With the new year officially upon us, we all want two major things for a healthier lifestyle: money in the bank and good food in our bellies. The natural place to turn for busy people on the go would be meal delivery services, but which ones are actually worth it? Do you truly wind up saving more, or are you just getting swindled by YouTubers and pretty packaging?
Fear not! We’ve narrowed down some of the best options you can try this year, ones that not only offer a wide variety of options but also aren’t notorious for double-dipping—or making it impossible to cancel your subscription. (Some even cater to vegetarians, so there are actually a surprising number of options out there for nearly every diet.)
Blue Apron
Blue Apron is one of the most enjoyable ready-to-make meal kits, even if it doesn’t have the same notoriety as its competitors. Subscribers have a ton of options with a healthy amount of variety (No ditching fancy meals here!); they’re easy to prepare, don’t require a ton of time in the kitchen, and satisfy just about anyone at the table.
The portions aren’t always huge, but that’s actually better for us in the long run. With so many boxes scheduled for the week, the last thing we want is a fridge full of leftovers. However, that doesn’t mean you’ll go hungry—spicy meatball pasta, enchiladas, and salmon bowls are more than enough to keep you satisfied.
The price is also modest for most wallets. Meals range from $11 to $14 per serving, and you can score a pretty sweet deal after your 30-day free trial. Just keep an eye out for any allergens; though Blue Menu lists common ones, you can’t make many switches besides vegetarian options.
Purple Carrot
We know that peddling a vegan meal delivery service is a tall order, but this box is one even omnivores can sink their teeth into. Despite being a meat-free option, Purple Carrot offers a ton of easily-made choices that open your eyes to just how much variety vegan plates have nowadays.
Subscribers have everything from burritos and pasta dishes to ramen and sloppy joes! The dishes are easy to prepare and also come with intuitive instructions, so even the newest home chef can whip them up without issue. One of the best things about their options is that they still offer plenty of room to experiment; you can toss in your favorite spices or revert to classic recipes to keep that comfort food nice and refreshing.
And what does the price look like? Pretty darn good! Ready-to-eat meals come in two packages: chef’s choice and the jumpstart program. Chef’s choice comes with six weekly meals to start (though you can always increase what’s in your box) for $53, or about $9 per meal. If you want to jumpstart your diet, you can grab the second plan for $105, which includes 12 meals per week. You can also choose meal kits or flexible mix-and-match options.
What About HelloFresh?
We’re not saying that HelloFresh is necessarily bad, but it doesn’t always have the smoothest process. Sure, they have all the influencers backing them, and sure, they have tons of marketing money, but does that mean they’re one of the best bangs for your buck?
The thing with HelloFresh is that it really depends on what you’re looking for. The meals can get repetitive, and there’s no real way to avoid the issue. They’ve also had problems in the past for “deceptively enrolling consumers into auto-renewing subscription plans without proper disclosure or consent.” According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney, HelloFresh was ordered to pay $7.5 million for the whole debacle.
Though subscribers warn newcomers of the potential issues, that doesn’t negate the benefits. HelloFresh is a pretty affordable option that offers a wide range of meal options; you can choose between high-protein dishes, low-calorie plates, and even ones hearty enough to feed a family.
Honorable Mentions
Factor may not be the most affordable option, but we still think it’s worth mentioning! You can choose between fish-based dinners, protein-heavy options, or calorie-wise plates. Meal kits start at six weekly dishes for roughly $100 (or about $17 weekly), but they’re also chef-made plates that are dietitian-approved.
Marley Spoon comes with the same level of variety, though it’s not the best for novice cooks. You’ll spend a decent amount of time in the kitchen (30-40 minutes, at least), but with a little practice, you’ll make caprese chicken or meatloaf without issue. Our favorite thing about them is that you can choose as few as two meals a week, all for about $30.
Meal kits are one of the best ways to reclaim your schedule and your health! Depending on what you’re looking for, you can always dabble in a box and see if you like it. There’s no commitment, and after getting a feel for it, you can decide just how beneficial it is for you. And now you know where to start.
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