Eat Unlimited's fresh meals can be delivered nationwide. Buy a Maxipack of eight meals for $48!

If meal preparation has become stressful for you or someone you support, services like Eat Unlimited are a convenient option.

The Wellington company will courier ‘fresh sealed' home style meals direct to your door!

The service is available nationally, though it's not possible to deliver meals to rural addresses for health and safety reasons (it takes too long, up to three days).

Eat Unlimited menus change weekly, and there is a standard delivery charge of $10 whether you order one meal, or many.

It's best to place your Eat Unlimited orders by Monday, as stocks of popular meals (especially the weekly roast) sell out quickly.

Eat Unlimited's menus reflect seasonal produce. Each 400 gram meal includes the main dish, vegetables, and sauces or gravy, and costs from $7.

Upsizing to a slightly larger 500 gram meal costs just $1 extra per meal. Desserts are available for $4, and fresh home baking for $5.

Eat Unlimited's Alison Macaulay says customers include busy professionals, working parents, people who are ill or whose limited mobility affects their ability to cook, elderly people, and their supportive families.

"Some of our customers are perfectly okay to cook for themselves, but want a break after 60 years of making meals for their family," Alison says.

Other customers are recovering from surgery, have recently had a baby, or are receiving treatment for cancer. In some cases, a person has lost confidence in the kitchen due to arthritis or following a stroke or injury, she says.

Eat Unlimited gift certificates are often purchased by human resource departments wanting to help employees through a crisis, or friends, families and neighbours wishing to give practical assistance to someone who lives alone or has a stressful caring role.

"A gift certificate is a useful alternative to sending flowers at times of stress," says Alison.

Eat Unlimited's ever changing menus are a selling point for customers who want fresh, appealing meals.

"There is real excitement when the old menu is ending and the new one comes out. We do try to keep our menus interesting, and to have some choices that the older generation love and enjoy."

Eat Unlimited's annual tripe and onions meal is popular with offal lovers who stock their freezers for the year ahead!

While the company's meals are packaged to keep for up to two weeks in the fridge, they can also be frozen for up to four months.

"We have lovely relationships with our clients and do our best to make sure their needs are met," Alison says. "Some of our regular customers have limited sight, so we print sleeves for the meals with large text so they know exactly what they will be eating."

Its Maxipack frozen deal includes eight full meals for only $48.

Alison says Eat Unlimited freezes all unsold meals, and when the company's freezer is full, customers can order their ‘potluck' Maxipacks. The meals, pulled randomly from Eat Unlimited's freezer, are all different.

While Maxipack buyers can't choose exactly what meals they want, they can note preferences or allergies when placing their order (no pork or fish, for example).

"We get many wonderful comments about our food, but more importantly people are happy because they are eating something they love, that has the taste and is cooked in the same way as meals made at home."

"Families are happy because their elderly parents or ill loved ones are eating again, and are staying happy and healthy."

Eat Unlimited's meals have a money back guarantee. The company even offers seasonal and festive menus at holiday times.

To learn about Eat Unlimited, visit www.eatunlimited.co.nz, or phone (0800) 328 333. Email inquiries can be sent to info@eatunlimited.co.nz.

PREMIUM DELIVERY ... fruit and veges ... RIGHT TO YOUR DOOR!

If it's difficult to get out tochoose the most tempting produce, KiwiFresh Direct will shop for you.

A medium sized box of top quality fruit costs $29 for 20-25 pieces (4-5 kilos), or $42 for a large box with 42-50 pieces (nine to 10 kilos).

Vege baskets cost $22.22. KiwiFresh Direct has weekly specials on packs of in-season fruits, and you can also order mixed produce vegetable packs. The company will deliver the boxes to workplaces, and also sells fruit packs for conferences and meetings.

Set up a regular order and save 50% on your first box! Produce is delivered in a sturdy cardboard box, or you can request an old-fashioned, reusable wooden one for $10. You can also specify more of a few types of fruit if desired.

To learn more phone (0508) 549 437 or visit http://www.kiwifreshdirect.co.nz/

All prices are plus GST and delivery, depending where you live.