Growing meal prep industry

13 Action News Anchor Ross DiMattei looks at a meal option that save some time and money.

QUARANTINE -- AMERICANS HAVEBEEN COOKING MORE MEALS AT HOME-- AND THAT COULD BE LEAVINGYOU WITH A BIGGER BILL AT THEGROCERY STORE.13 ACTION NEWS ANCHOR ROSSDIMATTEI JOINS US LIVE -- WITHANOTHER OPTION THAT COULD HELPYOU SAVE SOME MONEY - WHILEFEEDING YOUR FAMILY.ROSS?IN JUST 8 YEARS -- FOODSUBSCRIPTION SERVICES HAVEBECOME A POPULAR ALTERNATIVE TOTRADITIONAL GROCERY SHOPPING.AND NOW -- THERE'S AT LEAST ADOZEN MEAL KIT COMPANIESOPERATING HERE IN THE VALLEY.I TALKED TO ONE LOCAL MOM WHOMADE THE SWITCH.SHE SAYS IT'S SAVED HER A BUNCHOF MONEY -- AND BROUGHT HERFAMILY CLOSER TOGETHER.(NATS COOKING IN KITCHEN) AS ABUSY MOM TRYING TO COOK DURINGTHE COVID-19 QUARANTINE --BONNIE TOTH KNOWS THE GROCERYSTORE STRUGGLE.SPENDING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARSAND AS MUCH AS HALF HER DAYSHOPPING FOR FOOD -- JUST TOHAVE TO MAKE SEVERAL RETURNTRIPS LATER IN THE WEEK.SOT: 3:37-:44 WE WERE REALLYTRYING TO LOOK AT OUR BUDGETAND FIGURING OUT WHERE WE COULDCUT AND WHEN I REALLY REALIZEDHOW MUCH MONEY WE WERE SPENDINGON FOOD, I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT.NOT TO MENTION THE NIGHTS WHENSHE'S JUST TOO TIRED TO COOK --AND GIVES IN TO THE NEARESTFAST FOOD DRIVE-THRU.SOT: 3:48-:56 I DIDN'T WANT MYKIDS GROWING UP THINKING THATEATING OUT OR EATING FAST FOODTHREE TIMES A WEEK WAS NORMALOR ACCEPTABLE BECAUSE IT'S NOTHEALTHY WHEN SHE COUNTED IT ALLWE WERE PAYING OVER $1000 AWEEK JUST TO EAT, WHICH ISINSANE.LIKE THAT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN HAHA SO INSTEAD -- SHE SUBSCRIBEDTO A FOOD SERVICE CALLEDE-MEALS -- ALLOWING HER TO PICKA MEAL PLAN THAT FITS HERFAMILY -- WITH THE OPTION TOGET HER GROCERIES DELIVEREDRIGHT TO HER DOOR -- SAVING HERTIME AND MONEY.SOT: 6:08-:13 THE AVERAGE USERSAVES ABOUT $2000 A YEAR ONTHEIR OVERALL GROCERY SPENDING.SOT: 13:17-:32 WHETHER YOU WANTTO EAT KETO, PALEO, LOW-CARB,LOW CAL, DIABETIC, KIDFRIENDLY, WE HAVE A FOOD STYLETHAT FITS JUST ABOUT EVERYLIFESTYLE GOAL, EVERY DIETGOAL, EVERYTHING YOUR FAMILYCOULD WANT NOT ONLY HAS IT CUTHER GROCERY BILL BY MORE THAN50 PERCENT -- TOTH SAYS IT'SBRINGING HER KIDS INTO THEKITCHEN -- TO COOK NEW FOOD ANDSAMPLE NEW FLAVORS.SOT: 6:20-:25 IT TURNS OUT MYDAUGHTER LOVES SALMON AND INEVER WOULD'VE COOKED SALMONBECAUSE I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DOIT 8:52-:00 I WOULD NOT SWITCHBACK.I LIKE THE VARIETY, I LIKETHAT WERE EATING NEW THINGS, ILIKE THAT I DON'T HAVE TO THINKABOUT IT.

IT'S DONE.NOT ALL MEAL PREP COMPANIES ARECREATED EQUAL.SOME, LIKE E-MEALS, ALLOW YOUTO SHOP FOR THE RAW INGREDIENTS-- WHILE OTHERS PREPARE ENTIREMEALS FOR YOU AND ALL YOU HAVETO DO IS HEAT THEM UP.IF YOU'RE INTERESTED -- WE'VEPOSTED A FEW HELPFUL LINKS ONOUR WEBSITE ATKTNV-DOT-COM-SLASH-REBOUND.LIVE IN THE STUDIO, RD, 13ACTION NEWS.IN THE MIDDLE OF THEPANDEMIC...A FOOD TRUCK OWNER IS CHOOSINGTO HELP OTHERS MAKE ENDS