Best Meal Delivery Services for Busy Parents

Once upon a time you had date night and dined on restaurant-quality food. Those times may be few and far between these days, but Plated tries to solve that problem. Each week they put out a new menu of dishes designed by chefs that take less than an hour to prepare and are worthy of date night or simply for any weeknight you can muster up the energy to cook. The company also prides itself on minimal waste and donates all leftover food for the week to a food bank. Plus, they use locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. The prep time and dietary type (vegan, dairy free, etc.) is always listed along with the calorie count so parents can make choices that work for them. In no time you’ll be whipping up dishes like a vegetable hot pot with tofu or tilapia tacos with corn salsa and pickled onions.

How it works: Choose from the weekly meal selections. You can pick dinners daily or only two times a week if you don’t plan to cook that often. A membership gets you auto delivery and a price break.

Cost: Most dishes cost $15 a serving; $12 if you become a member.

Delivery area: Every state except Alaska, Hawaii, Montana and Wyoming

Online: plated.com