David Holcroft Hello Fresh
Hello Fresh was one of the first recipe subscription boxes to take off and is still one of the most recognisable meal kits today. With a range of tasty recipes and fresh ingredients delivered right to your door, it takes all of the stress out of home cooking whilst keeping the same flavours and element of comfort. From rich pork ragu to veggie curries, you can tailor your box to suit a plant-based or vegetarian diet and choose recipes that excite you for a week of flavour-packed meals – no more coming home from work and compiling a hodgepodge of ingredients based on what’s left in your fridge. Plus, with perfectly portioned ingredients, you can get the most out of your fresh produce without having to waste large family-sized packs on meals for two.
Hello Fresh does offer a variety of recipe boxes to cater to everyone, but with tasty pre-portioned recipes bursting with unique flavours, we think these boxes are perfect for couples looking to try out some new dishes without spending hours in the kitchen. There’s no need to worry about getting caught up in a year-long subscription either, because Hello Fresh is completely flexible, so you can dip in and out of these recipe boxes as you please. You can skip a week – or multiple weeks – if you don’t feel like continuing with your weekly subscription, and you can completely cancel up to five days before your next delivery. If that wasn’t tempting enough, then you can enjoy free delivery and 50% off your first box, as well as 35% off your next three boxes!
You might be wondering how sustainable it is to order a weekly subscription box, but Hello Fresh makes no secret of the fact that being as environmentally friendly as possible is one of their prime goals. They are the first global carbon-neutral meal kit company and even donate unused food to those in need, so nothing goes to waste. In terms of the packaging itself, many of the Hello Fresh markets have switched to a thinner and softer plastic, as well as using fully paper-based packaging where possible, such as for rices and grains. The delivery box and recipe card can also be recycled, and the cooling pouch is made from recycled plastic bottles! What’s more, Hello Fresh is constantly looking for innovative ways to improve their packaging methods outside of the materials themselves. For example, where possible they will package sachets in groups rather than individually, and amend packaging based on season – such as shipping sweetcorn, radishes and lettuce loose in the summer months instead of encased in plastic. That’s definitely earned some brownie points in our eyes!
Gousto
Gousto is another established recipe box brand. With plenty of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options, and a menu ranging from fine-dining inspired cuisine to family favourites and Joe Wicks-approved healthy meals, it’s one of the most varied meal kits on the market. You can order your recipe box for two or four people, but we think this kit is ideal for families thanks to its bank of classic recipes and wealth of dietary options, so there’s something to suit every taste bud. Plus Gousto care just as much about their packaging as they do about what’s inside the box. They are continuously working to reduce and improve their packaging as necessary, and have even gone as far as to create their very own design. Keeping food cool and fresh for delivery often comes at the price of using plastics and hard-to-recycle materials, but Gousto has come up with an innovative invention to solve this problem. The Eco Chill Box uses a cardboard insulator, compiled of multiple layers of cardboard with air trapped in between to create pockets of insulation that prevents cold air from escaping. This, in turn, keeps food fresh whilst saving nearly 75 tonnes in plastic packaging.
If that wasn’t enough to make you want to give this tasty meal kit a try, then new customers can enjoy free delivery and save 50% on their first box, as well as 30% in their first month of subscription. Plus, it’s completely flexible, meaning that you can pause or cancel anytime free of charge if you change your mind. So what are you waiting for? A home cooked dinner never looked so good.
Mindful Chef
Trying to improve your diet but not sure where to start? That’s where Mindful Chef comes in. This recipe box works the same as recognised brands such as Hello Fresh, but operates with a specific focus on healthy eating. All recipes are gluten-free and dairy-free, making a great option for those with special dietary needs. The fact that Mindful Chef’s full bank of recipes caters to these requirements means that you’ve got a vast choice when it comes to meal options, rather than having to filter through for recipes that suit your needs. There are plenty of vegan meals available, and meat dishes are comprised of free range or grass-fed meat where possible, so whatever your diet, you know that you’re getting the best of the best. Instead of carb-loaded pasta dishes and heavy fake-aways like you might find on other recipe box sites, here you’ll find healthy stir frys and flavour-packed veggie burgers. Mindful Chef offers an option for between two and five meals per week, so you don’t need to feel overwhelmed with a new recipe every night, but if you’re trying to improve your diet without sacrificing flavour, then it’s a great (and delicious) guide to help you on your way. You can even save £10 off your first and second box!
Like most other recipe boxes, the subscription is completely flexible, so you can cancel at anytime with no commitments and no contract. It’s clear that Mindful Chef are mindful of more than just their meal kits, too. For every meal sold, they donate a school meal to a child in poverty, so you can order with a sense of comfort that they are taking steps to help tackle real world issues. In order to reduce their environmental footprint, Mindful Chef also encourage customers to return parts of their packaging that can be reused, such as ice packs and insulation which can be reused up to 20 times! It’s evident that this company understands the importance of the materials used as well, as cool bags are made from recycled denim and packaging such as paper bags, boxes, tins, spice pods and cardboard punnets can all be recycled. That sounds like a guilt-free delivery to us.
Simply Cook
What sets Simply Cook apart from other recipe boxes, is that instead of delivering a full range of ingredients for each dish, it focuses on the most important part of the meal – the seasoning. It might sound simple, but some good-quality spices and pastes can turn a bland prawn salad into a fragrant prawn curry that packs a punch. Vegan and vegetarian recipes are available, but there’s so much freedom that you really can make each meal your own. Each kit comes in recyclable packaging that fits through your letterbox, so there’s no need to plan your delivery around when you’ll be home! You’ll receive the core spices, pastes, garnishes and oils to suit your chosen recipes – all you need to do is add a few fresh ingredients! We think these spice kits are perfect for anyone who is new to cooking or looking to spice up their dishes, and with so much flexibility, you can spend as much or as little as you like on your fresh ingredients, and use up whatever you have in your fridge.
With a £3 trial you can get started with four recipes and free postage, so diving into this exciting culinary world couldn’t be – as the name suggests – simpler! The subscription also offers flexibility, so you can change, pause or cancel at any time through your online account – there are no long-winded questionnaires or phone calls involved. If you’re nervous about diving into cooking or you’re just looking to discover how some unique flavours can transform a simple dish, then this is the recipe box for you.
Riverford
If you’ve always wanted to get your hands on organic produce but didn’t know where to begin, Riverford is here to make your life a whole lot easier. Specialising in meal kits that are certified 100% organic and packed with fruit and veg, these boxes are perfect for when you can’t always find a vast selection of fruits and veggies in your local supermarket. The boxes change based on season so that you’re getting organic ingredients at their best, and you can top up your order with meat, dairy products and drinks from Riverford’s organic range to make your meal kit complete. Each box comes with recipes that are tailored specifically to the season, so if you’re looking to use some sweet cherry tomatoes at their peak, or a hearty butternut squash in autumn, you’ll have the perfect tasty recipe right at your fingertips. All fruit and veg packaging is even fully home compostable, saving approximately 21 tonnes of plastic each year! Vegan and vegetarian recipes are available, and we think these meal kits are perfect for fruit and veg lovers, or those simply trying to increase the amount of organic ingredients in their kitchen without getting lost in the supermarket.
You can save 5% if you buy two boxes, and 10% if you buy three. Plus, all of Riverford’s recipe boxes come with free delivery, whether you’re a new customer or a loyal fan. There’s no need to worry about getting tangled in an ongoing commitment either, because you have complete control over which week suits you best for your delivery, and you can change your order up to two days before, and pause or cancel your regular orders at any time. Cooking with organic ingredients has never been easier!
