“One of the biggest benefits of healthy meal delivery services is that they can help take some of the overwhelm out of the constant debate about what to make for dinner,” says Ashley Gish, functional medicine nurse practitioner and holistic health and nutrition coach. “They can also be a great way to try new foods; get reinspired with different recipes; and introduce flavors, herbs, and spices that you may have never tried on your own.” To help narrow down your choices, we’ve rounded up 13 of the best meal delivery services, for all preferences and dietary needs, including ready-to-eat, prepared meals, and pre-portioned meal kits. Meal delivery services simplify meal prep and make healthy eating easy. “I’m a huge advocate for making the healthy choice, the EASY choice! And if that looks like meal delivery services some weeks, I think they’re a great option,” says Gish. These are nothing like the heat-and-eat meals you’ll find in your grocery store freezer. Trifecta is one of the best organic meal delivery services, with meals that are nutritionally balanced, portion-controlled, and made with organic ingredients—so you really can have the best of both worlds. Opt for five to 14 entrees per week, plus you can add breakfast if desired. There are six main meal plans to pick from: clean eating, Whole30-approved, paleo, keto, vegan, and vegetarian. There’s also the option to exclude up to two ingredients (such as red meat or tree nuts) from your meals. New chef-curated meals drop weekly, and every single option is gluten-free. Sustainability & Quality: Trifecta’s meals produce zero food waste, and the company currently uses 100% recyclable packaging but is working toward completely biodegradable packaging by 2023. Proteins are grass-fed, pasture-raised, or sustainably caught, and other ingredients are sustainably sourced. Example Meal: Kung pao chicken with roasted sweet potato and brown rice What Customers Say: While some customers have expressed problems with delivery, they’re mostly happy with these meals and the variety offered. “I have been a customer for a few months now and have been extremely pleased with Trifecta’s meals and service,” writes one five-star reviewer. “The meals are delicious. In fact, I’ve liked almost every one.” Sign-Up Promo for New Customers: None mentioned If you want to bulk up your box, you can add other goodies, like keto cheesecake or cinnamon roll fat bombs. As a bonus, you get one free 20-minute consultation with a dietitian when you sign up for Factor_. Sustainability & Quality: Factor_ stays away from refined sugars, GMOs, and antibiotics and has extremely high standards for animal welfare, so you only get humanely raised meats. With the exception of the plastic film cover on the food, most of the packaging is recyclable. Example Meal: Chipotle-rubbed pork chop What Customers Say: Customers praise Factor_ for making their low-carb lives so much easier. The company has an average of 4 stars, and reviews like this are common: “I’m loving Factor. I’ve been subscribing for about 2 months and I can honestly say I haven’t had a meal I didn’t like. I have it for lunch every day and the portions are perfect and the food is great.” Sign-Up Promo for New Customers: 60% off your first box when you sign up for email alerts There are hundreds of recipes on the site, such as stir fries, grain bowls, and main entrees with sides—and each one takes only about 10 to 15 minutes to prepare. Simply choose the meals you want, and Hungryroot will add the ingredients to your box and include the recipe in your delivery. What really makes this service stand out, though, is the option to supplement your meals with additional groceries, by adding fresh, partially prepared ingredients, such as butternut squash cubes or ready-to-microwave sweet potatoes. If you’re looking for convenience with a little more freedom to do your own thing, Hungryroot is it. Sustainability & Quality: To eliminate food waste, Hungryroot sources only what it’s able to sell. Any excess food is donated to local food banks and nonprofits. All packaging, with the exception of the gel in the ice packs, is curbside recyclable. Sign-Up Promo for New Customers: 30% off your first order of $99 or more, and choose a free gift for the life of your subscription Meals We’ve Enjoyed: Brown Butter Seared Scallops + Broccoli Smoked Roasted Salmon with Roasted Veggies Coconut Curry Tofu Rice Bowl Garlic Parm Cauliflower Gnocchi with Shrimp Baby Broccoli Black Bean Burrito Bowl What Our Editor Says: “Hungry root definitely has the most variety out of any meal delivery service I’ve tried, and most of my favorite healthy snack brands are available, too (which saves me another trip to the grocery store). As someone who is very passionate about food waste, I love that the company prioritizes this, too. While I have had issues with produce not being the freshest, the customer service department is always very helpful.” —Carleigh Ferrante, commerce editor Check out our full Hungryroot review. Sign-Up Promo for New Customers: 30% off your first order of $99 or more, and choose a free gift for the life of your subscription These are some of the healthiest ingredients we’ve come across in a meal delivery service, but there’s no sacrificing taste, either. The meal options are fun, change weekly, and taste delicious. The brand works with local farms and purveyors to source the freshest seasonal ingredients, with a close eye on sustainability in the farming methods as well. While the packaging is a bit flimsy, it’s made up for by the fact that it’s 100% zero-waste. What our editor says: “I’ve tried a lot of meal delivery services and Daily Dose remains right at the top of my list. The meals are fresh, inventive, and make me feel good. With the protein-forward menu option, I loved knowing I had a healthy, balanced meal waiting for me at home while marathon training this summer. Most recently, I tried the Younger You menu, crafted by Kara Fitzgerald, and it was some of the most delicious food I’ve had from a meal delivery service. I’d recommend Daily Dose to anyone who wants to prioritize their health, but doesn’t have the time to cook every meal at home. I did have a few issues with broken packaging on delivery, but for the most part the meals arrived in tact, and I love the company’s attention to sustainability.” — Carleigh Ferrante, commerce editor Meal kits are available in two- or four-serving boxes, and the menu changes weekly, so you always have something new to choose from. When selecting your meals, you can browse all meal offerings or sort by dietary specifics (like paleo, carb-conscious, vegetarian, gluten-free, or Mediterranean). If you have an especially busy week, there’s an option for prepared meals (up to 10 per week) instead of meal kits. Just keep in mind, you can’t mix and match meal kits and ready-to-heat meals. Sustainability & Quality: Sunbasket sources organic ingredients from local farmers, and proteins from ranchers and fishermen with high animal welfare standards. All the fish is wild-caught, the chickens are free-range, and the beef is grass-fed. As for packaging, all materials are reusable, recyclable, and/or compostable. Example Meal: Cubano pork lettuce cups with mojo onions and mustard relish What Customers Say: The company has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot. One reviewer who’s tried a number of meal delivery services says, “Not only are the recipes great but there are always extra ingredients and seasoning you only find in better restaurants and meals… Great food, great customer service, highly recommended!” Sign-Up Promo for New Customers: None mentioned From there, you’ll have the option to narrow down meals by prep time (many take less than 30 minutes) and other qualifiers, such as “spicy” or “calorie smart.” The service doesn’t accommodate all allergens but offers some beef-free, pork-free, and seafood-free options. This is one of our favorite Mediterranean meal delivery services, too. Sustainability & Quality: Some ingredients are organic, and the company prioritizes seasonal and farm-sourced produce at peak freshness. All packaging is recyclable with the exception of the gel inside the ice packs (which should be thrown in the trash and not down the sink). Meals We’ve Enjoyed: Shwarma Spiced Chickpea Bowls Black Bean Chili What Our Testers Say: “I love knowing I have HelloFresh in my fridge to whip up an easy and delicious meal quickly on busy nights. I’ve found other meal delivery services can get repetitive with their vegetarian selection, but I’m always surprised by the variety of options HF has from shwarma spiced chickpea bowls to black bean chili. There are always new flavors and cuisines to experiment with. I also appreciate how easy they make it to add animal-based protein to my shipment when I know I’ll be cooking for non-vegetarian family members.” —Darcy McDonough, senior manager SEO & content strategy Sign-Up Promo for New Customers: 65% off and free shipping on your first box Instead of cutting costs with food quality, the company uses digital recipe cards, fewer ingredients per dish, and simple packaging while including only fresh produce and high-quality ingredients in its meals. Choose from more than 45 menu items every week, all of which are labeled with additional qualifiers like low-carb, low-calorie, no-added-gluten, and kid-friendly. Each recipe comes together in about 30 minutes, with minimal steps for added convenience. Sustainability & Quality: Some, but not all, of the ingredients are organic, and Dinnerly sources only antibiotic-free chicken. Whenever possible, produce and organic ingredients come from local suppliers. Example Meal: No chop chipotle chicken burrito bowl What Customers Say: One of the main pros of Dinnerly is its low cost, but customers love the menu variety and how quickly the meals come together, and the service has 4 out of 5 stars overall. “I love the meal choices and cost! There’s so many recipes to choose from, you can easily skip a week and tailor it to your needs, and it’s all packaged up well. It’s very convenient to have meals on hand ready to cook,” writes one happy customer. Sign-Up Promo for New Customers: None mentioned There are breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals, as well as “plantry” (plant-based pantry) items that can be added to any box. In addition to standard meal kits and meals, the service has specialized boxes for special occasions, like birthdays or Thanksgiving, which include ingredients to prepare a three-course meal—entirely plant-based. Sustainability & Quality: Purple Carrot is working toward 100% organic certification, but right now, most non-produce items, like beans, nut milks, and yogurts, are organic and the majority of ingredients are non-GMO. Most of the packaging is recyclable, but you may have to visit a drop-off location depending on which type of plastics your curbside service will take. Example Meal: Potato malai kofta What Customers Say: Customers are pleased with the quality and taste of Purple Carrot’s food, giving the company an average 4-star rating. “I started Purple Carrot because I wanted to try out vegan eating without having to learn to cook it. I’m single so I ordered the boxed meals, 6 at a time. All meals were good, some of them surprisingly so. I like it a lot,” writes one five-star reviewer. Sign-Up Promo for New Customers: $80 off ($20 over your first 4 boxes) using the promo code EAT4LIFE There’s a big focus on allergens too. Many of the meals and baby food are made in allergen-friendly kitchens. If a meal does contain an allergen, it’s clearly marked and you’re able to filter by specific ingredients so you can avoid anything your littles might be allergic to. Sustainability & Quality: All baby food and smoothies from Little Spoon are 100% organic, while big kid meals are made with organic ingredients and are free of preservatives and artificial ingredients. Packaging is toxin-free (you won’t find any BPA or phthalates here) and curbside recyclable. Example Meal: Mac and three cheese with invisible butternut squash and carrots What Customers Say: Reviewers are most impressed by the quality and variation of meals—and the very reasonable price. Parents also love that each meal has vegetables hidden within it, so what appears to be regular mac and cheese is actually a more nutrient-dense meal that their kids love. Sign-Up Promo for New Customers: 20% off your first order The meals take around 30 minutes to prepare, and you can see the estimated time while browsing, to help you narrow down your choices and plan your week. There are options for up to six servings per box, which makes this meal kit a good option for families or anyone looking to meal prep. Sustainability & Quality: In addition to its organic certification, Green Chef focuses on sustainability, by offsetting 100% of its carbon emissions and using recyclable packaging. Meals We’ve Enjoyed: Southwest Zucchini Fritters What Our Editor Says: “I found the recipe selection of other meal delivery services to be kind of uninspired, but Green Chef was always introducing me to new ingredients and flavors. I always ended up with meals that were better and more interesting than something I would make on my own.” —Emily Kelleher, editorial operations manager Sign-Up Promo for New Customers: Get your first box for $5.99 per meal with free shipping One of the best for delivery services for prepared meals, the company offers six meal plans to choose from, with over 100 rotating meals on the menu each week. If you want to switch things up, opt for the bulk option—which lets you mix and match prepared proteins and side dishes, to build your own meals. Sustainability & Quality: Fresh N’ Lean’s meals are GMO-free, and some ingredients are organic. Proteins are grass-fed, free-range, and/or sustainable. The company uses recyclable trays and plastic wrap to package its meals, and they’re shipped in recyclable boxes with biodegradable insulation. Example Meal: Garlic confit with garbanzo beans and shrimp What Customers Say: With an average 4.1-star rating, customers rave about the quality, speedy delivery, and exceptional customer service. “I’ve gotten five weeks of it now and will continue as it’s so much easier than trying to decide what to cook and ending up with extra stuff that goes to waste,” writes one five-star reviewer. “A snap to prepare, only two and a half minutes in the microwave, no mess and the tray is recyclable.” Sign-Up Promo for New Customers: $20 off your first week when you sign up for emails and texts While the meals don’t change weekly, there’s a large menu to choose from and new items are regularly added once they pass the company’s taste and quality tests. You have the option of getting five days’ worth of meals per week or going all in and getting enough food for seven days. Sustainability & Quality: BistroMD sources produce from local, family-owned farms and ensures all proteins are hormone-free. Most (but not all) packaging is curbside recyclable. Example Meal: Manicotti with vodka marinara sauce What Customers Say: Reviewers are happy with the quality of the meals, as well as the weight loss progress they’re making. “The program works…I find that I don’t get hungry on [it] and I’m also getting trained for portion sizes and food selections when the time comes for me to sort out my meals myself. There’s also a dietitian available with the program which is also very helpful,” says one reviewer. Sign-Up Promo for New Customers: 25% off plus free shipping when you enter your email address The main meal plans are paleo and vegan, but there’s also a mix-and-match option that accommodates autoimmune protocol (AIP) and keto. All meals are gluten- and dairy-free, and there are new menus each week that change with the season. The company focuses on seasonal foods, so the meals are always made with the freshest, highest-quality ingredients. Sustainability & Quality: While Pete’s Real Food isn’t fully organic, the company focuses on seasonal ingredients and humanely raised meats. Most of the packaging is recyclable, but you may have to bring some to a local drop-off location instead of leaving it at the curb. Example Meal: Bacon harvest pork scramble What Customers Say: Reviewers acknowledge that the cost is higher than most, but many agree that the focus on fresh, whole foods is worth the additional cost. Plus, there are more diet-specific options, like AIP, which is hard to find with other meal delivery services. Sign-Up Promo for New Customers: $10 off your first order when you sign up for emails “Be sure to find one that works for your lifestyle, budget, and specific health goal,” Gish advises. “Most companies have sample meal plans and recipes available on their website, so you can peek at the ingredients, cost, and flexibility of delivery scheduling to make sure it’s a good fit before committing.” If you are navigating a new type of diet or lifestyle, meal delivery services are an excellent option. “There are so many great options of meal delivery services these days that cater to every type of dietary restrictions, so for people who are new to eating in a certain way, gluten-free, plant-based, paleo, or dairy-free for example, it can really help simplify things, and is often less stressful than eating out at unfamiliar restaurants,” says Gish.
