Sep 18, 2024

Don't miss these stellar deals on meal kits this month By Tom Horton September 18, 2024 / 7:35 PM EDT / Essentials CBS Essentials is created independently of the CBS News editorial staff. We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms. CookUnity Looking to save some money on your weekly food budget this fall? Meal kit delivery services are already a budget-friendly alternative to grocery shopping or ordering delivery, but we here at CBS Essentials have found even more ways to save with the best deals on meal kits this month. Unless you're brand new to meal kits (in which case welcome to your new nutritious , affordable and hassle-free lifestyle! ), you've probably seen a meal kit company offer up an enticing deal for first-time subscribers. These deals, which typically translate to price markdowns on one or more weekly deliveries, can be fleeting -- there one week, gone the next. To help you find the best deals that won't slip through your metaphorical fingers, we've researched the absolute best deals on meal kits that are available this month. The best deals on meal kits this month We rounded up the best deals you'll find on meal kits and listed our favorites below. These deals are definitely available through the end of September, but beyond that, who's to say? Don't wait around to see these big discounts and fun freebies vanish after this month ends -- find the best meal kit delivery deal for you and sign up today. Interested in saving money on your first meal kit delivery? How about discounts that last for several week's worth of orders? Whether you're looking for a great deal on first time meal kit subscriptions or simply want to hook yourself up with freebies like ButcherBox's offer of free ground beef and wings for six months, we have the best deals you can find on meal kits this month below. Save 50% off your first order with CookUnity CookUnity via X/Twitter Based in New York, CookUnity is a chef-to-consumer meal delivery service that pairs families with the works of local talented chefs. It isn't available nationwide quite yet, but CookUnity is rapidly expanding its reach, covering most of the continental U.S. with the exception of West Virginia, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana and parts of Wyoming, Nebraska and Colorado. If you're interested in signing up for access to CookUnity's 70+ weekly recipes, now is the time to act. For the rest of this month, CookUnity is offering a whopping 50% discount for that first weekly delivery to new subscribers. ButcherBox Sometimes you know exactly what you want in a meal delivery service, and if that's grass-fed beef, pasture-raised pork or chicken, then ButcherBox is right up your alley. This delivery service replaces the wide variety of meals and sides that most other meal delivery services offer in place of a curated selection of meats. You can then use these as the base for your own cooking. ButcherBox works with a group of family-owned farms and cooperatives to source its meats. ButcherBox deliveries are priced per meal. ButcherBox always offers free shipping. All month long, first time subscribers can enjoy an impressive bonus: free ground beef and free wings each week for six months. Blue Apron During our in-depth  review  for Blue Apron, we found plenty of reasons to sign up for the popular meal delivery service. Among Blue Apron's +70 weekly recipe options, there are more than a few diet-friendly options for people to choose from. Blue Apron also offers subscribers a choice between build-your-own meal kits that take as little as 20 minutes to whip up in the kitchen and a new line of prepared and ready meals. These nutritious offerings take no time at all to prepare, with most prepared and ready dishes ready to go in five minutes or less. This month, Blue Apron is offering new subscribers an impressive 50% discount that is spread across their first four weeks. Daily Harvest Daily Harvest has a refreshing menu full of dinners, lunches and snacks that are made from whole fruits and vegetables. If you want certified organic meals, Daily Harvest is worth considering. Daily Harvest is extra worthy this month thanks to a simple yet effective discount: new subscribers can save 10% on orders with a total over $100. Deliveries are put together one item at a time, so you have the freedom to build your own meal plan each week. Pick anywhere from nine to 24 items each week. Prices for Daily Harvest typically start at $7 per item. How much do meal kits cost? One of the biggest  benefits  to meal kits is the cost. Let's face it: grocery prices can easily get out of hand, no matter how thrifty you are. The average two-person household typically spends  between $450 and $800  per month at the grocery store. Meal kit prices essentially boil down to the price per serving for each delivered meal kit. Most meal kits  cost  between $8 and $12 per serving, with prices going up if you choose fewer meals or servings each week (and vice versa). These prices are laid out for subscribers building their meal plan. The good news is that first-time subscribers can usually find impressive sign-up bonuses and discounts. If you're looking for the best deals, circle back to our list above for the best meal kit deals available through the end of September. How do meal kits work? Put simply, a meal kit is a subscription food delivery service that's all about convenience. Meal kits are shipped right to your door, with ingredients prepped and pre-portioned to save you as much time as possible in the kitchen. Most meal kits leave the cooking steps up to you: Simply follow the included instructions (typically printed on recipe cards that you can save) to whip up dinner for you or the whole family with ease. Weekly recipes change weekly so there's always something new to look forward to. And if you ever want a break from meal kits, most meal kit delivery services make it easy to pause or cancel your subscription. What is the best meal kit for large families ? In many ways, meal kits are one of the best solutions for anyone struggling to come up with new and nutritional dinners each night for a full house. They can help to  cut down on expenses  and save you time with pre-portioned meal kits that take a fraction of the time to whip up over a traditional home cooked meal. One standout benefit that some meal delivery services offer is the option to personalize your meal plan. EveryPlate is one meal delivery service that has a meal plan perfectly tailored for larger families. EveryPlate's kid-friendly family plan comes with dozens of weekly meal options. Tom Horton is a resident health expert for CBS Essentials, with deep experience in topics ranging from chronic conditions to health-care devices to diet options. He lives in upstate New York, and draws his power from local bookstores, long hikes on a sunny day, and his cat Sammy. More Essentials