Modern life leaves little time for foraging local supermarkets, never mind the cooking that follows. Having nutritious dishes brought to your door can cut the clamor as well as the calories. With an unprecedented surge in demand, meal delivery services are becoming increasingly convenient and compelling ways to source your sustenance.
Today, there are countless different companies available to order from. The best option depends on your needs and preferences. Some cater more to families, for example, while others send meals that require additional preparation. Simplify your search with the following list of meal delivery services that are leading the sector.
Sun Basket
When it comes to health and sustainability, Sun Basket makes no compromises. Their intense dedication to caring for the environment is clear throughout the menu. Aside from vegan, vegetarian and pescatarian recipes, you’ll also find:
- Paleo
- Gluten-free
- Mediterranean
- Carb-conscious
- Diabetes-friendly
- Lean and clean diets
Every piece of meat is devoid of hormones and antibiotics, while their eggs are organic, and their fish are wild caught. There are over 20 different recipes to choose from, with servings ranging from two to four. You can swap between oven-ready meals, pre-made servings, and classic dishes that still need to be put together.
Two meals will cost around $72 per week. Deliveries are available almost everywhere except for Alaska, Hawaii, and Montana. Be sure to consider Sun Basket if you’re serious about keeping yourself and the environment healthy.
Martha and Marley Spoon
Established in Berlin as Marley Spoon, this delivery service extended its name after moving stateside and partnering with Martha Stewart to bring her best recipes onto the menu. Several different organic and sustainable meal plans are available, with options for:
- Healthy eating
- Low calorie
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
Family-friendly dishes are also provided. While everything requires around 30 minutes of preparation, recipes are easy to follow and never more than six steps. Martha and Marley Spoon is one of the cheaper options, with minimum orders running as low as $18 per week. If you’re interested, you can find out more in the linked review.
Home Chef
The priority with Home Chef is to ensure that the experience stays interesting and exciting. Every week, no less than 26 chef-designed recipes are sent out via email. They’re coupled with easy-to-follow recipe cards that make expanding your culinary skills a breeze. Some of their most popular dishes include:
- Thai fish cakes and miso slaw
- Tofu with snap peas and jasmine rice
- Flatiron steak and goat cheese with beets and roast potatoes
Getting your hands on a serving costs $9.95 unless you’re paying for the $7.99 lunch option. Keep in mind that there’s a $10 fee for orders lower than the $40 free delivery minimum. Home Chef claims to service 98% of the country, although excluded regions aren’t mentioned. Expect to pay around $45 for two servings of two meals per week.
Freshly
Offered as a weekly subscription service, Freshly sends out meals prepared by in-house chefs, nutritionists and food scientists with a focus on simplicity. Everything is pre-cooked and ready to eat from the box. It’s just as convenient as Starbucks, albeit far more healthy. You won’t find any:
- Artificial ingredients
- Added sugars
- Preservatives
- High carbs
While there aren’t any meal plans for couples or families, you can order between four and 12 dishes per week. The option to change how many you receive at once is available along with nationwide delivery. Expect to pay around $46 per week before shipping.
EveryPlate
This meal kit delivery service aims to be the budget-friendly option. You won’t spend more than $4.99 per serving, which is even more impressive when you see how large the portions are. Plus, the ever-changing menu is refreshed each week with three new dishes to choose from. Here are the types of recipes you can expect:
- Garlic and rosemary chicken with steamed vegetables
- Peppers stuffed with pork sausage and cheese
- Meatballs and mashed potatoes with broccoli
What’s important to note here is that EveryPlate doesn’t fully prepare the meals themselves. They all come with recipes, taking around half an hour to cook. Minimal tool requirements and different seasoning choices are standard fare. Plans serve two or four people. The standard cost is around $39 per week and delivery is available nationwide.
Honorable Mentions
Not sure where to start? Let’s briefly discuss a few more services.
If you’re looking for plant-based eating, Purple Carrot is a great option that offers three different meal plans. This includes simple dishes, performance meals and gourmet recipes to strengthen your cooking skills. When you don’t want to stand in the kitchen all day, Gobble is available to deliver meals that only take 15 minutes to prepare.
Sakara Life, Green Chef, Splendid Spoon and Daily Harvest are also worth considering.
Think carefully about your budget and schedule before making an order. From there, you can start enjoying healthy eating without sacrificing convenience.