So you’re a busy family. You want a quick way to have tasty, healthy meal your personal trainer would be proud of, but here’s the catch . . . your picky eaters (also known as your kids) need to like it too. You may not have the time to go on weekly shopping trips to the grocery store, or you may want to try something new and different with your family. Enter: meal plans.
Meal programs deliver all of the ingredients for each recipe right to your doorstep. But with all the meal plans available, how do you determine which one is the best for your family?
Here is a sampling of the best family meal delivery plans out there. Each one is broken down according to types of meals, types of plans, and price.
#1 – One Potato
Types of meals: Meals that are easy to prepare and kid friendly, with fresh, organic, and tasty ingredients.
Types of plans and price: One Potato delivers and charges weekly. You can have a box that is two servings per night, with two recipes per week for $59.79, up to a box that is six servings per night, with two recipes per week, for $87.80. You can also choose three recipes in any of the plans.
Why One Potato? The ingredients arrive chopped and measured out, so less prep work is required. Also, the recipes are kid friendly and ready in 30 minutes or less. And right now, new customers can take $20 off their first order.
Customer testimonial: “I have never had the time or patience to make a home-cooked meal for my family each night and now it is possible.”
#2 – Sun Basket
Types of meals: Sun Basket’s meals are conscious of all different diet styles. The meal options are: carb conscious, paleo, mediterranean, lean protein, gluten free, vegan, quick and easy, vegetarian, diabetes friendly, pescatarian, and “Chef’s Choice.” Most of the produce is certified organic, and Sun’s Basket uses antibiotic and hormone-free meat, organic eggs, and wild-caught seafood.
Types of plans and price: Sun Basket delivers and charges weekly. There is a Family Menu plan that has two, three, or four recipes per week. The lowest priced box in this plan is the two recipes per week option which costs $87.92.
Why Sun Basket? You can include any recipes you wish in your plan. The only caveat behind this is that if you live in AK, HI, MT, and parts of NM, Sun Basket might not ship to you.
Customer testimonial: “Sun Basket has helped me get a healthy meal on the table faster!”
#3 – Blue Apron
Types of meals: Blue Apron has a signature menu with two or four servings, a Weight Watchers menu, and a vegetarian menu. The ingredients are pre measured, and there are step-by-step recipes included. The ingredients are fresh and come from Blue Apron’s sustainable partners.
Types of plans and price: Blue Apron delivers and charges weekly. It is the most expensive of the meal plans on this list with their cheapest plan being the two recipes per week at $47.95.
Why Blue Apron? The ordering process is frustration free. However, there is a bit more prep and planning involved. Some ingredients you might need to use in multiple recipes in the box, so be aware. For new customers, you can get a $60 discount spread out over several boxes.
Customer testimonial: “Blue Apron is one of the easiest, most enjoyable cooking experiences. The food is delicious, fun, different, and creative.”
#4 – Home Chef
Types of meals: Home Chef has unique and interesting meals. For instance, there is tomato cream shrimp campanelle and teriyaki ginger-glazed salmon. The meals take anywhere from 5 to 45 minutes to be ready to eat.
Types of plans and price: The plan pricing is not available on the website, though it does state that each serving costs $7.99. Further research shows that the cheapest box is $45 a week.They pride themselves on being number one in customer satisfaction.
Why Home Chef? Menus are set five weeks in advance, so you have plenty of time to pick and choose your weekly plans. The ingredients are pre portioned, and are organized by recipe to help make cooking them easier. The recipes also have pictures and step-by-step instructions to help make cooking easier.
Customer testimonial: “What we love: High number of choices every week. Easy selection in the mobile app. Great tasting meals.”
#5 – EveryPlate
Types of meals: EveryPlate has tasty meals like bacon mac and cheese with cheddar and jalapeno, and Premium Meals like hoisin-glazed steak with ginger rice and garlicky green beans.
Types of plans and price: EveryPlate delivers and charges weekly. You can either get dinners for two or four. Each box contains three recipes per week and costs $39, which is the cheapest out of the meal plans on this list.
Why EveryPlate? They say on their website, “We use less packaging and simple ingredients for delicious, filling meals that are easily doable. Our aim is to bring tasty value and convenience, not make you a chef.” They also give new customers $20 off ($5 off on their first four deliveries). And the meals take about 30-45 minutes to cook. Take a look at these Everyplate reviews to learn more.
Customer testimonial: “I’ve tried ALL the meal kits, and I’ve been so happy with EveryPlate. It’s affordable, quick, and offers yummy options! Highly recommended.”
#6 – HelloFresh
Types of meals: HelloFresh has meals with plenty of protein and fish options, along with some veggie meals. They have such entrees as the bacon buckaroo burger and a veggie bibimbap rice bowl.
Types of plans and price: HelloFresh delivers and charges weekly. They have a Family Plan that serves four people. The two recipes per week plan costs $62.92 a week.
Why HelloFresh? The recipes are easy to follow and include nutritional information. The ingredients are high quality and farm sourced, and the meal kits fit conveniently in your fridge. The plans are flexible. You can swap recipes and cancel at any time. And according to the website, “We test each recipe 45 times to ensure deliciousness and simplicity.” Cooking times take about 45 minutes.
Customer testimonial: “HelloFresh is a huge hit in my home! Everyone thinks Mommy is a gourmet chef now with HelloFresh. The food is delivered to my doorstep, the instructions for each recipe are easy to follow, and the meals are healthy for us! I can’t ask for more…I’m hooked!”
#7 – Green Chef
Types of meals: Green Chef has a variety of meals, such as keto, paleo, omnivore, plant powered, gluten free, and pescatarian.
Types of plans and price: Green Chef delivers and charges weekly. If you choose the Family Plan, the only two choices are omnivore and carnivore, but both of those plans are for kids and parents alike and ready in about 30-45 minutes. Plan pricing for boxes is not available on the website, but the family plan starts at about $10.99 per meal.
Why Green Chef? On the website it touts “More flavor. More options.” Green Chef is certified organic.
Customer testimonial: “Love how fresh all of the produce is with Green Chef! Tonight’s meal was perfect. So loving this.”
These prices are as of the writing of this article (June 2019), so prices may have changed. Whether you choose a box because of price or because of ingredients, choose the best meal plan for you and your family’s lifestyle. Happy eating!
Bio: Brandy Clark is a freelance copywriter at autoinsurance.org and likes to write horror for fun at nofspodcast.com. When it comes to horror, the best horror movie is John Carpenter’s The Thing. She resides in Missouri with her two dogs, Layla and Hayley, who are her “kitchen buddies” any time she cooks (and will eat whatever morsels she drops on the floor).
Barrie says
I’ve tried 2 of these. Have you tried all 7 boxes? Which is your favorite? Great info to help decide on the best one for my family.