Best Prepared Meal Delivery (2024): Premade Meals to Eat Healthy and Save Time

Time-saving strategies to meal prep can still take time, and in our frantic day-to-days it can be tough to find enough time to properly prepare high-protein foods and healthy meals for you and your family. A solution is meal delivery, but the prep involved in meal kits can still be daunting. What do you do in that case? I’d look into prepared meal delivery.

The best prepared meal deliveries provide oven-ready or microwaveable meals that save time in your meal-prep, as well as saving time on grocery runs. Still, we want these foods to be fresh and nutritious, free of preservatives.

Fortunately, our team at Garage Gym Reviews has tested over 40 meal delivery services to provide you with the best prepared meal delivery services available on the market today. With lifelong athletes and certified nutrition coaches on our team, we know what to look for in these services. We’ve also talked with licensed dietitian Perry Nix, RD, LD, to get an expert’s opinion on these meal services and their benefits.

Medical disclaimer: This article is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. For health advice, contact a licensed healthcare provider.

The 10 Best Prepared Meal Deliveries

• Best Prepared Meal Delivery Overall: ICON Meals
• Best Frozen Prepared Meal Delivery: BistroMD
• Best Gluten-Free Prepared Meal Delivery: Fuel Meals
• Best Plant-Based Prepared Meal Delivery: Purple Carrot
• Best Keto Prepared Meal Delivery: Factor
• Best Prepared Meal Delivery for Variety: CookUnity
• Best Organic Prepared Meal Delivery: ModifyHealth
• Best Budget Prepared Meal Delivery: Home Chef
• Best Paleo Prepared Meal Delivery: Paleo on the Go
• Best Prepared Meal Delivery for Weight Loss: Trifecta

Best Prepared Meal Delivery Overall: ICON Meals

Good for: Clean eating with a variety of meals and plans

Best Overall

ICON Meals

GGR Score: 4.5

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Product Highlights

• Fresh, ready-to-eat meal delivery 
• Vacuum-sealed for freshness
• Build custom meals or chose from menu
• One-time purchases and subscription plans available

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Fresh, vacuum-sealed meals
• 35 signature meals always available
• Stays fresh up to 5 days (or freeze up to 6 months)
• 15% off for military personnel and first responders

Cons

• Limited vegetarian options
• No vegan options

Bottom Line

When you use ICON Meals, you’ll not only be able to choose from a one-time purchase or a subscription, you’ll also have the ability to customize meals or select meals from the main menu. There are 35 signature dishes that you can choose from anytime or browse the rotating weekly menu. Meals start at $12 and the minimum order needs to be at least 8 meals. Subscription meal delivery boxes come with either 12 or 24 meals and meal delivery frequency can be set anywhere from 1 to 4 weeks.

GGR performance editor and certified nutrition coach Anthony O’Reilly tried out our pick for the best overall prepared meal delivery, ICON Meals, and what appealed to him most was the variety and size of some of the meals. A standout for him was, “The Titan Breakfast Burrito. I was surprised at how well-spiced it was; it kind of had a Middle Eastern vibe to it. And with more than 50 grams of protein, it was very filling!”

Other favorites include the Lemon Cheesecake Protein Pancakes (“These tastes so good, and I couldn’t really tell they were protein pancakes,” Anthony says) and the Habanero Mac & Cheese that you can add to your weekly meal prep containers. “It was a little sweet and had a bit of heat, but I like my food really spicy so it was tame for my tasetebuds,” Anthony says.

Although not every meal had such great flavor, nothing was bad—just a little under seasoned. It still earned a 4 out of 5 on taste. As with all the meals on this list, the ease of preparation earned a 5 out of 5 since it just requires a quick trip to the microwave.

There is an expansive list of meals, a-la-carte items, and snacks to choose from, leaving you with a lot of options. You can choose from prepared boxes of 12 or 24 meals, or you can fully customize your meal choices and numbers, allowing you to be in control of what you’re having each week. The only requirement is a minimum of eight meals.

A big reason we chose this over other services is that you’re not locked into a subscription. You can simply order the items whenever you need to restock, and don’t need to worry about having excess meals go bad in the fridge.

Along with all of these choices, ICON Meals also offers customizable meals, where you can pick your protein and sides. Registered dietitian Perry Nix likes this option “for anyone trying to hit specific macros each day because you are in control of everything that’s on your plate.”

RELATED: Macros for Weight Loss: Advice from a Dietitian

One issue Perry had with the meal delivery service was that ICON Meals doesn’t offer much information about where their ingredients are sourced from, which brings to question the quality of ingredients, as well as whether or not they are sustainably sourced. Anthony also noted that some meals included artificial ingredients, which may deter some people from ordering from here. However, ICON Meals is still a solid choice for variety and customization.

Best Frozen Prepared Meal Delivery: BistroMD

Good for: Those wanting a lot of frozen meals week-to-week

Best Frozen

BistroMD

GGR Score: 4.27

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Product Highlights

• Doctor-designed meal plans 
• May help improve metabolism and aid with weight loss
• Weekly frozen meal deliveries
• Variety of meal plans including vegan, keto, and diabetic

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Program is based on science behind metabolism correction
• Options to skip a week
• Packed in oven-safe, BPA-free trays
• Support from registered dietitians

Cons

• Programs don’t allow you to order less than 10 meals
• Expensive subscription
• Shipping is not free

Bottom Line

BistroMD was designed by a doctor to help folks struggling with weight loss. BistroMD addresses insulin-resistance and aids a healthy metabolism with lean protein and high-fiber foods to keep you full in addition to low glycemic carbohydrates to stabilize blood sugars. You’ll find a meal plan that works within your dietary restrictions including gluten-free, vegan, or keto.

Our top pick for best prepared frozen meal delivery is BistroMD because they take care to make sure everything arrives ice-cold by using “CilmaCell” insulation and dry ice. During our testing, boxes from other companies arrived partially thawed, though that wasn’t the case here.

We also like the emphasis on healthy eating, as the company uses dietitians and doctors to design meal plans. Along with their signature program, BistroMD also supplies gluten-free, heart healthy, keto-friendly, diabetic, menopause, and vegan options.

RELATED: Benefits of Protein

Our expert dietitian Perry Nix appreciated that these meals weren’t just low-calorie meals. She says, “Instead, these meal plans focus on fueling your metabolism, stabilizing your blood sugar, and keeping you full and satisfied, so you can burn more calories and utilize energy efficiently.” 

The good news: It doesn’t taste like health food. “Pretty darn good for these being both health-consious and frozen,” says certified personal trainer and GGR Senior Writer Lauren Strong. We rated the overall taste a 4 out of 5 because while it was mostly positive, some meals lacked flavor.

“The Sloppy Joe was my least favorite because the cabbage slaw did not unfreeze very well and seemed flavorless,” Lauren says. “I dethawed this meal instead of putting it right into the microwave and the cabbage was just meh.”

The not-so-good news: The total calorie count for the meals might not be enough for bigger or people who strength training. We rated the portion size a 3.5 out of 5. “For 3 meals and 2 snacks the average calorie intake for women and men is 1200 and 1500, respectively,” Nix says. “This is much too low, and while you could see initial weight loss, you’re more likely to gain the weight back plus some.”

Lauren agrees, saying she’d be surprised if most people didn’t supplement the Bistro meals with a snack or two. “I think people on an honest mission to lose weight will eat a snack between meals,” Lauren says. “I doubt someone can adhere to this plan for 21 meals in a week without snacks.”

This program is relatively inexpensive, at most $8.99 per meal, and you can choose between 10 to 21 meals each week. Once you order, a dietitian makes a custom diet program for you, from which you can then customize and personalize your meals.

Best Gluten-Free Prepared Meal Delivery: Fuel Meals

Good for: Those with certain food sensitivities wanting a meal delivery service

Best Gluten-Free Meals

Fuel Meals

GGR Score: 4

Check Price Use code GGR50 at checkout to save 50% on your first order

Product Highlights

• Meal prep meal delivery service
• Can get breakfast, lunch, and dinner delivered
• Meals start at $13.91
• Weekly or bi-weekly delivery

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Can order breakfast, lunch, and dinner options
• Meals are fresh

Cons

• No customizations of the meals available
• Calories may be too low for some
• Expensive

Bottom Line

Fuel Meals offers two dedicated meals plans—muscle gain and weight loss—catered to both men and women. You can choose to have all daily meals delivered, or stick to just lunch and dinner, on a weekly or bi-weekly delivery cadence. One downside is that there's no customization of the meals.

For those with sensitivities to gluten, Fuel Meals is a fantastic option. While they don’t technically have a gluten-free menu, many of the options use complex carbs like rice and potatoes that are OK for people with celiac disease or other gluten intolerances.

There are some dishes with pasta and wheat in them, but since you can order each meal a la carte you never have to worry about them showing up in your box. You can also sign up for a meal plan to have 7, 10, 14, 20 meals delivered to your door every one or two weeks. Registered dietitian Perry Nix says it’s a great choice for any eater who’s looking for more balanced meals.

“Meals are high-protein, low-fat, and include a moderate amount of carbs,” Nix says. “This balance supports muscle growth and provides enough energy to help you power through your workout.”

RELATED: Best Fiber Supplements

If you’re one of those people who look at food as fuel and aren’t too concerned about taste, you might like this. People who are looking for a balance of macros and taste, however, might leave disappointed. “They taste is all totally fine, completely edible, could order and eat again,” says weightlifting coach and GGR Senior Director of Content Kate Meier. “I just wanted something more. I found myself adding vegetables to the meal, or adding a sauce or a spice to get more out of it.”

Nicole Davis, GGR’s head of content and a precision nutrition coach, agreed. The two rated the taste a 4 out of 5. “I agree with Kate in that with some of them I wanted a bit more spice or flavor,” Nicole says. “With the bison burger for instance, the sauce was really good but the actual patty itself was under-seasoned.”

Kate and Nicole were split on the portion sizes, which they rated a 4 out of 5. “The meals themselves are between 400-600 cals for the most part,” Kate says in our Fuel Meals review. “So it’s enough food, but I personally kept feeling like I needed more.”

“For me, these were a perfect meal,” Nicole says.

GGR readers also get an exclusive Fuel Meals discount code.

Best Plant-Based Prepared Meal Delivery: Purple Carrot

Good for: Prepared meals suitable for plant-based eating and diets

Best Plant-Based Meals

Purple Carrot

GGR Score: 4

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Product Highlights

• Vegan meal kits and prepared meals
• Breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and pantry items available
• Boxes ship weekly
• Quick prep options (meals that take less than 25 minutes)
• Most non-produce items are organic

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Has meal kits and prepared meals
• Can choose from the whole menu
• All meals and snacks are available
• Menus change weekly

Cons

• Can’t mix and match meal types
• No option for add-on proteins
• Maxes out at 4 meals per week
• Limited meal choices

Bottom Line

Purple Carrot offers vegan meal kits and prepared meals. There are no specific meal plans, but you can choose from the full menu, which includes breakfasts, lunches, dinners and “plantry” items—add-on products like brownie bites and salad dressing. You can’t mix and match meal types, though.

Our pick for best plant-based prepared meal delivery is Purple Carrot. Unlike many other meal deliveries on this list, Purple Carrot offers both premade meals and meal kits. All meals are 100% vegan, so this is perfect for people following a vegan diet, or just wanting to lessen how much meat they have in their diet.

Dietitian Perry Nix mentions that the variety of the prepared meals is not as versatile as other meal services. However, Purple Carrot allows for customization in meal boxes, as you can purchase a combination of meal kits and prepared meals, making it a pretty versatile service to buy from.

RELATED: Best Vegan Protein Powder

Anthony O’Reilly, our performance editor and a certified nutrition coach, tested out Purple Carrot and found the ingredients to be fresh and delicious. Another surprising thing was that the portion sizes were decent as well, which is quite a feat for a plant-based meal. Anthony said he always felt full.

Obviously, this may not be the ideal meal service for people wanting animal protein in their meals, but for those wanting to include more plant-based meals into their lifestyle for one reason or another, Purple Carrot has you covered.

Our Purple Carrot review has our full thoughts.

Best Keto Prepared Meal Delivery: Factor

Good for: People constantly on the move needing healthy eating

Best Keto Meals

Factor75

GGR Score: 4

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Product Highlights

• Heat-and-eat meals that are delivered weekly
• Five menu plans, including calorie-controlled and keto
• Can mix and match from different menu plans for more variety
• New menus drop weekly
• Can order up to 18 meals per week

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Not restricted to one specific diet plan
• Meals arrive fresh and ready to heat
• Offers options for different dietary preferences
• Can cancel or skip a delivery anytime

Cons

• No options for customization
• No personalized plans for weight loss

Bottom Line

Factor75 is a heat-and-eat delivery service that works well for those on specialized diets. Boxes are delivered weekly, and you can mix and match from different menu plans to maximize your menu variety.

Along with being our choice for the best keto prepared meal delivery, Factor has additional plans, including high-protein plans, low-calorie options, and even vegan and vegetarian meals. 

RELATED: Best Keto Protein Powder

Senior staff writer and certified nutrition coach Amanda Capritto tested Factor out, and was particularly impressed with the portion size, saying, “This is the only meal service I tried that had ample portions! These meals can fill up a triathlete in the middle of a tough training block, so they can fill up just about anyone.”

Our expert dietitian Perry Nix also liked the portion sizes, particularly the variety of portions: “Meals contain anywhere from 350-900 calories, so you can choose entrees based on your personal calorie needs and health goals.” Whether you’re looking to lose weight or build muscle, Factor has a meal for you. The keto options available do vary by calories, as well, so be mindful of that when selecting meals.

On the taste of the meals, Amanda says it’s “better than OK.” The food was prepared well, and actually the steaks she tried out were cooked well and not overcooked like some microwaveable meals can get. Still, she found herself adding seasoning to meals often. 

Also, while there is a good amount of variety, most meals are similar enough that it could start feeling repetitive: just a protein and vegetable side. Still, for decent meals tailored to your fitness goals, Factor has you covered.

Best Prepared Meal Delivery for Variety: CookUnity

Good for: Decent-sized, filling prepared meals with lots to choose from

Best for Variety

CookUnity

GGR Score: 3.5

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Product Highlights

• Subscription-based meal delivery service
• Fresh meals, not frozen
• Rotating menus
• Ability to set preferences and dietary restrictions

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Fresh meals delivered weekly
• Option to choose meals or let chefs choose for you
• Reminder text message to make changes to your weekly order
• Ability to skip weeks or pause subscription

Cons

• Does not deliver to all parts of the U.S.
• Different menus depending on your zip code

Bottom Line

CookUnity is a weekly meal delivery service that brings fresh meals prepared and cooked by professionally trained chefs directly to your door. You can choose between four to 16 meals per week and set preferences around your likes, dislikes, and dietary restrictions. You also have the ability to skip a week or pause your subscription.

With more than 200 meals designed by world-famous chefs to choose from, CookUnity has some of the best variety of any prepared meal delivery service we tested. Very few companies offered dishes like Mongolian Salmon with Bok Choy or Caribbean Jerk Baby Back Ribs. There are also options for pescatarians and vegans, as well as options for people following low-carb, low-calorie, paleo, keto, or Mediterranean diets.

“These options cover a range of dietary restrictions and preferences so there’s something for everyone,” says registered dietitian Perry Nix. “You’ll have the opportunity to expand your palate and try different flavors from all around the world.”

You can simply reheat these meals and enjoy, or follow the “chefy” instructions on the package. We’re going to give it a 5 out of 5 for ease of preparation since there is a heat-and-eat option, and even if you break out the pots and pans you can have dinner ready in under 20 minutes.

Certified nutrition coach and GGR Performance Editor Anthony O’Reilly says most of the flavor came from the sauces, which resulted in a 3 out of 5 on taste. “Asian dishes like the Bulgogi Beef Japchae often have complex flavor, but I found this bowl was very one note and that note was the sauce, which was zingy and quite flavorful but also overpowered everything in the dish,” Anthony says. “I couldn’t tell if the beef was well-seasoned or if the noodles had any flavor.”

On the bright side, CookUnity ships their meals in sustainable packaging that can be returned and recycled in select cities.

Best Organic Prepared Meal Delivery: ModifyHealth

Good for: Paleo meals with high-quality ingredients

Best Organic Meals

ModifyHealth

GGR Score: 4.29

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Product Highlights

• Fresh, ready-to-eat meal delivery service 
• Nutrient dense, high-fiber, whole-food ingredients
• Caters to variety of health concerns including low-FODMAP diets 
• Vacuum-sealed meals stay fresh 7-10 days after delivery 
• Processing facility is 100% gluten-free

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Non-GMO ingredients
• BPA-free meal trays
• Macronutrient and nutrition label included with each meal
• Gluten-free

Cons

• Wide range of caloric intake per meal (250-700 calories)
• Many breakfast options are low in protein

Bottom Line

If you adhere to a low-FODMAP diet, have diabetes, or a gluten allergy ModifyHealth could be the meal delivery service you’ve been waiting for. ModifyHealth processes all meals in a gluten-free facility and commits to using non-GMO ingredients. Your subscription gains you access to a weekly delivery of fresh, vacuum-sealed meals that are ready to reheat and enjoy. Plans start as little as 6 meals per week with the option to skip a week or pause your subscription.

ModifyHealth uses organic, non-GMO ingredients so it was a shoo-in for the best organic prepared meal delivery. The thing that put it above other organic options was the taste, which received a 4.5 out of 5.

“These are frozen meals and I didn’t have high hopes based on the other frozen meal deliveries I had tried,” says Nicole Davis, a precision nutrition coach and GGR head of content. “These were the best by far. I tried an assortment of meals from the Mediterranean plan, which is a lot of fish, and I enjoyed all of them.”

There are also low-FODMAP, diabetes-friendly, gluten-free, carb-conscious, and heart-friendly meal plans to pick from with about 30 dishes per program, earning it a 4.5 out of 5 on variety. Regardless of which one you select, every meal follows the same template.

“Most of their meals contain 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,” says registered dietitian Perry Nix. She adds that some of the meals might be a little light for more active people.

“The meals with less than 400 calories may not give you the energy your body needs to function optimally,” Perry says. Nicole rated the portion sizes a 4 out of 5, saying it was enough food for her but her husband was still hungry.

Nicole said she was impressed by the shipping, which earned a 5 out of 5. “I like that they send UPS alerts about when the package was delivered,” she says, something that wasn’t offered with many other services. “The meals are vacuum-sealed which is nice, because the food doesn’t get all jumbled up during shipping.”

Best Budget Prepared Meal Delivery: Home Chef

Good for: Budget-friendly prepared meals

Best Budget Meals

Home Chef

GGR Score: 4.1

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Product Highlights

• Can choose from meal kits, pre-made meals, or grill-ready ingredients
• Recipes can accommodate two, four or six people, and you can get up to six meals per week
• No specific meal plans, but you can narrow down your choices
• Menu changes weekly, with up to 30 meals to choose from
• Requires a subscription, but you can cancel or skip a week anytime

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Menu changes weekly to prevent food boredom
• Options for meal kits or pre-made meals
• Can skip a week if you don’t need a delivery
• Can accommodate larger groups and families (many meal delivery services cap out at four servings per recipe)
• Reasonably priced

Cons

• Doesn’t accommodate a lot of dietary restrictions
• Options can be limited if you’re on a specific diet
• Requires a subscription (that you can skip or cancel, but you have to remember)

Bottom Line

Home Chef is a meal delivery service that gives you options between meal kits, heat-and-eat meals, and grill-ready selections. It does require a subscription, but you can cancel any time or skip a week if you don’t want a shipment.

Home Chef is known for its meal kits, but the company also offers oven-ready meals and other heat-to-eat options that range in price from $6.99-$12, depending on how many meals you pick (generally, the more meals the lower the per-plate cost).

“The diverse options are great for those who like to cook but could also benefit from a healthy pre-cooked meal on busy days,” says registered dietitian Perry Nix.

Anthony O’Reilly, a certified nutrition coach and GGR performance editor, has tested a few of the prepared meals offered by Tempo by Home Chef, and rated the taste a 5 out of 5 (for what it’s worth, that’s the same score the meal kit received from our testers).

“I was actually surprised at how much I liked them,” Anthony says. “Honestly, this was better than some restaurants. As of this writing I’ve only had about three meals, but so far they’ve all been home runs.”

The portion sizes also received a 5 out of 5, since they kept both Anthony and his girlfriend satiated until their next meal (with dinners, neither of them felt hungry by the time they went to bed). His one concern are the macros—some of the meals had more than 20 or 30 grams of fat.

“I received my first shipment shortly before leaving for a friend’s wedding,” Anthony says, “and so I had to be very picky with which meals I tested so I could make sure I still fit in my suit.”

Nix adds that it’s not the best for people with certain dietary restrictions. “Home Chef doesn’t offer vegan, keto, or paleo-friendly meals, so if you follow these restrictive eating patterns this might not be the best choice,” she says.

Our Home Chef review has our full thoughts.

Best Paleo Prepared Meal Delivery: Paleo on the Go

Good for: Paleo meals with a good amount of variety

Best Paleo Meals

Paleo on the Go

GGR Score: 4.35

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Product Highlights

• 100% Paleo and AIP-friendly
• Plans include 8, 12, or 16 items 
• Can subscribe or buy one time
• Easy to follow instructions

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Wide variety of options
• Seasonal meals available
• Meals are ready after a few minutes in the microwave

Cons

• No smartphone app to manage subscription
• No free shipping

Bottom Line

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. The price range varies based on the items you choose to order.

As GGR editor Frieda Johnson notes after testing Paleo on the Go, the reason we like this meal service is because of the quality of ingredients. Frieda says about their ingredients, “The meals are all AIP compliant and they have information about their sourcing on the website. All animals are humanely raised and hormone/antibiotic free, and they have links to all of the farms where they source their meat.” They also have information on where they source produce and other ingredients, being a very transparent company on their sourcing.

Frieda followed the paleo diet for about a year, and the flavor of these frozen meals reminded her of home-cooked paleo meals. She was very surprised at the quality of these frozen paleo meals. Some advice, she adds, is to reheat them in the oven instead of the microwave, as this makes a big difference on these meals.

Due to their following of autoimmune protocol (AIP) diets, dietitian Perry Nix says Paleo on the Go is great for an elimination diet. Also, because they don’t lock you into a subscription, you can stop after a few weeks, once you’ve determined the food source that causes you distress.

Frieda loved these meals…except for the price. The cost per meal is between $20 and $25, depending on the meal and plan, with some snacks costing $10 to $15. This is a pretty hefty price compared to other meal delivery services. If the price doesn’t bother you, however, this can be an excellent choice for high-quality ingredients.

Best Prepared Meal Delivery for Weight Loss: Trifecta

Good for: Healthy meals with calorie-conscious portions

Best for Weight Loss

Trifecta

GGR Score: 4.1

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Product Highlights

• Meal plans or bulk meal options available
• All food is pre-made and arrives fresh (but you can freeze it)
• Six different menu plans, including clean, Whole30, paleo, keto, high-protein vegan, and high-protein vegetarian
• Meals are delivered weekly, but you can cancel anytime
• High-quality ingredients, with a focus on organic, locally sourced, and sustainable ingredients whenever possible

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Several types of meal plans available
• Can also choose a bulk meal prep option
• Can get breakfasts as well as entrees
• The company prioritizes high-quality ingredients
• Some customization available

Cons

• Expensive, but ingredients are high-quality
• Limited personalization available

Bottom Line

Trifecta combines convenience with healthy eating. While all meals are pre-cooked and pre-portioned, the ingredients are high-quality and preservative-free.

Trifecta is our choice for the best meal delivery for weight loss because they offer high-protein, low-calorie meals that can fit into any trainee’s diet with options for vegans, those on the keto diet, and people taking GLP-1 prescriptions (such as Ozempic).

“All meals are made with lean protein, complex carbs, and veggies,” says registered dietitian Perry Nix. “Complex carbs often used in their meals include wild rice and quinoa, both of which provide lasting energy.”

Overall, there were mixed reviews on the taste and we landed on a 4 out of 5. Anthony O’Reilly, GGR performance editor and a certified nutrition coach, tried Trifecta many years ago. “I remember them being very hit or miss,” he says. “There were some like the Romesco Steak that I looked forward to having in my box, whereas others I took one bite of and threw the rest out, or had to douse with hot sauce.”

Kate Meier, a weightlifting coach and GGR’s senior director of content, says she liked it. “For context, I typically eat pretty plainly, so I don’t need a crazy amount of flavor or spice,” she says in our Trifecta Meal Delivery review.

The portion sizes and macros are targeted toward people trying to lose fat, so they might not be filling for everyone (Anthony would frequently eat two at a time, but that was also when he biked 10 miles to and from work).

“The meals are low-calorie, so you’ll likely want to add snacks between meals to meet your energy requirements for the day,” Nix adds.

Other Prepared Meal Deliveries We Researched

We tested out many other meal delivery services in our research for the best prepared meal delivery service—over 40. Here are a few more meal deliveries that missed our list for one reason or another.

• Snap Kitchen: GGR staff writer Lauren Strong tested out Snap Kitchen, and while the flavor was good, there wasn’t as much variety or customization as other meal delivery services.
• Sakara Life: GGR editor Frieda Johnson tried Sakara Life out, and while the food was delicious, the portion sizes were small and prices were rather expensive, as her order was about $27 a meal.
• Muscle Meals 2 Go: These healthy meals were made for leaning out, maintaining, or gaining muscle mass. Lauren thought the ingredients were good, although meals were often bland or dry.

RELATED: Sakara Life reviews

How We Picked and Tested the Best Prepared Meal Deliveries

Our team consists of athletes, certified nutrition coaches, and certified personal trainers, so when researching and testing out prepared meal deliveries, we know what to look for in nutritious meals, and how to provide value to the consumer. In addition to meal prices and the customer service experience, here are a few things we look at for these prepared meal deliveries.

• Ordering: How easy was the ordering and checkout process? Ideally, deciding on the number of meals, meal plans, and a meal subscription should be easy with minimal hassle.
• Taste: This is mostly subjective, but we tried many individual meals of these meal services, noting any high-quality meals or lackluster entrees.
• Ease of Preparation: Being a prepared meal delivery, these meals should be able to pop in the microwave or oven, frozen or thawed, and be ready in minutes. Meal kit delivery services like HelloFresh weren’t used on this list, since they involve their own preparation.
• Portion Size: Since these are individually-prepared meals, to get high marks here, we wanted to make sure that a meal felt filling.
• Ingredient quality and nutrition: We liked when companies were transparent about the nutritional information of meals, especially when those meals were made with high-quality ingredients.
• Variety: Is there a lot of variety when it comes to weekly or monthly choices, or is it a lot of the same week to week? 
• Meal plans and customization: For those looking for some guidance, meal services can have meal plans made for certain diets or lifestyles. Also, is there room for personal customization?
• Shipping and packaging: Because these meals are delivered across the country, the packaging of these prepared meals is vital. In order to ship safely, these boxes should be shipped with dry ice or ice packs to keep foods chilled or frozen.
• Sustainability efforts: We appreciate efforts taken by companies to minimize their carbon footprint through sustainability initiatives. This is both by shipping recyclable materials, as well as sourcing their food sustainably.

In addition to ranking meal services based off of these standards, we also talked with dietitian Perry Nix, RD, LD, on her initial take and opinions on these meal delivery services. With an expert’s input, we were able to finalize our list for the best prepared meal deliveries.

Benefits of Prepared Meal Deliveries

If I could summarize the benefits of prepared meal delivery services into one word, I think it would be “convenience.” While that doesn’t explain every single benefit or perk of meal services, it covers a lot. Let’s break down a few of the benefits of prepared meals.

Save Time

The most obvious benefit of purchasing fully prepared meals for your household is the time you can save. Buying prepared meals for the week will save you plenty of time that would otherwise be used preparing home-cooked meals. Plus, the clean-up is virtually disposing of the meal tray once you’re done eating—way easier than washing pots and pans. 

Explore New Foods

If you’re looking to try something new, but just not sure where to start, meal services can be a great place to start. Many prepared meal delivery services provide a lot of variety in their weekly menu options. Additionally, if you need to get more vegetables or greens in your diet, these meal services have you covered, offering veggie sides in each prepared meal.

Fewer Grocery Runs

Having your meals delivered straight to you will help save you time and miles on runs to the grocery store. Obviously, prepared meal services won’t provide all amenities you need for your household, but it’ll definitely allow you to frequent the store less each week.

Healthy Eating

Those who struggle to prepare and have healthy food choices during the week can use prepared meal services to make healthy eating easier. Depending on the meal service, these weekly meals are typically made with nutrient-dense ingredients and have macros portioned out to support high-protein diets for building muscle, as well as keto, vegan, and vegetarian options.

What to Look for in Prepared Meal Deliveries

There are quite a few things to consider when looking into the best prepared meal delivery service for you.

Meals

The meal options can be impacted by a few different factors:

• Number of meals: How many meals are you looking to have each week? If you’re looking to replace only a few meals each week, then somewhere between five to eight meals weekly would suffice; if you’re looking for the majority of meals to be prepared, 15 to 20 meals is probably the best option. Make sure the service you choose can provide the right number of meals for you.
• Price per meal: The price of each meal should make sense for the meal service. Some may be pricier due to greater strides to source organic foods and non-GMO ingredients. Shipping costs will also increase your cost depending on your location.
• Portion size: Many meal delivery services will vary by portion size, as well. It’s a good idea to check the nutritional information provided to see if this meal service will have enough calories and macros for your needs.

Meal Plans

Many meal delivery services will have meal plans that will help guide those needing specific foods, whether it’s for dietary restrictions, medical needs, or due to following a diet.

• Meal plans: Services may not provide plans for every need, but common meal plans include keto and low-carb, vegan, Whole30, paleo, and high-protein needs.
• Customization: While meal plans can help you in your decision-making, sometimes it’s nice to be able to choose. Some meal delivery services allow you to substitute meals once you’ve selected a plan, while others have an a-la-carte or mix-and-match menu to choose from.
• Subscription: Not every meal delivery service requires a weekly delivery subscription, but they often come with a discount. Additionally, the subscription service should be easy to adjust, skip weeks, or cancel depending on what you need.

Variety

Many prepared meal deliveries have decent variety. Some people may need variety so that they can have options for their personal preferences, such as wanting dairy-free options. Still, others just want to not have the same meals over and over again.

Ingredient Quality

It’s good to take a look at the ingredient quality of the meals you’re purchasing. While not every meal delivery service is focused primarily on health and wellness, the service should still use high-quality ingredients. Bonus points if they also source their food locally and sustainably.

Prepared Meal Delivery: FAQs

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.

Caine Wilkes, OLY, CNC, USAW-L1

Caine Wilkes is an Olympian, placing 9th in weightlifting at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. A former gym owner, he also has more than 15 years of experience coaching other athletes in weightlifting, CrossFit, and functional fitness.

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