topic Re: Boxed Meals Services in Community Chat

Boxed Meals Services

Anonymous032819 — Mon, 08 Apr 2019 07:33:31 GMT

I am curious about boxed meal services such as Plated and Hello Fresh, Blue Apron, ect, but, they want you to sign up before you can select your meals.

That's like, "okay, give us $50/week, and then we'll show you differents shirts"

No!

Let me see my options first, and then I'll decide if it's worth my money.

And yes yes, I know, I know, that some think the the only way to eat is raw vegan, a.k.a. salads w/o any dressing.

Newsflash!

There is no ONE way to eat that is perfect for every single human body on this planet.

Has anyone here tried any of the boxed meal subscriptions?

What did you think of it, the good, the bad, and the ugly?

Re: Boxed Meals Services

daisyk — Mon, 08 Apr 2019 08:03:36 GMT

I've been getting Home Chef orders now for the past 6 months or so. I've been really happy with the food. At first it seemed like a lot of prep, but I got over that and have come to really enjoy the results. I get 2 meals per week and you can always pause your service. With Home Chef, you get quite a few meal choices to pick from. Not sure how other services work, I've only ordered Home Chef.

Re: Boxed Meals Services

Bri369 — Mon, 08 Apr 2019 11:00:15 GMT

Plaid, you don't have to pay to see the sample menus.

Hello Fresh has next week's menu suggestions right on the home page.

Re: Boxed Meals Services

dex — Mon, 08 Apr 2019 13:24:31 GMT

@@My son got hello fresh for awhile.They enjoyed the new recipes and learned a lot of different cooking techniques.They said that sometimes the food wasn’t as fresh as they would have liked so they were given credits.

Re: Boxed Meals Services

proudlyfromNJ — Mon, 08 Apr 2019 13:49:06 GMT

@Anonymous032819 I have checked out a number of these services online. Everyone I have looked at has sample menus if not the exact ones.

I have never seen one that won’t tell you what food options you might have.

Re: Boxed Meals Services

RollTide2008 — Mon, 08 Apr 2019 14:01:58 GMT

I use Hello Fresh and can select my meals on their app.

Re: Boxed Meals Services

jonbon — Mon, 08 Apr 2019 14:23:33 GMT

One of our local supermarkets (Safeway) has Plated meals available in the store (that is, no subscription). They rotate about six entrees every month or two. We've tried many and have been happy with our choices, for the most part. It's a nice way to try something different, they give you exactly what you need (you don't have to purchase a huge bottle of something of which you only need one tablespoon, for example), and it's kind of fun to do with others.

Re: Boxed Meals Services

ValuSkr — Mon, 08 Apr 2019 14:53:50 GMT

I wonder how these services are. Most everyone is commenting only that you're able to see what's on the menu, not that the service is good or bad.

Re: Boxed Meals Services

Bri369 — Mon, 08 Apr 2019 15:07:34 GMT

@ValuSkr wrote:
I wonder how these services are. Most everyone is commenting only that you're able to see what's on the menu, not that the service is good or bad.

If you do a search for "Hello Fresh," several threads come up. They discuss other companies too.

Re: Boxed Meals Services

chrystaltree — Mon, 08 Apr 2019 15:10:03 GMT

A local grocery store has that service and I did try it. I had no problems at all with the quality of the food although one time the produce was not as fresh as I would have liked. The cooking instructions were easy to follow and I loved that they included every ingredient, including the spices. But I ended it because other than holidays, birthdays, special dinners; I just don't like to cook that much. I work all day and I don't want to spend time in the kitchen cooking after work. Having meals delivered from restaurants; real food, from nice restaurants. Not fast food or pizza. That is a better option for hubby and me. Or going out to eat dinner when the weather is nice.

Re: Boxed Meals Services

ValuSkr — Mon, 08 Apr 2019 15:09:57 GMT

@Bri369 wrote:
@ValuSkr wrote:
I wonder how these services are. Most everyone is commenting only that you're able to see what's on the menu, not that the service is good or bad.
If you do a search for "Hello Fresh," several threads come up. They discuss other companies too.

OK, I'm sorry. I didn't know the topic was discussed previously.

Re: Boxed Meals Services

Fressa — Mon, 08 Apr 2019 15:12:53 GMT

These have peaked my interest but I haven't tried any. Consumer Reports had rated about a dozen of them. I didn't even know there were that many. Giant Eagle sells a few of thiese meals under a private lable. I also keep getting coupons for Swan's frozen food home delivery. That has my attention,too. All I heard about Swan's is that it depends on your delivery person. Sure sounds like a time saver ---if the food is good. There's the big "if".

Re: Boxed Meals Services

Bri369 — Mon, 08 Apr 2019 15:47:44 GMT

@ValuSkr wrote:
@Bri369 wrote:
@ValuSkr wrote:
I wonder how these services are. Most everyone is commenting only that you're able to see what's on the menu, not that the service is good or bad.
If you do a search for "Hello Fresh," several threads come up. They discuss other companies too.
OK, I'm sorry. I didn't know the topic was discussed previously.

@ValuSkr don't be sorry. I was just trying to help you out.

Re: Boxed Meals Services

Tadaki — Tue, 09 Apr 2019 03:46:42 GMT

I've used multiple services and have been pleased with them all. But if you decide to try one, Google it first. I've always found a discount for my first order.

Re: Boxed Meals Services

Bridgegal — Tue, 09 Apr 2019 04:30:22 GMT

This is very timely for me. I spent about an hour last night reading reviews on Hello Fresh. At the end I decided not to try it for several reasons that came up way too often in the many many reviews.

I may work my way thru other similar companies and see what their reviews say. Or not.

Re: Boxed Meals Services

shoekitty — Tue, 09 Apr 2019 05:07:10 GMT

I use Marley Spoon now and then. Really good. They are all higher calorie/. And lots of chopping!!! They do have lower calorie choices, but we go vegan , or meatless so calories are a bit higher that standard chicken, fish, beef, pork meals. There are just the two of us, but I order for 4, leftovers. Marley Spoon has the best pizzas, burrito bowls, po'boys, and noodle dishes. We have made the simpler baked chicken, with veggies and a side dish...but I can cook that. When I buy a meal service I want something new, creative, and "out of the box". Lol

Re: Boxed Meals Services

Lucky Charm — Tue, 09 Apr 2019 11:46:36 GMT

I'd never heard of Marley Spoon before, I see it's Martha and Marley Spoon (THE Martha-lol). Was interested because of the vegan option.

4 weeks of entrees--only one (blah) vegan option.

I just got a 15% off for Sakara, which I've had delivered for a month before.

Plant based and organic, nutritionally dense. Well thought out menus. Do I love everything they send? No. I'm finicky, for sure. But I forced myself to eat everything. Lost weight! $420/wk.

Very well packaged, one of the reasons it's so pricey, I'm sure.

Need to do it again.....

Re: Boxed Meals Services

drizzellla — Tue, 09 Apr 2019 12:03:37 GMT

We have been using Blue Apron for about 3 years. Have been very pleased with everything about the service. The food is well packed and always delivered about 3:30pm.

We have had some excellent meals.

We also use Hello Fresh. Don't seem to use them as often. But they both are easy and convenient.

I really like that there are no left over ingredients. Whenever my husband uses a recipe that he finds in a magazine, he always goes out and buys all the ingredients. To make sure he has them. Well, we end up with several bottles of the same ingredient or bottles of ingredients we won't use again.

With Blue Apron or Hello Fresh if you need rice vinegar you are given exactly the amount you need. Also, it expands my dining experience. On occasion there was a recipe that I wasn't sure I would like. And I have always been pleasantly surprised that I liked the meal.

I am glad we gave it a try.

Re: Boxed Meals Services

shoekitty — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 00:50:39 GMT

@Lucky Charm

Marley spoon has 3 or 4 total vegan selections a week. And also some meatless meals, but they have cheese, and such. I think some of the vegan are Halal. They have 20 selections a week. Most people order 2 meals a week, as that is the minimum you must order to be in the program.. It os 71 bucks a meal including shipping for each 4 person meal.

There is one vegan meal I love. You make a crispy crust with jasmine cilantro rice. The filling is beans, veggies and such. You cut it like pie. The rice is tender, but the bottom is browned, crisp. Yum

Re: Boxed Meals Services

SXMGirl — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 01:06:40 GMT

@jonbonI shop at Safeway and have heard of Plated but have never seen it in the store. Where do you find it in the store? Thanks.