Because health needs vary from person to person, the best healthy meal delivery services are intentional about their ingredients and cater to a wide range of dietary preferences. You can find services that offer meals that are paleo, gluten-free, vegan, diabetes-friendly, organic, and more. Choosing the best healthy meal delivery service is all about deciding what’s most important to you.
Best Healthy Meal Delivery Services of 2022
Best Overall: Sunbasket Best Value: Revive Superfoods Best Organic: Green Chef Best Variety: Hungryroot Best Plant-Based: Sprinly Best Pre-Made Meals: Freshly Best for Families: Home Chef Best for Comfort Food: RealEats
Key SpecsStarting Price: $9.99 per servingDelivery Area: 46 statesProducts Arrive: Fresh Why You Should Try ItSunbasket balances organic ingredients with flavorful recipes in meal plans that work with almost any lifestyle. ProsFresh, organic produce and responsibly sourced meat and seafood10 custom meal plans, like paleo, Mediterranean, and diabetic-friendlyBreakfast, lunch, and snack add-ons ConsNo free shipping (other than first order) OverviewSunbasket focuses on fresh, certified organic, and sustainable ingredients that cater to a wide range of dietary needs. With Iron Chef contestant Justine Kelly serving as executive chef and recipe developer, taste is key with these meals. Without sacrificing flavor, all of Sunbasket’s meals are dietitian-approved and emphasize nutrient-dense produce, whole grains, high-quality protein, and good fats, with minimal added sugar and processed ingredients. Not to mention, the company has 10 different meal plans that you can easily mix and match. Pricing and PlansSunbasket’s pricing varies depending on what items you order. Price may vary depending on protein customizations. Fresh and Ready pre-made meals: $9.99 to $15.49 per servingMeal Kits: $11.49 to $16.59Shipping: $9.99 per box after the first order Meals We Tried Meal KitsSea scallops over fresh fettuccine with sun-dried tomatoes and spinachSnapper with romesco, vegetables, and almondsBurmese chicken and sweet potato currySirloin strip tacos with zucchini scallion salsa Prepared MealsBroccoli mac and cheeseChicken chow mein with broccoli, mushroom, and toasted garlicBeef donburi rice bowl with edamame and kimchi-lime vegetablesBurrito bowl al pastor with plant-based Impossible Beef Key SpecsStarting Price: $6.99 per servingDelivery Area: the United States and CanadaProducts Arrive: Frozen Why You Should Try ItRevive Superfoods has a range of ready-to-blend smoothies and heat-and-eat bowls, all plant-based and at an affordable price.ProsAffordable range of pricesConvenient and fast preparationPreservative-freeConsSmall portions for some itemsLimited selection for some categoriesOverviewRevive Superfoods has an impressive selection of frozen smoothie cups, oats, soups, and plant-based meals. All items are single-serving and are ready to eat with minimum preparation (for smoothies, you just add the liquid of your choice and pop it in the blender). In addition to being affordable, Revive Superfoods is a great option for individuals who want a few frozen meals on hand for a quick meal. The menu changes constantly, so it’s easy to try new flavor combinations.Pricing and PlansPricing depends on what you order. Begin by selecting a box size of either nine, 12, or 24 items, then fill it with your choice of menu selections. Per-item pricing is as follows:Oats: $6.99Smoothies: $6.99Bites: $6.99Soups: $6.99Frozen Desserts: $7.99Supermeals: $8.49Meals We Tried Hazy Cocoa smoothiePink Dragon smoothie Acai Twist smoothie Chipotle and black bean supermeal Lentil and sundried tomato supermeal Avocado and quinoa supermeal Chickpea and pomegranate supermeal Guajillo tortilla soup Artisan bean and tomato soup Key SpecsStarting Price: $11.99 per servingDelivery Area: 48 statesProducts Arrive: Fresh Why You Should Try ItIf you’re following a strict keto, vegan, or certified gluten-free diet, you’ll have plenty of options that are full of organic ingredients. ProsCertified organic companyVegetable-forward meals for all eatersAccommodates strict keto, vegan, and gluten-free diets ConsNot flexible to mix and match meals of different plansShipping isn’t free OverviewGreen Chef was the first USDA-certified organic meal delivery service company and is committed to minimizing its environmental impact with recyclable packaging and a 100% carbon emission offset. It takes the guesswork out of eating healthily with veggie-forward meals, lean meats, and whole grains. Green Chef states that all of its produce and eggs are certified organic, and its proteins are raised with high animal welfare standards. There are four meal plans to choose from at Green Chef: Keto + Paleo, Balanced Living, and Plant Powered. The meals in the Keto + Paleo plan are certified gluten-free. With nine new meals for each plan weekly, anyone following these strict diets will have plenty of options. The ingredients come pre-measured and prepped, along with premade sauces, marinades, and spice blends. This cuts the prep time and makes the recipes quick and easy—they can be prepared in about 30 minutes. Pricing and Plans3 meals with 2 servings each: $13.49 per serving4 meals with 2 servings each: $12.99 per serving2 meals with 4 servings each: $12.99 per serving3 meals with 4 servings each: $12.49 per serving4 meals with 4 servings each: $11.99 per serving3 meals with 6 servings each: $11.99 per serving4 meals with 6 servings each: $11.99 per servingShipping: $9.99Meals We TriedHarissa-spiced shrimp Sesame ginger bavette steak and shrimp Middle Eastern-style chickpea bowls Maple glazed carrots with figs Key SpecsStarting Price: $9.69 per servingDelivery Area: 48 statesProducts Arrive: Fresh Why You Should Try ItHungryroot offers more than just meal kits; it also operates as an online grocery delivery service, ensuring that your options are anything but limited. ProsOver 3,000 recipesGood add-ons in addition to meal kitsQuiz to tailor food recommendations for customers ConsMinimum of $70 to qualify for free shipping OverviewIn some ways, Hungryroot is more of a grocery delivery service than a meal kit service. But unlike a grocery delivery service, Hungryroot does the meal planning for you, complete with recipes, based on your responses to its online quiz. Plans are extremely flexible, and it’s easy to personalize your meal plans based on your preferences. Pricing and PlansPricing varies based on the plan chosen, with a minimum spend of $70 for free delivery; otherwise, shipping is $6.99. Meals We TriedSpinach artichoke and mushroom tortelloni Roasted salmon and sweet potato on Brussels Southwest chicken and rainbow veggie tacos Thai peanut beef and broccoli stir-fry Key SpecsStarting Price: $16.05 per servingDelivery Area: 50 statesProducts Arrive: Fresh Why You Should Try ItSprinly’s constantly rotating menu offers an array of organic, plant-based prepared meals for customers to choose from.ProsEasy plant-based eatingMostly organic ingredientsNo artificial/refined sugarsConsCan be expensiveOverviewSprinly’s plant-based meal delivery service is ideal for the busy vegan cook. The meals arrive fresh, and can be heated and on the table in as little as three minutes. To ensure your meals have a proper balance of nutrients, Sprinly uses a team of chefs, nutritionists, and a doctor to help create its menus. With a menu that rotates weekly, you’ll always have plenty of flavors and options to try. Pricing and Plans6 meals per week: $18.17 per serving12 meals per week: $16.58 per serving18 meals per week: $16.05 per serving Meals We TriedCitrus detox salad with beets and fresh orangesRoasted tahini “butter” sweet potatoes with red rice and sweet lemon kaleRoyal beet medallions with ancient quinoa and greensKenko spiralized vegetable bowl with tofu & shiitakePasta primavera with gluten-free pasta and cashew “parm”Mac and “cheese” with steamed broccoli Key SpecsStarting Price: $9.58 per servingDelivery Area: 48 statesProducts Arrive: Fresh Why You Should Try ItIf you enjoy fresh, healthy meals but don’t enjoy an abundance of free time, Freshly’s filling, single-serving meals may be the answer.ProsQuick and convenientAffordable price per servingLarge, diverse menuConsNo customization of mealsOverviewFreshly is a great option for busy individuals on a budget. Starting at a modest $9.58 per serving, Freshly’s menu is made up of almost entirely gluten-free comfort foods with a healthy twist. The meals arrive fresh, so they’re ready to plate after just a few minutes in the microwave. Pricing and PlansFreshly has a variety of plans to suit your needs, with customers able to choose between four and 12 meals per week. The more meals you purchase, the bigger your discount. Shipping is $9.99 per order. 4 meals per week: $12.50 per serving5 meals per week: $12.40 per serving6 meals per week: $11.33 per serving7 meals per week: $10.71 per serving8 meals per week: $10.37 per serving9 meals per week: $10.22 per serving10 meals per week: $10.00 per serving11 meals per week: $9.81 per serving12 meals per week: $9.58 per servingMeals We TriedAsian-style chicken and noodlesSteak peppercornThai green curryPork chile Colorado Key SpecsStarting Price: $6.99 per servingDelivery Area: 48 statesProducts Arrive: Fresh Why You Should Try ItWhile most kits limit servings to four, Home Chef serves up to eight people with highly customizable meals that are simple and crowd-pleasing. ProsCan serve as many as eight people Easily customizableFeatures add-ons like smoothies and lunches ConsOrganic costs extraCannot accommodate strict dietary restrictions like vegan and keto OverviewHome Chef allows you to select recipes that fit your preferences and then further customize them to meet your needs. With the options it allows, you can filter by calorie-conscious and carb-conscious options as well as prep time. From there, you can customize your meals and swap in your preferred protein. Symbols on the recipes allow you to see the prep time and allergen information at a glance, and with options to feed up to eight people, Home Chef gets our top pick in the family-friendly category. Pricing and PlansCost varies based on the size of your order and meal options you select. Meals We TriedCrispy sweet chili shrimp rice bowl Creamy tomato and steak penne Gnocchi and red pepper cream Moo shu pork lettuce cups Key SpecsStarting Price: $11.47 per servingDelivery Area: East coastProducts Arrive: Fresh Why You Should Try It RealEats excels at quick, comforting favorites made with healthful ingredients. ProsAll meals customizable with your choice of protein, grain, and vegetablePrepared meals ready in six minutes or lessMore than 30 meals to choose from ConsLimited delivery area OverviewRealEats boasts an extensive menu of fully-prepared, flavorful comfort foods, from green chili beef to chicken parmesan to pasta with meatballs. The ready-to-eat meals are vacuum sealed in BPA-free Fresh Packs for easy warming up in boiling water (sous vide style) or in the microwave. Each meal allows you to easily swap out the protein, carbs, or vegetables, and detailed information about macronutrient data as well as allergen information is provided. Pricing and Plans 4 meals per week: $13.59 per serving6 meals per week: $12.32 per serving8 meals per week: $11.89 per serving12 meals per week: $11.47 per serving Meals We TriedGreen chili beef, Mexican street corn, steamed brown riceCitrus miso salmon, honey glazed carrots, quinoa with lemon Saag paneer, chana masala, saffron basmati ricePeppercorn steak, honey-glazed carrots, creamy parmesan risotto
What Is a Meal Delivery Service?
A meal delivery service is a subscription plan that delivers meal kits or fully prepared meals to your home based on your preferences. Meal kits include portioned ingredients and instructions for you to prepare the recipes, while fully prepared meals just need to be heated before serving.
How Much Does a Meal Delivery Service Cost?
Prices depend on a number of factors, including the company, type of meal, and quantity. In general, however, the more meals you include in your plan, the cheaper the plan will be. Thus, committing to a plan of at least several weeks will save you money (but note that these services do not lock you into a long-term commitment).
Methodology
We researched, ordered from, and tested 40 different meal delivery services. Because “healthy” means different things to different people, we made our selections based on the companies’ intentionality of ingredient selection, ability to accommodate special diets, convenience, and, of course, taste.
