To check every meal supply service, I attempted not less than 5 and typically as many as 10 meals from any given service. I attempted to decide on a variety of meals from the assorted menus and meal plan choices. For example, if a service provides plant-based meals I used to be positive to strive not less than one. I additionally combined up the meal sorts to incorporate rice bowls, meat dishes, plant-based choices and different varied kinds supplied by the model. Additional, I made positive to check a wide range of cuisines — Italian, Indian, Thai, Mexican — in the event that they had been supplied.
As a result of wholesome meals is subjective and folks have various diet wants and targets, I attempted to method this checklist from all angles and decide which meal providers had been healthiest for various kinds of eaters. Of us conserving to the keto eating regimen, as an example, might think about low-carb meal supply “healthiest.” Others who deem vegan and plant-based meals more healthy than meals with meat will likely be on the lookout for a service that gives extra meatless choices.
I additionally took cautious be aware of every meal supply service’s web site, together with what data was offered (substances, dietary information), how properly the menu was organized and the way easy it was to select a wholesome meal plan and order meals. Once they arrived, I famous how properly they had been packaged and checked whether or not every meal was nonetheless chilled or frozen.
I took cautious be aware of how meals arrived and whether or not it was nonetheless chilled or frozen, because it was supposed.
To reheat meals, I took a twofold method. For some, I meticulously adopted the heating directions on the label. Since these are recommendations, I reheated different meals the way in which I’d if left to my very own units. Typically that meant warming gently in a nonstick skillet or reheating in an air fryer. Most of the meal supply providers provide a microwave heating choice, however I nearly all the time discovered that produced worse outcomes.
Testing meal kits requires cooking and thus a unique stand of practices and procedures for analysis. This is extra on how we check meal kits at CNET.