My Experience with Meal Delivery Kits: What I’ve Learned (and Loved)

Some nights, the idea of meal planning makes me want to hide in the pantry. 

But then a few years ago, I started using meal kit delivery services and they’ve completely changed how I approach cooking. These services deliver fresh ingredients and recipes right to your door, taking the guesswork out of what’s for dinner. For a busy week, they’ve been a lifesaver.

I currently get four meals a week, usually by splitting between two different services. I enjoy having two boxes show up at different times. It gives me variety without overloading my fridge or schedule.

If you’ve been wondering which box meal service is right for you, I’ve personally tried several of the most popular ones and I’m sharing my honest thoughts below.



🛒 Why I Love Meal Kits

  • No last-minute store runs. Everything you need is included in the box. No more discovering your grocery store is out of garlic or green onions.

  • Better cooking skills. I’ve learned so much from following the step-by-step instructions. Many meals I never thought I could make before now feel easy.

  • Less waste. The portions are perfectly sized, so I throw away far less food.

  • Less decision fatigue. With the meals already picked and planned, I don’t spend time trying to figure out what to make each night.

✅ My Honest Review of Meal Kit Services I’ve Tried

Here’s a breakdown of the box meal services I’ve personally tried, with a mix of my own impressions and some widely reported pros and cons:

Service Pros Cons
HelloFresh My personal favorite
Variety of recipes with fresh, colorful ingredients
Clear recipe instructions
Easy to customize or swap meals
Fast customer support and credits if something is missing or damaged 		Packaging waste can add up
Some meals repeat often if you subscribe long-term
Occasional ingredient freshness issues
Blue Apron My second favorite
Creative recipes and restaurant-style meals
Well-balanced flavors
Great instructions and cooking tips
Also very responsive to problems with credits 		Some ingredients have arrived past their prime
Fewer dietary options than some others
More prep work than HelloFresh
Hungryroot Combo of groceries and meal kits
Quick, no-fuss meals
Good if you like to mix and match ingredients
Great for snacking and specialty diet needs 		Not my personal favorite
Feels more like pre-made meal prep than real cooking
Recipes aren’t as exciting or unique
Home Chef Easy-to-follow meals
Some oven-ready or 15-minute options
Good when I need a break from Blue Apron 		I don't enjoy it as much overall
Flavors can feel basic or bland
Less adventurous meals
Limited options for special diets
Marley Spoon Martha Stewart-inspired meals
Beautiful presentation and interesting ingredients 		I just didn’t like it
Felt overly complicated and not worth the effort
Some meals turned out disappointing
Factor Fully prepared meals—just heat and eat
Great for low-carb, keto, and high-protein diets
Fresh, not frozen 		No real cooking involved
Smaller portion sizes
Not for people who enjoy making meals from scratch
Green Chef Certified organic ingredients
Good for paleo, keto, gluten-free meals
Very flavorful and healthy options 		More expensive than others
Can feel a bit “health food-ish” if you’re not into that
Some meals require longer cook times

🍽️ Want to Try a Meal Kit?

If you’re curious about trying any of the services I mentioned, here are a few referral links to help you get started:

These are all services I’ve personally used. If you sign up through one of these links, I may receive a small referral credit. Thank you for supporting the blog!

📝 Final Thoughts

If you’ve ever struggled with meal planning, or felt frustrated when your grocery store is missing a key ingredient, box meals can be a helpful solution. For me, the biggest benefit is having everything I need delivered and clear instructions that have truly improved my cooking skills.

If you’re new to meal kits, I recommend starting with HelloFresh. I've ordered 173 boxes or 346 dinners from HelloFresh. It’s consistent, easy to follow, and has great variety. Blue Apron is a close second for me when I’m in the mood for something a bit fancier. The others might work better for different lifestyles or tastes, so don’t be afraid to try a few and see what clicks for you.

Do you use any meal kit services? I’d love to hear what’s worked (or not worked) for you in the comments below.

Sensibly and simply yours,
Kat

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Location: Michigan, USA

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