Over the past few years, you may have noticed an influx of new companies providing meal delivery services – offering ready-to-heat meals or recipe kits delivered right to your door. The global market for meal kit delivery services was valued at just over $15 billion in 2021 and is expecting significant growth over the next several years (1). This growth became magnified during the COVID-19 pandemic when most restaurants were closed, forcing folks to eat more meals at home. Plus, these services have gained popularity due to their many benefits, including:
Convenience – No need to spend time meal planning, grocery shopping, or devoting hours in the kitchen.
Health & Wellness – These pre-portioned meals are nutritionally balanced and generally heathier than other alternative options, such as dining out at a restaurant or preparing food at home.
Food Variety – Humans are creatures of habit and tend to eat the same foods over and over. A meal delivery service can bring out your inner foodie and allow you to try foods you’d normally never make at home.
To help customers live well, GNC has partnered with a meal delivery company called RealEats. RealEats delivers fresh and delicious meals in vacuum-sealed pouches that have been pre-cooked sous vide-style. All you do is heat up the food by placing the pouches in boiling water (or cook the food pouch-free in the microwave) – and you’ll have a delicious meal in just minutes. With so many different companies and options available, why should you choose GNC for meal delivery? Let’s dig in.
What Are The Different Types of Meal Delivery Services?
How do you choose a meal delivery service? One of the first things to consider is your preferred method of preparing and cooking the meals. There are two primary types of services:
1. Cook and Eat
These kits come with all the ingredients to make a specific meal. The ingredients are usually pre-cut, pre-washed, and pre-portioned for simplicity. You are responsible for cooking the meal at home by following a recipe card. From start to finish, meals can be prepared and served in about 30 minutes. This is a great option for those who enjoy cooking and learning new recipes. The majority of the market (over 60%) is comprised of businesses offering the “prepare and eat” option (1).
2. Heat and Eat
These meals are prepared by a chef or culinary expert and only requires you to heat up meals (usually in a microwave) in about 5 minutes. This segment is growing in popularity and expecting faster market growth compared to the cook and eat option (1). RealEats falls in this category because it doesn’t require any prep work.
How Does RealEats Stack Up Against Other Meal Delivery Services?
There are several factors that make RealEats rise to the top, here’s just a few:
Heat and Eat Meals In Minutes
– No need to follow a recipe or turn on your oven. Just place the vacuum-sealed pouches in boiling water or plate the food and heat in the microwave – and you’ll have a delicious meal in minutes.
Meals Prepared Sous Vide-Style, Locking in Flavor & Freshness.
RealEats meals are prepared by chefs sous vide-style, a method of sealing food in vacuum-sealed pouches and cooking it under controlled time and temperature conditions in a heated water bath. Compared to traditional cooking methods, this locks in flavor, freshness, moisture, and nutrients. o READ MORE: The Advantages of Sous Vide Cooking
Ability to Freeze Meals & Save For Later
RealEats meals always arrive fresh and refrigerated – never frozen. However, if you change your mind about a meal that week, just place in the freezer and save it for later. This ensures less food waste.
No Weekly Subscription Required
Looking for a low commitment option with flexibility? Unlike nearly every meal delivery service, GNC x RealEats does not require a weekly subscription. Just place an order by Thursday to receive it by the following Wednesday.
Meals Clearly Labeled For Health & Lifestyle Goals (ex. Protein Packed, Vegetarian, etc)
While some meal delivery companies offer goal-specific meals, it may be difficult to find. Who has time to sift through labels and nutrition facts panels? GNC x RealEats labels every meal and side dish with goals such as Protein Packed, Carb Conscious, Under 500 Calories, and Vegetarian.
Ingredients Sourced from Local Farms
Located in Geneva, New York, RealEats has partnered with local, independent farms where they source many of its fresh, seasonal ingredients.
Named Best Meal Delivery Service for Variety by Forbes
In a 2022 article, Forbes.com named RealEats the best meal delivery service for variety. That’s because RealEats offers wholesome meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and individual side dishes if you’re looking for something specific.
Easily Add-On Dietary Supplements
GNC has been the leader in health and wellness for over 85 years. GNC understands that living well involves a combination of eating nutritious foods and adding supplements to fill gaps in the diet. Now you can get both your food and supplements in one place with the simple click of a button.
Ready to try RealEats? Get more Real Eats Information to get started.
References
1 https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/meal-kit-delivery-services-market 2 https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-personal-shopper/2022/08/11/best-meal-delivery-services-prepped-meals/?sh=2b9f95656551
