Q: Where should I order family meals?

As a food fairy (our preferred name for our profession), we get this question often.

What to cook for dinner and how to feed your family (everyday, forever) is a query that stumps even the most brilliant people, everywhere. We found that most people don’t actually mind the cooking, but struggle with the planning and prep, and rely on a formula: family favorites a few nights, pizza and/or takeout another night, perhaps some leftovers the next. And, while menu planning sites (ahem, ahem) and meal kits can play a role in alleviating planning and prepping, many of you are still searching for help a few nights a week. Perhaps you’re trying to reduce your pizza or takeout consumption, or you’re looking to stock your freezer with a few emergency meals. Or, you’d like to send meals to friends or family during a recovery or illness. We’ve listed our faves below, but sound off in the comments if you have other ideas!

Ipsa Provisions

Backed by Tom Colicchio, Ipsa was founded by two friends and chefs who love to eat well, but were frustrated by convenient, weeknight options. In their hunt to put an easy but delicious meal on the table, they stumbled on an old friend: the freezer. After launching in the New York area, Ipsa now delivers delicious (and nutritious!) frozen meals to 25 states. Simply fill your cart, set your delivery date, and follow Ipsa’s easy reheating and serving instructions.

WeCo Hospitality

Available in Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, WeCo - and their sister company - Makings - delivers ready-to-eat meals on a weekly basis. Though their price point is higher than Ipsa’s, WeCo is still less expensive than takeout, and their wide-ranging offerings appeal to even the pickiest palettes. Plus, we love their focus on sustainability, minimizing food waste, and community.

William’s Sonoma

Everyone’s familiar with this kitchen and homeware brand, but not everyone knows they offer fully prepared, frozen meals that can be shipped throughout the country. Though a bit heavy for everyday, we like to send these meals to loved ones experiencing a tough time and in need of some culinary comfort, or new mamas who need plenty of calories but don’t have time to cook. They also offer holiday specialty items, in case you’re looking for some shortcuts throughout the season.

Daily Harvest

Originally founded as a smoothie delivery company, Daily Harvest expanded to meals several years ago, and now has options for any time of the day. Think grain and harvest bowls, soups and flatbreads, as well as snacks and beverages. Though they cater to a specific palette, Daily Harvest is a great option for people trying to incorporate nutrient dense, plant based options into their daily diet. For more plant-based options, take a look at Sakara Life and Thistle.

Provenance Meals

Based in New York but offering weekly delivery nationwide, Provenance Meals provides gluten and dairy free ready-to-eat meals. They also cater to specialty diets, including vegan, vegetarian, and paleo. Pricing is middle of the road, and both family-sized and individually portioned dishes are available.

Hungry Root

Part online grocery store, part meal delivery company, Hungry Root offers meals tailored to a variety of diets and palettes. Their onboarding process is a bit onerous - you have to complete a lengthy questionnaire about how and what your family likes to eat - but once that’s complete, you receive weekly grocery, recipe, and meal recommendations based on your preferences.

Your farmers market

Your local farmers market likely offers more than just fresh produce and good vibes; we’ve found them to be a great source of frozen and prepared meals. As you might expect, offerings change with the seasons, but you can generally find a variety of soups and sauces, Mediterranean dishes like eggplant parm and spanakopita, as well as pastas and prepared meat dishes like meatballs or meatloaves.