Photo courtesy of @gadgapho | Unsplash

 Written by Beverly M

We all know how busy life can be.  Between jobs, household chores, children and their various activities, and other responsibilities, it can be hard to find time to ensure that everyone is eating- not to mention making sure that they eat nutritionally balanced meals.  One great solution that has come on the market in recent years is the option of meal delivery kits.  Meal delivery services allow consumers to receive everything they need to make delicious meals without the hassle of meal planning and grocery shopping.  Nowadays, the options seem endless, so in this article, we will look at three different services to see how compatible each service is with providing great choices for vegetarian meals, families with potentially picky eaters, and good nutrition.  So, without further ado, let’s get started:

 

Sunbasket 

The first meal delivery service we will cover is Sunbasket.  Sunbasket provides fresh ingredients to your door so you can make delicious, healthy meals that fit your lifestyle. How it works is you select the number of meals you’d like to include in your Sunbasket box. Options include breakfast, lunch, and dinner choices and you have the flexibility to pick between being able to prepare your own meal (great if you enjoy cooking) or picking a ready-made meal that helps to free up your time in the kitchen. Diet choices include paleo, gluten-free, pescatarian, and diabetes-friendly meals to vegetarian and vegan options.  And, if you like to prepare your own food, but don’t have a lot of time to do so, there are meal options that can be cooked in under 30 minutes that include easy-to-follow instructions.  There is even the option of picking meals that include fresh in-season.  Prices for this service start at $11.99/per portion for meal kits and $9.99/per portion for fresh and ready-to-eat meals. Use this link for $90 off. 

 

Why might Sunbasket be an excellent choice for you and your family? First, if you’re looking for ways to include healthy vegetarian options in your family’s weekly meal plan, Sunbasket has a good variety of meals that contain no meat or seafood. The menu continuously changes, so chances are you’ll never get bored, and as mentioned above, many meals can be ready in 30 minutes or less.  You can be sure that each meal is nutritious as meals are curated by chefs and registered dietitians who ensure you’re getting only the best.  Lastly, for those with potentially picky eaters at home, the meal kits allow you to prepare the meal how you need, so if that means leaving a bit off to the side with no sauces for your picky eater, you can do that. Read more about Anne’s experience with Sunbasket here.

 

Hello Fresh 

Next up in this review is Hello Fresh.  With Hello Fresh being one of the more popular meal kit services, most people are familiar with this company.  Hello Fresh also offers the flexibility of choosing meals that fit various lifestyles, such as pescatarian, vegetarian, and fit and wholesome.  However, one option that is exclusive to Hello Fresh is the family-friendly option with the promise of kid-approved meals.  If you’ve got a fussy eater at home, this option may make Hello Fresh an appealing choice as you can include meals that may help guarantee your child will eat them.  

 

Another similarity between Hello Fresh and Sunbasket is the option to find quick and easy meals (usually 30 minutes or less) for busy weeknights or when you don’t feel like cooking, but still want to stay on track with eating healthy. However, Hello Fresh does not offer premade meals that provide a level of ease for those who are eating at work or just don’t have the time to cook.  However, this difference and Hello Fresh’s popularity may explain the price point for Hello Fresh, which is about $128 for four meals for four people (16 portions), equally around $7.99 per serving. Use this link for $40 off.

 

So, is Hello Fresh right for you? If you are someone who loves to cook and knows that you’ll always be able to use the ingredients sitting in your fridge and pantry, HelloFresh seems to be an excellent choice. Like Sunbasket, Hello Fresh also works with dietitians to develop meals putting any health-conscious consumer at ease. HelloFresh is also a perfect fit for families with children who may have a limited repertoire of foods, as you can select options that you know your children will eat and prepare them accordingly. You can read more about some of Anne’s experiences with Hello Fresh here or here. 

 

Hungryroot

Lastly, let’s check out Hungryroot to finish this review.  Hungryroot also offers the option of receiving fresh ingredients for meals designed by its culinary team.  However, the difference between Hungryroot and the other meal delivery services is rather than offering only meal kits with preportioned ingredients for specific recipes or ready-to-eat meals, Hungryroot also acts as an online grocery store where you can get everything you need from your shopping list. 

 

With Hungryroot, you have the option of selecting your preferred diet from vegan, vegetarian, and pescatarian, and it includes the choice to limit soy, dairy, tree nuts, eggs, and shellfish. Prices begin at $65 per box based on your needs, which Hungryroot helps you figure out with an easy-to-take quiz. Moreover, you can find anything from ancient grains pancake mix to various protein options.  A bonus is you can also opt to receive snacks and sweets in your box. And, when I say sweets, I mean almond flour cookie dough. Yum! 

 

Hungryroot may be right for you if you want to feed a bigger family and need more groceries with a wider variety than what you may find with Hello Fresh or Sunbasket.  And, if you don’t have a lot of time for cooking, this service is still an excellent option for you as you can select recipes that don’t take a lot of time, and many of the selections on Hungryroot are easy to make or only need to be warmed. As for feeding your fussy eaters, Hungryroot offers many options, from plant-based chicken tenders to fruit and cheese snack packs that will help fill their bellies when all else fails.  Read about Anne’s experience with Hungryroot here. 

 

In short, there are many different meal delivery services out there.  Whether you need ready-to-eat meals or simply want to cut down on the time you spend at the grocery store and save money, there are options for everyone.  If you have tried any of these services or decide to give them a go, leave a comment below with your thoughts.