I created quite a stir last week when I suggested to my family that I was considering purchasing Thanksgiving dinner ingredients from a meal kit service. Reactions ranged from “No. Just. No.” to “Mom, have you lost your mind!?!” Before you pass judgment on me, let me explain more.

We had some big changes to our family this fall. With my two oldest going off to college, my family was finally of “reasonable” size to try meal kits. Moreover, my new job requires less travel, so I have time to make dinner most nights. I have followed the trends with meal kits since they first started, mostly with an eye toward the use of pork in their recipes, of course, but also wondering if it would ever be something of interest for me and my family. I decided now was a great time to see what all the fuss was about, so I did some research, took advantage of a discount coupon, and placed my first order.

While I won’t mention by name which company I chose, I can tell you that my experience has been fantastic. Fresh ingredients in just the right amounts. Generous portion sizes. Great variety of choices (yes, including a lot of pork options)! Clear instructions and the opportunity to cook and chat with my youngest as we follow along step-by-step and create dishes that we never would have likely tried to make on our own. To put it simply, I’m sold.

Meal kits did make a resurgence through COVID and may actually be here to stay. They really are a low-risk method of exploring new recipes and flavors. And for home cooks who want to get out of the rut of the routine family menu, they can be a great option. For example, we have tried a couple seafood dishes that I likely would not have otherwise made. Why? Simply because it provided variety. And guess what: The family really enjoyed them! (Turns out too much of any good thing can be tiring, even a protein with as much variety as pork!)

Speaking of pork, I have been pleasantly surprised with the number and variety of recipes that include my favorite protein. We have sampled recipes containing pork chops, pork tenderloin, ground pork and Italian sausage in the past few months, and they all have been excellent. The meat has been high quality and the cooking instructions are clear. (Though I would like to see more emphasis on temperature for the loin cuts to ensure people don’t overcook them.) Many of the pork recipes are even highlighted as “Calorie Smart,” which is likely surprising to some consumers, but what a great way to reinforce pork’s place as a lean protein in a healthy diet.

Of course, like anything, there are downsides, including more prep than you might expect (or want). To put it bluntly, my family would say that I am good at cooking my regular rotation of our families “go to” recipes. I have even been told that my chili is excellent. But when I get outside the box, I get intimidated. And — it always takes me longer than the “time expectation” to do prep. Always. And I also generate a mess and a lot of dishes.

I also dislike the amount of packaging that comes each week, though it is necessary evil for delivering fresh produce and meats. I have noticed that even in the past few months, there have been improvements to reduce the amount of packaging. And since I have less food waste with the meal kits, I can justify in my mind the trade-off of a little more recycling each week.

All things considered, meal kits will continue to be part of our weekly routine for the foreseeable future. I did, however, relent on Thanksgiving and was able to end the impending mutiny by promising a feast procured at our local grocery store and prepared by Mom. (Next year, I just won’t tell them.) My weekly delivery will resume Dec. 1.

Have you tried meal kits? What have your experiences been?

Meal kits are here to stay at our house

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