Running used to be my life. In my 20s, no matter how busy I was, I would always make time for a run in the morning or at night. It wasn’t just for exercise, but it was also for my peace of mind. But now, between work and home, I can’t seem to make even basic exercise a priority anymore. I’m lucky if I can find the time to run once a week. So to keep up my health, I’ve resorted to being really careful about what I eat, kind of like a super-healthy diet. (Though, it’s not really a diet.) I’ve replaced cereal with protein shakes, chips with carrots, sandwiches with salads, but dinner is always the hardest meal to make healthy. When I found out about a meal-delivery service that catered specifically to those looking for healthy dinners, I knew I had to try it. It was time for HelloFresh.
When I logged onto their website, I browsed all of their different meal options. Their “Quick” preference focused on quick and easy recipes, their “Variety” preference introduced new ingredients and techniques, and their “Classic” plan could be customized for seafood-free, beef-free, or pork-free options. There’s also a vegetarian plan and a family plan. But I knew that the right plan for me would be the “Classic” plan with the "Fit" preference, which offers quick and nutritious meals under or around 650 calories per serving.
To know that all of my meals would be perfectly nutritious without having to think about counting calories would take a lot of the stress out of keeping up my healthy lifestyle. And HelloFresh seemed as far from a diet as I could imagine. My first meal box came with all of the pre-portioned ingredients for a recipe called “Rapid Maple Balsamic Chicken” with sweet potatoes and broccoli. In the past I normally steam broccoli, but the recipe called for roasting. It took the same amount of time and tasted so much better. I microwaved the sweet potatoes instead of using the oven, which cut my cooking time down to only 20 minutes—best dinner hack so far. The chicken was a quick pan fry with a sweet and tangy glaze. Everything was great, crispy and flavorful. And the whole meal was less than 570 calories.
As soon as I started using HelloFresh, I realized it wasn’t just a change in my diet, but a lifestyle change for my entire household. Rather than ordering take-out or prepared food from the deli, which got really expensive, I now receive 3 weekly meals ready to go delivered right to my home. Not only is HelloFresh’s food health-conscious and delicious, but it also allows me to cook for the whole family in 30 minutes or less with simple recipes that turn into great home-cooked meals.
The best part about HelloFresh is that my family doesn’t even realize that they’re eating healthy too, because they actually like it! It’s fun to get everyone in the kitchen trying new things. Plus, because the meals only take around a half-hour each to cook, I’m finding I have more time to get around to running regularly again. And I love it!
Update: The folks at HelloFresh are extending a special offer to our readers. Follow this link to get your first 3 meals free!