Meal Delivery Service-Hello Fresh

By now I am sure you have heard of or even tried one of the many meal delivery services available.   Since I’ve heard a wide range of thoughts from others, I decided gave one a try for myself.  The company I wanted to try with is called Hello Fresh.

I choose Hello Fresh because  the recipes looked super delicious, simple and healthy.  As a person who enjoys the whole cooking process, this concept of meal delivery seems to take all the fun out if it.  I enjoy the recipe planning, the grocery shopping and trying out new kitchen gadgets.  Because I may have a couple of days off during the week,  I usually have the time to do these things.  I realize many people don’t have this kind time and this service is perfect.    Being one of those “don’t knock it till you try it” types, I was willing to give it a go.

If you are interested in trying Hello Fresh but are not interested in reading my whole review, you can click HERE to receive $40 off your first box!

Ordering process:

The Hello Fresh website is very simple to navigate.  Before you choose you meals for the week, you start by choosing your meal plan.  There are 3 plans available: the classic, veggie or family plan.  The classic and veggie plans are best for 2 or 4 adult meals per recipe.  The family plan is ideal for 2 adults and 2 children.  We went with the classic plan.

After selecting your plan, You are taken to choose meals for 2 or 4 people and the number of meals for the week, either 3, 4  or 5 meals.  We went with 3 meals per week for 2 people.  Don’t worry, you’ll get to pick out your meals soon.

Once you click continue, you are brought to a page that where will enter your purchase information.  If you want to try Hello Fresh for yourself, use this link to get $40 off you first box.

Now for the fun part!  Every week, there are 13 meals to choose from.  With all these options, there will surly be something for everyone.  There will usually be a beef, chicken, pork and fish option as well as a breakfast option.  If you choose the Veggie Plan, those recipes also look delicious.

Arrival and packaging:

When ordering your box, you can the delivery date.  This is great because it allows you to plan ahead and know exactly when you need to be looking for the package.  I had our box delivered to my work because I work such long hours, I didn’t want it sitting on our front porch all day.  However, when the box arrived, I realized that it was packed very well with ice and a corrugated cardboard that allows the food to stay cold for the day.  It was nice to see that Hello Fresh has a section on their website on how to recycle the packaging.

I had no problems on the day it was actually delivered but It was delayed by one day.  Fortunately, I was working the next day, otherwise I would have needed to drive to work to pick up my box on a day I wasn’t there.   Not sure if this happens often but it could a problem for some people.   I will say that there were very good about notifying me by e-mail of everything.  I got a message that it would be delayed a day and when it was delivered so I knew I needed to look for it.

The box is easy to spot with the signature Hello Fresh lime on the side.  Upon opening, you will see that your meals are in separate boxes and labeled.  I liked how it was easy to put them in the refrigerator upon arrival and pull out the box when I was ready to cook.

The meat is packed under the meal boxes so don’t forget to pull up the cardboard divider before recycling your box.

Recipes:

Now for the most important part, the food.  Since we went with the 3 meal plan, we chose the following 3 recipes:

-Chicken Lo Mein

-Winning Pork Medallions with Brussel Sprouts and Yukon Gold Potatoes

-Pistachio Crusted Chicken with Quinoa Jalapeño Salad

All three meals were delicious and easy to make.  They use simple ingredients with fresh  produce.  Each meal took around 30-45 mins to make.

The instructions came on card with step-by-step explanations along with photos.  All three meals are on the healthier side (well, maybe not the chicken lo mein).  The recipes call for  a lot of veggies and lean meats. The portions are good-sized and we both felt satisfied after eating but not too full.

That’s great if you are trying to watch your waistline but unfortunately we had no leftovers.  Taking home cooked leftovers for lunch the next day is one way we save money and stay healthy.  Not having those made us either eat out for lunch, or spend more time making another meal to take for lunch.  However, you could opt for the plan for 4 adults and take the two extra portions for lunch if you are willing to spend more.

Things we liked

I know one of the toughest things for me is using up the produce I buy before it goes bad.  The nice thing about Hello Fresh is that they send the exact amount of produce you need.  There is no half a zucchini you throw back in the fridge only to find it a few weeks later covered in green fuzz.

Another thing I like about Hello Fresh is that they post their recipes.  Since ordering, i have found myself looking through the archives and finding other recipes or inspiration for my own cooking. If you have a recipe you really enjoyed, you can either use the printed card that comes with the box or find the recipe online.  Find their recipe archive here.

 

Overall:

Not only are the meals healthier, they are less expensive than if we were to eat out.  Hello Fresh is about $10 per person/ meal.  I know when we eat out, we spend well above that.  Click here for $40 off your first box and now it only cost $3.33 per person/ meal.  Now I know you can’t get much cheaper than that!  Plus, shipping is always free.

I would recommend Hello Fresh for two types of people: busy families who have the time to cook but not meal plan and shop, or those who are wanting to learn to cook.  This service allows you to branch out of your usual, go-to recipes and will definitely teach you new skills.  However, you will be paying a premium for this type of service when compared to doing your own meal planning and grocery shopping.

I love making home cooked meals but sometimes it is a challenge during the busy weekdays.  Hello Fresh or any other meal delivery service does save time during a busy week.  I will say, it is nice to have someone else take over the meal planning and shopping.  However you may not save time cooking.  I do not plan on using a meal delivery service regularly,  but it is nice to have the option during those weeks where our schedule is jam-packed.

If you try Hello Fresh, I would love to hear your thoughts.  Simply post a comment in the box below.  Have a great weekend!