The best meals for meal prep services contain a balance of flavors, nutrition, and simple cooking instructions. That’s why it’s so important to acquire bulk fish, meat products, grains, and produce from the best wholesale distributors. That’s if you want to sell some of the best meal prep services, of course!
Before you begin creating menus, you’ll have the option to source white or private label meal prep materials. While both have pros and cons, the brand’s success will truly boil down to the recipes. So, it’s vital that you offer the best options for mass production and nationwide distribution. To learn everything you need to know about the topic at hand, continue reading this blog post!
10 Best Meals for Meal Prep Companies
A little diversity across a meal kit provider’s menu types is ideal. From dietary restrictions to emerging food trends, there are numerous ways to spice things up from one week to the next. And whether you choose to sell frozen or fresh meal prep kits, the following ideas should produce top-selling options. Take a look for ten stellar ideas:
- Ready-to-Heat Soup. If there’s one type of meal that’s easier to prepare than anything else, it’s soup. Just store it in the fridge or freezer, keep heating instructions on the package, and heat when hungry.
- Penne and Vodka Sauce. Whether you go mild on the cream and vodka is up to you! Its versatility makes this dish so ideal for meal prep services. You can also allow customers to make upgrades by adding a protein source, like shrimp or chicken.
- Beef or Rice Stuffed Peppers. It’s always convenient when you can make a traditionally meaty meal into a vegan or vegetarian option. So, create the option for an inclusive best-seller.
- Smoked Salmon and Asparagus. Fresh Atlantic salmon and grilled asparagus is a match made in Heaven. Plus, it’s just as healthy as it is filling thanks to the salmon’s high omega-3 fatty acid content.
- Mushroom Risotto. An easy way to implement product differentiation within a meal prep business is to create vegetarian and plant-based choices. As a decadent yet savory dish, various types of chefs can get super creative with risotto.
- Teriyaki Chicken and Broccoli. Add robust flavors to your menu by offering this Japanese staple. Thanks to numerous recipes that use little to no sugar in the sauces, there’s even a possibility of making a low-sugar teriyaki glaze to accommodate certain dietary preferences.
- Spaghetti and Meatballs. As an Italian classic that’s loved around the world, you can't go wrong with spaghetti and meatballs. Plus, the ingredients are easy to acquire, since almost all pasta distributors carry spaghetti.
- Sausage, Peppers, and Onions. For those who are trying to cut back on carbs, this dish will serve as a great option. However, if you want to add some bread to the mix, all three ingredients pair deliciously with hoagie rolls.
- Pasta Primavera. One thing that’s nice about pasta primavera is that you can use different types of pasta depending on what you have available. Then, pairing it with olive oil and fresh produce loads each serving with vitamins and antioxidants.
- English-Style Fish and Chips. Fried cod pairs perfectly with fries, or “chips” as the British call them. Plus, this is a prime example of a dish that can be kept frozen and turn out delicious after heating it in an oven or airfryer.
Where to Buy Wholesale Meal Prep Necessities
It won’t be possible to offer the best meals for meal prep enthusiasts without the necessary materials beyond ingredients. You’ll have to invest in wholesale meal prep containers so that you can securely ship meals from your warehouse to customers.
Speaking of which, it’s also necessary to have ample meal prep shipping materials available. Insulated boxes, plastic wrap, packing tape, and ice packs will be the most vital items to keep in storage. This way, not a single meal will spoil while in transit. Food spoilage will inevitably lead to increased expenses and customer service inquiries, so taking precautions to prevent it is key.
To keep a close eye on the stock levels and status of recurring orders for these necessities, it’s helpful to use meal prep business software. An order management platform that can connect to wholesale directories will serve you better than anything else. Every transaction can take place within one app, organizing all restocks and payments.
Best Meal Prep Service Examples
There are numerous companies that achieve year over year success by selling meal prep services. If you’re learning how to start a meal prep business and need guidance for the meal prep business plan, we encourage you to take a look at what each of the following brands are doing right. Besides, they’ll be some of your strongest competitors within this niche market.
- Hello Fresh
- Green Chef
- Home Chef
- Factor 75
- Dinnerly
- EveryPlate
- Blue Apron
Don’t let the social presence and financial success of these brands deter you. While they make up a large portion of the meal kit market, there are always growth opportunities to leverage. After conducting market research and identifying gaps among industry-wide product offerings, it’s possible for a new business to rise to the level of those on the list above.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Meals for Meal Prep
The best meals for meal prep subscription services are truly endless. There are countless ways to mix and match ingredients to create dishes that stand out from competitors. However, there are a few commonalities across the board. Let us help you answer some of the popular questions about meal prep kits below!
Which Are Not the Best Meals for Meal Prep Services?
Meals that aren’t the best for meal prep services to sell are things that can expire quickly. This description may seem vague, but includes more than you might think. For instance, dishes made with a lot of cream or eggs can expire rather quickly.
It’s also important to limit the amount of seafood you use if you’re cooking it in advance. That’s because certain types of shellfish like crab and shrimp might not taste as good when you reheat it.
How Many Meal Kits Should You Prepare At a Time?
It’s typically safe to prepare anywhere from five to seven meals at a time for one person. That’s why so many meal prep services and guidelines revolve around one-week meal plans. Besides, storing food in the refrigerator for any longer than seven days can put it at risk of spoiling or losing its quality.
What Is a Healthy Meal Prep Plan for the Week?
A healthy meal prep plan is one that contains a solid balance of protein, fats, and grains. A classic meal to prepare in advance or sell in subscription boxes is a protein source like beef or chicken, with two sides–a vegetable and a potato. One of the greatest selling points that provokes people to meal prep is the ease of consuming a more balanced diet. Achieve this by pairing healthy servings of each food group.
Are Refrigerated or Frozen Meal Prep Kits Better?
Frozen meal prep kits are more versatile than fresh options, since certain ingredients may not be cooked already. As a result, the consumer may not be reheating items that are better when served fresh out of the oven. Plus, fresh meal kits have a much shorter shelf life. Therefore, they don’t always serve as convenient meals like frozen options do.
How Many Meals Should a Meal Prep Service Offer Weekly?
A meal prep service provider should offer a minimum of five choices each week. The main difference between them all should be the protein source–beef, chicken, seafood, and a vegetarian option. Depending on the brand’s resources, it might also be valuable to offer a gluten and dairy free dish among these options.
The Best Meals for Meal Prep Companies Start With Great Ingredients
Creativity and thoughtfulness are certainly important factors when creating a meal prep menu. However, nothing will guarantee delicious and nutritious meals like the best ingredients. Carefully shop from a wholesale directory and be mindful of how you store ingredients. Then, you can make the best versions of our suggested dishes and beyond!