This Grocery Hack Helped Me Increase My Protein Intake By 40%

Your protein needs are likely higher than you think—assuming you’re striving for a longer, stronger, healthier life. Not only is protein the building block of muscle mass (a key predictor of longevity), but it’s also the most satiating macronutrient, which means it keeps you full for longer.

I’ve recently made it a mission to fuel my body with enough healthy protein to thrive (not just survive!)—and that’s what led me to ButcherBox, a popular meat delivery service offering high-quality meat with trustworthy sourcing. 

ButcherBox launched in 2015 with the mission to make high-quality meat more accessible. In the 9+ years since then, the company has taken on a much larger feat: rethinking the entire food system.

The brand pays attention not only to quality, but animal welfare, sourcing, and the health of our planet. The brand only partners with people who also prioritize safety, sustainability, and inclusion.

When you sign up for ButcherBox, you can choose from a custom or curated plan. 

With the Curated Plan, you’ll be able to choose your meat types (no seafood), but the brand will select the specific cuts. The Classic Box comes with 8 to 11 pounds of meat, while the Big Box comes with 16 to 22 pounds.

The Custom Plan allows you to hand-select specific cuts of meat and seafood. There are two custom box sizes available (the classic box with 9 to 14 pounds of meat or the Big Box with 18 to 26 pounds). Each custom box has 20% more meat than the Curated Plan.

Once you select your plan type and box size, you’ll be prompted to choose how often you’d like to receive deliveries: every two weeks, every month, every six weeks, or every two months. You can pause or cancel your subscription at any time.

Next you’ll select the types of meat (and the cuts if you chose a custom plan) for your first box. A few meat options include burgers, organic free-range boneless skinless chicken breasts, stew beef, fully cooked chicken maple breakfast sausage patties, and pork tenderloin.

When searching for high-quality meat, it’s extremely important to pay attention to sourcing. ButcherBox is the largest meat brand to be named a Certified B Corporation, meaning it’s gone through extensive evaluation for both social and environmental performance and animal welfare.

As mentioned earlier, ButcherBox carefully vets its partners and sources only from those that share the brand’s high standards for quality and for sustainability practices. Each facility is routinely inspected and approved by the USDA or a comparable agency. 

What does that mean? 100% grass-fed, grass-finished beef, free-range organic chicken, pork raised crate-free, and wild-caught seafood. All meat and seafood is sourced from the U.S., Australia, and Canada.

The cattle are humanely raised on a pasture, with a natural grass diet (no antibiotics or hormones) for their entire lives. The pigs are fed an all-vegetarian diet and raised with traditional, sustainable farming methods.

The cost of ButcherBox depends on which box type and size you choose. See below for a full breakdown.

The custom boxes come with 20% more meat than the curated boxes, and you have the option to include seafood as well for no additional cost. 

For both plans, the classic box is recommended for individuals and small families, while the big box is best for mid-size families and large freezers. 

I have a long history with ButcherBox. I used to get deliveries every three months or so, back in 2019, 2020, and 2021. It was a savior during the pandemic when I didn’t want to go to the grocery store but still wanted to eat healthy. 

But I lived alone, which made it harder to justify the cost (and get through my full order without stocking up the freezer).

I also added the brand’s gluten-free organic chicken nuggets (because yum), which weren’t on the menu when I previously subscribed!

I’m extremely particular about meal delivery processes. I truly hate food waste, so few things bug me more than a perishable delivery without any alert of shipment. 

Fortunately, my most recent ButcherBox delivery experience was fairly seamless. 

I love that you’re able to choose your specific delivery date, and that the brand sends you an email alert to let you know the box as shipped. You’ll be able to track your delivery and receive updates on its status if desired.

All boxes ship 1 to 3 days from the date the order is billed, and the delivery typically arrives 1 to 2 days after shipment. Typically, boxes arrive between 8am and 8pm.

The meat arrives frozen and compact in a single eco-friendly, insulated box. The brand designed its boxes specifically to keep the meat within optimal temperature range, with dry ice included in each package to keep the meat safe. I personally had my box delivered the day after my tracking estimated it would arrive—but everything was still frozen.

Oh, and shipping is free (but shouldn’t it always be?).

It may sound silly, but quality has been a big deterrent in my own goal of adding more protein to my diet. I want to feel good about where my meat is coming from, yet I’m rarely impressed by the options at my local grocery store.

Ergo, there’s a lot I love about ButcherBox:

There’s no guessing game for quality

I love that with ButcherBox I never have to wonder how the meat was sourced or worry about the quality I’m going to receive. Every type and cut of meat is high-quality and the brand has very respectable standards for sourcing.

The meat tastes great

I’ve tasted a wide variety of ButcherBox meats and seafoods (wild-caught Alaskan salmon filet, organic chicken wings, pork butt, grass-fed burgers, and more) and I truly can taste the quality. Each meal I’ve made with my ButcherBox meat tastes fresh and flavorful.

I’m also a salmon snob, yet I’m always impressed by how great ButcherBox’s salmon tastes. The bright pink color says it all!

The only cut that was just so-so is the steak, which tasted a little bit dry. I will say that could have been in the way it was cooked, but I has higher hopes considering the quality.

Of course, I’d be remiss not to mention how delicious the gluten-free chicken nuggets were. I’ve been eating them daily for a mid-afternoon protein snack and I’m going to be disappointed when the bag runs out.

It inspires me to cook more

Guess what happens when you have your freezer and fridge stocked with high-quality protein options: you cook more. Over the past two weeks of testing ButcherBox, I haven’t ordered takeout once (and yes, this is a feat for me!). 

There’s a ton of variety

I can tell you right now: I never would have bought a pork butt on a whim at the grocery store. I tend to go in with my list and stick with my usual go-to meats and seafood.

But with ButcherBox, I have a seemingly endless amount of healthy options. I’ve experimented with types and cuts of meat that I had never cooked before—which also helps get more nutrients into my diet! 

It helps me hit my protein goals

To say ButcherBox has been a game-changer would be an understatement. If I had unlimited funds, I’d always have an active subscription.