Disclaimer: Hello Fresh sent three meals to me in exchange for an honest review. As always, all opinions are my own.
A few weeks back on snapchat (@yogaby_candace), I talked about how I kept seeing all these different meal delivery services pop up. There are so many services out there and I wondered how the process actually worked. Was the food any good? Was it easy to assemble? I thought I'd give a few a try. A while back I shared my review of Sun Basket, and today I'm sharing Hello Fresh.
The Company:
Hello Fresh offers a weekly menu to choose from and you can pick meals to serve two people or four people. You get pre-measured, seasonal ingredients, and prepare them yourself following the instructions included.
The Ordering Process:
Ordering was straightforward. They switch up their meals every week so there is a solid variety. You can choose from a classic plan (approx $9.90/meal, biggest variety, can feed 2 - 4 adults, and you can choose from 6 recipes), veggie plan (approx $9.08/meal, vegetarian recipes only, feeds 2 - 4 adults, and you get 3 recipes), or the family plan (approx $8.75/meal, family-friendly recipes for both adults and children and you get 3 recipes).
The Delivery Process:
They deliver nationwide. All the ingredients you need, along with instructions, come in an insulated box with ice packs so everything is meant to stay fresh.
The Food:
I chose the following:
- Chicken and Pineapple Quesadillas - (See photo at the top) One of my chicken packets was opened at the seam. Since I have ordered a meal for four, I had a second chicken breast in the box, so it wasn't a big deal (and I also didn't have a family of four to feed), but had I paid for the service, that would've really upset me. The quesadillas were okay - nothing that special. I wasn't a huge fan of the pineapple - as they were fruit cups with that syrupy liquid, rather than fresh pineapple. It didn't seem quite like a seasonal meal to me, as fall has arrived and pineapples aren't in season. But overall, it was fine. Easy meal for picky eaters for sure.
2. Pork and Apple Burgers - These were my favorite! Really delicious, and totally different from what I would normally make myself. The buns were really good, the meat was good - everything about it was a win.
3.Baked Fusilli Pasta - This was just another meh for me. The dish itself was fine, but nothing to write home about. It'd be a great option for people with kids or picky eaters, but for me, it fell flat.
Overall Impressions
I really like how they pack each meal into its own box so when you receive more than one meal they don't get mixed up. I wasn't blown away by two of the three dishes - I think half the reason why I'd want to place an order for a meal delivery service is so that I could learn to cook new things and also expand the variety of the things I eat, so I'd prefer recipes that are a bit more complex. However, this is a great option for people who want simple, no-fuss meals and don't have a ton of time to cook.
Let's talk: I'd love to know if you've ever tried a meal delivery service. What are your thoughts? If you haven't tried, would you? Would this be the one for you or do you prefer trying more complex meals?