Why yes, yes I DID jump on the Hello Fresh train. I never thought I’d do it, because I knew that it was expensive, but between being pregnant (and TIRED) and going 100 miles an hour every weekend with photoshoots, the thought of going to the grocery store was a bit… intimidating. It takes a lot of effort to sit down and plan out my meals throughout the week. Then figuring out what ingredients I needed to get at the store. And finally making my way out the door to shop. I know it sounds silly, but I just couldn’t muster up the energy needed to deal with all of that, which is how Hello Fresh (and Amazon Fresh!) ended up on my doorstep.
I had a coupon for $30 off and thought, “Hey, why not”. I’ve heard lots of great things about it.
And turns out everybody I had talked to about Hello Fresh was right. It truly is amazing!
Why I love Hello Fresh
First off, It’s super convenient. All you have to do is get on the website, pick your recipes for the week (I like the 3 meal plan for 2 because it’s just enough food for me and Isaac with very few wasted ingredients) and schedule your delivery. I scheduled it for Sunday since that’s my normal grocery shopping day.
Secondly, the recipes are amazing. I’m so bad about getting caught in a recipe “rut” where I just make the same things over and over again. But with Hello Fresh I’ve tried some of the tastiest meals I’ve had in a long time. Also, since I forgot to skip a few weeks (I’ll talk about that later) and didn’t have a chance to pick my meals, I have tried some foods I never would have picked on my own! Like the Meatloaf Balsamico and the Carolina Barbecue Chicken. Turns out they’ve been two of my favorite meals from Hello Fresh!
Also, there isn’t much ingredient waste, which I really like. Since the recipes come with the ingredients pre measured (for the most part), I have just enough for two meals, without having way too much left over. For the meals that HAVE come with a little more of this or that ingredient, I usually just use all of it in the name of leftovers for lunch the next day. ; )
Best of all, a lot of the recipes are so easy that Isaac has been able to help out in the kitchen more, which is SUCH a lifesaver for me. Especially on those days when I’m not feeling good or too exhausted to get dinner started, he’s been able to step up and make dinner for us. Having the recipe cards with the instructions that are easy to follow and understand, as well as all the ingredients in a bag ready to go are super helpful for people like him who aren’t fans of working in the kitchen.
According to Isaac, “It’s easy enough that I can do it!” Which is one of the reasons Hello Fresh won over my heart to begin with!
Finally, it’s given us the chance to enjoy some “gourmet” meals from the comfort of our homes without having to go to the grocery store. I don’t know about you, but that is worth just about every penny!
What I Would Change About Hello Fresh
Honestly, I would change the cost. It’s expensive, especially if you end up doing it week after week. With the Classic Plan (3 meals for 2 people) it ends up being $10/serving which is super pricy for just receiving ingredients. BUT for those weeks when I know a trip to the grocery store just ain’t gonna happen, or when I am bored with the food we’ve been eating, I know it’s definitely worth it.
How they communicate (or don’t). Two weeks in a row I’ve received a Hello Fresh box without meaning to. They do not remind you to pick your meals or that it’s the last day to skip (like Fabletics or Just Fab do). Instead you get an email telling you a box has been shipped and you’re left saying “Oh wow. I hope I like the meals!” Thankfully we’ve loved every recipe we’ve received, but it’s definitely a pricy mistake to make sometimes.
*Disclaimer, you can get on and skip as many weeks as you want, but I forgot to! You can also unskip weeks if you change your mind. I like that option rather than canceling my account all together!*
That the recipes require some work. This is Isaac’s biggest complaint, because he hates having to cut vegetables! While the ingredients come in pre-portioned bags, the veggies still need to be chopped. I personally don’t mind, but for those who don’t like cutting veggies, it can be a bit of a set back. Thankfully, though, the recipes come with an estimated prep time and cook time so you can get an idea on how involved it’s going to be. : )
Takeaways
So… Will I ever try Hello Fresh again? Yes yes yes! It’s definitely not an every week kind of thing for me, but definitely something great to have on hand in case my schedule is insanely busy (which is like all the time nowadays haha!) or if we’re wanting something different to mix things up. There are just too many pros to not do Hello Fresh, ya know??
Want to give it a try for yourself? Well you’re in luck! I have a referral code that will get you a discount (helloooo my favorite word ever) on your first box of Hello Fresh: REBEHICK4.
Use it, then share your awesome Hello Fresh meals with me! I can’t wait to see you start cooking. : )
I was not compensated by Hello Fresh in any way to write this blog post. All opinions are my own!
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