Recipe boxes

[ddraig]

How much packaging is there and is it mostly recyclable?

The ones partner was getting seemed to have quite a bit but you used to be able to send em back for recycling, not since covid tho

 

[Mation]

The packaging to food ratio must be pretty high, and having them delivered in small quantities doesn't feel very efficient.
It would be good if these things were widely available in supermarkets and corner shops. In the ideal system, the dividing-up happening at the shop so that stuff can be bulk shipped at least to that point in the chain.

It isn't, but I agree, it would be a worry.

Most of the stuff is dumped, otherwise unpackaged, into one cardboard box. You get a set of numbered recipe cards, and a set of matching, numbered paper bags with the small quantity stuff. Also some bits in plastic, but the majority is loose, so you have to find and pick out the stuff for the particular recipe you're doing.

 

[Mation]

I cant see the point. What's wrong with a recipe and shopping and using leftovers?

Intention doesn't always match reality, in my case. But yes, this is why I first thought they were a pile of wank.

 

[Thora]

I’ve also recently started with Gousto. Love it so far (2 boxes in). We’re a bit fussy - mostly veggie/pesci and avoid lots of gluten - but are finding enough choice and mostly more interesting stuff than we usually eat.
First box we got 4 meals for 4 people, limited our choices a bit due to kid fussiness but ended up with enough for dinner plus lunch the next day.
Second week we switched to 4 meals for 2 and me and Mr Thora just picked interesting things we like.
Had katsu fish and ginger slaw last night

 

[Thora]

I cant see the point. What's wrong with a recipe and shopping and using leftovers?

If you already like looking up new recipes and shopping for ingredients, there probably isn't much point.
I want to try new and interesting things but I can't be bothered to do the research or shopping

In terms of cost - we're a family of 5 so one nice takeaway or meal out costs about the same as a weekly box Even getting fish & chips cost £25 and we only got one portion of chips between us! So although the box is a treat, it's not hugely extravagant.

 

[StoneRoad]

I might consider a veg box, from a local grower, if they're going to do them this year. I like the idea of the seasonality and freshness.
I'm not sure if we would get away with one of the more well known receipe boxes ...

OH doesn't eat leaf brassicas which can be a bit limiting at certain seasons and Bezza is not usually one for experimenting with food, eating a fairly restricted range ...

 

[platinumsage]

Upon reading this thread I just checked these for the first time - bit pricey aren't they? I'm pretty sure I'd just note down what was in my box and add it to by weekly supermarket order for less than half the cost.

It seems it's basically a way to force you to cook from recipes by dumping the ingredients on your doorstep and billing you for them. I can't see any other benefit to it.

 

[planetgeli]

Upon reading this thread I just checked these for the first time - bit pricey aren't they? I'm pretty sure I'd just note down what was in my box and add it to by weekly supermarket order for less than half the cost.

Sure. Go ahead.

You won't.

And that's the point. This is about convenience. But with the added bonus that these recipes work. That's the point. It's not shit. It works.

But definitely pricey, unless on offer. Which is why we only did them on offer. The Spicery is another good similar one btw. But equally as expensive as the rest. We got a spicery one as a gift from a friend.

 

[hash tag]

We have had a couple of meals from cook because we can't be arsed to think about what to have/cook and then Mrs Tag shop for all the ingredients. Sometimes it is possible with the rarer ingredients that we buy more than we need of it to fulfill the recipe and then not use the rest so thats wasteful.
The stuff we have had has generally been tasty and very moreish.
Extravagant, yes but not as much as eating out or a takeaway.
Is the packaging any more wasteful than the average amazon parcel?

 

[Looby]

Upon reading this thread I just checked these for the first time - bit pricey aren't they? I'm pretty sure I'd just note down what was in my box and add it to by weekly supermarket order for less than half the cost.

It seems it's basically a way to force you to cook from recipes by dumping the ingredients on your doorstep and billing you for them. I can't see any other benefit to it.

But if you’ve read the thread then people have talked about the benefit to them. Everyone has different reasons but here’s ours.
Sometimes at the end of a working day I’m so tired I’m in tears. Often the cooking and any shopping needed in the week falls to my husband. He’s an ok cook but needs clear instructions for anything more than basic stuff and isn’t confident. So quite often we end up with convenience food or takeaways which are expensive and rarely healthy. I want to get back to a takeaway being an occasional treat and back to eating good nutritious food every night not when we can be arsed to plan and shop.

 

[Orang Utan]

Sure. Go ahead.

You won't.

And that's the point. This is about convenience. But with the added bonus that these recipes work. That's the point. It's not shit. It works.

But definitely pricey, unless on offer. Which is why we only did them on offer. The Spicery is another good similar one btw. But equally as expensive as the rest. We got a spicery one as a gift from a friend.

Well of course they work. All recipes work if you follow them

 

[platinumsage]

I get the reasons, I just think the price difference would be a sufficient motivator for me to replicate the boxes via my usual shopping.

It’s not like they’re offering anything else, like hard to get ingredients, or some preprepared items.

 

[Thora]

In our first box we had fish tacos with pineapple salsa and chipotle mayo which is something I would never have thought of making tbh - turned out the kids loved them so this week we have just bought the fish, tortillas and pineapple in our normal shop to do ourselves. Makes a change from fish fingers.

 

[Thora]

I get the reasons, I just think the price difference would be a sufficient motivator for me to replicate the boxes via my usual shopping.

It’s not like they’re offering anything else, like hard to get ingredients, or some preprepared items.

The other benefit for me is the portioned items - often if you need one or half of something for a recipe you can only get a packet of them in the supermarket, and then I either have to cook something we don't want or eventually chuck out some sad forgotten spring onions.

 

[Orang Utan]

The other benefit for me is the portioned items - often if you need one or half of something for a recipe you can only get a packet of them in the supermarket, and then I either have to cook something we don't want or eventually chuck out some sad forgotten spring onions.

Stick em in a salad

 

[ElizabethofYork]

I'm tempted. I think I'll look into it.

 

[Elpenor]

Considering at least a veg box, or perhaps trying these. Awkward if living alone, can hardly invite friends over!

 

[Maggot]

I tried Gousto for a trial period at a reduced price a few years ago. I was living alone at the time and cooked the meals for 2 people to last 2 meals. The recipes were great, tasty and easy to follow. But I stopped at the end of the trial period as it wasn't for me. There was a lot of packaging of small quantities of things I already had in my cupboard, plus I actually enjoy deciding what to cook and varying recipes, and the ingredients weren't organic. I went back to my Riverford veg box, which is about as ethical as it gets and suits the way I like to cook. They have been a godsend since lockdown, as I meant I rarely had to go to the supermarket.

 

[BristolEcho]

We had a box at half price from someone and the meals were good. To be honest though I was a bit miffed to see I still needed to peal and cut stuff.

I didn't really see the point of that to be honest as we usually always have food in due to meal planning and if we want take away it's because we can't be assed.

I reckon I'd be more tempted if I lived on my own as you would get additional meals to reheat.

 

[aqua]

I love the judgement on this thread
Could I buy it from the shops? Yes of course, I live in a big city with lots of shops. But I work full time and have two small children and I don't fancy going into shops atm.
I'm exhausted and run down, I'm not eating well. I'm a very confident cook. But I found I was spending too much on takeaway to relieve the boredom of lockdown cooking.
It works for me. It works for others. It doesn't work for others. Wouldn't do for us all to be the same would it.
Will I continue it forever? Of course I won't. But for something a bit different right now it's a good option.

 

[Miss-Shelf]

A kind friend sent me one last year. It was mindful chef

One recipe gave me an easy new recipe that I now make a lot from very cheap and easy to source ingredients

I think I'd use it again to reset myself when I'm in a rut of not eating well

much packaging was compostible or recyclable
I used the box to send someone a present
And it came with two ice packs that got heavy rotation when I had a lot of facial pain in the autumn

 

[BristolEcho]

A kind friend sent me one last year. It was mindful chef

One recipe gave me an easy new recipe that I now make a lot from very cheap and easy to source ingredients

I think I'd use it again to reset myself when I'm in a rut of not eating well

much packaging was compostible or recyclable
I used the box to send someone a present
And it came with two ice packs that got heavy rotation when I had a lot of facial pain in the autumn

I think it's good for the reasons you've mentioned and also people that are not confident like the person who we got the code from.

 

[miss direct]

You're right aqua. I think I'm annoyed by them because I keep seeing delicious looking things on Instagram but noone ever shares a recipe or ingredients list because it seems like they're just adverts for meal boxes.

 

[aqua]

The boxes come with proper recipes and like Thora, I'll definitely be making my own versions. I've bought the jars of a couple of the relishes and marmalade they used

 

[Mation]

You're right aqua. I think I'm annoyed by them because I keep seeing delicious looking things on Instagram but noone ever shares a recipe or ingredients list because it seems like they're just adverts for meal boxes.

Makes sense. I'm not really doing social media atm. So I'm not seeing the stuff that would probably annoy me, and came to it via a really non- promoting post on here, plus it happening to fit the times and my circumstances.

 

[RubyToogood]

I haven't actually replicated any of the recipes myself I don't think.

Of course the biggest bonus atm is not having to dice with death by going to the supermarket. That and food security when people were panic buying. Whether I'll continue when we're out of lockdown is another question - I didn't with HF.

My sister also likes them because other people in the household can make dinner without too much instruction. She also pointed out to me that you really need a decent non stick saucepan with a lid for a lot of the recipes.

At the moment everybody (except those not WFH) is at home for every fucking meal. That's a lot of catering and mental effort, even when it's just you. It's MORE supermarket trips than you'd normally make, just when you want to be doing fewer.

MC is discounted for NHS staff.

 

[moonsi til]

I get Mindful Chef most weeks & benefit from 30% off NHS discount. I order the vegan box & have had some cracking meals & love not needing to do much more than make my choices & cook for 3 nights per week.

I also order vegan dishes from a friend weekly too , his dishes are £5 & serve 2 so with both it leaves me needing to shop /meal plan very little which suits me currently.

 

[spanglechick]

I have two questions.
Can you specify weekend delivery?
and
How long (what kind of time range) do you have to spend in the kitchen?

 

[pinkmonkey]

I’m more likely to buy a straight up ready meal than a kit, but my options are limited due to not eating wheat or barley and that we can’t always receive post here, it depends how it is sent. I struggle to cook weekdays, so a kit might be too much. I make a big pot of something different once a week, usually on Saturday and freeze it in single portions. We then eat from the freezer on weekdays. I totally get how these kits might work well if you have adhd, theres a few things I do that look at first sight as if they would cost more, but end up costing me nothing because it takes me so much time doing things the normal way. So I get my shopping delivered, I get a service wash once a week and that saves me over a day dicking about a week, meaning another day where I can freelance and earn money. That and I know many adhders waste food because they forget what they’ve bought and struggle to plan when shopping. I buy far too much if I go out and shop in person, even if I have a list and a meal plan, I don’t stay on track.

 

[Thora]

I have two questions.
Can you specify weekend delivery?
and
How long (what kind of time range) do you have to spend in the kitchen?

Probably depends where you live, with Gousto you pick a day but I only had a choice of Weds & Thursday.

Different times for different recipes - you can search by 10 minute meals, or meals that have 10 minute prep time and then you stick in the oven for a longer time. Some of the recipes we have had have taken 30-45 minutes. I have tended to choose a mix.