“Being an adult means asking ‘what’s for dinner?’ every single day.” That internet joke sums up the mental load carried by Quebec families. Recently, La Presse looked at the real cost of outsourcing dinner — caterers, ready-made meal boxes, grocery store meals. The verdict is clear, but one option is missing from the table.
What does it really cost to outsource your dinners?
For five weeknight dinners, the comparison paints a striking picture (weekly prices, taxes included):
- Caterer: ~$202 for a family of four, ~$121 for a couple, ~$63 for a single person
- WeCook: ~$180 for a family of four (+ $8 delivery), ~$145 for a couple, ~$93 for a single person
- Factor: ~$290 for a family of four (+ $11 delivery), ~$145 for a couple, ~$90 for a single person
- Grocery store meals (IGA, Maxi): ~$172 to $195 for a family, ~$86 to $98 for a couple, ~$43 to $49 for a single person
Whatever the option, a family of four spends between $172 and $290 per week — up to $1,200 a month — on meals it doesn’t cook itself.
The limits of every option
Caterers offer variety, but the bill climbs fast and delivery adds $7 to $15 a week. WeCook and Factor require a subscription, minimum portions, and delivery fees — Factor is also poorly suited to families, with no family-size formats. Grocery store meals are handy in a pinch, but the menus barely rotate and quickly become repetitive.
And in every case: single-use packaging, little control over ingredients, and zero cooking skills gained.
The option nobody ever compares: plan instead of outsourcing
There’s an alternative these comparisons systematically overlook: stay in control of what you eat while eliminating the mental load. That’s exactly what FoodPilot does.
The app plans your weekly menus in minutes, automatically generates your grocery list, integrates your supermarket’s weekly specials (Maxi, Super C, Metro), and helps you stick to your weekly budget.
The math speaks for itself:
- The cost of ingredients for five home-cooked dinners for a family of four runs about $100 to $130 a week — that’s 40% to 60% cheaper than outsourcing.
- FoodPilot builds your menus around store flyers: up to 25% savings on your grocery bill.
- Weekly meal planning cuts food waste by 30 to 40% — while the average Quebec family throws out $1,300 worth of food every year.
Outsource or pilot: the real comparison
- Weekly cost (family of four): $172 to $290 when outsourcing, versus roughly $100 to $130 of groceries with FoodPilot
- Mental load: eliminated either way, but at very different prices
- Nutritional control: limited when outsourcing, total with FoodPilot (allergies, dietary preferences)
- Packaging: mostly single-use when outsourcing, reduced to a minimum with planning
- Food waste: reduced by up to 40% with menus built around your purchases
- Subscription: often mandatory when outsourcing, never required with FoodPilot — no commitment
The trump card: food waste
As the La Presse article points out, packaging concerns aside, food waste is a far worse enemy for the environment — and for your wallet. A disorganized family throwing out food every week doesn’t fix the problem by ordering prepared meals: it fixes it by planning.
FoodPilot builds menus around what you buy, what you already have, and what’s on special. Nothing ends up in the compost because nothing is bought in excess.
What if you really don’t want to cook?
No judgment. Outsourcing has its place — two or three dinners a week during chaotic stretches is a defensible choice. But making it a habit costs a family $800 to $1,200 a month. The winning strategy is hybrid: FoodPilot for the routine, a caterer or meal box for the brutal weeks. You keep the budget under control without sacrificing your sanity.
Try FoodPilot for free
Become a founding member — 3 months free, no credit card required. Plan your first week of meals in 2 minutes and see the difference on your next grocery bill for yourself.