If you can afford the cost of a meal subscription service, it can provide some peace of mind during these uncertain times with regularly scheduled deliveries of everything you need to feed your family.
There's a variety of options, from boxes of fresh meat and produce to pre-cooked meals, and even some that cater to certain diets.
Here are some meal subscription services you might consider trying:
1. EveryPlate
What you get: EveryPlate claims to offer more bites for your buck due to not catering to special diets. There are 11 dishes to choose from per week. Recipes only have six steps and will be ready in 30 minutes or less.
It comes with labeled ingredients, recipe cards with step-by-step instructions all packed into an insulated box.
Cost: $4.99 per serving plus $8.99 shipping.
- Dinner for 2 - 3 times a week, costs $38.93 per week
- Dinner for 2 - 4 times a week, costs $48.91 per week
- Dinner for 2 - 5 times a week, costs $58.89 per week
- Dinner for 4 - 3 times a week, costs $68.87 per week
They deliver to the vast majority of the continental U.S. You can enter your zip code in the checkout to see if they will deliver to you.
COVID-19: You can read how EveryPlate is handling COVID-19 here.
2. Freshly
What you get: Pre-cooked meals ready to pop into the microwave. They offer flavorful, good-for-you food that’s chef-prepared, delivered fresh and ready in three minutes. They have a weekly rotation of 30+ dishes that includes options that are under 500 calories, under 35 grams of carbs and dairy-free. They can also accommodate an entirely gluten-free and a peanut-free menu.
It comes with individual meals portioned into a microwave-ready tray packed into a special modified atmospheric package to keep your food cool and fresh.
Cost: Depending on the on the meal plan you choose, the average meal can cost between $7.99/meal and $11.50/meal.
- 4 meals per week - $11.50/meal
- 6 meals per week - $8.99/meal
- 9 meals per week - $8.99/meal
- 12 meals per week - $7.99/meal
They deliver to certain areas within all states within the continental U.S. You can input your email and zip code on their home page, and they will let you know if they deliver to you.
COVID-19: You can read how the Freshly is handling COVID-19 here.
3. Home Chef
What you get: Carb-conscious, calorie-conscious, non-vegetarian and vegetarian meals. You can select recipes each week. You can upgrade to customize your dishes and swap or double up on proteins on select meals.
It comes with fresh, portioned ingredients in an insulated box with step-by-step recipe cards.
Cost: Meals are priced starting at $6.99 per serving depending on current available menu options. Meals can be customized, which may change the cost of the meal.
They deliver to 98% of the U.S. You can enter your zip code during the sign-up process and they will let you know if you’re in a delivery zone.
COVID-19: You can read how the Home Chef is handling COVID-19 here.
4. Daily Harvest
What you get: Daily Harvest offers organic fresh foods all built on fruits and vegetables, such as smoothies, harvest bowls, flatbreads, soups, oat bowls, chia bowls and lattes.
It comes with frozen ingredients packed in dry ice and recipe steps for how to prepare.
Cost: Plans start at $6.99/item and can be adjusted to a weekly or a monthly plan.
They deliver to 95% of the continental U.S. To check if you’re in a delivery zone, click “get started” on their home page and enter in your zip code and email address.
5. Purple Carrot
What you get: They offer plant-based, high-protein, gluten-free, vegan meals. You have the option to choose preferences and customize your meals, or select “no preference” and receive their Chef’s Choice meals, which are hand-picked by their culinary team.
It comes with pre-measured ingredients and recipe cards in an insulated box with non-toxic ice packs.
Cost: Free shipping and plans priced per serving.
- 2 servings 3 times per week - $11.99/serving
- 2 servings 4 times per week - $11.99/serving
- 4 servings 2 times per week - $9.99/serving
- 4 servings 3 times per week - $9.99/serving
They deliver to the continental U.S. Check availability by entering your zip code on their website. Depending on your location, your delivery will arrive on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday.
COVID-19: You can read how Purple Carrot is handling COVID-19 here.
6. Gobble
What you get: Lean and clean meals featuring lean proteins, healthy fats, and under 600 calories per serving. Meals are easily prepared in 15 minutes using only one pan. They also offer gluten-free, dairy-free, low-carb and vegetarian meals.
It comes with prepped ingredients ready to toss into a pan, packed into an insulated box.
Cost: $11.99/serving plus a $6.99 shipping fee.
They deliver to the continental U.S., except North Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska.
COVID-19: You can read how Gobble is handling COVID-19 here.
7. Dinnerly
What you get: Simple recipes with fresh ingredients. Each meal has approximately six ingredients. They offer some vegetarian options.
It comes with ingredients and digital recipe cards in an insulated box with ice packs.
Cost: $8.99 shipping and plans priced per serving.
- 2 servings 2 times per week - $4.99/serving
- 2 servings 3 times per week - $4.89/serving
- 2 servings 4 times per week - $4.79/serving
- 4 servings 3 times per week - $4.99/serving
- 4 servings 4 times per week - $4.69/serving
- 4 servings 5 times per week - $4.49/serving
They deliver to most of the contiguous U.S.
COVID-19: You can read how Dinnerly is handing COVID-19 here.
8. Hello Fresh
What you get: Healthy recipes with pre-measured ingredients sourced straight from the farm. You can choose from a weekly menu and get the exact ingredients you will need. They test each recipe 45 times to ensure that it is delicious and simple to make. Vegetarian and low-calorie options are available.
It comes with easy-to-follow recipes with clear nutritional information and labeled ingredients in a meal kit that fits right into the fridge.
Cost: $7.99 shipping and meals priced per serving.
- 2 servings 3 times per week - $8.99
- 2 servings 4 times per week - $8.99
- 4 servings 3 times per week - $7.49
They deliver to the continental U.S. You can check availability in your area by entering in your zip code on the website.
COVID-19: You can read how Hello Fresh is handling COVID-19 here.
9. Sun Basket
What you get: Quick and easy recipes and pre-portioned, clean ingredients including USDA organic produce. They offer paleo, carb-conscious, gluten-free, lean and clean, diabetes-friendly, chef’s choice, vegetarian, pescatarian, Mediterranean and quick-and-easy options.
It comes with measured and labeled organic ingredients in recyclable and compostable packaging.
Cost: Meals priced per serving:
- 2 servings 2 times per week - $12.99/serving
- 2 servings 3 times per week - $11.99/serving
- 2 servings 4 times per week - $10.99/serving
- 4 servings 2 times per week - $12.99/serving
- 4 servings 3 times per week - $11.99/serving
- 4 servings 4 times per week - $10.99/serving
They deliver to most of the continental U.S., excluding parts of Montana, New Mexico and North Dakota.
COVID-19: You can read how Sun Basket is handling COVID-19 here.
10. Martha & Marley Spoon
What you get: Choose from 22 original Martha Stewart-approved meals each week. Each meal can be made in 30 minutes or less. They offer low-carb, non-dairy, gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan, meat and fish options.
It comes with step-by-step instructions to help cook your pre-portioned fresh ingredients in a chilled delivery box.
Cost: $8.99 shipping and meals priced per serving.
- 2 servings 2 times per week - $10.25/serving
- 2 servings 3 times per week - $8.99/serving
- 2 servings 4 times per week - $8.49/serving
- 4 servings 2 times per week - $8.49/serving
- 4 servings 3 times per week - $7.49/serving
- 4 servings 4 times per week - $6.99/serving
They deliver to most of the contiguous U.S. states.
COVID-19: You can read how Martha & Marley Spoon is handling COVID-19 here.
11. Little Spoon – for babies!
What you get: You will get fresh, plant-based, organic baby food. All of the blends are free of preservatives and additives and are not made with extreme heat processing.
It comes with blends shipped in an insulated delivery box with ice packs.
Cost: Blends start at $2.99, but pricing varies depending on your location. You can go to theirhomepage and click the “get started” button to price out your baby’s nutrition plan.
They deliver to all 48 contiguous states.
12. Blue Apron
What you get: Original, seasonal recipes with ingredients sourced from hundreds of family-run farms. They offer meat, fish, Beyond Meat, Weight Watchers-approved and diabetes-friendly options. They now have a market for kitchen tools and wine delivery as well.
It comes with step-by-step instructions, perfectly portioned ingredients (including spices) in recyclable packaging with recyclable ice packs.
Cost: Shipping is free for all plans except for 2 servings and 2 meals per week (which has a $7.99 shipping fee).
- 2 servings 2 times per week - $9.99/serving
- 2 servings 3 times per week - $9.99/serving
- 4 servings 2 times per week - $8.99/serving
- 4 servings 3 times per week - $7.99/serving
- 4 servings 4 times per week - $7.49/serving
They deliver to all locations in the continental U.S.
COVID-19: You can read how Blue Apron is handling COVID-19 here.
13. Factor 75
What you get: Fresh, chef-prepared, healthy meals ready to pop into the microwave. All meals are gluten-free, soy-free, non-GMO, and include zero antibiotics, hormones or refined sugars.
It comes with meals delivered to you in completely BPA-free CPET individual plastic containers. Everything is shipped in insulated boxes with gel packs that keep the box at refrigerated temperature.
Cost: Price per meal depends on plan.
- 4 meals per week - $15.00/meal
- 6 meals per week - $12.83/meal
- 8 meals per week - $12.38/meal
- 12 meals per week - $11.50/meal
- 18 meals per week - $11.00/meal
They deliver to all 48 contiguous states.
COVID-19: You can read how Factor 75 is handling COVID-19 here.