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Organic meal delivery kits make preparing healthy and sustainable food easier. They may also make it less tempting for people to settle for easy-to-prepare convenience foods, which often contain added salt, fat, sugar, and additives.
A quick look at the best organic meal delivery services
- Best for a choice of meal kit or oven-ready options: Sunbasket
- Best for keto, paleo, and plant-based options: Green Chef
- Best for locally sourced, non-GMO meals: Fresh n’ Lean
- Best for meals that contain no animal products, refined sugar, or gluten: Sprinly
- Best for vegan meals and snacks: Daily Harvest
- Best for family meals, including smaller portions for children: One Potato
Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products.
All quotes are provided by Nutrition and Fitness Market Editor Kelli McGrane, MS, RD, and Freelance Health and Nutrition Writer Rachel Link, MS, RD, who received free meal kits from these services.
Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here.
Meal delivery services save people the time and effort they would otherwise spend planning what to cook, shopping for ingredients, and preparing meals from scratch.
These services often allow customers to choose online from a weekly menu of fresh meal options. These come in the form of kits that a person uses to make a meal or ready-made meals that require little to no preparation.
Services with premade meals are useful for people who are unable to prepare and cook their own meals. Meal kits with instructions are a good way for people to learn new cooking skills and ideas.
Most online meal delivery services allow people to customize orders to suit their dietary needs. For example, options for vegetarian, vegan, paleo, keto, and gluten-free diets are often available.
Some people prefer organic foods because they believe that their production is sustainable. A 2019 study found that meal kits have a lower carbon footprint than store-bought meal ingredients, as they limit food waste and excess packaging.
Most meal delivery kits include ingredients that are fresh and minimally processed.
Further research into the benefits and risks of organic foods is necessary.
Medical News Today chooses meal delivery services that fit the following criteria:
- Nutritional value: MNT chooses meal delivery services that meet the average person’s nutritional needs and promote healthy eating habits.
- Ingredient quality: MNT chooses meal delivery services that use fresh, high quality ingredients. Some also use organic produce or sustainably sourced ingredients.
- Variety: MNT chooses meal delivery services that feature a range of flavors and ingredients to suit different taste preferences and diets.
- Price: MNT chooses meal delivery services with different price points to suit a range of budgets.
- Availability: MNT chooses meal delivery services available throughout most of the United States.
- Sustainability: MNT chooses meal delivery services that reduce their environmental impact by employing recyclable packaging, carbon neutral shipping, local ingredients, and other sustainable practices.
- Reputable: MNT only chooses brands that adhere to industry best practices and have passed our medical vetting process.
Various organic meal kits are available for people to try. Below, we look at six of the best options in more detail.
Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information presented is purely research-based.
Best for a choice of meal kit or oven-ready options: Sunbasket
“I found Sunbasket to offer the most consistently delicious flavors and exciting ingredient combinations. I also appreciated that the meals I tried (meal kits) were bursting with vegetables, which isn’t always the case with meal kits.
While it isn’t cheap, I think it’s worth the cost if you value organic ingredients and exciting new flavor and ingredient combinations.” — Nutrition and Fitness Market Editor Kelli McGrane, MS, RD.
- Cost: from $30 per week
- Cooking time: 3—40 minutes
- Skip a week: yes
- Cancellation: anytime
- Delivery area: most U.S. zip codes, excluding Arkansas, Hawaii, Montana, North Dakota, and parts of New Mexico
Sunbasket offers a choice of meal kits with recipe cards or ready-made meals that can go straight in the oven. Customers can choose from options such as lean and clean, paleo, vegetarian, carb-conscious, and Mediterranean.
The company sources organic ingredients, such as sustainably caught seafood as well as meat that is free from antibiotics and hormones and comes from sustainably managed farms.
A person can choose two or more main meals from the weekly menu. The company offers a choice of fresh “heat and eat” meals, or easy-cook meal kits with premeasured ingredients. It is also possible to add breakfast and lunch options, healthy snacks, and specialty meats.
As this is a subscription service, it will automatically renew, but a person can easily skip a delivery as long as they do so before the weekly cutoff. The company also provides the option to forward a meal box to a temporary or new delivery address.
Below is an example of the food options a person may select, based on the company website at the time of publishing this article.
Best for keto, paleo, and plant-based options: Green Chef
“While some of the ingredient proportions were a bit off and the timing of some of the steps could’ve been better, I overall think this is one of the best meal delivery services thanks to the quality ingredients and flavorful dishes.” — Nutrition and Fitness Market Editor Kelli McGrane, MS, RD.
- Cost: from $27 per week
- Cooking time: around 30 minutes
- Skip a week: yes
- Cancellation: anytime
- Delivery area: most of the contiguous U.S., excluding parts of Louisiana
With Green Chef, individuals can choose either three or four meals at a time, each of which is for up to six people.
Customers can choose to have deliveries weekly, fortnightly, or once every 4 weeks. There is no charge for skipping orders, and it is easy to make changes to the subscription at any time.
Dietary options include keto and paleo, plant-based, and fast and fit, and chefs create all meals to be healthy and easy to prepare.
Below is an example of the food options a person may select, based on the company website at the time of publishing this article.
Green Chef sample menu:
Keto + Paleo: chicken with herb tahini sauce, cauliflower tabbouleh with cabbage, roasted red peppers, and feta
Fast & Fit: tilapia with mango salsa, coconut cauliflower “rice,” and roasted green beans with almonds
Vegetarian: white bean salad sandwiches, lemon aioli, dried cranberries, and celery and almonds, fries
Best for locally sourced, non-GMO meals: Fresh n’ Lean
“I could see [Fresh n’ Lean] being useful for someone following a specific diet, like keto and paleo, and needing quick microwave meals.” — Nutrition and Fitness Market Editor Kelli McGrane, MS, RD.
- Cost: from $130 per week
- Cooking time: up to 7 minutes
- Skip a week: yes
- Cancellation: anytime
- Delivery area: anywhere in the U.S., except for P.O. Box addresses
Fresh n’ Lean delivers ready-made organic meals in portions suitable for one person.
Every meal contains locally sourced, nutrient-rich whole foods, including non-GMO produce, wild-caught seafood, and high quality animal proteins.
The company’s meal plans reflect its focus on fueling the body and supporting athletic performance through nutrition. Meal options include protein+, keto, paleo, vegan, and bulk. The bulk option offers a person the chance to stock up on different meats, vegetables, grains, and oats.
Below is an example of the dinner options a person may select, based on the company website at the time of publishing this article.
Fresh n’ Lean sample menu:
Protein+: smokey steak with vegetables and brown rice
Keto: blackened shrimp with roasted cauliflower
Paleo: aioli cage-free chicken with mixed vegetables
Vegan standard: roasted vegetables with cilantro cream and chickpea pasta
Vegan low carb: teriyaki bowl with vegetables
Best for meals that contain no animal products, refined sugar, or gluten: Sprinly
“Sprinly is by far the freshest-tasting prepared meal delivery service that I’ve tried yet. All of the meals were bursting with crunchy vegetables and chewy whole grains. Even the salad greens arrived and remained vibrant and fresh without getting wilty or soggy. Overall, while it’s one of the most expensive meal delivery services, if it fits in your budget, the quality of the ingredients makes it well worth the splurge.” — Nutrition and Fitness Market Editor Kelli McGrane, MS, RD.
- Cost: from $109 per week
- Cooking time: up to 3 minutes
- Skip a week: yes
- Cancellation: anytime
- Delivery area: East Coast, Midwest, and Southern U.S.
Sprinly offers nonfrozen, plant-based, ready organic meals that contain no animal products, refined sugar, or gluten.
Individuals can choose from six meal options and can order up to 18 meals per week. They can also skip a week and cancel at any time.
Rather than having meal plans to suit specific diets, Sprinly lists all ingredients in each meal. This information allows a person to decide whether a meal suits their dietary requirements.
Below is an example of the food options a person may select, based on the company website at the time of publishing this article.
Best for vegan meals and snacks: Daily Harvest
“Daily Harvest is a convenient and time-saving way to round out your diet with more vegan-friendly, organic, and gluten-free snacks and meals. I found myself feeling hungry still after many of the meals and many items are relatively low in protein, so it might not be filling enough for some people. However, Daily Harvest is affordable, offers a good variety of items, and has a flexible ordering process, so it’s easy to try different items to find what works for you.” — Freelance Health and Nutrition Writer Rachel Link, MS, RD.
- Cost: from $5.99 per serving
- Cooking time: up to 25 minutes
- Skip a week: yes
- Cancellation: anytime
- Delivery area: contiguous U.S.
Daily Harvest offers vegan meals and snacks suitable for eating throughout the day.
Examples of some of the options include oat bowls, smoothies, soups, flatbreads, harvest bowls, and lattes.
Every week or month, a person can choose nine, 14, or 24 items from a selection of 80 foods. They can also add or swap additional items at any time. Downloading the iOS app makes managing an account easy.
Below is an example of the food items a person may select, based on the company website at the time of publishing this article.
Daily Harvest sample menu:
Soup: cauliflower and leek
Harvest bowl: sweet potato and wild rice hash
Flatbread: kale and sweet potato
Forager Bowl: Raspberry + Mulberry Seeded
Best for family meals, including smaller portions for children: One Potato
- Cost: from $67 per week
- Cooking time: 30 minutes or less
- Skip a week: yes
- Cancellation: anytime
- Delivery time: most U.S. zip codes
One Potato delivers meal kits that include premade ingredients and family-friendly recipes. It also offers smaller portions for children, with special child pricing.
Learn more about meal delivery services for children here.
All of the ingredients in the One Potato box are farm-fresh, organic, non-GMO, and seasonal. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and nut-free options are also available. The menus change weekly and offer variety to appeal to different tastes.
The company also includes free cookie dough in every box, and a person can also choose from a selection of smoothies.
Below is an example of the meal options a person may select, based on the company website at the time of publishing this article.
One Potato sample menu:
Omnivore: moo shu chicken with Chinese crepes, homemade hoisin, and crispy wontons
Vegetarian: pizza balls with strawberry and spinach salad and poppy seed vinaigrette
Vegan: vegan burger and parboiled russet potato fries
The following table compares the meal delivery services in this article on cost, cooking time, and more.
| Cost | Cooking time | Skip a week | Cancellation | Delivery area | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunbasket | from $30 per week | 3–40 minutes | yes | anytime | most U.S. zip codes |
| Green Chef | from $27 per week | 30 minutes | yes | anytime | most U.S. zip codes |
| Fresh n’ Lean | from $130 per week | up to 7 minutes | yes | anytime | anywhere in the U.S. |
| Sprinly | from $109 per week | up to 3 minutes | yes | anytime | • East Coast • Midwest • Southern U.S. |
| Daily Harvest | from $5.99 per serving | up to 25 minutes | yes | anytime | contiguous U.S. |
| One Potato | from $67 per week | 30 minutes or less | yes | anytime | most U.S. zip codes |
People may wish to consider the following when choosing a service:
- Certifications: People may wish to ensure that the company they use has U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) organic certifications to ensure that the ingredients or food they receive are organic.
- Diets: People should make sure the company they use caters to their dietary requirements.
- Amount of meals: People should make sure that the company they choose offers the right amount of meals and serving sizes for their needs.
- Cost: People should ensure that the meal delivery service is within their budget.
For people who want the convenience of premade meals and prefer eating organic, there are other options.
Some people prefer to make big batches of their favorite meals using store-bought organic ingredients, which they can then freeze in portions for easy reheating. It is also possible to premake and portion oat bowls, smoothies, snacks, and soups.
People with friends or neighbors who have similar eating preferences could suggest batch-cooking a few meals each and sharing them around.
If meal delivery services are the most appealing option, other companies are available, although they are not organic. Some alternative brands include:
Here, we answer some common questions about these services.
Are organic meal delivery services healthy?
While most meal delivery services offer nutritious food, it is important to check the nutritional value of the meals before placing an order.
People should aim for a well-balanced diet. Websites such as MyPlate can help guide people in building healthy eating habits.
Will organic meal delivery help me lose weight?
A
Meal delivery services may help people lose weight. These services provide portion-controlled food directly to a person’s door, which may help in reducing the amount a person eats.
However, it is important to look at a meal’s nutritional information and calorie content when deciding which meals to order. A person should always aim to eat a well-balanced diet.
How do I know if a meal delivery service is organic?
People may wish to check that the company uses USDA organic certified ingredients.
Some companies may only use organic ingredients in some of their dishes. People should read the company’s FAQ page carefully to ensure they are happy with the amount of organic meals the service offers.
Organic meal delivery services address a growing desire for healthy, fresh, and interesting food that is quick and easy to prepare. The market is growing rapidly, and it is becoming easier for consumers to find a suitable service for their lifestyle.
It is worth comparing online reviews for different brands. People can look for objective sites and blogs that do not have an affiliation with any meal delivery companies. These sources should provide unbiased opinions on the pros and cons of different organic meal delivery services.