If you’re trying to eat well without spending hours in the kitchen or supermarket, you’re probably weighing up your options. Two of the most popular time-saving solutions in the UK right now are meal kits and grocery delivery services. Both promise convenience, but which one actually saves you more time and money?
Let’s break it down.
What Are Meal Kits?
Meal kits deliver fresh, pre-portioned ingredients and step-by-step recipes to your door. Services like HelloFresh, Gousto, and Mindful Chef have gained popularity for helping people cook healthy meals without the hassle of meal planning or grocery shopping.
Pros:
- Takes the guesswork out of what to cook
- Minimal food waste with pre-measured ingredients
- Helps you learn new recipes and improve cooking confidence
- Typically includes healthy, balanced meals
Cons:
- Limited to what’s on the weekly menu
- Usually takes 20–40 minutes to prepare and cook
- Cost per serving may be higher than grocery shopping
What Is Grocery Delivery?
Grocery delivery is your standard supermarket shop ordered online and brought to your home. Whether it’s Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Ocado or ASDA, you choose what you want and when you want it.
Pros:
- Full control over what you buy
- Can compare prices and hunt for bargains
- Better for batch cooking or feeding larger households
- More flexibility to stick to a budget
Cons:
- Requires meal planning and list making
- Higher chance of impulse buys
- Delivery slots can be limited or delayed
- Still need to prep and cook everything from scratch
Cost Comparison
Let’s say you’re feeding two people for five dinners per week.
- Meal Kits: Average £4.50–£6.00 per serving (includes delivery)
- Grocery Delivery: Can average around £3.00–£5.00 per serving if planned well, but prices vary based on items and store.
If you’re good at budgeting and cooking from scratch, grocery delivery can work out cheaper. But for many people, that extra pound or two per meal with meal kits buys time, structure, and peace of mind.
Time Comparison
- Meal Kits: Remove the need for planning, writing a shopping list, or store trips. You still need to cook, but prep is quick.
- Grocery Delivery: Saves time on the physical shop, but you still have to plan meals, navigate substitutions, and prep everything yourself.
Meal kits shine for time-strapped professionals or anyone who struggles with decision fatigue.
Our Verdict
If your priority is maximum flexibility and squeezing costs, grocery delivery has the edge. But if you value time, structure, and less stress, meal kits are worth the investment.
Ultimately, it depends on your lifestyle, cooking habits, and how much you value your evenings.
Want to compare the top-rated meal kits in the UK?