The Ultimate Review of WeCook Meals: Is it Worth the Cost?
As a busy young professional living alone, finding time to grocery shop and cook healthy dinners feels nearly impossible some weeks. Like many millennials, I leaned on takeout and meal kits to avoid total nutritional neglect.
But the subscription fees and bland recipes eventually lose their luster. I needed a service that delivered chef-quality cuisine made from premium ingredients, took under two minutes to prepare, and didn‘t break the bank.
Enter WeCook – a Canadian startup claiming to offer delicious balanced meals created by acclaimed chefs. Their rotating weekly menus and à la carte ordering system piqued my interest enough to try their popular 14 meal plan.
Over the last month, I tested WeCook‘s meal delivery to determine if it lived up to their marketing promises. Read my frank review for an inside look at the service, including meal quality, customization options, pricing breakdowns, and whether it warrants your hardearned cash.
Weighing the Origins of WeCook
WeCook first opened its (virtual) doors in 2013 as Nutrition Fit Plus, founded by two Quebec natives named Etienne Plourde and Jonathan Roy. After securing millions in investor backing, they rebranded as WeCook on a mission to deliver wholesome, homecooked meals to busy Canadians.
The company promise? Complex dishes from acclaimed chefs made with premium local ingredients you can prepare in under 120 seconds.
So far, WeCook donated 7,000 free meals to heroic health workers during 2020. They also boast 100,000+ Instagram and Facebook brand loyalists – impressive growth in 8 short years!
But social media stats and publicity ploys don‘t always indicate lasting success (I learned that lesson from defunct meal kit brand Dinnerly last year!) This WeCook review cuts through the fluff to reveal if their meals match the acclaim.
Weighing First Impressions
Navigating to WeCook.ca, I immediately noted mouthwatering photos of culinary creations like sweet chili chicken stir-frys, pork souvlaki bowls, and bacon-wrapped meatloaf. My tastebuds jumped for joy!
The site exuded a hip, health-conscious vibe with its millennial pink palette and crisply designed pages. Everything pointed towards high-quality food aimed to inspire even novice home cooks. This boded well for my supper situation!
I did a quick LinkedIn search on the founding chefs and discovered Plourde graduated Le Cordon Bleu cooking school. Roy honed his skills at Michelin-starred restaurants across Canada. More promising signs of scrumptious meals ahead!
How the WeCook Delivery Service Works
Because WeCook only sells meal subscriptions, I first chose my plan tier ranging from 6 dishes weekly to over 30.
Every Sunday by 9 PM, a WeCook driver drops a custom meal box on my doorstep. Each insulating bag keeps ingredients fresh all week long. I just microwave or oven bake to enjoy restaurantworthy ribs, risottos, or ramen without repeating all month thanks to 500+ recipes.
Let‘s examine what stellar value looks like across WeCook‘s subscription levels:
6 Meals Per Week
Best for replacing one home-cooked dinner daily from Monday to Saturday, this entry-level plan suits single folks willing to splurge to avoid groceries each week.
At $13 per meal ($78 weekly), it guarantees wholesome ready-to-heat dinners without draining too much time or energy meal prepping. I considered it decent value for stress-free sustenance.
9 Meals Per Week
This plan covers lunch and dinner four days a week plus an extra Friday meal – perfect for busy young professionals and overworked parents seeking convenience.
For $12 per serving ($108 weekly), the 9-meal plan brings bistro-quality dishes like maple-glazed salmon, beef bourguignon, and chicken souvlaki straight to your kitchen. Hard to beat for sheer ease and variety!
14 Meals Per Week
As WeCook‘s hottest seller, the 14-meal option replaces home cooking completely if desired. Either batch-prep weekday lunches and freeze extras or never worry about dinner again.
I chose this plan to test the waters at $11 per meal ($154 total). With tasty restaurant replications like Greek antipasto salad and fall-off-the bone BBQ pork ribs landing at my door, I literally licked my lips in anticipation all week long!
22 to 30 Meals Per Week
Built for bulk, this mega plan feeds groups of 4+ or single folk willing to freeze half and splurge on quality. At only $10 per meal ($220+ weekly), it encourages big appetites to dive in.
If you‘ve got roommates or ravenous teens, the 28 meal plan ensures everyone stays happy and healthy without inflating food costs. It was almost enough to convince me to move back home!
Comparing WeCook Pricing to Competitors
Curious if WeCook costs stacked up fairly against leading food delivery brands, I ran the numbers:
| Company | Cost Per Meal | Shipping Fees |
|---|---|---|
| WeCook | $11 | Free |
| HelloFresh | $9.99 | $8.99 per order |
| Goodfood | $9.99 | $6.99 per order |
| Chefs Plate | $11.99 | $9.99 per order |
Factoring in hidden subscription and shipping fees, WeCook emerged very fairly priced considering chef-designed cuisine made with premium local ingredients.
I also appreciated how they conveniently bundle meal cost with delivery unlike competitors. And portion sizes run moderately larger at WeCook too.
One catch – WeCook doesn’t advertise add-on costs for extras as clearly as some meal kit brands. Before subscribing, I suggest contacting their customer service chat to tally complete pricing accuracy.
Sampling the WeCook Menu
As a serial snacker, I felt equally excited and wary awaiting my first delivery. Could any pre-made meal really satisfy my insatiable appetite AND adventurous pallets?
I skeptically fetched the hefty box from my porch that first Sunday evening. Rifling through, I discovered meals bundled in microwave-safe containers with reheating instructions printed on the lids.
That week’s selections included sweet chili chicken stir fry, butcher’s steakhouse burgers, turkey bolognese, and more. My tastebuds and stomach did a happy dance in unison!
Over the next days, I sampled each dish during lunch and dinner. Without exception, flavors and textures exceeded expectations. Savory sauces, tender proteins, and fresh veggies left me satisfied yet eager for the next delivery.
The simple sesame chicken dazzled me with its crispy exterior cloaking melt-in-your-mouth meat. And the burger? Best I‘ve ever devoured – no lie! My former takeout habit seems hard to return to after this!
By week two, the novelty hadn‘t worn off. I still salivated each time I opened my insulated package brimming with new sensations. Spicy ox poutine, fall-off-the-bone barbecue ribs, rich mushroom ravioli…no two dishes duplicated yet all impressed.
The chef-designed menus introduce complex global flavors catering to daring palates like mine. I already crave the sweet and spicy Korean beef bowls from last month’s orders!
Yet even picky eaters would discover new staples with 22+ weekly options running the cuisine gamut. Those avoiding certain ingredients can swap individual meals too, so no waste.
Ideally customers have some freezer space though to prevent food spoilage before the next delivery.
How Meals Stack Up Nutritionally
Wary of falling into a meal plan that prioritizes taste over nutrition, I analyzed a few dishes against Health Canada’s recommendations.
The Vietnamese chicken salad with 407 calories, 21 grams of protein and 22 grams of vegetables checked all the right boxes. Same for the 495 calorie chili burrito bowl packing 29 grams of protein and fiber-rich brown rice.
According to corporate literature, WeCook partners with nutritionists and dietitians to design balanced recipes optimized for health. Judging by the ingredient lists, I agree they succeed nutritional standards relatively well compared to competitors. Certainly more wholesome than my former fast food fixes!
Weighing Customer Sentiments
Curious if other subscribers shared my satisfaction, I dug into WeCook’s reviews and reputation.
Facebook threads and TrustPilot reveal mainly positive appraisal:
"Some of the best restaurant-quality food I’ve ever tried. Hot dinner without shopping and chopping is amazing as a busy mom of three!"
"So happy I signed up – already lost 2 pounds since I eat better/healthier meals. Never getting fast food for lunch again thanks to WeCook!"
However, a few customers in high density zones like Toronto complained of delivery hiccups:
"Are you having supply chain problems lately? Last month, more than half my meals arrived late, cold, or incorrectly labeled. Makes meal planning impossible."
Indeed, scaling too quickly likely impacts food quality and logistics in metro regions. Yet WeCook’s impressive 4.1/5 TrustPilot rating based on 68 reviews reassures me my splendid results exceed the norm.
Is WeCook Well Worth Your Cash?
For time-pressed folks lacking chef skills, positively! WeCook removes dinner dilemmas and diminishes takeout cravings with better-than-restaurant meals bursting with clean flavors.
What about finicky food fans like myself? Across 22+ weekly menus, I discovered plenty of new favorites while avoiding repetitive boredom. Those less daring can swap unwanted dishes too!
WeCook also tailors meals to special diets like dairy-free, low carb, vegetarian, and more. I suggest emailing their team about restrictions before ordering to guarantee suitable choices.
As for pricing, solo dwellers might start with the 6 meal plan to sample offerings before committing. Busy couples or pairs could thrive upgrading to the popular 14 meal subscription. Either way, the convenience perks outweigh the costs if you value flavorful hassle-free fuel.
While geography impacts delivery efficiency occasionally, the culinary advantages still trigger my tastebuds. I already crave next week’s surprising dishes!
Getting Started with WeCook Orders
If I’ve tempted your palate, here’s a quick guide to placing your debut WeCook order:
- Visit WeCook.ca and enter your email
- Select your ideal weekly meal plan size
- Choose which weekday you want deliveries
- Pick this week‘s meals from the online menus
- Customize sides and protein amounts if desired
- Submit your delivery address
- Input payment details and start date
- Look forward to simplified, mouthwatering meals every week!
To pause or cancel service, simply email [email protected] or call 514-885-7587 during business hours.
The Last Bites on My WeCook Experience
Before closing the oven door on this tell-all WeCook review, let’s tackle some final FAQs:
Can you return unused WeCook meals?
Unfortunately no – for stringent safety reasons, prepared meal kits cannot be sent back or refunded.
Does WeCook offer any subscription discounts?
Yes! First-time customers receive $15 off initial orders while referral codes snag you $10 in WeCook credits.
What advantages does WeCook offer over other meal plans?
No cooking or complicated prep needed – just quick reheating for instant gourmet gratification! Also 500+ ever-changing globally-inspired dishes prevent taste fatigue.
So if you crave elevated flavor without the fuss of grocery hauls and dinner confusion, I wholeheartedly endorse WeCook meals. Just ensure your fridge can house a week’s worth of food! Their drool-worthy dishes deliver satisfaction no takeout joint can compete with.
