Written by: Melissa Mitri, MS, RD
Getting a healthy meal on the table is not always an easy feat, especially after a long day. Knowing the best healthy meal delivery services for weight loss can give you a much needed break while also supporting your goals.
Work and family demands can make it difficult and not always realistic to make a home cooked meal all the time. If you struggle to find the time or energy to make healthy meals consistently, this may be slowing down your weight loss progress and leave you feeling like you’re failing.
In order to consistently eat well, simplifying the meal prep process is essential. In order to make it easier to have healthy meals available, investing in a healthy meal delivery service can help.
I often suggest meal delivery programs for my clients who want to improve their diet quality but aren’t able to consistently plan healthy meals. Sometimes, you just don’t have the time or energy to cook, or you may just need more meal ideas that are simple and nutritious.
Luckily, there are several healthy meal delivery options for weight loss that can save you hours of time and energy. When it comes down to it, the more consistent you’re able to be with eating healthy, the more results you’ll see. And when you see more results, you’ll feel more motivated to keep going.
Here I share my top recommendations for healthy meal delivery services for weight loss, including ones that require cooking and ones that are already prepared.
How I chose
I narrowed down the criteria for the best healthy meal delivery services based on ingredient quality, flexibility, sustainability, and taste.
Ingredient Quality:
The type and quality of ingredients that are used to prepare nutrient-dense meals is important. For example, wild-caught fish is preferred to farm-raised, as wild-caught is naturally higher in anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats.
Additionally, locally sourced ingredients typically have a superior nutrient profile and will also taste better.
Flexibility and Sustainability:
If you are going to use a meal delivery service, it’s important that the options are both flexible and sustainable.
An important component of a meal delivery program is that the options are flexible for different types of diets. This will also help reduce boredom so that you can be more consistent with your eating plan.
Boredom can make it difficult for the meal service to be sustained in the long-term, and then you’ll be back to the drawing board.
Instead, choosing a service that offers rotating options that change every week will be more enticing so that you never get tired of them!
This list contains meal delivery services that offer a larger amount of options that are flexible to different dietary needs.
Taste
According to recent research, taste is one of the primary factors that influence our food choices.
Because of this, choosing a healthy meal delivery service with tasty meals is a must-have. If the food doesn’t taste good or is bland, you likely won’t want to have it no matter how easy it is.
Therefore, this list contains meal delivery services that are rated highly for taste.
Based on this criteria, I narrowed down the top 5 of the best healthy meal delivery services for weight loss, depending on what you’re looking for.
Best Overall
Sunbasket
Sunbasket is a popular healthy meal delivery kit that offers meal options that contain whole, nutrient-dense ingredients.
With Sunbasket, there are ready-made meals as well as meals with pre-measured ingredients that you prepare. These 2 options offer the flexibility of giving yourself a break from cooking when you need it, but also having the ability to take pride in cooking it yourself when you’re feeling inclined.
Sunbasket is a certified organic handler and uses all organic produce, wild-caught fish, as well as organic eggs and meats.
There are many meal options available designed for different diets such as paleo, low-carb, vegan, and lean and clean for weight loss. You can also customize your order for 1, 2, or 4 servings.
Every recipe has to be approved by a Registered Dietitian on staff, so you can rest assure they are all nutritious and of high quality.
Pros:
- Large amount of meal choices
- Customers report great taste
- Most meals take less than 30 minutes to prepare
- Recipes approved by Registered Dietitians
Cons:
- May not be suitable for those with food allergies other than gluten or dairy
- More expensive than most other meal kits
Cost:
Starts at $10.99 per serving; available in 1, 2 or 4-serving packages
Who is Sunbasket good for?
I use Sunbasket myself for both the prepared meals as well as ones I have to prepare myself. I really like the taste, variety, and nutritional content of the meals. I usually order from the “Lean and Clean” category which is typically less than 600 calories per meal.
My husband Chris and I find them very filling and flavorful. My kids also love the cauliflower Mac and cheese.
Who is Sunbasket not good for?
Sunbasket may not be the best choice for someone who is on a budget, as the cost is more expensive than some other meal delivery services. If it doesn’t fit within your budget long-term, it will likely be difficult to sustain.
Best Vegan
Purple Carrot
Purple Carrot is another healthy meal delivery service for weight loss that provides 100% plant-based breakfast, lunch, and dinners. Research shows that people who eat more plant-based meals tend to weigh less.
If you follow a vegan or vegetarian diet, Purple Carrot offers both prepared meals and meal kits that you have to prepare, depending on your preference and lifestyle.
There are 8 dinner recipes available to choose from each week. They also offer several meal options for breakfast and lunch as well. You can even order nutritious snacks, such as dried fruit or nut and seed mixes, so you’re fully stocked for weight loss success.
In addition to being certified vegan, Purple Carrot also offers different options such as high protein, gluten-free, nut-free and Chef’s Choice meals weekly for variety.
Meals are available in 2 or 4-serving portions, and typically take 30-40 minutes to prepare.
Pros:
- Plant-focused
- Naturally low in calories for weight loss
- High in fiber and nutrient-dense
Cons:
- Only vegetarian options
- Time commitment to prepare meals may be too long for some
Cost:
$4.49 – $15.99 per serving, depending on the meal and frequency of meals per week
Who is Purple Carrot good for?
Purple Carrot is good for someone who follows a vegan or vegetarian diet, or who wants to incorporate more plant-based meals into their routine. It is also good for someone who doesn’t have the time or desire to cook, as there are prepared options available.
Who is Purple Carrot not good for?
Purple Carrot is not good for someone who is a meat eater or who doesn’t feel satisfied on a vegetarian diet.
Best for the Beginner Cook
Hello Fresh
Hello Fresh is a healthy meal kit service that provides pre-portioned ingredients for meals that you can make yourself at home. Their easy recipes are designed for novice cooks which can give you more ideas for healthy meals.
There are more than 20 different meal options to choose from each week that are fairly simple and quick to prepare. You can order anywhere from 2-5 meals per week and have the option of 2 or 4-serving sizes.
Hello Fresh contains all farm-to-table ingredients, with many of them being organic.
With Hello Fresh, you have the choice of 6 different meal plan options based on your goals and preferences:
- Meat & Veggies: A variety of meals that include meat and vegetables. Good for those seeking more variety and a flexitarian-style diet.
- Veggie: Plant-based meals that are vegetarian but not necessarily vegan. For those who want to incorporate more plant-based meals into their diet.
- Family Friendly: Quick, easy-to-prepare, kid-approved options. For those with kids who don’t want to prepare multiple meals.
- Calorie Smart: Meals that are around 650 calories or less per serving. For those seeking to reduce their calorie intake or lose weight.
- Quick and Easy: Meals that can be cooked in 30 minutes or less. For the more novice cook or someone who doesn’t want to spend a lot of time cooking.
- Pescatarian: Meals featuring seafood, but no other animal proteins. Good for the pescetarian who gets most of their protein from seafood.
Pros:
- Simple recipes
- Affordable
- Variety of recipes available
Cons:
- Meals have to be prepared
- Not allergen-friendly
- No meal plans for specific diet preferences like low carb, keto, or paleo
Cost:
$8.00-$11.00 per serving
Who is Hello Fresh for?
Hello Fresh is for someone new to cooking but who wants to learn, or who is intimidated by complicated recipes. It is also for someone who doesn’t have the time to prepare fancy meals, but wants a healthy and tasty meal in under 30 minutes.
With a larger amount of meal options available, Hello Fresh is also suitable for families and picky eaters.
Who is Hello Fresh not for?
Hello Fresh is not good for someone who wants meals prepared for theml, as these are not available through this company. It is also not ideal for someone with food allergies or who follows a more specific diet such as keto or paleo, as the meal options are not designed to fit these needs.
Best Prepared
Freshly
Freshly is a healthy meal delivery service that solely provides prepared meals you can heat and eat in under 3 minutes.
All of the meals are delivered fresh, not frozen. They are free of any artificial ingredients, refined sugars, or preservatives.
You can choose from 4-12 single serving meals per week with 30 different meal options so you’ll never get bored.
Lower calorie, low carb, and high protein options are available. Some of the lower calorie options are less than 500 calories per serving. They are also high in protein to keep you full.
Additionally, there are gluten-free and dairy-free options available.
Pros:
- No cooking involved
- Quick and convenient
- Perfect for 1 person
Cons:
- Some meals are high in sodium
- No vegan or vegetarian options
- Doesn’t teach you how to cook
Cost:
$8.49 – $11.49 per serving, depending on how many meals per week
Who is Freshly good for?
Freshly is good for someone who is single or lives alone, where only a single serving portion is needed. Freshly is also a great choice for someone who doesn’t enjoy cooking or doesn’t have the time for it, as all the meals are prepared for you.
Who is Freshly not for?
Freshly is not ideal for families, as the meals are only available in 1-serving portions. It is also not for someone who wants to learn how to cook or enjoys cooking, as there is no prep involved.
Best Budget Friendly
Home Chef
Home Chef is a more affordable healthy meal delivery service that offers both prepared meals as well as meal kits.
What sets Home Chef apart from other meal delivery services is that their meals are fully customizable. For example, you have the ability to adjust portions of certain foods, such as doubling your protein serving.
You can change or cancel your subscription at any time, which offers flexibility for the customer.
Home Chef features over 20 recipe options each week, with calorie-friendly, vegetarian, and carb-conscious options available. You have the ability to order anywhere from 2-6 meals per week which includes 2, 4, or 6-serving options.
They offer a variety of meal options suitable for families and picky eaters, with many meals that can be made in 30 minutes or less.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Meals are customizable
- Vegetarian and low carb options available
Cons:
- Some meals are high in sodium
- Not allergen-friendly
- Some meals are time-consuming to prepare
Cost:
Starting at $6.99 per serving, depending on how many meals per week
Who is Home Chef good for?
Home Chef is good for those seeking a budget-friendly healthy meal delivery service. It is also good for families and picky eaters, as there are a large amount of meal options.
Who is Home Chef not for?
Home Chef is not for those who don’t want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen, as some of their meal kits require close to an hour to prepare. It is also not good for someone who needs to follow a low sodium diet or has high blood pressure, as even many of the healthier meals are high in salt.
If you’re overwhelmed with meal prep and need a tool to make healthy eating easier, a meal delivery service can help. The healthy meal delivery services in this article can help make your life easier and support your weight loss goals.
For more support and guidance in your weight loss journey, sign up for a FREE 30-minute virtual nutrition call. During this call, we’ll discuss your particular goals and see if my Weight Loss Accountability Program is a good fit for you.
