Like most people who cook at home, I can get stuck in a rut. Even though I enjoy the process, it’s too easy to stick with the handful of routine recipes that quickly come to mind. I also know that cooking at home is far more economical than going to a restaurant, by saving both money and excess calories—but it’s so much easier to go out. So what’s the alternative? As luck would have it, a couple of weeks ago I was invited to review a service named, Handpick Smart Groceries. What’s that mean? Handpick Groceries agreed to send me enough food and supplies for three meals for two, some creative recipes, and to sponsor this blog post in return for an unbiased review. How could doing that be anything but SMART?
If you’re like me, you haven’t heard of Handpick Smart Groceries before. Basically, they are a service that ships full-sized groceries directly from a grocery store to
your home as “meal kits.” Currently the service is only available in the state of California, though there are plans to expand to other states in the near future. But even if you don’t live in California, there are currently several other companies that offer a more expensive, but similar, alternative both here and other states.
Before I even start talking about my experience I think it’s important to consider the benefits of this type of food service. Probably most important is the fact that eating at home can be one of the most effective cost-savings steps people can make on a path to living a more simple and sustainable lifestyle. For example, as of July 2015, the USDA says that the average “moderate” weekly in-home food cost for a family of two is $137.00. Meanwhile, a survey by Zagat done in early 2015 shared that most of us eat out 4.5 times in the U.S., at an average cost of $39.40 per person, per meal. Assuming a person ate out once every day for a week, that amount (times two if you are a couple) adds up to $551.60! Obviously, a couple could save up to $400 per week by eating at home. If you’ve been wondering where your money goes, this could be the answer.
Other obvious reasons that eating at home can be beneficial is that the food quality is probably better, and there is far less calories involved. For example, the website infoplease.com reports that an average meal at home has 545 calories while an 
average fast-food meal of burger, fries and milkshake has a whopping 1,800 calories. Even if you try to eat at a healthier restaurant, JAMA Internal Medicine did a report in 2013 stating the average meal in the average restaurant in the U.S. contains 1,128 calories and 151% of recommended daily sodium. If any of us concerned about carrying extra weight, chances are good we are eating out to extreme.
So how did my experience with Handpick Smart Groceries go? First I selected the “Flavors of Asia Meal Bundle” because it sounded interesting and contained recipes of food I had always wanted to cook. I gave them my shipping address and when it arrived at my home it was wrapped in a large box that was heavily insulated and contained ice packs. I was impressed with the packaging because I live in the very hot desert southwest, but the package arrived in perfect condition. Of course, I was able to bring it inside fairly quickly so that should be a consideration.
Over the following three nights I cooked one of each recipe exactly as the described. Contained in my shipping box was 99% of 
everything necessary for the three menu items. I was impressed with the quality and freshness of both the produce and the meat. And although the recipes took slightly more time than indicated, they all were easy to follow on the enclosed menu cards. Not only was Thom impressed with my new found skill in the kitchen, the food provided tasted good and was an ample amount for leftovers the next day.
My takeaway from Handpick Smart Groceries were:
Pros:
- A fun way to try new recipes. Next time I’ll be even more creative and add to the recipes, now that I know what they are supposed to taste like.
- A convenient way to prepare an interesting home-cooked meal. Having the food show up on your doorstep can’t be beat! Anyone who is housebound or lives far from a grocery store is sure to benefit.
- Tasty alternatives to add to my menu base. Both Thom and I liked all three recipes, although I will probably only add the garlic chicken and the chicken chow mien to my rotating repertoire.
- Reasonable price. The same quality of food would be much more expensive in a restaurant. Note: There is a flat rate of $8 added to every box for insulated shipping.
- The variety of packages offer all types of meals, including one for vegetarians and an organic/grass fed meat option.
- Full sized groceries mean that they sent out full sizes of produce and a full bottle of both Hoisin Sauce and Sesame Oil. Now I have some for next time when I want to cook.
- No subscription required. Anyone can try one box and there is no other obligation.
Chicken Chow Mein (more like Chicken Lo Mein) our favorite.
Beef Lettuce Wraps
Garlic Chicken
Cons:
- My kit was slightly short of soy sauce. Luckily I had extra.
- The head of garlic that was shipped to me was partially unusable. Luckily I had some of my own.
- The meals I choose were a bit heavy so I chose to add a salad. We are big salad eaters so I had plenty of that in stock.
Finally I am very grateful to have been offered the opportunity to try the service and these recipes in particular. Currently Handpick Smart Groceries offers 10 different meal kits that each contain three recipes designed to use up all of the groceries to minimize wasted money and leftover ingredients. Prices start at $6 per meal/per person and go to $10.50. The recipes are easy-to-make and curated from trending recipes on food blogs and social media.
Will I do it again as a paying customer? I think so. I particularly want to try their “Farm To Table” offering organics and grass fed meat. While a savvy shopper may be able save even more money buy going to the store and buying things on sale, I believe a service like this an alternative for many of us who want to spice up our meals and save money in the process. Those benefits offer us another way to live SMART 365.
This post is sponsored by Handpick Smart Groceries but the review is solely my opinion of the product.
I’m a bit late to the party here….
the planned meals boxes sound like a great idea, especially for trying new foods. For me a bonus would be the recipe cards, an easy way to shop for the exact type and amount of ingredients next time you want to make that meal.
As far as returning the insulated boxes & ice packs etc, I’d recommend using them when you do your regular shopping, for the meat and dairy components, to keep things cold in the car until you get home.
Hi Rivier! What a great suggestion you had about the packing! As a matter of fact when I went shopping yesterday I used the insulated “bag”and stuck it inside one of my other shopping bags that is just thin material. Worked like a charm. If you ever try this service (or another one) let me know what you think. The recipe cards are an added bonus for sure! ~Kathy
I would love to give this a try.
Hi Sharon! Oh do give it a try once you get settled in your new house. I think it makes sense for anyone who has a really busy schedule and wants some new ideas for cooking in the future. And because I’ve been on their website a couple of times a coupon keeps popping up when I’m online. That’s an even better time to give them a try. ~Kathy
This sounds interesting. I’m wondering about the packaging and ice packs – are they returnable? I enjoy cooking and eating at home. I enjoy trying new recipes and often try one of the recipes in a home/lifestyle magazine that I receive monthly. I find I eat very seasonably. Right now there is a plethora of tomatoes. Now that fall is here, I’m thinking of slow-cooked meals and soups. I’m currently practising my “shop at home” mentality, using what’s in the freezer and on the shelves and choosing a recipe accordingly rather than picking a recipe and going to the store for the ingredients. I think a well-stocked pantry is essential for home cooking as well as a plan, not always as easily done as said.
Hi Mona! The packaging was basically the large box withe an insulated (removable) lining. Inside were several ice packs. I did not receive information about whether you could return the packaging but definitely will be reusing some of it again as much as possible to avoid waste and recycle what I can. Other than the shipping, all the other packaging was similar to what you would find in a grocery store. Good for you for cooking and eating at home as much as possible already. It sounds like this service would only add to your life if you were looking for some change of found yourself homebound for some reason. Having that well stocked pantry really is the key–but I find if I don’t use it that much then it also goes stale after a while. Finding a balance is ALWAYS smart! Thanks for your input on this. ~Kathy
Sounds like a really convenient service. I would def try it if it was offered in my area.
Hi Nancy! It IS convenient for sure. There are others available on the internet. Now that I’ve ordered through Handpick I’m getting several others show up on my FB newsfeed. Just click on one of them and you’ll get plenty of offers for sure! If you try one, let me know what you think. ~Kathy
This looks like a great service! I agree with you that eating out can be very wasteful (and waist-expanding) if done too often. My husband and I really prefer our own cooking anyway. I was curious about leftovers, but you seem to indicate that there will be plenty. I LIVE for leftovers… if we can get away with a night or two… or three of not cooking, I’m very happy.
I like that they offer several options. And, because we live in California, we just may check them out!
Thanks for the SMART review.
Hi Janis! Yes, I am always amazed at how many people I know who eat out all the time. While I enjoy it now and then, I actually prefer having people over and cooking even in a social situation. And yes, there is a good chance they selected me to write a review for them based upon my SMART name. 🙂 You should give them a try if curious. The nice thing is there is no subscription. You can order one box without further obligation. I like that. ~Kathy
No fair! Bring this fabulous service to Dallas!
Hi Tam! Oops! So sorry they aren’t in Texas yet. They do hope to expand soon and if they do I promise to let you know. ~Kathy
This was great information Kathy. I have been interested in trying something like this also. I love to cook but do tend to get in a “rut” as well.
My kids, who both work and live in SF use “Blue Apron”, another similar service, all the time. They love it and keep telling me I should try it too. They appreciate many of the same qualities of the service they use. Ease, money savings versus going out, and more importantly for working couples like them, it makes it very simple for them BOTH to share the responsibility of meal preparation.
I may just give it a try! Thanks again for the review.
Hi Kathleen! Oh good. Glad to hear you might give it a try. If you do please let me know what you think of it. They’ve added three or four new “kits” since I ordered mine and now I’m even more curious. And yes, I can only imagine how helpful this would be to those who both work AND have kids too! Definitely worth slipping in there now and again. ~Kathy
Oh Kathy let me count the ways that I would love to have this service in my life! As a caregiver who is housebound getting to the grocery store can sometimes be a major ordeal and going out to eat is nearly impossible, but this is amazing. I hope they add more states to their lists (like SC!) I’m like you I don’t like to spend a lot of money eating out, but I get so sick of cooking the same old things. I tried to tweet but the message said “It’s not you…the link appears to be broken and an error 400” I shared on Google+ and on my Facebook page as well! Great review!
Hi Rena! Yes, I enjoyed the opportunity to share this info with others merely because I was curious about it myself. Even though I don’t think I would use it every day–I do believe it is a great option for some people–especially for anyone who is housebound. They hope to expand across the U.S. sometime soon so if I hear I will let you know. And I’m not sure why it’s not showing up on twitter or the others. Is anyone else reading this having trouble? I was able to do all my links to the article with absolutely no problem. I will do my best to look but not sure what to do it fix it. Thanks for at least trying Rena! ~Kathy
Great idea, beats shopping everyday for fresh ingredients and they make the decision for you on what you are going to make. However, I like to shop for fresh foods and get ideas at the market. Not that I do it the European way all the time, only occasionally. But I don’t have a freezer and a large refrigerator so shopping at least weekly is a necessity.
Hi Lydia! Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this. I do think it’s an interesting option for anyone who is too busy (or simply unable) to get out to shop. And for me the most fun was trying some recipes where they delivered all the necessary ingredients. I do happen to believe that a more healthy alternative is to shop “farm to table” or even grow my own as much as possible. But learning our options is also SMART. ~Kathy
Your prepared dishes look fabulous Kathy. I think this is a great service! I think it is great for those who want to brush up and challenge their cooking skills. As we get older we need to keep our brains sharp and learning new skills is a good way. What could be more fun then learning to cook some new meals?
Hi Haralee! Thanks for checking in and letting me know what you thought of this. It was definitely outside my usual type of post but I’d seen these advertised and was always curious about them. I do think it’s SMART to check things out so how could I not. And thanks or saying my food looked good. I know some bloggers do the food thing all the time but this was a first for us. We did have fun doing it and trying the new recipes. And we normally try to eat organic or at least grass-fed, that wasn’t one of my “trial options” but I am intrigued enough to try it in the future. Plus, if this can get people to eat at home more, I think that’s a SMART thing! ~Kathy