Cooking a chore? It doesn't have to be, if you know the secret

Remember when cooking was fun? When you could wander into the kitchen after work and take a load off?

Remember the joy of discovering new recipes? The scintillation as the flavours exploded in your mouth when you'd taste test at that opportune moment, the one that told you it was ready?

Unfortunately, the joys of cooking dinner fade somewhat as time goes by, especially after we have kids. It becomes yet another nightly chore.

Even worse is the stress that comes with it. As a busy mum it can be hard to find the inspiration to look for new recipes and find fresh favourites to satisfy your clan.

Most of us just have about a dozen recipes we cycle through and most nights, it's just a good old-fashioned meat and veg.

That's why more and more parents across Australia are starting to look to home delivered meal kit services like EveryPlate for their nightly inspiration.

Here are four ways these services can make life easier for everyday mums and dads:

1 Avoiding the supermarket

One of the biggest advantages of services like EveryPlate is that they deliver all of the ingredients directly to your door.

This means you can avoid the stress of the supermarket - a big plus when you have kids.

It means you don't have to worry about finding parking or nagging in the lolly aisle. You don't have to worry about impulse buying, or facing long checkout queues when you're in a hurry to get home.

Every week you receive a delicious box of fresh, wholesome and nutritious ingredients, portioned and ready to cook. All you need is a couple of pantry staples, like salt and pepper, and EveryPlate takes care of the rest.

2 It allows you to find new recipes

Part of the appeal of a service like EveryPlate is that it constantly allows you to try new recipes.

Each week they have a fresh menu with 13 options for you to pick from, allowing you to satisfy the taste buds of even the fussiest little eaters - and maybe expand their repertoire.

Whether it's a Spiced Pork & Roast Veggie Couscous, Asian Beef Tacos or even a Sweet Chili Chicken Stir Fry, the menu is always exciting.

All of the dishes are made from the freshest ingredients, so you can rest assured that tonight's indulgence is also nutritious.

The meals come with easy to follow, step-by-step recipes which allow you to look like a masterchef in your own kitchen.

3 Avoid takeaways

Another massive advantage of a service like EveryPlate is that it helps you plan your meals in advance.

This makes it exciting for the whole family, it gives them something to look forward to, and subsequently cuts down on the reliance on takeaways.

When trying to feed a family of four for one night on takeaway, you likely won't see too much change from a fifty. In reality it will likely cost you even more.

To feed a family of four on EveryPlate for six nights however it will only cost $5.59 per serving (plus shipping).

4 Reduce on food waste

Food waste is a major problem in Australia. According to the Department of Water, Agriculture and the Environment, we collectively waste around 7.3 million tonnes of food each year, which equates to roughly 300 kilograms per person.

This costs the Australian economy around $20 billion each year and accounts for more than five per cent of our greenhouse gas emissions.

It also costs you money too. Every time you throw out the last of a bag of potatoes you didn't use or scrape away leftovers off your plate because the portion sizes were just too big, that's YOUR money going into landfill.

But a service like Everyplate can help you reduce your food waste. It means you're less inclined to buy too much stuff at the supermarket because you have more of your weekly meals planned. Plus, because every ingredient is correctly portioned you can cook exactly as much as you need to.

This is branded content for EveryPlate.