Editor's Note: I've been struggling to enjoy a well-balanced home-cooked meal for a long time. It has affected my health and budget. So I decided to sign up for a HelloFresh Meal Kit.
What dinnertime looked like before HelloFresh:
Before signing up for HelloFresh, my husband and I had the worst eating habits. We would snack all day, live on takeout or instant noodles, and every weekend, we would be at a new restaurant.
We were feeling sluggish and tired all the time. So we decided to make a change and start cooking, but that was a totally different kind of stress. Picking up groceries, deciding what to make, and obviously the actual cooking.
We used to cook three basic recipes; lasagne, pasta, and stir fry. Sick of eating the same food, we started Googling recipes, but they were all complicated, needed a million different ingredients, and took hours to prepare. I was sick of having cupboards filled with spices and sauces that I have used only a few spoons of.
One night, we made pork burgers with coleslaw and potato wedges. We picked up all the ingredients and kept the receipt which cost around $35.87. Add in the cost of all the ingredients we already had at home, our time, and the amount of water we used to clean up after - something simple like burgers became such a burden.
The more I read about HelloFresh, the more curious and surprised I was. So I decided to bite the bullet and subscribe to a HelloFresh meal kit.
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What Dinnertime looked like after HelloFresh:
After signing up, I realized HelloFresh has a plan for everything: Meat & Veggie, Family Friendly, Pescatarian, Veggie, Calorie Smart, and Quick & Easy. You can even customize your plan to the number of people (2 or 4) and how many meals a week. I picked the Meat & Veggie plan for two people with 3 meals a week.
They have a wide range of recipes to choose from; 25+ meals that change every week. We chose the Spicy Harissa Chicken Bowls over Tabbouleh with Feta & Greek Vinaigrette, Balsamic Tomato & Herb Chicken over Buttery Garlic Spaghetti, and we had to pick the Banh Mi Pork Burgers with Pickled Veggie Slaw, Sriracha Mayo & Garlic Potato Wedges!
Our box came with all the ingredients pre-portioned and individually packed, which saved us time and money. And ultimately, there was no food waste. Each HelloFresh meal was quick and easy, and with their detailed recipe cards and pictures, keeping up was the simplest thing!
Each meal was delicious and restaurant-quality. With their cuisine from all around the world, my husband and I feel like we're traveling! Their meals take around 30 minutes, which gives me a lot of time to do other chores in the house.
Each HelloFresh serving costs $9.49, or $18.98 for two, which saved us $16.89 (when we made the same pork burger recipe). We couldn't believe how much we saved!
As a plus, HelloFresh's packaging is recyclable (they even have a guide on the best ways to recycle). Because of a shorter supply chain and better distribution methods, a meal from HelloFresh has a 25% lower carbon footprint than one made from your local grocery store's ingredients.
I have to say that cooking with HelloFresh has saved me time, money and it keeps me eating healthy and balanced.
The Takeaway:
HelloFresh has made my life - not just dinner time - so much easier. I feel like I'm learning new skills and creating different flavors on my own. With their wide range of recipes, I am also spoiled for choice and not just cooking the same few meals.
We still prefer buying the essentials, but we don't need to buy as many vegetables and meats that go bad so soon. HelloFresh has been a real lifesaver for the kitchen, our budget, and our time. Oh, and right now they are offering 14 free meals across 4 boxes. There is no better time to try HelloFresh for yourself, you won't regret it!
