This article is sponsored by Blue Apron. All opinions presented are the author’s own.
Meal planning often sounds easier than it is. Between busy workdays, limited time to cook, and wanting meals that feel both satisfying and balanced, it’s easy to fall into the same routine. To see how a meal kit might realistically fit into everyday life, I spent a week cooking with Blue Apron.
To set the stage – I want to clarify this was my first time trying Blue Apron. I approached the week both as a home cook and as a registered dietitian, paying attention to the details that tend to matter most day to day—prep time, balanced nutrition, portioning, flexibility, and of course, overall enjoyment.
Here’s what stood out.
Why I Tried Blue Apron
When I was asked to review a week’s worth of meals from Blue Apron, I was curious to see how a set of meal kits would stack up against the traditional recipes I love to make at home. I love to cook and I am always up for trying a new recipe but I am pretty particular about the quality of produce and meat that I bring into my home. I’d heard good things about their meal kits but wanted to evaluate the food through my personal and professional lens as a registered dietitian.
What made it especially approachable was that Blue Apron no longer requires a subscription. Being able to try the meals without committing to weekly deliveries made it feel like a low-pressure way to experiment with something new—particularly for anyone looking to make more sustainable, long-term changes rather than jumping into an all-or-nothing plan.
I picked a range of meals with different proteins and preparation styles, including traditional meal kits and assemble-and-bake options. Delivery went smoothly, and ingredients arrived fresh. Some proteins were partially frozen, which actually made it easier to decide which meals to cook first and which proteins to store frozen until I had time to prepare that particular meal kit.
Each meal came packaged as a two-serving kit, which made portioning straightforward and predictable. I flag this because if you order a meal kit with four servings – it will still arrive in a two-person serving package so you can opt to cook the four servings to feed your whole family or simply cook two servings if you’re not feeding a group and save the second meal kit for later.
No Guesswork, No Chaos: How It Actually Cooked
Throughout the week, prep and cook times matched what the recipe cards promised, which made planning my evenings much easier. If you’re fast at chopping produce you may even find your prep time reduced allowing you to get dinner on the table even earlier than estimated.
Knowing exactly what I needed to do from night to night made the whole process feel organized instead of chaotic. Their recipes are chef-crafted yet extremely approachable. Instructions were clear and included helpful visuals that streamlined the process – especially if you’re not an avid cook or if you’re a visual learner. Pre-measured sauces, spices, and seasonings cut down on prep work and meant fewer dishes to wash afterward. I loved not having tons of measuring cups and spoons along with multiple cutting boards, bowls and more to wash after each meal as I traditionally do when cooking recipes from scratch at home. But I will note, many recipes use similar cooking tools – think saucepot, knife, cutting board, skillet – so if you’re making a new recipe each night don’t leave the dishes sitting around as you’ll need them for the next recipe.
If you tend to fall in to the last minute, “What’s for dinner?” habit – having structured, easy-to-assemble meal kits, may help you stay more consistent with your nutrition and your meal plan each week.
Did it Deliver? My Nutrition Observations
Overall, the meals I ordered felt balanced and satisfying with the recipes I selected containing 40 grams of protein or more per serving helping me make progress towards my daily protein goals. Another nutrient I prioritize when meal planning, fiber, came through in the vegetables, whole grains, and thoughtful pairings like side salads – something I commonly enjoy at dinner —and I could easily add more produce into any meal I wanted.
I paid close attention to protein sourcing, particularly ground beef, since small differences there can impact overall calorie and fat intake. Blue Apron doesn’t list the lean percentage when you order, so I reached out to their customer support team. They responded quickly and explained that their standard ground beef is typically a higher-fat blend, while the premium option is leaner. You can’t select an exact lean percentage at checkout, but choosing the premium blend when available, gives you a way to go leaner if you’re watching your total calorie or fat intake while tracking in MyFitnessPal.
Knowing that information made it easier to make informed choices while still enjoying meals that highlighted intentional portions leaving me feeling full while providing vibrant flavors I loved.
The Blue Apron Meal Lineup: Hits, Tweaks & Takeaways
Za’atar-Crusted Salmon & Veggies offered a well-balanced and colorful combination of protein, grains, and vegetables. The flavors worked well together, and preparing components at the same time helped everything come together smoothly. I cooked the salmon in the air fryer instead on the stove top so I could simultaneously prep the couscous and the vegetables without having to keep anything warm until all components were ready. This cut back on cooking time and in my opinion, air-fryer salmon creates the perfect crispy outside texture while remaining juicy on the inside – my personal preferred way to prep salmon at home.
Calabrian Shrimp & Orzo with Tomatoes & Parmesan stood out for its balance of flavor and simplicity. Shrimp cooks quickly, making this a practical option for busy evenings. Prep was minimal, and the timing was accurate. I added a leafy green salad on the side for a satisfying crunch along with fiber, vitamins and minerals on the side.
Honey Mustard Chicken & Farro Salad combined whole grains, leafy greens, and chicken for a satisfying meal. The flavors were bright, and it tasted best fresh—which worked perfectly for a planned dinner.
Some meals leaned sweeter, saltier or richer than I typically prefer, but adjusting the sauces or seasonings made it easy to tailor dishes to my liking. I enjoyed the Orange Beef & Wonton Noodles with Bok Choy, for example, but used a little less sauce to make it my own. Don’t be afraid to modify a recipe if you have a preferred cooking oil, sauce or seasoning (I personally cook with less salt or swap for low sodium alternatives whenever possible) on hand you know you or your family will love. For instance, I know my family enjoys a little kick of heat so we opted to always use all the crushed red pepper flakes or chili crisp when provided or even add a dash of hot sauce to the finished dish like the Peanut Udon Stir-Fry to make it our own!
Real Life, Real Meals: Why This Actually Works
Meal planning and home cooking have been shown to offer numerous benefits for your health, overall well-being and your wallet. According to recent studies it can improve diet quality, portion control and support weight management, while also offering cost savings and opportunities to enhance family relationships. (1,2,3)
And in today’s busy landscape we need practical solutions to get a home cooked meal on the table without the risk of forgetting that key ingredient at the grocery store or the ever popular grabbing takeout on the way home from work. Trust me, I have been there, done that. And don’t get me wrong – take out can be fun from time to time but there is nothing quite like a home cooked meal.
Meal kits fall into that category of practical solutions for when life gets busy between changing schedules and shuffling kids to and from practice a meal that can be made in 30 minutes or less with pre-portioned ingredients becomes even more magical.
Over the course of the week, Blue Apron felt adaptable rather than rigid. Being able to choose from a broad menu, cook on a flexible schedule, and adjust final dishes to taste made it easy to fit into my existing routine.
The Blue Apron meal kits struck a nice balance providing enough structure to reduce decision fatigue, but still plenty of room for personal touches. They made weeknight cooking feel manageable, even during a busy stretch and allowed me to try new recipes and flavor combinations to mix-up my traditional go-to weeknight meals.
So whether you’re looking to focus on fresh, portion balanced meals or simply looking for new recipe ideas without the hassle or shopping consider trying Blue Apron meal kits.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do the meals take to prepare?
Prep times for the meals I chose varied from 20 to 40 minutes. Once I got the hang of the instructions and organized my steps, some meals came together even faster. Plus, if you’re a more advanced cook – I think you’ll find the recipes come together quite quickly.
Are the portions filling?
Yes—portions felt satisfying and well-balanced, particularly with the protein-forward options. I also opted to add protein to recipes such as ground beef, ground pork or you have the option to order additional proteins on the side. This can help you make progress towards your protein goals when tracking in MyFitnessPal.
Can meals support protein and fiber goals?
As a dietitian, I prioritize hitting my daily protein and fiber goals in MyFitnessPal so those are two key nutrients I paid special attention to when ordering my meals. The meals I chose had at least 40g of protein per serving and between 4 – 8g of fiber per serving. You can easily boost fiber by adding extra vegetables either to the recipe or by serving a salad on the side.
How flexible is the menu?
The menu includes a range of meal styles, from quicker options to assemble-and-bake meals, which can suit different schedules. There are all sorts of proteins (fish, chicken, beef, pork, etc.) as well as vegetarian options.
The Bottom Line
After a week of cooking with Blue Apron, the experience felt practical and flexible. The meals were tasty, well-balanced and designed with nutrition in mind.
Overall, Blue Apron delivered flavorful meals that fit into everyday routines—making it a realistic option well beyond January.
If you would like to try Blue Apron meals at home use the code MFP50 for 50% off your first two orders and free shipping. Promotional code is valid through 12.31.26. Blue Apron is solely responsible for its products and services and MyFitnessPal makes no representations or warranties, and disclaims any liability, regarding the Blue Apron offerings.
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