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Best Prepared Meal Delivery Plans

Finding the perfect prepared meal delivery service can be a game-changer for your daily routine. Whether you're looking to save time on meal prep, eat healthier, or simply enjoy the convenience of having delicious meals delivered right to your door, we've got you covered. Our comprehensive guide to the best prepared meal delivery services of 2024 will help you find the perfect fit for your lifestyle and dietary needs.

From budget-friendly options to gourmet selections, there's something here for everyone. Even if you’re a stranger to the kitchen, you can throw together fantastic pre-made meals that’ll have you forgetting about traditional takeout. It’s pre-made meals made easy.

What is a Meal Delivery Service?

A pre-made meal delivery service brings the convenience of pre-planned, pre-portioned, and sometimes pre-cooked meals directly to your home. The best prepared meal delivery service ensures that you can enjoy nutritious and delicious meals without the hassle of grocery shopping or meal prep. Some services even offer prepared meals that accept EBT, making it accessible for more people.

While prepared food delivery services offering pre-cooked food have been around for hundreds of years, meal kit services are a relatively new development that started in 2003 in Scandinavia and spread to the United States in 2012. These companies enjoyed a surge in popularity during the pandemic and have continued to be a popular choice for people who want to save time, try new recipes, and reduce food waste.

The best ready-made meal delivery service offers a range of options catering to different lifestyles, so they’re a great choice if you’re looking for something specific, like high-protein meal delivery, gluten-free options, weight-loss plans, or meal deliveries for the elderly. Many of these services provide prepared meals delivered directly to your home.

What Types of Meal Delivery Services Are There?

Meal Kits

Meal kits provide all the ingredients you need to cook a meal at home, along with easy-to-follow instructions. They’re perfect for those who enjoy cooking but prefer to skip meal planning and grocery shopping.

Fully Prepared Meals

Fully prepared meals are ready to eat with minimal heating required. These are ideal for busy individuals who want to enjoy a home-cooked meal without spending time in the kitchen. Fully prepared meals and ready-made meal delivery options make it easy to eat well with little effort.

Specialized Dietary Plans

Many meal services cater to specific nutritional needs, such as keto, vegan, paleo, high-protein, or anti-inflammatory. Most provide detailed ingredient lists and nutritional information online so you can easily check if a meal suits your dietary requirements. Specialized dietary plans often include healthy prepared meals that fit various dietary needs.

Weight Loss Plans

If you’re looking for a strict diet meal plan, many health-focused meal services will send you dietitian-planned meals to help you eat healthier and lose weight. Prepared meals delivered help you control your eating by planning meals ahead of time and learning new cooking techniques you can integrate into your daily life.

Family Plans

Many meal delivery services feature family meal plans and “kid-friendly” recipes. Kid-friendly recipes are dishes your kids may recognize and are typically not spicy. These plans typically include meals designed for four people and often cost less per serving. Family plans can include pre-packaged meal delivery for added convenience.

Organic food and sustainable sourcing

Many meal subscription services proudly showcase their certified organic and sustainable options on their websites. These credentials may include USDA Organic certification, MSC-certified sustainable seafood, or B Corp certification.

How Do Prepared Meal Delivery Services Work?

Prepared meal delivery services simplify meal planning and preparation by delivering ready-to-cook or pre-prepared meals directly to your door. The process typically starts with signing up on a company’s website or mobile app. During registration, you may be prompted to answer questions about dietary preferences and restrictions, which helps the service personalize meal recommendations.

Once signed up, you can choose your meals from a weekly rotating menu. You can select portion sizes and the number of meals per week based on your individual or family needs. Meal delivery services generally emphasize flexibility, allowing you to skip weeks or change meal choices as long as you do so by a specified deadline before the next delivery. Whether you prefer ready-to-eat meal delivery or pre-made meal delivery, these services make it easy.

How to Choose the Right Prepared Meal Delivery Service for Your Needs?

Dietary Preferences and Restrictions

Choose a service that aligns with your dietary needs. Whether you need gluten-free, high-protein, or vegan options, the best meal plans will accommodate your requirements. Look for services that offer prepared meals that accept EBT if this is important to you.

Variety and Flexibility

Look for services that offer a wide range of meal options and the flexibility to change your selections each week. This ensures you won’t get bored and can adjust based on your preferences. Ready-made meals and pre-packaged meal delivery services should offer a variety of choices.

Cost

Budget is a crucial factor. Consider whether you need the cheapest meal delivery service or if you’re willing to pay more for premium options. Compare the cost per meal to see what options fit your budget. Some services may offer discounts for prepared meals delivered in bulk.

Customer Support

Meal delivery companies offer customer support services like online assistants and agents who can be contacted by phone or email. Their websites often include features like FAQs, blogs, cooking tips, and nutrition advice. Look for a company that provides what you need. Good customer support can enhance your experience with prepared meal delivery services.

Meal Delivery Glossary:

Pre-portioned Ingredients (Meal Kits)

Components of a meal that have been measured and cut to the exact amounts required for a recipe.

Fully Prepared Meals

Complete dishes that are cooked and assembled prior to delivery, requiring minimal to no preparation. They are delivered chilled or frozen to maintain quality and freshness. This is a key feature of many prepared meal delivery services.

Subscription Service

A business model where customers pay a recurring fee to receive their meal service according to a pre-agreed schedule.

Dietary Preferences

Requirements or choices that influence an individual's eating habits, such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, keto, paleo, and other specialized diets. These preferences are often catered to by healthy prepared meals and specialized dietary plans.

Freshness Guarantee

Meal delivery services are committed to delivering ingredients at their peak freshness to maximize their flavor and nutritional value.

FAQs

Should I use a prepared meal delivery service or order takeout food?

Using a prepared meal delivery service is often healthier and more convenient than ordering takeout food. Prepared meals are designed to offer balanced nutrition, and with options like ready-made meals or pre-cooked meal delivery, you can enjoy delicious food that's ready to eat without the extra calories and cost often associated with takeout.

What types of meals can I expect from a prepared meal delivery service?

You can expect a variety of meals including healthy prepared meals, ready-to-eat meals, and pre-cooked meals delivered to your door. Options range from budget-friendly pre-packaged meals delivery to gourmet ready-made meals.

Can I customize the meals?

Most prepared meal delivery services allow you to customize your meal selections each week, letting you choose meals that fit your tastes and dietary preferences. Ready-to-eat meal delivery services often provide flexible options.

Can I pause or cancel my prepared meal delivery subscription?

Yes, most meal delivery services offer flexible subscription plans that allow you to pause or cancel your deliveries as needed. This is a common feature among prepared meal delivery services.

Are prepared meal delivery services environmentally friendly?

Many prepared meal delivery services are committed to sustainability, using eco-friendly packaging and sourcing ingredients responsibly to reduce their environmental impact. Services offering precooked meal delivery often highlight their sustainable practices.