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How HelloFresh Will Keep Me Fed During My Winter Hibernation

Mary Zubritsky
ByMary ZubritskyJan 18, 2023 | 0 comments

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The sleepy months of January and February can be pretty brutal. Between the cold, darkness, snow and lack of activities, it's no wonder people become snowbirds and head south. I lived in NYC for 14 years, and those winters were particularly harsh, especially since I had to walk everywhere, the subway was 15 minutes from my apartment, and it was practically impossible to escape the wind, rain, snow and freezing temps.

Since I didn't cook and couldn't work remote, I had to venture outside no matter what because I needed to eat! So, I'd grab my umbrella of the week (they'd flip inside out and break all the time), and head to one of my local spots for Thai, Chinese, Indian, or whatever else my heart desired. In New York City, I had some of the country's best food just around the corner, so even though I had to walk or take the subway no matter the weather, I averaged around 3 miles a day and had delish dishes.

Fast forward to my life today in the Virginia burbs... I have the convenience of a car, but the food choices around me leave a lot to be desired. If you like chain restaurants, you're set, but after experiencing some of the best food ever, I have a hard time justifying a trip to somewhere like Applebee's or TGI Friday's when it's 30 degrees, snowy and windy. I'd rather just sit on the couch with my bunny rabbit, hide from the elements and snack on his carrots and lettuce. Or just subscribe to HelloFresh when it's too cold to venture outside.

About HelloFresh

Battle the dark winter days and nights with HelloFresh! It's one of the most popular meal kit delivery services and subscriptions that helps you save time and money while you try to stick to your New Year's resolutions! Not sure what to cook during the hibernation months of January and February and don't feel like venturing out into the cold? They've got you covered! Whether you're feeding a family of 2 or 6, you'll get high-quality, pre-portioned and fresh ingredients, along with easy-to-follow recipes that you can choose week by week. It’s no wonder HelloFresh is consistently one of our readers’ favorite meal kits, coming it at #1 on our annual list of Best Meal Kit Delivery Subscriptions.

HelloFresh sources high-quality and totally fresh ingredients like produce (fruits & veggies), organic items, and meat, seafood and poultry from sustainable suppliers and delivers them right to your door. They offer vegetarian, pescatarian, and reduced-calorie menu plans, and you can customize your order, so if you're oddly picky like me (I don't eat pork, beef or fish) simply use the HelloCustom option to swap out sides or proteins.

When you sign up, choose your plan preference—Meats & Veggies, Veggies, Family Friendly, Fit & Wholesome (around 700 calories per serving), Quick & Easy, and Pescatarian—the number of people you'll be serving (2-4), and the number of recipes you'd like to receive per week. Then, confirm your plan and scroll through the meal choices—each week you'll get to choose from over 30 different recipes.

A Hibernation Situation

I'm a summer baby and once the warm weather makes an appearance, I'm outside all the time. Whether it's 70 degrees or 105, I want to soak up the sun and heat, so meal subscription kits like HelloFresh don't make much sense for me then. But once the chill starts to set in, I'm indoors indefinitely and in winter survival mode.

The winter months are gloomy, and there's no better time to lock yourself indoors and get sh!t done. Whether you're hoping to write a book, start a side hustle or just clear out your closet and clean your place, peering out the window on another grey and dreary day is enough motivation to stay inside and hide until St. Patrick's Day.

After all, who wants to trudge around in the ice and snow, searching for something to satisfy your cravings? If I have to move my car to drive a mile for carryout, that seems like a waste of time, and if I order delivery, I've easily dropped $30 on a meal that would cost $7 to make. And I'd like to cut costs everywhere I can these days.

The Meals

Whether the groundhog sees his shadow or not on Groundhog's Day, we still won't be out of the woods for a few more weeks, and that's why I'm making like a squirrel and stocking up on my HelloFresh meals. Check out the hearty meals on my menu for next week.

I know it's not healthy, but Chicken & Waffles is one of my favorite meals ever and this dish comes with spicy honey and red pepper butter. It's the ultimate brunch dish (especially if you had a few too many glasses of wine the night before) and easily satisfies all my cravings!

Ahhh, comfort food just feels so good in the winter! This penne a la vodka-inspired, Creamy Tomato Soup is rich and hearty, and it comes with chicken, peas, and a baguette too. As someone who lives on V8 juice, I can never get enough of tomato anything, and this hits the spot!

And lastly, let's take a trip to Italy with HelloFresh's iteration on traditional chicken alfredo with Italian Chicken over Lemony Spaghetti. Featuring Italian-spiced chicken, tender zucchini, and al dente spaghetti coated in a creamy, cheesy, lemon-spiked sauce, I'm sure it'll cure what ails me!

Just remember, if you follow strict diets like Paleo or Keto, you're vegan, gluten-free or allergen-free, HelloFresh does offer some options, but if you're all or nothing with these diets, you may have better luck with a meal delivery service that caters to these dietary needs.

Verdict

Well, my New Year's Resolutions have gone out the window. I've had Thai food twice this week, skipped a few workouts and had three glasses of wine. So, why not continue down my gluttonous spiral with some tasty treats from HelloFresh? Next week I'll get back on the wagon, but until then... buon appetito!

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HelloFresh is a popular meal kit delivery service and subscription that takes the guesswork out of planning and prepping home-cooked meals. Feed your family or just yourself with quality pre-portioned and fresh ingredients, and easy-to-follow recipes that you can choose week by week. No grocery s... read more.

Mary Zubritsky
Mary Zubritsky

If shopping were an Olympic sport, I’d be a gold medalist. And while my bank account often feels the crunch, I just can’t stop buying secondhand clothing and accessories, under-the-radar designer goods, stuffed animal unicorns (I have about 75), and toys for my pet bunny rabbit. After 20 years of city slicking in NYC and DC, I now have a car and love to tour the Virginia countryside looking for vintage shops, undiscovered wineries and breweries, historic sites, and Thai restaurants—I’m addicted to Thai food. I never leave home without a spare phone charger because I love horror movies and therefore have an irrational fear of being stranded somewhere with a dead battery. 


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