I would never consider them as they work out very expensive. Plus if the quality of the ingredients is poor then what you have to deal with them and get a replacement. Also how long has the food been packed in the boxes before shipping . I wouldn't trust any chicken ,fish or meat incase of food poisoning.
I can't cook everyday due to health but do use fresh ingredients . I cooked enough red lentil and whatever veg I fancy soup enough to last 6 lunches. I store it in the fridge in a large lidded plastic box. I also cook a large stew or lasagne or pasta bake to last 6 dinners . I portion it into oven proof dishes and keep in the fridge .
Yesterday made a stew with Quorn chicken pieces ,pearl barely 150g , 5 chicken oxos , peppers , courgettes ,butternut squash and leeks. I eat chicken and Quorn chicken pieces,mince or sausages .
My soup was made from 150g red lentils,5 veg Oxo ,leeks and sweet potato.
I can't cut veg up into pieces . So just peel carrots they go in whole, leeks outer leaf removed. Cut down the middle and washed the cut into half across. Mushrooms just wiped and in whole ,toms in half core cut out, peppers in half and deseed, onions peeled left whole , courgettes top and tailed after washing left whole, butternut and sweet potatoes put into roasting tin lined with foil prick veg water in and foil lid cooked in oven for hour while my dinner reheats . Once cold next day peeled . I freeze the veg like this .
Soups are blitz with hand blender and stews cut into with kitchen scissors to cut up veg.
This way I have healthy meals and always freezer full. Only ready frozen veg I buy is broccoli, cauliflower,peas and baby sprouts.
I also boil 500g long grain rice and cool in cold water and put 100g in plastic bag and freeze. All veg ,rice and Quorn cooked from frozen but always defrosted the large chicken breast overnight.
Plus I bake but my way. I have a thread called Whiffs recipes. I started as a joke on the gingerbread/ Parkin thread as I put other short cut baking when posters asked when my book was coming out and I asked if they wanted me to start a thread but others post their recipes as well. Both threads are down the list. I make jams , marmalade and chutneys but my way which works.
Hope this has helped.