The meal kit delivery services are growing in popularity and a University of Illinois Nutrition Educator has an upcoming program that highlights the pros and cons of these meals.

Caitlin Mellendorf is a nutrition educator at the University of Illinois Extension in DeWitt, Macon, and Piatt Counties and indicates these are very convenient for the experience of cooking and minimizing the time it takes to prepare these meals.

Consider portions of these meal kits. One of the benefits of these programs is the reduction in food waste. Mellendorf encourages trying new things in these meal kits.

While delicious and there are lots of proteins and nutrients in these meals, Mellendorf notes one of the drawbacks of them is they are very high in sodium.

Additionally, while the kits are a great way to reduce food waste, they are only increasing the food packaging waste with the plastics and cardboard and ice packets they ship in. Mellendorf also notes while you are reducing food preparation time, you are paying for that.

If a meal service is something you've been considering, Mellendorf encourages giving it a try and seeing how you like it. 

This will be a program the Extension writes for the Illinois Association for Home and Community Education and its members.