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One of the biggest reasons healthy diets can fail, according to The Doctors? A lack of meal prep can make it all too easy and convenient to make unhealthy food choices. This is one of the many reasons meal kits have become increasingly popular over the last few years.
"Meal kits can be a great option for those individuals who don’t have the time or even know where to begin with preparing a healthy meal,” Keri Gans, MS, RDN, CDN explains. “Many meal kits come portioned controlled, packed with important nutrients and are simple to make."
Even if you do have the time to cook and are experienced in the kitchen, meal kits can also help inspire creativity in the kitchen by exposing you to new ingredients and recipes and teaching you new techniques.
Here are ten of our go-to meal kit subscriptions and why we love them:
HelloFresh
The Most Popular Meal Kit
HelloFresh
The Most Popular Meal Kit
Because HelloFresh has been around so long and has amassed a cult following, the company boasts a library full of famous recipes that people just can’t get enough of. They also cater to individuals on specific diet plans, offering calorie-conscious, vegetarian and family friendly meals. They also have a great reputation when it comes to customer service. If your kit is delayed and arrives with spoiled food or if something in your kit is missing, they will replace it without hesitation.
Blue Apron
The OG Meal Kit
Blue Apron
The OG Meal Kit
Blue Apron is considered HelloFresh’s most comparable competitor, offering delicious kits at a similar price point. The biggest difference, per those who have tried both, is that Blue Apron’s offerings can be a little more exotic and exciting, making it a great option for those already a little bit seasoned in the kitchen. On the flip side, keep in mind that the recipes might be a little more complex, especially for those just getting their fingers wet.
Green Chef
Best Meal Kit for Specific Diets
Green Chef
Best Meal Kit for Specific Diets
Green Chef sprouted from the HelloFresh family as their more diet-specific alternative. They offer three types of meals: Keto and Paleo friendly, Balanced Living (overall low-fat, low calorie options) and Plant-Powered, perfect for vegetarians and vegans. Each of the meals can be cooked quickly (20 to 40 minutes tops!) and easily, with super simple instructions. Because healthy food is often a little more costly, expect to pay a tad more than some of the other services.
EveryPlate
The Best Budget Meal Kit
EveryPlate
The Best Budget Meal Kit
EveryPlate is a more cost-effective meal kit brand. Every week there are 14 recipes to choose from, starting at just $4.99 per meal—hard to beat even at the grocery store! The recipes tend to skew more homestyle with less exotic ingredients than some of the other HelloFresh brands— think Diner Style Chicken and Gravy, Carne Asada Fajitas and Firehouse Mac n Cheese. Additionally, you can opt for “Protein Packs” where you can purchase just meat.
Sun Basket
Best Organic Meal Kit
Sun Basket
Best Organic Meal Kit
Another popular meal delivery service, Sun Basket prides itself on its farm-fresh ingredients and restaurant-quality recipes. In terms of very specific diet plans, they offer Paleo, low-carb, pescatarian, vegetarian and Diabetes-friendly, with a variety of healthy snacks available as add-ons. And if you don’t have time to cook, you can also order pre-made meals with their Fresh & Ready meal plan.
Purple Carrot
The Best Plant-based Meal Kit
Purple Carrot
The Best Plant-based Meal Kit
Purple Carrot should be your go-to if you follow a totally plant-based diet. All of their recipes can be prepared in 30 minutes or less without any animal products whatsoever. Compared to the competition, their options are limited, translating to less recipes to choose from and no choice when it comes to delivery day. However, they manage to make up for it by offering innovative and creative culinary meals that even meat eaters will find interesting.
Gobble
Best Meal Kit for Lazy Chefs
Gobble
Best Meal Kit for Lazy Chefs
If you have limited time for meal prep, then check out Gobble, a service that does most of the “dirty” work—like chopping, peeling, marinating and slicing—for you. And, while every meal can be whipped up in under 15 minutes, you will not have to sacrifice taste or variety, as there are also a bunch of gourmet options weekly. They also offer a Lean & Clean meal plan, featuring lean proteins and healthy fats, with every portion tallying up to under 600 calories per serving.
Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon
Best Celeb Chef Meal Kit
Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon
Best Celeb Chef Meal Kit
Martha Stewart has teamed up with Marley Spoon to create a meal delivery service based on her famous recipes. In addition to their traditional fare, Marley Spoon offers various menu categories including Vegetarian, Kid-Friendly, Low-carb, Fast and Meat & Fish. Best of all, there are a number of recipes that can be whipped up in 20 minutes or less.
Home Chef
The Best Customizable Meal Kit
Home Chef
The Best Customizable Meal Kit
One of the main ways Home Chef differs from its competitors is that it allows you to customize meals with different types of proteins. The company is also more flexible when it comes to adding or subtracting weekly meals and making other types of substitutions. In addition to traditional meal kits, you can also choose from a selection of 15-minute meals, oven ready meals (they come pre-prepped in an oven safe tin), grill ready meals and entree salads.
