I am new to HF, I signed up because my New Year's resolution is to learn how to cook. I haven't done very much cooking in my life and got overwhelmed when trying to prepare meals in the past. Even knowing what to buy was difficult for me. When I got the 10 free meals promo for the new year I took it as a sign! I'm really happy with what I've been able to create so far. The pre-measured ingredients and step-by-step instructions are a lifesaver. I'm wondering if anyone else has used this service to get better at cooking? Or just out of convenience? Any tips to someone starting out? Thanks in advance 😊
by witchynbitchy
18 Comments
Definitely to get better at cooking. Plus to eat more balanced meals
I’ve moved to it for the following reasons:
* Approximately well known calorie content per meal without count, weigh, or estimate what I’m eating on custom meals I put together.
* A consistent sized portion per meal without excess or loss really.
* More balanced foods and variety that’d I’d otherwise have skipped for the hassle.
* Keeping a bit of the fun in food prep without the annoyance of planning meals.
* Trying out new things with limited portions. If I buy a small bottle of fish sauce, I’m now stuck with fish sauce until I figure out how to use it all leading to eating a lot of the same meal.
it’s helped me control my portions on my diet. i also only need to go to the grocery store for essentials now. i WFH but i work long hours. now im able to just jump into cooking right after work and be done and cleaned up within like an hour. my fridge is way less crowded too
I like to do it when I’m feeling overwhelmed with meal planning and want a break. Also, it’s nice when calorie counting! Gives me a good idea of how much we’re consuming when compared to my usual cooking, which has few rules and few recipes and is difficult to track.
Wife and I did it for a year, no longer use hf… but we learned to cook and work together… we cook every meal ourselves now… making our own chimichurri and reduction sauces etc… since it’s two of us we tend to portion similar to hf but more veggies and sometimes more protein.. due to diet changes for me since then (low fodmap diet) it’s been a life changing experience… if I didn’t know how to cook I’d be feeling way worse… side note it did get to be repetitive towards the end of the one year…
My husband and I were in a supper rut. It was hard to come up with ideas. His sister had a promo code so we tried it. That was months ago!
The different cuisines keeps things fun and flavourful. It’s handy to be able to try something new without being stuck with a big jar or bottle of something you’ll never use again. We also like that it’s helped reduce food waste. And portion sizing! We used to hurt after supper, with these we are full but not over stuffed which is enjoyable too.
So many different recipes to try but also some faves come back around. We will share what meals we’ve bought and share the review with my sister in law and she’ll do the same for us.
I don’t cook. Like at all. My husband got the stomach flu, I did not. I wanted a regular supper (he was eating crackers with the flu). I cooked supper following the recipe card! So easy!
Yes it can be out of a lot of people’s price range. But it is cheaper than take out. And to us it’s worth the bit extra to keep our meals interesting and not have food waste.
– I hate waste
– I like to try new foods
– I love to cook but don’t always have the confidence
– I hate grocery shopping
I went with it to help control grocery costs (we spend about the same on HF as we would with regular cooking). I also like the portion control and has really helped me reduce how much I was eating per meal. That being said, the portions are a tad more difficult with a growing teenager in the house because you don’t have an abundance of leftovers. Luckily my autistic daughter will not eat HF meals or most foods, so the teen usually eats her portion and it all works out. I also like the fact that I’m not buying a bunch of ingredients for just a few meals and then being left with a bunch that will go bad before I use it again. We also ate out a lot prior to HF because meal planning was fun…but grocery shopping is not (odd anxiety there). So I found myself ordering food instead of taking the time to go grab the stuff needed to cook. We’ve been getting a box every other week for about a year now and we are considering stopping HF…..and honestly it scares me a little due to the above mentioned reasons. 🫣
A relief from decision fatigue for me and my family.
For me it’s scheduling. I work three consecutive 12 hour shifts. I can’t really do anything during those days. So getting my dinners delivered for my four days off is super convenient.
Only have to think about what’s for dinner when choosing meals, no trips to the grocery store, i can modify it as needed, i feel it’s healthier than restaurant/fast food.
It gets my husband and I out of a dinner rut. My daughter has rediscovered her love for different foods and really enjoys trying new things now (she was the pickiest kid ever for the longest time). It gets me up prepping and cooking 3 nights a week. And we don’t have to go to the grocery store as much because we’re not buying everything for a different meal each night.
I have daily moments where I get fed up having to make the decision of what to eat over & over again like great, I get to do this until I die! It’s the convenience of someone else helping to figure out what to eat along with providing ingredients.
Also, helpful for preventing food waste – because I eat leftovers but my husband is really bad at it like came home on Friday with 3 meals including 1 or 2 that I was like you know that’s gone off now, right?
Takes a lot of the mental load off. Grocery shopping, making a list, finding new recipes/planning meals. That’s a lot when you work & have babies!!
My fiancée and I have gotten pretty good at the cooking thing through living together and reproducing restaurant meals we liked but we wanted a break from planning meals and the shopping.
That being said, it might actually and ultimately serve as a blueprint for ideal meal planning & shopping.
I have the idea to
1) create shopping lists for each meal within our preferred supermarket’s website.
2) schedule the various meals for the following week.
3) add each meal’s shopping list to the shopping cart.
4) take delivery, refrigerate, and cook over the course of the week.
Obviously, it could be a case of ‘the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry’, but we shall see. Concept wise, it rocks.
Top tip: get a laminator and laminate the recipes as soon as they arrive. Then, using an indelible marker, write on the recipe what you thought of it and any adjustments you might make next time. e.g. use less spice for the kids, make more as it isn’t very filling, kids loved it! Etc etc.
Bonus tip: get a recipe book holder for the kitchen to hold the current recipe and any regular favourites within easy view and reach when actually cooking.
My job is really busy seasonally and it really helps eliminate some stress when I’m slammed. I do 90% of the cooking but with. HF my husband is easily able to jump on and make those meals which is a huge help when I get home later or at just overwhelmed from my workday. In my slow season we usually pause it and I cook whatever but it’s also great if I know I’m going to be out of town or busy and not want to grocery shop.
Teaching my 11 year old to cook. He loves picking the meals and using the recipe cards.
To more easily have a wide variety of meals throughout the week while also limiting food waste.. My partner says it’s helped him feel more comfortable cooking as well