Exploring Meal Kit Delivery: Why It Works For Us

 This content has been sponsored by HelloFresh. Regardless the images an opinions contained below are genuine and copyright Momma Told Me Blog 2017.

Thanks to Momma's helicopter parenting style I was taught essential cooking skills from a very young age.

Okay, what I was really taught was how to do 'prep work' such as washing and peeling potatoes, mixing marinades, trimming chicken, and measuring ingredients. Long before we had magical tablets to bark directions at us in the kitchen there was me, the loyal daughter reading off fine print from Betty Crocker's cook book. Of course I picked up some essential cooking skills too- I learned to add cold oil to a hot pan to prevent sticking, that meats continue to cook after being removed from a hot surface, and to always taste your food when cooking. Things, in my adult life, I've taken for granted as common knowledge. That was, until I met Jay.

In the 5 years we have been together Jay has never made a meal from scratch. It's not from laziness, or lack of wanting, but from a deep rooted fear of mucking things up. I like to think he has this vision of the entire kitchen engulfed in flames from a pot of water catching on fire. So, in our household that has been the main obstacle to eating delicious home cooked meals on a nightly basis. That and the fact that I simply don't have the time to go into the store shop meal-by-meal each week. Schedules change, and some nights I'm happy if I remember to change out of my clothes before bedtime. And let's not discuss the cost and waste involved in trying to meal plan for 2 people 7 nights a week.

So, for those reasons, and so many more, we've been experimenting with the ever-so-popular meal kit delivery trend. There are many companies out there offering these types of services and it can be overwhelming to know where to start or what to expect. I've found HelloFresh is the perfect place to dip your toes, with an easy to navigate online portal and a very relaxed subscription format.

You'll start by heading online- If you've never ordered from HelloFresh before you can enjoy $30 off your first box, plus free shipping, with my exclusive code: MOMMAJ30.

Once online you'll set up a very basic profile identifying whether you typically are shopping for a couple or a family (3-4 people) and your personal palette preferences (classic gourmet meals, family styled meals, or vegetarian). At that point you'll be given a preview of the upcoming week's meals and allowed to select the number of meals which you want delivered (3, 4, or 5). I especially like this option because it gives me the chance to sort of customize and plan my meal plan for the upcoming week. If I was planning on cooking chicken outside of my HelloFresh box then I might decide to go with another protein based meal during my selection process.

You'll choose a delivery date. In order to ensure the freshest ingredients, and prompt delivery, there's only a 3 day delivery window during the week. Of course your box and ingredients will last many more days beyond delivery, when stored properly in your home, so you will have some freedom to plan your meals and nights.

You are never locked into a commitment or contract- After your first box you can delay or cancel as desired- We like to enjoy a meal delivery box once or twice a month as our schedule demands. You can use HelloFresh as often or as little as fits your family's schedule. Pause your deliveries for up to 5 weeks, or opt-out of deliveries on a week to week basis if desired.

When your HelloFresh box arrives it might seem overwhelming and exciting all at once. It's a big box! Inside you'll find the key ingredients for each meal packaged in individual boxes (sectioned by meal). I like to keep everything in their appropriate box until we're ready to cook each meal but not all fridges will accommodate three or more of these smaller boxes. Regardless you will want to check the contents of each box and cross reference the provided ingredients lists to make sure everything arrived in good order. Proteins are not shipped and stored in the smaller meal boxes- we almost threw ours out! Make sure to check under the meal boxes, in between the ice packs, to remove your proteins upon unpacking.

Your box will also include sturdy, illustrated, recipe cards for each of your meals. On this recipe cards you will find the provided ingredients, and portioning, any necessary ingredients or supplies you need to prepare (bowls, cling wrap, water, etc) and step by step instructions to prepare your dishes.

If you are receiving the family (3-4 person) sized boxes most of your ingredients will be doubled. This will be noted on the recipe card under the ingredients but does not always translate to the instructions, which are written for the general base (2 person) recipe. I suggest reading your recipe card ahead of time to make sure any ingredient portioning or prep-work is addressed before you're in the middle of cooking your meal.

One of the things I love especially about HelloFresh is how well the instructions are timed. One person can effectively manage their time in the kitchen without wasting a moment and efficiently prepare a meal with minimal to no experience. Nearly all of your ingredients provided will require some sort of prep on your part, but the recipe card integrates this prep into the instructions at timed intervals that make the most of down time (IE: where your buns are toasting or your water is boiling).

I also love how fun HelloFresh is for both new home cooks and seasoned chefs, such as myself. I've always wanted to make stuffed burgers from scratch but never knew quite where to begin with flavor profiles or the filling. HelloFresh's Juicy Lucy burgers broke the entire process down. I now have the confidence to make them again, perhaps even with a few of my own twists!

And the food? I find the flavor profiles are strong, yet natural- the fresh ingredients keep questionable things out of my meals and really allow true flavors to shine through. If I encounter an ingredient I haven't worked with before I can even learn how to prep and handle it like a pro. In general the service has not only saved me time and money on busy weeknights, but also expanded my confidence in the kitchen and taught me a few new tricks!

Perhaps, best of all for me, it's even inspired Jay to take the apron and cook on his own. In fact, he rather enjoyed the pride that came from preparing meals from scratch, and I've noticed he's gotten a lot more confident with the knife! Having pre-portioned ingredients in addition to the easy-to-follow recipe cards really provides all the tools for success, and even brings back a little bit of fun to the kitchen again!

Have you ever tried HelloFresh? If you've never ordered from HelloFresh head on over now to enjoy $30 off your first box, plus free shipping, with my exclusive code: MOMMAJ30. This code will only be around through the first week of May!

@BlueApronMeals: Shrimp Spaghettini w/ Chili, Mint, + Lemon- Cooking Simplified

****I received a 3 meal, 1 week, trial of Blue Apron Meals for the purpose of this series. No further compensation was provided. All photos contained below are property of Momma Told Me Blog 2013.

Momma Told Me: There's more to eat than candy and cake!

I'm not going to lie, Blue Apron Meals is my new crush and I am absolutely smitten, folks. For those of you just joining the final part in this series, Blue Apron is a revolutionary new 'to your door' service that inspires chefs from beginner to professional to hit their cutting boards and explore new recipes. Structured as an elective weekly delivery program, Blue Apron will send every single ingredient you need to make 3 deliciously inspired meals in the comfort of your own home. That's everything from seasonal fresh produce to spices and protein- all carefully measured to create portions in groups of 2. You'll not only receive a carefully packed box of ingredients, but a beautiful, full color, recipe card with photo enhanced step-by-step preparation instructions for each meal. The only thing missing is the blue apron, itself!

The first two posts I featured my first attempt at Stuffed Peppers with Millet and Mexican Style Chopped Salad; for my final meal, I was presented a more simplistic Shrimp Spaghettini with Chilis, Mint, and Lemon. In my original shipment I had received a carefully packaged 10oz portion of fresh de-veined shrimp-  unfortunately, this package had become punctured in shipping, so I replaced the shrimp on my own. With everything else in ship shape condition, I hit the cutting board to dice my shallot, garlic, and sweet Italian pepper. While I love to cook, I'd never be able to discern a 'sweet Italian pepper' from the lineup at my local grocer, so this was yet another case where Blue Apron had instantly expanded my culinary horizons.

From prep-to-plate, my cooking endeavors took no more than 15 minutes, using the photo guided instructions given to me. For tips on how to cook pasts just right, and tell when shrimp is done, I utilized the community on Blue Apron for feedback from other customers and budding chefs. Once my ingredients had been properly cooked and sauteed, I plated my dish and tore up some of the fresh mint leaves to garnish (another first for me). The entire recipe felt so simple I was, honestly, anticipating a more bland dish that needed extra seasoning to really stand out. I was ever wrong; this dish was full of fresh seasonal flavor that continued to present itself with each bite, and even built itself to a pleasant heat by the last noodle.

The other half is not much of a shrimp lover, but I was surprised to learn he had dug out the remaining cooked pasts to enjoy for an afternoon meal one day. Even Jay was impressed by the flavor of a pasta dish with no visible sauce! The delicate balance of hot red pepper flakes and cool mint offers a culinary pairing I never would have dreamt of on my own and shows how Blue Apron had once again expanded my culinary horizons. The true hero in this dish, however, were the fresh ingredients that brought out the natural flavors of a home cooked Italian meal, the perfect pick for an early Fall afternoon.

We have been tickled with our Blue Apron experience- many of the portions were bigger than we'd expected, and we often had leftovers for the following day, making the $10/person price tag a bargain. Not only are customers receiving freshly packed ingredients and recipes that save them time, but Blue Apron is an opportunity for culinary growth. While you may preview the upcoming week's dishes before buying your box, there is only a vegetarian customization option. This may be a setback for some, but to me it is one of the main draws. I just love trying new dishes and, even better, being able to say I made them at home!


What Daughter Says: Cook outside your comfort zone and discover new favorites with Blue Apron!