Become Your Own Chef
Today seems to be the day and age of door to door delivery services. Everything seems to be popping up now... smoothies, beauty products, dog toys, clothing, underwear! But the most popular category as of late seems to be meal plans.
A couple of years ago, a company called Plated popped up on my Facebook feed. I saw that my friend had done it, so I asked her what it was all about. Hmm...fresh food gets delivered to my doorstep once a week, and I get to chose the meals I want, and I get to cook my own food. Sounds good to me! So I told my husband about this great idea, and he was on board to give this a try.
So why did we decide to try Plated in the first place?
~We tend to get in a rut of what to cook. Most of the time, people tend to have four maybe five winning recipes that they recycle throughout their repertoire. Dad, I love your chicken and mushrooms...but I can always know what to expect when you are whipping up dinner!
~If I decide to make dinner for me and my husband, I have to go food shopping for all of the ingredients. Usually it will cost me at least twenty to thirty dollars just for the ingredients. Some women out there may be much more economical in their shopping...if you have any pointers shoot me a message.
~Our ingredients usually end up going to waste. When a recipe calls for a a quarter cup of half and half, the rest will normally spoil before we get to use it again.
~Plated is cheaper than my husband and I going out to dinner (with the exception of pizza night - but who am I kidding...my husband typically orders a large pizza and two pasta dishes as a side).
~Plated is portioned out. The food provided is enough for one portion per person. No double helpings, no over eating. Everything is calorie counted and balanced.
So we took the plunge and ordered two meals a week for two people. Coming in at twelve dollars a plate didn't seem too bad. And if you spend 60 dollars or more per week you get free shipping. Like I said I was spending way more than that on a daily basis for us...no brainer. Each week Plated offers 11 different meals to chose from...variety galore!! From vegetarian to low calorie, to steak fish, chicken and pork...I promise you, you won't get bored.
Plated gets delivered to our doorstep once a week, and I get to chose which day I want it there. The food comes packed in an insulated box with ice packs which they claim can stay outside for hours. Sometimes my husband and I don't get home until 8 o'clock at night, and the food is still cold when we open it. The Plated team suggests that you cook the food within five days.
Once you open up your box, you will get recipe cards along with ingredients separated our per recipe. The meats are always packed under the ice, with vegetables and other produce positioned nicely on top. All of the ingredients are pre measured out and proportioned for the recipe at hand. However, there is chopping and actual cooking that needs to be done on your part. Don't be nervous about this...just channel that inner chef that lives deep down inside of you!
The recipe cards break down how to make each meal...step by step instructions paired up with pictures provide you with detail to ensure success. The recipe cards also show you the measurements in case you want to recreate this meal, and the calorie count for all of us health conscious people out there.
Most meals take between 30-40 minutes to make give or take. And let me tell you...Two years has passed and we are still riding the Plated train. Why do I love this company so much?
~They use locally sourced produce as much as they can, organic when possible, and anti-boiotic free meats with no added hormones.
~The food tastes good...I mean really good. There have been meals where it's like lick your plate clean good. In the two years since we have ordered Plated, there has maybe been 1 meal that I couldn't eat (because it had fish sauce in it, and I clearly do NOT like fish sauce) and maybe a handful that have been just ok.
~Plated tries to stay true to form with whatever culture they are representing. This isn't a menu of all American choices here. We have Thai food, Mexican food, Chinese food, Japanese food, Vietnamese food, French food, you name it - Plated provides it. Which means, I am cooking with ingredients I have never even heard of! My pallet and my knowledge of ingredients has expanded so much I could open up a restaurant...ok maybe host a really good dinner party...or lets be real - just a friend or two.
~I cook with more vegetables than I ever have before. If I'm being honest...when I am cooking a meal for my family, most of the time the emphasis is on the protein and carb and the veggie becomes an after-thought. *Props to all those vegetarians and health food eaters out there who plan differently* But with Plated, I am usually cooking with more than one vegetable per meal, and they are always delicious!
~I get to try new things all the time. Our meals are never boring anymore. And my husband is always surprised as to what is coming.
This past year Plated has also launched a new app, which makes managing our meals so much easier. And who doesn't LOVE convenience?? I can chose my meals, skip a week if I'm going away, and rate my meals once I'm done - along with a quick snap of a picture and upload to instagram of course.
**BONUS** Plated also offers two dessert recipes per week as well..which I might add are amazing!
So what I'm trying to say here is...if you haven't tired Plated yet, do it!! Let out your inner chef and wow someone with a great meal.
<3 P.S.
My parents are now both obsessed with Plated too...and my Mom is so excited that her inner chef is shining.