In today's fast-paced world, maintaining a healthy diet can be challenging. Meal delivery services offer a convenient solution, providing tasty recipes and high-quality ingredients delivered to your door. This article explores some of the best healthy meal delivery services in Boston, catering to various needs and dietary preferences.
Top Meal Delivery Services in Boston
1. Factor: Keto, Vegetarian, and Balanced Meals
Factor specializes in providing super-convenient prepared meals for a range of diets. It's a quick and healthy option for those who struggle to eat well due to lack of time. Whether you want to stick to a specific diet, try more plant-based foods, or just enjoy more balanced meals, Factor is a good place to start.
What’s on the Menu?
Factor is particularly known for its keto menu, which combines healthy fats and lean protein with only a small amount of carbs to keep your body burning fat through ketosis. For example, the Keto Poblano Bowl uses broccoli rice in place of long-grain rice. Factor also offers vegetarian and vegan meals, providing a way to add some meat-free days into your diet. Protein packs, smoothies, soups, and other add-ons enhance the service's convenience.
What Makes It Special?
The meals take around 3 minutes to warm up in the microwave, and they are both tasty and filling. You’ll also get a free 20-minute consultation with an in-house dietitian when you sign up for Factor. If you find your session helpful, you can subscribe to additional nutrition coaching support. This personalized, professional approach to healthier eating can be helpful for people looking to make lasting lifestyle changes.
Is It Good Value?
Factor's service is ideal if you follow a specific diet, like keto, low calorie, or high protein, offering balanced, ready-to-eat meals, delivered right to your doorstep. This eliminates the hassle of meal planning and preparation for specialized diets. Although all meals are single-serving, Factor offers flexible orders that can cater to a range of households. Depending on which plan size you choose when you sign up, you can lower the cost per meal.
Read also: Healthy food access with Highmark Wholecare explained.
2. HelloFresh: Variety and Customization
HelloFresh subscribers are spoiled for choice, with a huge number of meal kits to choose from each week. The menus are developed around seasonal produce and include a wide variety of American and international favorites.
What’s on the Menu?
You’ll always have access to the full menu each week, but you can narrow down your choices with one of HelloFresh’s 6 plans - Meat & Veggie, Veggie, Pescatarian, Under 20 Minutes, Fit & Wholesome, and Family Friendly. The service labels all its recipes by difficulty. You’ll find that most dishes are rated Easy. You’ll also spot some Hall of Fame recipes, which come back by popular demand from HelloFresh subscribers.
What Makes It Special?
There are some customizations available, too. If you like the sound of the Golden Chicken Schnitzel, for example, but are watching your carb intake, HelloCustom lets you swap in a broccoli side instead of the potatoes. These are a great resource, whether you need some guidance in the kitchen or you simply need to be inspired when it comes to weeknight dinners.
Is It Good Value?
If you’re new to meal delivery services, HelloFresh is an easy and friendly introduction. Plus, Boston’s students, military, and veterans can all get a 15% discount. You can order a minimum of 2 recipes for 2 people and a maximum of 6 recipes for 6 people. HelloFresh’s prices are pretty affordable with great value across the board, although you'll pay the highest per-serving price for the smallest order size.
3. Green Chef: Organic and Gluten-Free Options
Green Chef was both the first USDA-certified organic meal delivery service and the first meal kit to receive gluten-free certification. Its healthy, balanced dishes are varied and exciting - and it offers a particularly great range of options to suit specific dietary needs.
Read also: Healthy Eating on the Run
What’s on the Menu?
There are 8 plans to choose from. These are Keto, Mediterranean, Gut & Brain Health, Calorie Smart, Plant Based, Gluten Free, Quick & Easy, and Protein-Packed. Each meal focuses on nutritionally dense ingredients, so your body will get everything it needs without skimping on portion size or flavor. Indulgent but healthy dinner options include Tropical Teriyaki Sockeye Salmon Bowls with Rice, Mango, Cabbage Slaw, Sriracha Aioli, and Pickled Ginger. There’s a great range of add-ons available, too. Every week, you can order extras like breakfast entrees, salads, and deserts, as well as additional proteins like chicken cutlets and salmon filets.
What Makes It Special?
Green Chef also focuses on eco-friendly packaging, using only recyclable materials or paper where possible. It’s one of the pricier options on my list, but those who value high-quality, organic, sustainably sourced ingredients will consider it worth the cost. Green Chef recipes come with detailed step-by-step instructions, ensuring a smooth cooking experience even for beginners. Each recipe includes a comprehensive equipment list and nutritional information, so you’re fully informed.
Is It Good Value?
Green Chef will appeal to healthy eaters, but it’s also a great choice for families, with the option to order up to 4 recipes for 6 people each week in your first box. Green Chef starts at $6.00 per serving.
4. Home Chef: Customization and Variety
Home Chef’s stand-out feature is the Customize It option. Swap or double up on the protein in almost every meal. Many meal delivery services have now followed suit with their own customization options - but few offer as many as Home Chef.
What’s on the Menu?
Home Chef also lets you choose between a variety of meal types. There are traditional meal kits, Express meal kits, oven-ready options, and Fast & Fresh microwaveable meals. There’s also a new Family Menu that filters out the 10+ best family-friendly meals each week. And you can order extras like protein packs, super-speedy salad bundles, desserts, breakfasts, and beverages.
Read also: Mobile Dining Revolution
For those who have more time, the Culinary Collection features complex dishes that take around 60 minutes, and the service regularly hires top cooks like Rachael Ray to produce new signature dishes. Premium options start at around $15 per portion, which is certainly cheaper than takeout from a fancy restaurant. Home Chef has a good selection of vegetarian entrees, but there’s still not a lot of choice for vegans, who will be better off with a service like Green Chef that has dedicated plant-forward plans.
What Makes It Special?
The ordering process is both simple and intuitive. The menu provides difficulty ratings and a spice level for each meal, allowing you to choose recipes that suit both your culinary skills and heat tolerance. Avoiding ingredients you don’t want is simple. When you sign up, you have the option to remove recipes that include sesame, tree nuts, pork, shellfish, mushrooms, beef, poultry, peanuts, or fish. Serious allergy sufferers may find Home Chef unsuitable, as cross-contamination is still possible.
Is It Good Value?
Home Chef also has easy-prep recipes like its Express Meal Kits, oven-ready options, and Fast & Fresh microwaveable meals. And you can order extras like protein packs, super-speedy salad bundles, desserts, breakfasts, and beverages. Home Chef lets you order up to 6 meals with up to 6 servings each week. Prices start at $5.00 per serving. This is just a guide price, as many meals cost more, and everything from customizations to add-ons will affect the final price.
5. Blue Apron: Chef-Designed Meals and Add-Ons
The service also regularly partners with renowned chefs, including Tim Hollingsworth of Netflix’s The Final Table, which means diners have regular access to new and exciting ingredients. Blue Apron offers a range of add-ons, making this service something of a one-stop shop. Pick up everything from breakfast dishes - like Blueberry Overnight Oats with Peanut Butter, and Chorizo Breakfast Burritos - to desserts and extra microwaveable meals, additional proteins, and so much more.
Is It Good Value?
Blue Apron lets you order 2, 3, 4, or 5 meals per week for either 2 or 4 people. You can also order 4, 6, 8, or 10 Prepared & Ready meals, and even add additional meals to your regular order. This flexibility caters to various household sizes and dining preferences, from couples to larger families. In terms of pricing, Blue Apron’s meals start at $4.00 per serving when you order the maximum number of meals. Shipping costs $9.99 per delivery.
6. BistroMD: Weight Loss and Health Management
There’s no denying the convenience of BistroMD’s prepared meals. The service delivers all 3 meals of the day to your door to make tracking your food, losing weight, and managing certain health conditions as easy as possible.
What’s on the Menu?
There are 7 plans to choose from, including Gluten-Free, Heart-Healthy, Diabetic, Menopause-Friendly, Vegan, and Keto programs. When you sign up, you’ll also have access to registered dietitians and fitness experts. Optional EATS (Essential And Tasty Snacks) are available to purchase as extras. They include items like protein shakes, protein bars, granola, nuts, and more. Each entrée comes in at less than 450 calories per serving to help you stay on track, yet the portion sizes are generous enough that you won’t feel cheated or hungry.
What Makes It Special?
The founder of BistroMD, Dr. Caroline J. Cederquist, is a bariatric physician specializing in weight loss. She started BistroMD to ensure her patients were getting balanced meals that provided all the daily nutrition they needed. Today, Dr. Cederquist works with other medical professionals to provide weight-loss programs that cover all kinds of goals and conditions. BistroMD offers support that can help people develop healthier lifestyle habits, including maintaining their ideal weight once they reach it.
Is It Good Value?
You can order 2 (lunch and dinner) or 3 meals per day for 5 or 7 days a week. In our review, we were especially impressed by BistroMD’s desserts and snack options. BistroMD starts at $5.50 per serving when you order the maximum number of meals per week. And if you want to lose weight with your partner, BistroMD offers a 15% discount for couples.
7. Purple Carrot: Vegan and Plant-Based Cuisine
Purple Carrot is a great option for long-standing vegans and plant-based newbies alike. Each week, you can choose from 30+ prepared meals and 16 meal kits, along with some easy-prep breakfast and lunch dishes and vegan-friendly add-ons like chocolate, cookies, plant-based cheese, and bean burgers.
What’s on the Menu?
Purple Carrot offers a well-curated menu that provides a commendable range of cuisines. It’s an excellent choice for vegans or those looking to increase their intake of plant-based meals. It doesn’t rely on processed meat alternatives. Instead, Purple Carrot’s dishes celebrate veggies, with highlights like Lemon-Braised Chickpeas with Rosemary and Cashew Cheese, and West African Peanut Stew with Swiss Chard and White Quinoa. You don’t need to be vegan to enjoy Purple Carrot.
What Makes It Special?
You can choose meals that are high in protein, soy-free, low-calorie, gluten-free, and nut-free, while the new Less Prep recipes feature prepared sauces, pre-chopped vegetables, and methods that mean less cooking and cleanup. Purple Carrot’s prepared meals just need 2-3 minutes in the microwave. It’s rare to find microwave meals that feel both nourishing and comforting, but with dishes like the Burrito Power Bowl with Mojo Rojo Tofu and Mango Salsa, Purple Carrot has plenty of them. Purple Carrot lets you mix and match after you’ve signed up so you can include prepared meals, meal kits, and Less Prep meals in 1 order.
Is It Good Value?
Prices start at $11.00 per serving. You can order meal kits for 2 or 4 people, with a maximum order of 4 recipes for 2 people or 3 recipes for 4 people per week. The prepared meals are single-serve and you can order 6, 8, or 10 per week.
8. Dinnerly: Affordable Meal Delivery
Dinnerly is Boston’s cheapest meal delivery service, with meals from $2.12 per serving. Yet despite its modest price tag, Dinnerly has a great selection of tasty recipes to choose from and promises sustainable proteins and even some organic fruits and vegetables in its recipes.
What’s on the Menu?
Dinnerly recipes generally use only a few ingredients. The No Chop! Cheesy Baked Spaghetti meal kit, for example, only includes 6 ingredients. But while the meals are less complicated than some other services, the ingredient quality is still excellent. Dinnerly offers a good selection of vegetarian and pescatarian meals, too, with around 10 vegetarian and 3-4 seafood dishes on the menu each week. The weekly menu will even include 1 or 2 vegan entrees - something you don’t see on most low-cost services. Market by Dinnerly offers subscribers additional ingredients and grocery items. You can find seasonal desserts, snacks, and breakfast options like Chocolate Cupcakes or Oat & Chia Pancakes.
What Makes It Special?
Dinnerly now offers both digital and printed recipe options, allowing you to choose your preference in your account settings. Dinnerly maintains low prices through simple packaging and efficient use of ingredients. Its eco-friendly focus is evident in its minimal packaging, which reduces paper and plastic use by bundling ingredients together. Dinnerly's recipes are more straightforward compared to Blue Apron's detailed visual guides and cook-along videos. However, its simplicity and cost-effective approach makes Dinnerly a practical option if you’re looking for an affordable and environmentally conscious meal kit service.
Is It Good Value?
Prices start at $2.12 per serving, and you can order between 2 to 6 meals serving either 2 or 4 people every week.
9. Marley Spoon: Martha Stewart-Inspired Meals
Marley Spoon’s meals are designed by culinary royalty Martha Stewart. Martha’s easy-to-follow recipes can help you improve your cooking skills and get you and your family trying something new.
What’s on the Menu?
The menu caters to kids, families, dieters, vegans, and more, plus Marley Spoon’s step-by-step instructions are simple to follow, even if you’re new to cooking. Many recipes can be ready in 6 steps or less. The service provides ready-made sauces and perfectly portioned produce, which will save you serious prep time.
Additional Meal Delivery Services in Boston
Beyond the top contenders, several other meal delivery services cater to specific needs and preferences in Boston:
- Tough Cookies: This local service is known for its fresh, timely deliveries and neatly packaged meals. Customers praise the amazing staff and great communication.
- Eat Clean Bro: Highly regarded for restaurant-quality, fresh meals with plentiful portions and creative specials. It is considered an excellent option for meal prep.
- Nutre: Founded by the Perrina Brothers, Nutre focuses on providing fresh, high-quality meals with a wide variety of options, including low-sodium choices. They emphasize using local produce and proteins from local farms.
- MightyMeals: Offers dietitian-designed, chef-prepared meals delivered to your doorstep with no subscription required. They focus on balancing nutrition and convenience.
- Clover: A Cambridge-based kitchen that prepares boxes with fresh New England ingredients, focusing on flavorful and creative meals with minimal prep time.
- Food and Figure: Provides nutrition facts with each dish, catering to those wanting home-cooked meals with detailed nutritional information.
- Thrive: A delivery service that focuses on delicious vegetarian meals.
- Feast and Fettle: Delivers tasty prepared meals with a wide variety of options for individuals, couples, and families.
- Shef.com: A unique service that allows home chefs to prepare and sell meals from their own kitchens.
- Hungry Root: Offers ready-to-eat meals, recipes, shakes, and smoothies, catering to various dietary preferences and families.
- Khipi: A non-subscription service that features authentic meals from different countries, sourced directly from local individuals.
- Molly’s Dinner Club: A local food delivery service based out of Arlington, offering a variety of meals with a focus on culinary arts.
- Georgie & Tom’s: Provides fully prepared, restaurant-quality meals for two that cook in minutes, with options to personalize based on dietary needs.
- Al FreshCo: Focuses on building a resilient food system by offering vegan meal kits loaded with locally grown vegetables and delivered by bike in minimal packaging.
- Imperfect Foods: Aims to reduce food waste by offering imperfect produce, pantry items, and pre-cooked meals.
- CookUnity: Offers chef-crafted, ready-to-heat frozen meals that provide the opportunity to try innovative, restaurant-worthy dishes.
Key Considerations When Choosing a Meal Delivery Service
When selecting a meal delivery service in Boston, consider the following factors:
- Dietary Needs: Does the service offer options that align with your dietary restrictions or preferences (e.g., keto, vegan, gluten-free)?
- Meal Type: Do you prefer meal kits that require cooking or pre-prepared meals that are ready to heat and eat?
- Budget: Meal delivery services vary in price, so consider your budget and the cost per serving.
- Convenience: How much time and effort are you willing to invest in meal preparation?
- Sustainability: Does the service prioritize eco-friendly packaging and sustainable sourcing practices?
- Customization: Can you customize your meals or choose from a variety of options each week?
The Rise of Plant-Focused Meals
Plant-focused meals have become more than a trend, they’re a movement toward better health, environmental balance, and overall wellness. Many meal delivery services now offer dedicated plant-based options, making it easier to incorporate more vegetables, legumes, and whole grains into your diet.
Micronutrients: Small Nutrients, Big Impact
When it comes to eating for better health, most people focus on macronutrients: protein, carbohydrates, and fats. However, micronutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, are equally important for overall well-being. Meal delivery services often provide balanced meals that are rich in both macro- and micronutrients.