A couple of months back, I carefully examined the benefits and downsides of subscribing to meal delivery services. My verdict was that although the services were quite pricey and not ideal for anyone seeking to minimize expenses or clear debt, they were perfectly suitable if you are a busy household in need of ready-made meal plans and convenient grocery shopping. We eventually chose Blue Apron.
I managed to justify the high cost initially, considering the considerable amount of time saved and the luxury of not having to grapple with the ever persistent query, “Mom, what’s for dinner?”
However, after a two-month stint, we opted to discontinue our subscription. Here are the reasons why we halted our Blue Apron deliveries.
TIME-CONSUMING
One of the principal attractions of a meal delivery subscription is the time saved, with no need for grocery shopping or meal preparation. However, the time I allegedly saved on these pre-delivery tasks was instead spent on the actual cooking with Blue Apron!
The meals were far from being 20-minute projects. Despite their simplicity, the recipes required a substantial amount of time. It usually took an average of 45 minutes to prepare each meal, a far cry from the suggested 20-30 minute preparation time listed on every recipe card.
Having a famished toddler doesn’t afford you the leisure of spending 45 minutes on meal preparation, highlighting a core problem Blue Apron intends to rectify – one that paradoxically gets exacerbated due to the extended cooking time.
EXCESSIVELY PRICED
As much as I aimed to defend the cost, my efforts proved unsuccessful. Blue Apron almost doubled my weekly grocery budget. On top of that, I was still purchasing staples every week and needed additional meals to supplement the delivery service.
While I didn’t turn to Blue Apron in hopes of cutting costs, I didn’t anticipate such a substantial impact on my budget.
INSUFFICIENT PORTIONS
The meals were disappointingly inadequate. Even though we subscribed to the family plan, designed to feed a family of four, it was hardly enough for me, my spouse, and our toddler.
Usually, when I cook dinner, I prepare extra for the following day’s lunch, given that I always bring my lunch to work. Unfortunately, the leftovers were so scarce they barely sufficed for my modest lunch requirements. It’s true Americans generally consume oversized portions, but with this service, we ended up having to ration the meals.
SO, IS BLUE APRON WORTH IT?
All things considered, my final opinion remains that Blue Apron is exceptional for outsourcing meal planning tasks. However, I eventually concluded that the cost and extensive cooking time were simply too inhibitive and no longer justifiable. Consequently, we stopped utilizing the Blue Apron service.
If you’re considering trying Blue Apron to see whether it suits your family, they offer a $30 discount for your first order via the following link!
Have you ever experimented with Blue Apron or a similar platform? Care to share your likes and dislikes?
