People typically associate food delivery with greasy takeout or pizza, and while I’m not one to shy away from an occasional Popeye’s indulgence, I can’t help but wonder what the world would be like if “delicious meals” became synonymous with “healthy eating” instead of “deep-fried.”
RELATED: Best Healthy Fast Food
Turns out, there are plenty of companies interested and invested in that idea. Take it from the best salad delivery services, which aim to make weekly meal prep heavily plant-focused—and you save time while doing so. These companies also take salad from bland diet food to flavorful, rich, exciting meals. A well-balanced salad is a wonderful way to pack a ton of nutrients, protein, and healthy fats into your day.
Ahead, we look at five salad delivery services and rate them according to 13 criteria, from price per meal to order flexibility to ingredient quality and portion sizes. We also talked with registered dietitian Perry Nix to fully understand the good, the bad, and the neutral about each of these services.
RELATED: Best Meal Delivery Service
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 Salad Delivery Service 2023
- Best Salad Delivery Service Overall: Hungryroot
- Salad Delivery Service on a Budget: BistroMD
- Best Gourmet Salad Delivery Service: Sakara Life
- Best-Tasting Salad Delivery Service: Home Chef
- Best Organic Salad Delivery Service: Green Chef
- Most Filling Salad Delivery Service: Daily Harvest
Best Salad Delivery Service Overall: Hungryroot
Good for: Online grocery shopping and meal delivery with a single subscription
Best Overall
Hungryroot
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 is a two-in-one delivery service that allows you to order grocery items and meal kits or prepared meals all at once. The service begins with a very thorough quiz, which product tester and GGR Head of Content Kate Meier, CPT, USAW-L1, CF-L1, admits can be a bit confusing, because it’s unclear at first what’s going in your box. She rated Hungryroot with a score of 3 out of 5 stars for setup because of this, but she quickly learned to love the service.
RELATED: Best Meal Kits
With Hungryroot, you can build your box a la carte with groceries or meal kits only, as long as you reach the box minimum of $60. For salad-building purposes, we recommend the grocery items first and foremost, although Hungryroot does have some meal kits that feature salads as the main course.
Speaking of the main course, Kate was more than happy with all of the meals she tried, awarding Hungryroot 5 out of 5 points for taste and 4.5 points for ingredient quality. She says the meals were “restaurant quality” and “everything is so fresh.”
Registered dietitian Perry Nix says, “Hungryroot helps you find the best plan for your dietary needs and preferences. 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.”
Additionally, Perry notes that the grocery options include a lot of plant-based meat substitutes, such as tofu sausage crumbles, which can help add protein to vegetarian salads.
RELATED: Hungryroot vs HelloFresh
| Price per meal | About $10 |
| Type (meal kit or prepared) | Meal kit and groceries |
| Meals per week | Up to 8 |
| Delivery area | Contiguous U.S. |
| Examples of meals we tried | Seared Chicken Breast and Corn Black Bean Rice Bowl, Everything Chicken Quesadillas, All-in-One Chicken Burrito Bowl, Turkey Meatloaf and Sweet Kale Salad |
Salad Delivery Service on a Budget: BistroMD
Good for: Yummy meal delivery that won’t thin out your wallet
Best on a Budget
BistroMD
Product Highlights
- Doctor-designed meal plans
- May help improve metabolism and aid with weight loss
- Weekly frozen meal deliveries
- Variety of meal plans including vegan, keto, and diabetic
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Program is based on science behind metabolism correction
- Options to skip a week
- Packed in oven-safe, BPA-free trays
- Support from registered dietitians
Cons
- Programs don’t allow you to order less than 10 meals
- Expensive subscription
- Shipping is not free
Bottom Line
BistroMD was designed by a doctor to help folks struggling with weight loss. BistroMD addresses insulin-resistance and aids a healthy metabolism with lean protein and high-fiber foods to keep you full in addition to low glycemic carbohydrates to stabilize blood sugars. You’ll find a meal plan that works within your dietary restrictions including gluten-free, vegan, or keto.
With today’s grocery prices, organic, produce-heavy diets aren’t the only ones that threaten to make a dent in your bank account. Thankfully, there are still some companies out there striving to make food affordable. One of those is BistroMD, which regularly appears on our guides to the best meal delivery services.
Each meal comes out to around $10.99-$14.99, depending on how much you order (the more meals, the better the price break) which is on the lower end of what most services offer. As with most other companies, you’ll get a discounted rate for your first week and only pay around $6.50 per meal. We rated it a 4 out of 5 on our pricing scale.
BistroMD sends you prepared meals with a good balance of macronutrients (protein, carbs, and fat) and generally caters to people looking to lose weight. “These meal plans focus on fueling your metabolism, stabilizing your blood sugar, and keeping you full and satisfied, so you can burn more calories and utilize energy efficiently,” says registered dietitian Perry Nix.
Perry and our expert product tester, certified personal trainer and GGR senior staff writer Lauren Strong, both warn that some of the meals might not have enough calories for some people. “I think people on an honest mission to lose weight will eat a snack between meals,” Lauren says. “I doubt someone can adhere to this plan for 21 meals in a week without snacks.”
On taste, however, there were little to no notes. “Pretty darn good for these being both health-consious and frozen,” Lauren says, rating the taste a 4 out of 5. She warns that some vegetables may need more heating time, unless you like partially frozen coleslaw.
BistroMD has a large selection of programs for people with certain dietary restrictions or preferences, such as gluten-free, vegan, heart-healthy, keto, and diabetic-friendly programs.
Looking for more budget-friendly meals? Check out our guide to the cheapest meal delivery services.
| Price per meal | $10.99-$14.99, depending on how many meals are in your delivery |
| Type (meal kit or prepared) | Prepared |
| Meals per week | 10-21 |
| Delivery area | Contiguous U.S. (excluding Hawaii and Alaska) |
| Examples of meals we tried | -Sloppy Joe with Cabbage Slaw, Turkey Breast with Cranberry Apple Chutney, Merlot Meatballs with Grits, Chicken Florentine Cannelloni, Firecracker Chicken Meatballs with Asian Salad, Hickory Smoked BBQ Beef with Yukon Gold Potatoes, Cranberry Harvest Turkey Meatballs, Meatloaf with Honey Bourbon Glaze, Mojo Pork with Black Beans & Rice |
Best Gourmet Salad Delivery Service: Sakara Life
Good for: Splurge-worthy gluten-free salads and meals with a focus on overall wellness
Best Gourmet
Sakara Life
Product Highlights
- Meal delivery service
- Plant-based meals
- Meals are preselected, and you decide which plan to order from, and for how many days (2, 3, or 5 days)
- Supplements are also available, including greens powder and probiotics
- Sourced from trusted organic farms that use sustainable farming practices
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Vegan friendly
- Variety of plans
- Sourced from organic farms with sustainable farming practices
- Ships across the continental U.S.
Cons
- Many plans get pricey quick
- Unable to change meals in plans
Bottom Line
Sakara Life is a meal delivery service and nutrition program designed to help fuel your body. With the slogan, “Feed Your Spirit,” Sakara Life provides several meal plans, all focused on plant-based meals. You can order up to three meals a day over a span of two, three, or five days each week.
Sakara Life is a meal delivery service with optional virtual health and nutrition coaching. The menu features a range of gluten-free, dairy-free meals with names like Youth & Beauty Salad, H20 Glow Salad, and Full Heart Brassica Bowl—along with some less woo-woo names like Acorn Squash Salad.
RELATED: Daily Harvest vs Sakara
Despite the eyebrow-raising names, Sakara Life food really is good, says product tester and GGR editor Frieda Johnson. She rated Sakara with 5 out of 5 points for taste. Frieda follows a strict gluten- and dairy-free diet, so she was happy to have a menu she didn’t have to carefully filter or sift through, knowing all of the meals are made sans gluten and dairy.
RELATED: Best Gluten-Free Meal Delivery
Unfortunately, Frieda wasn’t impressed with the portion sizes, giving Sakara just 1 out of 5 points for this category. She says she needed extra meals on the days she ate Sakara meals.
Perry Nix, RD, LD, likes that “Sakara Life strives to create colorful meals to ensure they’re packed with vitamins, minerals, and essential nutrients. Each meal includes plant-based protein to promote satiety, build lean muscle, and enhance metabolism.”
However, Perry adds, “When you place an order with Sakara Life, your meals are selected for you based off the weekly menu,” so you don’t get a lot of flexibility with this service.
Ultimately, we’d recommend Sakara Life to someone who follows a gluten-free diet and is willing to splurge on complex, wellness-oriented meals and salads, despite the small portion sizes.
For more, read our in-depth Sakara Life reviews.
| Price per meal | Starts at $27 |
| Type (meal kit or prepared) | Prepared meals |
| Meals per week | Up to 15 |
| Delivery area | Contiguous US |
| Examples of meals we tried | Sexy Cinnamon Rolls, Sweet Potato-Coconut Dream Parfait, Raspberry Tea Cake |
Best-Tasting Salad Delivery Service: Home Chef
Good for: Those looking for maximum flavor and convenience
Best Tasting
Home Chef
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.
After testing nearly 50 meal delivery services, Home Chef is still one of our favorites when it comes to overall taste. In fact, it was one of only five that received a perfect 5 out of 5 when it came to the meals’ flavor. “I’m obsessed,” says Kate Meier, GGR’s senior director of content and a certified personal trainer. “I started a binder where I keep recipes of the meals I love, because it’s not that hard to recreate them if you go shopping on your own.”
Registered dietitian Perry Nix says Kate’s recipe replications are one of the benefits of using this service. “Home Chef is a good option for those wanting to learn how to build balanced meals and acquire new cooking skills,” she says.
It also received one of the highest marks for ingredient quality, a 4 out of 5, with Kate saying the only major problem being some wilted green onions.
If you’re a fan of switching up cuisines, you’ll be happy to know we also rated the variety a 5 out of 5. “When I look every week, there are always at least five meals that are super appealing to me,” she says. “There is plenty to choose from.”
You can pick between meal kits that you cook yourself or prepared meals, as we explain in our Home Chef review. If you opt for the former, know that we rated the ease of preparation a 2 out of 5 because you do have to get a couple of pots, pans, and dishes dirty to get dinner ready. Most meal kits typically take 20 minutes or more, though there are express and fast & fresh options that can be ready in about 15 minutes.
| Price per meal | Around $12.06 |
| Type (meal kit or prepared) | Both |
| Meals per week | Up to 6 meals per week |
| Delivery area | Continental U.S. |
| Examples of meals we tried | Everything Bagel Crusted Chicken, One-Pan Turkey Burrito Skillet, Crispy Pepper Shrimp, One-Pan Greek-Style Sirloin Steak Salad, Vietnamese-Style Caramelized Turkey Lettuce Wraps, Mushroom and Steak Risotto,One-Pan Steakhouse Sirloin. |
Best Organic Salad Delivery Service: Green Chef
Good for: Organic produce and cultural palates from Mediterranean to Thai to Italian
Best Organic
Green Chef
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 focuses on organic eating, and the entire service is USDA Certified Organic, which is really tough to find. In fact, to our knowledge, Green Chef is the only fully certified organic meal delivery service available in the U.S.
RELATED: Green Chef Reviews
“In addition to being certified organic, Green Chef’s paleo and keto meal plans are also certified gluten-free,” says Perry Nix, RD, LD. “This means they’re safe for people with celiac disease and anyone with gluten sensitivities.”
Unfortunately, this makes Green Chef one of the more expensive options, with prices per serving leveling out around $13. Nicole Davis, product tester, certified nutrition coach, and GGR senior editor, found Green Chef to be a bit expensive for what it is, rating it with 3 out of 5 points for pricing. For individuals who are looking for certified organic ingredients, especially produce for salads, the price will be worth it.
Green Chef’s salad selection includes dishes like Creamy Cilantro Chicken Salad, Greek Salad with Crunchy Pita, and Thai-Spiced Chicken Salad, plus “salad-ish” meals such as Hoisin Mushroom and Edamame Bowls and Baja Cauliflower Bowls.
There is, of course, a massive selection of meat-grain-and-side meals, too. A favorite of product tester Nicole was the Monterey Jack Cheese-Smothered Chicken. After trying several meals from Green Chef, Nicole gave the service 4.5 out of 5 points for taste and ingredient quality but 3 out of 5 for portion size, noting that although the meals were yummy and fresh, she was left feeling hungry more than once.
See our top picks for the best organic meal delivery.
| Price per meal | About $13 |
| Type (meal kit or prepared) | Meal kit |
| Meals per week | 3 to 4 |
| Delivery area | Most of the contiguous U.S. |
| Examples of meals we tried | Monterey Jack Cheese-Smothered Chicken, French Toast, Southwest Pork Tenderloin |
Most Filling Salad Delivery Service: Daily Harvest
Good for: A la carte salads, smoothies, and more that will fill you up
Most Filling
Daily Harvest
Product Highlights
- Frozen plant-based meal delivery service
- Smoothies, grain bowls, flatreads, and soups
- Plant-based milk options available
- Recyclable packaging
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Frozen, nutrient-dense food
- High fiber content
- Free shipping
- Ability to skip a week and modify delivery schedule
- Manage your account on the iOS app or website
Cons
- Will not satisfy high-protein diets
- Some meal are under 300 calories
Bottom Line
Daily Harvest is a plant-based frozen meal delivery service that will provide you wholesome, nutrient-dense meals and snacks. The menu is made up of low-calorie smoothies, grain bowls, flatbreads, and soups. If you’re looking for a meal delivery service that supports high-protein diets, this is not the subscription plan for you.
You may know Daily Harvest as a smoothie delivery service, which it is. However, Daily Harvest also offers a selection of salad-like meals, namely the Harvest Bowls, which feature an array of grains and vegetables.
Examples include Spinach and Shitake Grits, Butternut Squash and Kale Shakshuka, Kalamata and Artichoke Fonio, and Sweet Potato + Wild Rice Hash. Daily Harvest’s focus on plant-based “superfood” plants makes it a great choice for people on the hunt for veggie-packed meals delivered to their door.
RELATED: Best Dairy-Free Meal Delivery
I tested Daily Harvest, and, truth be told, I was not impressed with the flavor profile of anything but the smoothies. I tried a couple of Harvest Bowls and found that I needed to dress them up with hot sauce, spices, cheese, or other items I had at home, so I rated Daily Harvest with 3 out of 5 points for taste.
I also rated Daily Harvest with 3 out of 5 points for portion sizes, because they are small and don’t include much protein. As an active person, I’d consider the Harvest Bowls and other items to be more of a snack than a meal, unless I added a chicken breast or something.
Registered dietitian Perry Nix agrees, saying, “Although packed with nutrients, most of their smoothies and bowls lack a sufficient amount of protein or calories. Consider them snacks rather than meals, or you may find yourself feeling hungry again quickly.”
Perry does appreciate Daily Harvest’s emphasis on sustainable agriculture and biodiversity, which she says “promotes more nutrient-rich soil and is better for the planet.”
| Price per meal | $5.99-11.99 |
| Type (meal kit or prepared) | Prepared |
| Meals per week | 9, 14, or 24 |
| Delivery area | Most of the continental U.S. |
| Examples of meals we tried | Smoothies, Mulberry Dragon Fruit Harvest Bowl, Flatbread, Rice Bowls |
Other Salad Delivery Services We Researched
Aside from the usual suspects—HelloFresh, Blue Apron, Sunbasket, Home Chef, and other popular meal delivery options—we did some research on salad-specific meal services. We haven’t tried the following yet, but felt they were worth mentioning for our salad aficionado readers.
Farmer’s Fridge
Farmer’s Fridge is a delivery-service-no-more. While the company once offered a weekly menu with home delivery, Farmer’s Fridge now stocks vending machines with whole-food meals made of quality ingredients. You can find Farmer’s Fridge “Smart Fridges” around cities, in office buildings, in hospitals and airports, and on college campuses.
Gardencup
Gardencup, true to the name, delivers veggie-packed salads in cups. This might actually be the most veggie-licious prepared meal delivery service out there. You can choose salads with protein or vegetarian salads; Gardencup also offers mini salads and “power bowls,” similar to pasta salads. The nutritious meals are delivered in reusable containers, although they unfortunately aren’t dishwasher- or microwave-safe. They also offer chia puddings and dips. You can filter for various dietary preferences and choose from weekly or biweekly delivery. Gardencup has a strong focus on minimizing food waste, which is refreshing to see.
Urban Remedy
Certified B Corp, Urban Remedy is similar to Farmer’s Fridge in that there are “stations” that function like vending machines. You’ll find them from Brooklyn, NYC, to San Francisco at Whole Foods Markets and other grocery stores, among other locations. Urban Remedy also partnered with Amazon, Instacart, Fresh Direct, and Good Eggs to bring their high-quality, fresh ingredients and ready-to-eat meals to doorsteps.
How We Picked and Tested the Best Salad Delivery Services
Our top picks aren’t arbitrary. Our team of certified nutrition coaches, personal trainers, and athletes spent several weeks testing meal delivery services and rating them according to 13 criteria. The following are just a few of the factors we used in our methodology.
Price Per Meal
We rated the services on a spectrum, awarding more points for cheaper portions and less points for more expensive portions. Our scale is as follows:
- 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
Ease of Prep and Cleanup
A meal delivery service should make your life easier, not harder. That’s why we included preparation and cleanup in our 13-point testing methodology. Meal services that required a lot of time spent preparing and cleaning lost points compared to those that made mealtime easier than cooking from scratch.
RELATED: Prepared Meal Delivery
Portion Sizes
A meal is only as good as it is filling. Our product testers paid attention to the portion sizes, noting if meals left them hungry, filled them up, or were too much (it was almost never the latter).
Meal Options
Whether you eat a low-carb, vegan, pescatarian, keto, or paleo diet, your meal subscription should cater to your needs and preferences. During our testing, we checked each meal delivery service for filtering options to see how easy (or not) it was to find meals that match your lifestyle. Additionally, we took note of the number of meal options and variety because no one wants to be bored with their diet.
Benefits of Salad Delivery Services
Meal delivery services in general come with many benefits. Here are some of the top benefits of salad delivery services.
Quick and Easy
With salads, there is little preparation needed. Some of our recommendations for the best salad delivery service include pre-chopped ingredients and pre-portioned toppings, so all you have to do is serve and eat. Others may require some chopping or slicing, but it’s still quicker than making a hot meal from scratch.
Nutritious and Filling
Salads are nutrient-dense and filling by nature, since they typically feature a bulk of greens, vegetables, grains, and protein. Additionally, the fats found in dressings, such as those from olive oil, provide sustained energy throughout the day.
RELATED: High-Protein Vegetables
Might Save You Money
Meal delivery services may seem expensive at first glance—and, true, some are more expensive than grocery shopping on your own. However, even the more expensive options present the opportunity to reduce food waste, thereby saving you some cash. Meal delivery services also tend to be much cheaper than eating in restaurants or ordering takeout. Plus, lots of these services offer steep discounts with your first order.
Salad Delivery Service FAQs
Is there a healthier alternative to HelloFresh?
HelloFresh is as healthy as you make it: You’re in charge of choosing your meal plan and add-ons. Depending on your dietary needs and your definition of healthy, sure, there may be options you consider to be healthier than HelloFresh. Our guide to the best healthy meal delivery service can help you choose a nutritious meal delivery service.
What comes in a Green Chef box?
What comes in your Green Chef box depends entirely on what you choose to put in it. Your box will reflect the meals you select before checking out. What you do know is that your Green Chef box includes organic ingredients.
Are salads really good for you?
Salads, by nature, are packed with vitamins and minerals thanks to the leafy greens and toppings like chickpeas, nuts, or even apples and strawberries. That said, salad dressings are known for being not-so-healthy. Toppings like BBQ sauce, ranch dressing, and caesar dressing are generally high in calories and/or salt, sugar, or fat. This is not to say that dressing makes a salad inherently unhealthy, but it’s wise to check the nutrition facts label to ensure the dressing matches up with your needs and goals. If need be, making your own salad dressing is pretty easy! Oils and vinegars make for great bases, and experimenting with citrus juices and spices can be really fun.
