In a fast-paced world where balancing school, extracurriculars, and personal life can be a challenge, meal kit delivery services like HelloFresh and Factor are becoming increasingly popular, even among teenagers. These services promise easy, ready-to-cook meals delivered straight to your door, eliminating the hassle of grocery shopping and reducing time spent in the kitchen.
“I like how it’s very convenient and allows me to have more free time instead of having to go get something to eat… Dinner has become so much easier to manage,” 10th grader Colin Evans shares, as HelloFresh has been a game-changer. Colin, like many other teenagers, appreciates the time-saving aspect of HelloFresh, especially when stacked against long grocery store trips and cooking from scratch. “Grocery shopping is such a hassle,” he says. “With HelloFresh, I don’t need to spend hours on getting groceries and cooking from scratch.”
For some families, HelloFresh is a convenient way to save cooking time. “I use Factor meal kit services because they are very convenient, as my husband and I both work, and sometimes cooking meals takes too much of our time,” said Kamini Chandana, a substitute teacher in Pasco County.
Meal kit delivery services often use many promotional offers to boost sales. “HelloFresh gives you a huge discount when you first start your subscription,” said Evans. One of the most popular is the massive discount users get on their first meal order subscription. Others include free shipping and free meal kits on certain orders.
But not everyone’s sold on the meal delivery trend. Valerie Trujillo, a senior, prefers the old-school approach of cooking from scratch at home. “I love cooking and would much rather make my own food with the ingredients I have at home,” said Trujillo.
Trujillo tried a meal delivery service, but the experience wasn’t exactly appetizing. “It wasn’t the best,” she said. “I think I was just delivered an old meal because everything looked rotten and not fresh at all.”
Beyond that, many people enjoy the freedom they get by cooking their own food with quality ingredients and cherished recipes. “I enjoy using recipes I know I’ll love,” she says.
The popularity of meal delivery services like HelloFresh and Factor in Tampa seems to come down to personal lifestyle. For students juggling packed schedules, the convenience and time saved can’t be beaten. But for others who find joy in creativity, control, and freshness, homemade meals still reign as supreme.
