Finding the time and motivation to cook healthy, delicious meals for one can be challenging. Single-person meal delivery services offer a convenient solution, providing pre-portioned ingredients or ready-to-eat meals tailored to individual needs and preferences. This article explores some of the top options available, highlighting their pros, cons, and unique features to help you choose the best service for your lifestyle.
Diverse Options Cater to Varied Tastes and Dietary Needs
The single-person meal delivery market is diverse, with services offering everything from meal kits requiring some cooking to fully prepared meals ready in minutes. Whether you're looking for vegan options, protein-packed meals, or budget-friendly choices, there's a service to meet your needs.
Top Meal Delivery Services for Singles
Several meal delivery services stand out as excellent choices for single individuals. Each offers a unique approach to providing convenient and delicious meals.
Hungryroot: Groceries and Recipes Combined
Hungryroot takes a unique approach, combining meal kits with an online grocery store. This allows you to choose recipes you like, and the company sends all the necessary ingredients. You can also order additional groceries, making it a one-stop shop for your food needs.
Pros:
- Multiple options for breakfast, lunches, and dinners.
- Ability to order groceries for one-stop shopping.
- Detailed, easy-to-follow instructions.
- Customizable to meet nutrition goals.
- Affordable plans available.
- Offers diet choices of omnivore, pescatarian, vegetarian, and vegan.
- Nutritional plans include anti-inflammatory, gut-friendly, immunity-boosting, carb-conscious, high protein, less sugar, and less sodium.
- Recipes can be filtered to include ones that are under 500 calories.
Cons:
- Some meals can be high in sodium (though low-sodium options are available).
- Ordering process can be a bit confusing at first.
- Meals do take time to prep-for Talbert, some meals took as little as eight minutes, while others went up to 25.
Editorial assistant Sabrina Talbert praised Hungryroot for its easy ordering, customization options, and flavorful, satiating meals. She particularly enjoyed the lemon pepper chicken. The service allows you to easily choose foods that help meet nutrition goals at a price that's affordable enough to be an excellent deal for the value. The brand's most affordable plan starts at just $69 a week. The Pasta With Chicken Pesto was almost enough for two people, she says. So, with some meals, you can basically save half for another meal, and make it a two-for-one deal.
Read also: Single-Serving Meal Kits
Price per serving: $9.69 to $11.39
Meal type: Groceries and ready-to-eat meals
Diet options: Omnivore, pescatarian, vegetarian, and vegan
Delivery area: Most zip codes in the 48 contiguous states and Washington D.C.
Purple Carrot: Plant-Based Convenience
Purple Carrot specializes in vegan meal kits and prepared meals, making it an excellent choice for those following a plant-based lifestyle. The service offers a variety of breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and "plantry" items like brownie bites and salad dressing.
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Pros:
- Includes both meal kits and prepared meals.
- Offers dinners, lunches, and breakfast options.
- Allows adding snacks and other groceries to your order.
- Provides a 100% vegan menu.
Cons:
- Doesn't cater to many other diet restrictions or food allergies.
- Some menu items can be high in sodium or low in protein.
Women’s Health news and features editor Currie Engel appreciates how well Purple Carrot fits into her plant-based lifestyle. Her favorite recipe was the Blueberry Overnight Oats, which required only five minutes of prep time. While the only actual diet plan offered is vegan, the meals have various nutritional preferences listed, such as <600 calories, soy-free, nut-free, low sodium, gluten-free, high-protein, and high-fiber, so you can choose meals that align with your unique goals.
CookUnity: Chef-Crafted Cuisine
CookUnity distinguishes itself by offering chef-created meals that are never frozen. The labels even include a photo and the name of the chef who prepared your order.
Pros:
- Chef-created meals are delicious and interesting.
- Large menu to choose from.
- Add-ons of breakfast, treats, and drinks are available.
- Meals are fresh and not made with boring ingredients.
Cons:
- Only two specific diets are offered (paleo and keto).
- Not available in all states.
- Places more of an emphasis on flavor.
Assistant love and life editor Addison Aloian enjoyed every meal she tried from CookUnity, particularly the steak and lamb dishes. The service allows you to choose between four and 16 meals each week and offers options to narrow down choices based on calories, low-carb, gluten-free, dairy-free, or low-sodium preferences. Meals are some of the most 'restaurant-like' dishes on this list with enough food for just one person.
Green Chef: Organic and Customizable
Green Chef is a USDA-certified organic company that prioritizes high-quality ingredients. They offer a variety of meal plans, including Mediterranean, Calorie Smart, Quick & Easy, Plant-Based, Protein Packed, Keto, Gluten Free, and "Delicious Discoveries."
Pros:
- Multiple meal types are available.
- Many diets to choose from.
- Easy-to-follow recipes.
- Offers seasonal meals and selections.
- Ingredients are pre-portioned.
- Offers eight meal plans.
Cons:
- Meal expiration dates are less than a week.
- Uses more plastic than competitors, and recycling can be inconvenient.
- Requires time for cooking and cleaning.
- Recipes are more involved than others.
- The portions on the smaller side, too.
One feature I love about Green Chef is that to add to their sustainability efforts, they offer seasonal meals and selections," she says. Though the ingredients come pre-portioned, this service does require some cooking. Her favorite meal was the Chicken with Cherry BBQ Sauce. "It had so much flavor and was pretty simple to put together." The awesome part about cooking with Green Chef, though, is that you will have leftovers. You can choose meals that offer two to four servings, and whichever you opt for, you will end up with leftovers that can be reheated into another meal for the day.
Read also: Convenient Individual Meals
Home Chef: Variety and Cooking Skills
Home Chef provides meal kits, heat-and-eat meals, and grill-ready selections. It's a subscription service that can be canceled or paused at any time.
Pros:
- Multiple meal types are available.
- Many diets to choose from.
- Easy-to-follow recipes.
- Offers meals at different stages of preparation (full meal kit, oven-ready, Fast and Fresh).
Cons:
- Meal expiration dates are less than a week.
- Uses more plastic than competitors, and recycling is inconvenient.
- High sodium content in many menu items.
Kunik's favorite feature about Home Chef meals is that it offers an option of ordering meals at different stages. "I could order a full meal kit, an oven-ready meal, and a Fast and Fresh meal that just needed to be assembled and cooked through," she explains. "Having the option for multiple types of prep makes it easy when you have several busy days, but enjoy the process of cooking when you have time." The meal types also run the gamut of cuisines, whether you're looking for vegetarian plates like a Hawaiian-Style BBQ Tofu Flatbread or a meat-eater friendly plate like a Pear Chutney Pork Chop. When it comes to portion size, the meals pack just enough for one person, making them truly ideal for single people.
Factor: Quick and Diet-Focused
Factor (formerly Factor75) is a heat-and-eat delivery service known for its keto-friendly meals. It also offers low-calorie, high-protein, vegan, and vegetarian options.
Pros:
- Meals are ready in less than 3 minutes.
- Many diet options to choose from.
- Most of the packaging is recyclable.
- Ample portions.
Cons:
- Some meals are high in sodium.
- Requires remembering to choose meals before the scheduled delivery date.
Kunik re-orders the service during busy weeks when her kids aren't at home, and she doesn't feel the need to cook. The prepared meals take less than three minutes to warm up in the microwave, making them extra convenient for a single person who doesn't have much time for involved cooking. "And, honestly, they taste as good as anything I’d make at home," she says. The portions are perfectly-sized, and a few times, I had to save leftovers to snack on later in the day as the meals really are filling," she says.
Price per serving: $9.95
Meal type: Meal kits and prepared meals
Diet options: Calorie-conscious, carb-conscious, vegetarian, keto, protein-packed, gluten-smart (not certified gluten-free), paleo, pescatarian
Delivery area: 98% of the United States
Daily Harvest: Smoothies, Bowls, and More
Daily Harvest offers a variety of smoothies, bowls, rice dishes, and frozen treats. It's a good option for those looking for lighter fare and healthy snacks.
Pros:
- High-quality smoothies at a good price.
- Three quantity options to choose from each week.
- Multiple options of smoothies, treats, breakfasts, dinners, flatbreads, and more.
- Customizable amount of food each week.
Cons:
- Meals are low in protein.
- Several meals had a watery texture when warmed up.
- Portions are smaller than other services.
Associate news editor Charlotte Walsh enjoyed the pops and the Strawberry Peach Smoothie, which she found comparable to a more expensive option from Whole Foods. WH contributor Neha Tandon raved about the deliciousness of the meals despite their simple ingredients and low salt content.
EveryPlate: Budget-Friendly and Simple
EveryPlate focuses on providing affordable meal kits with simple ingredients. While it doesn't emphasize nutritious meals as much as some other services, it offers a budget-friendly option for convenient dinners.
Pros:
- Our Meals for One Are Wallet-Friendly
- We Send Pre-Portioned Ingredients
- We Offer High Quality Ingredients
- Our Meal Kits for One Save You Time
- We're Trusted by Thousands of Americans
- We Help You Try New Things
Cons:
- We use less packaging and simple ingredients for delicious, filling meals that are easily doable.
- We don’t offer a true meal plan for one. If you cook for one, the dinner for two plan is a great solution, as you’ll get an affordable dinner AND lunch.
ModifyHealth: Health-Condition Focused
ModifyHealth caters to individuals with specific health or dietary conditions, offering meals that are diabetes-friendly, gluten-free, low-FODMAP, heart-friendly, carb-conscious, and Mediterranean diet-aligned.
Pros:
- Addresses specific health conditions
- Cost is relatively low.
- Contains a lean source of protein like chicken, fish, or tofu, which is ideal for anyone wanting to eat less saturated fat or reduce their cholesterol.
- Microwaveable meals, so they get a 5 out of 5 on ease of preparation.
Fuel Meals: Fitness-Focused
Fuel Meals caters to individuals focused on muscle gain or weight loss, offering meals high in protein, low in fat, and with a moderate amount of carbs.
Pros:
- Dedicated meals plans-muscle gain and weight loss-catered to both men and women.
- The meals are high in protein, low in fat, and have a moderate amount of carbs.
- The ease of preparation is a big draw here, too, especially since you just need to heat them in the microwave.
Cons:
- Most of the meals consist of your typical fitness foods-chicken, rice, potatoes, vegetables, steak, etc.
Paleo on the Go: Paleo Diet Adherence
Paleo on the Go is a meal service for people who would like to follow the paleo diet. They offer a wide range of foods, including bundle packages and seasonal items.
Pros:
- Every meal is 100% paleo, which means they’re gluten-free, soy-free, and dairy-free by definition.
- The meals and snacks are also autoimmune protocol (AIP)-compliant, an elimination diet that’s similar to paleo.
- The ordering process is simple, since you can get a one-time box without a subscription and they make it simple to postpone or cancel orders.
- Portion sizes are good.
Cons:
- Cost is relatively high.
Tempo: Convenience Maximized
Tempo is a prepared meal delivery subscription that serves up fast, feel-good, single-serving meals. Customers receive fresh, chef-designed, ready-to-heat meals crafted to be microwaved in just 2 minutes.
Pros:
- Meals can be microwaved in just 2 minutes.
- Recommend meals we think you’ll enjoy.
- Source fresh, quality ingredients and deliver your menu selections right to your door.
- Flexible, fully prepared meal delivery service.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Service
When selecting a single-person meal delivery service, consider the following factors:
- Dietary preferences: Do you have specific dietary needs or preferences, such as vegan, vegetarian, keto, or gluten-free?
- Cooking skills and time: Do you enjoy cooking, or do you prefer ready-to-eat meals? How much time are you willing to spend on meal preparation?
- Budget: Meal delivery services vary in price. Determine how much you're willing to spend per meal.
- Menu variety: Does the service offer a diverse menu with enough options to keep you interested?
- Portion sizes: Are the portion sizes appropriate for your appetite?
- Delivery area: Does the service deliver to your location?
- Ingredients: Are you seeking high-quality, organic ingredients?
- Sustainability: Are you concerned about the environmental impact of packaging and delivery?
Meal Kits vs. Prepared Meals
Meal kits provide pre-portioned ingredients and recipes, requiring you to cook the meal yourself. This can be a good option for those who enjoy cooking and want to learn new skills. Prepared meals, on the other hand, are fully cooked and ready to eat, offering maximum convenience.
Benefits of Meal Delivery Services for Singles
Single-person meal delivery services offer numerous benefits:
- Convenience: Save time on grocery shopping and meal preparation.
- Reduced food waste: Pre-portioned ingredients minimize waste.
- Healthier eating: Control portion sizes and choose meals that align with your dietary goals.
- Variety: Explore new cuisines and recipes.
- Cost savings: Potentially save money compared to eating out or ordering takeout.
Tips for Making the Most of Your Meal Delivery Service
- Read reviews: Research different services and read customer reviews before making a decision.
- Check the menu: Review the menu options each week and choose meals that appeal to you.
- Customize your plan: Take advantage of customization options to tailor the service to your specific needs and preferences.
- Consider leftovers: If portion sizes are generous, save leftovers for lunch the next day.
- Pause or cancel when needed: Don't hesitate to pause or cancel your subscription if you're going out of town or no longer need the service.