Editor's choice
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#2nd Best choice
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#3rd Best Choice
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Gone are the days of uninspired ready-to-eat frozen meals. Home delivery meal services have boomed in recent years, with more households subscribing to delicious and affordable meal plans now more than ever before. In the past, pre-made meals were notorious for unhealthy ingredients and bland options.
However, a new age of prepared meals is thriving—with everything from fullyvegan,ketogenic, andpaleo meal programs to gluten-free and diabetic-friendly services that address health challenges and food allergies via thoughtfully curated menus.
These ready-to-eat meals, some fresh and others flash frozen, take the hassle out of food prep, cooking, and cleaning.If you’re considering buying or even subscribing to a meal delivery service, read on to learn everything you need to know, including the best home delivery meals on the market.
I’ve prepared this guide on the best prepared meal delivery services, so you can make an informed decision and benefit from the stellar meals and services when you’re ordering your food. I considered various important factors, like the taste, health benefits, and price, to select a winner in each category.
Bon Appetit!
Best Prepared Meal Delivery Services
Best Overall: bistroMD
Most Balanced: Trifecta Nutrition
Most Affordable: Snap Kitchen
Most Delicious Plant-Based Options: MamaSezz
Tastiest: Home Bistro
Best Ready to Eat Snacks: Fresh N’ Lean
Best for Weight Loss: Diet-to-Go
Best Nutritional Support: Factor_
Our Top Prepared Meal Delivery Services (2023 UPDATED)
1. bistroMD (Editor’s Choice)
- Best Match For:Dieters looking for a flexible doctor-designed meal plan with delicious dishes that support weight loss.
- Commitment Level:Subscription with weekly delivery
- Availability:The contiguous US (No Alaska or Hawaii)
- Value:$9.5-$13/meal depending on the program you choose; $19.95 shipping fee; 25% off and free shipping on first order
- Type:Fully prepared frozen meals for weight-loss and healthy ready-to-eat snacks
Curated by Dr. Caroline Cederquist and a team of dietitians, bistroMd meals are carefully prepared using only fresh ingredients and healthyrecipes.
Read ourcloser look at bistroMdreview to get service details or continue reading for an overview.
Each box is customized to your individual needs, taking your dietary requirements and weight loss goals into consideration. I think it’s a significant advantage. Tailoring the meals to your own plans, needs, and preferences will make your transition to living a healthier lifestyle that much easier.
In addition to serving delicious meals, the company also takes a holistic approach to weight loss, offering weekly diet and fitness tips.
When you sign up for your program, you receive a free diet analysis, which gives you guidance on what types of foods you should include in your diet, and which foods you should avoid.
Each plan also comes with full support from their registered dietitian, information on metabolic correction, and more. I consider this absolutely necessary in semi-medical and health-oriented diets, since most of us are no experts when it comes to a truly balanced diet. Everybody is different as well, so having the support of professionals in planning your meals makes a huge difference.
Your menu will depend on the type of plan you choose. Some of their options include the standard plan, gluten-free, heart-healthy, diabetic, and menopause. Yes! They offer meal programs for menopause!
BistroMD has earned praise for their tasty meals that are backed by both science and taste buds, including my own!
Their sister companies, Balance by bistroMD and Silver Cuisine by bistroMD are on our roundup ofbest senior meal delivery services.
Ordering from Balance by bistroMD will also help you eat and take off the pounds! Read ourtop rated weight loss meal delivery services review.
Thanks to bistroMD’s team of dietitians and chefs, they are able to offer a balance of nutrition, weight loss, and mouth-watering taste that I know you’ll love.
BistroMD meals are most compatible with people looking for a precooked meal delivery plan that is designed by doctors and based on science versus diet trends.
PROS
- Registered-Dietitian designed meals
- Portion-controlled, easy-to-heat frozen meals
- Wide variety of programs tailored to different diets, health concerns, and lifestyles
- No minimums or memberships
Cons
- Expedited shipping options are not available
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2. Trifecta Nutrition
- Best Match For:Fitness nuts looking for sustainable meal delivery with perfectly balanced ready-made meals.
- Commitment Level:Subscription
- Availability:Everywhere in the US
- Value:$99.99-$119.20/week
- Type:Fully prepared fresh meals (heat and eat)
Trifecta Nutrition meals are designed to power you through your day.
Whether you’re striving to achieve a weight loss goal, or simply want to take control of your diet so that you can better enjoy your life, Trifecta wants to help you prepare for success.
Read our full review of Trifecta for more details of Trifecta's meal program.
Their in-house celebrity chef, Scott Leibfried—known for his role in the Food Network’s Hell’s Kitchen—prepares exclusive recipes that are micro-balanced and backed by science.
Trifecta offers weekly rotating meals that keep your taste buds happy so that you never get bored or hungry. And I appreciate it very much - there’s nothing worse than eating the same thing all the time!
They feature a number of menus catered to various dietary needs, including:
- Paleo
- Clean
- Keto
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Gluten-free
Each dish is low-calorie, portion-controlled, and breaks down all of the macros so that you know exactly what you’re putting into your body. It was interesting to take a pick and see what I am eating and in what quantities. Useful for those who train, for sure.
Meals are delivered on a weekly basis with colored labels to distinguish breakfast, lunch, and dinner items. The box will arrive at your home in an insulated package to keep your food fresh.
Trifecta Nutrition services are most compatible with people looking for fresh, organic, and gluten-free meals, who also seek community support and advice in meeting their nutritional goals. Their meals were delicious, so it’s easily one of my favorite ready-to-eat meal delivery companies on this list.
PROS
- Nationwide free shipping included with all orders
- No processed ingredients; all meals use sustainable proteins and organic vegetables
- Macro-counter, keto, paleo, clean, or vegan meal plans available
- Eliminates diet burnout with constantly changing meals
Cons
- Classic plan is the only plan where you can handpick meals
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3. Snap Kitchen
- Best Match For:Clean eaters looking for affordable ready-to-eat gluten-free meals that are freshly cooked.
- Commitment Level:Weekly subscription
- Availability:The contiguous states except for Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and parts of Michigan, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Washington, Oregon, and Nevada.
- Value:$11.34-$13.84/meal; Free shipping
- Type:Fully prepared fresh meals (heat and eat)
With Snap Kitchen meal plans, you have a choice of a variety of diet plans. They are:
- low-carb
- vegetarian
- balance
- Whole30
- high protein
- keto-friendly
- paleo
If the above diets are not a priority, there is also the option to customize your own full menu with the “Total Custom” program.
Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and “components” are available. Components are meat, poultry, and veggie add-ons such as gourmet mac and cheese, grass-fed burgers (which were amazing, by the way), and roasted sweet potato, to name a few.
The company's ethos is to use organic ingredients as often as possible. Snap Kitchen “attempts to obtain the highest quality food using ingredients that are sourced as close to us as possible” with the belief that “the food that has been minimally processed, thereby maintaining the most nutrients.”
All meals can be easily heated in the microwave or oven, so it’s a good solution for those who like to live in a rush and still eat very well.
Snap Kitchen is most compatible with people who desire their food to be sustainably sourced; and without artificial preservatives, antibiotics, and hormones. I know it’s important for many people, so if you’re one of them, this is the meal delivery company I would recommend to you.
PROS
- Entire menu is gluten, artificial preservative, and antibiotic-free
- Fresh meals, all chef-designed and dietitian curated
- Personalized meal plan available
- Tasty low carb, high protein, balance, paleo, whole30, and keto-friendly meals available
Cons
- Vegan options are not available
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4. MamaSezz
- Best Match For:People looking for fresh, healthy, and delicious plant-based prepared meals on a budget.
- Commitment Level:One-time orders; Flexible subscription
- Availability:The contiguous US (No Alaska or Hawaii)
- Value:$4-$6/serving; Shipping fees apply
- Type:Fully prepared fresh plant-based meals (heat and eat)
MamaSezz meal deliverydelivers whole food,plant based meals and they are some of the yummiest plant-based meals I have ever tried. Their Moroccan stew is to die for!
There is no meat, no refined sugar, no GMOs,no dairy, no gluten, and no preservatives in any of their meals,yet they are full of taste, which I can attest to personally. If you love veggies, they offer the best-prepared meal delivery service under the sun.
They do have nuts, soy, and seeds in some of their products and all their products, are made in a facility that makes items with tree nuts and soy so if you have these food allergies, please be warned.
MamaSezz offers subscriptions and automatic deliveries on all bundles. You can choose to have a bundle arrive every week, every other week, every three weeks, or every month. Not looking for a commitment? No prob. MamaSezz doesn’t lock you into anything. You can edit, change, pause, or cancel your subscription at any time.
If you aren’t quite ready for a subscription, just select “one-time purchase” when you add a bundle to your cart, and you’re set.
MamaSezz meals are the perfect match for people looking for a whole-food, delicious, plant-based diet.
PROS
- Numerous kid-friendly meals
- Different meal bundles are available, all with free shipping
- Salt-Free & Soy-Free Options
- Tastiest vegan meals
Cons
- Free shipping is only available with bundle purchase
- A la carte meals not available
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5. Home Bistro
- Best Match For:Anyone looking to enjoy restaurant-quality gourmet meals, prepared by world-renowned chefs, in the comfort of their homes.
- Commitment Level:No commitments - Order at any time
- Availability:Fast nationwide delivery
- Value:$14.95-$34.99/meal; Free shipping
- Type:Fully prepared gourmet frozen meals
Don’t let Home Bistro’s name fool you – their meals are not simply bistro fare.
Home Bistro delivers Mediterranean-diet-style meals with the convenience of many of the other companies on this list. Yet these meals are elevated- we’re talking meals like chianti-braised short ribs with pilaf, which are unparalleled. I actually have made some love declarations to that dish!
It’s not all decadence though. You can certainly find healthy meals here and a plethora of meal programs that speak to one’s lifestyle and dietary needs.
There are Mediterranean, Paleo, Heart Healthy, Vegetarian, Diabetic-Friendly, and Body Shred programs that let you eat well and eat good food.
There are nosubscription commitments. You can reorder at any time, and as much or as little as you’d like (which I tend to do quite often, meaning anytime I have the appetite for those ribs).
Home Bistro is perfect for people looking for well-balanced gourmet meals. Take a look at our Home Bistro full review.In terms of the flavor of the dishes alone, this is a clear winner for me.
PROS
- Restaurant-grade food
- No subscription or a membership required to order meals
- Prepared by world-class chefs and delivered frozen
- Hormone, Antibiotic and Steroid-Free Meats
Cons
- Can get pricey
- Website isn't user-friendly
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6. Fresh N’ Lean
- Best Match For:People searching for affordable healthy dishes with zero meal preparation involved.
- Commitment Level:Subscription
- Availability:All 50 states
- Value:$7.83-$15.18/meal; Free shipping
- Type:Fully prepared fresh meals (heat and eat) and ready-to-eat snacks
Fresh N’ Lean is fresh, never frozen, and locally sourced. Their meals have organically grown ingredients free from GMO, gluten, and artificial preservatives - a big plus if you’re planning to feed your family with their prepared meals.
While we’re on the subject of what their meals DON’T have, I should point out that Fresh N’ Lean meals are also dairy free and made without sugar, processed ingredients, and artificial flavors.
Now let’s talk about what their meals DO have.
Fresh N’ Lean meal programs run the game with everything from weekly meal plans consisting of specifically Keto, Paleo, Vegan Standard, Vegan Low-Carb, and Protein + meals.
There’s also an option to buy meals A La Carte, which is a one-time order. These meals have entrees and bulk and sides. This is a wonderful feature to have in that you can try out their meals and see if you like them (which I’m pretty confident you will!). You can then sign up for their weekly meal plan.
Fresh N Lean provides free nationwide delivery and you can cancel anytime.
Fresh N Lean meals match perfectly with people looking for meals with ingredients locally sourced, organically grown, and without GMO, gluten, and artificial preservatives. Check out ourFresh N' Lean meal plans review to learn more.
PROS
- Variety meal plans
- Meal customization available
- Subscription flexibility
- Meals are fresh, not frozen
Cons
- Delivery modifications and cancellations can only be placed via phone
- Meals can be a bit bland
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7. Fresh Meal Plan
- Best Match For:Anyone seeking affordable ready-to-eat meals designed by a chef to help them meet health and wellness goals.
- Commitment Level: Subscription
- Availability:The continental US
- Value:You can choose a plan with 6, 10, or 14 meals per week for $12.49, $11.49, or $10.49 per serving. Shipping fees may apply depending on your location.
- Type:Fully prepared fresh meals
Fresh Meal Plan offers five distinct meal plans that are designed with different nutritional goals in mind.
You’ll get to choose the number of meals you want to receive each week after you select a plan.
Meal program options include Traditional, Paleo, Keto, Vegan and Lean, and Mean. Buying meals A La Cart is also an option.
The actual meals pull from a variety of cuisines which makes for a line of delicious and diverse meals that prevent menu fatigue. I love the variety of meals they offer. I’m someone who gets bored in the kitchen very quickly, so if you’re like me, I can recommend you Fresh Meal Plan with a clear conscience - I did not get stultified with them! Their servings are pretty generous as well, which is always a plus.
Fresh Meal Plans are ideal for people who seek a lot of variety and options in fresh meal delivery programs.
PROS
- Generous protein servings
- Numerous meal plans
- Diverse meals that prevent menu fatigue
- Meal customization available
Cons
- Food selection can be repetitive
- Poor customer service
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8. Diet-to-Go
- Best Match For:People looking for delicious dietitian-designed meals that support healthy weight loss.
- Commitment Level:Subscription with weekly delivery
- Availability:The contiguous US (No Alaska or Hawaii)
- Value:$9.49-$13.99/meal; $9.99 shipping fee
- Type:Fully prepared fresh or frozen meals
Diet-To-Go’s portion-controlled meals allow you to enjoy some of your favorite foods, while reaching your weight loss goals.
As part of the Diet-to-Go community, you will not only have access to precooked meals, but you will also receive support from a team of health professionals, including a Certified Health Coach, a Nutritionist, and a Dietitian, which I consider to be a big advantage when it comes to prepared meal delivery services.
All of their meals are calorie-controlled, heart-healthy, and include everything you need right out of the box.
You can easily customize your order to pick your favorite menu items, change your plans, or pause your subscription. This is another plus since it gave me a lot of room to try different things from them - many of which I’m still a fan of, to this day.
In addition to the meals, you will also have access to a support Diet-to-Go community that can help you along your weight loss journey. I think it’s a great resource to have. I received much support and useful information being a part of that community, which I imagine, would be super helpful to those who are at the beginning of their journey with healthy eating. You can learn more about the details of Diet-to-Go's meal program in our full review!
Diet-to-Go’s services are compatible with people looking to lose weight with the support of a reliable meal program and a built-in community.
PROS
- Customizable delivery
- No contracts to sign and no long-term commitments
- Portion-controlled meals help not to overeat
- Registered Dietitian, Nutritionist, and Certified Health Coaches are available for support
Cons
- Strict deadlines for orders, with no wiggle room
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9. Factor_
- Best Match For:Everybody looking for nutritious and delicious recipes designed by dietitians and cooked by culinary experts to perfectly fit into most diet plans.
- Commitment Level:Subscription
- Availability:The contiguous US (No Alaska or Hawaii)
- Value:$11-$15/meal; Free delivery
- Type:Fully prepared fresh meals (heat and eat)
Factor_ meals are non-GMO and gluten-free as well as being void of refined sugars, soy, antibiotics, and hormones.
There are many diet-specific meals that include low-carb meals - more specifically, of the Paleo and Ketogenic variety.
Read more about our favoritelow carb meal plan delivery services. And be sure to hit up ourreview of the best prepared meal delivery services for bodybuilders. You’ll find an array of dishes high in protein, both animal and otherwise.
There are also vegetarian, dairy-free, and even spicy meals for those of you who like to eat heat. I’m not a huge enthusiast of spicy things, but their spicy turkey poblano bowl did it for me.
All meals arrive with a printed label indicating expiration dates which is another useful bit of information as you plan your weekly menu and when to eat what after receiving your chosen meals.
As a subscriber, you will receive a complimentary 20-minute consultation, and you can always ask questions to Factor_ team of in-house dietitians. I used this option once or twice, just to check if they actually deliver on that, and I can say that their team is great. Didn’t have to wait too long to get in touch with them, and they answered all of my questions, which was super helpful.
You can also sign up for a session with their Nutrition Coaching Team which will share their expertise with you on issues such as gut health, mental performance, geriatric nutrition, weight management, food intolerance, and much, much more.
Factor_ meal order service is best suited for people who want their weight loss and/or nutritional journey to go beyond food.
PROS
- Provides bulk discount offers
- Pause, cancel or change meal plan at any time
- Excellent customer service
- Updated weekly menu with dozens of breakfast, lunch and dinner options, including dairy-free
Cons
- No family meal plans
- Limited vegetarian options
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FAQS
What is a Prepared Meal Delivery Service?
You know which prepared meal delivery services are the best if you’ve gotten this far down, but what are you really buying, and what do services entail?
In short, prepared meals arrive fully cooked and ready to eat – no chopping, slicing, or dicing required. Just heat and eat!
These home-cooked meals are ready to eat with minimal to no prep time required and you’ll get the homemade taste without the mess.
Who said you couldn’t have your cake delivered and eat it, too?
Unlike popular companies such as Blue Apron or Plated, where ingredients are measured, packaged, and mailed for you to cook per recipe requirements, prepared meal delivery services come to your door fully cooked and ready to eat.
There’s seldom prep work aside from having to thaw meals if you choose the frozen track.
Depending on the meal delivery service you choose, weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly deliveries are available options.
Some companies will provide meals for the entire day, from breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and sometimes even snacks depending on what you order. Other programs have more a la carte menus from which to choose.
Are Prepared Meals a Good Match for You?
Do you like healthy and delicious food? Or maybe you’d like to explore buzzy diets like Paleo or Keto to get lean or lose weight?
Maybe you don’t want to keep relying on those pitiful frozen meals from the freezer section of your grocery store. Instead, maybe you’re looking to save a trip and have delicious and innovativefrozen foods delivered to your door!
Or does life, with all its intricacies of work, family, and socializing, and other myriad projects leave you with little time to cook for yourself or your family?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, prepared delivery meals might be the perfect match for you. Prepared meal deliveries come cooked and ready to eat with everything you need.
The only thing you need is a microwave, stove, or oven (not all three) to heat and eat. The best meal delivery service can help you achieve real weight loss and nutrition goals with easy-to-follow plans that will satisfy your hunger with sensible proportions and nourishing ingredients.
Some meal plans can appear pricey, but that’s where we recommend you reviewing your budget and seeing what plans fit into your lifestyle. If you’re eating out a lot anyway it shouldn’t make as much of a dent in your budget. Oftentimes, patrons of these programs have found these meal delivery services cheaper than eating out.
Think of these services akin to having a private chef who cooks with your specific lifestyle and dietary specifications in mind without the hefty price tag of actually having a private chef. You can find the best premade meals by choosing one of the companies I included in this guide.
What to Look for in a Prepared Meal Delivery Service?
There are many different options for home delivery food plans. One thing to consider is how many meals you’ll need.
Some companies offer individual and family plans, allowing you to customize the number of meals per day and the frequency of delivery.
In addition, most plans allow you to note your allergies and diet restrictions online. Another point to consider is if the company delivers to where you live.
Most of the companies we’ve reviewed do nationwide delivery, but not all.
You’ll also want to consider whether there are shipping fees on top of costs associated with your plan or meals.
This differs from company to company, but we have outlined, in each of our reviews, which companies have additional shipping costs.
Finally, budget and value are other things to consider as to what bang you’re getting for your buck.
Which Meal Delivery Service Should You Choose?
After much consideration, our choice for the best prepared meal delivery service is bistroMD! They offer very comprehensive services. With support from nutrition experts, very quality food, and delicious meals, it’s my favorite premade meal delivery company. Although the competition was fierce, I’m glad to give them the first place, as I’m sure anyone who chooses them will be happy with what they have in store.
With brands like bistroMD, Trifecta Nutrition, and Diet-To-Go bringing healthy and delicious foods to the table, why waste time in the kitchen?
The prepared meal delivery services above allow you to enjoy chef-prepared meals from the comfort of your home, without dirtying a pan or cracking an egg.
These programs make it easier than ever to set up auto delivery and meet your dietary needs without feeling hungry throughout the day.
Let someone else do the cooking for a change, and a great place to start is by trying our top pick bistroMD!
bistroMD
Our #1 Recommendation
- Registered-Dietitian designed meals
- Customizable menu and plans
- Tailored for different diet, health concerns,and lifestyles
- Get the BEST PRICE until the end of April
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Freshly Update
It is with a heavy heart that we announce the Freshly meal delivery service has ceased operations. To ensure continued access to nutritious and convenient ready meals for our incredible community, our friends at Factor are offering a discount – 50% off your first box when you transition your meal delivery service to Factor.
Sign up today for your 50% discount withGOFACTOR50onfactormeals.com.
Author : Paul
Hi, I'm Paul. Welcome to my website! I, along with my cronies, are leveraging our years of working in the food industry to review meal and drink delivery services. We review. You eat happily ever after.
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