Every Sunday night, after a weekend of indulging way too much, I rub my full belly and think to myself, “I am going to eat super healthy and clean this week.” By Wednesday, that promise to myself is out the window. Between being a mom, running a business (centered around lots of eating and drinking), and a new relationship, preparing and eating well has taken sort of a backseat. But at the same time, it’s also incredibly important to me! So what to do?

In comes mademeals – it’s like they read my mind!

Where could I get organic, locally-sourced, perfectly portioned, sustainable meals that actually taste REALLY GOOD? Not like the chicken and broccoli meal prep thing, but meals I could totally look forward to. 

The very next day, JC local and founder Jesse McBride emailed me introducing me to his meal delivery startup. My manifesting capabilities are on another level!

Founder Jesse McBride realized the importance of food sustainability in 2016 after a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis (an inflammatory gut condition). Following hundreds of hours of research, McBride pivoted his eating habits to include foods that weren’t just better for him, but for the planet. With a background in design thinking and team building, he took his newfound passion for locally and naturally grown food and built mademeals. The mademeals kitchen eliminates food waste, avoids ingredients from factory farms, develops relationships with neighboring farmers, and cuts down contribution to global climate change. mademeals was created to help busy people eat more mindfully, and with their delivery service dropping meals right at their customers’ doors, they’ve made it easy too. 

This team of culinary creatives has partnered with the Hudson County Hunger Project, (now the Coalition for Food and Health Equity), a program which has delivered over 40,000 meals to their community’s most vulnerable and food insecure populations during the pandemic, (which at this time is primarily elderly and disabled individuals). 

My Experience with mademeals

I scheduled my delivery for a Sunday afternoon and that day, I received a notification via text that the delivery was on the way. A bright orange bag was left at my door with ice packs in them to keep the meals fresh.

While unpacking the bag, I noticed every meal was different and sounded absolutely DELICIOUS.

• Lemon Mustard Shallot Salmon with cauliflower mash, broccolini & red pepper medley and a side of mustard aioli
• Egg Muffins with Kodiak Protein Pancakes
• Rustic Bowl with herb roasted chicken and sweet n spicy turmeric aioli
• Shrimp Scampi with Basil Pesto Bow-Tie Pasta and roasted Grape tomatoes
• Blackberry orange, ginger and mint infused water

Wow. This does not feel like the typical meal delivery food. I was super excited. I also loved that each meal had the macros listed on the label for those on specific diets.

Every day for lunch, I had a meal and they did not disappoint. I felt satisfied but didn’t get that post-lunch heaviness. The meals were just perfect. I would absolutely order from them again and recommend it to anyone trying to clean up their diet with ease.

The mademeals team sources ingredients directly from a network of over 200 local farms that use organic and humane practices. Meals are prepared in a commercial kitchen in New Jersey and delivered fresh (never frozen) to the doorsteps of their customers in New York City, as well as surrounding areas in NJ. McBride says, “It used to only be non-profits that made an impact on their communities. But we now have for-profit companies like ours which are designed to have a greater social impact. I believe businesses with this sort of model can help change the world for the better.”

mademeals offers individual prepared meals, soups, salads, breakfast, snacks and beverages. Customers fill their carts each week and checkout (no subscription necessary).

Website: mademeals.co

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mademealsco/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mademealsco/