Getting a meal delivered to your door—whether it’s a kit that you assemble or a ready-to-eat package—has become part of everyday American life. But if you’re new to meal delivery or just looking to diversify, you may wonder which subscription service is best for you. Is there a difference between the best meal-kit delivery service versus the best prepared-meal delivery service? What about the best meal-delivery service for weight loss…or for families or singles…or best healthy-meal delivery service?
For guidance, Bottom Line Personal turned to Molly Morgan, RD, nutritionist and founder of Creative Nutrition Solutions…
Meal-delivery services boomed during the pandemic and haven’t let up. They answer a variety of needs, including portion control for people trying to lose weight and wholesome ingredients for those who are health conscious. But what consumers love most is that meal delivery provides an easy answer to the toughest question in the English language—“What’s for dinner?”
The basic model remains largely unchanged, but some services that once only provided ingredient kits now offer fully prepared meals…and through some platforms, you even can order grocery items, not just meals.
- Blue Apron: Meal kits and ready-to-eat meals.
- Green Chef: Certified organic ingredients.
- Purple Carrot: Plant-based kits and ready-to-eat meals.
- Factor: Portion-controlled prepared meals for weight loss.
- Sunbasket: Ready-to-eat meals and under-20-minute meal kits.
Five Best Meal-Delivery Services Now
Each of the following meal-delivery services costs between $5 and $12 per serving, and most offer introductory discounts. Try a few of these (or others) to see which you like best. Just keep track of your settings with each so you don’t end up getting multiple meals on your doorstep at once.
Blue Apron
One of the earliest meal-delivery services to hit the marketplace, Blue Apron is among the former kit-only companies that now offers prepared meals (Blue Apron calls this “Dish”). It provides more variety than ever, including soups and salads and a one-pan meal option called “Assemble & Bake.” BlueApron.com
Green Chef
All of Green Chef’s ingredients are certified organic, making it a great choice for environmentally and health-conscious eaters. It now also offers snack bundles, protein shakes, juices and other attractive add-ons. GreenChef.com
Purple Carrot
Offering both kits and ready-to-eat meals, Purple Carrot is the leader in the all-plant-based niche. It recently introduced an interesting, robust (and still plant-based) grocery offering. PurpleCarrot.com
Factor
This company specializes in portion-controlled prepared meals that are great for weight loss. Joiners get a free one-on-one coaching session with a dietician. Factor caters to a variety of eating styles including keto, calorie-control, high-protein, vegan and vegetarian. Factor75.com
Sunbasket
This service offers kits and prepared meals. Add-on options are limited compared to some competitors, but Sunbasket makes up for it by offering a variety of quick-assembled dishes when you filter for “under-20 minute” meals—a great choice for busy families or workaholic singles. Sunbasket.com
