Lately, I’ve been hearing a lot about HelloFresh, but I wasn’t sure what all the buzz was about. The idea is grand – a recipe box meal kit delivery service that sends you delicious recipes and fresh, pre-measured ingredients. But am I really going to follow through? Would the veg end up rotting away at the back of my fridge? Or . . . could I actually become one of those super Mams who whips up yummy home-cooked dinners that her kids gobble up without complaints?
I wanted to try it, but signing up never made it to the top of my to-do list. But, with the kids getting back to school soon and my what’s-for-dinner-anxiety rising every day, I had to find a solution ASAP.
It wasn’t until my friend Aisling – a mum of 3 – promised me HelloFresh would take the pressure out of meal planning and cooking. It’s more affordable, she spends less time in the supermarket because ingredients arrive pre-measured to her door and her family gets to enjoy home-cooked dinners together every night. Moreover, she assured me that their meals are fussy-eater-approved! That sounded like exactly what I needed, so I decided to try it.
When our first box arrived, I got such a pleasant surprise. I was driving home – exhausted after a busy day at work – not sure about what to cook for dinner. But then I saw the HelloFresh box on my doorstep. I’d totally forgotten about it, but in this moment, it truly felt like I’d discovered a treasure chest full of gold.
Everything was individually packed in lovely kit bags with detailed recipe cards. I grabbed the card on top labeled Chipotle Black Bean Burrito Bowl with avocado and pico de gallo – yummm. My boys go bonkers for quesadillas, and I’m thrilled that the recipe states a prep time of less than 30 minutes – win-win. We’ll definitely be sticking with HelloFresh.
The step-by-step instructions are easy to follow and include colourful pictures at each step. The kids helped set the table, and voila – in almost no time, dinner was ready to be served. It smelled delicious and we couldn’t get enough of those exceptional quesadillas.
The other meals for the week were just as heavenly – Creamy Chicken Pasta Bake with parsley and bell pepper, and the boys particularly enjoyed the Quick Chilli con Carne with cheesy topping and fluffy rice!
We have the Family Meal Plan so I usually order 5 nights of dinner for 4 people. That works great with our timetables and it’s only €2.50 per serving after discount – pretty decent. It answers that age-old question, “What’s for tea?” and it keeps us from getting stuck eating the same old boring dishes every night. My favourites are their Quick Cook options – done in less than 30 minutes – and their family dishes make clean-up a breeze.
The service has lots of options for vegetarians and people without kids. And I like how you can pause and unpause your subscription whenever. On our off nights, we still have our staples of Sausages and Mash or Chicken Nuggets, but it’s nice to know we’re eating better meals with far fewer trips to the supermarket.
I totally love it that the whole family enjoys HelloFresh meals – especially those recipes that feature little flavour twists, like extra garnish or a chili sprinkle.
The result is best: HelloFresh helps us by making our meal times easier without the need for planning. Between after-school activities, sports practice, a parent’s never-ending to-do list, our family still enjoys a successful dinner night after night. I’m sooo ready and thrilled for this year’s back-to-school season!
Update: The folks at HelloFresh are extending a special offer to all busy moms. Follow this link to get up to €85 off your first 4 boxes!