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Lunch kit delivery services are supposed to make your life easier. And they do, once you choose one. But with the field of services expanding rapidly in recent years, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the options. Whether you’re vegan, cooking for a family of six, or just trying to find your legs in the kitchen, there’s probably a service that meets your needs. Some meal kits send you pre-made meals, while others send ingredients combined with recipes, and a few more are grocery delivery services. They all aim to make the planning and cooking process more convenient, and how well they do that varies.
I’ve tested more than two dozen meal kit delivery services over the past few years, and I’ve tested several in this guide to ensure accuracy. Few are really bad, so choose the right one for you comes to the lifestyle. I’m an experienced home cook, and I don’t have any dietary restrictions or picky dietary preferences, but I’ve been looking for plant-based meals with more omnivorous options. I also had help with the taste test from lifelong vegans, finicky children, and my cat (by accident). Considering the recipes, ingredients, ease of use, amount of packaging wasteand the fact that every home chef has different needs, you will find the best meal delivery services below.
Updated January 2025: We’ve added Gardencup and new Gobble photos, plus verified links and prices.
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PRICE: Despite any marketing claims to the contrary, meal kits cost more than buying food. However, they usually cost less than takeout and are healthier. If you want to evaluate whether the exchange is worth it, the good news is that way mattress-in-a-box companies, meal kit companies are usually some ongoing promotions. Most meal kit pricing models offer big discounts: the more meals you buy per week, the lower the price of each portion will be. We go into detail about dietary restrictions and subscription costs below. If you ever want to skip a week or cancel, you can find that information in the account section on the website of your chosen service.
WIRED: Lunch kits are convenient; I didn’t have to worry about planning dinner, grocery shopping, or panicking about junk food after forgetting to eat a proper meal during the day. Learning to cook with one of the best meal delivery services can instill confidence and impart basic knowledge. If you are busy, or can’t be bothered, meal kits can be just what you need to cook, and cooking at home is never a bad thing. Meal kits may be right for you if you cook for a small household, if you work non-traditional hours, if you hate figuring out what to make for dinner, if you want to stop ordering in all the time, or if you just try. to develop your cooking skills.
worn out: Nothing beats learning how to cook the old-fashioned way, so make sure you give it a try, too. It’s cheaper and you learn more if you pick the fruit yourself or break down a whole chicken for $5. You simply you don’t have that experience if everything arrives at your door and the chicken pieces come prepackaged. Planning and shopping at the grocery store is an integral part of the art of cooking. Meal kits are also generally more wasteful than traditional home cooking, and often more expensive. The meal kits may be the wrong choice for you if you are on a tight budget, if you are cooking for a large family, or if you want a tighter control of the specific ingredients that you use.
What if I have allergies, a specific diet, or go on vacation a lot?
You’re probably covered. Most meal kit services have a way to filter out common allergens or dietary preferences, and most recipes have specific nutritional information, so you’ll always be informed. And if you travel a lot, it’s usually easy to go into your account settings and skip a week, pause your plan, or cancel everything. These factors vary by service, but we’ve listed some specifics below.
For each serving below, I tried a minimum of three meals, following the recipe instructions exactly. I mostly made them for dinner and it was important to try a mixture of proteins and the culinary skills required (for example, trying a meal in one pan in addition to a more complex protein, a side dish and a bread sauce). I aimed to try a variety of dishes that would appeal to many people, including veggie-forward options and meals that would be quick to make for a family versus meals that would be good for a date night in.
