Highest Rated Premade Meal Delivery Reviews for 2021
Is your busy schedule keeping you from eating right? Are you tired of eating fast food for lunch? Maybe scraping something together for dinner? But you just can’t find the time to cook the food yourself?
In that case, meal delivery might be what you need. They will find all the right ingredients, prepare them, cook your food and deliver it right to your door. That way, you’ll have plenty of free time to do other things.
But what is the best prepared meal delivery service? And how can you be sure it’s right for you?
This article will provide you with an overview of the top-rated services, and it will give you all the information you need to make the choice even easier.
1
Freshly
- Extensive menu
- Plenty of plans
- Flexible subscription
Avg. Meal Price: $10.49 | Shipping Cost: Free | Delivery Areas: 48 states
4.9
2
Bistro MD
- Wide variety of plans
- Customizable programs
- Flexible subscription
Avg. Meal Price: $9.2 Per Entree | Shipping Cost: $19.95 | Delivery Areas: 50 states
4.8
3
Factor 75
- Fresh, locally sourced ingredients
- Variety of dietary considerations
- Flexible subscriptions
Avg. Meal Price: $10.49 | Shipping Cost: Free | Delivery Areas: 48 states
4.8
4
Fresh Meal Plan
- New menus every week
- Plenty of options
- Flexible subscription plans
Avg. Meal Price: $10.49 | Shipping Cost: Free | Delivery Areas: 48 states
4.7
5
Veestro
- 100% organic plant-based recipes
- Plenty of plans
- Flexible subscription
Avg. Meal Price: $10 | Shipping Cost: $19.95 | Delivery Areas: 48 states
4.6
6
Meal Pro
- Extensive menu with rotating recipes
- Customizable meals
- No subscription needed
Avg. Meal Price: $9.2 Per Entree | Shipping Cost: $19.95 | Delivery Areas: 50 states
4.6
7
Diet to Go
- A wide selection of meals
- Customizable menus
- Flexible subscription and delivery
Avg. Meal Price: $10 | Shipping Cost: $19.95 | Delivery Areas: 48 states
4.6
8
Home Bistro
- Caters to plenty of dietary preferences
- No subscription needed
- Plenty of choices
Avg. Meal Price: $11.49 | Shipping Cost: $6.99 | Delivery Areas: 48 states
4.5
9
Balance by Bistro MD
- Carefully balanced meals
- Wide variety of recipes
- No subscription needed
Avg. Meal Price: $10 | Shipping Cost: $19.95 | Delivery Areas: 48 states
4.4
10
Healthy Chef Creations
- Customizable meals
- Plenty of options and menus
- Flexible subscription
Avg. Meal Price: $11.99 | Shipping Cost: $6.99 | Delivery Areas: 48 states
4.4
11
Magic Kitchen
- Wide variety of menus
- Plenty of meal choices
- No subscription needed
Avg. Meal Price: $10 | Shipping Cost: $19.95 | Delivery Areas: 48 states
4.3
12
The Good Kitchen
- An expansive selection of menus
- Cater to a wide variety of special needs
- Flexible subscription plans
Avg. Meal Price: $12 | Shipping Cost: Free | Delivery Areas: 50 states
4.2
* All the listed prices are purely informative and subject to change. Even though we strive to place the most accurate figures we can find, some products could display an outdated price. That’s why you should always check the site for the final cost.
Top 12 Ready Made Meals Delivery Reviewed
Freshly - Low Carb
Those on a low-carb diet might need a delivery service that can cater to that specific need. Freshly should be able to accommodate that.
They offer an extensive menu, among which, you’ll find recipes for a wide variety of special dietary considerations, among them, food low in carbs [1].
Their subscription plans, on the other hand, offer a variety of options. You can choose the number of servings in each package, as well as the frequency of deliveries. They have plans ranging from food for single adults to family options.
That should make them a clear choice for those that want a regular delivery of tasty low-carb meals, all ready for consumption.
Bistro MD - Gluten Free
Whether you have celiac disease or gluten intolerance, if you plan on using a delivery service, you’ll need one that can cater to that need. Bistro MD offers plenty of choices when it comes to medical conditions, and their gluten-free menu is quite extensive, as well.
At the same time, the recipes are carefully balanced to provide you with all the nutrients your body needs, all while helping you lose weight by keeping the calorie count in check.
Their subscription plans are also customizable and flexible – they allow you to pick and choose the food freely, and they have plenty of options regarding the number of weekly servings and deliveries. All that makes them a great choice for tasty gluten-free recipes.
- Wide variety of plans
- Customizable programs
- Flexible subscription
Factor 75 - Paleo
Also known as Paleolithic, cave-man, Stone-Age, or hunter-gatherer diet, it gained in popularity due to its many advantages [2] – apart from weight loss, it also leads to better blood pressure and glucose tolerance.
But paleo diet might be difficult to pull off – if you’re in charge of getting all the ingredients, you need to find appropriate veggies and meats, which can take up a lot of your time. And even if you find everything, you then need to prepare that food.
Services such as Factor 75 can make that process much easier. They will find the right ingredients and prepare your food following a wide variety of recipes. That way, you’re not as likely to end up in a rut.
They should provide you with a selection of tasty recipes, all prepared and delivered to your door. And, they are always adding new items to their menus, so you shouldn’t run out of things to eat.
- Fresh, locally sourced ingredients
- Variety of dietary considerations
- Flexible subscriptions
Full Review Is Coming Soon…
Fresh Meal Plan - Great for Athletes
Whether you’re an athlete or simply lead an active life, you’ll need a delivery service that can cater to those needs. Fresh Meal Plan offers plenty of options for many dietary considerations, with their Lean and Mean menu catered specifically towards active users.
It is a menu with a fixed number of recipes, all high in protein and low in complex carbohydrates and fats. If, however, that is too much for you, they also cater to other lifestyles, including vegan, Keto, Paleo, alongside a traditional plan for those that need a well-balanced diet.
Their subscription plans are also flexible enough to allow you to pause or cancel at any time, and they even allow you to order a la carte items, combining the ingredients at will.
- New menus every week
- Plenty of options
- Flexible subscription plans
Full Review Is Coming Soon…
Veestro - Vegan
A recent study [3] has shown that vegans have a wide variety of health benefits. Embarking on such a diet can have its problems, though, most of which can be mitigated with a meal delivery services.
Most of them use the same facilities to prepare both the meat and plant-based recipes, which could lead to some cross-contamination. That’s why they would be best served by a specialized service such as Veestro.
You could choose from their a la carte menu, or you could opt for Chef’s Choice, which will give you a selection of the most popular items. You could also pick their weight-loss program.
They also allow you to customize your orders and subscriptions as you see fit. You can change programs, order the items you like, all while being able to pause or cancel at any time.
That should make them the obvious winner for vegans wary of cross-contamination common to other meal delivery services.
- 100% organic plant-based recipes
- Plenty of plans
- Flexible subscription
Meal Pro - Keto
If you’re on a ketogenic diet, you need your food to be higher in protein and lower in carbs. Meal Pro is a delivery service that can bring you a wide variety of keto-friendly food.
Unlike other similar options, they don’t have a fixed menu. Instead, you can choose any item you like, and their offer is constantly expanded with new items.
Their plans also provide plenty of options. You could order individual items if you prefer that. Those that prefer subscriptions, they have those, as well, and they are flexible enough to allow you to pause or cancel at will.
All these factors should make them the clear choice for those looking for a wide selection of keto-friendly food [4].
- Extensive menu with rotating recipes
- Customizable meals
- No subscription needed
Full Review Is Coming Soon…
Diet to Go - Weight Loss
If you’re trying to lose some weight, you might try Diet to Go. They have a wide variety of tasty food that can help you achieve those goals.
They allow you to adjust and personalize your plan to your taste and schedule, all to make the weight loss easier. Their team of experts will then sort out your menu and deliver delicious food that can help you lose the extra pounds.
At the same time, you’ll get all the nutrients you need to remain healthy, which should also help keep those extra pounds away after you shed them.
When combined with their flexible subscription plans and deliveries, they should be an ideal choice for those looking to lose some extra weight.
- A wide selection of meals
- Customizable menus
- Flexible subscription and delivery
Home Bistro - Allergy Friendly Recipes
Food allergies can be difficult to manage, but it can be easier if you use a meal delivery service that can cater to those specific needs. Home Bistro should be able to accommodate that.
They have a wide selection of tasty food, all divided into different categories. There is food appropriate for diabetics, for example, and there are Mediterranean, vegetarian, Paleo, and Keto menus, as well.
What sets them apart from the alternatives is their lack of a subscription. You can order packages containing any number of servings at any time, so they might be a great choice if you prefer this kind of an arrangement.
When combined with their safe ingredients, they could be the ideal choice for those suffering from food allergies.
- Caters to plenty of dietary preferences
- No subscription needed
- Plenty of choices
Balance by Bistro MD - Perfect for Seniors
Seniors need food that is more carefully balanced because their digestion can be more sensitive. That’s why they might like Balance by Bistro MD.
They offer a wide selection of carefully balanced recipes. They have breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, as well as an assortment of snacks, and they offer food balanced for diabetes, gluten sensitivity, menopause, and heart problems, while also offering a Mediterranean menu.
Even though they don’t normally offer a subscription, they can accommodate that kind of arrangement if you’d prefer that. Otherwise, you can order individual items as often as you’d like.
These features should make them a great choice for seniors. They will get a variety of tasty meals, all carefully balanced to provide all the necessary nutrients.
- Carefully balanced meals
- Wide variety of recipes
- No subscription needed
Full Review Is Coming Soon…
Healthy Chef Creations - Best for Nursing Moms
Nursing moms have different dietary needs [5], and the delivery service needs to take that into account to provide all the necessary nutrients.
Healthy Chef Creations should do just that. You can order any of the items on their extensive menu, which are then further customizable in a variety of different ways, including by boosting its calorie count.
You can opt to subscribe if you’d prefer, but ordering individual items off of their menus is also an option. That way, you can order as often and as much as you’d like, without any ongoing obligations.
All these factors should make Healthy Chef Creations the clear choice for nursing moms.
- Customizable meals
- Plenty of options and menus
- Flexible subscription
Full Review Is Coming Soon…
Magic Kitchen - Ideal for Diabetics
Magic Kitchen caters to a wide variety of medical conditions, so if you’re looking for a service that can deliver food appropriate for diabetics, they could be just what you need.
They have a wide selection of a la carte items alongside their plans and menus, so you’re sure to find something you like. A subscription is also available if that’s what you prefer.
They also have plenty of options for other dietary restrictions, and their programs can provide you with plenty of tasty meals. And, you can freely adjust the number and frequency to your liking.
All that should make Magic Kitchen the ideal choice not only for diabetics but those that need a restricted diet for various other medical conditions.
- Wide variety of menus
- Plenty of meal choices
- No subscription needed
Full Review Is Coming Soon…
The Good Kitchen - Best Tasting
Those more focused on finding the service with the tastiest food should give The Good Kitchen a try. They offer a wide selection of delicious meals. All you need to do is choose what you like, order, and reheat when it arrives.
They cater to a wide variety of special dietary considerations including gluten-free, paleo, keto, clean living, whole30, and others. You can choose the number of servings and deliveries, and as soon as you do, you’re set.
At the same time, their subscriptions are flexible enough to allow you to pause and cancel when you need to. They even offer to send your packages to a new address when you go on a trip.
So, if you’re looking for something that can provide you with a wide array of delicious meals, The Good Kitchen might be just what you need.
- An expansive selection of menus
- Cater to a wide variety of special needs
- Flexible subscription plans
Full Review Is Coming Soon…
What are Meal Prep Delivery Services?
Meal delivery services provide you with already prepared food, usually refrigerated and delivered in a big box containing several servings. You then only need to reheat the food and it is ready for consumption.
Most of them will have a menu containing all the recipes that you can order. Some will continually update the menu, while others might rotate the items to add some variety.
Additionally, most of them will offer a subscription, where they’ll send you weekly, biweekly, or monthly packages containing all the food. Some will allow you to offer individual meals, but they will have a set minimum you need to fulfill to get the food.
How to Choose the Best Meal Prep Delivery
As we’ve mentioned earlier, the choice can be as easy or as complex as you make it. If you have any preferences or medical needs, you need to look at those first. Serving sizes can also be a factor, as can age groups that the services cater to.
This section will go over the main factors that you should keep in mind.
Recommended According to Type
Vegan
Vegans can be tricky to accommodate, especially if they’re worried about cross-contamination if all the food is prepared at the same facilities. Fortunately, some options cater exclusively to vegans, and these may be the safest choice. Our guide for top vegan meal delivery services might point you in the right direction.
Paleo
This is a common dietary lifestyle, and it usually includes a lower amount of complex carbohydrates and fat with an increase in lean meats. Most services will cater to this diet and you’re sure to find plenty of tasty recipes, but if you need more help, check our guide (best rated paleo meal deliveries) should provide more info.
Vegetarian
Plant-based regimes can have some downsides [6], chief among them, a vitamin D or B12 deficiency. Fortunately, most services will offer meals that are balanced to provide you with all the necessary nutrients.
While most options will cater to vegetarians, they can be in a predicament similar to vegans – cross-contamination can always be an issue, especially if the food is prepared in the same place. Still, you should be able to find what you need, especially if you consult our article on the topic (best vegetarian meals delivery).
Gluten-free
Whether you have celiac disease or gluten intolerance, you’ll need something that can cater to this need. You could check whether your chosen service offers any gluten-free meals. If you need more information, our guide might be able to help you.
Check for more in our guide for gluten free meal deliveries.
Allergy-friendly
If you have any food-related allergies, if you want to use meal delivery, it needs to cater to that need. You can usually find that clearly written on the site, most frequently in the FAQ section. However, delivering allergy-friendly food isn’t as common, so you might need to do more research.
- Dairy-free
If you have dairy-related intolerances or allergies, you’ll need to pay close attention to the ingredients used in the recipes. You could also consult the FAQ section of their site to see if they provide any additional information, and if that isn’t clearly stated, you might need to send an e-mail.
Whole30
Whole30 is an elimination diet that usually lasts for 30 days, and if you plan on using a meal delivery service, you’d need one that has food without grains, soy, dairy, legumes, sugar, or alcohol. You might need to do more thorough research before settling on an option. Our guide for top whole30 meal delivery services might help you with!
Healthy
Healthy eating can be difficult, especially if you don’t know where your ingredients come from. That’s where meal delivery services can be of use – the ones specializing in healthy food only source their meat and veggies from local farms, preferably organically grown.
Read more: Top 10 Best Healthy Meal Delivery Services
Keto
This is another popular dietary lifestyle, and its regime includes a minimal amount of carbohydrates, opting instead to use fat as a source of energy. While most services can have a menu of keto-friendly food, some are still better suited to this diet. Our guide for keto meal prep delivery services, might point you in the right direction.
Organic
Services that use only organically grown veggies can be difficult to find. Most will use organic ingredients when they can, but there are options for those that want only such vegetables. You can check out our guide for organic meal deliveries to find out more.
Low-carb
Many services offer low-carb meals (top deliveries here) to help their dieting customers, with some dedicating an entire menu for such recipes. If, however, you’re looking to find just the right option for food low in carbohydrates, our article might help you.
Best Tasting
While taste is usually a matter of personal preference, some services can provide tastier meals (click here for top meal deliveries). Sometimes, the quality of the ingredients or the additional seasoning makes a difference, while others focus on the cooking process.
Frozen
Frozen meals (top delivery services here) have also dramatically improved in the last several years. There are even services dedicated to delivering frozen food right to your door, offering as wide a variety of recipes as their non-frozen counterparts.
Recommended According to Serving Size
Single
Most of these options cater to working singles as their main customers. If you fall into that category, you’re sure to find just the right option in most places. They offer serving sizes that are big enough to feed a single adult, and you can choose how many servings each package contains.
Read more: Top Meal Delivery Services for One Person
Family
Family plans are not as common, but you can always order more servings in a package and then divide the food. However, some services will offer plans for families (top meal deliveries here), mostly with a discounted cost per serving.
Recommended by Age Group
Baby
When your baby starts eating, you’ll want to feed them healthy food without artificial flavors or colors, unlike what you can find in your supermarket. Fortunately, there are options specialized in delivering baby food right to your door.
Kids
Children can be picky eaters, and if they don’t like your cooking, you can find a service that offers kid-friendly meals. That way, they get all the necessary nutrients to grow and develop, and you don’t have to worry about their food.
Students
Students are usually on a tighter budget, but still need nutritionally-rich meals to fuel their studying. Our guide covers several meal services that students might enjoy, mostly with a focus on nutritious food. If, however, you need something good in the lower price range, our article might help.
Seniors
The elderly have different nutritional needs. Their metabolisms don’t work as quickly or as efficiently as they used to, and they’re more sensitive. Some services can cater to their needs and offer a menu specifically balanced for seniors (check top meal delivery here).
Ideal for Health Conditions
Menopause
Menopause can be a tricky period to manage, but with a proper diet, the symptoms could become much more manageable. Fortunately, some services can provide you with food that is rich in just the right nutrients to help you cope with this transition.
Diabetes
Diabetics could have difficulties finding the right meal delivery service. After all, most of them will not cater to this condition. Some options can provide you with delicious meals that are not going to trigger your diabetes.
See more: Highest Rated Meal Deliveries For Diabetics
High Cholesterol
If you have high cholesterol, you might need an option that can cater to that need. Most of these services can cater to this need, and most can provide you with plenty of lean meats, fruits, and veggies to help you manage this condition better.
Heart Disease
While not as common, some services can deliver food that is low in sodium and saturated fat, which should help you relieve some symptoms and reduce the dangers associated with heart conditions. You might need to do additional research to find the right one, though.
For Fitness
Body Building
Bodybuilders have dramatically different nutritional needs. They need many more calories, and their protein requirements are also increased. While they can make do by eating several servings for each meal, some options cater to their needs specifically, and they might be a better choice.
Read more: Highest Rated Bodybuilding Meal Deliveries
Weight loss
If you’re looking to lose some weight, a meal delivery service could help. Most of them have at least some form of a low-calorie or weight loss menu, all while still providing you with plenty of tasty food. That way, your diet doesn’t have to be reduced to bland meals, which could make the process much more manageable.
Ideal for Pregnancy
Pregnant woman
During pregnancy, your nutritional needs change. You need more nutrients to help your baby develop properly, and a meal delivery service might make your life easier by removing the burden of carefully balancing, shopping, preparing, and cooking.
New Moms
Similar to pregnancy, the mother’s nutritional needs also vary during the nursing period, and such services can help you with that, as well. That way, you can eat food that is rich in all the necessary nutrients, which you can then pass on to your baby while maintaining your own health.
Should You Subscribe to a Meal Prep Delivery?
These services have plenty of advantages. They can be lifesavers if your week is too hectic for cooking. With a subscription, you’ll regularly get new packages, and you’ll always have something to eat.
They can be a great solution if you work long hours – the meals usually have a preparation time of only a few minutes, which can free up your free time for other activities. At the same time, you’ll get balanced and healthy food regularly.
What to Look for in a Prepared Meal Delivery Service
There are plenty of factors you should consider when trying to find the right solution, but before anything else, you should take into account your personal preferences and any possible medical conditions or needs [7] that the service needs to fulfill.
After looking at these aspects, you should then do some research about availability and cost. Not all of them deliver everywhere, and the shipping cost could also be a significant expense, especially for subscriptions.
Beyond that, you could also look at the number and variety of recipes, any plans or programs they might have, or whether they require a subscription at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are cheap prepared meal deliveries safe?
Usually, they are. The ingredients may not be as good, and they might not be prepared as carefully, but they should still be balanced enough to provide you with all the necessary micro and macronutrients despite the lower price.
With an increase in price range, you usually get a wider range of options and the meals are made from organically grown veggies with higher-quality meats. The cheaper options should still be safe, if not as tasty. Check our list of highest rated meal delivery services on budget here.
How long can prepared meals last in the fridge?
While it largely depends on the ingredients, most meals shouldn’t be in the fridge longer than 3-5 days. If, however, you’re unsure whether you’ll be able to finish them in time, you can always freeze the servings (check our guide) and then thaw them out when you’d like to eat them.
Conclusion
Choosing the right meal delivery service can be a daunting task, especially if you don’t have any experience with them. There are so many to choose from, and you can never be sure whether they will work with your specific needs or schedules.
This guide should provide you with enough information to help you understand what this choice entails. In addition to that, any of the services in our selection should be safe and should deliver plenty of delicious food right to your door when you want.
That way, all that time you’d spend shopping for the right ingredients, preparing them, and finally cooking your food should be free for other things. And, at the same time, your diet and, consequently, health will dramatically improve.
Sources & References:
- [1] What can you eat on a low-carb diet? – Medical News Today
- [2] Paleo diet: What is it and why is it so popular? – Mayo Clinic
- [3] Plasma, Urine, and Adipose Tissue Biomarkers of Dietary Intake Differ Between Vegetarian and Non-Vegetarian Diet Groups in the Adventist Health– The Journal of Nutrition, Oxford Academic
- [4] 16 Foods to Eat on a Ketogenic Diet – Healthline
- [5] Diet and nutrition requirements when breastfeeding – Nursing In Practice
- [6] Food and Nutrient Intake and Nutritional Status of Finnish Vegans and Non-Vegetarians – Journals Plos One
- [7] Nutrition for Medical Conditions – My Virtual Medical Centre