I Tried Blue Apron Meal Kits for a Week—Here’s How They Fit Into Real Life

[ad_1] <img width="800" height="529" src="https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Blue-Apron-Headline-Graphic-1-1024x677.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="I tried Blue Apron Meal Kits | MyFitnessPal" srcset="https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Blue-Apron-Headline-Graphic-1-1024x677.jpg 1024w, https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Blue-Apron-Headline-Graphic-1-300x198.jpg 300w, https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Blue-Apron-Headline-Graphic-1-768x508.jpg 768w, https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Blue-Apron-Headline-Graphic-1.jpg 1504w" /> This text is sponsored by Blue Apron. All opinions introduced are the creator’s personal.

Meal planning usually sounds simpler than it's. Between busy workdays, restricted time to prepare dinner, and wanting meals that really feel each satisfying and balanced, it’s simple to fall into the identical routine. To see how a meal equipment would possibly realistically match into on a regular basis life, I spent every week cooking with Blue Apron.

To set the stage – I wish to make clear this was my first time attempting Blue Apron. I approached the week each as a house prepare dinner and as a registered dietitian, listening to the small print that are likely to matter most day after day—prep time, balanced diet, portioning, flexibility, and naturally, total enjoyment.

Right here’s what stood out.

Why I Tried Blue Apron

After I was requested to evaluate every week’s price of meals from Blue Apron, I used to be curious to see how a set of meal kits would stack up in opposition to the standard recipes I like to make at house. I like to prepare dinner and I'm at all times up for attempting a brand new recipe however I'm fairly specific concerning the high quality of produce and meat that I deliver into my house. I’d heard good issues about their meal kits however needed to judge the meals by way of my private {and professional} lens as a registered dietitian.

What made it particularly approachable was that Blue Apron not requires a subscription. With the ability to attempt the meals with out committing to weekly deliveries made it really feel like a low-pressure solution to experiment with one thing new—significantly for anybody seeking to make extra sustainable, long-term adjustments moderately than leaping into an all-or-nothing plan.

I picked a variety of meals with totally different proteins and preparation kinds, together with conventional meal kits and assemble-and-bake choices. Supply went easily, and components arrived contemporary. Some proteins have been partially frozen, which truly made it simpler to resolve which meals to prepare dinner first and which proteins to retailer frozen till I had time to organize that individual meal equipment.

Every meal got here packaged as a two-serving equipment, which made portioning easy and predictable. I flag this as a result of should you order a meal equipment with 4 servings – it can nonetheless arrive in a two-person serving bundle so you possibly can decide to prepare dinner the 4 servings to feed your complete household or just prepare dinner two servings should you’re not feeding a gaggle and save the second meal equipment for later.

No Guesswork, No Chaos: How It Truly Cooked

All through the week, prep and prepare dinner occasions matched what the recipe playing cards promised, which made planning my evenings a lot simpler. If you happen to’re quick at chopping produce it's possible you'll even discover your prep time diminished 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 an alternative of chaotic. Their recipes are chef-crafted but extraordinarily approachable. Directions have been clear and included useful visuals that streamlined the method – particularly should you’re not an avid prepare dinner or should you’re a visible learner. Pre-measured sauces, spices, and seasonings minimize down on prep work and meant fewer dishes to clean afterward. I liked not having tons of measuring cups and spoons together with a number of slicing boards, bowls and extra to clean after every meal as I historically do when cooking recipes from scratch at house. However I'll observe, many recipes use related cooking instruments – suppose saucepot, knife, slicing 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 subsequent recipe.

If you happen to are likely to fall in to the final minute, “What’s for dinner?” behavior – having structured, easy-to-assemble meal kits, could provide help to keep extra constant along with your diet 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 day by day protein objectives. One other nutrient I prioritize when meal planning, fiber, got here by way of within the greens, complete 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, significantly floor beef, since small variations there can influence total calorie and fats consumption. Blue Apron doesn’t record the lean share while you order, so I reached out to their buyer help staff. They responded shortly and defined that their commonplace floor beef is usually a higher-fat mix, whereas the premium possibility is leaner. You possibly can’t choose a precise lean share at checkout, however selecting the premium mix when accessible, provides you a solution 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 liked.

The Blue Apron Meal Lineup: Hits, Tweaks & Takeaways

<img width="950" height="1024" src="https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_8761-1-950x1024.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-67899 size-full" style="object-position:50% 50%" srcset="https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_8761-1-950x1024.jpeg 950w, https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_8761-1-278x300.jpeg 278w, https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_8761-1-768x828.jpeg 768w, https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_8761-1-scaled.jpeg 1200w" /> Za’atar-Crusted Salmon & Veggies provided a well-balanced and colourful mixture of protein, grains, and greens. The flavors labored nicely collectively, and getting ready parts on the identical time helped every little thing come collectively easily. I cooked the salmon within the air fryer as an alternative on the range prime so I might concurrently prep the couscous and the greens with out having to maintain something heat till all parts have been prepared. This reduce on cooking time and in my view, air-fryer salmon creates the right crispy exterior texture whereas remaining juicy on the within – my private most well-liked solution to prep salmon at house.

<img width="768" height="1024" src="https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_8749-2-768x1024.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-67886 size-full" style="object-position:55% 40%" srcset="https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_8749-2-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_8749-2-225x300.jpeg 225w, https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_8749-2-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_8749-2-scaled.jpeg 1200w" /> Calabrian Shrimp & Orzo with Tomatoes & Parmesan stood out for its stability of taste and ease. Shrimp cooks shortly, making this a sensible possibility 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.

<img width="768" height="1024" src="https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_9063-768x1024.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-67888 size-full" style="object-position:53% 40%" srcset="https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_9063-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_9063-225x300.jpeg 225w, https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_9063-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/IMG_9063-scaled.jpeg 1200w" /> Honey Mustard Hen & Farro Salad mixed complete grains, leafy greens, and hen for a satisfying meal. The flavors have been shiny, and it tasted finest contemporary—which labored completely for a deliberate dinner.

Some meals leaned sweeter, saltier or richer than I usually want, however adjusting the sauces or seasonings made it simple 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 change a recipe in case you have a most well-liked cooking oil, sauce or seasoning (I personally prepare dinner with much less salt or swap for low sodium options each time potential) available you understand you or your loved ones will love. As an illustration, I do know my household enjoys a bit of kick of warmth so we opted to at all times use all of the crushed pink 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 on your well being, total well-being and your pockets. In keeping with current research it could enhance weight loss plan high quality, portion management and help weight administration, whereas additionally providing price financial savings and alternatives to reinforce household relationships. (1,2,3)

And in right now’s busy panorama we'd like sensible options to get a house cooked meal on the desk with out the danger of forgetting that key ingredient on the grocery retailer or the ever common grabbing takeout on the way in which house from work. Belief me, I've been there, performed that. And don’t get me incorrect – take out may be enjoyable infrequently however there may be 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 children to and from apply 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 moderately than inflexible. With the ability to select from a broad menu, prepare dinner on a versatile schedule, and alter last dishes to style made it simple to suit into my present routine.

The Blue Apron meal kits struck a pleasant stability 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 attempt new recipes and taste mixtures to mix-up my conventional go-to weeknight meals.

So whether or not you’re seeking to concentrate on contemporary, portion balanced meals or just in search of new recipe concepts with out the effort or purchasing think about attempting Blue Apron meal kits.

Continuously Requested Questions

How lengthy do the meals take to organize?Prep occasions for the meals I selected different from 20 to 40 minutes. As soon as I received the cling of the directions and arranged my steps, some meals got here collectively even sooner. Plus, should you’re a extra superior prepare dinner – I feel you’ll discover the recipes come collectively fairly shortly.

Are the parts filling?Sure—parts felt satisfying and well-balanced, significantly with the protein-forward choices. I additionally opted so as to add protein to recipes equivalent to floor beef, floor pork or you have got the choice to order extra proteins on the aspect. This will help you make progress in direction of your protein objectives when monitoring in MyFitnessPal.

Can meals help protein and fiber objectives?As a dietitian, I prioritize hitting my day by 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 possibly can simply increase fiber by including additional 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 go well with totally different schedules. There are all kinds of proteins (fish, hen, beef, pork, and many others.) in addition to vegetarian choices.

The Backside Line

After every week of cooking with Blue Apron, the expertise felt sensible and versatile. The meals have been tasty, well-balanced and designed with diet in thoughts.

Total, Blue Apron delivered flavorful meals that match into on a regular basis routines—making it a practical possibility nicely past January.

If you need to attempt Blue Apron meals at house use the code MFP50 for 50% off your first two orders and free transport. Promotional code is legitimate by way of 12.31.26. Blue Apron is solely accountable for its services and MyFitnessPal makes no representations or warranties, and disclaims any legal responsibility, relating to the Blue Apron choices.