Are you tired of staring at the fridge, wondering what to cook? Wanting to eat healthy, but not knowing where to start? Enter meal box services – the unsung heroes of stress-free, delicious dinners! 🌟 Imagine this: mouthwatering recipes and fresh ingredients delivered to your door. No more last-minute grocery store dashes or staring blankly at the spice rack. In this post, we’re diving into the game-changing world of meal box services and why they’re about to become your kitchen’s new best friend.
Now, let’s talk about company options. In this post, I’m going to break down the most popular options and provide their pros and cons as well as dietary specialties. The services discussed here are all companies that I have ordered from and the information is from my person experiences.
- Green Chef
- Hello Fresh
- Sunbasket
- Blue Apron
- Purple Carrot
- Daily Harvest
1. Green Chef
Starting off strong with my personal favorite, Green Chef! I have been a loyal subscriber for a few years now because I personally find their recipes to be the most delicious and versatile out of any of the other services I’ve tried. I was vegan when I first began using this service, and I was so impressed by the amount of vegetarian and vegan options, as well as the quality of the ingredients. While I am no longer vegetarian and I am also impressed by the range of customizable meat options they have. For each recipe you can choose from different protein options, as well as if you want to upgrade to organic meat. For anyone with allergies or intolerances, this is a great option because every recipe card tags allergens and diet preferences. Each recipe takes between 25-40 minutes to make, and without upgrades, the average meal costs $9.99/serving. They also have “quick lunches” that take 10 minutes to make, which is great when you have a time-crunch!
Pros
- Great for People With Allergies: Paleo, Keto, Pescatarian, Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Mediterranean
- All Produce is Organic, and Organic Meat Options
- 47 Options Every Week
Cons
- A Little Bit Pricier
- Recipes Can Be Time-Consuming
2. HelloFresh
This one is a clear winner when it comes to getting the best value for your money! HelloFresh offers free breakfast for life and 16 free meals with code: HF16FB. Their prices are one of the most affordable on the market, but I will say they are a little bit more limited in what they offer. For people with dietary restrictions, there are better options like Green Chef for vegetarians and Sunbasket for gluten-free eaters. They also don’t use organic ingredients or have the option to upgrade. But for standard eaters, HelloFresh is a great place to start, with prices as low as $8/meal, free breakfast, and quicker cook times.
Pros
- Affordable and Many Coupon Options
- Free Breakfast For Life Deal
- Quicker Cook Times
Cons
- Slightly Limited Menu
- Ingredients Usually Aren’t Organic
3. Sunbasket
If you’re looking for a meal service with tons of menu options, a focus on sustainability, and a little more of a bougie feel, Sunbasket is probably for you! They pride themselves on the robust gluten-free menu they offer as well as a variety of other dietary options and an organic menu. For a fun twist, each menu card has a suggested wine pairing! My parents have been using this service for years because they love the high-quality ingredients and plentiful menu options. I would recommend it to someone with a bigger budget who doesn’t want to sacrifice quality! I will say that they switch between Green Chef and Sunbasket each week and in terms of flavor, they prefer Green Chef. But they do find Sunbasket recipes to be simpler and quicker.
Pros
- High-quality, Organic Ingredients
- Large, Versatile Menu with Easy-to-Make Options
- Wine Pairing on Each Recipe Card
- Offer a gluten-free certified menu
Cons
- One of the Pricier Options
- 8/10 for Taste
4. Blue Apron
One of the first meal kit delivery services on the market, Blue Apron remains an very popular option! They launched in 2012 out of New York City with a mission to spread “better living through better food.” Highlights of their subscription is their balance in options ranging from comfort food to health-focused recipes, affordability (especially if you are buying for more than two person servings), and the great taste of their recipes. I would say if you are looking for a service that gives you a lot for your money but doesn’t focus on bougie organic ingredients, this one is for you. They are pretty limited in terms of upgrade options for organic and higher-end ingredients.
Pros
- Wide Range in Recipe Options/ Cuisine styles
- Affordability
- Eco-Friendly Packaging
Cons
- Not the Best For Allergies or Dietary Preferences
- Limited in Upgrades for Organic Ingredients
5. Purple Carrot
Calling all veggie-lovers and plant-eaters! Purple Carrot caters to vegetarian and vegan diets with new plant-based breakfast, lunch and dinner options each week. Customers speak very highly of the taste of the recipes, and many meat eaters say they enjoyed adding some veggie meals to their diet. Their pricing is a little bit higher, at $13.25/serving for a two-person subscription and $11/serving for a four-person subscription. But shipping is free, which definitely helps! They are more limited than other meal services with how many weekly options they provide. For dinners, they are currently offering 16 choices. However, for vegetarians and vegans this is more than other services typically have in that category!
Pros
- Perfect for Vegetarians/ Vegans
- Also Fun for Meat Eaters Who Want to Learn How to Cook Plant-Based
- Mostly Organic Ingredients
- Free Delivery
Cons
- Limited Menu Items
- Higher Price Range
- Not Great For Families with Range of Diet Preferences
Final Verdict
And there you have it – an overview of the top meal box services! I hope you’ve got a clearer picture of which one might be your perfect match. Whether it’s the convenience, variety, or just the joy of trying something new, here’s to finding the meal box service that fits your needs. Happy cooking! 🥬👩🍳📦
