The idea of not having to grocery shop, instead getting prepared, portioned meals delivered to our door sounds like a dream for most of us (especially those of us on Team We Hate Cooking).
Meal delivery services and startups are huge these days. Some deliver ingredients you can cook yourself; others prepare the food for you; some are vegan; others incorporate comfort food. But few of us have the luxury, the time or the cash to try out each.
In the question of which is the best, we're sorry to say it depends.
But we compared and contrasted several options to help make your decision easier and more accessible.
After looking at all of the specs and overall cost of the boxes, there is no clear winner-each offers something another doesn't.
Here's our quick and easy chart:
1. Purple Carrot has partnered with Mark Bittman, former New York Times food columnist and author of several books dedicated to healthy eating, including Food Matters: A Guide to Conscious Eating. The originator of the term "part-time veganism," Bittman helps the company come up with meal ideas. CEO Andy Levitt spoke with Mashable and says the emphasis on sustainable farming, food and incorporating veganism into people's everyday lives is what sets Purple Carrot apart. "People start to crave healthier foods on the days of the week they're not cooking with Purple Carrot, and that's a great thing."
2. Hungry Root is unlike the other food services here because it is not a subscription service; customers order by individual meals. All of the meals can be made in under seven minutes and are less than 500 calories. But with constantly evolving recipes, such as black bean brownie batter, cashew Alfredo sauce, and coconut carrot cake bites, no deprivation is required.
3. Sakara Life is for the extremely health conscious (and those with extra money to spend). The meal plan "approaches food holistically, crafting each product to treat the whole body, mentally and physically." All meals are shipped ready to eat; some are suggested to be warmed up, but most are delicious at room temperature. The company is run by two female CEOs: ex-Wall Street exec Whitney Tingle and former model and actress Danielle DuBoise. With recipe names like "Youth and Beauty Salad" and "Earth Broth," it's certainly the luxury brand of food delivery services.
4. HelloFresh claims its the only food delivery program with an actual registered dietician on staff. Plus celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has partnered with the company to create more recipes. The company doesn't have the best rating on Google, but the steps they are making to improve show great promise, and their recipes are impressive, like Cauliflower mac & cheese-a healthier option to everyone's favorite comfort food!
5. Plated strives to be the "most" sustainable food delivery service by trying to source food locally as much as possible, using eco-friendly packaging, and supporting local businesses by using ingredients from "ma and pop" stores in the areas they deliver to. If being a "green eater" is important to you, this is certainly a great option.
6. Blue Apron is one of the more well known food delivery companies and has a very loyal following. Fans swear how helpful and convenient the service is, not to mention delicious. While not the healthiest in terms of organics or under a certain calorie amount, the recipes range in difficulty as well as type of cuisine, from pretzel burgers to fish tacos. Blue Apron is designed for people who genuinely enjoy cooking but just don't have the time to go shopping and put everything together.
7. Green Chef is the only food kit delivery service that is USDA certified organic; over 95% of its ingredients are considered organic and most are locally sourced. Freshness and overall quality of food is its best trait, as well as an impressive variety of diet options: vegetarian, gluten free, omnivore, carnivore, even paleo.
8. Forks Over Knives is another plant-based, whole foods food delivery kit, but it also features recipes and online cooking courses. The Philadelphia-based company tries to source food locally for its kits and strives to find the balance between "convenience and cost."
9. DICED is the newest of the food delivery kit services and is the only one to be exclusively gluten free. DICED is only available in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, but offers next-day delivery. Customers also have the option of one-time meals or subscription services.
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