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Many people are shifting away from eating meat and incorporating more vegetarianoptions into their diet. For some, that means becoming fully vegetarian orvegan; for others, it means eating meatless a few times a week. Another recent trend is mealdelivery services, which have become increasingly popular. Initially, theydidn’t cater to vegetarians, but now we have numerous vegetarian meal deliveryservices to satisfy growing demand.
At ACTIVE.com, we have published several articles about vegetarian eating,including the prosand cons of such diets, as well as how avid runnersor cyclistscan fuel themselves with plant-based food. We admit that it can be difficult tocook and maintain a meatless diet and get sufficient nutrition, especially forthose with busy lives who don’t have a background in food science, but with somany vegetarian meal delivery services now available, you can have nutrient-richmeals delivered right to your door. To make it easier for you, we’ve sortedthrough the top vegetarian meal delivery services in this increasinglycompetitive field to give you the info you need to determine which is best foryou.
The Best Vegetarian Meal Delivery Service - Our Top Picks
- Best Overall Vegetarian Meal Delivery Service: Freshly
- Best Variety Vegetarian Meal Delivery Service: HelloFresh
- Best Budget Vegetarian Meal Delivery Service: Side Chef
- Best Organic Vegetarian Meal Delivery Service: Fresh N Lean
- Best Gluten-free Vegetarian Meal Delivery Service: Green Chef
- Best Prepared Vegetarian Meal Delivery Service: Fresh N Lean
- Best Vegetarian Meal Delivery Service for Beginners: Splendid Spoon
Why Trust Us?
The health and safety of ACTIVE’s readers is of the utmost importance to us. To ensure your well-being when consuming food products, the ACTIVE.com editorial team prioritizes products that rank high in nutritional value. We’ve consulted with a team of nutritionists and dietitians to ensure the products we feature are of the highest standard. This helps us create the most accurate, authentic review content for our readers.
Best Overall Vegetarian Meal Service - Freshly
SPECS
- Servings per meal:1
- Meals per week:c4-12
- Menu options per week: Varies every week, but there are about 8 purely vegetarian options on the menu
- Location: Delivers to the continental U.S.
Founded in 2012, Freshly is at the forefront of food delivery services. As thename of the company suggests, Freshly meals are fresh and never frozen. Inaddition, no ingredient assembling is ever needed. Just pop your single-servingmeals into a microwave or onto a stovetop and eat in minutes.
As the company prioritizes whole ingredients and balanced meals designed bynutritionists and culinary scientists, it's no surprise that Freshly offersunique menu items for vegetarian eaters. The new "Purely Plant" menu includesplant proteins made from peas, chickpeas, and lentils, all of which are rich infiber. Furthermore, with cuisines usually inspired from all over the world,you're sure to find an array of spices and flavors throughout the menu.Freshly's chefs frequently take inspiration from South and East Asia, so if youenjoy those cuisines, you're sure to find satisfaction. Lastly, you can alwayssee what ingredients are in your food and how your meal was cooked; totaltransparency always makes for a happy customer, or, in this case, a happy eater.
Reliable, deliverable throughout the continental United States, and, as thecompany name implies, always fresh: For those reasons, Freshly tops our list asthe best overall vegetarian meal delivery service.
What We Like
- New "Purely Plant" menu
- Freshly meals contain 60% less sugar for the average American
- You can easily contact a Freshy nutritionist
- Nutritionists and scientists design high-protein, nutrient-dense, low-calorie meals
- Packaging is 100% recyclable
What We Don't Like
- Meals are not normally over 650 calories
- You cannot customize specific meals, so people with restrictions cannot place special requests
- Few breakfast options
- The meals can be expensive. Freshly uses a tiered system for its pricing: the more you buy, the less you pay
Best Variety Vegetarian Meal Delivery Service - Hello Fresh
SPECS
- Servings per meal: 1
- Meals per week: 2-6 meals per week for 2-4 people
- Menu options per week: More than 30 vegetarian menu options each week!
- Location: Delivers to the continental U.S.
Hello Fresh is widely known around the world as one of the most reliable andcomprehensive food delivery services. Founded in Germany in 2011, Hello Freshhas quickly captured the attention—and tummies—of Americans, and has becomepossibly the most popular food delivery service in the U.S. In fact, Hello Freshactually owns Green Chef, which is mentioned above as the best gluten-freevegetarian option.
Hello Fresh does not send ready-to-eat meals to your doorstep; instead, youget prepped and measured quality ingredients—all you have to do is follow theinstructions, which are packaged alongside your meal. Hello Fresh is our choicefor the best variety of vegetarian food service because it has more vegetarianoptions than any other service out there. With 30-plus fully vegetarian optionseach week, you can be sure of enjoying the most diverse, tasty recipes andingredients world culinary has to offer.
Furthermore, with the new option to swap sides within your meals or even tosupplement your meals with extra ingredients of your own, you'll always be ableto have favorite flavors or side dishes. With Hello Fresh, your palette willalways be engaged, surprised, and satisfied.
What We Like
- Very affordable, especially compared with other meal delivery services
- 2,500 easy-to-cook dinner recipes available online
- Committed to increasing social welfare through free meals to those in need
- Environmentally sustainable: All components of the delivery box, including insulation, are recyclable; also, according to a University of Michigan study, Hello Fresh has a carbon footprint that’s 25% lower than if you were to buy from grocery stores
- Food sourcing from several farms and carefully selected outlets
What We Don't Like
- Cooking some of Hello Fresh recipes can take 40 minutes or more
- Not fully organic
- With already measured ingredients in separate bags, you're left with a lot of recycling to sift through
- Subscription-based service
Best Budget Vegetarian Meal Delivery Service - Side Chef
SPECS
- Servings per meal: 1-6
- Meals per week: Unlimited
- Menu options per week: Side Chef has thousands of recipes on its website and app
- Location: Ingredients available at the closest Walmart store
If you want to learn how to cook but don't enjoy reading cookbooks or sleuthingin grocery stores for ingredients, Side Chef is a great fit for you. It wasdesigned to alleviate those chores to help people save time and feel empoweredin the kitchen. Here's how it works: go to the Side Chef app or website, scrollthrough the different menu items, add the ones you like to your cart, and thenpick up the ingredients at Walmart. Just watch the explanatory cooking video foryour specific meal, and you'll be eating in no time.
Because you are buying ingredients for a specific menu item and not a completemeal, Side Chef offers thousands of affordable vegetarian options spanning worldcuisine. It’s an incredibly diverse menu that you can also tweak, depending onyour dietary needs. Of course, ordering through Side Chef requires that youcook, so unless you enjoy spending significant time in the kitchen, this may notbe the best option for you. Yet, because the ingredients are sourced fromWalmart and can be bought in bulk, prices for Side Chef ingredients are veryreasonable.
A final perk. If you already have some ingredients or staples that are calledfor in your meals list, you can remove them from your order and use what’s inyour cupboard or fridge! For these reasons, Side Chef earns our nod as the bestbudget vegetarian meal delivery service.
What We Like
- Clear cooking instructions
- Thousands of vegetarian recipes available
- You always know the exact ingredients in your food
- Ingredients are fairly priced; you can buy in bulk
- No subscription fee
What We Don't Like
- Meals are not prepared; cooking can be time-consuming
- Access to ingredients depends on your proximity to a Walmart
Best Organic Vegetarian Meal Delivery Service - Fresh N Lean
SPECS
- Servings per meal: 1, but supplemental items are also available
- Meals per week: 5-21 (for one meal plan)
- Menu options per week: There are currently around 14 full vegetarian options, with more menu items being developed.
- Location: Delivers to the entire U.S.
Laureen Asseo started cooking healthy, lean, and fully vegan meals for herfamily in 2010. She quickly established herself as a visionary cook whoprioritized sustainable and organic ingredients. Before long, Larueen turned hervision into Fresh N Lean. Located in California, Fresh N Lean sources theiringredients humanely from their local organic farms. The service was foundedwith a plant-based focus and offers an exceptionally complete, protein-richmenu. Arriving at your door fully prepared and in recyclable and sustainablepackaging, Fresh N Lean meals also ensure environmental awareness every step ofthe way.
Fresh N Lean's Anaheim, California facility is home to an array of food andhealth specialists: chefs, nutritionists, medical experts, and farmers withexpertise in growing organic, non-GMO ingredients. So for those who want to knowabout everything they put into their body, Fresh N Lean is an exceptionalvegetarian meal delivery option. Additionally, Fresh N Lean offers meals for alltimes of day, including breakfast, lunch, dinner, sides, snacks, and deserts,all of which are available in vegetarian versions.
What We Like
- Ready-to-eat within minutes
- An array of vegetarian entrée, breakfast, snack, and side options
- Fully organic and locally sourced ingredients
- Nutritionally balanced, protein-rich vegetarian options
- Ingredients sourced from humanely treated animals
- Packing is BPA-free and fully recyclable
What We Don't Like
- Fresh N Lean meals are protein heavy, which, while healthy, may not be everyone’s preferred diet
- While the meal plans are exceptionally thorough and cost-efficient, the A La Carte option can be more expensive and requires an $85 minimum order
Best Gluten-Free Vegetarian Meal Delivery Service - Green Chef
SPECS
- Servings per meal: 1
- Meals per week: 3-4 meals per week for 2-6 people
- Menu options per week: Of the 24 rotating menu options, about 6-10 are vegetarian; fewer are both vegetarian and gluten-free
- Location: Delivers to the continental U.S.
Green Chef seems to have carved out a nice niche in the ever-competitive fooddelivery industry. First of all, it only sources organic ingredients from localfarms. Moreover, although Green Chef meals do not come ready-to-eat, theingredients are already measured, cut, and prepared. It’s a great option forsomeone who likes to cook but wants the ingredients all prepped and ready tobake, simmer or sauté.
As its superlative indicates, Green Chef prioritizes gluten-free options. Of the24 weekly items—which completely rotate weekly—about half are gluten-free.Nevertheless, not all items that are gluten-free are also vegetarian, so if youare a strict vegetarian and follow a gluten-free diet for personal, medical, orenvironmental reasons, you won't see a ton of options.
If you are flexibly gluten-free, however, you may be able to navigate this menumore easily. Even so, Green Chef is a great option and a quickly growing companyin the industry.
What We Like
- Locally sourced, certifiably organic ingredients
- All ingredients come measured and prepped
- Many gluten-free options
- Beautiful plating and aesthetically pleasing meals
What We Don't Like
- Not a ton of options that are both gluten-free and vegetarian
- No breakfast items
- Maximum meals per week are less than most meal delivery services
Best Prepared Vegetarian Meal Delivery Service - Fresh N Lean
SPECS
- Servings per meal: 1, but supplemental foods available as add-ons
- Meals per week: 5-21 (for one meal plan)
- Menu options per week: There are currently around 14 full vegetarian options, with more menu items in development with Fresh N Lean's nutritionists and chefs, as well as several vegetarian snacks and side dishes.
- Location: Delivers to the entire U.S.
Earning our pick for the best organic vegetarian meal delivery option is Fresh NLean, which also earned another superlative as the best prepared vegetarian mealdelivery option. Carefully crafted by a team of nutritionists, chefs, medicalprofessionals, and farmers, each meal is aesthetically and deliberatelydesigned. Just take a look at the photoson the website. Clearly, these meals are treated as a type of art. Thephotos aren't just fabulous because of high-tech cameras or photo editing; manycustomers have emphasized how Fresh N Lean's meals are colorful and appealing.What’s more, they’re always fresh and never frozen, and you can taste it. FreshN Lean's meals truly are the best prepared. In addition, their flexible side andsnack options let you prepare your meal as you please. Need more protein? Justorder an extra side, heat it up, add it to your plate, and enjoy!
What We Like
- Nutrient and protein dense
- An array of available sides and snacks, so you can adjust your meal servings based on your desired caloric intake
- Prepared with care and sustainability
- Beautifully boxed and aesthetically pleasing
What We Don't Like
- A La Carte customers must order a minimum of $85
- Shipping may take some time and can only be delivered on specific days; however, this will never affect the food's freshness
Best for Vegetarian Meal Delivery Service for Beginners - Splendid Spoon
SPECS
- Servings per meal: 1
- Meals per week: 5-16
- Menu options per week: 50
- Location: Delivers to the continental U.S.
Completely plant-based, vegan, and gluten-free, Splendid Spoon prioritizesthose with dietary preferences or restrictions. Yet, with a comprehensive,balanced menu to choose from, you'll never be skimping out on protein, fiber,calories, or other important nutrients. Splendid Spoon offers several mainoptions: smoothies, soups and grain bowls, noodle bowls, light soups, andjuices. You select what you want and the food comes already prepared. All you'llhave to do is pop your items in the microwave—if they need to be heated—and eat.With a variety of tasteful meal options, your food will never feel bland ormonotonous.
Unlike other meal delivery services, Splendid Spoon has an “On-Demand Box”through which you can order your favorite items. That’s a major reason it earnedour honors as the best vegan meal delivery service for beginners. You can alsoorder a comprehensive breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu just to try it out, or,if you know your week is going to be very busy, place an order just for thatweek. The last thing that makes Splendid Spoon unique is its “reset" mealoption. Designed to help reset your gut and facilitate nutrient absorption, thereset menu items include light soups that are low in sugar, high in fiber, andfull of nutrients. Several of Splendid Spoon's plans include this "reset"option, which helps you feel grounded after a long day or week.
What We Like
- You can order as you please through the non-subscription “on demand” package
- Free two-day shipping
- “Reset” add-on restores nutritional balance and resets your body
- Can order items in bulk
- Non-GMO, whole, and unprocessed ingredients
What We Don't Like
- If you prefer to have gluten in your diet, this would not be a good option for you
- Cannot order dinner without ordering the breakfast and lunch plan
How to Choose the Best Vegetarian Meal Delivery Service
Quality of Food
Here are the key factors to consider as you determine the meal service that will get you started: freshness, nutrition, and taste. While some vendors provide fresh meals, others may freeze their food before delivery or add preservatives to give the ingredients the illusion of freshness. With respect to nutrition, some services consult culinary scientists and nutritionists, placing a premium on the nourishment their vegetarian meals provide, whereas others include lots of salts, sugars, and ingredients with long, technical names. Finding a balance between taste and nutrition is important. You want to eat healthy foods rich in protein, fiber, and vitamins that actually taste good. As you navigate these different vegetarian options, you'll see a spectrum of menus that vary in their freshness, nutrition, and taste.
Menu Diversity
Considering these questions: How many menu items are available? Do menu items rotate weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or not at all? Are the ingredients diverse or are most meals made with the same few staple ingredients? Are the cuisines inspired only by the foods of your area, or can you find a taste of the world through the menu options? Can you supplement your meals with sides? As you weigh the kinds of flavors you like, these questions can help you make an informed decision.
Your Location
While most meal delivery services deliver across the entire continental U.S., be sure to check how quickly your food will arrive, or if you will need to pick it up from a third-party vendor. Generally, freshness is not much of an issue with these services, even if your food is being shipped from hundreds of miles away; they use insulative packaging that ensures the quality of your ingredients.
FAQs About Vegetarian Meal Delivery Services
Is there a vegetarian version of Hello Fresh?
Hello Fresh itself has a full vegetarian menu with 30-plus menu items availableevery week. This could be a great option for a vegetarian. If you’d like tobrowse other options, read the article above.
Are meal delivery services worth it?
This largely depends on your budget and how much extra time you want to dedicateto shopping, meal planning, preparing ingredients, and, of course, cooking. Ifyou feel that your time is best spent elsewhere, then some of these services,especially those that deliver prepared meals, may be well worth it.
What is the easiest meal kit for vegetarians?
Any of the meal kits that come with everything prepared and don't require you domuch planning or cooking would be considered the “easiest.” Prepared in minutes,these options are great for busy people or those with little time or inclinationto be in the kitchen. Understandably, the prepared meal services are generallymore expensive than options that only source meal ingredients.
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