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Restaurant-quality meals delivered straight to your door.
Photo:Real Simple
Are any of them worth it?
Some meals took longer than the recipe card said.
This is common with meal kits, though.
PHOTO: Blue Apron
All instructions were very easy to follow, and we didnt need much counter space.
There arent many plant-based options that include protein.
It gives you a wide variety of options including meat, fish, and seasonal produce.
Our favorite Blue Apron meal was these meatball pita sandwiches.PHOTO: Real Simple
Without tofu or beans, our vegan testers felt there was something left to be desired.
The majority of our bounty was fresh, and we found that cook times were mostly accurate.
With portion sizes for two, there were never any leftovers.
Just note that if you want to cancel, the process isnt very intuitive online.
(We called customer service, and a friendly rep took care of it for us.)
Delivery fees can get pricey depending on where you live, and there arent many non-meat options.
Your frozen dinner just got a major upgrade.
Petes Real Food uses seasonal produce, antibiotic-free, and free-roaming meat.
The beef is fed alfalfa and clover, and everything is organic when possible.
We were pleased with the variety of meal options available, including a wide selection of meats and cuisines.
The portion sizes were filling, too: Each meal had alarge serving of protein and vegetables.
Sometimes, we even had leftovers from our single servings.
Shipping could be a deal breaker depending on where you live.
That said, you could offset the cost by making room in your freezer and buying in bulk.
There arent a lot of vegetarian and vegan options.
The menu is diverse, with an emphasis on protein-rich meals with easy-to-track macros.
Heres the best part: You dont have to cook.
Everything comes pre-made, and all you have to do is pop it in the microwave for two minutes.
(You also have the option of reheating in the oven.)
We typically just add Greek yogurt to some of the meals to increase that.
It feels a little expensive for vegan ingredients.
(In comparison, some meal kits can take around an hour with prep by two people.)
There were few ingredients overall, but when they came together, we were very impressed by the flavors.
That said, the price did feel a little expensive for vegan ingredients.
You have to pay extra for beef, which isnt something that costs extra with other meal kits.
Easy doesnt mean boring, though.
There were a lot of different meals and cuisines to choose from, and the menu wasnt repetitive.
It was convenient that all sauces and broths were pre-made.
(This is common with meal kits, even without a subscription.)
Each dish was satisfying, tooeven the plant-based options.
One of the meals we tried wasnt enough for two people.
Now, its something well confidently add to our cart at the grocery store.
We really liked every single thing we tried, and there were never any leftovers.
Nothing took longer than an hour to make (the chili only took 20 minutes).
We also took note of how much packaging was involved and whether it was recyclable.
Each meal was cooked according to the instructions provided, and then we ate them.
PHOTO: HelloFresh
Did the meal take longer than promised to cook?
Were the instructions clear?
Did the food taste good?
Hello Fresh has vegetarian options, like this rice, mushrooms, and sweet potatoes dish.PHOTO: Real Simple
Did it need additional seasonings, ingredients, or equipment?
Some menus even include dietician-designed meals.
Frozen meals are easy to take from home to warm up at the office, too.
Shipping is often free for newcomers, but most delivery fees are around $10.99 per delivery.
If you want to fully cancel your subscription, that process should be easy.
We thought the portions were generous and all of the ingredients tasted fresh.
Sunbasket: Sunbasket stands out for its USDA-certified organic produce.
Most meals took about 30 to 40 minutes to make, though it did require learning some new techniques.
Questions You Might Ask
What is the most affordable meal delivery service?
Organic meats and produce and wild-caught fish usually cost more.
Shipping costs vary, and many services offer special discounts for new customers and those who reactivate old accounts.
Shipping is an additional $10.99 per delivery.
What is the healthiest meal delivery service?
There is no one healthiest meal delivery service, since health means different things to different people.
What is the best meal delivery service for a single person?
We also testedmeal delivery services for singles.
Check out ourwinners here.
Her current fixation is thiscreamy gnocchi chicken soupand a slice of crusty buttered sourdough bread.
PHOTO: Pete’s Real Food
Each dish from Pete’s Real Food arrives frozen and can be stored in the freezer for up to six months.PHOTO: Real Simple
PHOTO: Eat Clean Bro
Eat Clean Bro delivers to most places in the U.S., but you can also get same-day delivery in certain parts of New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia.PHOTO: Real Simple
PHOTO: Purple Carrot
Purple Carrot, with a menu of all-vegan dishes, has inventive concoctions, like this pear flatbread.PHOTO: Real Simple
PHOTO: Green Chef
There are plenty of different meal options, including a variety of protein and cuisines.PHOTO: Real Simple
PHOTO: Home Chef
With Home Chef, we were able to work with pastry puff in a completely accessible way, giving our chicken a major upgrade.PHOTO: Real Simple
Real Simple
Cranberry-stuffed pork loin with sweet potato mash and garlic kale—a seasonal offering from Marley Spoon.Real Simple