The Best Meal Planning Services Make Mealtime Easy

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We all know the feeling of coming home exhausted and hungry after a long day. You hurry over to the fridge in search of some food, open the door, and…nothing. The fridge is empty, at least of anything appetizing, and you don’t have the time or energy required to grab your shopping list, hit the grocery store, prepare a meal and do the dishes. At this point the standard playbook calls for ordering takeout, grabbing snacks from the pantry, or eating nothing at all (not an option if you have a family to feed). None of these are great options, especially if you have specific health goals such as weight loss. So, I encourage you to try something new and consider utilizing a meal planning service.

The best meal planning service for you can come in a variety of different forms including ready-to-cook meal kits with pre-portioned ingredients to fully prepared pre-packaged meals. It’s incredibly convenient knowing you can come home, quickly pop a container in the oven or microwave and minutes later have a healthy and delicious meal for you and your family. The great thing about these services is that they are built to fit your needs. You select the number of meals that works for you. These services can be used for breakfast, lunch and dinner to completely overhaul your routine or as a way to keep some ready meals on-hand in the fridge or freezer to supplement your diet on the days when you really need them.

To help with your selection, we analyzed 10 different meal planning services to see how they compare on quality, affordability and customer reviews. While they all will have their pros and cons, there will definitely be a prepared meal delivery service that aligns with your dietary needs. These are our top-picks for the best meal planning services to fuel your busy life.

This content is meant to be informative, but should not be taken as medical advice. It is not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention or treatment of health problems. Always speak with your doctor before starting any new supplement or exercise regimen.

Our Picks for the Best Meal Planning Service

• Best Meal Planning Service for Weight Loss: Nutrisystem
• Best Overall Meal Planning Service: Freshly
• Best Meal Planning Service for Vegetarians: Purple Carrot
• Best Meal Planning Service for Families: Mosaic Foods
• Best Heat-and-Eat Meal Planning Service: Factor 75
• Best Meal Planning Service for Single Servings: Blue Apron
• Best Meal Planning Service for Dietary Restrictions: Home Chef
• Best Meal Planning Service for Healthy Eaters: Sunbasket
• Best Meal Planning Service for Eating Local: Territory
• Best Meal Planning Service Breakfast, Lunch and Snacks: Sakara

If you’re looking for help tracking your dietary needs, we suggest using Noom. Noom helps users understand the psychology behind their eating habits. Noom can help you reach your fitness and nutrition goals to build a healthier life.

Best Meal Planning Service for Weight Loss: Nutrisystem

Lose weight with 50% off plans, 50% off a month of shakes and free shaker bottle

Key features

• Heat-and-eat meals, snacks and protein shakes delivered to your door
• Six meals and snacks per day
• Personalized diets and app access with guided meal plans

Nutrisystem is a meal delivery service focused on weight loss. You begin by choosing the plan that suits you best (i.e., women, men, partners, over 55, diabetic) and then choose your meals. You can either hand-select all of your meals and snacks, or take the guesswork out of it and opt to have the company send you the most popular options.

From there, you’ll have access to Nutrisytems NuMi app, which helps to further personalize your meal plan, based on your dietary habits and goals. Nutrisystem’s plans are designed to simplify healthy eating and weight loss, with meals designed with the help of nutritionists.

Related Post: The Best Meal Planning Apps 

After your first week of eating only Nutrisystem meals, snacks and meal replacement shakes if you so choose, you will slowly add in fresh fruits and vegetables, lean protein and other home-cooked meals, with the guidance of recipes in the app. You can also tap experts such as weight loss coaches and registered dietitians to help you reach your goals.

Pros:

• No calorie counting
• Meals prepared for you
• Money-back guarantee
• Access to weight loss coaches, registered dietitians and certified diabetes educators

Cons:

• Expensive
• Lower-calorie meals may be less flavorful

It's important to consult with your doctor before making any dietary changes. If you have underlying concerns like body dysmorphia, disordered eating or an eating disorder, please consult your doctor before beginning a weight loss program. Therapy or a more psychological approach to weight management may be needed.

Best Overall Meal Planning Service: Freshly

Key features:

• Food delivered fresh and never frozen
• Delicious and nutritious meals are ready in minutes
• The more meals you purchase, the more you save
  

Freshly is a meal delivery service that offers customers ready-to-eat pre-made meals delivered fresh to their door. The rotating menu has over 35 different options to choose from, and all food is cooked in house using all-natural fresh ingredients. Each meal is around 400-600 calories and is portioned appropriately to provide customers a well-balanced nutritious diet.

Pros:

• Gluten-free, dairy-free and plant-based meal options are available
• Foods are prepared in house and come fresh never frozen
• Customer reviews say the meals are delicious and the portion sizes are satisfying
• The Freshly app makes it easy to choose meals and track deliveries

Cons:

• Freshly meals can be expensive, especially when compared to other meal delivery services or cooking at home
• Freshly isn’t available everywhere and might not be an option for you based on your location
• Shipping isn’t free and you currently don’t have the option for meal deliveries to occur on a specific day of the week
  
  

Best Meal Planning Servie for Vegans and Vegetarians: Purple Carrot

Key features:

• Subscription based service that offers nutritious plant-based meals
• Options include meal kits and pre-prepared meals
• Plant-based breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks
  

If you’re looking for a vegetarian meal delivery service, then Purple Carrot is for you. Purple Carrot is a 100 percent plant-based meal delivery service focused on whole-foods. Customers can choose from a variety of meals, snacks and desserts that are vegan, non-GMO and free of refined sugars. Each delivery consists of a variety of ingredients including fruits, vegetables and plant-based sources of proteins

Pros:

• Purple Carrot offers plant-based high protein options
• High quality and seasonal ingredients on a rotating menu
• Generous portion sizes perfect for two people
• Shipping is always free

Cons:

• Purple Carrot has limited pre-packaged meals and meal-kits available at one time
• Customer reviews say some meals lack flavor
• Currently only two plan options available (two or four servings plans)
  
  

Best Meal Planning Service for Families: Mosaic Foods

Key features:

• Vegan-friendly health-conscious meals
• Meals include veggie and oat bowls, smoothies, soups and more
• Flexible subscription-based meal delivery service
  

Mosaic Foods is a plant-based company that produces a variety of vegan meals and health-conscious snacks. Its products are designed to provide plant-based, nutrient-rich alternatives to traditional processed foods. Its product range includes veggie bowls, soups, oat bowls, smoothies, pizzas and more. It even offers large family meal options ready to feed the entire family.

Pros:

• Gluten-free and dairy-free options are available
• Mosaic Foods never uses artificial ingredients or preservatives in its meals
• Family sized meal options are available to feed the whole family
• Boxes over $100 ship free (otherwise shipping is $7.99)

Cons:

• The selection of meals offered by Mosaic Foods is limited
• The large family meals require planning and can take a long time to cook
  

Best Heat-and-Eat Meal Planning Service: Factor 75

Key features:

• Factor 75 provides fresh pre-packed meals to support your busy lifestyle
• The brand shops, preps, cooks and delivers the meals right to your front door
• Meals are made fresh and are always feature non-GMO and organic produce

Factor 75 is a meal delivery service that provides fresh, nutritious, farm-to-table meals cooked by professional chefs and delivered directly to your door. Its meals are designed to provide you with the balanced nutrition you need to fuel a healthy lifestyle. It offers a wide range of meal options, including low-calorie, vegan, vegetarian, keto, high-protein and gluten-free meals. All meals are ready-to-eat, made with organic and non-GMO ingredients, and are free of added sugars and preservatives.

Pros:

• Fresh, never frozen meals stay fresh in the fridge for a full seven days
• Free sessions are available with Factor 75’s online nutrition coaches and dietitians
• Rotating weekly meal menu consisting of 34 different choices

Cons:

• Meals start at $11 which is more expensive than other meal delivery services
• Customers have had issues with customer service and their boxes not showing up on time
  

Best Meal Planning Service for Single Servings: Blue Apron

Key features:

• Blue Apron “Heat and Eat” offers ready made meals
• Offers single serving options
• Meals are shipped frozen. Should be stored in the refrigerator, and eaten within five days of delivery
  

While Blue Apron is known for its meal kits, its new “Heat and Eat” options are perfect if you’re looking to save time in the kitchen. Blue Apron promises these low maintenance meals deliver the same quality and flavor as their traditional meal kits, serving up dishes like Calabrian Chile Meatballs, Cheesy Guajillo Chicken and Rice, and Soy-Miso Chicken and Udon Noodles. The “Heat and Eat” meals come in a single serving making it the perfect option if you’re cooking for one. Blue Apron says each meal is ready to eat in five minutes or less. You’ll be able to choose your meals from a rotating list. Blue Apron offers a variety of meal plan options including vegetarian, diabetes-friendly and wellness options allowing you to have healthy meals in minutes.

Pros:

• Wide variety of 50+ meal options to choose from
• Blue Apron offers wines specially chosen to complement the Blue Apron recipes
• Blue Apron offers kid-friendly meal options

Cons:

• Expensive when compared to standard grocery shopping
• Shipping costs can be high depending on your location
  

Best Meal Planning Service for Dietary Restrictions: Home Chef

Key features:

• Subscription based service offering two prepared meal service: “Fast and Fresh” and “Oven Ready”
• Answer a few questions about your taste, serving size and dietary preferences and allow Home Chef to personalize your menu
• Customize your weekly order with a variety of new meals

Popular meal-kit delivery service Home Chef now offers two pre-made meal delivery services to make dinnertime quick and easy. The “Oven Ready” meals serve up fresh pre-portioned ingredients, ready to go inside an oven-safe tray. Home Chef says “Oven Ready” meals require little to no preparation, perfect for a busy night or when you just don’t want to cook. Looking to save even more time? Then Home Chef’s “Fast and Fresh” option might be for you. This service provides easy meals that go right into your microwave, and are ready to eat in under five minutes. Both the “Oven Ready” and “Fast and Fresh” offer family-friendly sized meals and smaller serving options. Meals can be tailored to suit dietary preferences, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and offer calorie-conscious and low-carb options.

Check out our in-depth Home Chef review for more information on this popular meal-kit delivery service. 

Pros:

• Offers a wide variety of meals
• Delivers all over the country
• All boxes, bottles and jars are fully recyclable
• Starting at $7.99 per meal the price is affordable

Cons:

• $9.99 shipping fee per box
  

Best Meal Planning Service for Healthy Eaters: Sunbasket

Key features:

• Delicious meals made with farm-fresh, organic ingredients delivered right to your door
• Meals are ready in minutes and are delivered fresh each week
• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Snack options available
  
  

Sunbasket is an all-in-one meal kit delivery service that provides high-quality ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes to make delicious meals at home. Sunbasket offers a variety of organic, sustainable, and seasonal ingredients, as well as meal plans tailored to specific diets, like paleo, gluten-free, keto, Mediterranean, pescatarian, and more. With Sunbasket, customers can easily create delicious meals in as little as 5 minutes.

Related Post: Best Healthy Meal Delivery Services 

Pros:

• 99 percent of produce is certified USDA organic and on the rare occasion it isn’t they will let you know
• Protein sources are raised without hormones or antibiotics
• Recipes are convenient and easy to follow

Cons:

• Meals can be expensive so it might not be an affordable option for everyone
• Customers say the ordering process can be improved and streamlined
  

Best Meal Planning Service for Eating Local: Territory

Key features:

• Territory is a subscription-based meal delivery service
• It focuses on fresh locally sourced ingredients
• It operates using local farms, vendors and chefs in your area

Territory is a meal delivery service that focuses on delivering fresh, locally sourced meals to customers throughout the United States. The company offers a variety of different meal plans and allows customers to customize their orders to fit their dietary needs. All meals are prepared with fresh ingredients and cooked to order and delivered straight to customers’ homes or offices.

Pros:

• Seasonal menu with over 35 menu options weekly
• Meals can be customized to suit your dietary needs
• It can recommend menu items based on your health and wellness goals

Cons:

• Lock of control regarding the ingredients and portion sizes of your meals
• Territory is only available in a limited area
• Lack of detailed nutrition information

Best Meal Planning Service for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Snacks: Sakara

Key features:

• Sakara meal delivery service offers organic plant-based meals designed to provide optimal nutrition
• Meals are prepared and shipped fresh on the same day and are ready to eat in minutes
• The Sakara menu includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and beverage options

Sakara is a plant-based meal delivery service that provides health-promoting, organic meals to its customers. The company offers a variety of meal plans and snacks, which are designed to provide maximum nutrition and convenience. The meals are prepared using fresh, organic ingredients and are free of gluten, dairy, soy and refined sugars. Sakara also provides tips and recipes to help customers create a healthier lifestyle.

Pros:

• Organic plant-based meals
• Meals are designed to help with weight loss, energy levels and skin health
• Meals are all gluten-free, dairy-free and non-GMO

Cons:

• This is a boutique style meal delivery service that is very expensive
• Consumers with specific dietary needs may not be able to find suitable meal options
  

How to Choose the Best Meal Planning Service for You

In order to figure out which meal planning service is the best for you, I would start by thinking about your specific dietary needs. Do you need meals that are either paleo, keto or gluten-free, or maybe you prefer plant-based options. You also want to think about your specific health and fitness goals. Are you an aspiring bodybuilder who needs a certain amount of protein per meal or are you looking for some low-carb meals to aid with weight loss? These initial questions will help narrow down your search for a company that offers meals that suit your specific dietary preferences.

The next step would be finding a price point you are comfortable with. A great initial exercise is determining how much money you spend on food over the course of a week through groceries and eating out. You can then use this information to estimate how much you are spending per day and per meal. From there you can figure out which services might work with your budget. However, you should remember that even if the meals might come out to be slightly more expensive monetarily, you are saving in other areas, such as time spent shopping, cooking and cleaning.

Finally, I would suggest looking at the types of meals the service has available and determine if they fit your needs. For example, if you want to be completely hands-off then you need a service that offers ready-to-eat breakfast, lunch, dinner and even snack options. You also need to take into account whether you are purchasing meals just for yourself or you need them for your entire family. You also want to consider the menu and how many different meals or meal kits they offer.

If you answer all of these questions, then you are definitely on the right track to finding the perfect meal planning service for you.

How We Chose the Best Meal Planning Services

When we were looking for the best meal planning service available, we considered four important factors. We analyzed the quality of the ingredients, the cost associated with the service, the types of meals and services available, and last but not least, the customer reviews.

FAQs

Is there a service that helps you meal prep?

Yes, you can use every meal delivery service on this list for meal prep depending on what you are looking for. These companies either prepare the meals for you and therefore eliminate the need for personal meal prep, or they give the ingredients and recipe to prepare the meal yourself.

How do you meal plan on a tight budget?

When you actually do the math and compare the price of these meal delivery services to the amount you spend on groceries and eating out each week, you will likely find that these services are pretty affordable. As mentioned earlier, when using these services, you are also able to save a significant amount of time and energy since you are no longer grocery shopping or preparing your own meals. That being said, if you still want to utilize these services while on a tight budget then I have a few tips. The first is using these meals for the times of the day that you struggle with the most. For example, it usually is pretty simple to throw together a simple breakfast or snack, however lunch and dinner are often more time consuming and complicated. So, you might only want to use a meal delivery service for one or two meals throughout the day rather than for every single meal. You also might be using a meal delivery service because you are so busy during the week, but have additional time to cook your own meals on the weekend. In this case, I would suggest only ordering enough meals to cover Monday through Friday knowing that you have the extra time to shop and cook on the weekend. If you make these small adjustments, you can find that these meal services can be very budget friendly.

Final Thoughts

Life can be incredibly hectic, and we don’t always have time to hit the grocery store and plant out a weekly menu. So, when we get hungry and have to figure out something to eat, we usually choose the path of least resistance. This often involves fast-food, takeout or eating some simple snacks. However, these prepared meal delivery services are the perfect solution to this problem, especially if healthy eating is a priority. They allow you to cut down on food waste, to still eat delicious and nutritious meals while living your busy life.

Although, these meal planning services aren’t just for people that lead extremely busy lives or simply hate cooking. Even the most disciplined of grocery shoppers and meal planners will struggle from time to time to always have food prepared and ready to go. This is another example of where these services can be such a phenomenal resource. Having a few easy meals stored in the fridge or freezer is perfect for those situations where you just don’t have enough time to cook a healthy meal. With dishes ranging from comfort food, to vegetarian options and healthy meals, there is something for every palate. From the reviews you can see people swear by these services, so if you are on the fence, I suggest you ditch the grocery lists and give one of these services a try.

Prices are accurate and items in stock as of publish time.