REVIEW: TRADING MY MEAL KITS FOR FEAST & FETTLE

Like never-ending laundry, meal planning, prep and cooking are constant, unrelenting chores. I’ve tried a lot of solutions to ease the burden: quick crock pot meals (simple enough but too many leftovers that go bad in the fridge), meal kit subscriptions (complicated recipes with a ton of steps and cleanup), and the fallback takeout (expensive, salt-laden, and unhealthy). So I was pretty stoked to have the opportunity to try Feast & Fettle, a New England–based service that hand prepares meals and delivers them to your home.

After selecting entrees and sides from a weekly menu, an insulated, chilled package of delicious meals arrived on our doorstep. Another huge plus: you leave the insulated bag and freezer packs out for your driver to pick up when they deliver your meals the following week. (I always had so much guilt over the amount of waste from my meal kits, including the huge cardboard box, plastic wrap and freezer bags I had to simply throw in the trash.)

The bag also included an order form with personalized heating instructions for our selections. Everything heats in less than 10 minutes either in the microwave, on the stovetop, or in the oven. I chose the four entrees with six sides plan, and it was plenty of food to last us most of the week. Portions are generous, so we had enough leftovers to enjoy for lunch, or to repeat our favorite side with another entree. The salads are huge, and I enjoyed making them for lunch throughout the week, paired with a protein like the classic skirt steak.

Preparing everything was insanely easy. Since I am dish-averse, I typically selected the microwave route, and everything can be heated directly in the container they arrive in. (I threw the plastic containers in the dishwasher when we were done and am saving them for Thanksgiving leftovers!) For things I enjoy crispier — like the harissa chicken legs above — I popped everything in the oven on a foil-lined pan. I typically heated a meal for my husband and I to enjoy together, but we also loved the options of customizing our sides. I’m a sweet potato gal and he prefers white, for example.

Now to the most important part: taste. Everything tasted fresh and home cooked — I never felt that bloated feeling that comes after an evening of salty takeout Chinese or pizza. But that’s not to suggest the food was bland! Meals were well seasoned with unique extras beyond the typical meat-and-potatoes you might expect (though you can get staples every week like chicken breast, skirt steak, and bakery items).

I really enjoyed everything I ordered, but some of my favorites were the classic pot roast, baby yams with cinnamon crema and peanuts, and Southwest beef and roasted vegetable casserole. I also had fun creating meals with the mix-and-match side and entree options. I served the sausage, pepper and onion sauté over creamy parmesan polenta and it was 10/10. Hubby’s favorite of the week was the pesto risotto, and our picky toddler even enjoyed some as well.

Feast & Fettle will definitely be a go-to for us when we need a break from cooking, and I love that everything is New England–based and locally prepared. Want to give them a try? Visit feastandfettle.com and enter the code WELCOME25 for $25 off your first week.

This post is sponsored by Feast & Fettle, but all opinions are my own.