Online meal planning services... Ever tried one?

[gipsygrrl]

I'm wondering if anyone has tried PlateJoy, Cook Smarts or a similar online meal planning service. Are they worth paying for? I'm trying to find a way to simplify and even streamline my meal planning and shopping experience. I know that cooking at home is the best way to cut down a food budget, but I'm feeling a little... bored with my current recipes. And even when I meal plan, I seem to end up with food waste or ingredients I forget about, etc. I have a toddler and general life busyness, so something that helps me cook (and shop!) better, faster and more efficiently might be worth paying for. I can't really justify the price of doing a Blue Apron type of service, but maybe the online planning tools may have some merit. Thoughts?

[Giraffe Money]

We've used E-mealz in the past. It provides a meal plan, recipes and instructions, and a grocery list. Works really well for sticking to a budget.  Our bill, when buying ONLY what was on the grocery list, was usually higher than the advertised $60; we usually spent about $80 or so (this may have been due to our location, or due to the store being out of the specific item listed so we compromised). 

You can customize it: for the amount of people (1-2, or 3-4), and the type of diet (classic, paleo, low carb, gourmet, clean, diabetic, etc.).

[Shropskr]

We've used thefresh20. 20 fresh food items for 5 dinners.  It's works well. They have gf, paleo, dairy free, vegetarian, for one and other plans too.

We would simplify things.  I.e. If it had meat and two sides we just make one.

Only caveat since it's all fresh there is a lot of chopping.