Recently, Fit was gifted a free trial for Blue Apron (by one of the best bakers we know), which we took advantage of to the fullest. We know that there are tons of meal delivery services, which all need to do things a little different to succeed, so we were excited to find out what made Blue Apron so successful!
We received two meals through this promotion, which seemed to be equal to a $50 voucher. That means each meal cost $25 and they were advertised as meals for two. That means, essentially, that we had lunch and dinner for $50. If you think about it, $12.50 a meal (per person) seems reasonable, but that really depends on where you live. Here in LA, a healthier meal out would tend to cost you more than that, while you could have a meal for less than that back in Boulder.
With a price point that sits right on the border of reasonable, we have to look at the other factors involved with the service to really figure out if it worth using. You start by activating your account and picking out of about seven options what meals you want (this is all online), a week or so in advance from the delivery date, and have tons of choices. We went with a seafood option and a vegetarian dish, so that both of us would be able to enjoy it. The website was well-designed and gave an overall friendly user experience.
When the box came, it was extremely familiar. I had a co-worker who used it for quite some time, so that cardboard box is something that hasn’t changed for quite some time. It seems like they really have their designs down; everything looks good. As you can see from the “recipe sheets” or instructions in the pictures, it is very well laid out and attractive. Unfortunately, this is where things get a little more complicated.
If you can afford the price point and would like to have meals delivered, it can make life a lot easier. Unfortunately, this clearly wouldn’t work for everyone, and that’s totally fine. This would work well for the person who gifted this to us; a successful and busy individual living alone or with one another who knows how to cook. This saves you the time of going to the grocery store, but a lot of the prep still needs to be done.
You’ll need some confidence and knife skills, as well as some common sense. I found cooking this harder than making the dish from scratch myself, since I had some issues with their instructions. I’m sure their corporate chef is extremely capable, but something was lost and important notes were missing. For example, there was nothing to be said about freezing and defrosting the shrimp. This could seriously mess up the timing of your prep and cook. Also, some of the cook times and temps were just a bit off.
One major pro is that the flavor profiles are complex and well-balanced. I gritted my teeth and followed their directions exactly, using their ingredients and the end result was something delicious and enjoyable to eat. Sure, you have to provide your own oil, salt and pepper, so your ability to season is important, but they make sure to include a nice source of acid and heat in their dishes.
High-quality ingredients that save you more time than going to the grocery, but cost you more as well, will be turned into delicious and healthy small-portion meals. That is what you can expect is you use Blue Apron because that is what we got! While it might not be for everyone, you might want to consider a trial, because finding ways to eat healthier and save some time so you can sneak a workout into your busy week will help you stay hungry and fit!
