The 11 Best Home-Delivery Meal Kits for Weight Loss

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One way to make your meal kit healthier? Supplement with seasonal veggies or a side salad, which can help fill you up on fewer calories.
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There's no denying that meal kits like Blue Apron and HelloFresh are convenient ways to get dinner on the table. Step-by-step recipes and fresh ingredients delivered to your doorstep? Yes, please.

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Fortunately, nutrition and weight-loss expert Samantha Cassetty, RD, says meal kits are great for those watching their weight.

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"They alleviate some of the decision-making fatigue that stems from trying to figure out what to eat," she says. "We make about 200 food-related decisions every day, and by dinner time, it's often overwhelming — especially because you're making family and work decisions all day, too. A meal kit can minimize the stress while still serving nutritious meals to help you meet your goals."

But with so many choices, which one is best?

The Best Meal Kits for Weight Loss

  • Best Overall:Blue Apron (Starts at $9.49 per serving, Blueapron.com)
  • Best on a Budget:Home Chef (Starts at $5 per serving, Homechef.com)
  • Best for Keto or Paleo:Green Chef (Starts at $11.99 per serving, GreenChef.com)
  • Best for Calorie-Counters:HelloFresh (Starts at $9.79 per serving, HelloFresh.com)
  • Best Easy Recipes:Dinnerly (Starts at $6.24 per serving, Dinnerly.com)
  • Best for Vegans or Plant-Based Eaters:Purple Carrot (Starts at $11 per serving, PurpleCarrot.com)
  • Best for Meal Prep:Hungryroot (Price varies, Hungryroot.com)
  • Best Pre-Prepped Kit:Gobble (Starts at $11.99 per serving, Gobble.com)
  • Best for Prepared Meals:Fresh N' Lean (Starts at $8.49 per serving, FreshNLean.com)
  • Best for People With Diabetes:BistroMD (Starts at $6.59 per serving, BistroMD.com)
  • Best for Dessert-Lovers:Daily Harvest (Price varies, DailyHarvest.com)

How We Chose

To help you navigate the world of home-delivery meal kits for weight loss, we researched what makes each one unique and asked nutritionists to weigh in on our top picks, based on the following criteria:

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  • Variety
  • Nutritious ingredients
  • Cost
  • Customization
  • Convenience

Find out more about how we choose products here.

Here are the best bets to help you stick with your plan, hit your goals and still get everyone in your household fed.

1. Blue Apron

Best Overall

Blue Apron

The original meal kit service, which comes with seasonal ingredients.

Per Serving

Pros

  • Seasonal ingredients
  • Diverse menu
  • WW approved

Cons

  • Carb portions might be more than you need

The original meal kit, Blue Apron burst onto the scene in 2012 and started a trend. What still tends to set Blue Apron apart is its innovative meal options. From Pork Lo Mein to Caribbean Spiced Chicken Thighs, the seasonal-based menu is diverse to say the least.

The company is also approved by WW (formerly Weight Watchers) and offers WW-recommended recipes and a meal prep offering.

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To maximize the health benefits of any meal kit, Cassetty recommends keeping an eye on the portion sizes. "Because starchy carbs are often a less-expensive component of a meal kit, you might find the portion exceeds your needs," she says.

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Delivery options:‌ Opt for two, three or four meals per week for two or four people. Choose the Wellness kit for WW-approved meals.

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2. Home Chef

Best on a Budget

Home Chef

A budget-friendly option, especially for two people.

Per Serving

Pros

  • Starts at $5 for two servings, three times per week
  • Discounts available for military, first responders, health care workers, teachers and students
  • Keto and vegetarian plans available
  • Can easily skip a week without fees

Cons

  • Some meals may take 45 minutes or longer
  • Lots of plastic used in packaging, according to reviews

Cassetty has recommended Home Chef to clients because she likes that the company uses beginner-friendly recipes and has a variety of kits available for an affordable price.

"You can mix and match among their menu items — say, choosing a vegetarian dish one night and a carb-controlled option another," she says.

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Home-chef offers keto-friendly and calorie- and carb-conscious options (great for people losing weight), plus options to remove certain ingredients if you're allergic — like tree nuts, mushrooms, etc.

Delivery options:‌ Pick two to six meals per week for two to six people.

3. Green Chef

Best Keto and Paleo

Green Chef

A certified organic option with fresh, quality ingredients.

Per Serving

Pros

  • USDA organic
  • Keto, protein packed, gluten-free and calorie smart options available
  • Flexible weekly menu
  • Eco-friendly packaging

Cons

  • Prep time might take longer than advertised, per reviewers
  • Recipes can be repetitive, per some reviews

If you're following the paleo or keto diet and are tired of meal prep, Green Chef's kit might entice you. Look for options like Coconut-Crusted Chicken, Shaved Steak with Tzatziki and Togarashi-Spiced Steak, which should satisfy your macro goals.

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While weight loss and maintenance depend on your individual calorie requirements, keep in mind that the meals portioned for "two people" may be more than you need, says dietitian LeeAnn Weintraub, MPH, RD.

"I found that meals for 'two' were more food than my husband and I would eat in one sitting, and we would have enough for one leftover meal — usually lunch the next day for one of us," she says.

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Delivery Options:‌ Choose two to four meals per week for two, four or six people.

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4. HelloFresh

Best for Calorie Counters

Hello Fresh

Nutrition labels on each recipe make it easy to track your calories.

Per Serving

Pros

  • Most dishes max out at 650 calories
  • Has "fit and wholesome," pescatarian and "quick and easy" plan options
  • Meals are easy to prepare

Cons

  • Not as customizable as other meal kits, per reviewers

If you're tallying calories, HelloFresh makes it easy by providing a nutrition label for every recipe on its website. Many of its dishes max out at 650 calories per meal (compared to some meal kits that log as many as 800 calories per meal).

Plus, Cassetty says, cooking your own food can help you manage your weight because it puts you in charge of the ingredients you're using rather than leaving that up to the chefs who prepare your takeout or grocery-store meals. And that holds true, she says, whether you're relying on a kit or cooking from scratch.

She recommends choosing meal options that offer a generous portion of produce (especially veggies), lean proteins, healthful fats (mostly from plant sources, like extra-virgin olive oil or avocado oil, olives, avocados, nuts and seeds), as well as whole grains.

Delivery options:‌ Choose from two to six recipes per week for two or four people.

5. Dinnerly

Best Easy Recipes

Dinnerly

With only six ingredients per recipe, these meals are easy and convenient to make.

Per Serving

Pros

  • Budget-friendly
  • Simple recipes
  • Quick prep time

Cons

  • Ingredients are not organized by meal when they arrive, per reviews

For those looking for fast, simple and inexpensive meals, Dinnerly is your go-to choice, thanks to recipes containing only six ingredients.

If you're looking to lose weight, choose low-calorie, low-carb meal options like Barbecue Pork Tenderloin and Basil Cauliflower Fried Rice.

Beyond saving on calories, you'll save on cash, too, because this kit is one of the cheaper on the market.

Delivery options:‌ Choose from two to six meals per week for two or four people.

6. Purple Carrot

Best Plant-Based

Purple Carrot

An all plant-based option with a wide variety of recipes.

Pros

  • Offers plant-based grocery options
  • You can skip and or cancel weeks if you need
  • Diverse menu
  • Eco-friendly

Cons

  • Pricey compared to other options

Going vegetarian, and even vegan, is a growing trend, both for weight loss and other health reasons. There are many healthy side effects of eating more veggie-heavy meals.

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"There is no doubt that most of us would benefit from eating more plants, but many people struggle to translate this simple idea into a reality at home," Kristin Koskinen, RDN, LD, nutritionist and owner of Eat Well, Live Well, tells LIVESTRONG.com.

Enter Purple Carrot, which not only offers plant-based dinners, but breakfast and lunches to boot. Koskinen's handy tip? "When you find a recipe you like, file the recipe card that comes with your kit and replicate it on your own later."

Tip

With regards to all meal kits, Koskinen makes another recommendation: "If you subscribe to a kit that allows options, step outside your comfort zone every once in a while. Choose something that uses ingredients that are unfamiliar to you or that you can’t easily find in your area."

This is a great way to broaden your palate, she says, and introduces nutrient you may not otherwise get.

Delivery options:‌ Choose from two to three meals a week for two to four people.

7. Hungryroot

Best for Meal Prep

Hungryroot

This grocery service offers chef-curated recipes based on your picks.

Price Varies

Pros

  • Weekly grocery options
  • Customizable
  • Easy prep and cook time

Cons

  • Lots of plastic used in packaging, according to reviews

Hungryroot is a recipe and grocery-delivery combo service. After you take a quick quiz, the site fills your cart with groceries that are then delivered to your door. Your box arrives with chef-curated recipes that use the groceries in your cart, making it easy to prep ahead of time for nutritious meals all week.

Hungryroot's quiz lets the service know how you eat (vegetarian, dairy-free, etc.) and what your goals are, so you can customize your plan to you and your family's needs.

Delivery options:‌ Get breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack and/or dessert foods delivered for singles, couples or families. Price per package varies.

Price Varies

8. Gobble

Best Pre-Prepped Kit

Gobble

The produce in this kit comes pre-chopped, cutting down on your cook time.

Per Serving

Pros

  • Pre-chopped produce
  • "Lean and clean" plan available
  • Diverse menu
  • Menus available four weeks in advance

Cons

  • Some menu options are on the pricier side, per reviews
  • No gluten-free options

If chopping up veggies is your least favorite part of cooking, this meal service by Gobble does the work for you. All meals come with pre-portioned, pre-chopped produce, to cut down on cook time. Choose from a "lean and clean," "classic" or vegetarian plan.

The "lean and clean" plan in particular is great for people trying to lose weight. Each meal is no more than 600 calories, is low in carbohydrates and is filled with omega-3s for healthy fats.

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Delivery options:‌ Choose from two to five nights of dinner per week, for two to four people.

9. Fresh N' Lean

Best Prepared Meals

Fresh N' Lean

Choose from seven different unique plans with this service.

Pros

  • Many meal plans to choose from
  • Convenient
  • Bulk and a la carte options available
  • Comes with nutrition labels

Cons

  • No multi-person plan available
  • Some meals are pricey, according to reviews

Fresh N' Lean delivers you organic, pre-made meals in seven different meal plans: high protein, keto, paleo, Mediterranean, Whole30, plant-based and low-carb or low-calorie plant-based. There's even an option that allows you to order in bulk.

The company says its philosophy is based in fresh, organically grown whole foods, which makes any plan you choose a good option for weight loss. Plus, each meal is freshly prepared before it's shipped to you, so you can skip the cooking time and simply heat-and-eat.

Each meal comes with a nutrition label on the back, so you can easily keep track of calories and/or any other nutrients or macros you're tracking.

Delivery options:‌ Breakfast, lunch and dinner options, as well as the option to buy in bulk

10. BistroMD

Best for People With Diabetes

BistroMD

This meal service was designed by a doctor to help people lose weight.

Per Serving

Pros

  • Offers three pre-cooked meals per day
  • Daily calories range between 1,200 and 1,400
  • Registered dietitians can make custom plans for you

Cons

  • No vegan or vegetarian options
  • Meals are not processed in an allergy-free facility

BistroMD was created by Caroline J Cederquist, MD, a board-certified bariatric specialist who was working at a weight-loss clinic when she had the idea to create a weight-loss-focused meal delivery service. Each day of meals clocks in between 1,200 and 1,400 calories, with a balance of protein, fats and carbohydrates.

You can choose from four different plans personalized to your health needs or stage of life: Standard, Gluten-Free, Diabetic or Menopause. The registered dietitians at BistroMD then create a custom diet plan for you based on your food preferences and weight-loss goals.

Delivery options:‌ Choose from five or seven full days of breakfast, lunch and dinner, or just lunch and dinner.

11. Daily Harvest

Best for Dessert-Lovers

Daily Harvest

Get naturally sweet smoothies and other treats with Daily Harvest.

Price Varies

Pros

  • Quality, nutritious ingredients
  • Snacks available
  • A la carte meal planning
  • Recipe suggestions available online

Cons

  • Discounts are only applied if you buy in bulk
  • Some flatbreads and bakes take longer to cook, per reviews

Daily Harvest serves up plant-based, gluten-free prepared meals that are great for people who want to more easily incorporate whole foods into their diet, but don't have the time to make meals.

Choose from options like soups, grain bowls, flatbreads and smoothies, including sweet, dessert-worthy flavors like chai and coconut, cold brew and cacao, blueberry and cacao and black sesame and banana.

Delivery options:‌ Choose how many items you want and how often you want them delivered.

Price Varies

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