Has anyone ordered a meal kit thing like hello fresh for their older relatives? My dad is pretty much preparing all meals now for my parents and they are relying heavily on prepared foods from Costco etc. The convenience of it is really the draw for my dad, but it is not the healthiest stuff. They do have cholesterol issues and diabetes that just seem to be ignored in favor of convenience. I have never used one of these services myself so I’m not sure how good they are and if it’s easy enough to prepare (he can cook-just not super interested in doing so). I’m not close enough to regularly prepare them meals although whenever we visit, we make the meals and leave leftovers or make extra for the freezer. Anyway, any experience with ordering these services “from afar” would be helpful.
Thanks! |
I would do something that's heat and eat instead. Even standing long enough to prepare can be taxing. |
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I've used Hello Fresh several times. And every time I regretted getting sucked back in. The meals always take much longer to prep than indicated on the menu. Though the end results are fine, they're all quite elaborate and not suitable for someone who wants convenience.
The one thing that helped us in the kitchen is an instant pot. We by meat from costco or Wegman's and throw it in the pot along with carrots and other veggies, add spices, press a button, done. |
This. They may forget about the package and even with the cool pac thinks can spoil. I would definitely do a meal delivery not a meal prep yourself service/ |
Thanks for the responses. My dad can handle cooking-I think he’s just lacking interest in deciding what to make day in and day out for the two of them, the prep, cleanup etc. so I greatly appreciate the review above that the meal prep tended to take longer than expected and is elaborate. Just looking for simple and healthy so a meal kit service may not be the thing. |
My parents are at the same stage, OP. They also love the prepared foods at Costco. I understand why - some of them are really good and they are easy to prepare. It is nice for them to be able to just pop it into the oven et voila they have a tasty meal in 20-30 minutes. We tried a few meal services but it was a horrible experience. Weird ingredients, too much prep, they always needed some tool or other ingredient, etc.
Where are your parents located? If they're local, one option is The Fresh Market. Their cook-ready foods at the Seafood and Meat counters (so different from the already cooked foods at the prepared foods counter) are outstanding. Everything is fresh and ready to go, they just need to be cooked: chicken or beef kebabs, mahi mahi wraps, salmon cakes, marinated salmon filets, Chicken Cordon Bleu, etc. The heating instructions are on the label so your dad wouldn't have to guess oven temp and cooking length. The prepared foods are also great but my parents prefer cooking theirs. There are no easy answers. I really wish the Whole Foods Market delivery options from Amazon included some of the prepared food that you find at the real stores... |
I use Hello Fresh, and I don't think it takes long to make at all. You can choose Easy or Fast recipes from the choices, too. We like them because it helps with portion control, and they are always delicious and different. I started trying this after I got incredibly sick of my own cooking, and now we get 4x week and have no plans to stop. It ended up being a lifesaver at the beginning of Covid when we couldn't get any food from grocery stores! |
I have a different opinion on Hello Fresh. We’re young and healthy and have a reasonable amount of free time and think that the meals take a long time to prepare. Every meal we’ve gotten seems to require a few pots on the stove, something in the oven, and some sauce you sauté or pickle or something. |
My uncle who has never ever cooked -- not once! -- is doing Blue Apron and enjoys it. |
My parents hated every meal service we sent them, and they just threw them away. They like the prepared food at Whole Foods. The same meals over and over again. We gave up.
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The familiar is comforting during these times. |
Op, my family member is close to 70 and has really liked Nutrisystem. A month supply of food is delivery, a box with frozen, and a box not frozen. A month of food. The hamburgers are real good. I've had those. The chicken sandwiches are real good. I order extras of both of those items, for me. Breakfast items, snacks, etc. real good. What isn't good are: the shakes (who knows what's in them .. we threw them out. Only came with the first order) A few of the lunches, some, aren't much better than Lean Cuisine quality --- but as a whole, very worth it imo whether losing weight or not. Add in some fresh vegetable and fruit.
I've used Hello Fresh. It was nice for a special occasion, but expensive and caloric. |
I find the oven ready meals from Home Chef to be a middle ground between the labor intensive Hello Fresh and ease of Costco premade meals. |