Pick Your Top Meal Delivery Services

A Complete Guide to the Best Meal Kit Delivery Services

Are you looking for a convenient way to enjoy delicious meals without the hassle of grocery shopping and meal planning?

Meal kit delivery services are becoming increasingly popular, offering convenient and delicious meals that can be made quickly and easily. With so many meal kit delivery options on the market, it can be difficult to decide which one is right for you.

But don’t worry – our comprehensive guide will help you find the best meal delivery services for your needs.

Here, we explore what features each of these meal delivery services offer, what types of dishes they provide, and how much each service costs. We also discuss some tips to make sure you get the most out of your chosen recipe box service.

By the end of this article, you’ll have all of the information you need to make an informed decision when choosing your ideal meal kit service. You’ll be able to find out which one is right for you based on your budget, dietary preferences or lifestyle needs.

What Is A Meal Kit Delivery Service?

Meal kit delivery services provide consumers with all the ingredients necessary to create balanced meals with minimal effort and time. These services often supply pre-measured (and sometimes pre-prepared) ingredients, reducing the amount of time needed to shop for individual ingredients as well as the effort required in preparation.

Additionally, they are a convenient way to access fresh and varied ingredients that are not typically available from the grocery store.

What To Expect

When signing up to a meal kit delivery service, you will be asked to provide personal details such as your name and address. You can also choose from a range of dietary preferences, such as vegetarian or vegan options (see all the options below, and some example menus for each).

Depending on the service you choose, you may also be able to select specific dishes that interest you.

After completing the sign-up process, your meals will be delivered directly to your door at regular intervals according to their schedule. Many meal delivery services offer free shipping for orders over a certain amount, so it's worth checking out before placing an order.

What's In The Recipe Box?

Each meal kit box contains all the ingredients you need for your chosen meals for that week, in exact portions pre-measured to ensure that the finished product is perfect every time. In most cases, the ingredients are pre-chopped and ready to be cooked.

The box also comes with easy-to-follow recipe cards which contain step-by-step instructions on how to prepare and cook the dish.

Depending on the recipe box service, additional items such as cooking oil, seasonings, and sauces may also be included. All you need is some basic kitchen equipment to get started – perfect for busy people who want to enjoy restaurant-quality food without the hassle.

Typical Ingredients You'll Receive

• High quality, fresh ingredients
• Pre portioned spices and herbs
• Local produce when available
• Seasonal items
• Healthy choices such as lean proteins and whole grains
• Condiments and sauces to enhance flavor
• Various types of meat, fish, or veggie options
• International flavors.

Meal Kits - The Key Benefits

1. Convenience

Meal delivery services provide pre-portioned ingredients, recipes and instructions so that you don’t have to spend time planning healthy meals or shopping for groceries.

2. Freshness

All of the ingredients are sourced from local suppliers and are freshly prepared before being delivered to your door, ensuring maximum flavor and nutrition in each meal.

3. Variety

Meal kit delivery services offer a wide variety of dishes ranging from vegan and vegetarian options to seafood, meat and poultry choices, providing something for everyone's taste preferences.

4. Cost Savings

Many meal kit delivery services offer discounted rates on subscriptions as well as discounts on individual orders when compared to traditional grocery stores or takeout restaurants; meaning you can save money while still eating tasty meals!

5. Time Saving

With meal kits there is no need to worry about what home cooked food you're going to rustle up, because they are already planned out with portions calculated appropriately; saving time by eliminating the need for grocery runs or cooking multiple meals per week.

6. Reduce Food Waste

By providing pre-portioned ingredients and easy to follow recipes, meal kits allow you to make the exact amount of food that you need without having to worry about overbuying or wasting any food.

This means fewer trips to the grocery store and fewer items spoiling in your refrigerator before you have a chance to use them. Meal kits also provide portion control which helps people avoid overeating and throwing away uneaten meals.

All Dietary Requirements Catered For

One of the biggest advantages of meal kits is that they cater for all dietary requirements. Whether you’re a vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian or have any other specific dietary needs, there are meal kits available which can meet your individual requirements.

Not only are these meals healthy and delicious but they also make it easier than ever before to stick to a balanced diet no matter what lifestyle choices you make.

Here are some examples, to give you an idea of the quality you can expect in your weekly menu:

Hearty Meals

• Sweet Potato & Cilantro Burgers with Lime-Mayo Slaw
• Rosemary Pork Chops With Roasted Potatoes and Carrots
• Brown Butter Fettuccine Alfredo with Crispy Bacon
• Vegetable Biryani Bowls with Minted Yogurt Sauce
• Maple Syrup-Glazed Turkey Sausage with White Beans and Kale
• Grilled Steak Tacos With Chipotle Black Bean Salad
• Penne Puttanesca with Olives, Anchovies, Capers, Tomatoes and Basil
• Zucchini Noodle Pad Thai Stir Fry
• Indian Spiced Chicken Thighs With Chickpeas & Spinach
• Spicy Salmon & Rice Bowls

Vegan & Plant Based Meals

• Creamy Sweet Potato & Kale Curry
• Roasted Vegetable Tacos with Tahini-Cashew Drizzle
• Charred Carrot, Squash & Avocado Bowl
• Mediterranean Stuffed Portobellos
• Coconut Tofu Pad Thai

Pescatarian Menus

• Cod Fishcakes with Roasted Potatoes & Pea Salad: Made with fresh cod and served up on a bed of roasted potatoes and pea salad.
• Piri Piri Prawn Skewers with Giant Couscous & Coriander Chimichurri: Features succulent prawns flavoured with a fiery piri piri sauce, served up on a bed of giant couscous and finished with a bright coriander chimichurri.
• Smashed Haddock & Broccoli Parcels: A freshly cooked meal featuring pan-fried haddock and broccoli, cooked up in a buttery garlic sauce and served inside parcels of puff pastry.
• Mediterranean-Style Salmon with Feta & Herbs: Features succulent salmon fillets and is served with a colourful array of vegetables and feta cheese, seasoned with herbs for added flavour.
• Baked Cod with Spinach & Sun-Dried Tomatoes: Features cod fillets that are baked and served on a bed of spinach and sun-dried tomatoes, finished off with a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese.

Vegetarian Dishes

• Mediterranean Veggie Bowl with Za'atar-spiced Sweet Potatoes
• Roasted Red Pepper and Feta Tart with Pea & Radish Salad
• Smoky Macaroni Cheese with Ready-Roasted Butternut Squash
• Cashew Nut Curry with Cauliflower Rice
• Super Greens Baked Penne Pasta Bake with Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Gluten Free Options

• Caramelised Onion and Roast Potato Frittata
• Tapenade Fregola with Tenderstem Broccoli
• Pecan Pie with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting
• Goats’ Cheese, Leek and Spinach Lasagne
• Spiced Ratatouille with Red Rice

Paleo Diet

• Grilled Pork Chops with Garlicky Broccolini and Cauliflower Mash – Includes pork chops marinated in garlic, oregano, thyme and olive oil. The meal is accompanied by a garlicky broccolini side dish and cauliflower mash.
• Honey-Mustard Salmon with Roasted Sweet Potato and Kale Salad – Features salmon fillets marinated in honey, mustard and dill. It’s served with a roasted sweet potato and kale salad topped with toasted pecans.
• Spicy Coconut-Lime Shrimp Bowl – Made with shrimp cooked in coconut milk, lime juice and chili flakes. It’s served over quinoa with roasted peppers and a zesty lime dressing.
• Mediterranean Chicken Bowl – Made with chicken marinated in Greek herbs, olives, tomatoes and feta cheese. It’s served over a bed of couscous and topped with Kalamata olives and toasted pine nuts.
• Spicy Sausage Cassoulet – Features spicy Italian sausage cooked with white beans, tomatoes and herbs. It’s served with a side of roasted carrots and Brussels sprouts.

Dairy Free Requirements

• Roasted Tomato & Aubergine Curry with Basmati Rice
• Chickpea, Spinach & Peppers Burgers
• Mushroom Stroganoff with Cashew Cream
• Coconut Veggie Ramen Bowls
• Harissa-Spiced Courgette Spaghetti

Low Fat/Low Calorie Options

• Grilled Cod with Spinach and Potato Salad – Features wild caught cod loin, served with a tasty potato spinach salad that is full of flavor thanks to the combination of garlic, lemon juice, and chilli flakes. Low in fat and calories, making it a great choice for those who are looking to watch their waistline.
• Chicken Teriyaki Stir Fry – Features juicy chicken breast pieces marinated in a delicious teriyaki sauce, served with julienned carrots, bell peppers, and onions. This meal is low in fat and calories, making it an ideal choice for those looking for a healthy dinner option.
• Salmon with Red Lentils and Baby Broccoli – Features fresh wild-caught salmon served over a bed of red lentils and baby broccoli seasoned with garlic and lemon juice. The combination of salmon and lentils makes for a healthy dinner choice that is low in fat and calories.
• Spaghetti Bolognese with Courgetti – Features lean beef mince served over courgetti (spiralized courgette) instead of traditional spaghetti, topped with parmesan cheese. This meal is low in fat and calories, making it a great choice for those looking to save on their calorie intake.
• Tomato Salsa Baked Cod with Sweet Potato Wedges – Features wild caught cod loin baked with tomato salsa and served with sweet potato wedges. This meal is low in fat and calories, so it’s perfect for those looking to watch their waistline.
  

These are a great way to get creative in the kitchen and enjoy flavors from around the world. Each dish is perfectly portioned and pre-measured, so you don't have to worry about having too much or not enough of an ingredient.

Plus, all the recipes are easy to follow, allowing you to whip up a delicious and nutritious meal in no time.

With all services we recommend here, each dish is created with fresh ingredients and delivered directly to your door so it's always as convenient as possible.

Key Considerations

When choosing a meal kit delivery service, we recommend you bear these 10 things in mind:

1. Variety and types of dishes offered

Having a variety of dishes ensures that everyone will be able to find something they enjoy. Variety can also help reduce food waste, as people can pick the dishes they really want rather than being stuck with meals they don't like.

Furthermore, it allows people to have more control over their nutrition and try different kinds of dishes without having to go out shopping or spend hours in the kitchen cooking.

A wide selection of meals also keeps things interesting week after week. By offering customers an array of options, meal kit delivery services ensure that there is something for everyone!

2. Freshness and quality of ingredients

Fresh produce is more flavorful than stale produce, has higher vitamin and mineral content, and lasts longer in the fridge or freezer. Quality ingredients also have fewer preservatives which can be harmful to our health in large amounts.

Buying from a reputable meal kit delivery service ensures that all its ingredients are fresh, safe to eat, and of the highest quality. This will ensure that you get delicious meals with optimal nutritional value every time!

3. Dietary options available

By having dietary options available, individuals can enjoy a customized experience that meets their nutritional requirements while also enjoying delicious meals.

With meal kit delivery services, it's easy to find something for everyone regardless of dietary preferences!

4. Cost per meal

Knowing exactly how much each meal costs can help ensure that you are getting the best value for your money and make sure you are not overspending on meals that may end up being sub-par.

Cost per meal is also an important factor to consider when comparing different services in order to choose the one that offers the most economical option for your budget.

5. Delivery times offered

Meal kit delivery services typically offer weekly or bi-weekly delivery times. Depending on the service, customers can choose to receive their meal kits either on a regular schedule (for example, every Monday) or they can select one-time orders.

For some services, customers may even be able to customize their delivery frequency depending on their needs and preferences.

Some services also offer express delivery options for those in need of more immediate meals.

6. Customer service reviews and ratings

Customer service reviews give valuable insight into the quality of customer service offered by the provider. Good customer service is essential for providing a positive experience, and it can make all the difference in terms of how satisfied customers are with their purchases.

Reviews provide an indication of how responsive companies are to complaints and queries, which can give an indication of their reliability.

By considering customer reviews and ratings, people can make sure that they choose a good meal kit delivery service that will meet their needs.

7. Ease of customising orders

Having the ability to customize meals means that everyone can enjoy delicious meals without having to worry about missing out on key nutrients or flavor because of their dietary restrictions.

Furthermore, customers have the freedom to modify existing recipes and make them fit their own tastes and nutritional needs.

Meal kits provide an easy way for busy individuals who are short on time but still want fresh food with minimal effort.

8. Subscription plans available

Generally, there are weekly, bi-weekly and monthly subscriptions that offer discounts when compared to pricing for single meals.

Some services offer flexible subscriptions that allow customers to customize their orders by selecting preferred dishes for each week. Other services may also offer a "family plan" or special discounts for large orders.

Customers should review the terms and conditions of any meal kit delivery service to determine which subscription plan best fits their needs.

9. Flexible subscriptions

Flexibility offers the freedom to take breaks from your subscription whenever you need it, without feeling obliged to commit long-term. This kind of flexibility and control helps people save money by avoiding overpaying for meals they don't need.

Having the ability to pause, skip or cancel subscriptions means customers can adjust their meal plan according to their changing needs.

10. Referral discounts

Many meal kit delivery services offer referral program discounts for inviting friends. These programs provide existing customers with discounts and other incentives for referring their friends and family to the service.

For example, HelloFresh offers a £25 discount when an existing customer refers a new customer to their service. Gousto provides a £20 discount for both the existing and new customer when a referral is successful.

These discounts are a great way to save money while sharing your love of meal kits with friends and family.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, the best meal kit delivery service for you will depend on your individual needs and preferences. By considering all of these factors – such as cost, type of meals offered, customer ratings, dietary requirements and subscription plans – customers can make an informed decision when choosing their ideal meal kit delivery service.

We hope this guide has provided a comprehensive overview to help you find the perfect solution that suits your budget and lifestyle!