need flexible meal options. That’s why we offer both meal kits and ready-to-eat meals. They’re:
- Easy: Meal kits shouldn’t be difficult or time-consuming. With our easy-to-follow instructions, meal kits are ready in under 30 minutes, and ready-to-eat meals in under 2-3 minutes.
- Convenient: All meals are delivered directly to your door. You can also order over 150 kitchen staples from our Fresh Prep Market.
- Fresh, locally sourced (whenever possible): We work with local suppliers and producers to source the freshest and seasonal ingredients. Your meals arrive at your door pre-portioned and ready to cook (or eat).
And, because sustainability is a priority, we’re always innovating to support our planet while making it easier than ever to enjoy great food. That’s why our meals are delivered in reusable bags and come in reusable, recyclable, or compostable containers.
Choosing Your Ultimate Menu With Fresh Prep
Adding chef-inspired meal kits and ready-to-eat meals to your fridge is a tasty way to enjoy fresh meals. With meal kit companies like Fresh Prep, you can choose a combination of quick meal kits or ready-to-eat meals for every day of the week.
Making tasty meals at home doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming when you order subscription meals from Fresh Prep. Start by choosing a Fresh Prep meal type and a plan that fits your lifestyle.