If you’re totally over planning your breakfast, lunch, and dinner every week, you’re not alone. Having to plan recipes, shop for ingredients, prep said ingredients, then cook and serve a meal is not the easiest thing to do, especially if you have to do it every week, multiple times per week. But luckily, meal kits are a thing. In fact, they could be the one thing you’ve been looking for when it comes to planning and preparing your weekly meals.

But do meal kits really offer that much convenience? Or are they just another trend that doesn’t live up to the hype?

What is a meal kit?

Before we dive into whether they’re worth the cost, you need to understand what they are. Basically, a meal kit is a pre-packaged box that comes with everything you need to cook a meal: pre-measured ingredients and a recipe.

After you place your order, your meal kit is then delivered straight to your doorstep within a week. This makes cooking a lot more convenient, but subscribing to a meal kit plan also has its drawbacks. Here’s what to consider.

They save time.

First, meal kits can be a huge time-saver, which is a huge benefit for busy homeowners.

With a meal kit, you don’t have to plan your recipes or go grocery shop for the ingredients you need to cook your meals — both of which take up a big chunk of time each week.

Instead, you come home, and voilà, everything you need for a gourmet meal is at your fingertips. For busy homeowners juggling work, home upkeep, and friends and family, this convenience alone can make meal kits worth the weekly investment.

They aren’t that great for the environment.

Next up, packaging. Meal kits come with a lot of it. Each and every ingredient is neatly wrapped in plastic or paper. And if you’re environmentally conscious, this could be a dealbreaker.

Fortunately, there are many companies that are committed to reducing their packaging or using recyclable materials. However, until these companies come up with more sustainable solutions, a meal kit subscription is definitely not the most eco-friendly option.

They include healthy recipes.

For the health nut, a meal kit is a big help. Most companies deliver fresh, high-quality ingredients along with their nutritional information.

Or, if you’re trying to eat healthier, eating at home is a much better option than ordering takeout. Plus, you don’t have to do a bunch of planning and prepping.

Portion control is another perk. For every recipe, each portion is sized appropriately, making it easier to avoid overeating.

They can be costly.

Buying a meal kit plan is buying your time back. And because of that, they can cost quite a bit.

If you’re on a tight budget, it’s definitely worth doing the math to see whether you’d be saving or spending on weekly meals. For many people, the time saved is worth the extra cost. But for others, it might seem like an unnecessary expense.

They can be fun.

Are you tired of eating leftovers? Meal kits can spice up your boring dinner routine by introducing you to new flavors from around the world.

Each kit is pretty much your chance to try something different, making dinner an adventure rather than a chore.

It’s a nice way to expand your culinary skills too, with step-by-step instructions that make cooking with unfamiliar ingredients a lot less intimidating.

They control waste.

Food waste is a real problem in many households, especially if you live alone. But luckily, buying a meal kit can be part of the solution. They include exactly what you need and nothing more, helping you to cut down on waste, plus save money in the process.