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Many meal delivery services offer healthy and balanced prepared dishes or meal kits. We review 11 of the best healthy meal delivery services, including Fresh N Lean, Sunbasket, and more.

Medical News Today chooses healthy 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 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.

Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here.

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Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information presented is purely research-based and correct at the time of publication.

Best for weight loss: Blue Apron

  • Price per serving: from $7.99
  • Meals per week: 2–5
  • Dietary requirements: vegetarian and diabetes-friendly

Blue Apron’s 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.

Its other menus include Chef’s Favourites, Family Friendly, Fast & Easy, and Vegetarian. Each menu, with the exception of the Vegetarian plan, offers a variety of plant-, meat-, and fish-based recipes. Some meals allow substitutions.

Read our brand review of Blue Apron.

What makes it healthy?

Blue Apron’s meals offer a good range of nutritious ingredients. Also, its Wellness meals are nutritionist-approved, increasing the chance of a person getting balanced, healthy meals.

Offers and savings

Blue Apron offers $110 off over five orders, with the first order shipping free, for veterans, military personnel, students, medical staff, first responders, and teachers.

Pros

  • there is a dedicated WW plan for weight loss
  • there is a wide variety of meals
  • there are discounts available for a range of communities and professions

Cons

  • some meals can take 45 minutes to prepare and cook
  • it does not offer a vegan plan
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Best for specific diets: Sunbasket

Sunbasket caters to a wider range of dietary requirements than other brands, making it a suitable option for those following specific diets.

People can receive 2–5 weekly meals with two or four 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

What makes it healthy?

Sunbasket offers meals with a 600-calorie cap, which could be a good option for those looking to reduce or control their calorie intake. Otherwise, Sunbasket’s meals offer a good selection of vegetables, proteins, and grains.

Offers and savings

People can get various discounts on their first order. The company also offers a gift with a person’s first order.

Read our brand review of Sunbasket.

Pros

  • it caters to a wide range of diets
  • its menus are varied
  • its ingredients have USDA Organic certifications

Cons

  • it is more expensive than other options
  • it does not offer as many discounts as other brands
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Best for plant-based meals: Purple Carrot

  • 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 vegan- and vegetarian-friendly meals. People can receive 6, 8, or 10 prepared meals per week, each serving one person. The meal kit plan offers 2 or 3 weekly meals with 2 or 4 servings.

The company offers the following menus:

  • Meal Kits
  • Prepared Meals
  • Plantry
  • Less Prep
  • Frozen Meals

What makes it healthy?

Purple Carrot’s focus on vegan meals may help people add more fruits, vegetables, and protein into their diet. The company claims its meals contain complex carbohydrates from fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and legumes. They also include healthy fat and lean protein.

Purple Carrot’s meals also contain 500–800 calories, which may be useful for those looking for lower-calorie dinner ideas.

Offers and savings

Customers can get free shipping on orders over $100. People also get free shipping on their first order.

Read our brand review of Purple Carrot.

Pros

  • all of its meals are vegan
  • they include a range of healthy ingredients
  • people can choose meal kits and prepared meals

Cons

  • there are not many opportunities to save money on orders
  • it is a fairly expensive service
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Best for family-friendly meal kits: HelloFresh

  • 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 two or four 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.

What makes it healthy?

HelloFresh aims to help people make nutritionally balanced meals at home, and a service that only offers meal kits may teach people valuable skills in choosing and preparing food that is best for their diet and health.

Offers and savings

College students can get discounts through UNiDays. HelloFresh also offers discounts to medical providers, nurses, hospital employees, military personnel, and veterans.

Read our review of HelloFresh.

Pros

  • there are a wide range of discounts available
  • it is a popular service with a lot of online reviews
  • it can teach people valuable cooking skills
  • it can encourage people to eat nutritious and balanced meals

Cons

  • meal kits may not be suitable for people unable to cook due to health conditions or time restrictions
  • it does not offer a vegan menu
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Best for athletes: Fresh N Lean

  • Price per serving: from $7.93
  • 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 in minutes in the microwave.

The company states that all ingredients are gluten-free and non-GMO and most are organic.

What makes it healthy?

Fresh N Lean uses USDA-inspected and certified ingredients and employs Food Safety and Modernization Act (FSMA) practices to ensure its products are free from contaminants and elements with the potential to cause foodborne illnesses. These quality assurances may mean athletes can measure they are only eating high quality food to fuel their activities.

Additionally, the brand focuses on using organic, whole foods, which are important for a balanced, nutritious diet.

Offers and savings

People can get $20 off their first order when they sign up to receive text and email communications.

Pros

  • its dishes are USDA-certified and FSMA-compliant
  • it caters to a range of diets
  • people can choose from over 100 meals a week

Cons

  • it does not offer many discounts
  • it only offers prepared meals, which will not help people develop cooking skills
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Best for dietitian advice: Green Chef

  • Price per serving: from $11.99
  • Meals per week: 3 or 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. People can choose from the following plans:

  • Mediterranean
  • Keto
  • Protein Packed
  • Calorie Smart
  • Delicious Discoveries
  • Gluten Free
  • Quick & Easy
  • Plant Based

People can receive three or four meals per week, each serving two, four, or six people.

What makes it healthy?

Green Chef offers organic ingredients for the majority of its meals. It also allows people to talk with a registered dietitian for free. This service includes one-on-one coaching, nutrition and lifestyle recommendations, and help ordering the most suitable Green Chef meals.

This can help people new to meal delivery services make the best choices for their health goals and provide those who want to ensure their diet is as balanced and nutritious as possible.

Offers and savings

First responders, medical providers, nurses, teachers, military personnel, and veterans can all receive discounts with Green Chef. The company also offers $370 off across a person’s first five boxes.

Read our brand review of Green Chef.

Pros

  • people can get a free session with a registered dietitian
  • the company uses organic ingredients
  • it uses eco-friendly packaging

Cons

  • its meals are expensive
  • there are fewer weekly meals to choose from than other options
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Best for customizable meals: Home Chef

  • 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
  • vegetarian

There are also keto-friendly meals in every weekly menu.

People can customize the recipes 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 $50.95 for the Home Chef plan or $82.91.

What makes it healthy?

Home Chef is unique in that it offers carb-conscious meals. This may be helpful for people looking to reduce their intake of carbohydrates.

Offers and savings

Students can get 50% off their first four boxes, which equates to 18 free meals. There are also discounts for first responders, doctors, nurses, hospital employees, and teachers.

Read our brand review of Home Chef.

Pros

  • there are a wide range of discounts available
  • people can customize their meals
  • people can choose ready-made meals and meal kits

Cons

  • there is a minimum order value of $50.95 and $82.91 for the Family Plan
  • there are fewer menus than some services offer
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Best plant-based, family-friendly meals: Mosaic Foods

  • 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 trying to reduce their meat consumption.

The company offers various menus, such as:

  • veggie bowls
  • family meals
  • pizzas
  • smoothies
  • soups
  • oat bowls

People can choose a plan or purchase a la carte meals.

The company states that a typical meal contains around 10–20 grams (g) of plant-based protein. Its chefs do not use artificial ingredients or preservatives.

What makes it healthy?

Mosaic’s family meals have four or more vegetables, no artificial ingredients, and no added sugar.

Offers and savings

People can refer friends to get $20 off their next box.

Pros

  • the meals aim to be nutritionally balanced
  • the meals offer at least four vegetables
  • people can buy meals a la carte or on a plan
  • people can heat the meals in 5 minutes

Cons

  • it does not offer many discount options
  • it is difficult to see the menu without providing a zip code and email address
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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.

People can select 5–10 meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with deliveries every 1–4 weeks. People can also try the service with a trial of five breakfasts, lunches, and dinners.

What makes it healthy?

This service uses fresh and organic ingredients, and it does not include any preservatives or fillers. Plus, its meat products come from antibiotic-free animals. While not all customers will want to include meat in their plan, choosing a service that uses high quality meat may help boost the nutritional value of a person’s protein.

Offers and savings

People can earn rewards through the company’s membership program. People can also earn points and refer friends to get discounts on their deliveries.

Pros

  • it claims to use high quality meat products
  • people can mix and match their meal plans easily
  • there is a trial available, which is unique compared to other brands

Cons

  • it is one of the most expensive options per portion
  • the company is not transparent about its shipping costs
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Best for healthy lunches: Splendid Spoon

  • 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 items:

  • 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.

What makes it healthy?

Splendid Spoon prioritizes filling its meals and products with fruits and vegetables. This means that people will be getting a wide range of nutrients in a variety of ways, from smoothies and soups to ready-made meals.

It also does not focus on the calorie content of its meals, which may be helpful for people wishing to manage their diet without counting calories.

Offers and savings

New customers can get $105 off over their first three deliveries. People must add 10 or more items to their order to get free shipping.

Read our brand review of Splendid Spoon.

Pros

  • it offers a wide range of product types
  • its meals reportedly suit WW and Whole30 diets
  • its meals do not exceed the daily recommended amounts of sodium

Cons

  • does not offer as many weekly meals as some services
  • people cannot easily check calorie values if they want to
  • shipping is fairly expensive
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Best for healthy grocery delivery: 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 people can prepare and cook its meals in as little as 10 minutes.

People can choose up to eight weekly recipes 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.

What makes it healthy?

This service helps people plan their groceries with a quiz, which digs into their health goals, dietary needs, and more. This can open people up to new food ideas and combinations and show them how to grocery shop to maximize their nutritional intake.

Offers and savings

Hungryroot offers limited-time offers that may change from week to week.

Pros

  • it is a grocery delivery service that offers nutritious ingredients and recipes
  • people can learn cooking skills with its recipes
  • it can help people plan for the week ahead

Cons

  • people must spend over $70 to get free shipping
  • Hungryroot may not be available for every zip code
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The following table compares the services in this article on price, number of meals, and dietary requirements.

Price per servingMeals per weekDietary requirements
Blue Apronfrom $7.992–5 per week• vegetarian
• diabetes-friendly
Sunbasketfrom $9.992–5 per week• vegetarian
• vegan
• gluten-free
• dairy-free
• soy-free
• diabetes-friendly
• paleo
• pescatarian
• Mediterranean
• carb-conscious
• keto
Purple Carrotfrom $112–10 per week• vegetarian
• vegan
• gluten-free
• nut-free
HelloFreshfrom $8.992–6 per week• vegetarian
• pescatarian
• low carb
• low calorie
Fresh N Leanfrom $7.935–21 per week• keto
• paleo
• vegan
• Whole30-approved
• Mediterranean
Green Cheffrom $11.993 or 4 per week• keto
• paleo
• vegetarian
• vegan
• Mediterranean
• gluten-free
• soy-free
Home Cheffrom $8.992–6 per week• vegetarian
• carb-conscious
• calorie-conscious
Mosaic Foodsfrom $5.996–18 items per box• vegan
• vegetarian
Pete’s Real Foodfrom $1415–30 per week• paleo
• vegan
• gluten-free
• dairy-free
Splendid Spoonfrom $9.997–21 per week• vegan
• vegetarian
• gluten-free
Hungryrootfrom $9.693–8 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:

  • 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.
  • Nutritional balance: People should check ingredient lists carefully to ensure they are choosing the most balanced, nutritious meals possible. This will also help a person manage their intake of salt, sugar, and other ingredients they may wish to limit.
  • 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.
  • 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 their number of meals and servings per week. People should consider their budget and find a meal delivery service that suits their financial needs.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adults who maintain a nutritious diet live longer and have less risk of developing the following conditions:

The CDC also states the benefits of nutrition for children, such as supporting growth and reducing the risk of chronic disease.

Research from 2020 concludes that healthy eating improves physical and mental health, including by easing symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Further research suggests that diet and nutrition may help prevent age-related degeneration of cognitive and brain function.

Below are answers to the top frequently asked questions about healthy meal delivery services.

Are food delivery services good for weight loss?

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 compatible with WW (formerly Weight Watchers).

Meal delivery services also remove 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 and 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 their meals before eating them.

Is HelloFresh good for losing weight?

HelloFresh does not specifically cater to 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.

How can you make HelloFresh meals healthier?

People can add more vegetables, protein, or whole grains to HelloFresh meals to make them healthier. What a person adds will depend on their diet, preferences, and the recipe they are working with.

People can also choose the lower calorie options from HelloFresh and check the sodium and sugar content of the meals they choose.

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.