Is there anything like getting back from your holidays to a big box full of nice things waiting for you?
HelloFresh is all about delicious, healthy ingredients delivered straight to your doorstep. Boxes come in various selections, and you can choose to create either 3 or 5 meals per week for 2 or 4 people.
I love this temporary life of ours (for the most part!), but as I have made no secret of, one thing I will not miss is the supermarkets! Let’s just say we are spoilt in the UK. Don’t have time to go? Place an order, and have it all delivered at a time that suits you. Want to cook something with a rare spice plucked by monks in the Himalayas? No problem, aisle 3, fourth shelf up (OK I made that up, but the produce selection at home is immense!)! Here in Bavaria internet grocery shopping is in its infancy (at least it is in Munich), and whilst it does exist, there are limitations as to where they will deliver etc. I think HelloFresh might even deliver to the moon!
As well as the ingredients, our box included three recipe cards with which to create our meals (in German here obviously, but they are on the HelloFresh site too so you can translate them if needs be!). Our selection for the three days was a Delicate Pork Fillet with a Mustard Crust with New Potatoes and Vegetables in a Cream Sauce:
A Summer Mascarpone Broccoli Penne with Basil, Parmesan and Lemon:
And a Greek Salad with crispy cubes of Pitta bread, and Grilled Turkey Breast (which I had to laugh at having just returned from Santorini!):
All recipes work on difficulty level from 1-3. I don’t think anyone would struggle that much with 3 however, all of them were simple enough to follow. Recipes are not usually repeated, but there is a box filled with customer favourites once a year! I like that it’s an interactive society too – tweet, Instagram or Facebook your faves and make suggestions as to what you want to see in your next box, or never see again!
We really liked all of the meals, and as it’s easy to get stuck in a rut, it was great having some new inspiration! The Pork dish was probably our favourite (and probably the fiddliest!), the Greek Salad was really tasty, and whilst I am not sure I would make it again, the Penne made for a nice light summer’s evening supper.
The Produce is all good quality. Main suppliers are listed on the HelloFresh site, so you know exactly where your ingredients are coming from, and I like that food waste is at a minimum as you are sent only what you need.
How does the food keep cool? Book a delivery time when selecting a box, and it all comes packed with innovative insulating materials. We arrived home from the airport late on a boiling hot day, and our neighbours had kindly taken our box in (you can state whether you would like it left with someone just in case) and the contents were all quite literally as cool as cucumbers.
I thought HelloFresh might like to see what our box was upcycled into – a Santorini Donkey retirement centre – but these guys care about the environment too, and had I read the site properly before I recycled all of our packaging (our hamster is currently happily sleeping in the wool!) I would have seen that you can return it (around 5 weeks worth is suggested) via DHL and they will re-use and recycle everything – I LOVE that!
Is it good value? I think so. If you look at the UK and the DE sites, there are price comparisons on both which show that a weekly Hellofresh box is slightly cheaper than an equivalent supermarket shop. You also save your petrol money, and more importantly your own precious time. Plus I don’t know anyone who goes to a supermarket and doesn’t add extra stuff to the trolley as they are going around, do you?
Would we use this service again? Yes, I think we would from time to time, especially as my working hours are about to increase significantly. It’s not something I would want to use every day (although I know people who do), but as you can stop and start when you wish, to know it’s there when things get super hectic, is nice.
HelloFresh would like to offer my readers a €20 discount code on any first order (and £20 in the UK!)! Here in Germany you should use code: HFBVSJ20 and for the HelloFresh site in the UK: HFBASO20 Enjoy!
*disclaimer, we were sent a 3 meal HelloFresh Classic Box to review. All words and opinions are my own however.
Hmmmm….I might have to try this. My work hours have also increased significantly, as you know… :-)
I honestly would recommend it. Thanks Erin! (:
A friend was telling me about this a couple of weeks ago, funnily enough. It sounds like a great idea, but it’s even better to see it in action! Can they send someone along to cook it, too? ;)
I wish, that would be nice wouldn’t it?? :D
Wow some delicious recipes there and they look like they’re quite easy to follow too
Thanks Mari! I love the look of the UK recipes even more! :)
I rather like the idea of this. After so many years cooking for a family, I do tend to stick to old favourites and need some inspiration. This would kickstart my cooking.
Donkey sanctuary..genius!
It’s just sometimes nice to have a change isn’t it? Thanks Trish! :D xx
I have been thinking about using Hello Fresh. Your review may have convinced me! All of your meals look really lovely and I think it’s great that you only get what you need. I get annoyed by some of the food waste in my house.
I really loved that there was no food waste, and that the portions were just right too. Thanks Laura! :)
I had no idea Germany didn’t have the same level of internet groceries! The things we take for granted eh? Looks fab and right now anything that helps me cook a decent meal would be fab – I am run ragged!
We are so so spoiled in the UK Penny especially when it comes to supermarkets! :D I like this is as it’s easy to dip in and out when you need too, you don’t have to use it all the time! :)
My first thought was, not another of these box things! Now I’ve read the post I actually would spend money on this type of box. I love cooking and trying new recipes and I’d be excited to see what came in each box!
It has yet to make it to Germany, but if you don’t like something in a UK box when you get the list the Friday before, you can swap it! How fab is that?
That box looks such a great idea. How do they do it at competitive prices?
I think because they go straight to the supplier and cut out any overheads etc. Thanks Monika! :)
I have never heard of them before and just checked them out on their website. I notice they won Grocer Gold Award – Specialist Online Retailer of the Year 2014! I think it is a great concept – I have always been rather put off with the thought of a box of random organic vegetables arriving on the doorstep, then trying to find recipes to use them up!! x
It’s nice to have some of the guess work taken out of it isn’t it? :) xx
This sounds like a great idea and a reasonable price too for what you receive! The food looks yummy and I think it would be a great idea to encourage a wider variety of meal choices as sometimes when you shop at the supermarket I tend to just grab the same things lol! xx
Me too Jess! Thank you :)
I think this is the perfect thing to come home from holiday too. I wouldn’t use it all the time, but wonderful for when needed
That’s what I think too. Thanks Jen! :)
I think this would work for those with busy lives.It’s great to see how interactive they are with their customers.
I think they sound like a great company to work for too! Thanks Aly! :)
Wow that looks great. I could dive into that pasta with broccoli right now!! Love the donkey centre too ;)
Thank you! (:
We’ve used Hello Fresh a few times, and loved them. One of the things I struggle with is finding the time to plan new meals so Hello Fresh is perfect for adding a bit of variety to our food, but I did find them a little expensive if used on a weekly basis.
Thanks Emma! :)
I love this idea hate supermarket shopping and this would help so much with diet and meal planning
Me too Becky, especially here! Thank you! :)
I love these boxes, I wish we could use them! Sadly with one of us as a vegetarian and one of on a gluten free diet there seems no way of fitting into their recipe scheme! Maybe one day!
Thanks Mary, that’s a shame. You never know, as the company grows you might get even more choice! x
Wow. This food looks scrummy. I love companies like this, which take us back to good, fresh produce instead of frozen ready meals.
Thanks Donna. I like that too! :) x
Great idea. I like the sound of that. Elinor x
Thanks Elinor! :) x
I’ve only just eaten my dinner yet your pictures are making my tummy rumble already!
What a fab idea, it does look super fresh.
Thank you! :)
Sign me up please!! That is just what I need.
Thanks Susanna! :D
We tried out Hello Fresh at the beginning of this year and was very impressed.
Great aren’t they? Thanks Angela! :)
They look fantastic. What a great way to get a bit if variety into your diet without trudging to the shops.
Thanks Louisa. We were so spoilt in London – if we ran out of something we just had to walk around the corner! :D
These sound delicious, and a really great idea. Particularly useful when you’re stuck for ideas of what to make. How long did they take to cook?
I think they aim to keep them to the 35 minute mark. One of them did take slightly longer but I am blaming that on the fact that we had just got off a plane so we were a little bit disorganised! Thank you! :)
I have looked at Hello Fresh a few times as I have heard so many good things about them, but they still seem a little expensive to me. It does look and sound amazing though and I love that they will recycle the packaging too
It’s a few years since I have lived in the UK now, so I am not too sure on the prices there, but here it definitely seems quite economic! Thank you! :)
Wow the foodlooks gorgeous. What a lovely idea x
Thank you! Now, if I could have someone to cook it too and clean up the kitchen afterwards it would be even better! :D
Oh it looks THE BUSINESS! It would make a fantastic baby on present for new parents, don’t you reckon?
That’s a brilliant idea! Thank you Lucy! :)
Oh wow, the meals look great. I’ve never considered using a service such as Hello Fresh, but your delivery looks really fresh and great quality and all those meals would be something we would enjoy.
Thank you Carolin, I was really impressed with them! It was fun to have everything chosen for you too for once! :D
Oh my god – YUM! I am going to have to log off now and eat something..
Haha, sorry about that Kate! :D
That’s a good idea!! They all look yummy!! Love the donkey sanctuary!! :) xx
Thank you! :D xx
What a clever idea. Having two fussy toddlers means this probably wouldn’t be for us, but the meals look and sounds absolutely delicious
Thanks Rachel! :)
The meals look delicious.
I often think about trying these types of boxes but my hubby is very fussy
Thank you! I know that on the UK site there is a swap option to change some items in the box for the following week if you are not keen! :)
Love the sound of this, from all the similar boxes i have seen, this is what I would be wanting. Ingredients to make a few meals instead of being sent which looks like random bits from a closing food shop and I have to say, each meal looks delicious x
Thanks Rachel, I was impressed! :)