REVIEW: Hello Fresh vs GoodFood meal kits
There was a time I thought I’d never order a meal kit because of the packaging. Then, the pandemic hit, and the convenience of having food delivered lured me in. Not only did fresh ingredients and recipes arrive without my leaving the house, cooking dinner also made for a bonding activity for my family. In the years since, we’ve ordered kits off and on: my issue with packing waste being mitigated by the lack of food waste at every link, from farm table. Now, I cancelled Chef’s Plate ages ago so I can’t speak to that one, but I’m still an active HelloFresh and GoodFood subscriber. Both promise convenience, delicious recipes, and of course, no food waste. But how do they compare, and which one might be the best fit for you?
Note: this isn’t a paid post but if you decide to try a box through the links, my account gets a little credit. There’s no cost to you at all.
First, let’s talk about what a meal kit is. Do not expect ready-made meals. Instead, you get pre-portioned ingredients and easy-to-follow recipe pages with pictures, delivered to your door. Each recipe’s ingredients are in a bag so when you want to make that meal, you just take it out of your fridge and grab its recipe page. Since the ingredients are pre-measured (two carrots instead of a whole bag), you only have on hand what’s needed for the recipe. Both HelloFresh and GoodFood subscriptions are easy to pause for a week or few when you want a break.
Now, review time!
HelloFresh. Great for quick, familiar meals.
HelloFresh is a well-known brand in the meal kit space. Their meals are designed for busy schedules, with options that are quick to prepare, requiring minimal ingredients and effort. It feels geared for those who don’t have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen. If you're a fan of classic meals, HelloFresh offers a menu that tends to focus on well-known dishes—think pastas, burgers, and stir fries. They’re meals that most people are comfortable making.
But while HelloFresh has lots of meal options, I find many are similar to the dishes I already make when short on time, even though I look through and try to choose the interesting ones. If you’re a more adventurous cook or enjoy trying new, unique ingredients, HelloFresh might feel a little too basic. The recipes are reliable and easy to prepare but not necessarily exciting or out-of-the-box (despite being literally out of a box), although I suppose that depends on your current personal cooking habits! It’s also a German company, not Canadian.
GoodFood. Creative, trendy, and Canadian.
GoodFood is a Canadian company that to me, stands out with its creative recipes and use of fresh, local ingredients. It’s especially great for people who want to experiment with new flavors and techniques in the kitchen. Many of the recipes incorporate trendy flavors and ingredients inspired by Canadian chefs or international cuisines meant to get ya out of your comfort zone. I can say, “I would never have made this without GoodFood” about some of my favourite meals.
Downside? Although you can flip through recipes online and choose quicker ones, my favourite GoodFood recipes tend to be more intricate and involve more creative ingredients. So the preparation times tend to be longer than those of HelloFresh. If you're really tight on time, that might bug you.
Which Meal Kit is right for you?
My opinion might not be yours. And oh yes, I’m vegetarian. So that’s the lens I’m looking through when I tell you that GoodFood is, by far, my favourite. I don’t mind a bit of extra prep. If you’re looking for quick meals and familiar flavors, you might be a HelloFresh fan.
Try HelloFresh or GoodFood at no cost:
If you haven’t yet ordered these meal subscriptions, you can give them both a try and see which one you prefer. That’s how I ended up discovering my go-to. Both include ingredients and recipes for three recipes:
You do need a credit card to sign up and this offer is for new customers only, but there’s no obligation to continue the subscription if it’s not your thing. Let me know what YOU think between the two (and whether Chef’s Plate is worth trying again). Happy cooking!
Maygen
