Meal delivery diets have become increasingly popular in the last decade, and these days you can find a program for even the pickiest of eaters! While there’s no doubt that meal delivery can be incredibly beneficial for time-strapped people in this fast-paced world, this weight loss method has drawbacks as well. Here is a look at some of the pros and cons of meal delivery diets.
Pros
- They don’t require cooking skills.
Many people are put off by the idea of weight loss because they don’t have the cooking skills to create the nutritious meals a healthy diet can call for. However, with meal delivery diets, you don’t have to worry about that, since all the cooking is already done for you! These sorts of plans will probably require you at least be somewhat familiar with a microwave, but that’s still much easier than preparing a meal from scratch. - They can save time.
Another complaint of would-be dieters is that there simply isn’t enough time in the day to eat healthy. While the argument that you simply have no time whatsoever for healthy meals is probably an exaggeration, it’s understandable that you don’t want to add any unnecessary activities or stress to your already-busy life. If that’s the case, meal delivery diets may be the weight loss solution for you. With them, you’ve always got a nutritious and delicious meal ready for you without all the prep time involved in cooking. - They can help you practice portion control.
If you have problems knowing when to put the fork down, a meal delivery diet may be a good way to help you regain control of your eating habits. Each meal used in programs like these has specific and healthy portion sizes, so that you don’t have to worry about measuring them out yourself. On a meal delivery diet, the risk of overeating is all but eliminated. - They don’t require nutritional knowledge.
Dieting on your own requires that you have at least a working knowledge of nutritional concepts like calories and macronutrients. However, learning all this new information isn’t feasible for some people. Thankfully, with meal delivery plans, none of that knowledge is necessary. Each meal has been pre-portioned to be nutritionally balanced and calorically reasonable.
Cons
- They can be costly.
Most meal delivery diets come with a hefty price tag. While some varieties are less expensive than others, even the cheapest plans typically cost more than the money it would take to make these foods at home from scratch. Additionally, you may find that the more affordable meal delivery diets leave something to be desired in terms of tastiness. - They take the joy out of eating.
If you’re currently struggling with your weight, you probably don’t think that food is a very fun affair. However, as you begin to lose weight and get healthier, there’s a good chance you’ll learn to savor and enjoy the eating process more than you do right now. Unfortunately, you may miss this experience if you’re completely committed to the idea of meal delivery diets. These programs are rather rigid and can become boring over time, and in extreme cases may cause your social life to suffer—the fear of eating "off-plan" might cause you to cancel dinner dates or other engagements where non-diet food will be present. - They can mask an underlying problem.
If you’re turning to a meal delivery diet because you can’t control the amount you eat yourself, that’s an indicator that there are some serious underlying issues with overeating that may need to be addressed. While these programs can be a temporary fix for a problem like this, until you do some soul-searching, consider talking with a mental health professional, and really try to figure out what’s compelling you to eat so much, your troubles will persist.
