Most of us would like to cook at home, but that is too time-consuming. For this reason, meal kits struck a chord with many busy bees out there. However, most such services break the bank.
Not EveryPlate. They claim to bring ‘the affordable meal kit for everyone,’ and they live up to that promise.
So, if you want to eat fresh, healthy, real food cooked with high-quality ingredients while staying on a budget, you might give them a shot. Let’s take a detailed look at their offer before you order your first box, though.
Overview
EveryPlate is a subscription-based service. This principle implies that there are no free trials, but you start by choosing your meal order. We will take a more detailed look at the food and the plans it comes in a bit later. For now, all you need to know is that there are two meal plans.
The website kept the choices simple to match their overall theme. You pick between 'dinner for two' and 'dinner for four', delivering three meals a week in two or four servings of each. The former is ideal for a couple or a single person ready to enjoy leftovers, and the latter caters to families.
No matter which plan you choose, you will next pick between eight recipes a week. These come on their weekly menu, which is updated every Monday. EveryPlate allows you to choose three to five dinners among these to have delivered each week.
Once you choose your recipes, a box will arrive at your doorstep. It will contain all the ingredients you need for the meal you chose. The food comes measured and packed, along with a handy note with straightforward, step-by-step instructions for preparation.
The only items you'll need to add are those found in every pantry - salt and pepper, for example. Most recipes take up to 30 minutes to prepare.
Considering that the weekly menu comes with only eight meal ideas, picky eaters may not want a delivery every week.
Skipping is entirely straightforward, though, as well as un-skipping if you change your mind! All you need to do is log into your account and pick the order you want to skip. The same principle stands for skipping weeks, which comes free of charge.
Remember: you need to make these changes five days before the delivery date.
Every Plate Menus
The menu changes every week, and all options come packed with flavorful nutrients.
As they state themselves, EveryPlate aims to bring you real food that will nurture you without being boring. The cuisine they offer is mostly American, but you may run into an international twist here and there, to keep things exciting.
The company sources all ingredients from a wide range of suppliers over several orders. Unfortunately, this method suggests that you might not get the same supplier for two dinners in the same box. However, they do their best to ensure their suppliers deliver only top-quality ingredients.
Still, check for food allergens on their website, just in case. Considering that you will be familiar with every recipe before the box arrives, you'll have plenty of time to replace those more questionable ingredients.
A slight downside lies in the fact that they offer only eight options per week. The options will be enough for most, but pickier eaters may find it lacking variety. Still, with their colorful, healthy choices, we believe most people will be able to find something that works for them.
At the moment, each weekly menu brings eight omnivorous meals. Every plate will come with a solid veggie base while providing a healthy dose of all macronutrients.
Bonus: Each week, there’s also a premium meal for you to pick. It comes in the form of a steak dinner for those moments when you feel like treating yourself. However, those ask for a slight additional payment.
Unfortunately, EveryPlate offers no unique recipes for those following specific diets. They say that their focus is on affordability, so those options are within their reach. So, vegan, paleo, keto, and similar eaters won’t find what they want with this service.
Here are our three favorites from this week’s menu:
Greek Chicken Pita Pockets
Pork Chops with Apricot and Broccoli
Skillet Pie, Cowboy Style
Plans & Pricing
As we mentioned earlier, there are two plans for you to choose between - dinner for two and dinner for four. Within each, you may decide to have dinners three, four, or five nights a week.
While it may seem like too little for hectic lives, especially for stay-at-home parents feeding large families, you might find it useful. Besides, these dinners may double as lunches - all you need to do it order two packages a week.
Remember, all meals are adult-sized, so the dinner for four may feed a five-member family. If you’re ordering solo, a dinner for two may turn into an evening meal and the next day’s lunch.
Each meal costs $4,99, no matter how many you get. So, the price depends only on the amount of food you order. The only additional payment will happen if you order the premium meal.
You will receive a box of ingredients that are packed, chopped, and insulated to keep them fresh.
Shipping
Along with the cost of your meals, you will pay $8,99 for shipping each week.
Although there’s a trend in meal kit companies to offer free shipping, the shipping cost here isn’t necessarily a downside. This company stated that they need to ask for this fee to keep their meals so affordable.
At this point, EveryPlate deliveries to 48 US states - excluding Alaska and Hawaii, where they don’t plan on expanding their delivery area. You will receive your packages on workdays, depending on the number of dinners you choose.
Traditionally, three dinners come on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The delivery times are between 8 am and 8 pm. Besides, you may pick the desired delivery day, and you will get a tracking link for every shipment.
Don’t worry about the freshness of your food, as EveryPlate adjusts the packaging to the season. They promise that your food will stay fresh for at least 48 hours from the moment they ship it.
The ingredients come in a box separated one from another in different bags. Make sure to read the recipes, though, as all meals arrive in the same package.
The Bottom Line
In conclusion, we must say that EveryPlate is precisely what it claims to be. It isn’t a luxurious delivery service for any eater, and you do the cooking yourself.
It doesn’t offer the most comprehensive options, nor caters to the ever-growing population of people following specific diets. However, it does deliver fresh, healthy food on a budget, and that’s what most people need.
We loved how transparent they are about their services, not making promises to attract a broader audience. They do live up to what they state - the only question is whether this company is right for you.
Having tried it ourselves, we would advise that, even if you have a budget for a more expensive meal kit service, you give this one a shot first. Who knows, it may end up being just what you need.
Pros & Cons
Although EveryPlate does deserve much praise for both their goals and the way they deliver them, no company is perfect. So, let’s take a look at some pros and cons so you could decide whether this meal provider is for you.
