I fondly recall the times when my Mom could effortlessly whip up a tasty meal at a moment’s notice. It is so sad; those days are over. As my Mom has become confined to a wheelchair, the ability to prepare any meals has regrettably slipped beyond her reach. She also refuses to leave the house, so she is not seen in a wheelchair by others. Consequently, dining out is no longer an option. Every night, my parents engage in a deliberation over their dinner choice, a lengthy back-and-forth that persists until a decision is eventually reached. It is painful to watch. Once the choice is made, the responsibility falls on my Dad to make the trip to a restaurant, retrieve the ordered food, and return home. I tried to figure out a way to lighten the burden on my parents – then a solution emerged: Blue Apron. From years of experience with Blue Apron, I realized it held the potential to be a thoughtful gift for my parents.
In the past, I turned to Blue Apron for its ease and convenience. A subscription with Blue Apron delivers chef-curated recipes alongside precisely portioned ingredients, all directly to my doorstep. Navigating the Blue Apron website is remarkably straightforward, enabling effortless meal selection, order modifications, and even cancellations. The extensive array of nutritious meal options only enhances the experience. Given that my parents now contend with the challenges that come with advancing age, including difficulties with routine tasks, I’ve made the decision to provide them with a Blue Apron subscription to simplify their dining routine.
Comparatively, Blue Apron offers a more budget-friendly option than dining at the majority of restaurants. For an insight into the cost per meal, a quick visit to the Blue Apron pricing page provides a clear picture. Roughly estimated, each meal amounts to approximately $12, excluding taxes and delivery fees. Personally, I embarked on my Blue Apron journey with a subscription entailing two meals, twice per week. Notably, the cost per meal diminishes as you increase the number of weekly orders, making it an increasingly economical choice.
It might be a bit surprising, but older folks usually stick to their usual routines. I knew that my parents might not be super keen on trying out Blue Apron, so I didn’t really give them the option to say yes or no to the subscription. And you know what? It looks like I was spot on with that choice.
When I first told my parents about the Blue Apron subscription, my parents were confused. They couldn’t understand the concept of food being delivered to the house that would then have to be prepared. My Dad was skeptical and immediately tried to find reasons why he didn’t think using Blue Apron was a good idea.
His concerns were grappling with the website’s usage and the prospect of preparing the meals himself. My Dad is from another generation, so the idea of engaging with a new website or application felt daunting, despite his regular computer usage. However, I was determined to dispel his apprehensions. Sitting down with my Father, I walked him through the site’s user-friendly navigation, which appeared to ease his concerns. Armed with a piece of paper for notes, he gradually seemed more at ease. In the initial stages of his site usage, he would call me with questions. He has figured it out by now.
Next to relieve his concern about cooking the meals, I emphasized that cooking was designed to be straightforward. All he had to do was follow the step-by-step instructions. Together, we embarked on a trial run. While he didn’t withhold a bit of grumbling, I sensed a genuine enjoyment as he cooked the first meal. Undoubtedly, this newfound culinary endeavor provided him with a sense of accomplishment. Presently, he has comfortably embraced the task of preparing meals for both himself and my Mom.
At first glance, gifting two meals a week might not appear overly grand. However, that is two times each week where my parents are spared the hassle over sourcing their meals. It translates to two occasions weekly where my father is relieved of the task of fetching food from a restaurant. During those moments, he can instead remain at home, experimenting with new recipes. In my perspective, Blue Apron’s impact on my parents is undeniably beneficial.