Subscription-based services are taking over the world and changing the way we live our lives, with an estimated 49% of shoppers currently using at least one subscription service. Why? Three reasons: convenience, discovery, and cost.

Subscriptions are no longer limited to magazines and newspapers, today, you can get just about anything your heart desires delivered to your door on autopilot. From vitamins and supplements to razors and workout programming, it’s all available on a recurring basis.

I personally am a big fan of the conveniences of subscription services, always looking for ways to make our lives easier, more fun, and less costly for my whole family, including my two small children.

As I was scratching my head trying to figure out what to get my oldest child for his upcoming birthday, I came across a new-to-me concept: kids cooking subscriptions. I was instantly intrigued and knew that this was the kind of thing that parents can lean on to not only teach their kids important new skills, but to also help them discover their passions, and let’s be honest, keep them entertained!

As I dug deeper into kids’ meal kits, I discovered that there are a few options to choose from, with Kidstir and RadDish being two of the most popular. But which one is best? I decided to dig in and take a closer look to find out. 

Who wins the battle, Kidster or RadDish? Let’s find out!

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of these two brands, let’s first take a second to dissect why you might be considering purchasing one for your little ones. 

Why Subscribe to a Kids’ Cooking Kit?

Whether your child has already begun to show some interest in the kitchen or not, kids cooking kits can help them learn at an early age how to build confidence in the kitchen and make healthy, tasty meals. 

The kitchen has long been regarding as the most sacred of gathering places in the home. It’s where we laugh, cry, talk, cook, clean, connect, and do our homework. Some of our most special, cherished moments come from either inside the kitchen or at the dining table enjoying a meal created within it.

Personally, I would love for my children to grow up with a love and appreciation for healthy, nutritious foods and to know that they can create dishes that not only fuel their bodies but that taste great, too. These are the types of activities that have the power to empower our children, build their confidence, and leave them with a sense of pride and accomplishment.

Benefits of kids meal kits include:

• Recipes made to support picky eaters
• Easy-to-follow instructions
• Meals made with ingredients readily available
• Quality time spent with your children
• Building diverse kitchen skills
• Learning math, history, and science skills
• Recipes and memories that will last a lifetime
• Collectible items and real kitchen tools
• Tons of fun!

RadDish Vs. Kidstir: A head-to-head matchup

Kidstir is on a mission to bring families together. They inspire to allow parents to share their love of cooking with their children while building confidence in the kitchen.

Each month, subscribers will receive a carefully curated, themed cooking box that contains recipes, shopping lists, cooking tools, and games to engage the whole family. The recipe cards are bright, fun, and easy to understand. The best part is that they’re coated so no worries about dumping anything on them or otherwise tarnishing them. And they come hole punched so you can add them to a recipe book and keep them forever. Keep in mind that if you want to purchase the recipe book, it’s an additional one-time cost of $19.99.

Kids can also build their own cookbook using the recipe collection system that’s included with every box. Your little one can custom design a year of meals and enjoy their favorite recipes over and over again. It also makes a sweet childhood memento that can be passed down and enjoyed for years to come.

Features and Benefits

• Monthly boxes never repeat
• Memberships renew automatically, but you can cancel at any time
• Free shipping on all US orders
• Great for kids ages 4-14
• Siblings can join the fun for just $5 more per kit
• Fun themes every month
• Tons of digital resources including additional recipes, shopping lists, and more
• Dedicated parent Facebook group
• 3 tasty, kid-friendly recipes in each box
• Free oven mitt included with 6-month membership, free oven mitt + apron included with a 12-month membership

RadDish was founded by a former middle school social studies teacher who discovered that the kitchen can be one of the best places for children to learn essential life skills like math, culture, science, and so much more. The company’s mission is to make cooking fun, exciting, and a way to connect with family and friends. They’re dedicated to fostering culinary creativity that will nurture children’s’ confidence both inside and outside the kitchen.

As part of your subscription each month, your child will receive 3 illustrated, laminated recipe guides that contain step-by-step instructions for each recipe. They make the guides bright, colorful, and simple to read and understand. Additionally, you’ll also receive a quality kitchen tool each month that your child can use for that month’s recipes and beyond, creating their own kitchen tool set. Lastly, each month your child will receive creative kitchen projects and crafts that will keep them busy and engaged beyond just the recipes.

The theme for every month changes and they never repeat, so there’s something new and exciting every month that you’re subscribed to. Included with your subscription is access to the Bonus Bites Online resources where you can browse their complete digital library of recipes, dietary modifications, music playlists, activities, and so much more.

Features and Benefits

• New theme every month with no repeats
• 3 recipes included with each kit
• Grocery list emailed to you prior to kit arrival
• Bonus Bites Online resources
• RadDish online community via the Facebook group
• Perfect for kids between the ages of 4-14
• Laminated recipe cards that last forever
• Culinary apron patches, kitchen tool, and activities included with each box
• Membership will automatically renew each month until you cancel
• Free shipping in the US
• Free Apron included with 6 and 12-month membership

Wrapping Up: Which kid’s cooking box is the best option for your family?

As you’ve likely discovered, these two brands are very similar. Both RadDish and Kidstir are making it possible for kids of all ages to roll up their sleeves, get in the kitchen, and discover a love and passion for cooking and eating healthy, nutritious foods. So, really, there is no clear “winner” as far as these two companies go.

I love that both Kidstir and RadDish incorporate more than just recipes and cooking into their boxes, they provide educational resources, games, and more to keep kids entertained, learning, and excited for more.

When it comes down to which one you’re going to choose for your child(ren), I would consider things like how long of membership do you want to commit to? Both brands offer monthly, 6-month, and 12-month memberships, but Kidstir also has a 3-month option.

Other than that, there really are not a lot of differences between these two options, even the pricing is essentially identical. To make the decision a little easier, I recommend taking a look at what the themes are that each brand is currently offering and deciding which one you think your child will love best.

For example, as I am writing this, RadDish’s theme for the month is “My Italian Restaurant.” The recipes included are; antipasto salad, three-cheese ravioli, and chocolate tiramisu, all of which I know both of my children would love. 

Regardless of which brand you choose, you can’t go wrong! I’m so excited that I discovered these kids’ cooking subscriptions as I feel they’re the perfect way to introduce my kids to cooking and to allow them to develop an appreciation for healthy, nourishing food. Plus, let’s be honest, they’re much more likely to eat the food that they proudly made than if I just serve it to them!