However, it's entirely possible if you think outside the Mountain. Yeah, the Jamocha Shake is only available here, but these are the best damn fries in the game.

It's also worth checking if they're offering anything for signing up for the Arby's email list. Sometimes handing over your email lands you a free sandwich or gyro.

What to order: If you've ever been to a White Castle or have seen a film with the words "Harold and Kumar" in the title, you know the drill.

What to order: No, the Colonel still isn't bringing back the long-dead Double Down. Though, the nuggets would substitute well and keep you in the same price range.

Plus, you'd be getting those sweet, sweet sauces. Sometimes the classics are classics for a reason. What to order: Jimmy John's hasn't always been the best place for a super-cheap lunch.

However, in late , JJ added the Little John. Plus, there are seven varieties of the Little John, which gives you options, but the 6 is a solid choice if you're looking to get the most out of the smaller sandwich. The vegetarian sandwich comes with avocado, provolone, cucumber, lettuce, tomato, and mayo.

You're getting a lot more flavor there than with the spare Slim 5 and a few more calories than with the other Little John options. If you're ordering anything but the salt and vinegar chips, you're doing it wrong.

What to order: You're going to have a tough time pulling this one off. That's the highest calorie soup they offer. For the same price, you can come close with the Summer Corn Chowder or the Bistro French Onion.

What to order: You'll run into the same problem here that you ran into at Chipotle. You could turn to the kid's menu, but that can get awkward. Let's go a different direction. What to order: The Dollar Menu is dead; long live the Dollar Menu.

That's the best you'll do unless you're dining with the Hamburglar. What to order: Get dressed like you're making stops at the sock hop and Makeout Bluff, then try not to spill chili cheese down your chest.

So, there's really only one option to make it all happen here. Load it up with your favorite fixings and add in a bag of Sun Chips, because that's what you do at Subway. What to order: Yes, you could blow your budget and more on any of its ridiculously sweet Frap du Jour surprises.

But you can actually get a decent breakfast as well. Before we even thought of tasting anything the fun part! From popular blogs to user reviews on various platforms—think Trustpilot, Yelp, and even Reddit—we dug deep to understand what customers truly want.

We prioritized services that offered a range of options. Once we had our list, it was time for our favorite part: taste-testing! We sampled dishes from numerous services, rating them on flavor, freshness, portion sizes, and overall satisfaction.

Yes, it was as delicious as it sounds! We analyzed the cost per meal, looking for services that provided value for money without compromising on taste.

An overlooked but super crucial aspect! And of course, we made some cheeky calls to their customer service to see how responsive and helpful they were.

We favored services that used eco-friendly packaging, had recycling options, or showcased any efforts towards sustainability.

Armed with all this data, our team sat down for some serious discussions and maybe a food coma or two! We debated, discussed, and sometimes even passionately argued to whittle down our choices to the final list.

Gone are the days when ordering food was a rare treat. With the advent of meal delivery services, a plethora of culinary delights are just a click away.

Imagine getting gourmet dishes or even simple home-cooked style meals delivered right at your door, without the hassle of grocery shopping or meal prepping.

But with the vast sea of options available, how does one pick the right service? Enter meal delivery services! They cater to a range of preferences, from health-focused meals to indulgent treats.

Before you get overwhelmed with options, take a moment. Think about what you really need. Are you aiming to lose weight?

Maybe you need high-protein meals. Or are you a gourmet at heart, seeking new and exotic flavors? Pinning down your priorities can narrow the field significantly. From those avoiding gluten to vegans, and from keto enthusiasts to pescatarians, the spectrum is vast.

Check if your prospective vegan meal delivery service can cater to your specific dietary needs. We all dream of eating like royalty, but the wallet does have its limits. While exploring, keep an eye on the price tag. Some services might seem affordable at first but can rack up costs with add-ons.

Find one that offers the best bang for your buck. Look into how your chosen service packages its food. Do they use excessive plastic? Or have they adopted eco-friendly alternatives? Your choices can make a difference.

Food can be an adventure. While local delicacies are comforting, sometimes the soul craves exotic flavors. Scour through reviews. Consistent complaints about a particular issue should raise eyebrows. If multiple customers talk about tardy deliveries or poor food quality, take note.

But for those who find solace in cooking, meal kits can be therapeutic. We live in the digital age. A smooth app experience is almost as essential as the food itself. An intuitive interface, easy customization options, and swift checkouts can make all the difference.

If a service offers trial packs or promotional discounts, jump on it! Maybe you decide to go on an impromptu vacation or want to switch services. Having flexible return and cancellation policies can be a relief.

At first glance, ordering a meal from a delivery service might seem pricier than whipping up something with ingredients from your local grocery store.

For those who value their time, enjoy variety in their meals, and dislike the hassles of grocery shopping, meal delivery services might indeed be a cost-effective option. Hey there, fellow food enthusiast! But how do we separate the sizzle from the steak?

Ah, the transformation! Remember when food delivery was just a cheesy pizza or some crispy spring rolls? Well, the culinary world has undergone a revolution, and now, gourmet meals are just a click away. What once was a domain dominated by a few select fast-food joints has exploded into a myriad of options.

Our doorsteps have transformed into landing pads for dishes from every corner of the world. As our schedules become chaotic and our world increasingly digital, the desire for tangible, real-world pleasures like good whole food arrives fresh out has skyrocketed.

No more! These plans are your ticket to more leisure. Think about it: hours previously spent on grocery shopping, prepping, cooking, and the worst part—cleaning up—are now all yours. Maybe take up painting or perhaps finally start that book you always wanted to read. Most of these plans have menus curated with the help of nutritionists.

Think of the myriad of choices at your fingertips, each designed to tantalize and satisfy in unique ways. Can you imagine diving into the heart of Italy with a rich, creamy risotto one evening, and by the next, venturing into the vibrant streets of Thailand with a tangy pad thai?

And the best part? Ever felt the weight of dietary restrictions pulling down your gourmet dreams? Those days are behind you. Think hearty chickpea stews, sumptuous vegetable curries, or maybe a tofu stir fry that bursts with flavors. Savor dishes like almond flour pizzas, zucchini pasta, or maybe a succulent steak with roasted veggies.

No more sifting through ingredient lists or fretting about cross-contamination. From fluffy gluten-free pancakes to nut-free desserts, the options are both safe and scrumptious. But when we tested it again in , we found that the menu offered much more variety.

Flavorful meals like Mexican-spiced shrimp bake and shawarma chicken and currant rice had us enjoying every last bite. A few details continue to fall short, though, like disorganized packaging and inaccurate time estimates.

There's also a lack of vegan offerings with this meal kit. But if you're someone looking for dietician-approved meals, tasty recipes, and options for wine and breakfast, you might be very satisfied with this kit. Read the full Blue Apron review. Favorite meal: Crispy skin salmon with salsa verde and farro salad.

Cost: Visit Blue Apron for updated pricing. Different plans are available. Each dish we tested, from hibachi-style steak and rice bowls to apricot dijon chicken legs, was quick and easy to prepare and used high-quality ingredients. While we were disappointed by the recipe for creamy peppercorn chicken with roasted potatoes and carrots chicken breast can easily dry out when baked, and the sauce was overwhelmingly peppery , we found the other meals satisfying.

However, EveryPlate is focused on affordability and not specific diet plans, which means its recipes may not suit everyone. But if you're looking to subscribe to a meal kit on a budget, EveryPlate just might do.

Read the full EveryPlate review. Favorite meal: Apricot dijon chicken legs with roasted carrots and lemon garlic couscous.

Cost: Visit EveryPlate for updated pricing. Meals like chipotle-spiced steak with potato salad were simple, sophisticated, and downright American, just like the homemaking queen. The service is also far from ideal for those with dietary restrictions—in typical American fashion, every recipe revolves around an animal protein or heavy carbs.

Since we originally posted our review, Martha and Marley Spoon has added more vegetarian and low-carb options, but we haven't tested them yet. The service did score points with us for its eco-friendly packaging, made almost entirely from biodegradable materials.

Most of its recipes were also easy to follow for new cooks. Want to learn more? Read our full Martha and Marley Spoon review. Favorite meal: Chipotle-spiced steak with potato salad and charred snap peas.

Like Sunbasket, Green Chef promises organic ingredients and a variety of different diet-based meal plans think keto, paleo, and vegan at different price points, with about eight options to choose from per week.

What sets Green Chef apart from other services is its commitment to organic and ethically sourced ingredients. The company is USDA-certified organic, meaning that customers are buying certified ingredients from suppliers that follow strict standards.

When we tore open our bags for dishes like red-miso steak stir-fry and chicken with harissa apricot sauce, we were surprised to see that many of the ingredients were pre-prepped. The carrots and cabbage were already chopped, the miso sauce was already prepared, and there was a baggie of finely minced garlic and ginger that was almost a paste.

All these pre-prepped ingredients made preparing our food very speedy and simple. Most were plated and ready to eat in 30 minutes, and we only dirtied a handful of prep bowls, one pan, one pot, and a cutting board. However, convenience has its drawbacks. Many of the pre-chopped veggies were brown or wilting by the time we went to cook with them.

But otherwise, we quite enjoyed Green Chef. Read the full Green Chef Review. Favorite meal: Red-miso steak stir-fry with udon noodles, carrots, edamame, pickled ginger and carrots.

Cost: Visit Green Chef for updated pricing. This meal delivery service offers a wide variety of recipes that will satisfy omnivores and vegan customers alike with its certified organic produce.

Fresh pappardelle verde with sweet pea pistou and sugar snap peas and crispy tempeh tenders with barbecue sauce and lemon-shallot green beans were among its standout offerings when we tested. We were impressed by how easily our Sunbasket dinners came together, relying on just a few key ingredients and spice blends to do most of the heavy lifting.

That meant spending less time cooking and more time enjoying the food. We particularly loved the flavorful veggies and non-meat protein options, making Sunbasket perfect for people who avoid eating meat.

You can easily skip weeks, adjust delivery frequency, pause your account, or cancel your subscription entirely by easily navigating the Sunbasket website. Favorite meal: Fresh pappardelle verde with sweet pea pistou and sugar snap peas. Cost: Visit Sunbasket for updated pricing.

There are several options to choose from when it comes to buying a meal delivery kit. To help make your selection a little easier, here are some of the most important factors to keep in mind before you subscribe to a delivery service:.

As with any subscription service, the price is one detail that should not be overlooked, especially since you'll be paying for the delivery on a weekly or monthly basis.

As a rule of thumb, stick to the basics when you first start out with a meal delivery service. See what it has to offer at a price point that matches your budget, and then weigh your options if you decide you want to switch things up.

Not everyone is a connoisseur in the kitchen, and some folks may want their dinner to be prepared more quickly or easily than others. Certain recipes can take longer to prepare, while some may be less labor intensive. Before ordering your meal kit, check to see how long each recipe is intended to take, as well as how much additional chopping, cutting, or prepping you may have to perform.

If you find yourself having little to no time to cook, then a pre-made meal kit like CookUnity could be your best option. Meal delivery services tend to offer a variety of options to meet a wide range of dietary needs, whether it be low calorie, vegan, or gluten-free dishes.

There's also the benefit of customization, which allows consumers to change some of the ingredients within the meal kit to suit their needs. This is particularly useful when it comes to protein options or excluding a particular ingredient due to an allergy or taste preference.

Before you select your meal kit delivery service, check to see what delivery days or times it offers. Some may vary based on your location, but you'll typically be able to select a delivery date for Monday-Friday, with some services offering weekend availability.

This is important to keep in mind as you sign up for your first delivery to ensure you are receiving your meals at the most convenient time for you. For each service, we ordered at least one box of three or four meals worth two to four servings each.

Using the service's website, we chose a diverse variety of meals when available. We prepared the food on a weeknight for ourselves and our partners or families, and evaluated the quality of ingredients, recipe accuracy and variety, difficulty, speed, cleanup, taste, and more.

We scored and compared each meal and kept detailed notes like true food nerds. Meal prepping and grocery shopping can feel overwhelming.

Meal kits are a great way to expand your tastes and eat healthier, bringing you through the cooking process one step at a time and slicing the time it takes to prepare your food in half. We found many recipes that only took 15 or 20 minutes, and oftentimes less!

One study found that popular restaurant meals can have a whopping 1, calories on average per serving. Using a meal kit service can help you better manage your portions and ingredients to eat more nutritious meals and lead a healthier lifestyle.

They can also help you control grocery costs because you won't have excess food going bad in your fridge before you can decide what to do with it. Almost every service we tried offers a large discount on the first box.

Your box is good to sit on your doorstep until the end of the day. Because delivery windows for these services are as broad as a full day, they package ingredients to last outside your actual refrigerator until the end of the day. Most often, produce and dry ingredients will be grouped in bags above ice packs, and any meat will be fully insulated below ice packs.

The packaging is going to be bulky and cumbersome. Recipes are usually seasonal, but favorites are often repeated. Every meal kit service has a different approach to repetition, but most try to make recipes as seasonal as possible to keep you from getting bored and to guarantee fresh, sustainable produce.

That being said, most companies make note of the most popular dishes and offer them many weeks a year, regardless of the season. If you really love one of your meals, hold onto the recipe card for future reference so you can request it again—or make it yourself using store-bought ingredients.

Cook your meals soon after receiving them. Because of transit times, they might actually be older than what you buy from the store. Use common sense when approaching certain dishes—seafood, fresh greens, and chicken should be prepared first, while red meat, pork, and harder produce can last a few more days.

Cancel at least one full week before you want your last box. If you want to skip a week or take a break from deliveries, most services allow you to make those selections, too. Many meal kits are now offered in grocery stores. To combat the high operational costs of delivery-only services, many companies have partnered with or been acquired by major food stores and are now offering its kits in the grocery aisles.

While we only tested delivery services, many of the recipes we tried are also available in stores for equal or lower prices. Some meal kit companies now offer prepared and heat-and-eat meals.

We've noticed a recent trend toward speed and convenience in the meal kit world, both with traditional companies and with frozen and ready-to-eat brands. Home Chef now offers at least two oven-ready dishes per menu every week, and Sunbasket has introduced both oven-ready and pre-made options.

We recommend having a good cast iron pan or a Dutch oven handy. Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time. The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Reviewed on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , TikTok , or Flipboard for the latest deals, product reviews, and more.

Cassidy covered all things cooking as the kitchen editor for Reviewed from to An experimental home chef with a healthy distrust of recipes, Cassidy lives by the "Ratatouille" philosophy that, with a few techniques and key tools, anyone can cook.

She's produced in-depth reviews and guides on everything from meal kits to stand mixers and the right way to cook an egg. Madison covered all things cooking as the kitchen editor for Reviewed in Formerly the editor-in-chief of Culture Magazine, Madison is the founder of GRLSQUASH, a women's food, art, and culture journal.

Her work has also appeared in The Boston Globe, Cherrybombe, Gather Journal, and more. She is passionate about pizza, aesthetic countertop appliances, and regularly watering her houseplants.

She holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia and a Master's of Liberal Arts in Gastronomy from Boston University.

Previously the Digital Editor at Culture Cheese Magazine and a former barista , she's also had her work published in The Boston Globe, Modern Luxury, Boston Magazine, and more.

Use common sense when approaching certain dishes—seafood, fresh greens, and chicken should be prepared first, while red meat, pork, and harder produce can last a few more days. Cancel at least one full week before you want your last box. If you want to skip a week or take a break from deliveries, most services allow you to make those selections, too.

Many meal kits are now offered in grocery stores. To combat the high operational costs of delivery-only services, many companies have partnered with or been acquired by major food stores and are now offering its kits in the grocery aisles.

While we only tested delivery services, many of the recipes we tried are also available in stores for equal or lower prices. Some meal kit companies now offer prepared and heat-and-eat meals. We've noticed a recent trend toward speed and convenience in the meal kit world, both with traditional companies and with frozen and ready-to-eat brands.

Home Chef now offers at least two oven-ready dishes per menu every week, and Sunbasket has introduced both oven-ready and pre-made options. We recommend having a good cast iron pan or a Dutch oven handy. Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.

The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Reviewed on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , TikTok , or Flipboard for the latest deals, product reviews, and more. Cassidy covered all things cooking as the kitchen editor for Reviewed from to An experimental home chef with a healthy distrust of recipes, Cassidy lives by the "Ratatouille" philosophy that, with a few techniques and key tools, anyone can cook.

She's produced in-depth reviews and guides on everything from meal kits to stand mixers and the right way to cook an egg.

Madison covered all things cooking as the kitchen editor for Reviewed in Formerly the editor-in-chief of Culture Magazine, Madison is the founder of GRLSQUASH, a women's food, art, and culture journal. Her work has also appeared in The Boston Globe, Cherrybombe, Gather Journal, and more.

She is passionate about pizza, aesthetic countertop appliances, and regularly watering her houseplants. She holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia and a Master's of Liberal Arts in Gastronomy from Boston University. Previously the Digital Editor at Culture Cheese Magazine and a former barista , she's also had her work published in The Boston Globe, Modern Luxury, Boston Magazine, and more.

Danielle has a B. from Syracuse University and a AAS in Culinary Arts from Newbury College. Previously, Danielle was a Test Cook and Associate Editor at America's Test Kitchen, as well as a freelance recipe developer and food writer.

Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied.

Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes. Skip to main content. Popular Search Terms washer review dishwasher for men air fryer television review refrigerator sonos sony cameras.

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Accessibility All Accessibility. Why trust Reviewed? Learn more about our product testing. Read More Pros Large variety of appealing dishes and extras Big portions Straightforward recipes Cons Recipe timing can be inaccurate Vegan offerings are limited.

Read More Pros High-quality ingredients User-friendly recipes with accurate timing Large variety of options and extras Cons Lots of packaging. Read More Pros Balanced flavors Quality ingredients Quick and easy Creative recipes Cons Some recipes fall short.

Read More Pros Fully plant-based Tasty , unique meals Premade meals offered Cons Learning curve with recipe cards. Written by Cassidy Olsen , Madison Trapkin , Monica Petrucci , and Danielle DeSiato. Best Overall. Pros Large variety of appealing dishes and extras Big portions Straightforward recipes.

Cons Recipe timing can be inaccurate Vegan offerings are limited. Buy now at HelloFresh. Best Value. Favorite meal: Soy-ginger pork tenderloin with garlic rice and green beans Cost: Visit Dinnerly for updated pricing. Cons Organization is lacking Navigating the website can be challenging.

Buy now at Dinnerly. Most User-Friendly. Pros High-quality ingredients User-friendly recipes with accurate timing Large variety of options and extras. Cons Lots of packaging. Buy now at Home Chef. Best Pre-Prepped Kit.

Favorite meal: Paneer and cauliflower tikka masala with garam masala basmati rice Cost: Visit Gobble for updated pricing. Pros Balanced flavors Quality ingredients Quick and easy Creative recipes.

Cons Some recipes fall short. Buy now at Gobble. Best Plant-Based Kit. Favorite meal: Tamarind cauliflower with gingered fried rice and cashews Cost: Visit Purple Carrot for updated pricing. Pros Fully plant-based Tasty , unique meals Premade meals offered. Cons Learning curve with recipe cards. Buy now at Purple Carrot.

Best Prepared Meal Delivery Service. Favorite meal: Sesame-ginger tofu poke bowl Cost: Visit CookUnity for updated pricing. Pros Tasty meals Countless options Personalized menu. Cons Ranging portion sizes. Buy now at CookUnity. Blue Apron. Favorite meal: Crispy skin salmon with salsa verde and farro salad Cost: Visit Blue Apron for updated pricing.

Pros Affordable Accurate cooking time estimates Quick and easy. Cons Flavors and ratios sometimes off in recipes Disorganized packaging Limited menus. Buy now at Blue Apron. Favorite meal: Apricot dijon chicken legs with roasted carrots and lemon garlic couscous Cost: Visit EveryPlate for updated pricing.

Pros Affordable High-quality ingredients Quick and easy recipes. Cons No recipes for special diets Limited meal options. Buy now at EveryPlate. Martha and Marley Spoon. Pros Flavorful dishes Inventive recipes Eco-friendly packaging. Cons No recipes for special diets Smaller portions.

Green Chef. Favorite meal: Red-miso steak stir-fry with udon noodles, carrots, edamame, pickled ginger and carrots Cost: Visit Green Chef for updated pricing. Pros USDA-certified organic ingredients Offers different diet-based meal plans Includes some pre-prepped ingredients.

Cons Limited weekly menus Higher prices. Buy now at Green Chef. Favorite meal: Fresh pappardelle verde with sweet pea pistou and sugar snap peas Cost: Visit Sunbasket for updated pricing. Pros Great for vegetarians Wide variety of meals offered Easy recipes. Cons Portions not big enough for leftovers.

Buy now at Sunbasket. Meet the testers Cassidy Olsen Contributor olsencassidy. See all of Cassidy Olsen's reviews. Madison Trapkin Contributor. See all of Madison Trapkin's reviews. See all of Monica Petrucci's reviews. See all of Danielle DeSiato's reviews. Checking our work.

Shoot us an email. Up next. Sign up for our newsletter. Get the best deals and the best advice dropped right in your inbox. If you are a human, ignore this field. Biscuit and fried chicken lovers adore this Southern fast-food chain that serves breakfast all day.

You can add a swipe of creamy pimento cheese to any biscuit — and you should. Looking for a healthier breakfast option? Check out these healthy fast-food breakfast items. With about locations, mostly in the Southern states, Zaxby's has carved a niche out of the fried chicken market, selling only tenders sometimes in sandwiches and wings.

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January 05, by Lacey Muszynski. updated by Lacey Muszynski. fact checked by Erin Kuschner. Cheapism is editorially independent. We may earn a commission if you buy through links on our site. Prices and availability are subject to change and may vary by location. Christian C. Kathy S.

Focus on Burger King Large Fries on Serving Paper, a Whopper Jr. on the Right Side by yum9me CC BY-NC-ND. Henry C. Closeup of Domino's Medium Pizza with Pepperoni, Tomatoes, Mushrooms, and Green Bell Peppers by Nadir Hashmi CC BY-NC-ND.

Among the big pizza chains, Domino's has some of the best long-running deals. Trending on Cheapism. Free Burgers, Free Pizza, and More Bonkers Fast-Food Deals Near You. These Are the 7 Cheapest Fast-Food Joints To Try Right Now. Cindy C.

Cons Single servings only Must order a minimum of nine items. Overview Daily Harvest specializes in plant-based heat-and-eat meals, smoothies, soups, and snacks made with sustainably-sourced ingredients and no fillers, gluten, GMOs, or artificial additives. To order, you'll build a box of either nine, 14, or 24 items, with volume-based discounts that increase the more items you purchase.

While all items arrive frozen instead of fresh, that just means they'll last a while in the freezer until you're ready to enjoy them. and Canada Products Arrive: Frozen Why You Should Try It Revive Superfoods specializes in pre-portioned plant-based smoothies, soups, snacks, and supermeals that can be ready to enjoy in minutes.

Pros Nutritious foods with minimal prep Zero-waste philosophy Can order up to 24 items at a time Cons Limited variety of non-smoothie items Shipping costs extra Overview If you're looking to incorporate more superfoods into your meal rotation, Revive Superfoods is a great option.

Simply add your choice of liquid and blend the ingredients until smooth. You can also choose from soups, oat bowls, frozen desserts, "supermeal" grain bowls, and "bites" made of chewy oatmeal filled with jam.

Pricing and Plans Pricing depends on what you order. Begin by selecting a box size of either nine, 12, or 24 items, then simply fill it with your choice of menu selections.

Why You Should Try It Despite its low cost, HelloFresh offers a huge selection of delicious meals that are easy to prepare. Pros Dozens of weekly menu and market items Great-tasting creative and classic recipes Responsible ingredient sourcing and packaging. Recipes are made of high-quality ingredients shipped in sustainable packaging, and they're each tested 45 times to ensure deliciousness and simplicity.

Meals We Tried Crispy buffalo-spiced chicken BBQ cheddar burgers Tex-Mex pork with mango salsa Pork sausage rigatoni rosa. Why You Should Try It Home Chef offers delicious, family-friendly meals, including minimal prep options, at a competitive price.

Pros Easily customizable meals Easy prep options Serves up to six people. Cons Not focused on organic food Cannot accommodate strict dietary restrictions like vegan and keto.

Overview HomeChef is known for its easily customizable, great-tasting meal kits. Of the two plans—Home Chef and Fresh and Easy—the Fresh and Easy option provides the most convenience. This plan includes 15 Minute Meal Kits with pre-portioned ingredients that cook in under 15 minutes; Oven-Ready and Grill-Ready Meals that are fully prepped and ready to cook; and Fast and Fresh Meals that arrive cooked and only need reheating.

Pricing and Plans According to Home Chef's website, the weekly cost will depend on the size of your order and the meal options you select. Meals We Tried Crispy sweet chili shrimp rice bowl Creamy tomato and steak penne Gnocchi and red pepper cream Moo shu pork lettuce cups.

Pros Weekly rotating meal choices Easy to skip orders Helpful customer support options. Cons Not the cheapest choice Few customization options Overview With dozens of flavorful menu choices each week, Blue Apron is the ultimate service for gourmet food lovers.

Customers can choose from multiple meal preferences, including chef favorites, family-friendly, and vegetarian. And, in select areas, customers can add on marketplace items, such as pantry essentials , kitchen tools, and even wine.

Meals We Tried Meal Kits Togarashi shrimp and vegetable fried rice Space Ranger chicken enchiladas One-pan white bean and poblano shakshuka Baked meatballs and romesco mayo.

Prepared Meals Sweet and spicy beef bowl with rice, peppers, and edamame Chicken alfredo pasta with peas. Why You Should Try It Mom's Meals' main mission is to provide affordable, convenient, and nutritious meals to senior citizens.

Pros Menus designed by dietitians Senior-friendly meal options Multiple dietary needs accommodated.

At home, I get caught in a routine of … [Read More Sugar and cream, please! Bagels' signature brew, served hot or iced, is the … [Read More Say cheese! Bargain hunters always smile when they can stretch their dining-out budget — especially when it comes to … [Read More Pucker up for big savings, thirsty bargain hunters!

If you're a fan of lemon lime soft drinks, Pepsi has the perfect … [Read More See More Restaurant Deals. Disclaimer: Not all local restaurants participate in all national promotions, so please call your local restaurant and verify the deal is valid there before going out.

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You really can't get anything there's a kid's menu. The same thing less the juice box from the adult menu costs slightly more. However, it's entirely possible if you think outside the Mountain.

Yeah, the Jamocha Shake is only available here, but these are the best damn fries in the game. It's also worth checking if they're offering anything for signing up for the Arby's email list. Sometimes handing over your email lands you a free sandwich or gyro.

What to order: If you've ever been to a White Castle or have seen a film with the words "Harold and Kumar" in the title, you know the drill. What to order: No, the Colonel still isn't bringing back the long-dead Double Down. Though, the nuggets would substitute well and keep you in the same price range.

Plus, you'd be getting those sweet, sweet sauces. Sometimes the classics are classics for a reason. What to order: Jimmy John's hasn't always been the best place for a super-cheap lunch.

However, in late , JJ added the Little John. Plus, there are seven varieties of the Little John, which gives you options, but the 6 is a solid choice if you're looking to get the most out of the smaller sandwich.

The vegetarian sandwich comes with avocado, provolone, cucumber, lettuce, tomato, and mayo. You're getting a lot more flavor there than with the spare Slim 5 and a few more calories than with the other Little John options. If you're ordering anything but the salt and vinegar chips, you're doing it wrong.

What to order: You're going to have a tough time pulling this one off. That's the highest calorie soup they offer. For the same price, you can come close with the Summer Corn Chowder or the Bistro French Onion. What to order: You'll run into the same problem here that you ran into at Chipotle.

You could turn to the kid's menu, but that can get awkward. Let's go a different direction. What to order: The Dollar Menu is dead; long live the Dollar Menu.

That's the best you'll do unless you're dining with the Hamburglar. What to order: Get dressed like you're making stops at the sock hop and Makeout Bluff, then try not to spill chili cheese down your chest. So, there's really only one option to make it all happen here. Load it up with your favorite fixings and add in a bag of Sun Chips, because that's what you do at Subway.

What to order: Yes, you could blow your budget and more on any of its ridiculously sweet Frap du Jour surprises. But you can actually get a decent breakfast as well. Not to mention you should be checking the Rewards app to get points and see if there's a Happy Hour going down.

What to order: You could blow the budget on the new Impossible Whopper , which is really a pretty good choice. That'll land you a bacon cheeseburger, four-piece order of chicken nuggets, cookie, value-sized fries, and a ounce soft drink.

What to order: Look, you know where this is going. You can't just go to Popeyes and not get that chicken sandwich. That almost puts you up to you budget's ceiling. You're going to want that drink to cool your mouth if the sandwich proves too spicy for you.

Skip to main content News. By Dustin Nelson. Here are the three principles driving the food selection for this list: 1. Now, dig in.

While it may not be the lowest-cost meal delivery kit on the list, it's definitely less than other big names out there, and the quality is top-notch. You can check to see what items you'll need to have on hand for each meal and also get full nutrition facts readily available for every recipe on their website, but our registered dietitians do point out that the sodium content is very high on some of the meals.

Great taste! I was very pleased," a tester said. Another commented, "It's always hard to find new dinner ideas; these are a perfect variety to keep everyone in your family happy and full.

Those looking for more plant-based fare will appreciate the hearty vegetarian offerings from Mosaic. You'll find everything from veggies and pizzas to smoothies, soups and oat bowls. The brand uses high-quality ingredients, choosing organic and local options when possible.

How it works: Start by selecting your plan, which includes six, 12 or 18 options per box you'll get more savings the more you order. Then fill your box with a variety of plant-based breakfast, lunch and dinner options. Meal filters include vegetarian, vegan, wheat-free, nut-free and high-protein.

Select what you'd like or have Mosaic build a box for you based on customer favorites. You'll then determine how often you'd like to receive deliveries, ranging from weekly to monthly.

All of the meals are delivered frozen with free shipping on 12 and 18 item boxes. Testers were impressed with how tasty the veggie-forward meals were, with one saying, "Delicious!

So flavorful for frozen meals. We were impressed. Made eating plant-based so easy. At the Good Housekeeping Institute , we test all types of food products and services, from healthy snacks and supplements to food subscription boxes and meal delivery services.

Our experts are committed to bringing you the best of the best when it comes to quality, performance, flavor, nutrition and more. In our most recent study of meal delivery services, we recruited more than at-home testers across the nation, while our in-house experts also tested the services in our Labs.

All in all, we evaluated over 40 different meal delivery services , ranging from traditional kits that come with pre-measured ingredients and a follow-along recipe card to fully prepared options.

We tested the services over the course of three months. For each service, we tried a total of 15 or more meals across our experts and testers. We are currently and constantly testing new offerings in this category to keep readers up-to-date.

In the end, we made our selections based on expert evaluations and tester feedback in the categories of overall satisfaction, food quality, cost, recycling efforts and availability.

Our top picks cater to a wide variety of dietary preferences, including gluten-free, low-carb, high-protein and more. Although taste is subjective, we ultimately chose companies that scored high points overall with testers.

When finding the best meal delivery service to fit into your lifestyle and budget, there are a few key things to consider:. There are also options that fall in between: Food is partially prepped and requires minimal extra work to get a balanced meal on the table quickly.

You'll want to take a look at the plans the different services offer and keep in mind that while some services may start at a low price that is for a large order. You'll typically be able to check the price ahead of ordering, so you can see how much it will cost for your specific needs and servings per week.

If you are cooking for more than four people, check to make sure the service will accommodate your family, as some services only serve a max of four people per meal.

Frozen meals can avoid waste whereas fresh options can spoil if not eaten immediately. Most services allow you to skip a week and adjust your plan along the way, which can be a strategy to help keep costs down if you can't use the food quickly. Some options, like Dinnerly, have robust vegetarian menus, for example, whereas other services may offer only a handful of vegetarian meals to choose from each week.

Certain services will let you customize further and swap out proteins, which can be beneficial. Most services will give you a discount on the first box and additional discounts if you are a first responder or in the military. And if you know a friend or family member who is using the service, you may both get a discount for the referral.

Some meal delivery services can be pricey — and most also involve shipping fees. But it's worth keeping in mind that they also tend to be healthier and less expensive than takeout. There's also the benefit of skipping a trip to the grocery store and not having to spend time coming up with meal ideas and hunting for recipes.

Many meal kits offer assistance with meal prepping, chopping and more , cutting down on prep time too. You'll also get the opportunity to learn new cooking techniques and try new foods that may not be in your regular mealtime rotation.

If you'd rather not bust out all your pots and pans every night, prepared meal delivery services can also offer a smart solution. While prepared options do come at a premium, you're ultimately paying for the convenience, which may be worth it for you.

These types of melas are typically comparable with the cost of takeout but have one standard shipping fee since the meals come together.

This article was originally written by registered dietitian Amy Fischer. It was most recently updated by registered dietitian and Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition Director Stefani Sassos.

As a dietitian and working mother, Stefani is passionate about putting balanced meals on the table for her family without having to spend a ton of time or money at the grocery store. She personally uses meal delivery services as a way to change up her family's normal dinnertime routine and to get introduced to a variety of new foods and unique preparation methods.

Stefani is dedicated to providing readers with evidence-based content to encourage informed food choices and healthy living. She is an avid CrossFitter and a passionate home cook who loves spending time with her big fit Greek family. She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Miami University of Ohio and a master's degree in clinical nutrition from NYU.

Prior to Good Housekeeping , she worked at one of the largest teaching hospitals in New York City as a cardiac transplant dietitian. She has authored numerous chapters in clinical nutrition textbooks and has also worked in PR and marketing for food company start-ups.

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Skip to Content Product Reviews Life Health Food Beauty. sign in. Best Flower Delivery V-Day Gifts For Kids V-Day Gifts For Women V-Day Gifts For Men Amazon Valentine's Gifts. Our top picks: 1. Best Overall Cheap Meal Delivery Service Dinnerly Shop at dinnerly. Shop at dinnerly.

Best Value Cheapest Meal Delivery Service EveryPlate Shop at everyplate. Shop at everyplate. Best Cheap Meal Delivery Service for Beginners Hello Fresh Hello Fresh Shop at HelloFresh. Shop at HelloFresh. Best Cheap Meal Delivery Service for Wellness Blue Apron Blue Apron Shop at blueapron. Shop at blueapron.

Best Cheap Meal Delivery Service for Families Home Chef Shop at Home Chef. Shop at Home Chef. Best Plant-Based Cheap Meal Delivery Service Mosaic Foods Mosaic Foods Shop at mosaicfoods. Shop at mosaicfoods. Plans Two or four people and two to six meals per week.

Packaging The box, separator and thermal liner are all curbside recyclable. The bottles and containers can be disposed in plastic recycling bins. Availability Delivery throughout the contiguous United States. Pros Lowest cost meal kit per serving Lots of comfort food options Add-ons like sides and desserts also available Includes recipe cards with step-by-step pictures Kit includes everything you'll need to create the meal.

Plans Two or four people and three to six meals per week. Availability Delivery to the vast majority of the continental USA. Pros Large weekly menu selection Easy-to-follow recipe cards with clear pictures Full recipes and nutrition information available on their website Solid and well-organized packaging.

Packaging Fold and discard the box with other household recyclables. Availability Delivery to all states across the continental US. Customers can choose from multiple meal preferences, including chef favorites, family-friendly, and vegetarian.

And, in select areas, customers can add on marketplace items, such as pantry essentials , kitchen tools, and even wine. Meals We Tried Meal Kits Togarashi shrimp and vegetable fried rice Space Ranger chicken enchiladas One-pan white bean and poblano shakshuka Baked meatballs and romesco mayo.

Prepared Meals Sweet and spicy beef bowl with rice, peppers, and edamame Chicken alfredo pasta with peas. Why You Should Try It Mom's Meals' main mission is to provide affordable, convenient, and nutritious meals to senior citizens. Pros Menus designed by dietitians Senior-friendly meal options Multiple dietary needs accommodated.

Cons Shipping costs extra Ordering process can be confusing for some. Overview Mom's Meals provides an easy and cost-effective way for seniors to get nutritious dinners on the table. Featuring an extensive menu of dietitian-designed meals, the company delivers nutritionally balanced, fully-prepared foods that only require a few minutes of heating to enjoy.

Meals cater to various dietary needs, including low sodium, gluten-free, and heart-, renal-, and diabetes-friendly. The company also works with agencies like Medicaid and Medicare to allow customers to receive their meals at affordable prices.

Customers may also be eligible to receive subsidized meals through health plans and agencies like Medicaid and Medicare. Meals We Tried Curry vegetables with pineapple and brown rice, string cheese, vanilla pudding Cheeseburger and seasoned mixed vegetables, whole wheat bun, orange Chicken and stir fry vegetables with teriyaki sauce, white rice, applesauce Sweet and sour chicken with stir fry vegetables, white rice, grape juice, ginger spice cookie BBQ chicken with potato medley, seasoned green beans, applesauce Beef goulash over whole wheat pasta, seasoned carrots, orange Salisbury steak with mushroom gravy, potatoes, seasoned vegetables, whole wheat dinner roll, gelatin Mushroom risotto, seasoned peas and carrots, whole wheat roll, grape juice Korean-style BBQ meatballs with white rice, seasoned broccoli, ginger spice cookie Creamy macaroni and cheese, seasoned vegetables, mandarin orange cup, blueberry applesauce.

A meal delivery service is a subscription plan that delivers meal kits or fully prepared meals to your home based on your preferences. Meal kits include portioned ingredients and instructions for you to prepare the recipes, while fully prepared meals just need to be heated before serving.

Prices depend on a number of factors, including the company, type of meal, and quantity. Often, the more meals you include in your plan, the cheaper your plan typically becomes. There are also usually sign-up promotions that offer a significant discount off the standard price.

Most meal delivery services are commitment-free. All of the options in our list allow you to skip a week, pause your subscription, or cancel any time before a weekly deadline.

We researched 40 different meal delivery services and narrowed them down by price. We also considered menu options, plans, and other factors.

Use limited data to select advertising. Create profiles for personalised advertising. Use profiles to select personalised advertising. Create profiles to personalise content.

Use profiles to select personalised content. Measure advertising performance. Measure content performance. Understand audiences through statistics or combinations of data from different sources.

Develop and improve services. Use limited data to select content. List of Partners vendors. Buying Guides. The Cheapest Meal Delivery Services Can Help You Save and Simplify Your Dinners Dinnerly and EveryPlate offer the least expensive meals for home delivery.

By Kalisa Marie Martin Kalisa Marie Martin. Kalisa Marie Martin a is classically trained chef, content creator, and travel entrepreneur of Jamaican heritage. Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process. and Kayleigh Drake Kayleigh Drake.

Kayleigh is an associate food editor for the Performance Marketing team at Dotdash Meredith. She has nearly a decade of combined experience in both the media and culinary industries. Continue to 5 of 8 below. Frequently Asked Questions What Is a Meal Delivery Service?

How Much Does a Meal Delivery Service Cost? Do Meal Delivery Services Require a Commitment?