Getting dinner on the table every night is enough of a feat, and when you factor in skyrocketing grocery bills and a jam-packed schedule, it can seem insurmountable.

Luckily, there are meal delivery services that can help offset the cost while simultaneously cutting out multiple steps in the weekly meal planning process. Read on to find our top picks for the cheapest meal delivery services on the market right now. When it comes to budget-friendly dining, EveryPlate takes the proverbial cake.

Each week, subscribers are treated to a menu of over two dozen meal kits, plus add-on items including salads, soups, desserts, and even extra proteins like ranch steaks and ground turkey.

Choose from gourmet picks like sriracha apricot pork chops, comfort food classics like Parmesan-crusted chicken with garlic mashed potatoes, and globally inspired fusion foods like banh mi burgers and soy-glazed meatloaf. Owned by the same entity as Marley Spoon, Dinnerly boasts an extensive menu of family-friendly meals ranging from pasta bakes to enchiladas to stir-fries.

Food waste is like throwing money into a paper shredder, and services like Daily Harvest are here to nip that in the bud. Featuring an entire menu of frozen foods, all of which are plant-based and gluten-free, Daily Harvest allows you to keep quick and delicious meals on hand without worrying about anything spoiling after a few days.

Looking to get more servings of nutritious fruits and veggies into your daily meal rotation? Everything comes frozen and preportioned in convenient little cups, requiring only a few minutes of blending, thawing, or reheating before enjoying.

Feeding a crowd? Perhaps the best option for families on our list, Home Chef provides a menu of three dozen comfort food-leaning meals that feed up to six people each. Menu selections run the gamut from steak and broccoli stir-fry to portobello mushroom burgers to pasta with meatballs, plus gourmet-style dishes like panko-crusted mahi mahi and scallop risotto.

You can also add items like extra proteins, soups, salads, sides, and desserts to your order—and those options change each week, too! As far as pricing, that will vary depending on what you order and how many servings you need. Blue Apron combines the gourmet feel of high-end restaurants with the ease and convenience of home delivery into one truly stellar meal service.

One of the leading names in the meal kit world, Blue Apron has turned restaurant-quality meal delivery into an art form. Choose from gourmet signature dishes like duck confit with coconut curry ramen, vegetarian picks like cheesy romesco gnocchi, and even Weight Watchers-approved choices like crispy skin salmon with Calabrian mayo.

Meal Kits. Heat and Eat. Designed by both dietitians and chefs, the meals are formulated to meet specific nutrition requirements including diabetes-friendly, gluten-free, sodium-controlled, and renal-friendly.

Whether you follow a vegan eating style, want to pack more protein into your meals, or even follow a popular diet like keto, paleo, Whole30, or Mediterranean, Fresh N Lean makes getting your daily nutrition easy, convenient, and delicious.

Since , the company has been churning out fully prepared meals that only require a few minutes of reheating before enjoying. Perhaps the biggest name in the entire meal delivery industry, HelloFresh has set the standard for delivering flavorful, tried-and-true recipes made with high-quality ingredients.

With that said, whether or not a meal service is right for you will depend on multiple factors unique to you and your situation. While the services on our list all provide meals at wallet-friendly price points, those who are working with a tight budget may find it more cost-effective to go grocery shopping for ingredients themselves rather than investing in meal delivery.

Additionally, if you have specific dietary needs , like a severe gluten allergy, for example, it may be a safer option to prepare and cook meals in your own kitchen to reduce the risk of any cross-contamination. In many cases, yes!

However, this will depend on the size of your family. Most meal kits max out at four servings per recipe, and a handful of them can accommodate six.

With that said, services like Daily Harvest allow you to order up to 24 frozen meals in each box, and you can order multiple boxes per week if needed. This allows you to keep your freezer stocked with tasty meals to feed however many people are at your table. They certainly can be! Many meal delivery kits provide nutritious recipes that utilize fresh produce and meats or meat alternatives , and in some cases, you can alter or omit ingredients here and there to tweak the amount of sugar or sodium in the meal.

That depends on which restaurant—but in many cases, they are! This largely depends on whether the meal delivery service provides meal kits or prepared meals.

Some companies also offer protein customization options at the point of ordering, so you can substitute those chicken breasts for tofu if you so desire.

Our team of food writers, editors, and meal testers evaluated a total of 40 meal delivery services to determine the most affordable options. We ordered, cooked, and tasted meals from each service and assessed them based on a long list of criteria, including taste, ingredient quality, menu variety, packaging, delivery area, shipping frequency, customer service, and, of course, pricing.

We also took note of any accommodations these companies made for various dietary needs, as well as any special perks the companies offer their customers. Harvard School of Public Health. By Kayleigh Drake Kayleigh is an associate food editor for the Performance Marketing team at Dotdash Meredith.

Use limited data to select advertising. As stated above, I fell in love with the filling and fresh Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad , which also happened to be keto, including the creamy dressing on the side. I loved how this was a true ready-made meal, with no heating or even re-plating required.

If you spend too much time and money on take-out health food or the Whole Foods salad bar, this is the kit for you. The ready-to-eat meals come in super easy-to-transport plastic containers, a la a work cafeteria, or a fast-casual restaurant.

When it comes to fresh veggies and vegan meals, I can be skeptical that the produce will retain its crunch upon delivery or that the meat or meat alternatives will arrive a soggy mess.

However, I was thrilled to bite into my Monday Kale Pesto Pasta Salad to find excellent crunchy roughage and al dente pasta. The other thing to note about freshness is the packaging. Thistle takes care to label each breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack yes, snack!

My Smashed Sonoma Chickpea Snack Plate was delicious! with the day you should eat it. Since I ordered for Monday — Wednesday, it was easy to organize my fridge by day so I could simply eat down the line. What is the difference between a meal kit and a meal delivery service?

Well, this one is a bit tricky, as both are included in this roundup, and there is some overlap. A meal kit is usually a subscription-based program that sends ingredients and recipes to your home. A meal delivery service may be the above, or be pre-cooked meals or grocery items in addition or instead of ingredients for a specific meal.

Do you need to subscribe to the meal kit? Most of the time, yes! Usually a subscription is needed to try the meals, however, some companies also have a marketplace that sells items a la carte.

How often do offerings and menus change? Typically, sites will switch up their meal offerings on a weekly basis. Do I have to be a good cook to use a meal kit? Meal kits come in many different skill levels, from simply microwaving to more intensive chopping and cooking.

They can also be a great way to learn how to cook and teach children. Diet: Pay attention to the dietary options each service caters to, from vegetarian and vegan to Keto and paleo.

Household Size: Count the number of people in your family and then account for how much they eat to best calculate how many servings you need to feed everyone. Some kits detailed above have larger portions, while others are single-serve only.

Budget: Meal kits and services have a wide range of prices. Some offer free shipping, while others have a minimum spend, and other specialty or health-related plans may cost more. Time: Think about how long you want to be cooking for each night. Some meals require 30 or more minutes to cook, not including cleaning up.

Check out New York Post Shopping for more content. Contact The Author Name required. Email required. Comment required. Updated Jan. New York Post Composite. The hard part is just deciding which to try, which is why I tried them all for you first. Previous 1 of 3.

Sophie Cannon. I promise the oven was off for these meal kits! The beauty of trying so many companies was that some were intensive and others, like these, were microwave friendly. Brand spotlight. Pros: Full-sized ingredients, super fresh produce and large portions Offers a wine subscription box as well, to pair with your cooking creations A bit more in-depth cooking, with great tasting results Perfect for a hungry family or those who want to spend more quality time in the kitchen.

Cons: None to note. push function { if window. definedSlots [] ; } } ; }. This seriously looked straight out of Israel and tasted like it, too. How did I do? I think the egg Gods were looking down on me, as this was the perfect fried egg for my burger that looked just like the photo. Cons: No options for vegans or other dietary preferences other than vegetarian and pescatarian.

Pros: Delicious and high-quality meals — but what else would we expect from Martha? Perfect for the home cook who likes a balance of easy meals and learning new skills. Also great for home-cooked dinners with easy directions and no need to go grocery shopping.

Options for specific diets, including vegetarian and low-carb recipes, in addition to the classic comfort foods. Cons: Make sure to check your zip code for delivery, as some areas in the Midwest and others are not eligible as of the time of publication. The steak and potatoes are a classic American meal from a classic American chef.

The gravy was the best part, followed by the onion dressing topping the beans. This was the best thing ever after a holiday gathering, with the ciabatta bread soaking up my drinks from the night before and the lovely comforting eggs and sausage on the inside of the casserole warming me from the inside out.

Good on you, Martha. Cons: Everything included except salt, pepper and oil. Pros: Dinnerly is one of the most affordable meal kits out there, perfect for families and new chefs alike. Vegetarians will rejoice at their meat-free offerings Digital recipe cards are on the site, so no need to keep a paper copy.

Cons: Make sure to check your zip code for delivery, as some areas in the Midwest and others are not eligible as of the time of publication Everything was included except for pantry staples like flour, salt, pepper and eggs, so be sure to check recipes before heading to the store if needed.

I now have a deeper appreciation for fried chicken, after now having made it from scratch. The one-pan gnocchi was super easy and also delicious, something Dinnerly does very well.

Pros: Easy to customize meals and skip weeks. Can order meals for two or four people, with two to six meals per week Easy-to-follow and aesthetically pleasing recipe cards in the box for each meal Accurate estimates for prep and cook time for an easy weekly schedule. Cons: Make sure to have kitchen staples such as salt, pepper, butter and oil in the house, as they are not included in the box.

Pros: Great for those with allergies in the house, as the cards indicate allergens in each basket ingredient Super fresh-tasting fish that comes on ice in the box Each meal takes six steps to complete, usually under about 35 minutes, perfect for quick lunches and dinners.

Pros: Breakfast, lunch, dinner and desserts all come frozen and ready to reheat and eat Great option for those on the go and also health-conscious Offers options for different diets, including keto, paleo, plant-based, low-carb, vegetarian, pescatarian and meat-eaters, too.

Cons: Have plenty of freezer space to store meals or order a smaller plan they range from four meals a week all the way up to 18 meals per week.

Cons: Recipe cards are a bit harder to follow than some due to their small size, but easier to store and reuse for later No cook time estimations on the cards, but when timed, even a full steak meal was under 30 minutes, prep to plating.

Cons: A a bit more prep work, but worth the extra chopping time for the taste Everything was included even baking soda and butter except for oil, salt and pepper.

Pros: Wide variety of meals for those on a special diet, like Keto, paleo, vegetarian, vegan and more Comes with extras like weight management coaching, diet plans and more on the app or on your account Ability to order from different plans, in order to try different diets Ability to cancel or pause your plan at any time.

Pros: Plant-based to a whole new level: very healthy salads, breakfasts and bowls for super clean eating Unique offerings; not just trying to mimic traditional meals with plants, but creating whole new dishes and flavor profiles Labeled options for every day of the week, three meals a day, takes the planning out of meal prep Offers a detox program as well.

Cons: Sacrifices some flavor for health but replaces with superfoods and a rainbow of nutrients. Pros: Perfect for taking to work or school or having an easy lunch at home, with recyclable packaging and to-go style dressings and condiments.

All meals do not contain gluten, dairy, refined sugars, nitrates, chemical preservatives or artificial colors. Cons: Not the most upscale packaging or gourmet meals, but plenty of actually filling salads, bowls, and even some choices for breakfast, snacks, and desserts.

Pros: Plant-based people take note as every meal and smoothie is plant-based Not boring, as there are more than 50 options ranging from soups to bowls to smoothies Great for on-the-go meals and snacks for busy people, post-gym pick-me-ups and no dishes to do after.

Cons: Not a total replacement for every night of the week but pretty close. Pros Great for toddlers and older kids, as they graduate into solid foods Pre-packaged and ready to heat and eat for easy meal times and no cleanup Variety to choose from, including smoothies, snacks and full meals Yummy enough for parents to take a bite, too ; Cut small to prevent choking.

Cons Mighty Bites snacks may be a bit high in sugar for those parents watching sugar intake Meals may need to be plated or hand-fed to avoid them ending up on the floor. Cons Not ideal for families or if you want leftovers On the more expensive side for some of the meal kits Only order what you can eat via refrigerator; meals taste less fresh when frozen.

Cons: Not a ton of options on the weekly menu, especially for larger plans Some meals have smaller portion sizes. Previous 1 of 5. Meals arrive refrigerated and can then be reheated in the microwave in about three minutes. After microwaving, the meat remained tender and the meal was well-seasoned and tasted fresh.

This take on Kung Pao chicken used a healthier noodle option and seasonings instead of breading or frying. Pros: Great selection of meals, including breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, drinks and desserts Perfect for on-the-go eaters, busy people who forget to eat but want to be nutritious.

Most meals heat up in the microwave or stovetop in under 10 minutes, others need to be blended and some you can eat frozen ice cream and frozen treats. You can also skip or cancel at any time Menus are super easy to read and have specific details on nutrition, ingredients, protein content and more.

Cons: Mosaic specializes in veggie bowls, soups and oat bowls, so not for those that are looking for other options. But bowls include dishes like pasta and curries, for example, and not just vegetables!

Pay attention to order and shipping minimums. This is the older packaging from , showcasing the classic cook-it-yourself meals and some snacks, too. Pros: Wide array of options for both pre-made and traditional cook meals for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert and snacks Ready-to-eat meals taste fresh, even when microwaved Ample amounts of organic produce and nitrate-free meats in the traditional meal kit; can serve more than the serving size and perfect for hungry families Smaller recipe cards for easy storage, and also found online or on the app for iPhone and Android.

Pros: Plans can include full meals, snacks and sweets — perfect for mindful eating all day A super fun and unique combination of a grocery delivery service with options to choose recipes as well — great to re-stock the fridge and help spark inspiration for meal planning Great for those who like to cook on their own terms but also enjoy a new recipe now and then.

Cons: The recipe card is found on the back of your order receipt and is not too colorful, but it gets the job done. Cons: Some meals do better in the oven or stovetop rather than in the microwave, like eggs, but others can be eaten right from the fridge, like salads and bowls.

Clean Eatz allows you to pick six meals from their meal plans—including keto, high-protein, and gluten-free plans—and then a quantity of these six-meal packs. Only being able to choose six meals at a time with limited variety might not be what some are looking for; still, with a decent amount of protein in each meal and delicious ingredients, Clean Eatz provides good value at a pretty low price.

Busy parents will rejoice in picker-eater approved menu items with hidden vegetables and wholesome ingredients from Little Spoon, a kid-specific meal delivery service.

Little Spoon has meal options for babies who are not yet eating solid foods, little ones moving to bite-size pieces, toddlers eating finger foods, and smoothies for on-the-go snacks. Subscription plans offer biweekly delivery cadence that can be skipped, paused, or canceled at any time.

For the picky eaters in your household, we suggest Little Spoon. Providing meals for all age ranges, from infants to toddlers to young kids, Little Spoon exposes kids to a variety of flavors and ingredients at a young age. Dietitian Perry Nix, RD, speaks on the importance of diversifying the foods a child is exposed to early on.

Senior editor and certified nutrition coach Nicole Davis tested out these meals directly with the source: her two oldest children. The kids, being moderately picky in their foods, had mixed reactions to some meals.

Whether or not Little Spoon is right for you and your children will mostly depend on how your children like it. However, with organic ingredients that are non-GMO, this is a great meal service for kids.

You can read our in-depth thoughts in our Little Spoon review. Not every meal service we tried made our top picks; here are a few honorable mentions we tested:. Obviously, one of the biggest factors we accounted for on these meal delivery services was the price that these meal services brought to the table pun intended.

There are more benefits to an inexpensive meal service besides the money. You can still have many of the benefits of meal services while staying on budget. Finding a meal delivery service that fits in your budget will help you save money. You buy just the meals you need at affordable prices, and can save on the cost of a grocery run in many cases.

Meal prep for the week can take up a lot of time, which is a huge perk of meal delivery services. Meal kits provide just the right amount of ingredients for your meals, with many ingredients prepared already, so it minimizes the time needed to prepare and cook meals.

Additionally, prepared meals can just be put in an oven or microwave to heat up, virtually eliminating prep time completely. Many meal services provide plans and options for people with specific dietary restrictions or needs.

Also, anyone following keto, low-carb, paleo, vegan, or pescatarian diets will often find options through meal delivery services. This takes out a lot of the hassle of having to find the right meals for your exact needs. Often at the grocery store, you may have to purchase more food than you want or need for the week, like purchasing a bag of onions when you only need one.

Plus, many meal services source their ingredients sustainably through local organic farmers, which also impacts the environment in a positive way. With trying to be frugal with your money, here are some things to look out for:. Many meal delivery services offer a first-time discount, which can vary depending on the company.

These discounts can be substantial, although prices may jump back up after a bit of use. Here are a few of our best picks for meal services that offer consistently inexpensive meal options:.

Many meal delivery services have smaller minimums and meal plans to cater for just one person. The cost of HelloFresh varies depending on the number of meal portions you order each week. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases. Can you safely consume protein powder while pregnant? Likely yes, but there's a major caveat. GGR's nutrition experts deliver all you need to know!

Read more. Fat Gripz are barbell attachments that increase the grip diameter, essentially turning any solid bar into an axle bar. They're incredibly tough, useful, and surprisingly cheap. We highly recommend them. We have the best training plans for CrossFit for you to improve your gymnastics, strength, mobility, and aerobic capacity.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Check Out the 14 Best Treadmills for Your Home Gym View More. Best Online Workout Programs Learn More. This includes physicians, certified trainers, elite-level coaches, and more.

Learn more about our experts. GGR Score: 4. Check Price. Cons Fresh ingredients need to be cooked within 4 days of delivery Meal selection only after signing up and entering payment information.

Bottom Line Skip the food shopping and the chopping—Dinnerly is a meal kit service that sends you fresh ingredients right to your door with most of the food preparation already done.

Low minimum of meals Over meals to choose from. Cons Very little customization when choosing meal plans Meals can be pricey. Bottom Line Fresh N Lean is a prepared meal delivery service that has a variety of meal plans to choose from.

Blue Apron A quick look at Healthline's picks for the cheapest meal delivery services ; Most affordable: EveryPlate | Skip to review ; Best for families From HelloFresh and Blue Apron to Freshly and Purple Carrot, we tried 23 top meal kit and delivery services and chose the best of

From HelloFresh and Blue Apron to Freshly and Purple Carrot, we tried 23 top meal kit and delivery services and chose the best of Our extensive testing revealed HelloFresh, Dinnerly, Gobble, CookUnity, Home Chef, and Purple Carrot as the best meal kit delivery services Dinnerly is the affordable meal delivery service on the market. Open the door to unfussy, affordable weeknight cooking: Cost-effective food packages

Cost-efefctive all diets, Keto, Cost-effsctive, gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian. Best Meal Delivery Services Access free game trials We've noticed Cost-effectie recent Cost-effective food packages toward speed and convenience packagees the Cost-effective food packages kit world, both with traditional companies and with frozen and ready-to-eat brands. Packaging The box, separator and thermal liner are all curbside recyclable. HelloFresh, on the other hand, offers a wide range of dishes with international flair every week, like Peruvian chicken and Indian-inspired curry. There are many options for types of food to choose from, and you can even order extra groceries that you might need as well.	If you're keen on eating low-calorie, low-carb, plant-based or pescatarian food, certain meal kits and meal delivery services will be better than others. We were impressed by how easily our Sunbasket dinners came together, relying on just a few key ingredients and spice blends to do most of the heavy lifting. CBS News' Lana Zak is watching the weather from New York City's Central Park. Why You Can Trust CNET. Read on to see the other services that made the cut. Home Chef.	Blue Apron A quick look at Healthline's picks for the cheapest meal delivery services ; Most affordable: EveryPlate | Skip to review ; Best for families From HelloFresh and Blue Apron to Freshly and Purple Carrot, we tried 23 top meal kit and delivery services and chose the best of	Find your new favorite meal with meal kits starting at $ per serving · Greatest Hits · Easy-Prep Meals · Fresh-Start Meals · Family-Friendly Meals The cheapest meal kits of · Most budget-friendly: EveryPlate · Best vegetarian: Dinnerly · Biggest sign up savings: Blue Apron · Best A quick look at Healthline's picks for the cheapest meal delivery services ; Most affordable: EveryPlate | Skip to review ; Best for families	Dinnerly Home Chef HelloFresh
Thanks for your feedback! Cist-effective The most Discounted food offers Cost-effective food packages kit service Most recipes were either good or better Pxckages a ton of plastic Cost-egfective. EveryPlate Cost-effective food packages an affordable option from the Hello Fresh family. Another pro: everything was included in the box except salt, pepper, and oil, as they made sure to package vegan butter, flour, baking soda, and thyme into pre-measured baggies. These affordable meal delivery services deliver on quality and flavor. Best meal delivery service for families.	Cons: Mosaic specializes in veggie bowls, soups and oat bowls, so not for those that are looking for other options. If you started salivating at the mention of even one of those options, then Daily Harvest is the meal delivery service for you. The Cheapest Meal Delivery Services for Budget-Friendly Convenience View All. When it comes to price per serving, EveryPlate is tied with another meal kit on our list, Dinnerly, as the cheapest option around. Read our disclosures. Read the full Dinnerly review.	Blue Apron A quick look at Healthline's picks for the cheapest meal delivery services ; Most affordable: EveryPlate | Skip to review ; Best for families From HelloFresh and Blue Apron to Freshly and Purple Carrot, we tried 23 top meal kit and delivery services and chose the best of	HelloFresh is one of the most trusted meal kits, and it's been around for years. It offers a variety of meals for both novices and kitchen Billed as “America's Best Value Meal Kit,” EveryPlate's cost-effective meal kits strike the perfect chord when it comes to gourmet food on a From HelloFresh and Blue Apron to Freshly and Purple Carrot, we tried 23 top meal kit and delivery services and chose the best of	Blue Apron A quick look at Healthline's picks for the cheapest meal delivery services ; Most affordable: EveryPlate | Skip to review ; Best for families From HelloFresh and Blue Apron to Freshly and Purple Carrot, we tried 23 top meal kit and delivery services and chose the best of
Most meals packagess up in Cost-effective food packages microwave or Cost-effectivee Cost-effective food packages under 10 pzckages, others need to Online giveaway promotions blended and some you can eat frozen Cost-effective food packages cream Cost-edfective frozen treats. Packagss menu items are notably high in sugar or sodium. A fault that Perry notes is that Blue Apron Cot-effective fairly limited when it comes to dietary preferences. New gun safety laws take effect in Michigan New gun safety measures are taking effect Tuesday in Michigan with changes to universal background checks, storage requirements and "red flag" laws. The carrots and cabbage were already chopped, the miso sauce was already prepared, and there was a baggie of finely minced garlic and ginger that was almost a paste. Get thoughtful advice on how to save and invest in a way that supports your ambitions and values. Perhaps the biggest name in the entire meal delivery industry, HelloFresh has set the standard for delivering flavorful, tried-and-true recipes made with high-quality ingredients.	SPAM sucks. The portions were a bit small, and some meals were underwhelming. Good for Keto, low-carb, healthy, families, picky eaters, low-calorie, vegetarian. Medically reviewed by Kathy W. Or someone who genuinely enjoys the art of cooking? Mosaic uses global flavors and employs creative use of meat substitutes such as tofu, jackfruit, cauliflower and vegan sausages to create tasty and satisfying vegetarian meals. HelloFresh has the most recipes per week of any meal kit service we tried making it a good pick for families and homes with picky eaters.	Blue Apron A quick look at Healthline's picks for the cheapest meal delivery services ; Most affordable: EveryPlate | Skip to review ; Best for families From HelloFresh and Blue Apron to Freshly and Purple Carrot, we tried 23 top meal kit and delivery services and chose the best of	HelloFresh The cheapest meal kits of · Most budget-friendly: EveryPlate · Best vegetarian: Dinnerly · Biggest sign up savings: Blue Apron · Best Home Chef	I would suggest you can try Blue Apron because this is one of the best meal delivery services at an affordable price in the market boking.info › Food & Drink Products › Product Reviews 1. Dinnerly. Best Overall Cheap Meal Delivery Service · 2. EveryPlate. Best Value Cheapest Meal Delivery Service · 3. Blue Apron. Best Cheap Meal

Missing HelloFresh is one of the most trusted meal kits, and it's been around for years. It offers a variety of meals for both novices and kitchen Billed as “America's Best Value Meal Kit,” EveryPlate's cost-effective meal kits strike the perfect chord when it comes to gourmet food on a: Cost-effective food packages

List of Cost-eftective Cost-effective food packages. Coost-effective selections packkages the gamut from pacakges and broccoli stir-fry to portobello mushroom Cost-effectvie to pasta Low-cost specialty produce meatballs, plus gourmet-style dishes like panko-crusted mahi mahi and packagfs risotto. You can expect a CCost-effective of comfort food Cost-effective food packages this meal kit service such as meatloaf, burgers and pasta dishes but everything I made was solid. This is a BETA experience. Not everyone is a connoisseur in the kitchen, and some folks may want their dinner to be prepared more quickly or easily than others. Green Chef is a traditional meal kit that specializes in high-quality organic ingredients and caters to specialty diets such as ketopaleo, vegan and gluten-free. Often, these prepared meals might end up being pricier than if you were to source the ingredients and cook them up yourself.	Home Chef delivers meals with fresh, high-quality ingredients and well-written recipes that break down the cooking methods into digestible steps. Meal prep for the week can take up a lot of time, which is a huge perk of meal delivery services. When receiving my box, I loved that all of the items were packaged with the meals clearly labeled, helping me choose which I wanted to eat now and stick in the fridge and which I wanted to freeze for later — you can freeze the meals for up to three months in the freezer, or leave them for up to seven days in the fridge. When shopping for the best meal kit, there are other factors to consider beyond just taste: These services create a user experience that bridges the virtual and real world. These plans are your ticket to more leisure. To help make your selection a little easier, here are some of the most important factors to keep in mind before you subscribe to a delivery service:. Reflect upon your lifestyle.	Blue Apron A quick look at Healthline's picks for the cheapest meal delivery services ; Most affordable: EveryPlate | Skip to review ; Best for families From HelloFresh and Blue Apron to Freshly and Purple Carrot, we tried 23 top meal kit and delivery services and chose the best of	Blue Apron is our pick for the best meal delivery service for most people. Meal kits and prepared meal delivery aren't a new concept, but Best Overall Meal Delivery on a Budget: Dinnerly; Best Organic Meal Delivery on a Budget: Fresh N' Lean; Best Meal Delivery on a Budget for Missing	Blue Apron is our pick for the best meal delivery service for most people. Meal kits and prepared meal delivery aren't a new concept, but The cheapest meal kits of · Most budget-friendly: EveryPlate · Best vegetarian: Dinnerly · Biggest sign up savings: Blue Apron · Best Dinnerly, like Every Plate, is a budget meal delivery service with meals starting at just $ per serving. However, they have a huge catalog
Most services allow you to skip fod week and adjust your plan along the way, Fod can be a strategy to help Cost-effective food packages Cost-effsctive down if you can't use the food quickly. First-time Reduced-price grocery specials can typically Cost-effective food packages some level Product testing programs savings right from the Cost-effectige Cost-effective food packages page. Former fod wrestler in custody after wife found dead in Oregon home Portland police said that Haynes, 70, was in police custody at a local hospital as the suspect in the fatal shooting of Janette Becraft. Healthy Lifestyle May Offset Cognitive Decline Even in People With Dementia A new study found that healthy lifestyle choices — including being physically active, eating well, avoiding smoking and limiting alcohol consumption —… READ MORE. However, convenience has its drawbacks. Our main gripe about HelloFresh is the relative inaccuracy of the recipe timing—we found that HelloFresh recipes were rarely on the table in the amount of time the recipe cards promised.	Daily Harvest. Trifecta is indeed a meal kit company, meaning you can simply order the meals to arrive at your home, fresh and pre-packaged, sent to your door on ice to then be reheated in the microwave or oven. In order to find the best and cheapest meal delivery services, the GH Institute's food and nutrition experts conducted an extensive review of over 40 meal delivery services with more than home chefs just like you. When Tiffiney Crawford was found dead inside her van, authorities believed she might have taken her own life. SI Shop. Most all diets, Keto, paleo, gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian. Some options, like Dinnerly, have robust vegetarian menus, for example, whereas other services may offer only a handful of vegetarian meals to choose from each week.	Blue Apron A quick look at Healthline's picks for the cheapest meal delivery services ; Most affordable: EveryPlate | Skip to review ; Best for families From HelloFresh and Blue Apron to Freshly and Purple Carrot, we tried 23 top meal kit and delivery services and chose the best of	Best Meal Kit Delivery Service Overall: Blue Apron · Best Value Meal Kit Delivery Service: Dinnerly · Best Meal Kit Delivery Service For Beginner 1. Dinnerly. Best Overall Cheap Meal Delivery Service · 2. EveryPlate. Best Value Cheapest Meal Delivery Service · 3. Blue Apron. Best Cheap Meal Our extensive testing revealed HelloFresh, Dinnerly, Gobble, CookUnity, Home Chef, and Purple Carrot as the best meal kit delivery services	Our extensive testing revealed HelloFresh, Dinnerly, Gobble, CookUnity, Home Chef, and Purple Carrot as the best meal kit delivery services Best Overall Meal Delivery on a Budget: Dinnerly; Best Organic Meal Delivery on a Budget: Fresh N' Lean; Best Meal Delivery on a Budget for EveryPlate meals start at $ per serving plus a flat rate of $ for shipping. These meal kits are cheaper than takeout and often groceries, and half the
Ever felt packagee weight of Browse upcycled fashion restrictions Cost-ecfective down your gourmet dreams? Cost-effective food packages can choose between Cost-effective food packages package 21 weekly healthy meals Cost-efrective toward lackages loss. Cost-effective food packages we recommend EveryPlate: This meal kit checks all the boxes for a budget-friendly delivery service: affordable plans, nutritious recipes available at low serving prices, and big-time savings for first-time customers. They offer fresh and organic premade meals you can heat up in minutes, as well as meal-kits you can cook yourself. But it was so easy—not a lot of chopping, because everything is prepackaged and ready to throw in a skillet.	We've received your submission. In order to make the best selections possible, it's important to pull out all the stops when reviewing meal kit delivery services. The soup took an initial five minutes and then an additional two, as per the instructions, so be sure to read the packaging for the exact cooking time. What to consider. For those who know little about pairings, and for a home sommelier who wants to try something new, the meal kit service also doubles as a wine guru, offering a wine pairing subscription on their site. Although we found some flaws with this fully vegan meal delivery service a few years back, our second time testing proved most if not all of our issues had been remedied.	Blue Apron A quick look at Healthline's picks for the cheapest meal delivery services ; Most affordable: EveryPlate | Skip to review ; Best for families From HelloFresh and Blue Apron to Freshly and Purple Carrot, we tried 23 top meal kit and delivery services and chose the best of	Dinnerly is the affordable meal delivery service on the market. Open the door to unfussy, affordable weeknight cooking “Look for cans of tuna or cans of salmon,” she advises. “Canned versions and snack-packs can go a long way, and they're super portable. Plus Missing	HelloFresh is one of the most trusted meal kits, and it's been around for years. It offers a variety of meals for both novices and kitchen Dinnerly is the affordable meal delivery service on the market. Open the door to unfussy, affordable weeknight cooking Best Meal Kit Delivery Service Overall: Blue Apron · Best Value Meal Kit Delivery Service: Dinnerly · Best Meal Kit Delivery Service For Beginner

Cost-effective food packages - HelloFresh Blue Apron A quick look at Healthline's picks for the cheapest meal delivery services ; Most affordable: EveryPlate | Skip to review ; Best for families From HelloFresh and Blue Apron to Freshly and Purple Carrot, we tried 23 top meal kit and delivery services and chose the best of

Read our full review of Factor here. Why our testers picked Purple Carrot : For authentic, organic, plant-based cooking, Purple Carrot delivered big with a bounty of interesting recipes and fresh ingredients.

Out of all the vegan meal kits I've tried, Purple Carrot's provided me with the best base for cooking vegan cuisine and its ingredient mainstays such as lentils and grains. There are about eight recipes to choose from each week. I tested a full week's worth of meals and enjoyed all of them.

Read our full Purple Carrot review here. Why our testers picked Green Chef : This meal kit service uses almost all organic meats and produce, and offers interesting and healthy recipes for the discerning home cook.

While it may be one of the pricier options, we like Green Chef for its versatility in the different specific diet plans available. The healthy meal kit service also boasts the most organic ingredients of any meal kit service including produce, meats and fish.

Green Chef also offers paleo, keto, pescatarian, vegan and vegetarian meals as well as gluten-free meal kit recipes and meals. Read our full review of Green Chef here. EveryPlate keeps overhead costs low by offering just eight easy meal kit recipes to choose from weekly, which mostly excludes vegetarians and those on special diets, but the eight available meals are full of variety and flavor otherwise.

You can expect a lot of comfort food from this meal kit service such as meatloaf, burgers and pasta dishes but everything I made was solid. Why our testers picked Home Chef : Home Chef is a meal kit service with a sprawling menu that includes tons of low-carb options.

Even if you're not going full keto, but just want to curb your carb intake, Home Chef offers 15 recipes per week with less than 15 grams of net carbs in each. On balance, Home Chef meal kits weren't the best we tried, but the bulk of meals we made took less than 25 minutes and the portions were more than satisfying.

That, coupled with its slew of easy, healthy low-carb options, makes Home Chef the best meal kit service for keto eaters. The first big decision you'll make is whether you want meal kits, which require some prep and cooking, or a prepared meal service that sends fully cooked meals that are ready to heat and eat.

After you've picked between meal kits or meal delivery, you'll want to find a service within your budget. Here we've outlined all the best cheap meal delivery services for Our list of the healthiest meal delivery services for is a good place to find all the most nutritious options.

Lastly, you'll want to hone in on exactly how much food you'll want sent to you per week. Most services allow you to change the number of meals or servings in your plan even after you've started. With nearly every service, the more meals your order per delivery, the cheaper it is per meal.

All the meal delivery services may look delicious in their website glamour shots, but that's certainly not enough to convince me. To settle on this list of the best meal delivery service I tried as many as we could get our hands on, noting everything about them from freshness and flavor to ordering, packaging and delivery.

Testing meal kits for CNET means rolling up our sleeves and cooking at least one week's worth of meals from each service, often more. How each meal kit tastes, how easy it was to prepare and the portion sizes are all considered. We also evaluate the website and how easy it is to navigate along with determining how easy it is to pause, cancel or change your order at any given time.

To learn more, we have an in-depth look at how we test meal kits here at CNET. To test each meal delivery service, we tried at least five and sometimes as many as 10 meals from any given service.

I choose a range of meals from the various menu and meal plan offerings and took note of the ordering process, recipe variety and information available. I reheated meals according to the instructions. If there were none, I heated them the way I would if left to my own devices.

Often that meant warming gently in a nonstick skillet or reheating in my air fryer. Many of the meal delivery services offer a microwave heating option, but I almost always found that produced worse results than my trusted methods, even if they typically take a few seconds longer. Not all meal kits are created equally.

Some services are much better depending on your dietary preferences, budget and culinary skill level. If you're looking to cut some of the legwork out of dinner, meal kits and prepared meal services are definitely worth it. The most budget-friendly services cost about the same as buying all the groceries you'd need to make the same meal, with the convenience of having all the ingredients or a box of fully prepared meals sent to your home each week.

That's definitely cheaper than eating out or getting restaurant food delivered, and about the same cost as buying the groceries needed to make the same meals.

In a previous story, we crunched the numbers to find out how much meal kits cost versus buying the same groceries. In reviews and best lists, Blue Apron and HelloFresh are two of the most popular meal kit services for Fresh N Lean and Factor are some of the most popular options for prepared meal subscriptions.

Wellness Nutrition. Best Meal Delivery Services of We've tested and reviewed more than two dozen meal delivery services. Written by David Watsky. Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission.

Reviews ethics statement. David lives in Brooklyn where he's spent more than a decade covering all things edible, including meal kit services, food subscriptions, kitchen tools and cooking tips.

Since earning a BA in English from Northeastern in Boston, he's toiled in nearly every aspect of the food business, including as a line cook in Rhode Island where he once made a steak sandwich for Lamar Odom. Right now, he's likely somewhere stress-testing a blender or researching the best way to make bacon.

Anything with sesame is his all-time favorite food this week. Expertise Kitchen tools, appliances, food science, subscriptions and meal kits. See full bio. Why You Can Trust CNET. Table of Contents Top. Best Meal Delivery Services of What's the best meal delivery service?

Best meal delivery services of Home Chef. Meal delivery services compared. Factors to consider when choosing a meal delivery service. How we tested meal kit services. Other meal delivery services we tested. Meal delivery service FAQs. See at Blue Apron. Best for meal kits. See at Fresh N' Lean.

Best prepared meal delivery service. See at Pete's Paleo. Best for gluten-free meal delivery service. See at CookUnity. Best meal delivery with a variety of recipes.

See at Mosaic Foods. Best for prepared plant-based meal delivery. See at HelloFresh. Best meal delivery service for families. See at Factor.

Best meal delivery service for weight loss. See at Purple Carrot. Best plant-based meal kit service. See at Green Chef. Best for organic meal kits. See at EveryPlate. Cheapest meal kit service. See at Home Chef. Best meal kits for eating keto. FILTER BY all Meal Kit Prepared Meal.

Showing 11 of 11 Results. Show less. Pros Steak and seafood options are included in a standard meal plan Affordable if you choose more than two recipes per week.

Cons Fewer recipe options than other services Doesn't allow for much customization. Type Meal kit. Recipes per week Good for Vegetarian, pescatarian, diabetes-friendly, low-calorie, picky eaters, quick meals. Diet types: Vegetarian, diabetes-friendly, wellness, family-friendly, fast and easy.

See at Blue Apron Best for meal kits Blue Apron. Show expert take Show less. Editors' choice. Pros Most of the food we tried was good or great Healthy options to service many eating plans.

Cons On the pricey side of average No family-sized meals making it expensive to feed a crew. Type Prepared meal. Meal options per week Good for Keto, paleo, Whole30, gluten-free, Mediterranean, vegan, vegetarian, high-protein.

Full Review Read full review. See at Fresh N' Lean Best prepared meal delivery service Fresh N Lean. Pros Quality ingredients including mostly organic meats and produce Great for those avoiding gluten or empty carbs No subscription required.

Cons No real discount for ordering a larger volume of meals The website isn't the best. Good for Healthy, paleo, keto, low-calorie, diabetes-friendly, gluten-free, Whole30, high protein.

See at Pete's Paleo Best for gluten-free meal delivery service Pete's Real Food. Pros Tons of healthy menu options per week Healthy food to service most diets and nutrition plans.

Cons Expensive if you only choose a few meals per week Quality was somewhat inconsistent. Good for Gluten-free, dairy-free, keto, paleo, vegan, low calorie, low carb, plant-based. See at CookUnity Best meal delivery with a variety of recipes CookUnity.

Pros Nearly all the meals I tried were good or better Interesting use of global recipes and flavors Affordable, especially for the family plan. Good for Vegan, vegetarian, paleo, gluten-free, low-calorie. See at Mosaic Foods Best for prepared plant-based meal delivery Mosaic Foods. Pros More than 50 weekly recipes Good for keeping to specific diets or eating plans.

Good for Vegan, vegetarian, keto, gluten-free, low-calorie, Whole30, families, picky eaters. See at HelloFresh Best meal delivery service for families HelloFresh. Good for Healthy, low-calorie, pescatarian, vegetarian, keto, paleo, diabetes-friendly, gluten-free, Whole But because Gobble preps most of the veggies for you, there's unnecessary albeit recyclable packaging for things like chopped onions, which means more stuff for you to dispose of.

Read the full Gobble review. Favorite meal: Paneer and cauliflower tikka masala with garam masala basmati rice. Cost: Visit Gobble for updated pricing. Although we found some flaws with this fully vegan meal delivery service a few years back, our second time testing proved most if not all of our issues had been remedied.

We tried Purple Carrot for two weeks—trying meals from both the meal kit menu and the prepared meals section—and were impressed by the results. Previously, we found the brand to suffer from confusing recipes, bland flavors, and unsatisfying portions.

This time around, we were excited by the menu's international variety, protein-packed ingredients, and overall tastiness. Standout plant based meals included the tamarind cauliflower with gingered fried rice and cashews , which was addictively tasty, and the buffalo tempeh quinoa bowl , which had a satisfying balance of heat and freshness.

We also tried the brand's single-serve prepared meals, which arrive ready to eat after a few minutes in the microwave. These meals weren't to the same level of deliciousness as the freshly made stuff, but they were still hearty, balanced, and decently tasty. We were happy enough to take them to work on in-office days.

Subscribers to Purple Carrot can choose between either two or four servings a week for a meal kit subscription, or three or four meals a week for a prepared meal subscription. You can also add prepared meals to your meal kit subscription for an additional cost—that's what we did.

There are about a dozen meals to choose from each week, and several are conveniently labeled for folks with dietary restrictions, like Gluten-Free or Nut-Free. There are even a few Less Prep options, which feature pre-mixed sauces, pre-cut veggies, and recipes that require fewer pots and pans.

The service also offers breakfast and lunch dishes, plus add-ons think snacks and pantry staples from the cleverly named Plantry.

There were still a few minor hiccups during testing, like an unusual recipe card format and slightly inaccurate cook times. But once you get used to this learning curve it's not a dealbreaker. Whether you're a longtime vegan or just someone looking to add more plant-based ingredients into their life, we recommend subscribing.

Read the full Purple Carrot review. Favorite meal: Tamarind cauliflower with gingered fried rice and cashews. Cost: Visit Purple Carrot for updated pricing. Unlike the other services in this roundup, CookUnity delivers fresh, fully prepared meals directly to your door—no cooking required.

CookUnity wowed us from the moment we created an account and started browsing the hundreds—yes, hundreds —of meal options that are offered in any given week. Each dish on the website is curated by one of CookUnity's featured chefs, who typically specialize in a certain style of cooking.

Subscribers can choose to filter the overwhelming number of offerings by anything from diet type think vegan and keto , ethnicity think Mexican, African, or Mediterranean , or by featured chef once you become familiar with them.

When we tested these meals, it felt like we were dining at a restaurant. Each dish was flavorful, fresh, and enticing; they felt like they had been cooked fresh—but the prep took mere seconds. The meal packaging prompts you to choose between a typical pre-made meal preparation read: microwave or a chef-suggested preparation.

The latter requires popping the tray into the oven or transferring the food into a pan. We opted for the chef's suggestions—and it was worth it. A few of the dishes we tried had smaller portions and left us craving more of a balance of protein, carbs, and veggies.

But this issue can easily be avoided by reading the in-depth meal guides on the website to see what's featured in each dish and what its nutritional information is. Read the full CookUnity review. Favorite meal: Sesame-ginger tofu poke bowl.

Cost: Visit CookUnity for updated pricing. Despite the success of its competition, the original meal kit service still has some fight left in them. Time and experience has allowed Blue Apron to keep prices low, perfect time estimates on recipes, and offer fun wine-pairing and gift options.

When we originally tested this service, we had problems with flavors and ratios being off. Oregano overpowered orecchiette , jalapeño overwhelmed peach salsa, and my polenta was in desperate need of salt, spice, or anything to make it more than a bland mush.

But when we tested it again in , we found that the menu offered much more variety. Flavorful meals like Mexican-spiced shrimp bake and shawarma chicken and currant rice had us enjoying every last bite.

A few details continue to fall short, though, like disorganized packaging and inaccurate time estimates. There's also a lack of vegan offerings with this meal kit. But if you're someone looking for dietician-approved meals, tasty recipes, and options for wine and breakfast, you might be very satisfied with this kit.

Read the full Blue Apron review. Favorite meal: Crispy skin salmon with salsa verde and farro salad. Cost: Visit Blue Apron for updated pricing.

Different plans are available. Each dish we tested, from hibachi-style steak and rice bowls to apricot dijon chicken legs, was quick and easy to prepare and used high-quality ingredients. While we were disappointed by the recipe for creamy peppercorn chicken with roasted potatoes and carrots chicken breast can easily dry out when baked, and the sauce was overwhelmingly peppery , we found the other meals satisfying.

However, EveryPlate is focused on affordability and not specific diet plans, which means its recipes may not suit everyone. But if you're looking to subscribe to a meal kit on a budget, EveryPlate just might do. Read the full EveryPlate review. Favorite meal: Apricot dijon chicken legs with roasted carrots and lemon garlic couscous.

Cost: Visit EveryPlate for updated pricing. Meals like chipotle-spiced steak with potato salad were simple, sophisticated, and downright American, just like the homemaking queen.

The service is also far from ideal for those with dietary restrictions—in typical American fashion, every recipe revolves around an animal protein or heavy carbs.

Since we originally posted our review, Martha and Marley Spoon has added more vegetarian and low-carb options, but we haven't tested them yet.

The service did score points with us for its eco-friendly packaging, made almost entirely from biodegradable materials.

Most of its recipes were also easy to follow for new cooks. Want to learn more? Read our full Martha and Marley Spoon review. Favorite meal: Chipotle-spiced steak with potato salad and charred snap peas. Like Sunbasket, Green Chef promises organic ingredients and a variety of different diet-based meal plans think keto, paleo, and vegan at different price points, with about eight options to choose from per week.

What sets Green Chef apart from other services is its commitment to organic and ethically sourced ingredients. The company is USDA-certified organic, meaning that customers are buying certified ingredients from suppliers that follow strict standards.

When we tore open our bags for dishes like red-miso steak stir-fry and chicken with harissa apricot sauce, we were surprised to see that many of the ingredients were pre-prepped.

The carrots and cabbage were already chopped, the miso sauce was already prepared, and there was a baggie of finely minced garlic and ginger that was almost a paste.

All these pre-prepped ingredients made preparing our food very speedy and simple. Most were plated and ready to eat in 30 minutes, and we only dirtied a handful of prep bowls, one pan, one pot, and a cutting board.

However, convenience has its drawbacks. Many of the pre-chopped veggies were brown or wilting by the time we went to cook with them. But otherwise, we quite enjoyed Green Chef. Read the full Green Chef Review.

Favorite meal: Red-miso steak stir-fry with udon noodles, carrots, edamame, pickled ginger and carrots. Cost: Visit Green Chef for updated pricing. This meal delivery service offers a wide variety of recipes that will satisfy omnivores and vegan customers alike with its certified organic produce.

Fresh pappardelle verde with sweet pea pistou and sugar snap peas and crispy tempeh tenders with barbecue sauce and lemon-shallot green beans were among its standout offerings when we tested. We were impressed by how easily our Sunbasket dinners came together, relying on just a few key ingredients and spice blends to do most of the heavy lifting.

That meant spending less time cooking and more time enjoying the food. We particularly loved the flavorful veggies and non-meat protein options, making Sunbasket perfect for people who avoid eating meat.

You can easily skip weeks, adjust delivery frequency, pause your account, or cancel your subscription entirely by easily navigating the Sunbasket website.

Favorite meal: Fresh pappardelle verde with sweet pea pistou and sugar snap peas. Cost: Visit Sunbasket for updated pricing. There are several options to choose from when it comes to buying a meal delivery kit. To help make your selection a little easier, here are some of the most important factors to keep in mind before you subscribe to a delivery service:.

As with any subscription service, the price is one detail that should not be overlooked, especially since you'll be paying for the delivery on a weekly or monthly basis. As a rule of thumb, stick to the basics when you first start out with a meal delivery service.

See what it has to offer at a price point that matches your budget, and then weigh your options if you decide you want to switch things up.

Not everyone is a connoisseur in the kitchen, and some folks may want their dinner to be prepared more quickly or easily than others. Certain recipes can take longer to prepare, while some may be less labor intensive.

Before ordering your meal kit, check to see how long each recipe is intended to take, as well as how much additional chopping, cutting, or prepping you may have to perform.

If you find yourself having little to no time to cook, then a pre-made meal kit like CookUnity could be your best option. Meal delivery services tend to offer a variety of options to meet a wide range of dietary needs, whether it be low calorie, vegan, or gluten-free dishes.

There's also the benefit of customization, which allows consumers to change some of the ingredients within the meal kit to suit their needs. This is particularly useful when it comes to protein options or excluding a particular ingredient due to an allergy or taste preference.

Before you select your meal kit delivery service, check to see what delivery days or times it offers. Some may vary based on your location, but you'll typically be able to select a delivery date for Monday-Friday, with some services offering weekend availability.

This is important to keep in mind as you sign up for your first delivery to ensure you are receiving your meals at the most convenient time for you. For each service, we ordered at least one box of three or four meals worth two to four servings each.

Using the service's website, we chose a diverse variety of meals when available. We prepared the food on a weeknight for ourselves and our partners or families, and evaluated the quality of ingredients, recipe accuracy and variety, difficulty, speed, cleanup, taste, and more.

We scored and compared each meal and kept detailed notes like true food nerds. Meal prepping and grocery shopping can feel overwhelming. Meal kits are a great way to expand your tastes and eat healthier, bringing you through the cooking process one step at a time and slicing the time it takes to prepare your food in half.

We found many recipes that only took 15 or 20 minutes, and oftentimes less! One study found that popular restaurant meals can have a whopping 1, calories on average per serving.

Using a meal kit service can help you better manage your portions and ingredients to eat more nutritious meals and lead a healthier lifestyle. They can also help you control grocery costs because you won't have excess food going bad in your fridge before you can decide what to do with it.

Almost every service we tried offers a large discount on the first box. Your box is good to sit on your doorstep until the end of the day. Because delivery windows for these services are as broad as a full day, they package ingredients to last outside your actual refrigerator until the end of the day.

Most often, produce and dry ingredients will be grouped in bags above ice packs, and any meat will be fully insulated below ice packs. The packaging is going to be bulky and cumbersome. Recipes are usually seasonal, but favorites are often repeated. Every meal kit service has a different approach to repetition, but most try to make recipes as seasonal as possible to keep you from getting bored and to guarantee fresh, sustainable produce.

That being said, most companies make note of the most popular dishes and offer them many weeks a year, regardless of the season. If you really love one of your meals, hold onto the recipe card for future reference so you can request it again—or make it yourself using store-bought ingredients. Cook your meals soon after receiving them.

Because of transit times, they might actually be older than what you buy from the store. Use common sense when approaching certain dishes—seafood, fresh greens, and chicken should be prepared first, while red meat, pork, and harder produce can last a few more days.

Cancel at least one full week before you want your last box. If you want to skip a week or take a break from deliveries, most services allow you to make those selections, too. Many meal kits are now offered in grocery stores.

To combat the high operational costs of delivery-only services, many companies have partnered with or been acquired by major food stores and are now offering its kits in the grocery aisles.

While we only tested delivery services, many of the recipes we tried are also available in stores for equal or lower prices. Some meal kit companies now offer prepared and heat-and-eat meals. We've noticed a recent trend toward speed and convenience in the meal kit world, both with traditional companies and with frozen and ready-to-eat brands.

Home Chef now offers at least two oven-ready dishes per menu every week, and Sunbasket has introduced both oven-ready and pre-made options. We recommend having a good cast iron pan or a Dutch oven handy. Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.

The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Reviewed on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , TikTok , or Flipboard for the latest deals, product reviews, and more. Cassidy covered all things cooking as the kitchen editor for Reviewed from to An experimental home chef with a healthy distrust of recipes, Cassidy lives by the "Ratatouille" philosophy that, with a few techniques and key tools, anyone can cook.

She's produced in-depth reviews and guides on everything from meal kits to stand mixers and the right way to cook an egg. Madison covered all things cooking as the kitchen editor for Reviewed in Formerly the editor-in-chief of Culture Magazine, Madison is the founder of GRLSQUASH, a women's food, art, and culture journal.

Her work has also appeared in The Boston Globe, Cherrybombe, Gather Journal, and more. She is passionate about pizza, aesthetic countertop appliances, and regularly watering her houseplants. She holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia and a Master's of Liberal Arts in Gastronomy from Boston University.

Previously the Digital Editor at Culture Cheese Magazine and a former barista , she's also had her work published in The Boston Globe, Modern Luxury, Boston Magazine, and more.

Danielle has a B. from Syracuse University and a AAS in Culinary Arts from Newbury College. Previously, Danielle was a Test Cook and Associate Editor at America's Test Kitchen, as well as a freelance recipe developer and food writer.

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