Let this be a cautionary tale: close the Grubhub app before you hand over your phone to your kids
We all know how much kids love the chance to play on mom or dad’s phone. But let this story be a warning to check which apps are open before you hand over a device. A Michigan six-year-old was playing with his dad’s phone before bedtime, but because the Grubhub app had been left open, he took that as an invitation to order an all-you-can-eat buffet—nearly $1,000 worth of pizza, ice cream, and other treats (though he didn’t include the 31 McDonald’s cheeseburgers this 2-year-old did).
Six-year-old Mason’s dad didn’t know what was happening when the family’s Ring camera footage started showing food delivery after food delivery being left at their door.
“I said, ‘What is going on? Why are you bringing me food?” Keith Stonehouse told CNN affiliate WDIV-TV. He said it finally clicked when he remembered he had let Mason play on his phone. The six-year-old was “going to town” on Grubhub.
Mason placed orders at multiple local restaurants, receiving chili cheese fries, ice cream, shawarma, pita wraps, sandwiches, salads, and shrimp. Luckily, the Stonehouses’ bank flagged some of the transactions as fraud so they didn’t go through (including one $400 pizza order). Stonehouse said he tried to contact the restaurants to stop some of the orders, but it was too late. The family ended up sharing the food with neighbors and eating a lot of it as leftovers.
“While all of the food was being delivered and I figured out what happened, I went to talk to Mason about what he did, and this is the only part that makes me laugh,” Stonehouse said. “I was trying to explain to him that this wasn’t good and he puts his hand up and stops me and says ‘Dad, did the pepperoni pizzas come yet?’ I had to walk out of the room. I didn’t know if I should get mad or laugh.”
The family was able to turn Mason’s unexpectedly indulgent night into a lesson on money management, and it all worked out in the end—Grubhub reached out to the family to gift them $1,000 in gift cards. Hopefully, Mason can use a little bit of that cash to get a more reasonable treat.
We found lots of drive-worthy places to go on a family road trip from NYC this winter
Lots of people try to get away at this time of year (sometimes jetting off to someplace warm), but hitting the road is an increasingly popular option for families. No airplane or airports involved, and more flexibility and control, and sometimes even more affordable. Read on for our top winter road trip destinations from NYC for families! (If you’re looking for a cozy cabin to “chill” in, check out these Airbnbs near NYC perfect for a winter family getaway.)
Other winter fun includes hiking (for all levels), snowshoeing, skating, and hockey on Mirror Lake.
For even more winter fun, head to the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival, a 15-minute drive away. A tradition since 1897, this celebration of the season includes sports, performances, two parades, and three sets of spectacular fireworks. The 2023 festival is Feb. 3-12.
What to do: Philadelphia has something for everyone this winter, including big museum exhibits, multiple winter fests, and of course, celebrating history.
An evergreen and must-see for families is the Please Touch Museum, an interactive museum for kids of all ages, which recently unveiled its expanded Market experience (an awesome mini supermarket.) It's open Wednesday through Sunday.
Check out this schedule of fun art events in partnership with local cultural organizations to see what's going on when you visit.
Where to Stay: Recently renovated, the Independence Park Hotel is centrally located steps away from Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and dozens of popular Philadelphia restaurants and shops.
Rochester is home to one of the finest children's museums in the country, the Strong National Museum of Play, centrally located downtown. Exhibits are dedicated to superheroes, video games (the Video Game Hall of Fame is here), Sesame Street, and much, much more.
Like nature walks? At the Cumming Nature Center, they have groomed trails for affordable cross-country skiing and snow-shoeing. Also, check out the Birdsong Fairy Trail in Mendon Ponds Park. This easy walk is home to adorable fairy houses of all kinds, and at its end, visitors are often able to have birds eat seed right out of their hands.
Need more nature? Make your way to the Lazy Acre Alpaca Farm in Bloomfield, to meet the fuzzy residents, take a tour, and then stock up on cozy alpaca merch!
For food, good kid-friendly choices include Jine's Restaurant and The Gatehouse, and this is, of course, the home of Wegman's where you can get all kinds of pre-prepared, affordable food to go.
Where to Stay: For a funky and fun option, consider School 31 Lofts, located close to downtown in a former public school—the blackboards and coat cubbies are still there! (It's also across the street from the art museum, the Memorial Art Gallery.)
More traditional lodging that's also family-friendly can be found at the Woodcliff Hotel & Spa, which is in nearby Fairport.
What to do: Known as the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, Lancaster hosts indoor and outdoor fun in the winter months.
Families with train-crazy kids should catch a ride on the Strasburg Rail Road—America’s oldest continuously operating railroad. Take in views of Amish Country on an authentic steam train, and choose from closed, or open-air cars, as well as fun theme rides like a bingo train.
Shop with the locals at the Green Dragon Farmers Market & Auction in Ephrata. It's a flea market, a farmer's market, and live auctions for hay, feed, and more. For a more curated shopping experience, try The Old Country Store, for quilting supplies, Amish crafts, toys, and collectibles. The Lancaster Central Market, established in 1730, is an institution where local fresh food and produce are sold.
Head to Shady Maple Smorgasbord, the largest all-inclusive buffet in the country serving PA Dutch country favorites and lots more.
The town of Lilitz holds an annual Fire & Ice Festival. Now running from February 17-26, the fest features wow-worthy ice sculptures, eats from local restaurants and food trucks, shopping, and a day just for kids, Winterfuderland. (February 20)
Where to stay:
For Adventure Time, Gumball and Powerpuff Girls fans, the only choice is the Cartoon Network Hotel in Lancaster. (If you come in the warmer months, it's right next to the amusement park Dutch Wonderland.) Slated for early February are special Amazing Weekends of Gumball.
For a local, quirky experience stop off at the Red Caboose Motel & Restaurant, where you can sleep in one of 38 genuine, train cars retro-fitted for staying the night!
Calling all baseball fans! Head to the temple to America's favorite pastime, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, NY to get primed for spring training! (This is one of those places where you do need to book tickets in advance.)
Don't miss the museum's "Starting Nine," a scavenger hunt built for hard-core fans that challenges visitors to find their favorite team’s Starting Nine, a lineup of must-sees from the museum's vast collection.
Unfortunately, Cooperstown's popular Farmer's Museum, one of the oldest rural life museums in the country, is closed until April, as is the area art museum, the Fenimore Art Museum.
Part of Coopertown's charm is its picturesque Main Street, which you'll definitely want to stroll down, and where you'll find shops specializing in baseball souvenirs and collectibles.
Where to stay: The Otesaga is the stately luxury hotel if you're looking for a grand experience, and several bed and breakfasts are located right in the center of town (the Inn at Cooperstown and the Landmark Inn are popular.) If you need something a bit more kid-friendly, you can find chain hotels like Holiday Inn Express just outside of town.)
What to do: Step back in time at the Mystic Seaport Museum, which covers 19 acres along the Connecticut shore. This leading maritime museum features play areas just for kids, historical reenactors that bring history to life, and four National Historic Landmark vessels, including the 1841 whaleship Charles W. Morgan, America’s oldest commercial ship still in existence!
You can also explore what's under the water in Mystic at the Mystic Aquarium. The celebrated aquarium offers exhibits both indoors and out and is home to penguins, seals, sharks, beluga whales, rays, and many more sea-dwellers. For an extra special visit, book an animal encounter.
Where to stay: Located in the heart of town on the water, The Whaler's Inn is a classic choice. The main inn offers rooms with a junior bunk area for kids, while the Noank House has family-friendly rooms with two queens beds conveniently located on the first floor. For a chain, the Mystic Hilton is a good choice (located across the street from the aquarium), or you can settle into your own cottage suite at The Carriage House.
There's something for every kind of family in western Massachusetts. If you're looking for a family-friendly ski getaway, Butternut in Great Barrington is a great, affordable, spot for little ones learning to ski, and it also offers snow tubing.
The Norman Rockwell Museum is located in nearby Stockbridge. In addition to showcasing much of the artist's iconic work, the museum mounts exhibitions dedicated to illustration and new perspectives on Rockwell's work. Additionally, you can visit the small workshop where he did much of his painting.
If you like your art with more edge, head to Mass MOCA in North Adams, the largest contemporary art center in the country. (It is huge, with lots of wide open spaces, making it a place where it's easy to social distance.) Kids can really roam free here, too. The center houses several works by light artist James Turrell, and its three floors of Sol Lewitt galleries are impressive. Mass MoCA also has a Kidspace with rotating exhibits and programming, allowing kids to get in on the art-making action.
Where to Stay:The Briarcliff Motel is fun and casual, a 1960s motel that's been upgraded for today. In Stockbridge, its sister property, the Red Lion Inn (est. 1773) can offer you a bed in the historic main inn. With kids, it's probably best to stay in the roomier and more modern accommodations of Maple Glen, also on the grounds.
In North Adams, The Porches is a boutique inn with retro-industrial architecture (revamped mill workers' homes) and modern comforts located right across the street from the Mass MoCA. The Williams Inn in nearby Williamstown, MA is a good choice for a relaxed yet refined stay, with the added bonus of elevated comfort food on site at the property's restaurant and bar, The Barn.
Mix fantasy and reality (and a place to sleep) at The Kartrite Resort & Indoor Waterpark in the Catskills. Enjoy the resort's indoor waterpark, heated to 84 degrees year-round, with more than 10 slides and water adventures, a lazy river, and indoor/outdoor pools. Take advantage of seven restaurants and bars on-site, as well as hiking trails, free daily activities, and an indoor entertainment center to keep the kids busy—ropes course, rock climbing, arcade, mini bowling, laser tag, and virtual reality.
Dinner can be a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be with the best meal delivery service options available for your family.
“What’s for dinner?” is our favorite question—said no parent ever—especially not when it’s 5 p.m. and you don’t have an answer to that question. With our round up of meal and meal delivery services, you’ll say goodbye to grocery shopping, meal planning, prep and best of all, all that cleanup.
Hello Fresh
HelloFresh
The goal of HelloFresh is to bring the fun of cooking back into people’s lives by doing all the planning, portioning and shopping for in-season, sustainably-sourced, healthy and flavorful ingredients. HelloFresh prides itself on its delicious recipes with quick cook times; all your chopping, zesting and sautéeing will take less than 30 minutes.
Feeding your family delicious food that doesn't break the bank is just about everyone's goals so we are on board with this value meal brand. Of all the samples we've tried, their Cajun Chicken Sausage Penne was a top favorite—we're talking lick-the-plate-clean good!
Cost: starts at $6/meal + shipping. Online: everyplate.com
Hungryroot
Hungryroot
Offering both groceries and recipes to go with, your family can easily plan for meals, snacks and everything in between! Most recipes are prepped and on the dinner table within 10-15 minutes (try the creamy miso salmon) with the option for roast-and-ready meals that are conveniently popped in the oven. Fill your fridge with produce, protein and delicious snacks from Hungryroot and never be hungry again.
Cost: Starts at $70/delivery with free shipping. Online: hungryroot.com
Territory
Territory
Fresh meals from local chefs straight to your door equals taking your dinners to the next level. Easily meet your health and wellness goals with gluten, refined sugar and dairy-free recipes while subscribing to a plan to filter your preferences and choose for delivery even for once a week. We also loved that every packaging item was either recyclable or compostable which is important to us plus the ability to donate meals to our local community means you can feel great about your meal delivery service.
Cost: starts at $11/meal for the smaller “boost” size or $14/meal for standard size. Online: territoryfoods.com
Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon
Marley Spoon
Have 30 minutes and can follow six easy, precise steps? That is all it takes to allow your inner Martha to shine with this cook-at-home food delivery service! With 29 menu choices every week and meal tags such as family-friendly, under-30 minutes, gluten-free and other categories, there is something for everyone. Bonus: the website provides big, colorful step-by-step photos for kids who want to help.
Cost: Plans start at $10/portion + $10 shipping. Online: marleyspoon.com
Gobble
One pan. 15 minutes. That is the only requirement before dinner can be on your table! Gobble shops, chops and delivers gourmet three-step recipes for one-pan cooking with zero prep required. In fact, their main selling point is that every recipe takes 15 mins to cook, which is something we can all get on board with. Choose between Classic vs Lean and Clean recipes and personalize it as you see fit. Having been voted by Parents magazine as the #1 Meal Kit delivery service means that picky eaters are sure to find something they like.
Cost: Prices start at $12/serving (dinner for 4). Online: gobble.com
Freshly
Freshly
With a food philosophy centered on less sugar, less processed and more nutrients, the menu features fresh, chef-cooked comfort food meals with smart ingredient swaps.
Cost: starts at $10/meal for 4-12 meals per week. Online: Freshly.com
Green Chef
With plans like Keto + Paleo, Balanced Living and Plant-Powered, healthy eating at home is the name of the game with Green Chef. Organic produce and eggs delivered to you with easy recipes means eating well and healthy go hand in hand. Set up your deliveries to come weekly or less frequently if you prefer.
Cost: Meals start at $13/serving with $10 shipping. Online: greenchef.com
Blue Apron
Blue Apron has been part of the meal delivery game for a long time and their expertise shows. We love that the meals typically take 40 minutes or less and include kid-friendly ingredients like baked chicken and pasta while exposing kids to different flavors such as curry and chile-lime. With super easy-to-follow recipes, you can definitely get the kids involved in the cooking process.
Cost: Meals cost $12/serving with $10 shipping. Online: blueapron.com
Home Chef
Home Chef
Home Chef meal kits offer fresh, pre-portioned ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes delivered weekly. Curate a box to personalize the cooking experience you want: 30 vs 15 min meal prep, grill ready, oven ready, or even special occasions in which a premium meal ups the ante. Most recipes include a "Customize It" option to accommodate any dietary needs or kid-friendly preferences. Our taste testers enjoyed the Cheesy Steak and Chipotle Ranch sandwiches and were licking their fingers at the end of the meal while the French Onion Chicken was also delectable and essentially French Onion soup on a plate.
Cost: Meals start at $7/serving. Online: homechef.com
Dinnerly
Dinnerly
If your goal is to get a wholesome, easy meal on the table for your family, then Dinnerly is the meal delivery option for you. Each week Dinnerly customers choose from over a dozen options which change each week. Each meal has only five prep steps and takes less than 30 minutes to get on the table, perfect for rushed weeknight dinners. Not interested in getting your box this week? No problem! You can skip any time.
Cost: Meals start at $5/person. Online: dinnerly.com
Veestro
With 100% organic, vegan and gluten-free chef-prepared entrees, soups and juices there are no animal products of any kind here, ever! Chick'n Nuggets with chipotle dipping sauce complete with veganaise will do the trick and no one will miss the meat. Meeting your family’s dietary needs has never been easier or more delicious.
Cost: Starting at $11 for 30 meals. Online: veestro.com
Purple Carrot
Purple Carrot brings you plant-forward meals that are both good for you and good for the planet. Choose from Quick & Easy, High-Protein, Gluten-Free or Chef’s Choice dinners and customize your choices to your liking. All meals are meat-free, easy to prepare with the option to add on breakfast, lunch and snack items to get you through the week. Skip or cancel any time.
Sun Basket’s meal kits come with organic produce with paleo, gluten-free, vegetarian and family menu selections. Their "super speedy" meals go from box to table in less than 20 minutes, "one pot" meals keep the dishes to a minimum and Fresh & Ready meals are pre-cooked, pre-packaged to go from oven/microwave to dinner table in six minutes. WIN.
Parents will love how Sun Basket encourages kids to participate in the cooking process (which has been shown to create more adventurous eaters). Each recipe includes a "Kids Can" section with suggestions of how kids can contribute to the meal prep by juicing a lemon, timing the orzo or strip the mint leaves.
There's nothing fussy here—organic, non-GMO ingredients come pre-chopped, pre-measured and ready to go from box to table in less than 30 minutes. Kid-sized portions (about half of an adult-sized portion) and pricing is available by indicating how many children are in the family. Bonus: free, gourmet and organic cookie dough is included in every box!
Cost: Plans start at $14/serving. Online: onepotato.com
Thistle
Thistle
If you are looking to up your family's health quotient this year (and who isn't?!) then Thistle is the meal delivery service for you. They offer fully-prepared breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as juices, snacks, wellness shots and more. Every menu item is gluten and dairy free with vegan and non-vegan options.
Cost: Fully-customizable packages start at $42/week or $12/meal. Online: thistle.com
Methodology
Methodology
As a pre-prepared food delivery company, Methodology aims to nourish your body with foods that help it perform at it's tip-top level. With a menu designed by food lovers for food lovers, your taste buds will thank you.
Flexibility and options rule at Good Eggs as you can choose a single meal kits We love their family-friendly meal kits like the One Pot Pasta e Fagioli. Simply heat and toss to get a comforting meal in minutes (add a side salad and take-and-bake garlic loaf for a complete meal).
Cost: Meals start at $18 for 3 servings. Online: goodeggs.com
Pocket Chefs
Pocket Chefs
For a meal service of a different style, enlist the help of a professional chef in your own home! Pocket Chefs enables families to hire affordable and experienced culinary professionals to assist with everyday cooking needs. This service enlists vetted, culinary professionals who have served many years as private chefs, caterers or restaurant chefs. All of their chefs pass a background check and are certified through SafeServ for cleanliness standards. Pocket Chefs understands the needs of your family and aims to deliver delicious and affordable meals in the comfort of your home. You can simply create an account, pick your preferred package and schedule when you'd like your Pocket Chef to arrive and start cooking!
The chef will call you beforehand to go over your meal plan and grocery list, taking into consideration any food restrictions or allergies. You purchase the groceries according to a list provided by your chef and then the chef shows up at the agreed-upon time to cook the meals for you.
With kids heading back to school, the to-do list is getting longer by the day so let’s take some things off the list and delegate one of the most time-consuming, thankless jobs parents have—feeding the family. Whatever your dietary requirement, we’ve got a family meal delivery service for you. From organic, ready-to-eat snacks and lunches to cook-at-home ingredients the whole family can enjoy, check out the best meal delivery service for families in Los Angeles.
The Best Prepared Snacks & Meal Delivery Services around LA
This recently opened West LA meal delivery service focuses on providing highly nutritious ingredients with a side of cuteness overload. Nutritionist-approved, chef-made and delivered right to your door, these lunches can be eaten right away or saved for up to 5 days—no heating or cooking necessary. PS: While the meals are made with 3-10 year olds in mind, don’t mind us if we order an extra set for ourself—they look downright irresistible.
Good to Know: Currently delivering to West LA, there are plans to expand and deliver to more areas around LA shortly.
Cost: Weekly and monthly subscriptions are available. The 3-meal weekly lunch plan is $30 while the 5-meal weekly lunch plan is $50.
Thanks to Feel Sunnie, you can provide your kids with freshly made, 100% organic, plant-based snacks you can truly feel good about. Our kids loved the granola and blueberry snack but don't be surprised if you find yourself keeping some of the snack boxes for yourself—the hummus and crackers are just the thing to keep your own afternoon hangries at bay.
Good to Know: The packaging is recyclable and they are helping to fight hunger in the Los Angeles area—check out how you can help by donating a Sunnie box (or two) to underserved communities.
Cost: Their snack sampler is $40. Purchases over $55 qualify for free shipping.
Striving to eat healthy sometimes feels like another full-time job but thankfully Taylor Made Cuisine has made it easy for you and the whole family by delivering everything you need (from breakfast to dessert) for the week. Offering meal delivery services in LA and Orange County, these ready-to-eat meals are nutrient dense and properly portioned—no more guesswork. Are you and the family following a special meal plan? They've got it covered—from KETO to pescatarian and vegan, all the meals are full customizable to meet your needs.
Good to Know: If you want to eat healthy but don't have the time or energy to cook (raises hand), Taylor Made Cuisine is for you.
Cost: Family meal plans start at $115 per week but you can also order meals, snacks and desserts for yourself.
If you are looking to up your family's health quotient this year, then Thistle is the meal delivery service for you. They offer fully-prepared breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as juices, snacks, wellness shots and more. Every week there's a new menu that's gluten- and dairy-free. You can also choose from vegan and non-vegan options.
While the majority of the Thistle menu appeals to greens-loving adults, our kid tasters loved the 24 Carrot Gold muffin and the nourishing green juice. Bonus for busy parents: the most you'll need is a few minutes to warm up the meals or eat them room temp instead.
Cost: Customizable packages start at $11.50 per serving.
Territory Foods enlists the expertise of talented local chefs and informed nutritionists to bring their unique culinary skill to every dish. If you'd like a seasonal, restaurant-quality meal made fresh, delivered to your door, and ready to eat in under two minutes, then this is the way to go.
Once upon a time, a pregnant mom was disheartened with the lack of fresh, nutritious, and yummy baby meals that were readily available (without spending hours steaming and puréeing on a daily basis). Thus Yumi was born. A meal delivery service made just for babies, this service offers healthy, fresh-made baby food, making it ultra-convenient to feed your baby without the added sugars, preservatives and allergens found in store-bought options. Now they even have nutrient-rich snacks like pizza bites (11+ months), mixed berry fruit leathers and finger food options like cauliflower puffs for those who are ready to go beyond spoon feedings!
Cost: There are 3 membership plans, starting at $5 per day.
Nurture Life caters to babies, toddlers and older kids with menus customized to each age group. Choose from selections like chicken parmesan and broccoli, beef lasagna or mac & cheese with cauliflower sauce to really get little mouths watering. Order weekly meals for the kiddos to be delivered to your doorstep, all freshly made, pediatric-dietician approved and ready in under one minute.
Eating organic, healthy meals at home is the name of the game with Green Chef. Choose from three plans: Keto + Paleo, Balanced Living and Plant-Powered. Set up your deliveries to come weekly or less frequently if you prefer. Menus change every week and you'll enjoy options like Beef Tenderloin with Brown Butter Carrots, Chicken con Queso, Mediterranean Salmon and French Onion Pork Chops.
Cost: Meal plans start at $13 per serving, $10 for shipping.
Purple Carrot brings you plant-forward meals that are good for you and good for the planet. You can choose meal kits or prepared meals! All meals are meat-free and you can add on breakfast, lunch and snack items to get you through the week. Skip or cancel any time.
Cost: Meal kits start at $13 per serving while prepared meals start at $13 per serving.
How about a choice of over 50 meals that are 100% plant-based, organic, non-GMO, chef-prepared entrees? Then look no further than this healthy bunch (bonus: they deliver nationally, too). There are no animal products of any kind. Chick'n Nuggets with chipotle dipping sauce complete with veganaise will do the trick every time for your kiddos and no one will miss the meat. Veestro food is available a la carte and they also carry a surprisingly delicious weight-loss menu plan. As with most vegetarian cuisine, many of the meals have nuts in them so be careful with a nut allergy.
Say goodbye to grocery shopping, meal planning and prep, and all that cleanup! Gobble shops, chops, peels and delivers gourmet meals using just one-pan, all under 15 minutes. Talk about fast (yet still good for you) food!
Cost: Meal plans start at $15/serving for dinner for two.
Blue Apron has been part of the meal delivery game for a long time and their expertise shows. Choose the Signature for 4 if you want to feed the family. We love that the meals typically take 40 minutes or less and include kid-friendly ingredients like baked chicken and pasta while exposing kids to different flavors like curry and chile-lime. With super easy-to-follow recipes, you can definitely get the kids involved in the cooking process.
This weekly subscription service delivers fresh—not frozen—chef-cooked meals that can be heated and served in three minutes. With a food philosophy centered on less sugar, fewer processed and more nutrients, the menu offers better-for-you versions of comfort foods with smart ingredient swaps. For example, Chicken Parm is coated in almond flour vs. bread crumbs and topped with marinara sauce sweetened with honey instead of refined sugars; Mac and Cheese is made with brown rice pasta and cheesy sauce blended with a purée of cauliflower and butternut squash; and Turkey Meatballs are packed with mushrooms and served over zoodles for a lower-carb alternative to pasta.
This cook-at-home food delivery service partnered with Martha Stewart to help harried families discover their inner home-eco pro. The menu features 29 choices every week and the website tags meals as family-friendly, under-30 minutes, vegetarian & vegan and other categories. Favorites include: chicken fajita bowl, bacon-wrapped skillet meatloaf and lemon-brown butter salmon. The website provides big, colorful step-by-step photos for careless cooks and kids who want to help.
Cost: Meals start at $7 per portion, plus $9 for shipping.
Home Chef meal kits offer fresh, pre-portioned ingredients and easy-to-follow, family-friendly recipes, delivered weekly. With a variety of recipes that rotate on a weekly basis, most meals include a "Customize It" option to accommodate any dietary needs or preferences. For busy parents, there's the 15-minute meal kit, which includes dishes like Honey Garlic Chicken with Broccoli and Carrots. Or, opt for more sophisticated meals from the culinary collection like Steak and Garlic Thyme Butter with balsamic Brussels Sprouts and Parmesan Twists.
HelloFresh aims to bring the fun of cooking back into people’s lives by doing all the planning, portioning and shopping for in-season, sustainably-sourced, healthy and flavorful ingredients. HelloFresh prides itself on its delicious recipes with quick cook times; all your chopping, zesting and sautéeing will take less than 30 minutes. Family-friendly meals include Tomato Tortellini Bake, Ginger Plum Chicken and Pork Chops with Apple Rosemary Pan Sauce.
If your goal is to get a wholesome, easy meal on the table for your family, then Dinnerly is the meal delivery option for you. It's also one of the less expensive options. They keep their pricing down by using digital recipe cards, fewer ingredients and simple packaging. The choices are totally kid-friendly with options like sweet and sour Swedish meatballs, turkey burgers and enchiladas. Each meal has only five prep steps and takes less than 30 minutes to get on the table, perfect for rushed weeknight dinners. Not interested in getting your box this week? No problem! You can skip any time.
Feeling like a short-order cook come dinner time is never ideal, which is why One Potato believes that it’s possible to prepare one meal that will satisfy everyone at the dinner table. The idea behind this family-friendly company is to make it easy for parents to serve up healthy, organic meals that appeal to both grown-ups and kids (even the fussiest of eaters). The best part, however, is that the prepped food kits are built to encourage your little chefs to get involved in the dinner-making process. They also offer kid-friendly lunchboxes for $7.95/box that your kiddo will love. Another bonus: Each meal delivery comes with your own organic slice-and-bake cookie dough, guaranteed to delight your sweeties.
Over two decades ago, this company started out as a gourmet food delivery service to the stars, pioneering the way for modern-day meal-delivery services. Nowadays, Sunfare offers full-service food delivery that can be customized to any of their healthy meal plans. For families, there's the Family Dinners program, which offers a wide range of main entree choices, plus up to two sides. It's the perfect alternative to ordering in...again!
Cost: Family Dinners (for 3) is $53 per day, with an additional $4 per day delivery fee.
If you live near a Carvel and you’re a Hocus Pocus fan, you’ll be bewitched by this news. The ice cream company has created three limited-edition shakes that celebrate the Sanderson Sisters—and we’d buy them just for those collectible cups!
Available now through Halloween, the shakes each feature the distinctive personalities of the sisters. Sarah’s Chilling Churro Shake combines Churro Crunchies with cinnamon-sugar churro ice cream, topped with yellow sprinkles. Winnie’s Glorious Cake Batter Shake mixes up cake batter ice cream, topped with orange sprinkles. And Mary’s Divine Cookies & Cream Shake blends vanilla with cookie and cream pieces, topped with violet sprinkles.
The shakes are also celebrating Carvel’s partnership with Freeform, the network airing “31 Nights of Halloween” and plenty of Hocus Pocus. You can buy them starting at $4.79 at participating Carvel shops and on food delivery platforms. Don’t forget the collectible spoon!
If you need more of the Sanderson Sisters in your life, we’ve got you covered. Bubble, bubble we’re in trouble!
Have a sugar craving but can’t decide between a cinnamon roll or a cookie? Thanks to Cinnabon, you don’t have to.
Back by popular demand, Cookie BonBites are back, bringing bite-sized cinnamon rolls stuffed into a chocolate chip cookie straight to your palate. You can start celebrating the end of summer, start of fall and back to school now by grabbing a batch of the BonBites, which are available now for a limited time.
photo: Courtesy of Cinnabon
Cookie BonBites first hit the scene in 2019 where they sold out fast. This time, Cinnabon is making sure everyone gets a taste by keeping them on the market from now through early November.
You can find Cookie BonBites at mall bakeries, Pilot Flying J Travel Center locations and on all food delivery platforms nationwide. They retail for $3.29 each or $14.99 for a pack of eight.
Ahhh…the Slurpee. When the summer temps spike and heat stroke seems imminent, not much sounds better than the classic ice-cold concoction. 7-Eleven is innovating on the fan favorite this year with the release of stay cold cups, filled with a small Slurpee for just one dollar.
You’ll also be able to fill the stay cold cup with a new flavor, Peach Perfect. Fans of this fuzzy fruit will be stoked for this one, since it’s made with real juice! Find it at participating 7-Eleven stores starting now.
The popular convenience store has a few more tricks up its sleeve for outdoor season. Grab 10 bone-in wings or a whole pizza for only five dollars and get them delivered through the 7NOW delivery app. You can even get delivery wherever your family is posted up to enjoy the day, whether it’s the beach or the park. The app is offered in more than 1,300 U.S. cities and also offers real-time tracking so you can keep your eye on the proverbial dinner prize.
We’re excited to get this summer started! Especially since the odds of our Slurpee melting just dramatically lowered and food delivery is more convenient than ever. See you at 7-Eleven!
Crunchies in your breakfast bowl? Carvel’s iconic chocolate Crunchies are coming to your breakfast table.
The chocolate cookie pieces covered in a chocolate bonnet shell are a fan fave. Now this sweet treat topping is getting a whole new look—in a lineup of fab foodie finds you won’t want to miss! Carvel recently announced the debut of a brand-new chocolate Crunchie limited-edition cereal. Before you rush out to your local grocery store, read on to find out how to score a box of this delish breakfast blend.
Instead of the cereal aisle, you can only get this chocolatey breakfast goody at Carvel shoppes and food delivery platforms. The first 150 in-store and delivery platform customers at each Carvel shoppe location can nab a limited-edition box of cereal with purchase from Apr. 16 through Apr. 18, 2021.
Nicolle DuBose, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Carvel, said in a press release, “More and more, fans are telling us they want to experience Crunchies in new ways – and we listened to them. With the introduction of Crunchies Cereal and our lineup of limited-time Crunchies-filled ice cream treats, we’re kicking off ice cream season in a big way and providing fans new opportunities to create Crunchies-filled memories.”
Along with the cereal, Carvel fans can also feast on other limited-edition Crunchies treats. These include:
Crunchies To-Go – Carvel’s famous chocolate Crunchies coated with Brown Bonnet.
Crunchies Shake – Vanilla soft ice cream blended with fudge and Crunchies.
Crunchies Dasher – Vanilla soft ice cream with layers of Crunchies and bittersweet fudge topped with whipped cream and a chocolate medallion.
Flying Saucers Rolled in Crunchies – Flying Saucer crackers filled with Vanilla soft ice cream rolled in Crunchies.
Crazy for Crunchies Cake –Deluxe cake made with vanilla ice cream, chocolate Crunchies in the middle, and chocolate ice cream on the bottom, loaded with milk fudge, and covered in Crunchies on the side.
Crunchies Celebration Cake – Carvel Crunchies cake made with Vanilla ice cream, chocolate Crunchies in the middle, and chocolate ice cream on the bottom loaded with Carvel whipped cream, trimmed with milk fudge and covered in Crunchies on the side.
Novelty Cones Rolled in Crunchies – Vanilla soft ice cream rolled in Crunchies on a sugar cone.
Vanilla soft ice cream on a Cake Cone or Cup Rolled in Crunchies.
Don’t wait too long to make your Crunchie dreams come true. These Crunchie-licious sweet treats are available exclusively in Carvel shoppes and from Carvel food delivery platforms for a limited time.
If you’ve got an Alexa (and kids) in your house, you’ve probably heard your fair share of “Baby Shark” and endless loops of Disney songs. But Amazon’s nifty wifi-enabled speaker can do a lot more than play music and make cat sounds. Whether you need help organizing your grocery list or counting down to your kid’s next birthday, read on to discover 24 things you probably never knew Alexa could do.
Chat with Chewbacca
Disney Parks
Oh happy day! Disney added two new options to its Disney-themed voice skills! Available exclusively on Amazon Kids+ on compatible Echo devices, kiddos can now ask Alexa to open Frozen Sing! and Star Wars: C-3PO Translates! The two new features join a slew of others that include Disney, Pixar, Star Wars,and Marvel-themed skills.
Tired of battling technology during dinner time? Alexa will soon pause Wi-Fi access in your home, then unpause access with simple voice commands. Just say "Alexa, pause Wi-Fi on Joey's tablet."
Devices will use the assistant to manage WiFi access quickly for as little as one device or the whole family. In addition, users will be able to schedule specific Wi-Fi access times.
Get ready to hear some famous voice the next time you ask Alexa a question. Later this year, Amazon is rolling out a variety of celebs who will cater to your needs, like Samuel L. Jackson. Supposedly the voices will be generated from recordings with celebrities, but time will tell.
Use Alexa Communication For Kids
Amazon
Do your kids use your Amazon Echo device to talk to family and friends? Now parents can use the newest security setting to enable approved contacts with Alexa Communications for Kids for a safer experience. Whitelist specific people your littles can video and audio chat with, and set limits for your teens and tweens.
Now you can cook with your favorite celeb Foot Network chefs! On your Echo Show, ask Alexa to show cooking classed from the network's stars, save recipes and replay moments from cooking demonstrations. Order up!
Protect Your Home
Alexa Guard has even more skills than ever. When heading out, say "Alexa, I'm headed out" to arm the system. While you're away, your devices will stay alert and will detect smoke alarm sounds, carbon monoxide alarms, or glass breaking and send users Smart Alerts. Also coming soon, Guard can also send alerts to notify homeowners of sounds like coughing, footsteps, talking and even a door closing when no one should be home.
When you're carrying, say, two kids and a bag of groceries into a dark house, it's a whole lot easier to have someone else turn the lights on. With the new Amazon Smart Plug, anything plugged into the special plug can be controlled with your voice. All you need to do is say, "Alexa, turn on the lights," or, "Alexa, turn on the family room fan." You can also control your Smart Plug devices from the Alexa app—set your lights to go off and on at a specific time, for instance—which can be especially helpful if you're out of town and need to make it look like someone's still home.
Microwave buttons can be so tedious. Why not hand the job over to Alexa? Just pop your food or drinks into an AmazonBasics Microwave and say, for instance, "Alexa, cook one cup of coffee." Then, let your smart device figure out how long that needs to be. It's just one of a slew of Alexa-enabled appliances and gadgets now on the market. Because the future is now. And cooking with buttons is so 2017.
Do your kiddos know their verbs, nouns and adjectives? Let them practice their silly skills by creating a nonsensical story on Alexa. Just enable Mad Libs on Alexa then say, "Alexa, open Mad Libs." Your kids will be silly storytellers in no time.
Psst: If you've got the kids version of the Echo Dot, you can also access "Disney Plot Twist," Disney's version of Mad Libs, read by Disney characters themselves.
Filter Out Profanity
Amazon
When a three-year-old asks for a song, it's anyone's guess as to whether Alexa will get it right ... or very, very wrong. To nip any explicit lyrics or otherwise unsavory results from blasting through your speaker, be sure to enable Amazon Freetime on your Alexa device. Not only will Freetime help keep it clean, but it will also block your kids from accidentally (or intentionally!) ordering anything from Amazon. It will also give "safe" answers to some perennially curious questions.
To enable Freetime:
- Go to your Alexa app and hit "settings."
- Click on "Device settings" and choose the device you want to filter.
- Under "Freetime" setting, slide the tab to the right to enable.
Note: Some Alexa skills won't work while Freetime is enabled, so if you're having trouble accessing things, go to your Alexa app and disable Freetime until you're ready to hand the reins over to your kids.
Obviously, Alexa can't do the hiding, but this simple game will do the job if wee ones want to hide under the bed and see if it can "find them." Just say, "Alexa play Hide and Seek" and Alexa will ask three questions to see where you're hiding. Most of the time, it won't get it right—but your kids will love trying to see if it can!
If you're having trouble keeping track of all the stuff you need to do, just ask Alexa to "Create a new To-Do list" and start getting organized—stat! Once you've created your to-do list, you can just add items to it by saying, "Alexa, add [item] to my To-Do list." You'll never forget your grandma's birthday present again.
Sometimes Alexa can be so loud. If you want to make sure the booming voice doesn't wake your snoozing baby, just enable "Whisper Mode" to make sure Alexa keeps it quiet. All you have to do is say, "Alexa, enable Whisper mode." Once enabled, if you whisper to Alexa, it will "whisper" back.
You can also enable Whisper mode via the Alexa app. Here's how to activate it:
(1) Open the Alexa app on your phone.
(2) Tap the menu button (on the top left).
(3) Select "Settings."
(4) Select "Alexa Account"
(5) Tap "Alexa Voice Responses."
(5) Slide the slider to the right to enable the "Whispered Responses" mode.
Next time you pour out the last drop of milk or eat the last slice of bread, simply say, "Alexa, add bread and milk to my shopping list" and Alexa will help you out. Then, when you're at the grocery store and your kids are clamoring for your attention (thereby zapping all memory of what you needed to buy), all you have to do is open your Alexa app, find your shopping list and shop away.
Who needs a Magic 8 Ball? Just ask Alexa to "Open Fortune Teller" to find out what your future holds. You can even customize this skill with personalized fortunes to wow your kids into believing.
If your kids just can't wait until their birthday ... or Christmas ... or the end of school ... Give them a little something to help them count down the days. Just enter an event and date here, then ask: "Alexa, how many days until my birthday (or Christmas, or the end of school, etc.)."
We know: At the end of some days, it doesn't matter whether the wine is good or a Two-Buck variety. But on the days when you want to get fancy with your vino, Alexa can help. Go to the Alexa app and add the MySomm skill to its' repertoire. Then, just ask Alexa for wine recommendations based on whatever you're eating. To activate, say "Alexa, ask Wine Gal to recommend a wine for _______."
If you've got the kind of kid who needs a little noise to successfully slip into slumber, Alexa's got a few tricks. Whether it's ocean waves or pittering rain, Alexa's Sleep and Relaxation Sounds skill will work wonders for your snoozer. Just say, "Alexa, Open Sleep Sounds "or "Alexa, play ocean sounds."
If nudging and/or prodding won't wake up your stubborn sleepyheads, program an alarm to wake them up to their favorite song. Just say, "Alexa, wake me up to It's Raining Tacos (or whatever their favorite song is)." You can also use this feature to usher in a particular part of the day: "Alexa set an alarm for the Clean-Up Song at 7 p.m. tomorrow."
Got seven minutes? Ask Alexa to "Start the 7-Minute Workout" and let it guide you through a series of intense cardio and strength-training exercises designed to whip your body into shape in just a few minutes a day.
Get Your Kids Into Shape, Too
Melissa Heckscher
If your kids are stuck inside and you want to get them moving, Alexa's got a few kid-centric workouts that'll get your littles happily hopping around. Our faves? Alexa's Animal Workout and Freeze Dancers, both of which will totally engage the under-eight set. Your kids won't even know it's exercise—and you can just sit back and watch.
Can't remember how much money you're supposed to start with when you play Monopoly? Don't know who goes first in Scrabble? Ask Alexa! Enable the Board Game Answers skill and let Alexa remind you how to play some of your favorite games.
Hungry? Never again go online or use a phone (retro!) to order food delivery. Just start ordering on Amazon Restaurants and from then on you can just say, "Alexa, enable Amazon Restaurants" or "Alexa, order a pizza" and Alexa will scroll through all your past orders and help you get your grub in no time. Read more on Amazon to find out more about how to use this feature.
If you've got an Echo in your room and another Echo device (like an Echo Dot) in your baby's room, all you have to do to listen to your baby's every grunt and snore is "Enable Drop In on my Echo Dot." This will open a connection so you can hear what's going on in the other room. Just make sure to turn the volume all the way down in your baby's device so she can't hear you on the other end. Check out this article to find out more about how to use this feature.
Make Calls
Amazon
Want to make a quick call? You can use Alexa to call anyone else who has an Echo device. Think of it as a high-tech walkie-talkie. Just go to the Alexa app and enable the "Drop In" feature (make sure the person you want to call has this feature enabled, too). Then, when you want to make the call, just say, "Alexa, drop in on ______" or "Alexa, call ______." This feature is even cooler if you and the person on the other end of the line both have Alexa Show, which lets you also see the person on the other end of your drop-in. Check out this article for more details on how to use this feature.
If you're as exhausted as we are, you probably find it hard to remember all the stuff you're supposed to remember every day. Let Alexa do the remembering for you! Just say: "Alexa, remember that I put my keys in the kitchen drawer." Or, "Remember I hid the kids iPads on the top shelf of the cabinet." Or, "Alexa, remember that there's a PTA meeting on Jun. 1." When you need to remember, just ask: "Alexa, where are my keys?" Or, "Where did I hide the kids' iPads?" Or, "Alexa, when is the PTA meeting?" Nobody will call you scatterbrained again!
Use It as an Intercom
Amazon
Want to get your kids off the TV and downstairs for dinner? You can use Alexa as an intercom to communicate with other Echo devices throughout your home. Just go to the Alexa app on your phone to rename each of your Echo devices, and enable the "Drop In" feature. Tell Alexa to drop in on your other devices, i.e. "Drop in on the Upstairs Echo." And talk away. Your kids will feel like you're right there with them. Check out this article for detailed instructions on how to use Alexa's Drop In.
Hint: Since the Alexa app works anywhere, you can "drop in" on your home devices even when you're away. So next time you're out, and your kids are home, try popping in to say hi. They'll love hearing your voice in the room.
If you've got a little LEGO fanatic, Alexa makes playing with DUPLO blocks even more engaging. Just go to the Alexa app and enable LEGO Duplo Stories. Then say, "Alexa, open LEGO DUPLO stories" and Alexa will launch a story game designed for kids ages 2-5. The game invites kids to use their DUPLO blocks to help tell an interactive story where they choose all the pieces (literally). Toddlerscan choose between five vehicle or five animal stories, and define the route of the story, while guided by Alexa.
Play All Kinds of Games
Amazon
Alexa can play all sorts of games, but we think these are the best ones for kiddos:
* Bingo - You'll need to go online to print out free BINGO cards, but then all you'll need is a pen to mark off your BINGO cards when Alexa calls out each square, one by one.
* Simon - You'll need the external Alexa Buttons gadget to play this, but once it's all set up, kids (and grown-ups) will love playing the classic color-changing memory game in a new, high-tech way.
* Rock, Paper Scissors - It may not keep your youngsters entertained for long, but if you need a 10-minute time-sucker, this works.
* Speak & Spell - If you're old enough to remember the awesome orange spelling game that E.T. used to call home, you'll love handing the Alexa over to the kids to play Speak Spell, a modernized take on the original game.
* Deal or No Deal - Test your luck opening imaginary cases of cash to try and win the big money.
* Guess The Number - A simple number-guessing game, where you have to guess a number between 1-100 and Alexa gives you clues (higher/lower) to help you get to the winning digit.
* 20 Questions - You'll be surprised how often Alexa gets this one right.
* Would You Rather - Kids will love this (clean) version of the classic game of silly choices (i.e. "Which would you rather? Have no hair or hair made of yarn?").
Psst: To get Alexa to launch any of these games, just say, "Alexa, play ______" or "Alexa, launch ______."
Say All Kinds of Things
Blueprints.amazon screenshot
You can now customize Alexa's responses to your specific questions by writing set Q&As. This Alexa skill is a fun way to wow (and entertain) your friends and family. So next time your kids are being testy, go for it. Say, "Alexa, what's wrong with my kids today?" and try to hold your smile in when Alexa says, "They had way too much candy at Grayson's birthday party today" (or whatever the case may be). Go to Amazon Blueprints and try it for yourself.
Get yourself out of the dinner time doldrums! This list of Miami meal delivery services will get fresh, healthy meals to your table in no time flat. Whether you are looking for vegan, gluten-free or kid-friendly options, this list has them all. With the school year starting back up, now is the perfect time to try one out!
*As of this publishing, all of the below services had availability and supply.
This meal prep company delivers to the continental U.S. and has a special focus on health and wellness. Families following paleo, vegan, keto and high-protein diets will find plenty of tasty options. A new menu is posted each week for you to choose from. Subscribe and save with the weekly meal plan option or go for the one-time a la carte option for more flexibility. The peanut chia power bikes are the perfect after-school snack. Go for the candied granola pancakes to start your day off with 23g of protein.
Cost: The six-meal plan is $72/week and the 14-meal plan is $140.
MK Takeaways (MKT) is a new food delivery concept serviced out of its Broward-based ghost kitchen. Brought to you by the dynamic duo that started Yummy in My Tummy (natural school lunch service & catering), MKT a hybrid of restaurant takeout and a meal plan but is unique in this market. With MKT, food is meant to go in the fridge and be heated/consumed within a week of receiving it. It’s like having someone cook for you and all you have to do is heat-and-serve for actual restaurant-quality meal. The food is delicious, chef-forward and served in single or family-sized portions. Kid favorites include roasted chicken, BBQ baby back ribs and pork chops with apple chutney.
MKT only serves Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties and is available via all major third party delivery sites and their own website, mktakeaways.com
Yumble
Yumble
This meal delivery service is focused on kids. Carefully sourced fruits and veggies, and perfectly balanced—lunches, dinners and snacks from Yumble are nutritionist approved and kid approved, too! Choose your kids meals for the week and they'll be delivered free to your doorstep. The Bowl of Yays Pasta with veggie marinara and the Mighty Meatballs and Veggie Chili are crowd pleasers for sure. Each box comes with new activities for kids, making mealtime a breeze for you and a joy for them.
Wishing you had the superpower to make healthy meals magically appear on your dining room table? Kick up your heels because Nurture Life delivers nutritious, ready-to-eat meals for babies, toddlers, kids and adults straight to your door (read no more grocery shopping, meal prep or planning!). With Nurture Life, now you can serve your kids their favorite foods at lightning speed . . . no cape (or apron) required. Read our full review here.
Sun Basket provides meal kit customers with organic produce and clean ingredients with paleo, gluten-free, vegetarian and family menu selections. Consumers can also upgrade to premium meats like grass-fed filet and jumbo shrimp. Broaden your culinary horizons with family-friendly meals like chicken tagine and Taiwanese noodle soup. You can even select "super speedy" meals which can go from box to table in less than 15 minutes or "one pot" meals which keep the dishes to a minimum. Hooray!
Parents will love how Sun Basket encourages kids to participate in the cooking process (which has been shown to create more adventurous eaters). Each recipe includes a "Kids Can" section with suggestions of how kids can contribute to the meal prep by juicing a lemon, timing the orzo or strip the mint leaves.
Another great option for healthy eating: Sun Basket launched their Lean & Clean menu with high-in-fiber-and-protein recipes around 550 calories. The meal kit includes kid-friendly games and instructions—an interactive way to get parents and kids cooking dinner together.
Blue Apron has been part of the meal delivery game for a long time and their expertise shows. Choose among two-serving, four-serving and vegetarian menus to pick the options that are right for you. We love that the meals typically take 40 minutes or less and include kid-friendly ingredients like baked chicken and pasta while exposing kids to different flavors like curry and chile-lime. With super easy-to-follow recipes, you can definitely get the kids involved in the cooking process.
Cost: Meals cost $8.99-9.99/serving with free shipping
If your goal is to get a wholesome, easy meal on the table for your family, then Dinnerly is the meal delivery option for you. Each week Dinnerly customers choose from over a dozen options which change each week. The choices are totally kid-friendly with options like sweet and sour Swedish meatballs, turkey burgers and enchiladas. Each meal has only five prep steps and takes less than 30 minutes to get on the table, perfect for rushed weeknight dinners. Not interested in getting your box this week? No problem! You can skip any time.
Seasonal ingredients, grass-fed ground beef and antibiotic-free chicken are all a part of the Dinnerly meal box. Efforts are made to reduce packaging waste and customers receive their recipe cards via email instead of receiving printed cards in their box. At only $4.49 per serving, Dinnerly makes easy weeknight dining a snap.
Cost: Two-person box containing three meals is $29.94, plus $8.99 shipping. A family box containing three meals that will feed four adults is $59.88, plus $8.99 shipping.
If you are looking to add some world flavors to your cooking repertoire, look no further than Takeout Kits. These kits offer globally-inspired flavors and brings them to your door in some totally adorable packaging. Ever wondered what went into your favorite pad thai, Japanese Tonkatsu Ramen or Indian butter chicken? Get to know some new, exotic ingredients and learn how to cook these delicious meals for your family.
The kits contain non-perishable ingredients that can wait in your pantry to be cooked for up to two months (pro tip: bring a kit along on your next camping trip!). This makes such a huge difference for busy lifestyles to always have a tasty meal ready to cook when you come back from vacation or can't make it to the grocery store. Some examples of the Takeout Kit proteins include: dry cured Spanish chorizo, canned premium Japanese snow crab, 100% natural pouched chicken and many vegetarian proteins like lentils, teff flour, freekeh and tetra-packed tofu. If you'd like to add your own protein, select the "add your own protein" option.
This Bay Area company ships all over the U.S. so order a meal to ship to your far away family. Better yet, opt for one of the sampler kits to try a few at a discount and add on a drink kit to pair with your meal.
Cost: Kits range from $29.99-34.99 and serve four adults. No subscription is required.
This cook-at-home food delivery service partnered with Martha Stewart to help harried families discover their inner Martha. The partnership gives Marley Spoon access to Martha's archive of over 18,000 tried-and-true recipes to feature in their meal kits. They promise quality purveyors offering grass-fed beef, Berkshire pork, American-caught shrimp and artisanal cheeses. The menu features 22 choices every week and the website tags meals as family-friendly, under-30 minutes, gluten-free and other categories.
Favorites include: chicken fajita bowl, bacon-wrapped skillet meatloaf and lemon-brown butter salmon. The website provides big, colorful step-by-step photos for careless cooks and kids who want to help. Also, the blog offers great tips and ideas, like what to do with lentils, immune-boosting foods and Martha’s easy Oscar party snacks. The family kit feeds four adults, so will easily feed two adults and two kids.
Cost: Families can choose two meals a week ($76), three meals a week ($106.80) or four meals a week ($131.20). Delivery is free.
Freshly is a weekly subscription service delivering fresh (not frozen), chef-cooked meals that can be heated and served in 3 minutes. Unlike meal kits, all you need is a microwave, fork, and plate (optional!) to get a satisfying lunch or dinner on the table. Think “nutritionist meets personal chef” vs. TV dinner when it comes to quality and flavor.
With a food philosophy centered on less sugar, less processed and more nutrients, the menu features better-for-you versions of comfort foods with smart ingredient swaps. For example, Chicken Parm is coated in almond flour vs. bread crumbs and topped with marinara sauce sweetened with honey instead of refined sugars; Mac and Cheese is made with brown rice pasta and cheesy sauce blended with a purée of cauliflower and butternut squash; and Turkey Meatballs are packed with mushrooms and served over zoodles for a lower-carb alternative to pasta.
Cost: Customers can order 4 meals ($11.50/each), 6 meals ($8.99/each), 9 meals ($8.99/each) or 12 meals ($7.99/each) weekly.
With a newly-expanded menu and new Family Plan, HelloFresh is better than ever these days. Their goal is to bring the fun of cooking back into people’s lives by doing all the planning, portioning and shopping for in-season, sustainably-sourced, healthy and flavorful ingredients. HelloFresh prides itself on its delicious recipes with quick cook times; all your chopping, zesting and sautéeing will take less than 30 minutes. Meal plans available are meat and vegetables, vegetables, family-friendly and low calorie.
With the debut of HelloFresh Wine and their online marketplace that sells curated kitchenware, their portal is a one-stop shop for even more of your shopping needs (or wants).
Cost: Meals $8.99/serving. Delivery is free for all orders.
Farmbox offers various size boxes packed with seasonal, farm-fresh fresh fruits and vegetables to your door. You select the shipment size and customize your box, and check your doorstep for easy monthly deliveries.
Say goodbye to grocery shopping, meal planning and prep, and all that cleanup! Gobble shops, chops and delivers gourmet three-step recipes for one-pan cooking with zero prep required. How about picky eaters? Try Pan-Seared Sirloin Steak with Roasted Fingerling Potatoes & Béarnaise Sauce or Crispy Chicken Sandwich & Napa Cabbage Slaw with Caraway Vinaigrette. What have you got to lose when it's just a one-pan cleanup?
Cost: Prices start at $11.99/dinner and $5.99/lunch
How about 100% plant-based, organic, non-GMO, chef-prepared entrees, soups, and juices that just show up at your front door whenever you want them to? Then look no further than this healthy bunch (bonus: they deliver nationally, too).
There are no, zero, zilch animal products of any kind, here, ever! Chick'n Nuggets with chipotle dipping sauce complete with veganaise will do the trick every time for your kiddos and no one will miss the meat. Veestro food is available a la carte, in full-on Meal Packs, and they also carry a surprisingly delicious weight loss menu plan. As with most vegetarian cuisine: most meals have nuts in them so be careful with a nut allergy, but all meals are completely dairy-free and don't contain other allergens.
If gluten is your family offender, they carry a special pack called The Gluten-Free Feast which comes swiftly to your home via a chilled FedEx box and includes an assortment of gluten-free breakfasts, lunches, dinners and two desserts: gluten-free chocolate chip cookies and "cheezcake"!
Cost: $35 minimum food order, packages start at $99; free shipping for orders totaling $199
When it comes to feeding families, One Potato has got you covered. Co-founder Catherine McCord's best selling Weelicious recipes are the basis of the One Potato meals. There's nothing fussy here—the organic, non-GMO ingredients come pre-chopped, pre-measured and ready to get from box to table in no time. Each recipe will be ready in less than 30 minutes, which makes weeknight meals a cinch.
One Potato understands that not every family has two adults and two kids so they offer plans for two to six servings per meal. By indicating how many children are in your family, you'll receive kid-sized portions (about half of an adult-sized portion) for them. Choose two or three meals to be delivered per week, or skip that week if you'll be out of town.
Each week you have eight meal options to choose from—five rotating Seasonal Favorite and three constant Family Favorites. Vegetarian, nut-free and gluten free meals are available. The included recipe cards are super easy to follow and kids will love getting involved in the cooking process by following along with the photos. Have them brown the ground beef for tacos or prep the par-cooked potatoes for French fries. The recipe cards provide tips for getting the kids involved in cooking.
Cost: Plans vary from $7.32-12.95/serving. The more servings you purchase, the lower your per serving cost will be.
