I Tried Cook It Meal Kits: My Review (and Promo Code!)
This is not a sponsored post! If you use my referral link (code HEATHERA542) you will receive 50% off your first box and I will receive some rewards on my Cook It account.
The past few months I have felt very uninspired in the kitchen. Always making the same meals and never motivated to seek out new recipes. I found myself ordering delivery way more often than usual, or opting for making frozen pizza instead of a real meal. This was taking a toll on my bank account and my health.
I believe in finding solutions that fit my lifestyle as it is rather than forcing change. I knew I needed something that was both convenient and budget friendly. After lots of research, I finally decided to try Cook It meal kits!
What is Cook It?
Cook It (or Chef Cook It) is a Montreal-based subscription meal kit service that delivers pre-portioned food ingredients and recipes to prepare homecooked meals (if you’ve heard of HelloFresh and GoodFood box, this is the same idea). Every week, Cook It ships you a box of ingredients to cook your own meals. Each meal comes with a recipe card and all the ingredients for that meal are packaged in one bag. The recipes have clear instructions and include nutritional information. You choose the number of recipes and portions you want every week, and you can customize what you receive. You can skip weeks and swap recipes, and the subscription can be canceled at any time.
Cook It is available in most of Eastern Canada (Quebec, Ontario, Maritimes), and you can choose which day your box is delivered every week. Check out the delivery zones here.
What I like: Portion Size
I will be honest: my husband and I eat a lot. I am a distance runner, and he is… well, a large man who also exercises a lot. We were nervous that what a brand may define as “one portion” would not be enough to satisfy our massive appetites.
We were pleasantly surprised!
We have been on the 3 recipe per week, 4 portions per recipe plan and have been very happy with the result. Making 4 portions of each recipe means that we have enough food for both of us to have dinner and leftovers for lunch. The portioning is consistent from recipe to recipe. Some of the meals actually have us feeling stuffed, which is rare in this household.
What I like: Local Ingredients
Another factor that set Cook It apart for me was that this Quebec company prioritizes sourcing ingredients from smaller local producers. According to their website, at least 50% of the ingredients in each box are local and in season. There is also a “Pantry” where you can select Quebec products like ranging from fruits and vegetables to granola to cleaning products. If you rack up enough Cook It “stars” (rewards for ordering boxes or reviewing recipes), you can add pantry items to your box for free!
What I like: Plant-Based Options
The biggest factor that has kept me from trying meal kits in the past has been the lack of good vegetarian and vegan options available. I have been vegetarian since 2013, and in the last few years have been leaning towards a plant-based diet. I felt like most meal kits relied on cheese as a main ingredient in vegetarian options, which was not what I wanted long-term.
I was excited to see that Cook It had recipes with tofu, seitan, lentils, and other legumes as protein sources. Most weeks there are a couple completely vegan recipes – they do not flag these specifically, but you can click through each recipe for a list of ingredients. If you are following a strictly vegan diet, there are recipes where the only ingredient to swap is mayonnaise or sour cream, which works well for me. We certainly end up eating cheese some days, but I am happy to have a balance.
What I don’t like: Packaging
The convenience of pre-portioned ingredients comes at one obvious cost: every ingredient comes in its own package. The spices come in tiny plastic bags, the sauces come in plastic containers, and the recipes are grouped together in large plastic bags. This is the part of meal kits that will always be an issue to me. The saving grace of Cook It meal kits is that the packaging is 100% recyclable, including the ice packs (which have 100% biodegradable materials inside).
Cook It has a program called the “Sustainable Kit” which is available only in Montreal. The meal kits are delivered by bicycle and the ingredients come in reusable packaging that is returned each week. Unfortunately, the program has been suspended due to COVID-19, but I am hoping that it is reinstated soon! Read more about their mission to sustainable development here.
All the ingredients for each recipe are in one plastic bag. This keeps things organized, but adds to the plastic waste of this meal kit.
What I don’t like: Price
The other cost of convenience is, well, the cost. Cook It meals cost between around $7 and $11 per portion, depending on the number of recipes and portions you order. The more you buy, the cheaper the price per portion. This is more expensive than buying groceries, but does save the time required for planning and shopping. Plus, no food waste.
You can use my referral link to receive 50% off your first box. Remember that you can cancel any time!
Is it worth it?
The question we always ask! The term “worth it” is so subjective that there really is no answer. What’s worth it to me and what’s worth it to you are two totally different things.
For me, the convenience of not having to plan my meals, go grocery shopping, and research new recipes (or become bored making the same thing every week) is worth it. Especially knowing that the ingredients are locally sourced. The recipes are quick – usually around 30 minutes all-in – and the prep is very simple.
With the discount on the first box, it’s definitely worth trying. You get to decide it the convenience factor is enough to offset the price.
Curry cauliflower bowl with herbed couscous with sumac, hummus and fresh vegetables.