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Top 10 Best Meal Delivery Services for 2023 - Save Time and Money

Lauren Gillan
Best Meal Delivery Service

Comparing the Best Meal Delivery Services & Companies in 2023 

According to the US Department of Agriculture, the average American adult spends approximately 44 minutes shopping for groceries per trip. This doesn't even account for the time spent on meal prep and clean up, which the same report shows takes up to an hour.

It's no surprise that the meal delivery industry has boomed in the last few years since it helps people skip the grocery store, save time in the kitchen, and potentially spend less money by reducing food waste.

But before you jump on the bandwagon, check out our research so you're fully informed about what our top picks for the best meal delivery services have to offer you.

Our Top 10 Best Meal Delivery Services in 2023:

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Our Methodology: How We Reviewed the Best Meal Delivery Services

We rated the most popular meal delivery services to help you decide which are worth your time and money. Our experienced dietitians and nutritionists ordered, selected, prepared, and tried out each of these meal kits to assess the following:

  • User experience and customer service
  • Subscription flexibility
  • Meal plan variety
  • Quality of the ingredients
  • Recipe accuracy
  • Preparation difficulty level
  • Overall taste of the meals

A Closer Look at the Top 10 Meal Delivery Services

  • 1
    HelloFresh

    HelloFresh

    • PriceFrom $7.49/serving
    • What’s in the box2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 meals with 2 or 4 servings each
    • Special dietsVegetarian, flexitarian, pescatarian, low carb, low calorie

    HelloFresh makes it convenient to enjoy wholesome, fresh meals with minimal prep. Ron Stewart, a former corporate executive chef at Pastini, tested HelloFresh and was "surprised at the quality of ingredients and ease of putting together exceptional meals," calling their recipes "delicious as well as nutritious and balanced."

    Each week, HelloFresh lets you choose from over 100 breakfast, lunch, and dinner recipes. Every kit includes straightforward, step-by-step recipe cards with fresh, pre-measured ingredients to help you get dinner on the table in under an hour.

    This service is best for individuals and households without strict dietary requirements, though they offer low-carb and lower-calorie meals too. It's possible to separately review ingredient information for each meal before ordering, including nutritional value and allergens, and any additional items you may need.

    Why we chose HelloFresh: You can easily adjust or cancel your food delivery and subscription at any time. Meals are not overly complicated and reduce the need to buy ingredients in addition to what's delivered for each recipe.

    Our experience: We liked that HelloFresh lets you know ahead of time what cookware you'll need so you can get cooking as soon as your delivery arrives. It was extra convenient that their extensive menu also let us swap out proteins. 

    Pros
    • Adjust, skip, or cancel your delivery and subscription at any time
    • Change, swap, or upgrade 12+ sides and proteins each week
    • Competitive pricing
    Cons
    • No keto or paleo meal delivery plans
    • Limited flexibility for individuals with allergies
  • 2
    Home Chef

    Home Chef

    • PriceFrom $7.99/serving
    • What’s in the box2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 meals with 2, 4, or 6 servings each
    • Special dietsVegetarian, low-calorie, low-carb, nut-free, soy-free, wheat-free, dairy-free

    Home Chef is a meal service designed for cooks of any skill level. Each delivery provides recipe cards with step-by-step instructions and photos. Research by Hartmann et al. shows that enhanced cooking skills encourage healthier eating habits and thus improve nutrition. This makes Home Chef an excellent tool to achieve better health, by teaching you new recipes and techniques.

    Choose from over 20 recipes each week and swap out proteins to your liking. Home Chef lets you filter and eliminate recipes with specific allergens, such as tree nuts, peanuts, sesame seeds, mushrooms, fish, and shellfish. However, they can't guarantee their meals are entirely free of cross-contamination.

    Why we chose Home Chef: Their pre-portioned, partially prepared ingredients simplify and expedite food prep and clean up, while eliminating food waste.

    Our experience: We found Home Chef's recipe cards easy to follow and meals sizable enough to feed a hungry adult comfortably. We liked that we could save our recipe cards in a binder (included in your first order) for reference at any time.

    Pros
    • Customize the type of protein you'd like in your dish
    • Filter and eliminate recipes with specific allergens
    • Meal kits available in Kroger-owned grocery stores
    Cons
    • Some ingredients may contain colorants, sulfites, and/or artificial sweeteners
    • Minimum weekly order value of $47.96, excluding shipping
  • 3
    Factor
    • PriceFrom $10.99/serving
    • What’s in the box6, 8, 10, 12, 14 or 18 meals
    • Special dietsKeto, vegetarian, vegan, low-calorie

    Factor is a chef-crafted, dietician-approved meal service that provides an approachable way to try healthy diets with heat-and-serve meals. Mary Sabat, a nutritionist and president of Body Designs, remarks on how they're "worth the extra money" and offer "many options for someone trying to stick to a specific diet."

    Factor makes information transparent about their ingredients and nutrition, so you can filter out recipes that may not suit your wellness goals. Their meals range between 300-900 calories, giving you an easy way to lose weight depending on the low-calorie meals you choose to eat.

    Why we chose Factor: In addition to Factor's microwave- or oven-ready dishes, they also offer nourishing add-ons like juices, smoothies, shakes, cookies, desserts, and breakfasts.

    Our experience: Though the recipes were often high in fat, the ingredients were clean and of premium quality. We liked that we were able to hone in on the right meal plan for us through a complimentary consultation with one of their registered dietitians.

    Pros
    • No-prep, heat-and-serve meals
    • Plenty of diet-friendly options
    • Includes initial 20-minute consultation with a dietitian
    Cons
    • Not suitable for families since meals are single-serving only
    • Mostly keto dishes that are high in fat
  • 4
    Martha & Marley Spoon

    Martha & Marley Spoon

    • Price From $8.69/serving charged weekly
    • What’s in the box2, 4 or 6 meals with 2, 4 or 6 servings each
    • Special dietsVegetarian, vegan, low-calorie, gluten-free

    Martha & Marley Spoon is a specially curated meal service that delivers pre-portioned, fresh ingredients. 

    The recipes come straight from celebrity cook Martha Stewart's own kitchen, and each one includes "tags" that make it clear whether it's dairy-free, gluten-free, or kid-friendly. They also autofill your box with recipes based on your previous tastes, but you can customize and select your dishes. 

    Meals arrive fresh in an insulated box with six-step recipe cards. If you're missing an ingredient from your pantry, you can add items to your order via the online "market." The company recommends animal proteins be frozen within two days of delivery and vegetables be consumed within four days for optimal taste, nutritional value, and freshness.

    Why we chose Martha & Marley Spoon: They offer a practical way to explore new flavors and learn new culinary techniques from a celebrity chef.

    Our experience: Martha & Marley Spoon produced better-quality meals than many restaurants we frequent. It took a few more minutes to prepare than other meal delivery companies, but the experience was well worth it.

    Pros
    • Variety of health-oriented options
    • Master new culinary techniques and explore new flavors
    • Premium, fresh ingredients
    Cons
    • Meal plan only includes dinner options
    • No completely allergen-free meal plans
  • 5
    EveryPlate

    EveryPlate

    • PriceFrom $4.99/serving charged weekly
    • What’s in the box3, 4, 5 or 6 meals with 2 or 4 servings each
    • Special dietsVegetarian

    EveryPlate is for those who want simple and delicious meals for the whole family. Choose from a range of 25 diverse recipes every week from their Meat & Veggie, Veggie, Family Friendly, Quick & Easy, and Nutrish & Delish menus.

    Frozen meals arrive carefully packed in an insulated box to ensure freshness. EveryPlate does not recommend refreezing ingredients, so they should be refrigerated as soon as opened and eaten within five days of delivery.

    Since EveryPlate focuses on cost-effectiveness, it doesn't cater to special diets, besides vegetarianism. Review the ingredients for each recipe before placing your order to ensure the meals meet your dietary needs.

    Why we chose EveryPlate: Their recipes don't require fancy or special tools, encouraging new chefs to get into the kitchen and whip up tasty, convenient meals in as little as a few minutes. 

    Our experience: EveryPlate's simple recipes made it easy for us to quickly get meals on the table, cut back on food waste, and minimize cleanup. We did find the portions slightly small, however.

    Pros
    • No need for special cooking utensils
    • Most affordable pricing
    • Straightforward recipes
    Cons
    • Limited options for those with allergies or special diets
    • Small portion sizes
  • 6
    Green Chef

    Green Chef

    • PriceFrom $11.99/serving charged weekly
    • What’s in the box3 or 4 meals with 2, 4 or 6 servings each
    • Special dietsMediterranean, vegan, vegetarian, carnivore, pescatarian, paleo, keto, gluten-free

    Green Chef is chef-curated and offers a variety of nutrient-rich meals made with organic, farm-fresh produce and premium proteins. Upgrade your order with breakfast add-ons, treats, and sides.

    Each dish comes with pre-measured and largely prepped ingredients, including homemade sauces and marinades, and a recipe card with special tips from the chef. Some dishes may require more prep, like dicing, chopping, peeling, and grating.

    Currently, Green Chef doesn't accommodate people with allergies, but you can review each recipe's list of ingredients for more detailed information.

    Why we chose Green Chef: Green Chef delivers organic and high-quality ingredients for healthy, flavorful meals, and trained chefs have tested every recipe.

    Our experience: We appreciated how Green Chef pushed us out of our comfort zone to try new spices and exciting dishes. The ingredients were fresh and flavorful, although the recipes did take longer than expected (about 45 minutes).

    Pros
    • Certified organic, farm-fresh produce and premium proteins
    • Caters to numerous diets
    • Eco-friendly packaging
    Cons
    • Extra food prep required
    • Doesn't cater to people with allergies
  • 7
    Nutrisystem

    Nutrisystem

    • PriceFrom $9.99/day
    • What’s in the box3 meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) and 3 or 4 snacks per day for a month
    • Special dietsDiabetes-friendly, vegetarian, low-sodium

    Nutrisystem is a science-driven meal delivery service designed to help you lose weight with its high-protein, lower-glycemic approach. Take the guesswork out of finding your perfect balance of protein, carbs, and fat. When you sign up for Nutrisystem, you get an individual plan and guidance for four weeks of weight loss.

    There are individualized plans for men, women, couples, and diabetics. Depending on your gender, health goals, and the package you select, your order may include frozen and/or ready-to-eat foods. Some Nutrisystem meals require heating, while others can be enjoyed straight out of the box. Information about the package you select, including recipe ingredients, nutrition labels, and guidelines for preparation are available to you as you sign up.

    Why we chose Nutrisystem: Nutrisystem's four-week guided plan includes a full range of breakfasts, lunches, dinners, shakes, and snacks to keep your weight loss on track.

    Our experience: We found their accompanying NuMi SmartAdapt™ app helpful in letting us know what and when to eat, in addition to tracking our progress and activity.

    Pros
    • Over 135 meals to choose from
    • Weight-loss companion app
    • Shelf life of foods is up to 18 months
    Cons
    • Limited flexibility for substitutions
    • Expensive upfront cost for a monthly subscription
  • 8
    Fresh and Easy

    Fresh and Easy

    • PriceFrom $9.95/serving charged weekly
    • What’s in the box2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 meals with 2, 4 or 6 servings each
    • Special dietsLow-calorie, low-carb

    Fresh and Easy is a meal delivery service by Home Chef that provides ready-to-heat meals. Choose between oven- and microwave-ready meals made with the same fresh ingredients and standards that Home Chef is known for. You can also try a 15-minute meal kit, requiring quick assembly of pre-portioned ingredients.

    Most meals are full entrees, though sandwiches, salads, and "extras" are also available. Fresh and Easy does not cater to special dietary restrictions.

    Why we chose Fresh and Easy: They offer the same quality standards as Home Chef with less customization, aimed at providing value for consumers on a budget.

    Our experience: We found Fresh and Easy perfect for speedily cooking wholesome meals and were delighted with how little clean-up was needed. We do wish they had more options for diets like vegetarian.

    Pros
    • Same high-quality standards as Home Chef
    • Oven- and microwave-ready
    • Fully prepped and portioned meals ready in 15 minutes or less
    Cons
    • Limited customization options
    • Does not cater to diets
  • 9
    Freshology

    Freshology

    • PriceFrom $9.19/serving charged weekly
    • What’s in the box2 or 3 meals a day, 5 or 7 days a week
    • Special dietsMediterranean, diabetes-friendly, vegetarian, keto, low-carb, low-calorie, low-fat, low-cholesterol, low-sodium

    Freshology provides restaurant-quality, ready-to-eat meals for individuals looking to lose weight or maintain a healthy lifestyle. Menu options offer balanced portions of dietician-approved meals that are heart-healthy, lower in sodium, calorie-controlled, and nutritionally balanced.

    There are no added preservatives in Freshology's meals, so deliveries should be immediately refrigerated to ensure peak freshness. Meals have a seven-day shelf life, though they can be frozen if necessary and should be defrosted before reheating. Customers within a certain distance of a Freshology kitchen qualify to receive fresh, unfrozen meals twice a week in insulated boxes with cold packs.

    At this time, Freshology does not provide gluten-free meals for individuals with Celiac disease, or kosher or vegan plans. However, their Keto-Carb30 menu is low in carbohydrates if you want to avoid bread. Nutritional facts and individual ingredients can be found in every recipe.

    Why we chose Freshology: Freshology provides heat-and-eat meals that make wholesome, healthy eating more accessible. They use fresh, local ingredients to ensure both satisfying and delicious meals, sourcing organic components when possible.

    Our experience: It was nice that we never needed to think about what was for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. We liked that meals arrived fully cooked and could be enjoyed cold or reheated, as we would do with leftovers from our favorite restaurants. 

    Pros
    • Includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, and sides
    • Ready-to-eat meals in just two to three minutes, with no prep required
    • Restaurant quality, nutritionally balanced meals
    Cons
    • Shipping fees are $19.98/week
    • Not ideal for families
  • 10
    Trifecta
    • PriceFrom $11.43/serving charged weekly
    • What’s in the box5, 7, 10 or 14 meals (add-on for 7 breakfasts available)
    • Special dietsVegetarian, vegan, keto, paleo, pescatarian, gluten-free, peanut-free, dairy-free, soy-free

    Trifecta is a fitness-oriented meal delivery service designed by medical and nutrition experts. Aimed at helping you burn fat and build muscle, it’s ideal for losing weight.

    As you sign up, choose how many weekly entrées you want from their Clean, Paleo, Whole30, Keto, Vegan, and/or Vegetarian plans. Although you can’t select which meals you’ll get, you can exclude up to two main ingredients from each order, such as beef, duck, pork, tree nuts, mushrooms, and fish.

    They offer an app on their App Premium plan through which you can customize your dietary needs and use personalized macro-tracking features. It also includes educational resources on fitness and gives you access to community boards to keep you motivated.

    Why we chose Trifecta: They offer fully prepared, organically sourced meals with flavorful, nutritious ingredients. Their online app is designed to eliminate barriers to achieving weight-loss targets.

    Our experience: We felt good eating ingredients sourced from local, family-run farms. We also liked how their app helped us determine what to eat for our macro targets.

    Pros
    • Mobile app with macro-tracking
    • Ingredients sourced from local, family-run suppliers
    • Delivery areas include Hawaii and Alaska
    Cons
    • Can’t choose which meals you’ll receive
    • Not ideal for families since it only offers one serving per meal
Breaking Down Our Top 10 Choices: Which Is Best For Your Needs
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HelloFresh-Best for easy recipes
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Home Chef-Best for variety of meals
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Factor-Best for diet options
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Martha & Marley Spoon-Best for farm-fresh ingredients
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EveryPlate-Best for busy people on a budget
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Green Chef-Best for healthy eaters
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Nutrisystem-Best for weight-loss guarantee
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Fresh and Easy-Best for piping hot comfort foods
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Freshology-Best for prepared meal deliveries
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Trifecta-Best for fitness fanatics


How to Compare the Best Meal Delivery Services

Use the following comparison chart to check whether your chosen meal box delivery service caters to your region. From there, decide whether you want a heat-and-serve meal kit or one that requires some prep time and cooking. Ensure your dietary needs and health goals are accommodated, as some companies do not provide gluten-free or vegan options, for instance. Finally, compare meal delivery services that will supply the right amount of weekly meals for you or your household.

Compare Best Meal Kit Delivery Services
1
HelloFresh
2
Home Chef
3
Factor
4
Martha & Marley Spoon
5
EveryPlate
6
Green Chef
7
Nutrisystem
8
Fresh and Easy
9
Freshology
Reviews212 reviews124 reviews110 reviewsWrite Review55 reviews99 reviews149 reviews21 reviews42 reviews
Price
From $7.49/serving
per serving
From $7.99/serving
per serving
From $10.99/serving
per serving
From $8.69/serving charged weekly
per serving
From $4.99/serving charged weekly
per serving
From $11.99/serving charged weekly
per serving
From $9.99/day
From $9.95/serving charged weekly
per serving
From $9.19/serving charged weekly
Shipping
From $8.99/week
$9.99/week
on orders over $45
$9.99/week
$11.99/week
$8.99/week
per serving
$9.99/week
Free
$9.99/week
on orders over $49
$19.98/week
Delivery areas
Continental US
except AK and HI
"98% of the US"
search your zip code on company website
Continental US
except AK and HI
Most of the continental US. Search your zip code on the company website
search your zip code on the website
Most of the continental US
search your zip code on company website
Continental United States
except some parts of LA
US and Canada
Throughout the US
search your zip code on company website
Contiguous United States
Great for
Busy individuals and families without strict dietary requirements
Healthy home cooking
Low carb diets
customized plans, keto and paleo options
Foodies
gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan
Non-picky eaters on a budget
Organic eaters, plant-based eaters, healthy lifestyles keto, paleo, gluten-free
keto, paleo, gluten-free
Weight loss
Convenient comfort foods
Individuals looking to lose weight and eat healthier
Special offers
25 free meals across 8 boxes, first box ships free + three surprise gifts
including free shipping on first box
60% off first three boxes. First responders, healthcare, and teacher discount: 50%-60% off first order and 10% off remaining orders
50% off your first box with code NATURAL50
64.4% off first order, $20 off next seven orders
Prices as low as $1.39 per serving on your first order
$370 off across first five boxes + free shipping on first box
including free shipping on first box
50% off all monthly subscriptions for first two or three months
16 free meals on first order
60% off your first week
All about the Food
Special diets
Vegetarian, flexitarian, pescatarian, low carb, low calorie
Vegetarian, low-calorie, low-carb, nut-free, soy-free, wheat-free, dairy-free
Keto, vegetarian, vegan, low-calorie
Vegetarian, vegan, low-calorie, gluten-free
Vegetarian
Mediterranean, vegan, vegetarian, carnivore, pescatarian, paleo, keto, gluten-free
Diabetes-friendly, vegetarian, low-sodium
Low-calorie, low-carb
Mediterranean, diabetes-friendly, vegetarian, keto, low-carb, low-calorie, low-fat, low-cholesterol, low-sodium
Ingredients quality
Ingredients come "sourced straight from the farm"
Food sourced from "top-quality vendors"
Organic, non-GMO produce
Seasonal, artisanal ingredients
Fresh, high quality ingredients
USDA-certified organic
Contains some sugar alcohols, GMOs
Organic when possible
Fresh, locally sourced
Recipe options per week
100+
20+
35
100+
25
3 per meal plan
160+
9
100s
Number of menus
6
Classic, veggie, and family
6
5
9
2-person, 4-person
5
7
For various specialty diets
3
1
4
What's in the box
2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 meals with 2 or 4 servings each
of 2 or 4 servings each
2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 meals with 2, 4, or 6 servings each
2,4 or 6 servings each
6, 8, 10, 12, 14 or 18 meals
2, 4 or 6 meals with 2, 4 or 6 servings each
of 2 or 4 servings each
3, 4, 5 or 6 meals with 2 or 4 servings each
2-4 servings each
3 or 4 meals with 2, 4 or 6 servings each
of 2 or 4 servings each
3 meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) and 3 or 4 snacks per day for a month
2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 meals with 2, 4 or 6 servings each
with 2,4, or 6 servings each
2 or 3 meals a day, 5 or 7 days a week
Prep time
15-50 minutes
About 30 minutes
About 5 minutes
About 30 minutes
1-45 minutes
About 30 minutes
3 minutes to heat
30-45 minutes
None
Prep difficulty
Easy
Easy
Easy
Easy
Easy
Easy
Easy
Easy
Easy
The Nitty Gritty Details
Flexible subscription
Packaging
Fully recyclable
Except some winter liners
Fully recyclable
Fully recyclable
Fully recyclable
Fully recyclable
Fully recyclable
Standard
Fully recyclable
Recyclable or reusable
Works with local food suppliers
When possible
Sometimes
Frequently Asked Questions
Which meal delivery service is the cheapest?+-

We found that EveryPlate is among the cheapest meal delivery services at $4.99/serving. For context, the average meal service costs around $9/serving.

Which meal delivery service is the healthiest?+-

Factor features health-forward and nutritionally balanced recipes curated and approved by dietitians, with prep-free meals made with high-quality proteins and produce.

Which meal delivery service is the best for families?+-

HelloFresh is at the top of our list for families, with its "Family-Friendly" filter, allowing you to sort through family-approved recipes loved by all ages. HelloFresh's unique flexibility feature lets you switch out proteins and sides for picky eaters. EveryPlate is perfect for busy households on a tight budget, providing value and simple homestyle meals instead of trying to cater to many dietary needs.

Are meal delivery services worth it?+-

Meal delivery services give you the convenience of skipping the drive, grocery aisles, and queues, and save you the time and energy of planning what's for dinner. Another big bonus is the pre-portioned spices, sauces, and marinades. Each meal comes with just enough of what you need, so you don't lose money on wasted food or on buying more condiments or spices than you need.

Are meal kits cheaper than buying groceries?+-

Yes, depending on how much you spend each week. A meal delivery service can help you save money on groceries and gas, and help eliminate food waste.

Do meal delivery plans work?+-

Yes, the best meal plan delivery service will expand your palate, save time, and ensure you and your family eat more varieties of produce and proteins. If you're sticking to a diet plan, meal delivery kits can also help you eat smarter in a sustainable way.

How Does Meal Delivery Work?

Once you select and sign up for a food subscription service, you'll need to choose the number of servings and meals you wish to receive each week. Next, you'll be directed to a page of curated recipes based on your tastes and selected package.

Search through the meals and check how much prep time each recipe requires. Unlike an ordinary grocery delivery, a meal delivery kit provides pre-portioned ingredients and instructions on preparing the recipes. Heat-and-eat services require zero prep and are ready to devour after a quick warmup in the oven or microwave.

What Are the Advantages of Meal Kit Delivery Services?

Using a meal kit delivery service has quite a few advantages, including:

  • Convenience: Busy schedules can make it challenging to prepare meals. Meal delivery services send all the ingredients you need for each recipe straight to your door. There's no need to leave the house or plan what you'll make each week. These kits also often come with easy-to-follow instructions.
  • Waste reduction: A survey by LendingTree revealed that 31% of respondents overspend "almost all the time," even when prepared with a shopping list. Meal delivery kits are complete with everything you need to make a meal, allowing you to purchase the exact amount of items required, and avoid unused produce going bad in the fridge.
  • Variety: Meal delivery services spice things up with an endless variety of recipes. Try several new ones per week to keep things exciting.
  • Portion control: Each year, 30%-40% of food is wasted in the US, according to the US Department of Agriculture. Meal kits make it easy to reduce waste with pre-portioned, balanced meals.
  • Health: A survey by Finder shows that 74% of American adults each spend $4,073 a year on convenience foods instead of fixing a home-cooked meal. Meal kits can provide an accessible option to order healthy food on a budget.
  • Diet-specific plans: Certain meal kits can also cater to dietary needs, like low-sodium, low-calorie, or low-glycemic options. These are useful to those looking to lose weight or who have heart conditions or diabetes. Meals are not often labeled with this dietary information in most restaurants or grocery stores.
  • Time-saving: Ingredients are already pre-measured, and recipes take roughly 30 minutes to make. Fully prepared meal kits only require an oven or microwave to heat them in under three minutes.

What Do You Get in a Meal Kit Delivery?

The content in each delivery varies depending on the meal kit you select and your chosen plan.

However, a standard kit includes the following:

Packaging: Most services deliver kits in a reusable or recyclable insulated box with ice packs to keep ingredients fresh or slightly frozen.

Ingredients: In each package, you'll find all the ingredients you need to make the meal you chose. This might include fresh produce, proteins, spices, sauces, and marinades. Ingredients are pre-measured and sometimes even pre-chopped for you to assemble and cook.

Recipe card: A meal delivery kit usually contains a recipe card with simple instructions and visuals. You get all the nutritional information of the meal, as well as information on how you can modify the recipe for different dietary restrictions.

Choosing the Right Meal Delivery Service for Your Needs

Several factors play a role in selecting the meal kit delivery service that works best for you. Take into account your budget per serving, dietary needs, and whether you'd prefer ready-to-eat meals or kits that require preparation. From there, consider other factors such as ingredient sourcing, sustainability, and available recipes.

Prepared Meal Services 

The best prepared meal delivery services can cut out prep time with pre-cooked meals to your door. This makes them ideal for a new diet, juggling a busy schedule, or devoting more time to life outside of the kitchen.

Vegetarian Meal Services

Vegetarian meal delivery services are the perfect choice for vegetarians or those who want to integrate more veggies into their diet. For example, Veestro provides fresh, chef-curated meals with clean ingredients free of meat, fish, dairy, eggs, and honey.

Vegan Meal Services

Vegan meal delivery services like Green Chef offer plans free of animal and animal-derived products like eggs, milk, cheese, and honey. Purple Carrot is also fully vegan, consisting entirely of plant-based ingredients. A plant-based diet may include meat substitutes such as tofu, or utilize ingredients derived from vegetables.

Gluten-Free Meal Services

HelloFresh and Sunbasket are ideal for people who struggle with gluten-induced digestive discomfort. These and other gluten-free meal delivery services also help with Celiac, a disease that causes gluten (the protein found in wheat, barley, and rye) to damage the small intestine's lining, leading to medical complications over time.

Organic Meal Services

Organic meal delivery services like Freshology offer meal kits made with organic ingredients and cleaner produce. This means that ingredients come from certified organic suppliers that undergo annual compliance inspections. They have stricter guidelines that don't allow for pesticides and herbicides that may harm the immune system when consumed regularly.

Weight Loss Meal Services

Weight loss meal delivery services can be provided by Nutrisystem and Diet-to-Go with different diet plans limiting carbs and/or calories. They're helpful in keeping you satiated without overeating—a major deterrent to weight loss. Diet-to-Go has a keto-friendly package that replaces carbs with fat to speed up metabolism, whereas Nutrisystem offers higher protein, lower calorie meals.

Keto Meal Services

Keto meal plans take a low-carb, high-fat diet approach to replace carbohydrates with healthy lipids to help your body burn fat instead of sugar for energy.

Fresh and Easy makes it more convenient to follow a keto diet by providing low-carb foods for every meal. 

Paleo Meal Services

Paleo meal delivery services provide meals based on the concept that we should eat the types of foods that early humans ate. These mainly include meat, fish, vegetables, and fruit and exclude dairy, grains, and processed food, which our ancestors didn't have access to. 

Home Chef lets you enjoy paleo-friendly meals by customizing your meals' proteins and salads to adhere to these guidelines.

Diabetic Meal Services

BistroMD and Magic Kitchen are two of the best diabetic meal delivery services that can help you better manage blood sugar levels through their low-sugar, low-carb meal plans.

What Do Meal Delivery Services Cost?

Meal delivery service prices vary from $4 to $12 per serving, depending on how many meals you order a week, portion size, and how the ingredients are sourced.

Since companies offer different pricing structures that can appear complex, the best way to compare meal kits is to look at how much each serving costs. 

Cheapest Meal Delivery Services

Of the most budget-friendly meal delivery service companies, EveryPlate has the lowest prices at $4.99/serving across the board. However, HelloFresh—one of the best meal delivery services we reviewed—charges $7.49 to $8.99/serving, which is still competitive compared to most meal kit services.

Expensive and High-End Meal Delivery Services

For those with more refined palates, Green Chef provides high-end meals ranging between $11.99 and $12.99. These feature USDA-certified organic produce ingredients and a wide variety of recipes. They also source the best organic produce from local farms.

Meal Delivery Shipping Cost

Most companies will waive the shipping cost if your overall order is above a certain total. For instance with Plated, shipping costs  $7.95/order but is waived if your order totals more than $60. With Home Chef, shipping is free if your order exceeds $45.

How to Choose and Compare Meal Delivery Services

There are many meal delivery services available, each with unique offerings. Some present only gluten-free or vegan options, whereas others are more family-friendly with homestyle dishes for everyone to enjoy.

Before ordering a meal delivery kit, there are several things you need to consider:

  • Budget: Choose a meal delivery service that fits the desired price range you want to spend on weekly meals.
  • Dietary needs: Consider whether the service caters to your dietary preferences and needs. For example, some meal kits let you filter out recipes with dairy, gluten, or nuts, or let you choose an entirely keto or low-carb plan. Others are solely focused on providing hearty meals on a budget, without catering to allergens or specific dietary needs.
  • Servings required: How many people will be eating with you? Take into account whether you'll have nights out, travel plans, or extra dinner guests. If you want an extra serving for lunch, you can prepare two servings for dinner.
  • Delivery area: Not all services deliver to every part of the US, so check whether your area is covered. Most meal kit services ship to all states except Hawaii and Alaska.
  • Preparation time: Consider whether you want to spend time cooking and improving your culinary skills by learning new recipes and techniques. Otherwise, opt for fully prepared meals that only require reheating.
  • Nutrition: Ensure your selected meal delivery service meets your nutritional or wellness goals. For example, if you want to increase your protein intake or decrease your carb intake, check if these options are available.
  • Meal kit reviews: Meal delivery service reviews like those above can give you a sense of what it's like to use the service, its reliability, and overall quality. Read them carefully and check for patterns in complaints or compliments.

Who Uses Meal Kits?

Customers may opt into meal delivery kits to simplify meal time. They could be busy families with no time to cook, want to experience new flavors, and/or wish to learn new culinary skills. Since many meal delivery kits cater to specific diets, consumers are more likely to stick to a particular diet and improve their nutrition, according to a study by researchers Huichen Zhu and Ruopeng An. 

More Meal Delivery Services and Companies We Reviewed

Aside from our list of meal kit delivery services, our certified dietitians and nutritionists reviewed other meal kit services, including the following:

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