Do you find yourself scrambling every night to feed your busy family with no idea of what to make? Or, do you find yourself picking up supper on the way home at a local fast food restaurant or from the prepared section of your local deli? Perhaps you feel like you are spending way too much money on food and you want to find a way to reduce your food budget. Fact: Meal Planning is an activity that can allow you to achieve all of these goals…and more! Introducing Relish! “A weekly menu planner aimed to help busy families put wonderful meals on the table every night. No sloppy casseroles or expensive kitchen blunders. Instead look for everyday food…with a gourmet twist.”
Relish! was developed by a busy team of two moms (Ann and Karen) who always seemed to have trouble coming up with solutions for dinner. Like many families, they just did not feel like there was enough time in the day. Never mind extra time to be reading through piles of cookbooks for meal ideas. It was at that time that Ann and Karen decided that there must be an easier way.
Relish! is dedicated to providing you and your family with weekly meal plans that are quick, healthy, and expose your children to a variety of new foods and flavors. To ensure that each meal from Relish! is both delicious and easy to make, Master cook Gwenn Wilson tests out each recipe and offers shortcuts and tips to help you through the process.
The founders of Relish! have also developed a meal-planning program especially for people with gluten intolerance. For more information, please visit Gfree.
Review
When I first came across Relish!, I was surprised by all the different features their website offers. Not only do they offer recipes and allow you to make weekly meal plans with them, but they also allow you to take your meal plan and automatically turn it into a shopping list that separates your items into different categories (e.g. Meats, produce, etc.) to make shopping easier. In addition, on the Relish! website you will find weekly articles (features) on a variety of topics (this week’s article talks about clarified butter). Relish! provides menus for horsdoeuvres, dinner and movie events, lunches, desserts, this-and-that, and freezer meals. After looking through all they have to offer, I can definitely see how they are different from other meal-planning programs.
Here is what Relish! had to say about their program:
“We offer the plan to get you out of your dinner rut for good and to prepare healthy and creative dinners, every night. You choose your weekly recipes, the grocery list is tabulated, shop once a week and have all of the ingredients needed for five meals. [View a menu]
- Each week you choose five entrees to make for the week.
- All dinners are kitchen-tested (no more disasters) and take 30 minutes or less prep.
- The comprehensive grocery list makes grocery shopping a snap. [View a grocery list]
- 5 dinners and sides cost less than $95 per week at the grocery store. You will notice substantial savings by sticking to a list!
- A Relish! subscription is only $7 per month. [Subscribe for a 6-month or 12-month period and save 15-30% off the regular price.]
- Monthly freezer menus are included in the subscription, plus much more [read on]
By planning only 5 meals each week, it gives you a little wiggle room. This means you can either use one night to make a family favorite, to make a Relish! Dinner and Movie night, to go out for dinner, or to eat leftovers.
The first time I used Relish!, I noticed this interesting feature at the bottom of the page called the ‘recipe legend’. This legend deciphers common symbols that are used to identify their meals easily. For example, kid friendly, Crockpot, lower calorie, one pot, dessert, etc. I really like this idea because it makes finding meals that my family will enjoy or that I will enjoy making, so much easier.
Now, to give you an idea on my eating habits, I am a fairly picky eater (my boyfriend is too; although he may not willingly agree with this statement). So, when I first saw that I was only going to be offered 15 meal options and have to pick 5 of them for the week, I was a bit concerned. Needless to say, the first week didn’t go overly well. I admit, I was a bit worried that this whole review process wouldn’t go as planned. However, as a couple more weeks went by, I started to see more and more meals that both my boyfriend and I would enjoy.
I soon discovered the past menus and favorites functions on Relish! This turned my worries upside down. Relish! allows you to add meals that you and your family enjoyed to ‘Your Favorites’ easily. Each week when you go to plan out your menu, you will find a box that lists all the favorites that you have selected in the past. All you need to do is select “Add to Week” and the meal gets added to your weekly menu. Once you’ve selected five meals plus one dessert (optional), you are able to choose how many people you will need to feed. Relish! allows you to choose from family sizes of 2 – 8. Finally, all you do is click ‘Create Your Custom Menu’ and Relish! does all the hard work for you. Relish! will look through all the recipes you’ve chosen and 
create one shopping list (separated into categories). Underneath the shopping list, you will find the recipes, instructions, and nutritional information for all your recipes! In my opinion, it doesn’t get much easier than this! I am very excited that we will no longer have to eat the same boring meals week after week. I am definitely looking forward to eating some new & interesting meals (I am sure my boyfriend is happy about that as well).
Besides the meal planning that Relish! offers, my other two favorite features are the Lunch menus and the Dinner and Movie menus. First of all, I love the lunch menus because they give great ideas other than traditional PB&J sandwiches. Two weeks of lunch ideas are provided on the Relish! website. Each idea comes with a recipe and step-by-step instructions. These ideas are great on their own or can easily be matched with your child’s current favorites! Second of all, I really enjoyed reading through their Dinner and Movie menus. This reminds me of that TBS show called Dinner and a Movie; they pair a movie with a themed dinner for a night of fun. This is a great idea for family night, or get-togethers with family and friends. One of the menus that I am hoping to use in the next little while is the one for Kung Fu Panda. This menu contains items such as Jack Black Punch, Kung Pao Chicken, Panda Cake, as well as others.
In conclusion, I am extremely happy to have found Relish! This is a great program that will not only save me time and frustration, but money too! I am looking forward to seeing the new recipes that pop up in the weeks to come.
What can you win? One winner will receive a 1-year Relish! subscription.
To enter, Go to the Relish! website and take a look around. Then, come back here and tell me one thing that you learned. This question must be answered to gain an entry in the giveaway.
Each of the following will give you one extra entry in the giveaway. Please make sure to leave a separate comment for each thing you do:
-Telling me how you think Relish! would help your family.
-Naming your favorite healthy meal.
-Naming one of your favorite meals that is no so healthy, but you wish that was.
-Naming one food that your child refuses to eat. If you don’t have any children, name one food that you disliked as a child.
-Subscribing to my blog via email.
-Adding my new Everything ‘In the Kitchen’ Up Close button to your blog sidebar.
-Adding my Everything 'In the Kitchen' Up Close Grand Opening Event Button to your blog sidebar.
-Following me on Twitter (ihchicky). Please leave your Twitter name.
-Tweeting about this giveaway (with a link to this page) on Twitter. Please leave a link to your tweet. You can do this once a day.
-Blogging about this giveaway on your blog. Please leave a link to your blog post in your comment.
This giveaway will end on Monday, March 23rd at 11:59pm (Central Standard Time). After the giveaway has ended, the winner will be picked randomly using random.org. EMAIL RULES: In order to win, you must provide a valid email. I will be notifying the winner by email only. Please make sure your blog profile includes your email address and make sure that it is visible. If you do not have a blogger account, please make sure you have included your email address in your post. If there is no email address provided, to contact the winner, another person will be chosen. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the winning email notification with their complete mailing address (I will be forwarding all this information to the sponsor), If this information is not received within 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is open to residents of
Good Luck!
Relish! is offering all my readers the chance to receive a free silicone basting brush when you sign up with Relish! Just quote the coupon code “dinner” during checkout.
Do you want another chance to win a 1-year subscription to Relish!? Check out the Relish! giveaway on my main blog, Everything Up Close! You can enter both but only win once. Plus, be sure to come back here tomorrow for another great review and giveaway.
There is a gluten free version.
I learned that I could accurately go shopping and not forget items and not have to run to the store every other day to get stuff to complete meals. I think this is wonderful
Another healthy favorite meal is field greens with fetta cheese, almonds, croutons and fat free sweet and sour dressing.
Our not so healthly meal is breakfast when camping. It always consists of bacon, sausage, eggs, hashbrown, biscuits and sausage gravy. Healthy huh? Just so you know we very rarely go camping alone so it's more than one family.
My child (turning 20 next week) refuses to eat meatloaf. It must have something to do with the word loaf. I won't eat meatloaf either but my hubby loves it. Yuck!!
I already have your Everything ‘In the Kitchen’ Up Close button my sidebar.
I added your Grand Opening button to my sidebar under upcoming events.
greens with cheese and onions and pickles
They have Gluten-free menus, so I can use this service. YA.
I like that the recipes can be scaled to serve 2,4,6 or 8 ppl.
yzgirl4 at verizon dot net
I think relish would definitely organize my meal planing and I think it would save us money at the grocery store.
yzgirl4 at verizon dot net
Healthy meal...Chicken salads.
yzgirl4 at verizon dot net
Not so healthy, but I wish was...enchiladas!
yzgirl4 at verizon dot net
My child refuses to eat peas.
yzgirl4 at verizon dot net
I subscribe to your blog
yzgirl4 at verizon dot net
I learned that Relish is a recurring subscription. You can cancel or increase your subscription at anytime.
elissa at huebert dot org
My kids will not eat hummus. It's not for lack of trying!
elissa at huebert dot org
I really wish Brownies were healthier.
elissa at huebert dot org
I learned that monthly freezer menus are included in the subscription.
barbaraeford@yahoo.com
They offer a selection of vegetarian, kid-friendly, quik, low cal and simple gourmet menus.
scrappylouisa@yahoo.com
I think it would save me alot of time in planning meals and add variety to our menus.
barbaraeford@yahoo.com
I'm a new email subscriber.
scrappylouisa@yahoo.com
I have your button on my blog at http://msindy2206.blogspot.com
favorite healthy meal: grilled salmon
barbaraeford@yahoo.com
Meal I wish was healthy steak and fries.
barbaraeford@yahoo.com
food my child won't eat. she isn't much of a child anymore, but she does not like anything with red sauce or anything with beans.
barbaraeford@yahoo.com
It offers gluten free recipes.
alsdgravenhof@hotmail.com
This will give me more choices to feed my family.
alsdgravenhof@hotmail.com
Our fave healthy meal is fresh fish that we just caught. Usually served with brown rice.
alsdgravenhof@hotmail.com
A not so healthy meal is homemade mac and cheese.
alsdgravenhof@hotmail.com
My refuses to eat green beans. Other vegetables are fine, but not beans.
alsdgravenhof@hotmail.com
I subscribe by email.
alsdgravenhof@hotmail.com
i follow as luannkay.
alsdgravenhof@hotmail.com
I learned that freezer meals are included in the menu.
They are located in Denver, CO.
Tweeted! http://twitter.com/SandyM204/status/1305673074
I follow you on Twitter. sandym204
I subscribe by email.
I love that freezer meals are included. I love to cook when I have time,and store up for later use.
I learned that 5 dinners and sides cost less than $95 per week at the grocery store. You will notice substantial savings by sticking to a list. I knew using a list saved money but I did not realize it could be that substantial.
jeanilynne at gmail dot com
It would help me feed my family better on less
jeanilynne at gmail dot com
Our healthy meal is home made chicken noodle soup
jeanilynne at gmail dot com
brussel sprouts is something I cannot get the kids to eat
jeanilynne at gmail dot com
subscribed via email at
jeanilynne at gmail dot com
Everything in the Kitchen blog button on my sidebar here:
http://bloggyfinds.blogspot.com/
jeanilynne at gmail dot com
blog button for grand opening of Everything in The Kitchen up Close on blog sidebar here:
http://bloggyfinds.blogspot.com/
jeanilynne at gmail dot com
following you on twitter - bloggyfinds
jeanilynne at gmail dot com
tweeted here:
http://twitter.com/bloggyfinds/status/1306158025
jeanilynne at gmail dot com
blogged this giveaway here:
http://bloggyfinds.blogspot.com/2009/03/everything-in-kitchen-up-close-323.html
jeanilynne at gmail dot com
I learned that the recipes can scale from 2, 4, 6 or 8. And the grocery list is translated to the smaller portions too.
Tarah
tarah716[at]ymail.com
All dinners are kitchen-tested (no more disasters) and take 30 minutes or less prep.
I want that so bad! I take so long to prepare meals!
Relish would help my family by helping us to stay on budget and helping me to actually make good meals for my family! I mean meals with variety that is actually healthy.
calliemist@yahoo.com
My favorite healthy meal is chicken casserole
calliemist@yahoo.com
I think that hot dogs aren't that healthy, and I wish it was.
calliemist@yahoo.com
One of my kids refuse to eat grapes.
Another refuse to eat pickles.
calliemist@yahoo.com
Email subscriber
calliemist@yahoo.com
I have your new button
calliemist@yahoo.com
I have your opening event button
calliemist@yahoo.com
I follow on twitter: calliesan
Freezer meals are included in the subscription. Woohoo!
I wish Mexican food was more healthy because I love it.
My children will not eat carrots.
I follow you on Twitter *simplyandreah*
Added your grand opening button.
Subscribed via email.
Learned that a subscription is just $7/month
gkstratos@yahoo.com
Relish! would help me stop buying food on a per meal basis. Way too expensive.
gkstratos@yahoo.com
Healthy Meal: Broiled Halibut
gkstratos@yahoo.com
Not-So-Healthy: Fried Chicken
gkstratos@yahoo.com
My son won't eat green beans ... or peas
gkstratos@yahoo.com
Subscriber/email
gkstratos@yahoo.com
Following/Twitter (gkstratos)
gkstratos@yahoo.com
Not-so-Healthy: Fried Chicken.
ktgonyea at gmail.com
I learned that Relish! offers vegetarian options for meals.
caitlinhyla at gmail dot com
I think Relish! would help my family to become more healthy and possibly more creative with meals we make on our own. Also, Relish! would save me time from having to decide and prepare meals every night. Thanks.
caitlinhyla at gmail dot com
my favorite healthy meal is a handful of blueberries, yogurt, granola and a dash of cinnamon. works as a great light dessert!
caitlinhyla at gmail dot com
A not so healthy favorite meal of mine is Chicken Tikka Masala (but it's sooo good!)
caitlinhyla at gmail dot com
One food I disliked as a child were mushrooms, but now I love them and don't mind them at all!
caitlinhyla at gmail dot com
I follow you on Twitter.
ciao__bella (username)
caitlinhyla at gmail dot com
I tweeted about this giveaway here:
http://twitter.com/ciao__bella/status/1308505319
caitlinhyla at gmail dot com
A relish subscription is only $7 a month!
I learned they were featured in O magazine and have vegetarian options.
Relish would help someone hopelessly disorganized like me prepare quick and inexpensive meals.
My favorite healthy meal is probably spaghetti squash marinara
A meal that isn't so healthy, but I wish it was, would be gyoza (little Japanese fried egg rolls).
I hated all melons as a child.
all dinners can be made in 30 minutes or less.
madamerkf at aol dot com
Relish would help my family by providing more variety in the things that we eat.
madamerkf at aol dot com
My favorite healthy meal is grilled chicken salad.
madamerkf at aol dot com
My child refuses to eat pork products.
madamerkf at aol dot com
A favorite meal that is not healthy but I wish that it was is a bacon cheeseburger and french fries.
madamerkf at aol dot com
I can arrange the food to my own taste :) cool!!
It would lower my grocery bill
Salad and Fish
I would like for Liza's Cheeseburger with the works plus bacon and chili cheese fries to be healthy
My child refuses to eat meat
I subscribe via e-mail
I learned that their menus plan meals that should cost under $100 a week. That's incredible! I also love the Monthly Freezer Menus. I always wish I had something in the freezer, ready to defrost and eat!
I NEED THIS! Learned that 5 dinners and sides cost less than $95 per week at the grocery store. You will notice substantial savings by sticking to a list! and they have gluten free choices which would be great for my sister in law
mommy-momo@live.com
This would help my family bc I'm fairly new to this cooking for entire family thing and so many times I'm blank and cant think of new things to make that are easy enough :)
favorite healthy meal? hmmm... we eat pretty healthy in general. We are huge salad eaters! so a big yummy salad is always good!
mmm.. not so healthy meal... fried chicken or nachos! yummy
my child refuses to eat avocado! bummer cause we love it :)
i just subscribed!
got your button!
I learned that freezer meals are included - We are getting into making more of these. When I say we, I mean I am, lol :)
thanks!
"One of the best aspects of Relish! is the stringent meal testing program. Master cook and epicurious foodie extraordinare Gwenn Wilson offers her wisdom and shortcuts to assure that every meal is uncomplicated, delicious and simply gourmet." That's a BIG deal to me! Love it!
I subscribed to your feed.
I have your button.
I blogged this.
http://mariadelgado32302.blogspot.com/
Here is my email;
mariadelgado32302 at yahoo dot com
Every few months they change their Extras, so there's always something new to learn.
Relish would help me get out of the rut of making the same handfull of meals over and over. Whenever I try something new, it never seems to turn out, so I love that these recipes are tested and only take 30 minutes.
I subscribe
I blogged http://andadelinetoo.blogspot.com/2009/03/great-new-kitchencooking-site.html
the fact that the recipes and therefore the shopping lists can be scaled for 2 to more people will go a long way in saving money. sharonaquilino (at) hotmail (.) com
I tweeted about this giveaway here:
http://twitter.com/ciao__bella/status/1318964215
caitlinhyla at gmail dot com
I learned that you can scale their recipes to the number of people you are serving. Thanks! thebubbledies(at)gmail(dot)com
Relish would help us stick to our grocery list & cook more. Thanks! thebubbledies(at)gmail(dot)com
Fav healthy meal is Protein 2000. Thanks! thebubbledies(at)gmail(dot)com
Meal I wish was healthy - queso & chips. Thanks! thebubbledies(at)gmail(dot)com
I didn't like guacamole as a child. Thanks! thebubbledies(at)gmail(dot)com
http://twitter.com/bluenude3/status/1320076177 I tweeted! @bluenude3 Thanks! thebubbledies(at)gmail(dot)com
I learned that the recipes can be scaled to serve 2,4,6 or 8 - great idea! And Relish would help me save money
Favorite healthy meal - orzo salad with shrimp and feta
Favorite I wish was healthy - pizza
My 3 year old refuses to eat lettuce....
I follow on twitter - phxbne
Relish would help my family as I am a homemaker and my husband has been laid off. Living on unemployment we really need to tighten our belts and if this program can help us save money, I'm all for it. Thanks for a great giveaway!
I learned that Relish can help with your weight loss programs. Thanks for a great giveaway!
Favorite healthy meal is a salad chock full of crunchy vegetables and grilled chicken. Thanks for a great giveaway!
Linguini with clam sause and gobs of grated cheese is my unhealthy indulgence. Which it was healthier.
Can not get my kid to eat cucumber unless they are pickled of course. Thanks
I'm an email subscriber! Thanks
I'm a twitter follower. trishden
Tweeted on twitter here:
http://twitter.com/trishden/status/1323282868
Thanks
trishden
All the dinners take 30 minutes or less to prep.
feliciawilson(at)gmail(dot)com
This would save so much time! I'm constantly trying to think of what to make for dinner and whether I have everything on hand or not.
feliciawilson(at)gmail(dot)com
I make a very healthy stir fry, without adding a lot of sodium-ridden soy sauce, etc.
feliciawilson(at)gmail(dot)com
I wish all those creamy soups (broccoli cheese, potato, etc) were healthier. I love them!
feliciawilson(at)gmail(dot)com
My son won't eat carrots. :(
feliciawilson(at)gmail(dot)com
I subscribe!
feliciawilson(at)gmail(dot)com
I learned that they have gluten free menus.
I like the comprehensive grocery list.
I learned that the company's philosophy is to produce a weekly menu planner aimed to help busy families put wonderful meals on the table every night.
I'm a subscriber!!
Being able to get a home-cooked meal on the table on our time-crunched Tuesdays and Fridays would help my family.
My favourite healthy meal is quiche and salad!!
I love homemade lasagna and my version is certainly not healthy!!
Turnip!!
I love that their recipes are kitchen-tested (no more disasters) and take 30 minutes or less prep.
To avoid "Crisis-cooking" (running to the grocery store an hour before dinner). As a mom of 4 & a teacher I would find myself swinging by the grocery store on the way home to "pick up dinner". I loved the money saving tips on how to save on my grocery bill.
My family's favorite healthy meal is baked chicken and salad. Even our kids will eat both of those items. They pretend to be "rabbits" while eating their salad & scrunch their little noses with each bite. It is so cute and it encourages them to eat a healthy salad.
Why can they not come up with a Fried Chicken recipe that is healthy?? That is one meal my entire family eats and I know it is clogging their arteries with every bite!
Added your button my blog
(grettajohns.blogspot.com)
I learned that you can have recipes for the number of people you need to feed. That is convienent.
Love the ability to know what ingredients we need to have in order to prepare meals, eliminates last minute store runs.
I learned that you choose your weekly recipes, the grocery list is tabulated, shop once a week and have all of the ingredients needed for five meals.
I learned to avoid ‘crisis cooking’ which is rushing to the grocery store just before the dinner hour, and usually spending more on convenience items!
Relish would help me and my family by giving me planned meals regularily. I hate coming home and having to figure out what to make!
Something my kids wont eat...cooked peas or mushrooms.
I subscribe via email!
My not so healthy meal is Poutine fries (fries smothered in gravy and mozza cheese)...YUM!
love the 30 minute or less prep time
All the recipes are kitchen tested and require 30 minutes or less prep time and they also offer gluten free recipes.
linmoe@sympatico.ca
All relish recipes only take about 30 minutes to prep
They offer a selection of vegetarian, kid-friendly, quik, low cal and simple gourmet menus
Monthly freezer menus are included in the subscription!
Relish would totally help me figure out the week and save me a LOT of time!
I LOVE Roasted Vegetables.
I wish creme brulee was healthy.
My kid refuses to eat chickpeas.
I subscribe.
I learned that you could choose a menu and only shop once a week. This seems like a great concept. Thanks for the giveaway!
I love that after you have chosen your week's menu that it will tabulate about what you should budget at the grocery store.
I have been wanting to try a Menu service so I'm glad to see this link! Thanks! I think it's really neat that they offer a Gluten Free service too!
What I particularly loved is that it's everyday food, not gourmet food. That's how I like to eat.
doot65{at}comcast[dot]net
Relish would help by having all the ingredients for the whole 5 days of meals all ready. Plus knowing what I'm making every day will take a lot of pressure off of me.
doot65{at}comcast[dot]net
Grilled chicken is my favorite healthy meal.
Pizza is my favorite unhealthy meal and I wish it wasn't!
I follow you on twitter as blueviolet
I hated brussel sprouts as a child and still do.
I added the kitchen button to my blog
doot65{at}comcast[dot]net
I subscribed via google reader to your feed.
I added your grand opening button to my left side bar.
I learned that you can choose your weekly recipes, the grocery list is tabulated, shop once a week and have all of the ingredients needed for five meals. What a time saver. I am so not a list maker and always need one thing or another to make dinner.
Sweeps_momma(at)hotmail(dot)com
Thank you
I am a subscriber to your blog
I follow you on twitter
Sweeps_momma(at)hotmail(dot)com
My favorite healty meal is grilled fish, salad with lettuce, tomato & cucumber with kidney beans and tomato juice.
My favorite thing to me to eat is Chicken and Dumplings and that is SO NOT healthy!!
My son will not eat beets and my daughter can't stand chocolate (don't know where she came from!)
I learned that they also offer a gluten free service.
ms.lilyk@gmail.com
I think Relish would help my family by making dinner easy and tasty.
ms.lilyk@gmail.com
My favorite healthy meal is pasta and fruit.
ms.lilyk@gmail.com
A favorite meal that is not so healthy, but I wish that was is fried chicken and cheesecake.
ms.lilyk@gmail.com
A food that I disliked as a child was lettuce.
ms.lilyk@gmail.com
I subscribed by email.
ms.lilyk@gmail.com