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Several meal delivery companies offer healthy, balanced meals that people can cook from scratch or heat up in the oven or microwave. These meals may help people reach their health and fitness goals.
A quick look at the best healthy meal delivery services
- Best for weight loss: Blue Apron
- Best for specific diets: Sunbasket
- Best for plant-based meals: Purple Carrot
- Best family-friendly meal kit: HelloFresh
- Best for athletes: Fresh N Lean
- Best for gluten-free and organic meals: Green Chef
- Best for customizable meals: Home Chef
- Best for vegans: Veestro
- Best plant-based family-friendly meals: Mosaic Foods
- Best for mix-and-match meal plans: Pete’s Real Food
- Best for lunches: Splendid Spoon
- Best for 10-minute recipes: Hungryroot
Some services offer meal kits. This means they provide ingredients and a recipe that a person can follow to make the meal. Others supply prepared meals that a person can reheat.
This article discusses some of the healthiest meal delivery services available to subscribe to online.
Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All quotes are provided by Nutrition and Fitness Market Editor Kelli McGrane, MS, RD, and SaVanna Shoemaker, MS, RDN, LD, who have received a free meal kit from companies to review.
Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here.
Anyone can use a meal delivery service. However, these services may be ideal for people who wish to have home-cooked meals but do not have the time to meal plan or source ingredients.
Meal delivery services may also be beneficial for:
- families
- people unsure of how to begin cooking healthier meals
- people who find it difficult to cook and prefer ready-made meals or step-by-step instructions
- people wanting to save money and reduce food waste
- people who want to limit portion sizes
Medical News Today chooses meal delivery services that fit the following criteria:
- Nutritional value: MNT chooses meal delivery services that meet the average person’s nutritional needs and promote healthy eating habits.
- Ingredient quality: MNT chooses meal delivery services that use fresh, high quality ingredients. Some also use organic produce or sustainably sourced ingredients.
- Variety: MNT chooses meal delivery services that feature a range of flavors and ingredients to suit different taste preferences and diets.
- Price: MNT chooses meal delivery services with different price points to suit a range of budgets.
- Availability: MNT chooses meal delivery services available throughout most of the United States.
- Sustainability: MNT chooses meal delivery services that reduce their environmental impact by using recyclable packaging, carbon-neutral shipping, local ingredients, and other sustainable practices.
- Reputation: MNT chooses only brands that adhere to industry best practices and have passed our medical vetting process.
Below, we list some of the top healthy meal delivery services.
Best for weight loss: Blue Apron
“There were only 3 wellness options. However, if I had chosen the Signature plan, I would’ve had a greater variety of items to choose from. With that said, I appreciated that the wellness options were all quite different from one another.” — Nutrition and Fitness Market Editor Kelli McGrane, MS, RD
- Price per serving: from $7.99
- Meals per week: 2, 3, or 4
- Dietary requirements: vegetarian and diabetes-friendly
Blue Apron offers meal kits and ready-made meals. It has four menus:
- Signature
- Signature for 4
- Wellness
- Vegetarian
The Wellness plan is suitable for those wanting to lose weight, as it contains WW (formerly Weight Watchers)-recommended meals and nutritionist-approved recipes.
Learn more about Blue Apron’s WW plan here.
Each menu, with the exception of the Vegetarian plan, offers a variety of plant-, meat-, and fish-based recipes. All menus contain diabetes-friendly meals.
People can choose to receive 2, 3, or 4 meals per week, with each meal containing either 2 or 4 servings. Some meals allow substitutions.
Sample meal: Harissa-Honey Tofu Bowl
Read our review of Blue Apron here.
Best for specific diets: Sunbasket
“[…] I found Sunbasket’s menu to be the most varied with interesting flavor and ingredient combinations.” — Nutrition and Fitness Market Editor Kelli McGrane, MS, RD
- Price per serving: from $9.99
- Meals per week: 2—5
- Dietary requirements: vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, diabetes-friendly, paleo, pescatarian, Mediterranean, carb-conscious, and keto
Sunbasket caters to various dietary requirements, so it is suitable for most people. People can choose to receive 2–5 meals per week with either 2 or 4 portions.
Sunbasket offers people the choice between meal kits and ready-made meals. The company says it uses ingredients that have USDA Organic certifications.
People can choose from the following menus:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Pasta & Sauce
- Proteins
- Snacks
Sample meal: Gingered Steak Stir-Fry with Broccoli and Bell Pepper
The nutritional information for this meal is as follows:
- Calories: 370
- Total fat: 16 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg
- Sodium: 140 mg
- Total carbohydrates: 25 g
- Total sugars: 11 g
- Protein: 37 g
This dish contains steak and organic tomatoes, broccoli, ginger, bell pepper, and onion.
Read our review of Sunbasket here.
Best for plant-based meals: Purple Carrot
“All of Purple Carrot’s meals are plant-based, and it doesn’t include other specialty menus. However, within the bubble of plant-based meals, […] I found that there was a wide variety of cuisines and flavor profiles to choose from.” — Nutrition and Fitness Market Editor Kelli McGrane, MS, RD
- Price per serving: from $11
- Meals per week: 2–10
- Dietary requirements: vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and nut-free
Purple Carrot provides meal kits and ready-made meals that are vegan- and vegetarian-friendly. People can choose to receive 2–10 meals per week, with each meal serving 1–4 people. A meal kit offers 3–4 meals per week with 2–4 servings, whereas prepared meals offer up to 10 meals per week with 1 serving.
The company offers the following menus:
- breakfasts
- lunches
- dinners
- plantry
Sample meal: Vegan Chick’n and Dumplings
The nutritional information for this meal is as follows:
- Serving size: 403 g
- Total fat: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
- Sodium: 930 mg
- Total carbohydrates: 48 g
- Total sugars: 8 g
- Protein: 12 g
This dish contains ingredients such as oyster mushrooms, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, and coconut milk.
Read our review of Purple Carrot here.
Best family-friendly meal kit: HelloFresh
“As the items are packaged by meal, I found it very convenient to bring with my family when we’re staying at our family cabin.” — Nutrition and Fitness Market Editor Kelli McGrane, MS, RD
- Price per serving: from $8.99
- Meals per week: 2–6
- Dietary requirements: vegetarian, pescatarian, low carb, and low calorie
HelloFresh offers the following meal plans:
- Meat & Veggies
- Veggie
- Family Friendly
- Fit & Wholesome
- Quick & Easy
- Pescatarian
People can select 2–6 recipes per week, with each meal serving 2 or 4 people. These meals are kits that people cook and prepare at home.
HelloFresh may be a good option for families, as the company offers family-friendly plans.
Sample meal: Sheet Pan Monterey Jack Un-Fried Chicken
Read our review of HelloFresh here.
Best for athletes: Fresh N Lean
“Each plan offers about 9 lunch/dinner entrees each week. While there’s some variety, they aren’t the most creative in terms of seasonings, sauces, and ingredients. Breakfasts are mostly egg dishes.” — Nutrition and Fitness Market Editor Kelli McGrane, MS, RD
- Price per serving: from $8.99
- Meals per week: 5–21
- Dietary requirements: keto, paleo, vegan, Whole30-approved, and Mediterranean
Fresh N Lean caters to various dietary requirements and states that its Protein+ plan is suitable for athletes and other active individuals.
People can opt for breakfasts, lunches, dinners, or a combination of all three for 5–7 days per week. Each meal is ready-made, and people can heat it up in minutes in the microwave.
The company states that all ingredients are gluten-free and non-GMO and most are organic.
Sample meal: Salsa Verde Salmon Casserole with Rice and Beans
The nutritional information for this meal is as follows:
- Serving size: 369 g
- Calories: 460
- Total fat: 16 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg
- Sodium: 410 mg
- Total carbohydrates: 42 g
- Total sugars: 6 g
- Protein: 36 g
This dish contains salmon, black beans, white rice, bell peppers, onion, and cilantro.
Best for gluten-free and organic meals: Green Chef
“Unlike many other services, Green Chef’s meals contain a good amount of vegetables. Plus, all of the meals I tried were flavorful and satisfying to eat. Another bonus is that its gluten-free meal plan is certified gluten-free, and the service is certified organic.” — Nutrition and Fitness Market Editor Kelli McGrane, MS, RD
- Price per serving: from $11.99
- Meals per week: 2–4
- Dietary requirements: keto, paleo, vegetarian, vegan, Mediterranean, gluten-free, and soy-free
Green Chef offers a range of menus that include USDA Organic and gluten-free ingredients. The company offers the following plans:
- Keto + Paleo
- Vegetarian
- Mediterranean
- Fast & Fit
- Vegan
- Gluten Free
People can choose to receive 2–4 meals per week, with each meal serving 2, 4, or 6 people.
Sample meal: Sriracha Tamari Beef Bowls
The nutritional information for this meal is as follows:
- Calories: 670
- Total fat: 31 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg
- Sodium: 1580 mg
- Total carbohydrates: 64 g
- Total sugars: 14 g
- Protein: 37 g
This dish contains beef, rice, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, peanuts, and sesame seeds.
Read our review of Green Chef here.
Best for customizable meals: Home Chef
“I had a good experience with Home Chef. […] The meals were both really tasty and came together very easily, with helpful and straightforward recipe cards. I liked that the meals were simple, with sauces that added lots of flavor. They also offer a lot of add-on salads and sides to stretch the meals further.” — SaVanna Shoemaker, MS, RDN, LD
- Price per serving: starting at $8.99
- Meals per week: 2–6 per week
- Dietary requirements: vegetarian, carb-conscious, and calorie-conscious
Home Chef offers the following menus:
- calorie-conscious
- carb-conscious
- under 30 minutes
People can customize the recipes, such as by changing their protein source and eliminating any allergens or foods they wish to avoid.
The company offers meal kits and ready-made meals. Home Chef requires a minimum weekly spend of $49.95.
Sample meal: Creamy Rosee Sausage Ragu Ziti
The nutritional information for this meal is as follows:
- Serving size: 349 g
- Calories: 460
- Total fat: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
- Sodium: 1,300 mg
- Total carbohydrates: 45 g
- Total sugars: 5 g
- Protein: 19 g
This dish contains ziti, sausage ragu, mozzarella, Parmesan, garlic, and spinach.
Read our review of Home Chef here.
Best for vegans: Veestro
- Price per serving: from $13.99
- Meals per week: 8–15
- Dietary requirements: vegan and gluten-free
Veestro offers ready-made meals that are fresh rather than frozen. All the meals are vegan, and some are gluten-free. The company notes which meals are gluten-free when a person orders.
Additionally, the company offers meals with fewer than 500 calories, which may be beneficial for those who are trying to limit their total daily calories.
Sample meal: Jackfruit Carnitas Bowl with Guajillo Chile Sauce
The nutritional information for this meal is as follows:
- Serving size: 15 ounces
- Calories: 377
- Total fat: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
- Sodium: 935 mg
- Total carbohydrates: 71 g
- Total sugars: 14 g
- Protein: 14 g
This dish contains jackfruit, salad, brown rice, and black beans.
Best plant-based family-friendly meals: Mosaic Foods
“With the exception of the Italian ‘sausage’ lasagna, I really enjoyed all of the flavors. I didn’t find any dish to be too sweet or salty, yet they also weren’t bland. The lasagna had a seasoning that was overpowering and off-putting to me, though my husband still enjoyed it. The textures were mostly good, though the BBQ lentil meatloaf was a tad dry, and the noodles in the penne dish were a bit mushy.” — Nutrition and Fitness Market Editor Kelli McGrane, MS, RD
- Price per serving: from $5.99
- Meals per week: 6–18 items per box
- Dietary requirements: vegan and vegetarian
Mosaic Foods offers frozen plant-based meals that provide up to four servings. This service may be a good choice for families who are trying to reduce their meat consumption.
The company offers various menus, such as:
- veggie bowls
- family meals
- pizzas
- smoothies
- soups
- oat bowls
The family meals have four or more vegetables and no artificial ingredients or added sugar.
People can either select a plan or purchase a la carte meals from Mosaic Foods.
Sample meal: Broccoli Cheddar Mac
The nutritional information for this meal is as follows:
- Serving size: 286 g
- Calories: 420
- Total fat: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
- Sodium: 640 mg
- Total carbohydrates: 43 g
- Total sugars: 5 g
- Protein: 18 g
This dish contains pasta, broccoli, cheddar cheese, breadcrumbs, and seasoning.
Best for mix-and-match meal plans: Pete’s Real Food
- Price per serving: $14–$21
- Meals per week: 15–30
- Dietary requirements: paleo, vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free
All meals from Pete’s Real Food are free from gluten and dairy. People can also choose whether they wish to receive meals containing pork.
Pete’s Real Food offers breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, as well as kids’ lunches, bacon, and broth. People can choose from paleo, vegan, and mix-and-match plans.
Sample meal: Green Goddess Wild Rice Bowl
Best for lunches: Splendid Spoon
“I think these are great to order a bulk supply to keep in your freezer for easy lunches.” — Nutrition and Fitness Market Editor Kelli McGrane, MS, RD
- Price per serving: from $9.99
- Meals per week: 7–21
- Dietary requirements: vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free
Splendid Spoon offers plant-based meals that are suitable for lunches or breakfasts.
People can choose from the following:
- smoothies
- soups and grain bowls
- noodle bowls
- dishes
- extras
The company says all of its meals are free from gluten.
People can subscribe to weekly deliveries or purchase a box as a one-off.
Sample meal: Falafel Dish
The nutritional information for this meal is as follows:
- Serving size: 337 g
- Calories: 430
- Total fat: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Total carbohydrates: 49 g
- Total sugars: 6 g
- Protein: 13 g
This dish contains falafel, chickpeas, roasted red peppers, and cabbage.
Read our review of Splendid Spoon here.
Best for 10-minute recipes: Hungryroot
- Price per serving: from $9.69
- Meals per week: 3–8
- Dietary requirements: vegan, vegetarian, omnivore, pescatarian, and dairy-, soy-, nut-, egg-, or shellfish-free
Hungryroot provides recipes and groceries to subscribers. It claims that people can prepare and cook its meals in as little as 10 minutes.
People can choose up to eight recipes per week that serve two or four people. In addition, people can receive groceries for breakfast, snacks, and sweets for all or some of the week ahead.
Sample meal: Triple Green Pesto Ravioli
The nutritional information for this meal is as follows:
- Calories: 380
- Total fat: 17 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg
- Sodium: 690 mg
- Total carbohydrates: 48 g
- Total sugars: 2 g
- Protein: 13 g
This dish contains Brussels sprouts, kale pesto, and spinach ricotta ravioli
The following table compares the services in this article on price, number of meals, and dietary requirements.
| Price per serving | Meals per week | Dietary requirements | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Apron | from $7.99 | 2–4 per week | • vegetarian • diabetes-friendly |
| Sunbasket | from $9.99 | 2–5 per week | • vegetarian • vegan • gluten-free • dairy-free • soy-free • diabetes-friendly • paleo • pescatarian • Mediterranean • carb-conscious • keto |
| Purple Carrot | from $11 | 2–10 per week | • vegetarian • vegan • gluten-free • nut-free |
| HelloFresh | from $8.99 | 2–6 per week | • vegetarian • pescatarian • low carb • low calorie |
| Fresh N Lean | from $8.99 | 5–21 per week | • keto • paleo • vegan • Whole30-approved • Mediterranean |
| Green Chef | from $11.99 | 2–4 per week | • keto • paleo • vegetarian • vegan • Mediterranean • gluten-free • soy-free |
| Home Chef | from $8.99 | 2–6 per week | • vegetarian • carb-conscious • calorie-conscious |
| Veestro | from $13.99 | 8–15 per week | • vegan • gluten-free |
| Mosaic Foods | from $5.99 | 6–18 items per box | • vegan • vegetarian |
| Pete’s Real Food | from $14 | 15–30 per week | • paleo • vegan • gluten-free • dairy-free |
| Splendid Spoon | from $9.99 | 7–21 per week | • vegan • vegetarian • gluten-free |
| Hungryroot | from $9.69 | 3–8 per week | • vegan • vegetarian • omnivore • pescatarian • dairy-free • soy-free • nut-free • egg-free • shellfish-free |
When choosing a healthy meal delivery service, a person may wish to consider:
- Meal type: Some services offer only meal kits, while others offer prepared meals. People should consider which of these they would prefer. Some services offer both and allow users to mix and match.
- Cost: Meal delivery services have varying costs depending on the plan a person chooses and the number of meals and servings per week. People should consider their budget and find a meal delivery service that suits their financial needs.
- Diets and allergies: If a person follows a certain diet or has allergies, they should check whether a service offers meals suitable for their dietary needs.
- Serving sizes: Services that offer meal kits usually cater to more than one person. In contrast, prepared meals often serve only one person. Some services also offer family-size servings that may benefit larger households.
According to the
The CDC also states the benefits of nutrition for children, such as supporting growth and reducing the risk of chronic disease.
Research from
Further research suggests that diet and nutrition may help prevent age-related degeneration of cognitive and brain function.
Here we answer some common questions about these services.
Is a healthy meal delivery service a good way to diet?
A healthy meal delivery service may be a good option for those who wish to lose weight. Many services offer portion-controlled meals, and some may offer plans that are compatible with WW (formerly Weight Watchers).
Meal delivery services also take away the need for meal planning and sourcing ingredients. This may provide more motivation for those who are dieting.
What is the difference between meal kits and prepared meal delivery?
A meal kit includes all the necessary ingredients for a meal, along with a recipe. A person needs to follow the instructions in the recipe to prepare and cook the meal.
However, services that offer prepared meals cook the meals in advance. Some companies freeze these meals, whereas others deliver them chilled. People need to reheat the meals before eating them.
Is HelloFresh good for losing weight?
HelloFresh does not specifically target individuals who want to lose weight.
However, HelloFresh provides all the nutritional information for each meal on its website. This means each person may be able to choose the healthiest meals that fit into their calorie budget.
Meal delivery services may benefit individuals who do not have time to plan, source, and cook meals. These services allow people to choose how many meals they would like per week and how many servings they need.
These services usually cater to various dietary needs. Some may exclusively provide plant-based meals, whereas others may fit a variety of requirements, such as paleo, keto, and Mediterranean diets.
Nutrition can contribute to a person’s physical and mental health. Therefore, it is important for people to eat a healthy and balanced diet.