This text is sponsored by Blue Apron. All opinions introduced are the writer’s personal.
Meal planning typically sounds simpler than it’s. Between busy workdays, restricted time to cook dinner, and wanting meals that really feel each satisfying and balanced, it’s straightforward to fall into the identical routine. To see how a meal package would possibly realistically match into on a regular basis life, I spent per week cooking with Blue Apron.
To set the stage – I need to make clear this was my first time attempting Blue Apron. I approached the week each as a house cook dinner and as a registered dietitian, listening to the small print that are inclined to matter most day after day—prep time, balanced vitamin, portioning, flexibility, and naturally, total enjoyment.
Right here’s what stood out.
Why I Tried Blue Apron
Once I was requested to overview per week’s value of meals from Blue Apron, I used to be curious to see how a set of meal kits would stack up towards the normal recipes I like to make at dwelling. I like to cook dinner and I’m all the time up for attempting a brand new recipe however I’m fairly explicit in regards to the high quality of produce and meat that I carry into my dwelling. I’d heard good issues about their meal kits however needed to judge the meals via my private {and professional} lens as a registered dietitian.
What made it particularly approachable was that Blue Apron not requires a subscription. Having the ability to strive the meals with out committing to weekly deliveries made it really feel like a low-pressure method to experiment with one thing new—notably for anybody trying to make extra sustainable, long-term modifications relatively than leaping into an all-or-nothing plan.
I picked a spread of meals with completely different proteins and preparation kinds, together with conventional meal kits and assemble-and-bake choices. Supply went easily, and components arrived contemporary. Some proteins had been partially frozen, which truly made it simpler to determine which meals to cook dinner first and which proteins to retailer frozen till I had time to organize that exact meal package.
Every meal got here packaged as a two-serving package, which made portioning easy and predictable. I flag this as a result of should you order a meal package with 4 servings – it should nonetheless arrive in a two-person serving package deal so you’ll be able to decide to cook dinner the 4 servings to feed your entire household or just cook dinner two servings should you’re not feeding a bunch and save the second meal package for later.
No Guesswork, No Chaos: How It Truly Cooked
All through the week, prep and cook dinner occasions matched what the recipe playing cards promised, which made planning my evenings a lot simpler. For those who’re quick at chopping produce chances are you’ll even discover your prep time decreased permitting you to get dinner on the desk even sooner than estimated.
Realizing precisely what I wanted to do from evening to nighttime made the entire course of really feel organized as a substitute of chaotic. Their recipes are chef-crafted but extraordinarily approachable. Directions had been clear and included useful visuals that streamlined the method – particularly should you’re not an avid cook dinner or should you’re a visible learner. Pre-measured sauces, spices, and seasonings reduce down on prep work and meant fewer dishes to clean afterward. I beloved not having tons of measuring cups and spoons together with a number of reducing boards, bowls and extra to clean after every meal as I historically do when cooking recipes from scratch at dwelling. However I’ll word, many recipes use related cooking instruments – assume saucepot, knife, reducing board, skillet – so should you’re making a brand new recipe every evening don’t depart the dishes sitting round as you’ll want them for the following recipe.
For those who are inclined to fall in to the final minute, “What’s for dinner?” behavior – having structured, easy-to-assemble meal kits, could allow you to keep extra constant along with your vitamin and your meal plan every week.
Did it Ship? My Diet Observations
Total, the meals I ordered felt balanced and satisfying with the recipes I chosen containing 40 grams of protein or extra per serving serving to me make progress in direction of my every day protein objectives. One other nutrient I prioritize when meal planning, fiber, got here via within the greens, entire grains, and considerate pairings like aspect salads – one thing I generally take pleasure in at dinner —and I might simply add extra produce into any meal I needed.
I paid shut consideration to protein sourcing, notably floor beef, since small variations there can influence total calorie and fats consumption. Blue Apron doesn’t checklist the lean proportion once you order, so I reached out to their buyer assist staff. They responded shortly and defined that their normal floor beef is often a higher-fat mix, whereas the premium choice is leaner. You’ll be able to’t choose an actual lean proportion at checkout, however selecting the premium mix when obtainable, provides you a method to go leaner should you’re watching your whole calorie or fats consumption whereas monitoring in MyFitnessPal.
Realizing that info made it simpler to make knowledgeable selections whereas nonetheless having fun with meals that highlighted intentional parts leaving me feeling full whereas offering vibrant flavors I beloved.
The Blue Apron Meal Lineup: Hits, Tweaks & Takeaways
Za’atar-Crusted Salmon & Veggies provided a well-balanced and colourful mixture of protein, grains, and greens. The flavors labored effectively collectively, and getting ready elements on the identical time helped every part come collectively easily. I cooked the salmon within the air fryer as a substitute on the range high so I might concurrently prep the couscous and the greens with out having to maintain something heat till all elements had been prepared. This reduce on cooking time and in my view, air-fryer salmon creates the right crispy outdoors texture whereas remaining juicy on the within – my private most popular method to prep salmon at dwelling.
Calabrian Shrimp & Orzo with Tomatoes & Parmesan stood out for its steadiness of taste and ease. Shrimp cooks shortly, making this a sensible choice for busy evenings. Prep was minimal, and the timing was correct. I added a leafy inexperienced salad on the aspect for a satisfying crunch together with fiber, nutritional vitamins and minerals on the aspect.
Honey Mustard Hen & Farro Salad mixed entire grains, leafy greens, and hen for a satisfying meal. The flavors had been shiny, and it tasted finest contemporary—which labored completely for a deliberate dinner.
Some meals leaned sweeter, saltier or richer than I sometimes desire, however adjusting the sauces or seasonings made it straightforward to tailor dishes to my liking. I loved the Orange Beef & Wonton Noodles with Bok Choy, for instance, however used rather less sauce to make it my very own. Don’t be afraid to switch a recipe you probably have a most popular cooking oil, sauce or seasoning (I personally cook dinner with much less salt or swap for low sodium alternate options at any time when attainable) readily available you recognize you or your loved ones will love. For example, I do know my household enjoys just a little kick of warmth so we opted to all the time use all of the crushed crimson pepper flakes or chili crisp when offered and even add a touch of sizzling sauce to the completed dish just like the Peanut Udon Stir-Fry to make it our personal!
Actual Life, Actual Meals: Why This Truly Works
Meal planning and residential cooking have been proven to supply quite a few advantages in your well being, total well-being and your pockets. In line with latest research it will probably enhance weight loss plan high quality, portion management and assist weight administration, whereas additionally providing value financial savings and alternatives to reinforce household relationships. (1,2,3)
And in in the present day’s busy panorama we want sensible options to get a house cooked meal on the desk with out the chance of forgetting that key ingredient on the grocery retailer or the ever widespread grabbing takeout on the way in which dwelling from work. Belief me, I’ve been there, achieved that. And don’t get me flawed – take out might be enjoyable on occasion however there’s nothing fairly like a house cooked meal.
Meal kits fall into that class of sensible options for when life will get busy between altering schedules and shuffling youngsters to and from follow a meal that may be made in half-hour or much less with pre-portioned components turns into much more magical.
Over the course of the week, Blue Apron felt adaptable relatively than inflexible. Having the ability to select from a broad menu, cook dinner on a versatile schedule, and regulate closing dishes to style made it straightforward to suit into my present routine.
The Blue Apron meal kits struck a pleasant steadiness offering sufficient construction to scale back resolution fatigue, however nonetheless loads of room for private touches. They made weeknight cooking really feel manageable, even throughout a busy stretch and allowed me to strive new recipes and taste combos to mix-up my conventional go-to weeknight meals.
So whether or not you’re trying to concentrate on contemporary, portion balanced meals or just searching for new recipe concepts with out the trouble or purchasing contemplate attempting Blue Apron meal kits.
Continuously Requested Questions
How lengthy do the meals take to organize?Prep occasions for the meals I selected diversified from 20 to 40 minutes. As soon as I acquired the dangle of the directions and arranged my steps, some meals got here collectively even quicker. Plus, should you’re a extra superior cook dinner – I feel you’ll discover the recipes come collectively fairly shortly.
Are the parts filling?Sure—parts felt satisfying and well-balanced, notably with the protein-forward choices. I additionally opted so as to add protein to recipes resembling floor beef, floor pork or you have got the choice to order further proteins on the aspect. This may also help you make progress in direction of your protein objectives when monitoring in MyFitnessPal.
Can meals assist protein and fiber objectives?As a dietitian, I prioritize hitting my every day protein and fiber objectives in MyFitnessPal so these are two key vitamins I paid particular consideration to when ordering my meals. The meals I selected had at the very least 40g of protein per serving and between 4 – 8g of fiber per serving. You’ll be able to simply increase fiber by including further greens both to the recipe or by serving a salad on the aspect.
How versatile is the menu?The menu features a vary of meal kinds, from faster choices to assemble-and-bake meals, which may swimsuit completely different schedules. There are all types of proteins (fish, hen, beef, pork, and many others.) in addition to vegetarian choices.
The Backside Line
After per week of cooking with Blue Apron, the expertise felt sensible and versatile. The meals had been tasty, well-balanced and designed with vitamin in thoughts.
Total, Blue Apron delivered flavorful meals that match into on a regular basis routines—making it a practical choice effectively past January.
If you need to strive Blue Apron meals at dwelling use the code MFP50 for 50% off your first two orders and free transport. Promotional code is legitimate via 12.31.26. Blue Apron is solely liable for its services and MyFitnessPal makes no representations or warranties, and disclaims any legal responsibility, concerning the Blue Apron choices.
The publish I Tried Blue Apron Meal Kits for a Week—Right here’s How They Match Into Actual Life appeared first on MyFitnessPal Weblog.
