Recipes

Recipe development and selection are vital components of a meal kit program, as they directly influence customer satisfaction, meal variety, nutritional value, and sourcing practices. Thoughtfully crafted and diverse recipes cater to different tastes and dietary preferences, ensuring an inclusive experience for participants. Well-balanced meals with clear instructions enhance the user-friendly nature of the program, making it accessible to individuals with varying cooking skills. Here are the key factors to consider:

• Sourcing

  Utilize seasonal ingredients to promote freshness, reduce costs, and support local producers. Partner with a local culinary arts program or nonprofit to access existing distributor networks. Whenever feasible, prioritize reputable and sustainable sources that uphold ethical practices, consider environmental impact, and maintain high-quality standards.

• Format of Recipes

  Create clear and easy-to-follow recipe cards with step-by-step instructions, ingredient lists, and cooking times. Visual aids can enhance comprehension. Set limits for the number of steps, ingredients and preparation time required for each recipe.

• Additional Resources

  Consider providing recipe videos or online tutorials to support participants with varying cooking skill levels and learning preferences. Limit the duration of the videos to two to three minutes and maintain the same order used in the recipe cards to avoid confusion and provide a seamless learning experience.

• Schedule of Recipes

  Plan a diverse and balanced menu that rotates regularly, keeping customers engaged and eager to try new dishes. Ensure the weekly schedules strike a balance, offering a diverse array of recipes, protein sources, and cuisines to avoid polarizing responses. Limit the number of weekly recipes to match the production team's capacity. 

• Types of Recipes

  Offer a variety of recipes, such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and family-friendly recipes, to suit different dietary preferences. Include a range of protein sources like meat, poultry, fish, legumes, and tofu, and integrate recipes inspired by different cuisines to add cultural appreciation and menu diversity. 

• Nutritional Value

  Prioritize nutritionally balanced recipes, incorporating a mix of micro- and macronutrients. Establish clear guidelines that all recipes must meet before being included in the program, to ensure that participants receive wholesome and well-rounded meals.

• Cost

  Strive to offer affordable options by considering the overall cost, balancing premium ingredients with budget-friendly choices. Pair recipes with similar ingredients to leverage bulk discounts and minimize food waste whenever feasible. Establish a budget for each recipe to ensure affordability and ensure continued program feasibility; this allows participants to reuse or supplement the recipes as needed while considering the program’s budget and reach targets.

• Packaging

  Ingredient and kit packaging should minimize waste, maintain freshness, quality, and food safety, and provide clear, consistent labeling that matches ingredient names with recipe cards. These factors collectively enhance the user experience, promote food safety, and simplify the meal preparation process. Program meal kit structure was consistent from week to week with ingredient packaging varying based on quantity and the original packaging of ingredients.

• Participant Feedback

  Prior to program implementation, collect feedback on recipe acceptability through a focus group. Throughout the program, consistently gather and analyze customer feedback to enhance recipe selections and adapt to evolving preferences. 

By carefully considering these factors, a meal kit program can curate a well-rounded selection of recipes that meet the needs and preferences of a diverse customer base, while also ensuring nutritional value, seasonal variety, and cost-effectiveness.

Slice and Spice Program Recipes

The meal kit program included three recipe types (vegetarian, seafood, and meat/poultry) per week. Each recipe had a recipe card and a corresponding video tutorial and met study-specific nutrition guidelines developed based on the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.