Aside from the total shop/prep/clean time needed, one must consider the amount of time one has in a solid block. For myself, it would be very difficult to find two whole hours to get away from my toddler and go to a meal-prep store. I’d personally rather prep while he’s playing or napping or helping me, even if it means I do one or two prep tasks at a time, over the course of a day, until dinner time comes and I’m ready to cook. That’s admittedly a personal preference based on my current circumstances.

Looking at the meal options for both DreamDinners and Dinner and Dish, they’re mostly meat-centered entrees. Vegetables, which form a big part of my quasi-vegetarian lifestyle (some chicken and fish on occasion, but not always), don’t figure large in the make-and-take menus. For example, DreamDinners’ Pork Chops Dijon with Rice includes “Six lean, boneless pork chops marinated with Dijon mustard, garlic and herbs. Serve with steamed rice (provided) and your family’s favorite vegetable.” Presumably the vegetable isn’t provided, or it would be stated as such, like the rice. Again, their Autumn Pot Roast description says “Serve with your favorite fall vegetables [unspecified, presumably not included].” If I still have to buy, wash, trim, and chop vegetables, I need to add that in to the total meal prep time. (I’ll avoid the frightening thought of serving nothing but bagged, pre-scrubbed baby carrots every night.)

I’m going to try preparing twelve meals’ worth of food, vegetables and all, and let you know the results. Scientific? No. An excuse to play foodblogger for a day? Absolutely. YMMV.