Meal Prep vs Takeaway Cost UK | Which Is Cheaper? (2026)

In this guide, we'll compare meal prep and takeaway costs, looking at price per meal, portion sizes, convenience, delivery charges and the wider value each option can provide.

Is Meal Prep Cheaper Than Takeaway?

In many situations, meal prep can cost less than regularly ordering takeaway food, but the answer depends on what type of meal prep you're comparing and how frequently you order takeaway.

Homemade meal prep can often reduce the cost per portion because ingredients can be purchased in larger quantities and used across several meals. Prepared meal delivery may cost more than cooking from scratch, but it includes the convenience of having meals prepared for you.

Takeaway food can have a higher overall cost because the price of the food may be combined with delivery charges, service fees, drinks and other extras.

What Does Takeaway Food Really Cost?

The advertised price of a takeaway meal doesn't always represent the final amount you pay. Delivery fees, service charges and additional items can all increase the total cost of an order.

For someone ordering takeaway several times a week, these additional costs can quickly add up over the course of a month.

Meal Prep vs Takeaway: What Should You Compare?

A useful comparison should look beyond the headline price. The cheapest option isn't necessarily the one with the lowest advertised cost if the portion is small or additional food is needed afterwards.

• Price per meal
• Portion size
• Protein content
• Ingredient quality
• Delivery charges
• Service fees
• Preparation time
• Convenience
• Weekly spending
• Overall value

Meal Prep vs Takeaway Cost Per Meal

Comparing the cost of a single meal can be useful, but looking at your total weekly spending gives a much clearer picture.

For example, someone ordering takeaway several times each week may spend considerably more than they realise once delivery charges and extras are included. Meal prep can make food spending easier to predict because the cost of meals is known in advance.

The Convenience Factor

One of the biggest reasons people order takeaway is convenience. After a busy day, choosing food from a menu and having it delivered can seem much easier than preparing dinner from scratch.

Meal prep can provide a similar level of convenience while giving you more control over the meals you eat throughout the week.

Prepared meals can simply be stored until needed and heated when you're ready to eat, reducing the amount of time spent shopping, preparing ingredients and cooking.

Meal Prep Can Make Food Spending More Predictable

One advantage of planning meals in advance is that you know how many meals you have available and what you have spent on them.

This can make budgeting easier, particularly for households that are trying to reduce impulse food purchases or cut down on regular takeaway orders.

Does Meal Prep Save Money?

Meal prep can save money when it replaces more expensive food choices and helps reduce unnecessary spending. The biggest potential savings often come from reducing the frequency of takeaway meals and avoiding food waste.

However, the amount you save depends on the meals you choose, how often you order them and what you would otherwise have spent on food.

Meal Prep vs Takeaway: A Weekly Cost Comparison

Looking at the cost over an entire week can make the difference between meal prep and takeaway food much easier to understand.

Someone who orders takeaway several times during the week may not notice the individual costs adding up. However, when those purchases are viewed together, the total weekly spending can be surprisingly significant.

There is no single figure that applies to every household, because takeaway prices and meal prep costs vary. The most useful approach is to compare your own current spending with the cost of the meals you are considering.

Meal Prep vs Takeaway for Lunch

The same comparison applies to lunch. Buying lunch while at work can seem like a small daily expense, but five lunches every week can represent a substantial amount over a month.

Prepared meals can provide a convenient alternative for people who want to know what their lunch is going to cost before the working week begins.

For anyone regularly buying lunch away from home, calculating the total monthly spending can be a useful first step towards identifying potential savings.

Does Meal Prep Offer Better Value Than Takeaway?

Value isn't determined by price alone. A meal that costs slightly more can still offer better value if it provides a larger portion, more protein, better ingredients and greater convenience.

Prepared meals can also help reduce the temptation to order takeaway simply because there is nothing available at home.

How to Reduce Takeaway Spending

If takeaway food has become a regular part of your weekly routine, replacing some orders with planned meals can be a straightforward way to reduce spending.

• Plan your meals before the working week starts
• Keep prepared meals available for busy evenings
• Set a weekly takeaway budget
• Compare the full takeaway cost rather than the menu price
• Avoid adding unnecessary drinks and extras
• Use meal prep for your busiest days
• Keep occasional takeaway meals as a treat rather than a routine

You don't necessarily need to eliminate takeaway food completely. Even replacing one or two takeaway meals each week can make a difference to your overall food spending.

Meal Prep vs Takeaway: Which Is Better for Busy People?

For people with demanding work schedules, both meal prep and takeaway offer convenience. The difference is that planned meal prep can provide greater control over what you eat and how much you spend.

Prepared meals can be stored ready for busy days, meaning you don't have to make a last-minute decision about dinner or spend time searching for a takeaway.

This can make meal prep particularly useful for busy professionals, families and anyone who regularly finds themselves ordering food because there isn't enough time to cook.

How to Compare Meal Prep and Takeaway Properly

Before deciding which option offers better value, calculate your actual spending rather than relying on assumptions.

• Write down how much you spend on takeaway food each week
• Include delivery fees and service charges
• Include drinks, sides and other extras
• Calculate the average cost of each takeaway meal
• Compare this with the cost per prepared meal
• Consider portion sizes and nutritional value
• Consider how much preparation time you save

This gives you a much more accurate comparison and helps you decide whether meal prep could make sense for your lifestyle and budget.

Meal Prep vs Takeaway for Families

For families, the financial difference can become even more important because takeaway orders often involve several people. A meal that seems reasonably priced for one person can become considerably more expensive when ordering for an entire household.

Planning family meals in advance can make food costs easier to control while ensuring everyone has something available when they are hungry.

For more ideas, see our guide to Family Meal Delivery UK.

Is Meal Prep Worth It?

Whether meal prep is worth the cost depends on your priorities. If the main goal is achieving the absolute lowest possible food cost, cooking from supermarket ingredients may be cheaper.

However, if you value convenience, predictable spending, balanced meals and the time saved from shopping and cooking, prepared meal delivery can provide strong overall value.

Our guide Is Meal Prep Worth It? looks at the wider financial and practical benefits in more detail.

Final Verdict: Meal Prep vs Takeaway Cost

Meal prep and takeaway food both have their place, but regularly ordering takeaway can become an expensive habit when delivery charges, extras and multiple weekly orders are added together.

Meal prep can provide a more predictable way to manage food spending, particularly when meals are planned in advance and ordered in quantities that suit your budget.

The cheapest option will depend on your circumstances, but comparing the total cost per meal, portion size, nutrition, convenience and weekly spending gives you a much clearer picture of which option offers the best value.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is meal prep cheaper than takeaway?

Meal prep can be cheaper than regularly ordering takeaway, particularly when you compare the full takeaway cost including delivery charges, service fees and extras.

How much can I save by replacing takeaway with meal prep?

The amount varies depending on what you normally spend and how often you order takeaway. The best way to calculate potential savings is to compare your actual weekly takeaway spending with the cost of your planned meals.

Is homemade meal prep cheaper than takeaway?

Homemade meal prep can often be cheaper than takeaway because ingredients can be purchased in larger quantities and used across several meals. However, it requires more time for shopping, preparation and cooking.

Are prepared meals cheaper than takeaway?

Prepared meal delivery may offer better value than regular takeaway for some people because meals can be planned in advance and additional takeaway costs can be avoided. Prices vary between providers.

Should I stop eating takeaway completely?

Not necessarily. Takeaway food can still be enjoyed occasionally. Replacing some regular takeaway meals with planned meal prep can help reduce overall food spending without removing takeaway completely.

Disclaimer: This article is intended for general information only and should not be considered financial, medical or dietary advice. Meal prices, delivery charges and takeaway costs vary by provider, location and order. Always check current prices before making purchasing decisions.