Hello Fresh Portions Too Small For Me (My 2025 Review)

I’m no stranger to meal planning—lifting weights and training grappling a few times a week means food’s got to pull its weight too.

High protein, decent taste, and something that doesn’t eat up my whole evening? That’s the dream. So when I decided to test HelloFresh, I went in with an open mind but a sharp eye—could it keep up with my active life, or would it just be another subscription to ditch?

I’ve cooked their kits, compared them to alternatives like Sunbasket and Marley Spoon, and even peeked at what real users are saying online.

This review’s my take: a deep dive into what HelloFresh offers, how it stacks up for athletes like me, and whether it’s worth your cash.

Pros

• Tasty Recipes: Dishes like “Spicy Maple Chicken” and “Garlic Butter Sirloin” pack real flavor, making meals a highlight after a hard day. It’s not just fuel—it’s something you’ll actually enjoy eating.
• Wide Variety: With over 100 weekly options, you’re not stuck eating the same thing twice unless you want to. Keeps things fresh for picky eaters or busy schedules.
• Convenient Setup: Pre-portioned ingredients and clear recipe cards cut out planning and shopping time. Perfect when you’re beat from training and just want to eat.
• Flexible Subscription: Skipping weeks or canceling is painless through the app—no pushy sales pitches or hoops to jump through.

Cons

• Limited Customization: You can pick meals, but tweaking macros or doubling protein isn’t an option.
• Moderate Cost: At $9.99-$11.49 per serving plus shipping, it’s pricier than DIY meal prep. It is not a budget buster, but it adds up if you’re optimizing your budget.
• Cooking Required: Takes 20-40 minutes per meal, which isn’t bad but doesn’t match the convenience of pre-made meal services.
• Small Portions: For an active individual like myself, the 2 portion meals are more like 1 for me.

What Is HelloFresh?

HelloFresh is a subscription-based meal kit delivery service that provides pre-portioned ingredients and recipes for home cooking.

Launched in 2011 in Germany, it’s now a major player in the U.S. and other countries, offering a convenient way to prepare meals without the need for extensive planning or grocery shopping.

Each week, subscribers receive a box containing ingredients for their chosen recipes, along with detailed instructions, typically requiring 20-40 minutes of preparation time.

The service offers a variety of plans, such as “Meat & Veggies,” “Veggie,” “Family Friendly,” and “Fit & Wholesome,” with a rotating menu of over 100 options.

Customers can select meals based on dietary preferences or cooking time, and add-ons like breakfast items or extra proteins are available through the HelloFresh Marketplace.

It’s designed for those seeking fresh, balanced meals with minimal hassle, though it requires cooking effort, unlike fully prepared meal services.

My HelloFresh Review & Experience

Customization

When I first signed up for HelloFresh, I was curious about how much control I’d have over my meals—especially since I’m someone who needs high-protein options to keep up with my lifting and wrestling schedule.

The customization process starts when you pick your plan, and for me, the “Meat & Veggies” option was the obvious choice. It’s built for folks who want hearty proteins paired with solid sides, which aligns perfectly with my goals.

You’re not locked into one style, though—each week, you can dip into other categories like “Fit & Wholesome” or “Quick & Easy” if you’re feeling adventurous or short on time.

The real customization happens when you browse the weekly menu. I could swap out recipes to prioritize meat-heavy dishes—like a grilled steak with garlic butter or a pork tenderloin with roasted veggies—while skipping anything too carb-heavy or light on protein.

There’s a “premium” upgrade option too, which lets you level up to fancier cuts like organic chicken or bison for an extra $6-$9 per box. I tried this once with a ribeye dish, and it felt like a treat worth the splurge after a hard training week.

That said, if you’re hoping to tweak recipes down to the nitty-gritty—like swapping beef for turkey or cutting out a sauce—you’re out of luck. HelloFresh keeps it simple: you pick the meal, but the ingredients come as designed.

For athletes like me, this setup works decently. I could consistently hit my protein targets (30-40 grams per meal), but it’s not perfect.

There’s no option to double the meat or ditch the starch entirely, which some competitors like Home Chef offer.

If you’re on a strict macros plan, you might need to supplement with your own protein stash. Still, the flexibility to hand-pick meals each week gave me enough room to make it work without feeling stuck with veggie-only or low-calorie fluff I’d never eat.

Meal Variety, Kits and Recipes

The variety with HelloFresh is honestly one of its strongest selling points. With over 100 options rotating weekly, I never felt like I was stuck eating the same thing twice—unless I wanted to.

Naturally, I zeroed in on the meat-centric kits. Think spicy chicken sausages with peppers, beef stir-fries with jasmine rice, or a juicy burger with a side of roasted potatoes.

These meals hit the spot after a session, delivering solid protein (usually 25-40 grams) and enough carbs to refuel without leaving me bloated.

The kits themselves are straightforward: everything’s pre-portioned in labeled bags, with proteins vacuum-sealed and tucked under ice packs. It’s a slick system—open the box, grab a bag, and you’re ready to cook.

Most recipes take 20-40 minutes, though I’ll admit some chopping and sautéing pushed me closer to 45 on busier nights.

The recipe cards are a highlight—colorful, step-by-step, and dumbed down enough that anyone could follow.

One night, I whipped up a “Turkish-Spiced Chicken” with couscous and a yogurt drizzle, and it tasted like something I’d pay for at a restaurant—big win there.

For active folks, the “Fit & Wholesome” category caught my eye with promises of leaner cuts and lighter sides. I tested a salmon with quinoa dish—solid protein, decent fats—but it felt more like a recovery meal than a feast.

The variety dips a bit if you’re avoiding meat; the veggie options lean hard into pasta or cheese, which won’t cut it if you’re chasing gains.

They’ve also got “Quick & Easy” kits for sub-20-minute meals, like a beef taco bowl that saved me on a rushed evening. Those are clutch when you’re too tired to mess around in the kitchen for long.

Compared to other services I’ve tried, HelloFresh’s recipes strike a balance between flavor and practicality. They’re not as gourmet as Sunbasket’s organic-focused lineup, but they’re tastier than the bare-bones stuff from EveryPlate.

The downside? If you’re a hardcore athlete needing 50+ grams of protein per meal, these kits might leave you hungry unless you add your own extras.

For most active people, though, the variety and quality hold up—especially if you’re not above sneaking in a shake on the side.

Taste & Quality

When it comes to taste, HelloFresh genuinely surprised me. I’ve tried my share of meal kits, and I’ll be honest—I wasn’t expecting much beyond “decent” from a service pumping out this many recipes. But after a couple of weeks, I can say they’ve got the flavor game dialed in.

Take the “Garlic Butter Sirloin” I cooked up—juicy, well-seasoned meat with a rich sauce that didn’t skimp on satisfaction.

Another standout was the “Spicy Maple Chicken,” where the sweet heat hit just right alongside roasted sweet potatoes. These dishes weren’t just fuel; they felt like a reward.

The quality of the ingredients backs up the taste. The proteins—chicken, beef, pork—arrived fresh, never frozen or sketchy-looking, and held their own against what I’d grab from a decent grocery store.

The veggies were crisp, not wilted, and the herbs added a legit pop to the final plate. For someone like me, the portion sizes were solid—usually 30-40 grams of protein per serving.

That’s not enough to max out my macros solo, but it’s a strong base I could build on with a side of eggs or Greek yogurt if needed.

That said, it’s not flawless. Some recipes lean too hard on sauces or carbs—like a pasta-heavy beef ragu that tasted great but didn’t quite match my macro preferences. And while the quality is consistent, it’s not “farm-to-table” elite like some pricier services.

Still, for the price point, the taste-to-effort ratio is hard to beat. I’d put it a notch above Blue Apron for seasoning and miles ahead of budget kits like Dinnerly in terms of freshness.

Packaging

Unboxing HelloFresh is a mix of practicality and minor frustration—mostly good, with a few quirks. Each delivery lands in a sturdy, insulated cardboard box, lined with a foil layer and packed with ice packs to keep everything cold. I

 left one outside for a few hours, and the chicken and veggies were still chilled. Inside, the ingredients are sorted into labeled paper bags—one per meal—which makes it dead simple to grab what you need and get cooking.

Proteins sit at the bottom, vacuum-sealed and separated, so there’s no risk of a leaky steak juice disaster.

From a busy athlete and dad’s perspective, this setup is a time-saver. The organization cuts that hassle, and the recipe cards—big, glossy, and easy to read—stay out of the way until you’re ready.

The sustainability angle is where it gets dicey. HelloFresh pushes a green vibe—recyclable bags, carbon-neutral shipping—but there’s still plastic in the mix. I’ll admit this doesn’t bother me, but eco-warriors will likely be irritated.

Sauce packets, herb containers, and some protein wraps aren’t curbside-friendly and you’ll be tossing a handful of wrappers after every meal.

On the flip side, the ice packs are reusable (I’ve got a stack in my freezer now), and the cardboard breaks down easily.

Functionally, the packaging does its job—everything arrives intact and fresh, even in warm weather. It’s not perfect, and the plastic waste piles up over time, but it’s hard to fault the convenience.

Price

Plan	Meals/Week	Servings	Total Cost (w/ Shipping)	Cost Per Serving
2-Person	3	6	$76.93 ($65.94 + $10.99)	$9.99
2-Person	4	8	$90.91 ($79.92 + $10.99)	$9.99
4-Person	3	12	$130.87 ($119.88 + $10.99)	$9.99
4-Person	4	16	$170.83 ($159.84 + $10.99)	$9.99

For context, I went with the 2-person, 4-meal plan most weeks—eight servings total for $90.91. That’s roughly $11.36 per plate with shipping factored in.

As someone who needs high-protein meals, it’s enough to cover dinner for me and maybe a partner, though I’d sometimes eat two servings myself post-training to hit my macros.

Compared to grabbing a $15-$20 burger and fries, it’s a steal—and way cleaner. But if you’re cooking bulk chicken and rice at home for $3-$5 a serving, HelloFresh feels like a splurge.

The value shines for busy athletes who hate meal prep but still want quality. You’re paying for convenience, fresh ingredients, and recipes that don’t suck—stuff that saves time after a grueling wrestling session.

New customers get hefty discounts (I snagged 16 free servings over my first four boxes), which sweetens the deal upfront

Cancelation Process

The cancelation process is all online, which suits me fine since I’d rather not talk to anyone to cancel or pause a service.

To cancel, you log into your account on the HelloFresh website or app—pretty straightforward. From there, head to “My Subscriptions” under your account settings, and you’ll see an option to “Cancel Plan.”

They ask why you’re bailing—options like “too expensive” or “not enough variety” pop up—and I picked “trying something else” just to keep it neutral. After that, it’s a quick confirmation, and you’re done.

Pausing is just as easy—same menu, different button. You can skip weeks (up to eight at a time) if you’re traveling or just need a break.

Reactivating is seamless too—just pick your meals again, and you’re back in business.

As is the case with pretty much all meal delivery services, If you forget the cutoff, you’re locked into that week’s box—non-negotiable, even if you call support.

Who Is HelloFresh For?

Busy Professionals Craving Convenience

If you’re juggling a packed schedule—work, gym, life—and meal prep feels like a chore, HelloFresh is a lifesaver. The pre-portioned ingredients and clear recipe cards cut out the guesswork, so you’re eating a solid dinner in 30-40 minutes without haunting the grocery store.

Beginner Cooks Looking to Level Up

For folks new to the kitchen, this service is a gentle push into cooking without the overwhelm. The recipes are dummy-proof—step-by-step, with pictures—and they sneak in little skills like seasoning meat or roasting veggies.

I could see someone who’s never touched a frying pan learning the ropes with a dish like “Garlic Butter Sirloin.”

Families or Couples Wanting Variety

If you’re feeding more than just yourself, HelloFresh shines with its variety and portion options. The 4-person plans could easily cover a small crew, and the menu—over 100 choices weekly—keeps everyone from getting bored.

Active Folks Who Don’t Mind Tweaking

For people like me—lifting, training, needing fuel—HelloFresh works if you’re okay supplementing. The “Meat & Veggies” and “Fit & Wholesome” options deliver decent protein (25-40 grams per serving), and the taste keeps you from dreading dinner.

Who It’s Not For: Strict Dieters or Budget Hawks

If you’re locked into keto, paleo, or vegan—or chasing 50+ grams of protein per meal—HelloFresh isn’t your jam. The customization is limited, and the veggie options lean on pasta or dairy, not low-carb staples.

Same goes if you’re pinching pennies; at $9.99-$11.49 per serving plus shipping, it’s pricier than bulk-shopping and cooking.

I could make it work, but if you’re militant about diet specifics or costs, you’ll be fighting an uphill battle here. Look elsewhere for that level of control or money-saving.

Furthermore, as easy as the recipes are, many meal services provide fully cooked meals that require less than 5 minutes to reheat. For people looking for maximum time efficiency, HelloFresh won’t cut it.

HelloFresh User Reviews

After spending a couple of weeks testing HelloFresh myself, I wanted to see what others—real users—thought about the service.

A recurring theme in reviews is the convenience factor. One user on ConsumerAffairs raved, “My husband and I love ordering from HelloFresh! The food is definitely fresh. The recipes are easy to understand and taste great!”

Another Redditor on /r/HelloFresh echoed this: “It’s made us try different things and so far we love everything,” highlighting the variety that keeps meals from getting stale.

Taste also gets a lot of love across multiple platforms like Trustpilot (3.7 stars from 65,000 reviews), with some even arguing it may be better than restaurant quality food.

HelloFresh Alternatives

Sunbasket

The menu leans hard into specialized plans like paleo, gluten-free, vegetarian, and carb-conscious options, which is a big plus if you’re chasing specific macros or cutting weight.

The quality stands out—organic produce, sustainably sourced seafood, and responsibly raised meats like grass-fed beef.

I tried a paleo kit with grilled chicken and roasted veggies, and it hit that clean-eating sweet spot without feeling like a compromise.

The delivery boxes are eco-friendly too, with recyclable and compostable packaging that beats HelloFresh’s partial plastic vibe. Most kits cook in under 30 minutes, though some recipes throw in fancier steps.

Compared to HelloFresh, Sunbasket’s edge is its flexibility for health nuts and athletes with strict diets. Where HelloFresh keeps it broad and family-friendly, Sunbasket doubles down on organic, niche options.

The trade-off is cost—it starts at around $11.49-$24.49 per serving, which is pricier than HelloFresh’s $9.99 baseline. For me, the prepared meals were a clutch time-saver, but if you’re not sold on organic or don’t need the diet specifics, the extra bucks might not justify it.

Marley Spoon

I wasn’t expecting much beyond solid taste, but the flavors had a polished edge that HelloFresh’s everyday meals don’t always hit.

The menu rotates weekly with about 45 options, including vegetarian and low-carb picks. It’s not as diet-focused as Sunbasket, but you can nudge it toward healthier choices by grabbing lighter dishes.

The ingredients feel upscale—seasonal produce, good cuts of meat—and the recipe cards come with pro tips for nailing presentation. Most meals are beginner-friendly and take 30-40 minutes, though the fancier ones might demand a bit more focus.

Against HelloFresh, Marley Spoon leans into sophisticated vibes over broad appeal. HelloFresh balances gourmet and kid-friendly stuff, while Marley Spoon feels like it’s flexing for foodies. Pricing is close—around $9-$12 per serving plus shipping—so it’s not a budget breaker.

For me, it’s a solid pick if I want to mix up my protein game with some flair, though it won’t replace my go-to bulk prep for sheer efficiency.

Splendid Spoon

As someone who trains hard, plant-based cannot match my high-protein needs, but it’s carved a niche for quick, healthy grabs.

The menu’s all vegan, gluten-free, and free of junk additives, with detox-friendly options that vibe with recovery days or cutting phases.

The convenience is superb—everything arrives pre-made, so it’s just heat (or sip) and go. I tried a lentil soup and a green smoothie; both were light, clean, and perfect for a rushed lunch between gym sessions.

Flavors are simple—not as bold as HelloFresh’s spiced-up kits—but they get the job done. Portions are calorie-controlled, which is handy if you’re tracking, though at 10-20 grams of protein tops, I’d need to pair it with my own meals and shakes to feel full.

Compared to HelloFresh, it’s a different beast. HelloFresh is about cooking balanced meals; Splendid Spoon is pure ease for plant-based eaters or time-crunched types.

Pricing sits around $9-$13 per item—more than DIY but in line with health store grab-and-go stuff. For an active guy like me, it’s not a dinner replacement, but it works for snacks or light meals when. If you’re not vegan or don’t mind cooking, though, HelloFresh’s versatility wins out.

Frequently Asked Hello Fresh Questions

How does HelloFresh work?

HelloFresh simplifies meal prep by delivering pre-measured ingredients and detailed recipe cards straight to your door. Each week, you can choose meals from their rotating menu based on your dietary preferences and serving size needs.

The recipes include step-by-step instructions, and the ingredients are portioned to reduce food waste. You can also customize some meals using the HelloCustom feature to swap proteins or sides, although this may sometimes come with an additional cost.

Is HelloFresh good for beginners who don’t cook often?

HelloFresh excels at simplifying cooking for beginners. Their recipe cards are user-friendly, with clear instructions and photos for each step. Even if you’ve never cooked before, the guidance ensures that dishes come out as intended.

The pre-measured ingredients also reduce guesswork, which can be particularly helpful for those new to cooking. That said, some recipes can take longer than the estimated time if your kitchen skills are still developing.

Does HelloFresh accommodate food allergies?

HelloFresh provides ingredient lists for each meal, allowing you to make informed choices. But, they don’t have a robust filtering system to exclude allergens during meal selection. Cross-contamination is also possible since their facilities handle common allergens like nuts, dairy, and gluten.

If you or someone in your household has severe allergies, this is something to consider carefully before subscribing.

Is HelloFresh eco-friendly?

While HelloFresh makes efforts to incorporate recyclable packaging materials, the overall amount of packaging is substantial. This has been a common concern among eco-conscious users.

The service has initiatives like using paper-based insulation and recyclable cardboard, but improvements could still be made to address waste reduction and sustainability fully.

Can I order meals suited for specific fitness goals, like weight loss?

Yes, HelloFresh offers some options for fitness goals like weight loss through its “Fit & Wholesome” plan, which includes lower-calorie and carb-smart meals. You can pick recipes with lean proteins and lighter sides, but customization is limited—no precise calorie or macro adjustments.

It works best if you’re flexible and willing to tweak portions or add your own extras to hit specific targets.

Summary

HelloFresh delivered on a lot: tasty recipes like spicy chicken and garlic sirloin, fresh ingredients that held up post-workout, and a no-fuss setup that saved me from grocery runs.

The variety—over 100 weekly options—kept things interesting, and at $9.99-$11.49 per serving, it’s a fair deal compared to takeout. Cancellation’s a breeze, too, which I appreciated when life got chaotic.

It’s not perfect, though. If you’re chasing strict macros or niche diets like keto, the customization falls short—I had to tweak portions to hit my protein goals.

Here’s where I’d nudge you toward Trifecta Nutrition instead. It’s not a kit—you’re getting fully prepared, high-protein meals tailored for athletes, with options like lean beef, chicken, or salmon that pack 30-50 grams of protein easy.

Pricing hovers around $16 per meal, a bit more than HelloFresh, but for the time saved and the gains supported, it’s worth every penny. If you’re serious about training and want food that matches the grind, Trifecta’s the move.