Meal Assembly Studios and Personal Chefs - How to Save 12 to 16 Hours a Week

Most of us have managed in today's busy world, thru division of labor, multi-tasking and advanced communication techniques to become ever more efficient at work and home. Still, most of us find many of our evenings a bit frazzled as we cast about for meal ideas for ourselves and our families.
How would an extra 12 to 16 freed-up hours each week affect your quality of life?
If this proposition captures your imagination, then it's most likely time for you to consider the services of either a Meal Prep Studio or a Personal Chef.
Meal Prep Studio? Personal Chef?
Most people are unfamiliar with the idea of a Meal Prep Studio. Likewise, there are widely varying ideas about the nature of a personal chef service. Actually, both concepts are clearly defined and either one can go a long way to freeing up broad swaths of your personal time each week.
Meal Prep Studios
Meal prep studios lie somewhere between grocery stores and fine restaurants. You can peruse roughly 10 to 18 entrees on their monthly menu. Entrees are changed every month based on seasonal availability, gourmet innovation and local popularity. Once you select a meal or a group of meals, the staff "shops and chops" the fresh ingredients so you can quickly assemble them at a time convenient to you. Many establishments offer to assemble the ingredients for you as well, so that all you have to do is drop in and pick up the meals. The entrees are uncooked and either frozen or ready to be frozen when you leave the premises.
The Personal Chef
A personal chef charges for their expertise and labor. The cost of grocery ingredients are usually separate itemized charges.
Usually beginning with an introductory consultation, the personal chef discusses and recommends meal selections based on your family's food preferences and dietary requirements. Once the meals are selected, the personal chef will shop all the ingredients, prepare, cook all the meals in your home, bag, label and put each meal into your refrigerator; then clean up the kitchen.
Meal Assembly Studios vs. Personal Chefs Compared
The difference between the words "meals" and "servings" is significant. One "meal" can "serve" from as few as one to as many as 6 people. This is an important element to keep in mind when evaluating your options.
A Personal Chef will leave you with fully cooked meals which you will defrost and warm up when you are ready to feed your family. An Assembly Studio meal features raw ingredients and requires that you cook the meal according to simple instructions for each menu item.
Both services market their products in "package deals". On average, a meal prep studio will charge between $17 to $27 per meal; with each meal serving roughly 4 to 6 people. Most meal prep studio items include a side dish or two while some sides are offered a-la-carte.
A Personal Chef will charge on average, from $200 to $315 per day, plus the cost of groceries. The cost of food varies based on your food preferences, but typically average $100-$125 for five entrees with sides for two people or $150-175 if feeding four people.
Interestingly, a majority of customers don't necessarily look to meal assembly studios for the economic benefit; rather they're drawn by the overall value proposition that meal assembly has to offer. You get restaurant quality food, meal planning services, and substantial time savings week after week.
We must confess a touch of bias as we are the owners of DinnerSmith Meal Prep Studio in Maplewood, New Jersey. We are convinced of the value we offer and, if you are local, we invite you to visit our web page, http://dinnersmith.com and make the call yourself.