Meal kit subscriptions have a lot to offer. They’re super convenient, they’ll save you a ton of time, they can cut down on food waste, and— perhaps most importantly of all— they’re a lot of fun. But, how do you find the right one for you? There are just so many!
Well, I’m here to help.
Hi, I’m Lindsey. *waves* I’ve been eating and reviewing meal kits since 2014, and over the years I’ve tried a lot of them. There are plenty to choose from, and it's easy to get lost in the noise. Today, I want to cut through the din to tell you a little bit about one of my favorites, HelloFresh. In this article, I’ll shine a spotlight on some of the things I really like about this subscription. Hopefully, it’ll help you decide if HelloFresh is the right meal kit for you, too!
Or, if you already know that you want to try HelloFresh, you can cut straight to the chase (and score 12 free meals across your first 4 boxes + free shipping on your first box) by signing up with this link!
Now, let's explore 9 reasons why HelloFresh might be the right meal kit for you!
This is a post sponsored by HelloFresh and contains affiliate links.
1. The Menu is Huge
Some people are remarkably consistent when it comes to what they want to eat for dinner; I'm a bit more capricious. My dinnertime personality changes like the wind. Some weeks I'm all for meat and potatoes, while others I'm in the mood for lighter fare. HelloFresh has the largest menu I've ever seen from a meal delivery service (23 different options every single week!), so I never struggle to find dishes that suit my craving. If I'm in the mood for comfort food, I'll select dishes like Creamy Dreamy Mushroom Cavatappi or Salsa Verde Pork Tacos; if I want homestyle classics like grandma used to make, I might opt for Steakhouse Pork Chops or Pub-Style Shepherd’s Pie; and if I want meals that are light and fresh, I'll go for something like Italian Garden Veggie Soup or Roasted Veggie Farro Bowls. I always look forward to checking out what's on the menu, and I seldom struggle to find recipes that are calling my name.
2. It's Great for Singles AND Families
Some meal kits are designed for families and some are created with singles in mind; HelloFresh is versatile. As someone who primarily cooks for two, the two-person meal plan is perfect for me. Every dish comes perfectly portioned, and there's always just the right amount of food for my husband and me to share. Cooking solo? One of my close friends uses the same plan I do— and loves having enough for dinner and lunch the next day. If you have more mouths to feed, you can sign up for a family plan that will send meals for your whole crew. You can even select the "family-friendly preference" to ensure you're auto-matched with kid-approved recipes.
3. It Saves Time
I find the process of making dinner seriously cathartic. There's just something about chopping, sautéing, and baking (preferably with a glass of wine in hand) that helps me decompress from the stresses of the day. Unfortunately, I do not always feel the same about meal planning. Frankly, some weeks I dread it. I have to plan out my menu, figure out a shopping list, and then find time to go to the grocery store (where I almost always manage to forget at least one essential ingredient). Some weeks, I just don't have the time or energy, and those weeks I'm grateful to let HelloFresh take meal planning off my plate. After selecting my recipes online, I can just sit back and wait for my HelloFresh box to arrive on my doorstep. It contains everything I need (veggies, proteins, sauces, and recipes), so I can skip the drudgery and just cook. And for those weeks when I'm extra busy, I'll save myself even more time by selecting recipes that are "quick" or feature "lightning prep."
4. It's Vegetarian-Friendly
In the last year or so, I've been making an effort to eat less meat. I still enjoy steak and roasted chicken from time to time, but I've been trying to include more veggie-centric meals into my weekly lineup. Now, I love to cook, but I sometimes struggle to find inspiration for new and exciting vegetarian meals that will keep dinner interesting. HelloFresh has been a lifesaver. There are at least four vegetarian meals on every menu, and the recipes are always creative and tasty. I'll often fill my box with enticing vegetarian options and then recreate or riff on them again later on my own. I've had a lot of success upping the number of "meat-free Mondays" in my house, and that's largely thanks to HelloFresh.
5. It's Flexible
When it comes to mealtime, not all weeks are created equal. Sometimes I want to cook every single night, and others I'd rather get takeout tacos or delivery sushi. If I'm feeling an aversion to cooking coming on, I never have to worry about my HelloFresh subscription. It's easy to skip a week (just make sure to cancel before the deadline 5 days before your next delivery day), and you can skip as many weeks as you like. If you ever decide to cancel, you can do it from your account online. I have to admit, I'm one of those people who really doesn't want to call and talk to a human to cancel a subscription, so this is a feature I appreciate.
6. It Can Help You Budget
If you’re an impulse shopper who has a hard time resisting the allure of items you don’t really need (like that flavored salt variety pack that “fell into my shopping cart” recently while I was grocery shopping), HelloFresh can help you plan a food budget and stick to it. Every week, you know exactly how much food you’re getting, how many meals are covered, and how much it’s going to cost. Personally, I've also found that regular HelloFresh deliveries help me avoid the temptation of takeout, which can be seriously pricey.
7. The Packaging is Eco-Friendly
Back in the early days of meal kit delivery, subscriptions got a bad (and not totally unfair) rap for their environmental impact. But I'm happy to tell you that great strides have been made, and it's becoming less and less common to see excessive packaging and non-recyclable materials. (A 2019 study even showed that meal kits have a lower carbon footprint than the same food from the supermarket.) HelloFresh takes this seriously. The outer shipping box, insulators, separators, and ingredient bags are all recyclable.
8. The Recipes Are Easy to Follow
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I'm pretty comfortable in the kitchen; in fact, I often seek out recipes with unfamiliar techniques so I can learn new tricks. When my husband is making dinner, on the other hand, he'd much prefer a straightforward recipe with instructions that aren't too challenging. One of the things I love about HelloFresh is that they assign all of their recipes a difficulty rating. Is my husband doing the cooking this week? I'll seek out recipes that are "easy." Will I be the one in the kitchen? Then I won't shy away from recipes that are more involved. (I actually have HelloFresh to thank for teaching me how to steam fish en papillote!) These difficulty ratings are also super handy for those who are new to cooking. If you're still learning the ropes, it's easy to select simple recipes that won't push you too far outside of your comfort zone.
9. The Food is Tasty
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As I mentioned before, HelloFresh has a huge weekly menu, so there's a lot to choose from. There are plenty of dishes that appeal to a number of different palates, but most have one thing in common: I wouldn't be surprised to see them on the menu at one of my neighborhood restaurants. The meals really are very frequently "restaurant quality." They're creative, satisfying, and just plain yummy. As someone who appreciates great tasting food, I love that HelloFresh allows me to treat myself to chef-designed recipes at home in my own kitchen.
My Final Thoughts
Of the many meal delivery subscriptions I've tried and reviewed over the years, HelloFresh is probably my favorite. It's a great "all-rounder" box and the subscription I often recommend to friends and family who are new to the world of meal kits. With such a large menu, there really is something for everyone. Plus, it's super convenient, and the food is delicious. HelloFresh has been a fixture in my life for years now, and I can't see bidding it adieu anytime soon. Hopefully, this article has helped you see why I'm such a fan and has helped you decide whether it might be a good fit for you, too!
So, what do you think? Does HelloFresh sound like the right meal kit for you? If you're ready to give this subscription a try, you can save big on your first four orders by using the link below.
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