In today's fast-paced world, maintaining a healthy diet can be challenging. Ready-to-eat meals offer a convenient solution, but it's essential to choose options that align with your health goals. This article explores various healthy ready-to-eat food options, considering factors like nutritional value, dietary needs, and taste preferences.
The Appeal of Ready-to-Eat Meals
Ready-to-eat meals provide a convenient way to enjoy balanced and nutritious food without extensive meal preparation. They eliminate the guesswork of planning and cooking, saving time and reducing stress, especially during busy weeknights.
What to Look For in Healthy Ready-to-Eat Meals
When selecting ready-to-eat meals, consider the following factors:
- Nutritional Balance: Look for meals that include a balance of macronutrients (protein, carbohydrates, and fats) and are rich in micronutrients (vitamins and minerals).
- Ingredients: Opt for meals made with whole, unprocessed ingredients like fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains.
- Dietary Needs: Choose meals that cater to your specific dietary requirements, such as gluten-free, plant-based, or low-carb options.
- Additives: Minimize your intake of harmful additives by selecting meals with fresh, high-quality ingredients free from harmful additives.
- Preparation: Factor in the preparation time. Some services offer completely pre-made meals that require just a short trip to the microwave.
Meal Delivery Services: A Convenient Solution
Meal delivery services have emerged as a popular way to access healthy ready-to-eat meals. These services offer a variety of options, catering to different dietary needs and preferences.
Personalized Meal Plans
Some services provide personalized meal plans based on your individual needs and goals. For instance, Hungryroot offers personalized meal plans with groceries, allowing you to fill your cart with whole foods that fight inflammation.
Read also: Healthy food access with Highmark Wholecare explained.
Variety and Customization
Many meal delivery services offer a diverse menu with options for various dietary restrictions and preferences. Sunbasket, for example, allows you to filter recipes by dietary restriction (i.e., Paleo, Gluten-Free, etc.), nutrition (i.e., High Protein, Low Added Sugar, etc.), excluded ingredients (dairy-free, soy-free, etc.), and cook time.
Plant-Based Options
For those following a plant-based diet, Purple Carrot is an entirely vegan meal delivery service that offers both meal kits and ready-to-eat meals.
Organic Options
Green Chef stands out as the first CCOF-certified organic meal kit delivery service, committed to sourcing organic fresh produce and eggs, as well as providing organic beef, chicken, and wild-caught seafood as an option.
Wellness-Focused Options
Sakara is a wellness-focused meal delivery and supplement brand with two nutrition program offerings: their Signature Nutrition Program and their Level II Detox. Meals are entirely plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free.
Salad-Focused Options
Gardencup specializes in salads and bowls packaged in plastic jars, offering travel-friendly and convenient options.
Read also: Healthy Eating on the Run
Specific Meal Delivery Services: A Detailed Look
Hungryroot
Hungryroot focuses on providing easy meals ready in minutes, catering to various dietary needs such as gluten-free and gut-friendly options. They offer a variety of foods packed with inflammation-fighting benefits, including fruits, veggies, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats. They also offer premium meats, fresh seafood, and plant-based options.
Cost:
- Breakfast: \$3.99
- Lunch: \$5.99
- Dinner: \$8.99
- Snacks: \$1.99
- Sweets: \$1.99
- Drinks: \$3.99
- Supplements: \$0.49
Customer Satisfaction:
- 90% of customers have improved their health with Hungryroot.
- 93% of customers feel more energized with Hungryroot.
- 96% of customers feel less stressed with Hungryroot.
Testimonials:
- Melissa H. from Ohio: Appreciates the convenience and safety for her wheat allergy and gluten intolerance.
- Jenifer W. from Maryland: Achieved goals of eating more veggies, having meatless meals, easy prep, and lowering cholesterol.
- Katie N. from Vermont: Found it a healthy, simple, and quick solution during stressful work days.
Sunbasket
Sunbasket offers a variety of meal options, prioritizing organic produce whenever possible. They offer heat-and-eat meals, but the chicken and dumplings riff with gnocchi was a bit of a miss.
Pros:
- Good variety of recipe options
- Meals feel fresh and produce-forward
Cons:
- Organic ingredients may be substituted with non-organic
- Price can add up, depending on your selections
Factor
Factor provides entirely pre-made, heat-and-eat meals that are positioned as nutritious and dietitian-approved.
Pros:
- Easy and fast to prepare
- Meals feel balanced
- Generally tasty
Cons:
- Sides can feel repetitive
- Some dishes are less successful than others
- Portion sizes might feel small for some
Purple Carrot
Purple Carrot is an entirely plant-based meal delivery service that offers both meal kits and ready-to-eat meals.
Pros:
- Healthy meals that are quick, easy, and genuinely delicious
- Costs significantly less than regular takeout
- Offers a range of difficulty levels, including fully prepared options
Cons:
- Requires you to read the recipe carefully
- Entirely vegan menu may not appeal to all eaters
Green Chef
Green Chef is the first CCOF-certified organic meal kit delivery service.
Read also: Mobile Dining Revolution
Pros:
- Simple recipes with tasty results
- Easy-to-follow instructions with step-by-step photos
- High-quality meat, seafood, and produce
- Vegetarian meals are creative and satisfying
Cons:
- Produce options can feel repetitive and out of season
- Would have liked to see more “Protein Packed” vegetarian or vegan meals, and some more tofu or tempeh options
Sakara
Sakara is a wellness-focused meal delivery and supplement brand with two nutrition program offerings: their Signature Nutrition Program and their Level II Detox. Meals are entirely plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free.
Pros:
- Healthy, nourishing meals
- Appealing to vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free eaters
- Curated menu means all the planning is taken care of for you
Cons:
- Premium price point might not fit into a lot of people’s budgets
- Most breakfast options skew sweet, which may not suit savory fans
Gardencup
Gardencup specializes in salads and bowls packaged in plastic jars.
Pros:
- Fresh ingredients
- Meat options come with generous amounts of protein
- Super convenient for on-the-go lunches
Cons:
- Vegetarian/vegan salads don’t feel as substantial
- Hard to mix thoroughly without transferring to a bowl
Meal Prep: A DIY Approach
For those who prefer a more hands-on approach, meal prepping offers a way to control ingredients and portion sizes while still enjoying the convenience of ready-to-eat meals.
Benefits of Meal Prep
- Control over ingredients: You can choose fresh, whole ingredients and avoid processed foods and additives.
- Customization: You can tailor meals to your specific dietary needs and preferences.
- Cost-effective: Meal prepping can be more affordable than eating out or using meal delivery services.
- Portion control: You can control portion sizes to manage your calorie intake and achieve your health goals.
Meal Prep Ideas
- Breakfast: Prepare overnight oats, hard-boiled eggs, chia seed pudding, or breakfast cookies in advance.
- Lunch: Make salads, bowls, or sandwich fillings that can be easily assembled during the week.
- Dinner: Cook soups, stews, casseroles, or individual components like rice, tofu, and sauces that can be combined in various ways.
Mediterranean Quinoa Salad Recipe
This Mediterranean Quinoa Salad is a healthy meal prep recipe. Many of the components - the quinoa, tomatoes, dressing, and the chickpeas - can be made in advance.
Ingredients:
- 3 cups cooked quinoa
- 1 recipe Roasted Tomatoes
- 1 cup sliced Persian cucumbers
- ¾ cup crumbled feta cheese
- ¾ cup Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
- ½ cup diced red onion
- ⅓ cup toasted pine nuts
- 1 recipe Italian Dressing, plus 2 additional garlic cloves, grated
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Red pepper flakes
- 1 cup roasted chickpeas
- 2 cups arugula
- 1 cup mixed fresh basil and mint
Instructions:
- In a large bowl, combine the quinoa, roasted tomatoes, cucumbers, feta, olives, onion, and pine nuts.
- Toss to combine, then drizzle with half the dressing and toss again. Sprinkle with the salt, pepper, and a few pinches of red pepper flakes and toss again.
Eat Fit Go
Eat Fit Go is a meal service that offers convenient, delicious healthy meals with fresh, high-quality ingredients free from harmful additives. They offer a variety of healthy meal options, including high-protein meals and gluten-free options.