We test and review fitness products based on an independent, multi-point methodology. If you use our links to purchase something, we may earn a commission. Read our disclosures.

The best meal delivery services are supposed to make your life easier. But with so many available to choose from, decision paralysis can quickly creep in. To help you choose the best meal kit for your needs, our products testers at GGR tried about 40 different meal delivery options. 

Our team includes certified personal trainers and nutrition coaches, athletes, and an expert panel of registered dietitians—not to mention a handful of foodies. Suffice it to say, we care about what we eat.

Using a meal delivery testing methodology developed in collaboration with nutrition coaches and dietitians, we rated meal kits according to:

  • Taste
  • Portion size
  • Ordering and delivery 
  • Ingredient quality 
  • Packaging and sustainability 
  • Freshness 
  • Meal variety 
  • Diet types supported 
  • And more 

This guide focuses on meal kits that require cooking, but if done-for-you meal prep is more your jam, check out our guide to the best prepared meal delivery services.  

Medical disclaimer: This article is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. For health advice, contact a licensed healthcare provider.

Best Meal Kits in 2024

Best Meal Kit Overall: EveryPlate

Good for: Reasonably priced, healthy meals that are relatively quick to make 

Best Overall

EveryPlate

product image
GGR Score: 4.1

Product Highlights

  • Meal kit delivery service with five menu plans to choose from
  • Kits included pre-portioned ingredients and recipe cards
  • Approximately 26 recipes to choose from each week
  • Recipes serve two or four people
  • Can opt for three to six recipes per week

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Low price per serving
  • Can mix and match from all meal plans
  • New menus drop weekly
  • Most meals take less than 30 minutes to prepare

Cons

  • Doesn’t cater to any specialized diets
  • No substitution options
  • Not a lot of focus on ingredient quality

Bottom Line

EveryPlate is a low-cost meal kit delivery service that offers new meals weekly. If you don’t have dietary restrictions or need to follow a specialized diet, it could be a good option for you.

From the best meal delivery for weight loss to the best HelloFresh alternatives, EveryPlate has staked its claim on many of our guides to meal prep services. 

“EveryPlate is one of the most affordable meal kits available,” says registered dietitian Perry Nix.  “In today’s financial climate, groceries are expensive, and EveryPlate could help you save money on food.” 

Perry uses EveryPlate herself and says that she loves the recipes and kits they deliver. “Most ingredients are delivered fresh in their whole-food form with some pre-made sauces and seasonings,” she says. “I find that the fresh ingredients really improve the aroma and taste of the meals.”

Erin Chancer, certified nutrition coach and GGR editor, also tested EveryPlate. She rated it a 4-out-of-5 for taste, saying, “The seasoning is minimal, with a few of the recipes simply calling for just salt and pepper. That said, EveryPlate does have a few unique seasonings that don’t seem to have grocery store equivalents.” 

Erin found most of the ingredients to arrive fresh and stay fresh until cooking time, although she noted some issues with the chicken specifically. “If we waited until the end of the week to cook a chicken recipe, the packaged chicken would be unusable,” she called out. “My advice would be to start with the chicken first to avoid this.” Because of this, Erin rated EveryPlate at 3.5 points out of 5 for ingredient quality. 

Overall, EveryPlate earned just over 4 out of 5 possible points for our GGR score, because it received high remarks for ordering, packaging, sustainability efforts, customer service, variety, and meal customization options. 

Price per servingStarting at $4.99, $12.06 on average for our tester
Type (meal kit or prepared)Both available
Meals per weekUp to 6
Delivery area Contiguous U.S.

Best Budget Meal Kit: Dinnerly

Good for: Fresh, affordable meals

Best Budget

Dinnerly

product image
GGR Score: 3.96

Product Highlights

  • Meal delivery kit with fresh ingredients
  • Over 100 recipes to choose from
  • Flexible subscription
  • Prices start around $11 per meal

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Fresh ingredients
  • Recipe cards for easy preparation
  • Edit, pause, or cancel subscription at any time
  • Ability to choose your delivery day of the week

Cons

  • Fresh ingredients need to be cooked within 4 days of delivery
  • Meal selection only after signing up and entering payment information

Bottom Line

Skip the food shopping and the chopping—Dinnerly is a meal kit service that sends you fresh ingredients right to your door with most of the food preparation already done. You’ll need to sign up and provide credit card information before browsing the menu and making your selection. Meals start around $11, but the more meals in your weekly subscription, you’ll receive a slight price break.

GGR senior editor and certified personal trainer Nicole Davis liked Dinnerly, saying it’s “super easy!” to order and, for the most part, cooking and cleanup is a breeze. It’s also one of the most budget-friendly options available (see the cheapest meal delivery services for our other budget-conscious picks). 

Dinnerly offers both pre-made meals and meal kits, and Nicole says she definitely recommends the recipe kits over the ready-to-eat meals. (I personally would have to concur in almost every case.) 

Of the meals Nicole tried, the turkey taquitos and pastrami-crusted steak were the winners. Ultimately, she rated Dinnerly 4 out of 5 for taste. She also gave Dinnerly 4 points for portion sizes, because while they were typically filling enough for a lunch, Nicole found herself adding extra protein to most of the meals. Some of the meals only have 10 to 12 grams of protein, which is much lower than her goal of at least 20 grams per meal. 

Dinnerly One Week Box

Registered dietitian Perry Nix has positive things to say about Dinnerly: “Dinnerly is a budget-friendly meal kit service that offers flavorful meals the whole family can enjoy. Many of the ingredients are pre-made and pre-measured, eliminating a lot of the prep time and making cooking a breeze.”

Additionally, Perry likes that most of the meals only require five steps and less than 30 minutes to make. “It’s a solid option for people trying to save money and improve their diet by going out to eat less,” she says. “Simply by cooking at home, you’re likely consuming less calories, salt, and saturated fat than you would be if you ordered a meal at a restaurant.” 

Price per servingStarts at $4.99
Type (meal kit or prepared)Both available
Meals per weekUp to 6
Delivery area Contiguous U.S.

Best Meal Kit for Families: HelloFresh

Good for: Families who want home-cooked meals but appreciate the help of recipe cards and pre-portioning 

Best for Families

HelloFresh

product image
GGR Score: 4.13

Product Highlights

  • Meal service that delivers ingredients and recipes
  • 6 different plans available, including vegan and pescatarian options
  • Can swap out different proteins and sides
  • Can purchase between 2 and 6 meals, in portions to feed 2 or 4 people
  • 40 weekly recipes to choose from
  • Sourced from U.S. farmers

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Saves on meal-prepping
  • Can swap out ingredients
  • Chef-curated recipes
  • Sourced from U.S. farmers
  • 6 meal plans to choose from

Cons

  • Customer reviews complain about ingredient inconsistencies
  • Some reviews claim meal portions are small

Bottom Line

HelloFresh is a subscription meal delivery service that provides ingredients and recipes for weekly meals. They provide six different plans, including plant-based, pescatarian, and quick and easy meals. Additionally, 40 different recipes are available each week, and proteins and sides can be swapped out as needed. The subscription is flexible, as you can skip a week, pause, or cancel your account at any time.

HelloFresh is one of our favorite meal kit delivery services of all, with high remarks from myself, our other product tester Ashley Little, and registered dietitian Perry Nix. 

“I really like that Hello Fresh offers family-friendly meal choices,” Perry says, “As a mom of two young children, it can be difficult to find nutritious meals that everyone will eat. Also, since you cook these meals at home, the kids can help prepare their meals, which inspires them to taste new foods.”

Hello Fresh Meals And Cards

Unlike a lot of other kits, HelloFresh entrees are quite easy and quick to prepare, according to Ashley. “Prep time usually takes about 5 to 10 minutes, and cooking is usually between 20 to 45 minutes depending on the complexity of the meal,” she says.

Better yet, each meal only dirties one or two pans, making cleanup “super easy.” For ease of preparation, Ashley rated HelloFresh with 4 out of 5 points. 

Unfortunately, HelloFresh isn’t the best for those who need menu options catered to specific dietary needs. While there are some dairy-free, low-calorie, plant-based, and low-carb meal options, you kind of have to hunt to find them. 

Our full HelloFresh review provides more detail on what it’s like to use this service.

Price per servingAround $9.99
Type (meal kit or prepared)Meal kit
Meals per weekUp to 8
Delivery area Contiguous U.S.

Best Organic Meal Kit: Green Chef

Good for: Those who prioritize eating organic ingredients

Best Organic

Green Chef

product image
GGR Score: 3.92

Product Highlights

  • Certified organic meal kit delivery service
  • Meal kits can feed two, four, or six people
  • New menus drop weekly; you can choose from 32 meals each week
  • Add-ons, like prepared breakfasts and salads, available for an extra charge
  • Delivers almost everywhere in the continental U.S.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Offers several specialized diet plans
  • Can mix and match meal plans
  • New meals drop weekly
  • Most ingredients are organic and high-quality

Cons

  • On the expensive side (but ingredients are organic)
  • Shipping fee

Bottom Line

If you want high-quality and/or organic ingredients, Green Chef is a good option that can feed two to six people per recipe. There are several specialized diets to choose from, and you can mix and match from weekly menus to suit your needs.

Green Chef is a “no brainer” for people who only want organic produce, says product tester and GGR editor Nicole Davis. In fact, Green Chef only uses USDA certified organic ingredients, so even your sauces, seasonings, and a la carte add-ons are all organic. 

Registered dietitian Perry Nix has great things to say about Green Chef as well: “In addition to being certified organic, Green Chef’s paleo and keto meal plans are also certified gluten-free. This means they’re safe for people with celiac disease and anyone with gluten sensitivities.”

Nicole gave Green Chef 4.5 out of 5 points for ingredient quality, noting that most everything was fresh, including veggies. She also rated Green Chef highly for taste, giving the service 4.5 points and noting that everything she tried was at least fine, but usually great. 

Green Chef Delivery

“I tried four dinners as well as the breakfast bundle, which had oatmeal, egg white bites, muffins, and two recipes to make (french toast and breakfast sandwiches),” Nicole recounts. “The monterey jack cheese-smothered chicken with mushrooms and squash was delicious. So were the chicken burrito bowls. The oatmeals were just fine and made for good options to eat quickly in the morning. The muffins were good—my kids liked them a lot.“

One thing Nicole didn’t like was the portion sizes. She found them a bit too small, awarding Green Chef 3 out of 5 points in this category. “I could easily eat one and some of another, and one portion would never be enough for my husband on its own,” she says. 

Read our full Green Chef review to find out more.

Price per servingAbout $12.99
Type (meal kit or prepared)Meal kit
Meals per week4
Delivery area Most of the contiguous U.S.

Best Meal Kit for Dietary Restrictions: Hungryroot

Good for: Anyone with select taste or dietary restrictions

Best for Dietary Restrictions

Hungryroot

product image
GGR Score: 4.4

Product Highlights

  • Grocery delivery meets meal kit
  • Meal delivery service that sends you ingredients based on recipes you like
  • Many recipes only take 10 minutes to prepare
  • Starts at $70 per box

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Simple and quick
  • Caters to many styles of eating
  • Can add on groceries to your order

Cons

  • You do have to cook
  • Have to meet plan minimum each week (though you can adjust your minimum on a weekly basis)

Bottom Line

Hungryroot offers a unique take on meal delivery, in that you find a recipe you like, and the company will send you all of the ingredients to make it. There are many options for types of food to choose from, and you can even order extra groceries that you might need as well. You do have to cook though, so if that's not interesting to you, this won't be the right plan.

Hungryroot starts with an in-depth quiz about your dietary preferences, restrictions, allergies, and just about anything else you can think of when it comes to cooking and eating. 

The quiz gets super specific, asking you what types of sauces you like (e.g., pesto, BBQ, vinaigrette), what type of meals you like (e.g., tacos, pasta), and even how much spice you want in your food. This is a huge bonus for people who need to follow specific dietary patterns, as well as picky eaters. As such, Hungryroot appears on our guides to the best gluten-free meal delivery and best keto meal delivery.

“Hungryroot helps you find the best plan for your dietary needs,” says registered dietitian Perry Nix. “They include groceries and recipes made without common food allergens like soy, nuts, shellfish, and eggs, which is hard to find in other meal service plans.”

Woman Cooking Hungryroot Chicken Burrito Bowl

But Hungryroot doesn’t just provide meal kits and ready-made meals: It also works as a grocery delivery service. 

“Their grocery options include a variety of plant-based meat substitutes like black bean burgers and tofu sausage crumbles that may appeal to vegetarian consumers,” Perry says, although “they can be high in sodium and may not be suitable for those following a low-sodium diet.”

Kate Meier, GGR head of content and product tester, tried Hungryroot and rated it positively all around. She gave Hungryroot 5 out of 5 points for taste, saying, “Everything is so fresh, and you don’t need to do any seasoning because most foods are prepared already for you with spices. If you wanted more salt or whatever, you could add your own.”

The portion sizes were perfect for her, albeit a bit small for her partner who is a competitive weightlifter. At 400 to 700 calories per meal for most meals, this service is likely adequate for most people. 

Price per servingAbout $10
Type (meal kit or prepared)Meal kit
Meals per weekUp to 16
Delivery area Contiguous U.S.

Best Meal Kit for Culinary Skills: Home Chef

Good for: People who want to expand their palate and cooking skills 

Best for Culinary Skills

Home Chef

product image
GGR Score: 4.1

Product Highlights

  • Can choose from meal kits, pre-made meals, or grill-ready ingredients
  • Recipes can accommodate two, four or six people, and you can get up to six meals per week
  • No specific meal plans, but you can narrow down your choices
  • Menu changes weekly, with up to 30 meals to choose from
  • Requires a subscription, but you can cancel or skip a week anytime

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Menu changes weekly to prevent food boredom
  • Options for meal kits or pre-made meals
  • Can skip a week if you don’t need a delivery
  • Can accommodate larger groups and families (many meal delivery services cap out at four servings per recipe)
  • Reasonably priced

Cons

  • Doesn’t accommodate a lot of dietary restrictions
  • Options can be limited if you’re on a specific diet
  • Requires a subscription (that you can skip or cancel, but you have to remember)

Bottom Line

Home Chef is a meal delivery service that gives you options between meal kits, heat-and-eat meals, and grill-ready selections. It does require a subscription, but you can cancel any time or skip a week if you don’t want a shipment.

Home Chef caters to many dietary preferences and offers various cuisines, from Latin American to Mediterranean to Asian and more. Adventurous eaters will appreciate the variety and ability to flex their culinary skills. 

While there aren’t plans serving up specific carb-conscious, high-protein, or vegetarian options, if you do some digging, you’ll be able to find plenty of meals to suit your needs. Without particular tracks, though, registered dietitian Perry Nix says Home Chef isn’t the best bet for people with food allergies. 

“Meals are made in a facility that handles many common allergens, so there is a risk of cross-contamination,” she says. “Additionally, Home Chef doesn’t offer vegan, keto, or paleo-friendly meals, so if you follow these restrictive eating patterns this might not be the best choice.”

Having said that, our tester Erin Chancer, GGR editor and certified nutrition coach, was very impressed with Home Chef, giving it 5 out of 5 points for taste, portion sizes, and variety, and 4 out of 5 points for ingredient quality. 

“I’ve tried a few different meal delivery kit services and this is by far the best,” she says. “My husband and I love these meals, frequently getting more than the three we typically order because they are so easy to make and are delicious.” 

“Many of the meals have wonderful sauces that just make the dish absolutely perfect,” Erin adds. “We’ve learned a lot about cooking just from making different recipes.”

Price per servingAbout $12
Type (meal kit or prepared)Both available
Meals per weekUp to 6
Delivery area Contiguous U.S.

Best Vegan Meal Kit: Purple Carrot

Good for: Discovering new vegan meals

Best Vegan

Purple Carrot

product image
GGR Score: 4

Product Highlights

  • Vegan meal kits and prepared meals
  • Breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and pantry items available
  • Boxes ship weekly
  • Quick prep options (meals that take less than 25 minutes)
  • Most non-produce items are organic

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Has meal kits and prepared meals
  • Can choose from the whole menu
  • All meals and snacks are available
  • Menus change weekly

Cons

  • Can’t mix and match meal types
  • No option for add-on proteins
  • Maxes out at 4 meals per week
  • Limited meal choices

Bottom Line

Purple Carrot offers vegan meal kits and prepared meals. There are no specific meal plans, but you can choose from the full menu, which includes breakfasts, lunches, dinners and “plantry” items—add-on products like brownie bites and salad dressing. You can’t mix and match meal types, though.

For tasty vegan or vegetarian meals, Purple Carrot is the way to go. Anthony O’Reilly, GGR performance editor and product tester, tested this service and was pleased with it. 

He rated it 5 out of 5 for taste, noting that he was impressed with the quality and portion sizes for it being a vegan meal kit. “The ingredients were fresh and I thought everything tasted really good,” he says. “My favorite was the sloppy Joe (with tofu instead of meat). Considering this was a plant-based meal service I was quite happy with how everything came out.”

Aside from taste, Purple Carrot also shone in terms of sustainability. “Everything is well-packaged and there’s not much plastic compared to other meal delivery services,” Anthony says. “Everything is shipped with dry ice to keep it fresh,” and all of the packaging is recyclable. 

Purple Carrot Meal Ingredients

Registered dietitian Perry Nix says Purple Carrot is a good option for vegan dieters and omnivores alike. “Whether you’re eating less meat or eliminating it completely, Purple Carrot has recipes to support your dietary preferences,” she says, adding that “the company uses seasonal ingredients so you can add new foods into your rotation without ever getting bored.”

Oh, and a nice bonus? “A plant-based diet can help reduce inflammation and decrease your risk of developing a chronic disease,” Perry says.

The one complaint Anthony had about Purple Carrot is that access to nutrition info “isn’t really their strong suit.” He gave the company just 2 out of 5 points here, noting that it was tough to find the information he was looking for, except for the high-protein meal options. 

Learn more about Purple Carrot and other vegan meal delivery options in our guide to the best plant-based meal delivery.

Price per serving$13.25 on average
Type (meal kit or prepared)Both available
Meals per weekUp to 4
Delivery area Contiguous U.S.

Best Meal Kit for Variety: Sunbasket

Good for: Exploring new flavors and ingredients

Best for Variety

Sunbasket

product image
GGR Score: 3.76

Product Highlights

  • Meal kits and prepared meals
  • Paleo, soy-free, dairy-free, diabetes-friendly, and vegan options available
  • Can add snacks and extra proteins to your box
  • Cooked breakfast options available
  • Meal kits serve two to four

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Caters to many allergens and preferences
  • Can order breakfast, lunch, and dinner plus snacks
  • A la carte proteins available
  • Offers both meal kits and prepared meals
  • Most produce is organic

Cons

  • Can’t mix and match meal types
  • Meal kit caps at five dinners per week

Bottom Line

Sunbasket is an organic meal delivery service that offers meal kits and prepared meals. There are many allergen-friendly meal options available, and options to add extra protein and cooked breakfasts a la carte. You can’t mix and match meal types, but you can switch off each week if you want.

Sunbasket is a popular weekly meal kit service with a broad menu. Registered dietitian Perry Nix likes that “Sunbasket offers a variety of protein sources that you don’t see with some other meal delivery services. 

“Many meals include protein from seafood like salmon, shrimp, and scallops, which are sources of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids,” she says. On top of that, the seasonings are often robust and meals usually include sauces, so it’s definitely a top pick for people yearning to explore new foods and flavors. 

You can filter meals by various needs. Options include paleo, soy-free, gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free, and diabetes-friendly. You can also filter by calorie range. Thanks to the large and varied menu, I gave Sunbasket 5 out of 5 stars for customization.

Ingredients for a Sunbasket steak and veggies meal

I’ll be honest: I wasn’t impressed with the overall quality of most of my Sunbasket meals. I had a bad experience with a package of beef tips that had a broken vacuum seal, thus spoiling the meat in transit. Additionally, some of the veggies were past their prime when they arrived. For this reason, I could only justify giving Sunbasket 2.75 out of 5 points for ingredient quality. 

Sunbasket did have some redeeming meals, though. One memorable example (literally, I still think of it all the time) is the pulled pork sliders with apple slaw. This wasn’t just the best meal I had from Sunbasket, it was the best meal I had from any meal delivery service I’ve ever tested. 

RELATED: Best Low-Carb Meal Delivery

Price per serving$10-14
Type (meal kit or prepared)Meal kit
Meals per week4
Delivery area Contiguous U.S. excluding MT, ND, and parts of NM

Other Meal Kits We Tried

Looking for even more ways to avoid grocery shopping? We’ve got your back. Here are some additional meal delivery services we tried. 

  • Blue Apron: This service has a focus on sustainable agriculture and aquaculture, which we love. It offers a unique variety of meals but isn’t ideal for picky eaters or for people who need paleo, Whole30, diabetes-friendly, keto-friendly, or vegan options. It’s more focused on the culinary experience than dietary restrictions. 
  • Gobble: Gobble is unique in that it does all the cooking prep for you, so your ingredients will come already chopped, marinated, peeled, or whatever is required for the recipe. 
  • Marley Spoon: Our tester Anthony O’Reilly, GGR performance editor, expected better from Martha Stewart. He didn’t feel that he received high-quality ingredients or that the portions were enough to feed two people. 
  • CookUnity: This service offers chef-made, single-serve ready meals in recyclable or compostable packaging. It’s not so much a meal kit, and the delivery area is limited. 
  • Daily Harvest: Daily Harvest is not a meal kit service, but a frozen meal delivery service with a standard weekly menu. It mainly offers soups, smoothies, oven-ready flatbreads, and a number of other plant-based meals. 

RELATED: High-Protein Meal Delivery

How We Picked and Tested the Best Meal Kits

Gobble meal kits for two meals

Our team of more than 10 product testers spent months trying and analyzing the best meal kits. 

We set up our own accounts and ordered them to our homes, and tested them over the course of several weeks. Just like you, the consumer, would, we integrated these services into our daily lives, using them for everything from quick workday lunches to feeding entire families. 

All the while, we were thinking about our testing methodology and rating the services according to several criteria. 

Price Per Meal 

We’re consumers ourselves, and the price factor is top of mind no matter what we’re testing. While we think it’s worth it to pay the big bucks for something truly fantastic, we always hunt for a good value. We do our research to understand the market average so we can tell when a company is charging way too much.

Here’s how we rated meal kits for pricing: 

  • To get a 1, $16 or more per meal 
  • To get a 2, $14-16 per meal 
  • To get a 3, $10-14 per meal
  • To get a 4, $8-10 per meal
  • To get a 5, less than $8 per meal

Meal Variety

Some people are OK with eating the same meal over and over again. But we’d venture to guess that some—most, probably—want some variety in their weekly meals. If a service offered minimal variety, it scored low in this category. Services with the most variety and biggest rotating menus scored the highest here.

Mosaic Stir Fry Meal

Diet Options

We specifically looked at how many diet types the services catered to and if it was easy to filter through meals by your needs. The ability to choose a specific diet track such as paleo, keto, or vegan, earned a service more points. Services scored even higher when they allowed filtering by individual ingredients or nutrients.

Portion Sizes

No matter how tasty a meal is, you won’t be satisfied if it doesn’t fill you up. We made sure to take note of portion sizes while we cooked and ate the meals, thinking of how the portions would work for people other than ourselves. 

Ordering and Shipping

We considered how easy (or not) it was to create an account, select meals, build a box, and set up a plan. We also rated the shipping process: Did it ship on time? Did we get shipping notifications? Did it arrive on time? Was everything intact when it arrived? 

Customer Service

When it was time to cancel our accounts, we took note of how easy or difficult it was. As consumers, we don’t want to spend our time hassling with customer service about why we should keep our subscription. We just want to cancel, and we bet so do you.

RELATED: Best Paleo Meal Delivery

Benefits of Meal Kits

Woman Eating Fresh And Lean Meal

On the fence about signing up for a meal kit? These major benefits may convince you.

Easy Home Cooking

Meal kits make cooking at home easier, quicker, and often more interesting. This can reduce reliance on takeout, which ultimately can save you money in the long run. Plus, you get to learn new cooking skills and try new recipes!

Increased Variety

Even as someone with access to a collection of delicious cultural recipes (half of my family is Cajun; the other half is Italian-Honduran), I find myself making the same things over and over. Meal kits have helped me broaden my culinary horizons and discover new flavors. It helps with boredom and makes cooking more fun. 

Exposure to More Nutrients

Diversifying your eating habits exposes you to a wide range of nutrients, which is great for your overall health. Meal kits can be your ticket to trying new vegetables, starches other than pasta and rice, different types of fish and meat, and more. 

May Reduce Food Waste

Meal kits come with pre-portioned ingredients, typically making just enough for the planned number of people to minimize waste. While some meal kits I tried had leftovers, it was typically just one serving, perfect for the next day’s lunch. 

Best Meal Kit FAQs

Are meal delivery services worth it?

Depending on your needs and budget, meal delivery services can certainly be worthwhile. If you like to cook, but don’t like to shop, meal kits are a good option. Pre-made meals are another option if you don’t like to or don’t have time to cook. Ultimately, most meal delivery services aren’t any more expensive than takeout if you compare portion to portion. Another option is grocery delivery if you need to save time but want to use your own recipes. 

Are meal delivery services healthy?

The nutritional profile of meal delivery services varies substantially. Most, according to insights from registered dietitian Perry Nix, offer balanced plates and exposure to a wide range of nutrients. Depending on your specific needs, however, certain delivery options may be too high in fat, salt, sugar, or carbohydrates. If you have particular nutrition needs, talk to a dietitian to determine which meal delivery is the healthiest for you. 

How to get free meals from HelloFresh? 

Most meal delivery services offer some sort of promotion for new customers. When I signed up for HelloFresh, I received a number of meals free in my first box. There may be additional promotions from time to time, and utilizing the referral system may earn you some free eats. 

Further reading

Best Fitness Gifts for Dad (2024): Show Him How Much You Care Cover Image
Best Fitness Gifts for Dad (2024): Show Him How Much You Care

Your dad (or dad figure) means a lot to you, but let’s face it––buying gifts for him can be a real challenge. He says he doesn’t want anything, but of course, you want to give him something. Whether he loves trail running, CrossFit, yoga, or powerlifting, we have you covered with the best fitness gifts for Dad.  Read more

ProForm 10.0 TT Treadmill Review (2024): A Compact, Budget-Friendly Option Cover Image
ProForm 10.0 TT Treadmill Review (2024): A Compact, Budget-Friendly Option

Looking for a compact treadmill to start your home gym collection? Learn more about this beginner-friendly option with our ProForm 10.0 TT Treadmill review. Read more

REP Fitness Discount Codes (2024): Best Ways to Save Even More Money Cover Image
REP Fitness Discount Codes (2024): Best Ways to Save Even More Money

By using a REP Fitness discount code, you can score deals on home gym equipment that’s already budget-friendly. Read more

NordicTrack Fusion CST Review (2024): A Solid Machine With Some Flaws Cover Image
NordicTrack Fusion CST Review (2024): A Solid Machine With Some Flaws

NordicTrack is known for their cardio equipment, but can they compete in the smart home gym space? Find out in our NordicTrack Fusion CST review. Read more