There’s nothing better than a freshly stocked kitchen full of food. And there is nothing worse than grocery shopping.
At the end of a long, hard day of somehow making it through adulthood without knowing how to meal plan, the last thing you want to do is be in a supermarket. It’s overstimulating, the paradox of choice is crippling, and you’re hangry as hell.
Luckily, the Internet has nearly figured out a way to make it so we never have to leave our homes again. Instead of Seamless-ing for the 80 millionth time, consider these snack and grocery alternatives.
Fair warning: It will require you to plan slightly ahead. But, think of how adult you’ll feel not waiting until the last minute!
1) Butcher Box
Butcher Box
Let’s start with your proteins. Butcher Box is a monthly subscription service that sends you 7 to 10 lbs of quality meats, including grass-fed beef, organic chicken, and heritage breed pork. You can choose a mixture of meats, or stick to just beef. The company is offering an exclusive $10 off to Daily Dot readers for a limited time. Just enter “dailydad” at checkout.
Price: $119 per box
2) Graze
Graze
For in between meals, Graze attacks hunger with snacks. This weekly subscription service caters to your palate. Upon first trial (which is free, by the way) you’ll fill out a survey with your most common snack cravings. The company sends healthy snacks that you might like based upon those answers.
Price: $11.90 per box
3) HelloFresh
HelloFresh
Instead of spending hours scouring Pinterest for dinner ideas, HelloFresh sends you healthy recipes weekly. You’ll receive three to five meals for two to four people, depending on your preference. Each meal comes with all the recipes you need, so dinner time is easy as pulling a box out of your fridge and following the directions. The meals take about 30 minutes to make and vegetarian and child-friendly options are available too Use the code “HF50SUMMER” for $50 off your first two meals.
HelloFresh
Price: $38+ per box
4) Boxed
Boxed
Most wholesale clubs require monthly to yearly fees just to shop there. Boxed offers competitive prices so you can stock up on bulk items without even leaving your home. They have everything from groceries to household essentials, like soap and toilet paper. Some orders (including your first) even include free shipping.
Price: $2.39+
5) Thrive Market
Thrive Market
The organic section is notoriously pricey in any grocery store. For an annual fee, Thrive grants access to all-natural, GMO-free products at wholesale prices, which is about 25 to 50 percent off the retail value. Thrive claims you will earn back your membership fee in groceries after $110 worth of purchases. You can try it free for 30 days. Even better, when you join, Thrive donates a free membership to a family in need.
Price: $59.98 per year
6) Mouth
Mouth
A lot of online services limit your selection to big box brands, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t tasty options for more adventurous palates. Mouth.com offers gourmet treats from independent vendors. They have monthly subscription services for snacks, coffee, booze, and more, but you can also order a la carte. Want a different box of pickles sent to your door each month? This is the place to get them.
Price: $4.40+
7) Gatheredtable
Gatheredtable
For those ready to tackle meal planning and overcome grocer-phobia, Gathered Table does all the hard work for you. It’s kind of like if Pinterest and Google Calendar had a baby. You set up dietary preferences and which days you want to cook and the service plans out meals for you, down to the recipe and day. If there’s something you don’t like, you can switch it with the hundreds of curated recipes available. Once you’re satisfied, you can select “create a grocery list” and instantly cut down shopping time. For an annual fee, you get access to all of this, plus coupons, and more, inevitably cutting down your yearly food budget.
Price: $72 per year
8) eMeals
eMeals
Like Gathered Table, eMeals also makes meal-planning easier, but caters more broadly on a friendlier budget. You’ll fill out a profile that features how many you’re cooking for, dietary restrictions, and preferences, and receive seven dinner recipes each week.
Price: $58 per year
9) EatStreet
EatStreet
Sometimes, life gets too busy and you just have to succumb to takeout. That’s OK! EatStreet is a delivery service similar to Seamless, except you can earn rewards, like exclusive deals and coupons. The more you order, the more deals you’ll receive. The service is free, you just pay for your order.
Price: varies
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