prepared meal services (e.g. Freshly, Tovala, etc.)

[DaveinOlyWA]

My gadget-oriented son wants me to buy a dry/air fryer...to set on the kitchen counter.

I pointed out that the 35-year-old hi-end oven that was installed when the house was built has a CONVECTION OVEN setting, which...does...the...exact...same...thing...very efficientaly.

Marketing...sheesh.

Well, I like mine because it requires nearly no warm up time, smaller which means it uses less power and its ideal for 1-2 people servings and...well, it was on sale

[cwerdna]

Now, I get that many of you may be on a primary WFH schedule forever... many businesses have noticed the savings but getting an appliance to specifically cook meals is...weird. TBH; I enjoy getting away from home as much as possible even if its something mundane as picking up food to bring right back home to eat.

I agree it's goofy and unfortunate that one needs a special oven but supposedly the scanning of the QR codes tell it how long and when to steam, bake, broil, etc. I just skimmed https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/tovala-steam-oven-2nd-gen.

Due to meetings and being busy with WFH, on many work days, it takes way too much time to pop up of the house just to pick up some take out. And, there are only so many of those somewhat near home. It also gets pricey. I took advantage during an Amex Small Business promo where you would get $5 credit for every $10+ purchase at qualifying small businesses up to 5x (I think) which cut down on the cost. The closest Thai places for example are about 10 minute drives from home. So, I need to at least get ready to go, drive there and back then eat. There's another about 15 minutes from home.

I ended up ordering the Tovala oven last night and the earliest meal shipment for me will be 12/9. We'll see.

[coulomb]

Oilpan, please don't post things for the sole purpose of offending people.

Well, I thought it was hilarious. Perhaps my humor is odd.

[SalisburySam]

Oilpan, please don't post things for the sole purpose of offending people.

Well, I thought it was hilarious. Perhaps my humor is odd.

I too thought this was quite humorous and well-stated. Took no offense whatsoever and offense to others didn’t cross my mind. I felt bad for the deer but at least it was eaten and not just harmed.

[DaveinOlyWA]

Now, I get that many of you may be on a primary WFH schedule forever... many businesses have noticed the savings but getting an appliance to specifically cook meals is...weird. TBH; I enjoy getting away from home as much as possible even if its something mundane as picking up food to bring right back home to eat.

I agree it's goofy and unfortunate that one needs a special oven but supposedly the scanning of the QR codes tell it how long and when to steam, bake, broil, etc. I just skimmed https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/tovala-steam-oven-2nd-gen.

Due to meetings and being busy with WFH, on many work days, it takes way too much time to pop up of the house just to pick up some take out. And, there are only so many of those somewhat near home. It also gets pricey. I took advantage during an Amex Small Business promo where you would get $5 credit for every $10+ purchase at qualifying small businesses up to 5x (I think) which cut down on the cost. The closest Thai places for example are about 10 minute drives from home. So, I need to at least get ready to go, drive there and back then eat. There's another about 15 minutes from home.

I ended up ordering the Tovala oven last night and the earliest meal shipment for me will be 12/9. We'll see.

Well, I guess if the oven can be used to cook other things, it wouldn't be much more than adding another appliance. Interested in hearing your thoughts after you have done this for a month or so? I admit to not having investigated meal delivery services due to "perceived" cost but maybe I do need to do some comparisons. As far as takeout; I am a bargain hunter kind of guy and there are a lot of variety in the $13 and under category with many providing VERY large portions. It was always my impression that many of the prepackaged meals were on the small size for portions?

[SalisburySam]

Protein portions for HomeChef tend to run about 12 oz for two meals, plenty for us. BlueApron started out about the same then reduced over time. HelloFresh averaged about 10oz for two, a little skimpy for the money for me. In all cases, veggie portions were more than sufficient, and starches as well. During the initial stages of COVID-19 inactivity, we’d even get a third meal out of the meal for two and it made a decent lunch for one of us the next day.

YMMV, depending upon appetite, activity level, metabolism, etc.

[DaveinOlyWA]

Protein portions for HomeChef tend to run about 12 oz for two meals, plenty for us. BlueApron started out about the same then reduced over time. HelloFresh averaged about 10oz for two, a little skimpy for the money for me. In all cases, veggie portions were more than sufficient, and starches as well. During the initial stages of COVID-19 inactivity, we’d even get a third meal out of the meal for two and it made a decent lunch for one of us the next day.

YMMV, depending upon appetite, activity level, metabolism, etc.

Ok, that is what I "should" be doing but.... There is a teriyaki place a few miles away (was only 1.5 miles away before move) that has a lunch special that is AT LEAST 3 lbs and its $12 but that is a "higher" end place. Have another closer that is $7.95 lunch special with very good portions as well. I think I will investigate these options while Black Friday discounts abound and try one for a bit. I do need to reduce my portion size eventually. As I understand it, I am now too old to continue eating like I did in my 20's...

[GerryAZ]

Thanks to cwerdna's original post and link, I just took advantage of the "Black Friday/Cyber Monday" special to order the Tovala oven and a couple weeks of meals. I have been doing drive-through and take-out meals for lunch since WFH started in March. Living alone, I find that I waste a lot of food if I stock up the refrigerator with fresh food so this system should let me enjoy fresh meals easily without waste. I was concerned, but decided I could always freeze the meals if I need to go out of town on business with short notice. I set the meal delivery day for Friday each week in case I do leave town (because I almost always get home for weekends).

[cwerdna]

Ok, that is what I "should" be doing but.... There is a teriyaki place a few miles away (was only 1.5 miles away before move) that has a lunch special that is AT LEAST 3 lbs and its $12 but that is a "higher" end place. Have another closer that is $7.95 lunch special with very good portions as well.

I wish decent lunch specials were that cheap around me. Cost of doing business and living in Silicon Valley is high, so prices are high. (When I was last in NYC a few years ago, that place felt much more expensive than the Bay Area in terms of even fast food.)

One Thai place that I liked and is somewhat nearby is $13.99 for their lunch special for tofu, chicken or pork. For beef, prawns or fish, it's $14.99.

Another one that is slightly further doesn't even have any, so I could order a single entree which is a $12.95 to $15.95 but it wouldn't come w/rice, soup or and egg roll.

Another one that's much further lists their lunch special at $12.50 or $13.50 depending on the meat/protein. But, they told me their web site's menu is out of date w/old prices so they charge a higher one. I'm pretty sure their site's still not fixed.

[DaveinOlyWA]

Ok, that is what I "should" be doing but.... There is a teriyaki place a few miles away (was only 1.5 miles away before move) that has a lunch special that is AT LEAST 3 lbs and its $12 but that is a "higher" end place. Have another closer that is $7.95 lunch special with very good portions as well.

I wish decent lunch specials were that cheap around me. Cost of doing business and living in Silicon Valley is high, so prices are high. (When I was last in NYC a few years ago, that place felt much more expensive than the Bay Area in terms of even fast food.)

One Thai place that I liked and is somewhat nearby is $13.99 for their lunch special for tofu, chicken or pork. For beef, prawns or fish, it's $14.99.

Another one that is slightly further doesn't even have any, so I could order a single entree which is a $12.95 to $15.95 but it wouldn't come w/rice, soup or and egg roll.

Another one that's much further lists their lunch special at $12.50 or $13.50 depending on the meat/protein. But, they told me their web site's menu is out of date w/old prices so they charge a higher one. I'm pretty sure their site's still not fixed.

Actually the price mentioned is from Wok Teriyaki in Hawks Prairie. Their servings are insane. I usually get a combo plate which is all day price option and was expecting half servings of each and probably got ¾ servings of each. I could easily separate them into two meals so I normally will eat a late breakfast and then go there for mid afternoon meal and be good for the rest of the day. There are also a lot of places with ~$10 menus including a few at $8.95 limited lunch options as well.