For individuals embracing plant-based eating, Purple Carrot emerges as a convenient meal delivery service, offering innovative flavor combinations and plant-based twists on classic dishes. With both meal kits and prepared meals available, Purple Carrot simplifies nutritious, plant-based meal planning.
This article delves into the health aspects of Purple Carrot's offerings, examining its nutritional value, ingredients, and potential benefits.
Purple Carrot: A Plant-Based Meal Delivery Service
Purple Carrot specializes in providing tasty and nutritious plant-based dishes to streamline meal prep. All meals include a variety of fresh, high quality ingredients like fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, herbs, spices, and sauces. The service offers a rotating weekly menu of meal kits and prepared meals, featuring nutritious and flavorful recipes. Each week, you can select from up to 12 dinner recipes made from fresh pre-portioned ingredients, with mostly organic non-produce items like tofu and beans. For a separate fee, you can also include several lunches, breakfasts, and snacks to create your own custom menu. If prepared meals are more your speed, the service offers eight single-serve options to choose from, all of which are delivered refrigerated and ready to reheat and enjoy. In addition to meals and snacks, you can order a variety of add-ons, such as dried fruit, nut and seed mixes, and pantry staples, such as pistachio nut milk, seed crackers, and instant cup-of-lentils. Desserts are also available. Most dishes provide 500-800 calories per serving and the service labels the recipes that are high protein, low calorie, gluten-free, and nut-free. If you have certain food preferences or dietary restrictions, this makes meal selection a breeze. According to Purple Carrot, most of its non-produce items are organic, including nut milk, beans, tofu, and tempeh. The company says that it prioritizes organic fruits and vegetables that are free of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). However, these options are sometimes limited by shipping constraints and availability.
How it Works
If you decide to try Purple Carrot, the first step is selecting your plan type: meal kits or prepared meals. You’ll also need to select the size of your orders. Meal kits contain 2 or 4 servings, with 2-4 dinners per week. The prepared meals are designed for 1 person, and you can order 6, 8, or 10 dinners per week. After selecting your plan, you’ll be prompted to select your preferred delivery day. Once you’re signed up, you’ll be able to look through 4 weeks of upcoming menus. This makes it easy to swap out meals or skip weeks to suit your schedule and taste buds. Purple Carrot also makes it easy to skip weeks, cancel your subscription, or pause your deliveries for up to 10 weeks using the online customer portal. Be sure to make any changes by the Tuesday of the week prior to your next delivery. Prices for Purple Carrot vary depending on how many servings and which specific meals you select. Dinner meal kits are available with either 2 or 4 servings and start at $11 per serving. Breakfast recipes contain 4 servings each, priced at $4.50 per serving. You can also choose from 2 lunch recipes per week with 2 servings each for $9.00 per serving. The service also offers fully prepared dinners, which start at $13 per serving. Prepackaged snacks range in price from $3.50-$15.99.
Recipe Examples
Purple Carrot offers a selection of meal kits and prepared meals on a rotating weekly menu. The number of recipe options varies by plan. For example, the 2-serving meal kit plan offers 8 menu items to choose from, whereas the 4-serving plan generally has fewer.
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Examples of recipes include:
- Romesco Grain Bowl
- Smoky Peach & Farro Bowl
- Smoky Portobello Tacos
- General Tso’s Tofu
- Creamy Peanut Noodles
Meanwhile, prepared meals are individually portioned and cost $13 per serving. Examples of prepared meals include:
- Indian “Butter” Tofu
- Pesto Corn Skillet
- Italian Pasta Bowl
- West African Peanut Stew
Selecting Your Meals
Purple Carrot automatically fills your box with meals based on your preferences, but you can also handpick your meals each week from a diverse menu. You can select “high protein (15 grams or more),” “less prep,” or “gluten-free” as your preference. Just be aware that if you ever forget to pick your meals, you’ll get the pre-selected options. ET on the Tuesday before delivery (which varies based on your zip code). Each week you can choose between fresh meal kits, premade options, or frozen meals, which you can also find at some grocery stores. Meal kits and premade options rotate weekly with a wide variety of flavors and cuisines.
When I looked, there were 16 dinner options, four lunch and four breakfast choices for meal kits, and 28 selections for premade meals. Customization options are somewhat limited; you can’t swap out individual ingredients, but you can add extra meals to your plan from week to week. Purple Carrot focuses its meals around plant-based proteins like lentils, beans, and tofu and features various vegetables, such as roasted root vegetables and cooked greens. It also offers plant-based add-ons like snacks, pantry staples, and beverages. No meals are marketed as kid-friendly, but there are options like pasta and taco pizza that may appeal to kids. The meals are all completely vegan, and while not all are gluten- or allergen-free, you can check labels online ahead of time where the top eight allergens are listed. Just be aware that the facilities are not certified gluten-free and share equipment with allergens, including tree nuts, peanuts, sesame, wheat, soy, eggs, milk, fish, and shellfish, so use your judgment if you are sensitive. Purple Carrot says that while it tries to use organic and non-GMO ingredients, sometimes shipping, sourcing, and unique ingredients or recipes make it challenging.
While I didn’t try any, Purple Carrot offers add-on “grocery items” like plant-based mac and cheese boxes, coffee, and other plant-based snacks and items like chocolate caramel layer cakes, crab cakes, key lime pie cakes, and veggie burgers.
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A Tester's Experience
Healthline nutrition editor Kelli McGrane, MS, RD, gave Purple Carrot a try and enjoyed the flavor and convenience that the service offered. She sampled three recipes, including: New England “Lobster” Rolls, Romesco Grain Bowls, Spicy Almond “Butter” Noodles with Bok Choy and Red Pepper. Kelli was impressed by the unique flavor combinations of the meal kits she tried. One recipe that she enjoyed was the New England Lobster Rolls, which used heart of palm in place of lobster meat. “As someone who has eaten their fair share of lobster rolls, I was pleasantly surprised at how the flavor and texture hit all the right notes - just what you’d expect from this New England staple.” “I also tried the Romesco Grain Bowls, which included pan-roasted mushrooms and butter beans. Again, I found the dish to be brimming with flavor, and I appreciated the variation in textures.” Kelli says that she would recommend Purple Carrot to people who are vegan, vegetarian, or simply trying to eat more plant-based meals. She felt that Purple Carrot’s recipes were among the most unique of the meal kits she’s tried and loved that the service introduced her to new ingredients and flavor combinations.
Packaging and Preparation
The order included all of the ingredients she needed, which were grouped into each recipe. Unlike some other meal kits that provide individual recipe cards, she notes that her order came with a small recipe booklet instead. “Personally, I prefer the booklet, since you don’t have to worry about being sent the wrong recipe card,” she said. “Plus, [Purple Carrot] provides you with a mini-cookbook for trying other plant-based recipes on your own.” All of the recipes were easy to prepare. “With the exception of one recipe, cooking them didn’t create a huge stack of dishes to clean afterward.”
Overall Impression
Kelli enjoyed the flavors and textures of each dish she tried and loved that the service introduced her to new ingredients (or uses for ingredients) and flavor combinations.
Nutritional Benefits of Purple Carrot Meals
All Purple Carrot meals are plant-based and feature a range of nutrient-dense ingredients, including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.Incorporating more plant-based foods into your diet can offer numerous benefits, including supporting a healthy microbiome (which helps with digestion), promoting cardiovascular health, and potentially even helping you live longer. Some of these benefits are related to eating more fiber, and the fiber content in Purple Carrot meals was a highlight. Each meal provides at least 8 g of fiber, with most servings providing more than 10 g. I particularly appreciated the variety of vegetables and plant proteins in the meals - tofu, beans, quinoa - rather than relying on highly processed plant-based meats. Purple Carrot says it works with two registered dietitians to ensure its food is balanced and health-focused, which intrigued me. After examining the nutrition facts, I was happy to find that, in most cases, the balance of nutrients did align with what I believe makes up a healthy meal.
Focus on Fiber
The focus on fiber is a significant advantage, as high-fiber diets are associated with lower LDL cholesterol and weight loss.
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Plant-Based Proteins
Purple Carrot focuses its meals around plant-based proteins like lentils, beans, and tofu and features various vegetables, such as roasted root vegetables and cooked greens. It also offers plant-based add-ons like snacks, pantry staples, and beverages.
Potential Nutritional Considerations
Though Purple Carrot meals can be a nutritious addition to a balanced diet, some of the offered meals are relatively high in calories and carbs. Be sure to select dishes based on your personal needs and preferences.
Carbohydrate Content
While these plant-based proteins contribute to the meals’ high protein content, they also increase carbohydrate levels. This can be an issue for people who are monitoring their carb intake because proteins like beans and quinoa inherently contain carbohydrates. For instance, the tomato soup had 98 g of carbs per serving (one serving of carbs is about 15 g), which is nearly seven servings of carbohydrates!
Fat Content
Many meals, such as the chia seed pudding, fried rice, and tzatziki bowl, contain a lot of fat, but it’s primarily unsaturated fat, which research says is better for your heart. However, the nutrition details provided with the meal kits only list the total fat content without specifying the type. You have to check online (as I did) for more detailed information for each meal, which takes a little extra effort.
Added Sugar
Similarly, added sugar isn’t listed on the nutrition card, which can be a challenge for those keeping track of their blood glucose levels. The chia seed parfait, for example, uses sweetened ingredients like yogurt and strawberry preserves, but the label wasn’t included in the nutrition card. The nutrition labels are also for a single serving, so you'll need to adjust if consuming more than one portion.
Sodium Content
Purple Carrot doesn’t currently offer a low sodium meals and some of its selections are relatively high in sodium. In fact, the sodium content for the meal kits can range from around 500-1,500 milligrams of sodium per serving. If you’re following a low sodium diet, be sure to check the nutrition label carefully when creating your weekly menu to find options suitable for your needs. The recipes often call for you to add your own salt, so the amount listed in the recipe card isn’t always accurate because it depends on how much you add. So if you’re watching your sodium intake, make sure you’re mindful of how much you put in.
Allergen Information
The meals are all completely vegan, and while not all are gluten- or allergen-free, you can check labels online ahead of time where the top eight allergens are listed. Just be aware that the facilities are not certified gluten-free and share equipment with allergens, including tree nuts, peanuts, sesame, wheat, soy, eggs, milk, fish, and shellfish, so use your judgment if you are sensitive.
Ingredients and Quality
Each meal kit came individually wrapped in plastic, with every ingredient separately bagged, which seemed to be an excessive use of plastic. However, I did find out later that a few ingredients were missing or replaced by something else. (This was disappointing since I wanted to enjoy it immediately, but it was a good lesson for me to remember to read the recipes first.)
Many ingredients, like chia seeds, spices, and cornstarch, came in plastic bags or containers. I assumed everything was premeasured for the recipe, but sometimes there’s more than you need. Be sure to measure items using spoons or cups instead of pouring everything in as I initially did.
Organic and GMO Considerations
Purple Carrot says that while it tries to use organic and non-GMO ingredients, sometimes shipping, sourcing, and unique ingredients or recipes make it challenging.
According to Purple Carrot, most of its non-produce items are organic, including nut milk, beans, tofu, and tempeh. The company says that it prioritizes organic fruits and vegetables that are free of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). However, these options are sometimes limited by shipping constraints and availability.
Examples of Meals and Nutritional Breakdown
I received the following meals: Thai Peanut Fried Rice With Super Greens, Tzatziki Rice Bowls With Zucchini Salad, Blistered Shishito Peppers, Ranchero Bowls With Cumin-Roasted Vegetables and Serrano Yogurt, Kenyan Braised Collard Greens, Chocolate Chia Parfait With Strawberry Jam and Peanuts, Tomato Soup With Rice and Crispy “Cheese” Curds.
Thai Peanut Fried Rice With Super Greens
The only premade option I tried was the Thai Peanut Fried Rice With Super Greens. I liked that I could see the vegetables ─ broccoli, kale, edamame, corn, carrot, and mushrooms. It had spice (from red chili flakes), but not too much. My husband ate most of this one for lunch one day and said it was satisfying with the right amount of spiciness and that he would eat it again if we had more.
Tzatziki Rice Bowl With Zucchini Salad
I love Greek food and anything with tzatziki, so I was excited about the Tzatziki Rice Bowl With Zucchini Salad. I wasn’t sure about the zucchini salad because sometimes zucchini noodles can hold a lot of water and make things soggy, but this turned out delicious. I peeled the zucchini into ribbons, and they were light and crispy. I loved the fresh combo of the sauce with rice, pistachios, avocado, and dill. While I eat plant-based foods, my husband usually likes to have animal protein with his meals. But the portions were generous, so both my husband and I enjoyed this one and felt satisfied afterward.
Ranchero Bowls With Cumin-Roasted Vegetables and Serrano Yogurt
One of my “almost” favorites was the Ranchero Bowls With Cumin-Roasted Vegetables and Serrano Yogurt because I loved the combination of black beans and sweet potatoes, but I accidentally left out the serrano pepper, so it was a bit bland. Though I think that was user error, not the recipe itself. It was the perfect blend of my favorite Mexican flavors, with cilantro, roasted sweet potato, bell pepper, and the crunchy texture from wild rice. I would have also loved to add some avocado; otherwise, this dish is a hit (just don’t leave out the pepper like I did, especially if you like spice).
Tomato Soup With Rice and Crispy “Cheese” Curds
It rained for the first time in months on the day I made the Tomato Soup With Rice and Crispy “Cheese” Curds, so the hot soup was a perfect choice. I loved that it included cooked rice and tofu with nutritional yeast, which gave it a cheesy flavor and added more protein to make a complete meal. I went very light on the salt, so the tofu didn’t have as much flavor as I like, but I still enjoyed this full-flavored, warming meal.
Kenyan Braised Collard Greens With Spiced Tofu and Fried Peanuts
My Kenyan Braised Collard Greens With Spiced Tofu and Fried Peanuts meal kit was missing the Worcestershire powder, so it’s challenging to judge because it probably didn’t taste exactly as intended. However, even with the missing ingredients, the lemon, ginger, garlic, cumin, and coriander made this dish flavorful. The crumbled tofu cooked with spices tasted more like ground meat than tofu. The one thing I would change with this meal is that the instructions don’t specify chopping or trimming the collard greens, so even though they become tender during cooking, I’d prefer smaller pieces to make it easier to eat.
Blistered Shishito Peppers With Furikake Ranch and Spicy Quinoa Crisp
Shishito peppers are a favorite of mine and so easy to make, but I was intrigued by the furikake ranch in the Blistered Shishito Peppers With Furikake Ranch and Spicy Quinoa Crisp meal kit I received. Furikake is traditionally a mixture of sesame seeds, seaweed, herbs, fish flakes, and salt, but given that Purple Carrot is a vegan service, this recipe used seaweed crumbles and sesame oil mixed with vegan ranch. The puffed quinoa was also missing, so the recipe was different. But even without the spicy quinoa crisp, the furikake ranch was a delicious, savory sauce to dip the peppers in, and the lentils offered extra protein and fiber to keep me full.
Ingredient Substitutions
As I noted above, some of my recipes had some ingredient substitutions.
Who Should Try Purple Carrot?
Purple Carrot is a great option for those wishing to transition to a more plant-based diet while learning to prepare fresh and healthy meals at home. It can also be a good choice if you’re interested in experimenting with unique and interesting ingredients like seasonal fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices that you may not be familiar with.
Purple Carrot’s prepared meals come in single servings, so are most appropriate for one person.
Limitations
However, as the meal kits provide limited selections and serving sizes for lunch and breakfast, it may be challenging for larger families or those wanting to include even more plant-based recipes in their weekly diet. It may not be ideal for those who prefer eating mostly or only organic or those with certain dietary restrictions.
Comparison with Similar Services
A few similar meal delivery services on the market also make it easy to enjoy plant-based meals at home. Here’s a closer look at how Purple Carrot compares with Sunbasket, Daily Harvest, and HelloFresh.
Cancelling Your Subscription
You can easily cancel your Purple Carrot subscription by logging in, navigating to Account Settings, and clicking “Change” next to your subscription status. Make all changes and cancellations by the Tuesday that is 1 week prior to your next shipment.
Conclusion
Purple Carrot offers a convenient way to incorporate more plant-based meals into your diet with a focus on fiber and interesting flavor combinations. While generally nutritious, it's important to be mindful of carbohydrate, fat, and sodium content, and to check allergen information if needed. By carefully selecting meals based on individual needs and preferences, Purple Carrot can be a valuable tool for those seeking a healthier, plant-based lifestyle.