Factor: Americans Would Ditch Social Media to Escape Meal Planning
Social media may dominate our lives, but dinner decisions hold an even stronger grip. A new nationwide survey from Factor, a leading ready-to-eat delivery service, reveals how mealtime stress is reshaping priorities for couples and families.
From relationship dynamics to daily decision fatigue, Factor’s findings spotlight just how much emotional and mental energy is spent answering the dreaded question, “What’s for dinner?” Forty-six percent of Americans admitted they would willingly ditch social media forever just to escape the hassle of planning meals.
“A stress-free dinner is the ultimate love language,” said Leonard Hollander, Senior Principal of Culinary Innovation at Factor. “Whether you’re dining in on Valentine’s Day or enjoying a family dinner, Factor is taking the pressure off planning and putting the focus back on connection. Nothing kills the mood faster than ‘What’s for dinner?’ With our delicious, chef-crafted meals, we’re making it easy to serve up romance and family time without the hassle.”
Americans Are Ready to Sacrifice for Stress-Free Meals
Factor’s survey, conducted by Wakefield Research, found that dinner planning is one of the most stressful daily decisions for many adults. In fact, an impressive number of respondents (68%) say deciding what to eat is their biggest meal time challenge, with nearly half of couples (44%) struggling to come up with a plan most nights.
To escape this daily headache, Americans are willing to give up their most beloved habits and destination dreams or submit to their most dreaded chores:
- Cutting the Crutches: Almost half (46%) would delete social media forever, a quarter (25%) would give up their morning coffee, while a smaller number of respondents (21%) would cancel their streaming subscriptions.
- Bon Voyage, Vacay: Nearly half (44%) would rather have dinner planned, prepared, and served every night by someone else than take a dream vacay!
- DMV Over Dinnertime: Some adults (15%) even said they’d rather brave the DMV than plan a week’s worth of meals.
Dinner Decisions Are Also Breaking Relationships
- Food Fight!: The survey also uncovered how mealtime stress impacts relationships, with a quarter of couples (25%) getting in “food fights,” arguing about dinner one to two times per week.
- Step Aside, Flowers. Dinner Wins Valentine’s Day: It’s not just about saving time; it’s about shifting priorities. When asked about the perfect Valentine’s Day gift, over half of adults (53%) would rather have dinner covered for a month than receive flowers or chocolates.
- Snacks For Dinner? Been There: And when there’s no plan, couples are left frustrated, with women (62%) most likely to cobble together a meal from fridge leftovers, while men (55%) are more likely to order takeout.
- Foreplay? More Like “Four-Course Play”: Eliminating mealtime stress may just be the key to a healthy relationship—in the kitchen and the bedroom. In fact, more than half of respondents (53%) think that the hottest form of foreplay is not having to plan and cook dinner, and nearly half of adults (44%) —and over half of parents (55%) —admitted they would get intimate more often if their partner handled dinner.
Factor: The Ultimate Meal Planning Solution
Factor was created to eliminate the dinner decision dilemma altogether, so you don’t have to part with the things you love like your morning coffee, your nightly binge-watch—and your romantic partner. By delivering ready-made, chef-prepared meals in just two minutes, Factor takes care of the planning, shopping and cooking, so you don’t have to. With a rotating menu of dietitian-approved options, Factor allows busy individuals and couples to spend more time doing what they love and less time arguing over dinner.
For couples opting to stay in this Valentine’s Day, treat yourself to Factor’s decadent 2-course meal featuring Grilled Filet Mignon with Asiago Butter, White Cheddar-Scallion Mashed Potatoes with Broccolini & Toasted Garlic Butter and Vanilla Almond Cheesecake with Chocolate & Cherry Sauces. For more information, visit www.factormeals.com.
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HelloFresh Introduces Ready Made Meals
Just in time for New Year’s resolutions, HelloFresh, the world’s leading meal kit company, is introducing wholesome new offerings for home cooks who want easy, homemade meals with little to no prep–especially on their busiest days. Whether choosing from a delicious meal ready in three minutes with no cooking required, or a simplified recipe that involves just five minutes of prep and minimal cleanup, getting a nutritious, quality meal on the table has never been easier or more convenient.
For those who want a flavorful, chef-crafted meal fast, the heat-and-eat Ready Made Meals are the perfect addition to mealtime. Ready in just three minutes, this new offering is the fastest way to get a nutritious meal on the table and is the ideal option for those who are on-the-go, or for nights when time isn’t on their side. From hearty classics, like Beef Bolognese and the Southwest-Style Chicken Bowl, to globally inspired recipes, like Butter Chicken and Udon Stir-Fry, Ready Made Meals can make eating well a breeze for home cooks who prioritize convenience without wanting to sacrifice quality.
“Ready Made Meals are an essential and exciting new way we are bringing nutritious, convenient mealtime options to our HelloFresh customers in the New Year,” said Kristin Bryan, senior director of culinary innovation at HelloFresh. “Whether navigating a packed workday or balancing family commitments, these meals were developed to be the perfect solution to staying nourished without compromising on quality, offering a delicious, home-cooked meal in minutes.”
For the home cook looking for virtually no prep time in the kitchen, Prep & Bake Meals are a new offering that simplifies mealtime by providing fresh ingredients that come pre-chopped and require only five minutes or less of preparation. Featuring delicious recipes like Onion Crunch Chicken and a Creamy Mushroom Ravioli Bake, the menu will include three Prep and Bake Meals to choose from each week for HelloFresh customers. Prep and Bake Meals are designed to deliver the ease and satisfaction of a wholesome, home-cooked meal without the hassle of cleanup that usually comes with it.
New 15-Min Meals, like Chicken Gyoza Salad and Cilantro Beef Burrito Bowl, provide fresh, flavorful dinners from fridge to plate in just 15 minutes or less. Designed as quick, three-step recipes that require minimal prep and cleanup, these quick yet delicious meals offer a home cooked meal in about the time.
This New Year, HelloFresh makes it easy to eat well with quick home-cooked meals that present a better alternative to options like takeout, frozen, or heavily processed meals. With a focus on simplifying mealtime to support a more balanced lifestyle, HelloFresh customers can start their year stress-free by spending less time worrying about what’s for dinner and more time enjoying a delicious meal with the people they love.
To sign up for HelloFresh and learn more about the wholesome new offerings, visit www.hellofresh.com.
HelloFresh is the world’s leading meal-kit company, providing customers with fresh, high-quality ingredients to cook delicious meals at home. By delivering pre-portioned ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes directly to customers’ doors, HelloFresh helps busy individuals and families enjoy home-cooked meals without the hassle of meal planning and grocery shopping. HelloFresh was voted the Most Trusted Meal Kit Delivery Service in America from 2021 through 2023 by Newsweek. For more information, visit www.hellofresh.com or follow HelloFresh on Facebook, X, Instagram, or TikTok.
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Green Chef x Emily Mariko Recipe Series Launches
Green Chef, the #1 meal kit for clean eating, is launching a new recipe series with Emily Mariko, the acclaimed content creator celebrated for her innovative lifestyle and ASMR food content. The collaboration takes inspiration from Emily’s simplistic cooking style, which focuses on fresh ingredients and creative cooking techniques, to offer customers eight delicious and elevated recipes that make clean eating at home easy and approachable.
“I’m thrilled to be partnering with Green Chef to bring my favorite seasonal ingredients, exciting flavor combinations, and simple cooking techniques to kitchens across the country,” said Mariko. “Together, we aim to make clean eating and inspiring flavor combinations accessible and convenient.”
Available the week of March 4 through the week of March 25, customers can choose from two exclusive Green Chef x Emily Mariko recipes per week. The recipes incorporate Emily’s love of farmers market hauls and spotlight a mix of organic farm-fresh ingredients, like cauliflower and apricots, as well as whole grains and premium proteins. Each recipe comes with step-by-step instructions and portioned ingredients that are delivered directly to customers’ doorsteps.
The full recipe series lineup includes:
- Maple Cauliflower Bowls with Seared Tofu
- Sockeye Salmon with Sweet Heat Pan Sauce
- One-Pot Herbed Chicken Soup
- Beef Tenderloin with Brown Butter Potatoes
- Chicken with Cardamom Spiced Greek Yogurt
- Ricotta Pancakes with Cherry Maple Syrup
- Chicken with Sriracha Apricot Pan Sauce
- Seared Beef Tenderloin with Ginger-Lime Aïoli
“Emily shares our dedication to using quality ingredients and our passion for cooking simple, yet satisfying dishes. It was exciting to work with Emily to integrate her favorite flavor profiles and cooking style into our menu,” said Luke Esbenson, senior culinary development manager of Green Chef. “These recipes are crafted with seasonal, fresh ingredients in mind, making them excellent options for our Green Chef customers.”
As the first CCOF-certified organic meal kit company, Green Chef features nutritionist-approved recipes catering to various dietary preferences, including Keto, Plant-Based, Gluten-Free, and the newly introduced Gut & Brain Health. Offering 80+ weekly menu and market options, Green Chef makes it easy for customers to prepare and enjoy delicious chef-crafted recipes with clean, organic ingredients that nourish your whole body.
For more information on the Green Chef x Emily Mariko recipe series or to start your order, visit https://www.greenchef.com/pages/emily-mariko-new.
Founded in 2014, Green Chef is powering the pursuit of eating well by making it easy to cook colorful, flavorful meals in approximately 30 minutes or fewer. Green Chef’s menus cater to various dietary preferences, including keto, protein-packed, vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, Mediterranean, and more. Each delivery contains all the essentials to create three to four nourishing dinners for two to six people: high-quality, measured ingredients — including pre-made complex sauces and spice mixes — and chef-crafted recipes. For more information, visit www.greenchef.com or follow Green Chef on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
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