What Do You Get in a Blue Apron Box? (+7 Blue Apron Tips)
Blue Apron is now a household name in meal kit delivery. It offers a convenient way to deliver fresh ingredients and exciting recipes to your door. Each Blue Apron box removes the hassle of meal planning and grocery shopping. It provides everything you need to create delicious, home-cooked meals. But what exactly can you expect to find when you open a Blue Apron box?
Are you curious about the variety of meals, the quality of the ingredients, or the level of preparation involved? What sets Blue Apron apart from other meal kit services in terms of what’s included in their boxes? These are key questions for anyone thinking of a subscription. Knowing what you get can help you decide if Blue Apron is right for your dining needs.
This article gives an in-depth look at a Blue Apron box. It covers the meal types, ingredient quality, and packaging. This guide will help you make an informed decision and ensure that you know exactly what to expect from your Blue Apron experience.
What Do You Get in a Blue Apron Box?
A Blue Apron box typically includes all the ingredients and recipe instructions needed to prepare a meal at home. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what you can expect:
1. Ingredients:
- Produce: Fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Protein: Meat, fish, tofu, or other protein sources.
- Condiments: Various sauces, spices, and seasonings.
- Grains: Pasta, rice, or other grains.
- Dairy: Cheese, eggs, or other dairy products.
2. Recipe Cards:
- Detailed instructions on how to prepare the meal, including cooking times and methods
3. Cooking Essentials:
- Blue Apron provides all ingredients. You need basic kitchen tools, like knives, pots, and frying pans. Also, you need baking pans, a strainer, wooden spoons, and cutting boards. Plus, you need spatulas, mixing bowls, ladles, whisks, and microplanes or box graters.
4. Packaging:
- The ingredients are neatly packaged to ensure freshness and ease of use. The box is designed to be eco-friendly, and most of the packaging materials are recyclable.
5. Additional Items:
- An ice pack filled with drain-safe gel to keep perishable items chilled during delivery. After thawing, you should drain the contents and dispose of the lining.
Blue Apron has various plans. They are: the 2-Serving Signature, 4-Serving Signature, Vegetarian for 2, and Prepared & Ready meals. They cater to different diets and preferences.
Healthy Tips for Blue Apron Meal Kits
If you use the meal kits in Blue Apron on a daily basis, you have already made a great decision for your health. However, there are still many easy ways that you can use to make your Blue Apron meal kits much healthier. Some of these ways have been explored in the section below.
Double your veggies portion
Perhaps the best way to make your meal kit a lot healthier is to just double the portion of your veggies and other produce. By adding more veggies and greens to your meal kits, you will increase the amount of nutrients and fiber in your meal. You will also be stretching your meal, to get the most out of your meal kit.
Ditch the soda
Another healthy tip that you can use for your meal kit is to ditch soda and other sugary drinks. Sodas can add tons of empty calories to your body, and this can definitely be harmful for your system. They can also completely offset the nutritional value of your meal kit, especially if you are trying to eat healthier.
Follow the 1/4th rule
If you eat a lot of meat, you can follow the 1/4th rule. According to the 1/4th rule, only 25 percent of your plate should be covered in meat. The rest needs to be covered with veggies and other healthy greens. You can also create a tradition of meatless Mondays to reduce the consumption of meat in your meal.
Eat half now, the rest later
If you are trying to reduce your intake, you can try portion control. In portion control, you will be eating half of your meal now, and then saving the rest for later. If you need help in this area, you can try eating the proteins on your plate first so that you feel fuller easily. This can also help you avoid the lethargy and bloating that come with large meals.
Opt for the WW meals
Another tip that you can use in Blue Apron is to opt for the Weight Watchers meals. These meals were created with Weight Watchers, or WW. They are great for anyone trying to lose weight and eat healthy. These meals are low in calories but pretty high in nutrition, so they can be a healthier alternative.
Use less salt
You also might want to hold the salt when you are cooking with your Blue Apron meal kit. Firstly, salt, once added, cannot be removed, and many of the ingredients in the meal kits may come pre-seasoned or marinated. Secondly, salt can lead to high sodium levels in the blood, which can be dangerous for the heart as well as your kidneys.
Go easy on the sugar
If your recipe calls for sugar, you can try using natural sweeteners like honey and mashed dates. These options can definitely be a lot healthier for you than sugar, and they can also add nutrients and antioxidants to your meal. Blue Apron also has tons of healthy dessert options that are also pretty easy to prepare.
Unique Features of Blue Apron
Blue Apron is well-stocked with very useful features that are unique to it. The best of these have been shared as follows:.
- Blue Apron offers meal kits that must be cooked from scratch. It also has several microwaveable options. These are called Heat and Eat options and come pre-cooked to the customer’s address. They only need to be heated in the microwave for a few minutes.
- Blue Apron also has a wine delivery service that operates in some states of the US. The wines are delivered along with special information about them, their histories, and what meals they would be paired well with. There are also smaller bottles of wine that can be perfect for singles and couples.
- Customers will also find that there is a Blue Apron market. In this market, the customer can find various types of kitchenware for their household needs. There is also a pantry section, where the customer can purchase seasonings and spices for their cooking needs.
