Do you ever feel like there just isn’t enough time in the day to get everything done on the ever-growing to-do list? I, for one, feel as though the last thing I ever want to do after sitting at my desk all day is head to the supermarket to compare the prices of apples and bananas.
This is where meal kits from the likes of HelloFresh and EveryPlate come in, promising to make the lives of on-the-go Aussies just that little bit easier and smoother come 6pm meal time.
But how does EveryPlate — billed as Australia’s most affordable meal kit — actually compare to Australia’s cheapest supermarket in Aldi? And does it make all that much difference to your wallet — or is it just a convenience thing? I set out to find out.
How did I find EveryPlate?
EveryPlate has become a household staple for many Aussies who need an affordable solution to the nagging question of: ‘What’s for dinner?’ By providing the nation with a no-fuss meal kit that is not only affordable but straightforward and easy, it promises to be something that is perfect for families, couples and singles alike when they are time-poor and hungry.
With some meals ready in as little as 15 minutes, EveryPlate’s goal is to make dinnertime the easiest time of the day because meal times shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg. The options cost as little as $2.99 per serve, which makes it almost sound too good to be true.
At the beginning of the week, I selected five meals that ranged in protein to get me through a week of dinners and lunches that I could bring into the office the following day. Ticking all the right boxes, I chose meals I knew would take less than 30 minutes to get on the table — things like the Fuss-Free Chicken Pad See Ew, Korean-style Pork Bowls and Crispy Mexican Beef Taquitos.
And gosh, did it exceed my expectations. Some unusual flavour combinations that I wouldn’t put together without a recipe blew my mind and the necessity of white wine vinegar in my cupboard was clearly something I was missing out on.
EveryPlate versus Aldi
To really put the quality and cost to the test, I took my final recipe, the Caribbean Beef and Veggie Pie, and made my way down to my local Aldi to see if the value for money in my meal was comparable to the low prices of Aldi. On the list is Potatoes, Zucchini, Carrot, Garlic, Jerky Seasoning, Tomato Paste, Cheddar Cheese and Beef Mince, which can be substituted for Pork Mince or Diced Bacon.
The final price at Aldi for all of the ingredients came in at $27.21 ($6.80 per serving), excluding pantry items. On the other hand, EveryPlate costs between $5.50 and $6.99 per serving for a kit that serves four people, excluding pantry items. As you can see, both prices are very similar.
So where does EveryPlate excel?
Let’s start with the produce — when I have had meal kits in the past I was drastically let down by the quality of their fruit and veg choices. The meat was sensational, but I couldn’t say the same for the produce. But it is now clear that EveryPlate have taken that argument and thrown it out the window as I was pleasantly surprised with what came in my box. You could tell the meat was fresh just by looking at it and the produce quickly put all my doubts to shame.
Is it worth it?
So the million dollar question — is it actually worth it? I’d say if you’re the type of person who genuinely enjoys going to the grocery store and creating a list then no, EveryPlate isn’t for you. But if you constantly feel like there isn’t enough time in the day and the last thing you want to think about when you get home is what you can scramble together to make for dinner then, Yes I’d say EveryPlate has the solution you are looking for.
Personally, I am on the fence — I loved all the recipes and can confidently say that I will be adding them into my weekly rotation of meals. However, as someone who loves her local fruit and veg market, I have to support my local guy you know. I think if there is ever another point in my life where the schedule gets too overwhelming and there just isn’t enough time in the day, then Yes I will renew my subscription in a heartbeat. But for now, whilst I still enjoy sectioning out a Sunday morning to go down to the local market, I will keep up my normal meal rotation.
Ultimately, it depends on where you want the most bang for your buck. My research shows that the Aldi versus EveryPlate comparison comes in extremely close to being the same price per serving. Given the range of cost per serving, an EveryPlate meal kit comes out on top depending on what best suits your household — at the end of the day the difference in price is marginal. And if you enjoy cooking yourself or need someone else to do all the thinking for you then EveryPlate is the perfect way to hit all your nutritional targets at the lowest price point possible.
What is EveryPlate?
EveryPlate is an affordable meal kit service designed with ease in mind. Meals are delivered in boxes on any given week, and you can choose whether you want to feed two, three, four people etc, as well as how many meals you want in your box. To get started with EveryPlate, you simply select from a variety of recipes and they will deliver what you need at a time you want. Recipes are varied and interesting. On any given week, you could be choosing between delicious meals like Creamy Bacon and Vegetable Spaghetti with Parmesan, Seasoned Chicken and Creamy Roast Potato Toss with Garden Salad or Hoisin Pork Meatballs and Vegetables with Sesame Rice.
So if you have been on the hunt for an alternative for dinner time that is cheaper than the lowest supermarket out there then EveryPlate is the way to go. The boxes have been designed to take the looming anxiety of picking what’s for dinner and making sure you have all the right ingredients out of the equation. It is the perfect way to hit all your key food groups at a record low price — starting from $2.99 per plate, shipping is up to an additional $19.99 per week. And for a limited time only shoppers can also receive 40 per cent off their first box and an additional 20 per cent off for every month thereafter. What are you waiting for? Happy Cooking!
