HelloFresh - US

HelloFresh has really gone down the tubes. I've been encountering more and more mistakes and rotten food with my orders. The instructions used to list what to do if given a different option from what was pictured and now they don't anymore, even online. I only order two meals a week and recently, I was shocked to find out I had four coming my way and don't know how it happened. Of course, because orders are set in stone a week ahead, there was nothing I could do and no meaningful help was given. This was expensive to begin with and now I just can't justify the price anymore.

I am who Hello Fresh is made for. If you want to eat real food, not takeout, snacks, or processed food; but you have no idea how to make meals that taste good and have actual nutritional value and will fill you up, this is for you! I love that I get everything I need (almost) and a big recipe card that I just have to follow and I'm making meals I never thought possible! All the things people told me that were negatives simply aren't in my case. Everyone said it was expensive. And it might be, if you're the kind of grocery shopped that gets a full cart of staples and keeps a stocked pantry. But if you're someone like me, who would probably have to buy all the ingredients, it's actually very cost effective. Add to that the fact that I hardly ever need to go to the grocery store so no impulse buys, and I'm coming out ahead with better nutrition and quality than I would have gotten if left to shop on my own. Some people said the portion sizes would be small. I have yet to have a meal that didn't fill me on one portion, because I'm having real food. Protein, vegetables, healthy fat (I use EVOO whenever they want cooking oil). And since the plans are sold as for two or four people, I have it for two. At first, I was making half and then the other half the next day, but my boyfriend (the one who said the portions would be too small) was interested in trying these things so I give the other half to him now. I'm actually learning to cook, and being a vegetarian, I'm learning to cook meals that actually have enough protein. Before Hello Fresh, I mainly ate pasta and salads. Now I'm making risotto, veggie flatbreads, eggplant parmesan and many other delicious meals. I will say this: If you aren't used to cooking and prep, as in chopping your own veggies and having more than one pot/pan going at once, the prep time for you may be longer than they say. Mine definitely was in the beginning, but now I'm getting the hang of chopping veggies while managing something cooking on the stove or in the oven. The flavorings they include make these meals delicious and impressive if you want to share with someone. Delivery has been great too. I get my box every Monday, and they said it's packed to last 24 hours before needing refrigeration. I can't vouch for that, but there are definitely days I'm not home until 10 or 11pm, and my food is cold when I unpack it - even during the recent heat wave. Each meal comes in its own little bag, so when you're ready to cook, you just take the bag out, find the corresponding recipe card (also in the box), and cook. The app is easy to use as well, for ordering your meals. Just be mindful of how close to delivery you are coming. Based on your preferences they choose the meals for you. So I signed up for 3 meals per week, vegetarian. You then check the meals they chose and if you don't like something, you delete it and browse the offerings so you can pick something better. There are also skip options, if you're going away or won't be cooking that week. You can add on - other meals, specials from the market that week (usually quicker-prep meals, like a microwaveable mac n cheese), breakfasts, desserts, extra proteins or other things for your recipe. And even though I'm vegetarian, I can still choose non-vegetarian meals if I want. I can either sub them in for the meals chosen or add them on. It's great if I see something my carnivorous boyfriend would love. I can just get that and make it for him. Overall, HelloFresh has changed me into someone who eats like a grown-up now. For under $100 per week, including my add-ons, I get more food than I can eat on my own. It's convenient, fun, cost-effective, and takes the guesswork out of what's for dinner after working all day and most nights. I enthusiastically recommend to anyone who needs a meal upgrade.

Stopping the Ready Meals that I was using for lunch meals was a real issue. I did subscribe to Hello Fresh's sister company, Factor. Those meals were not substantial enough and had a diet feel to them. Hello Fresh Ready Meals were more substantial (had carbs) Meal boxes are fine, but meal prep takes too long and expensive as I would have to cook and then buy microwavable Tupperware to bring to work. I just order from Walmart, with its free, same-day delivery. Bring back the Ready Meals, and add variety when you do.

Late deliveries. Incorrect recipies sent(not what was ordered). Missing recipe cards. Incorrect recipe cards. If I don’t pick it sets the same and then groups very similar recipes, for a pasta rice and meat dish with the same or similar flavour profiles. I used this years ago in UK and was significantly better and every way. time saved is the real plus and most recipes do taste alright.

So far the meals have been very helpful in saving time and are pretty easy to make. My one main critique is that your meal choices are very hard to find a variety for gluten free people. Almost all of your Asian meals contain the soy glaze(if it was just soy sauce I could replace with tamari) yes there are gluten free choices but those that aren’t Asian or pasta based are very redundant styles of meals/flavor profiles. Have you considered replacing tamari (gluten free soy sauce) in your Asian meals? It would really open your meals to a wider clientele