Alternative to food delivery

[Anonymous]

Looking for some creative ideas. We both have demanding jobs and toddler at home. On Fridays we usually do Uber eats. However prices are absurd and I am looking to save that $500 we spend on the out.

I tried buying Costco premade meals and they were so salty. We eat healthy and are looking for your trusted ready to eat meal options.

Please don't recommend meal planning we usually don't want to eat that. Thank you

[Anonymous]

How about simply ordering online, directly on the restaurant's site, drive over, pick up food, and drive home. We've never used Uber Eats--always joking that I am the household uber eats delivery person!

[Anonymous]

Wegman's has ready to heat meals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looking for some creative ideas. We both have demanding jobs and toddler at home. On Fridays we usually do Uber eats. However prices are absurd and I am looking to save that $500 we spend on the out.

I tried buying Costco premade meals and they were so salty. We eat healthy and are looking for your trusted ready to eat meal options.

Please don't recommend meal planning we usually don't want to eat that. Thank you

Thoughts on paying some $500 to cook for you and freezer prep food instead? Little spoon meals for the kid and then do a charcuterie night for you two.

Or do Factor or Feast & Kettle trial. There are also plenty of smaller healthy food preppers who can do 3-4 nights and breakfast.

Meal prep doesnt have to be 5 nights of the same food but prepping meals is a requirement to eating healthy and not eating out.

[Anonymous]

Maybe try ... cooking? I had a demanding job and two toddlers and still ... cooked.

It isn't hard.

Also, the crockpot is your friend. Air fryer is a useful tool as well.

This isn't hard.

[Anonymous]

So just for Friday nights? Ordering direct from restaurant and picking up does help.

We have tried several options but always resort to just delivery on our nights off from cooking. It's actually easier and more pleasant to find cost savings elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So just for Friday nights? Ordering direct from restaurant and picking up does help.

We have tried several options but always resort to just delivery on our nights off from cooking. It's actually easier and more pleasant to find cost savings elsewhere.

Most restaurants don't have a direct way to order and divert to other sites. Where possible we do pick ups thanks

[Anonymous]

You mention Costco, why not grab their quinoa salad? It’s not salty and quite healthy. They have kale salad kit and others, and refrigerated soups - the souper girl one they now carry (2 pack) is much lower in sodium.

[Anonymous]

Easy. The alternative is home cooking.

[Anonymous]

Why not meal planning? It’s just…planning ahead but can be foods you would like to eat.

You need a list of quick meals you enjoy. Keep the list on a shared note with your spouse.

Scrambled eggs and toast with fruit
Pasta with jarred sauce and defrosted meatballs, bagged salad
Black bean quesadillas with salsa, frozen broccoli and corn on the side

Planning ahead helps you make plans like they: Make a crockpot chili on Sunday and heat it up with cornbread on Monday and then dump leftovers over baked potatoes on Tuesday (bake the potatoes Monday night while you’re bathing the kid).

You can’t save money unless you’re willing to work on this and be flexible.

[Anonymous]

Are you spending $500 a month just to do Friday night take out? That seems insane for 2 adults and a toddler. Are you picking really expensive restaurants? Ordering enough for leftovers (that makes it a tiny bit better)? Also, I have a hard time believe Costco premade food is saltier than standard restaurant fare.

If it's the delivery fees adding a lot, someone just has to order when they are leaving work and pick up on the way home.

This doesn't seem that difficult . . . .

[Anonymous]

We just pick up from the restaurant. Bonus: I check that our order is correct onsite before I leave. The one and only time I had a meal delivered to our house was during the pandemic and the order was wrong.

[Anonymous]

Folks, how did you survive before “Uber eats”?

You would pick up or get delivery directly from the restaurant.

Or cook yourself.

[Anonymous]

Rotisserie chicken with salad for you and raw veggies for kid?

I make a large batch of rice then divvy it up into smaller portions and freeze. When I need a quick side it goes in the microwave for a few mins.
You could do rice and beans. Serve with guacamole or whatever veggies you like really.
I don’t enjoy cooking.
Tonight I’m making ramen. I add extra water I’m putting carrots, broccoli, spinach , rotisserie chicken in it. It looks like pho. Dinner in less than 10 mins and relatively healthy.

[Anonymous]

Try Factor delivered meals. I think they are tasty. I also use wegman's prepared meals. I have not found the Costco ones to be too salty.