WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 PLANT-BASED MEAL DELIVERY SERVICES? 

Sharing is caring!

What are the Top 3 Plant-based Meal Delivery Services? 

By 2025, the global meal delivery market is set to soar to a staggering $8.94 billion.  And did you know that 1 in every 5 Americans ordered home-delivered meals in 2019?  With direct-to-consumer meal delivery on the rise, many of our plant-based readers now ask: What are the Top 3 plant-based meal delivery services? 

More Americans than ever are opting for straight-to-their-door food delivery rather than a trip to the grocery store.  Meal delivery services are booming in the age of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

As meal delivery gains momentum, it can be quite confusing for the plant-based community to choose a service that’s worthwhile.  After all, we too should be able to grab our phones and order food on the way. 

Online meal delivery is surging, and eating in is the new dining out. 

Here, we at DadGoesGreen answer the question on everyone’s minds: What are the Top 3 plant-based meal delivery services?  We’ve rounded up our top picks based on a range of factors, from menu variety to pricing. 

Meal Delivery: A bite-sized history 

Meal kits are a bit newer to the delivery market, although the idea of recurring food deliveries is nothing new. 

One of the earliest examples is Omaha Steaks, originally “Table Supply Meat Company”, which was founded in 1917.  The company began a mail order and home delivery service in 1952. 

In the decades to follow, the concept of convenient doorstep food delivery quickly caught on. 

Modern times have given way to changes in work-life balance and a shift in the average household dynamic.  With less time for the dinner table and more financial demands, the days of full-time homemaking have long since passed. 

The traditional American nuclear family structure of the 1950s and 1960s is little more than a memory of the days of old.  Replacing it is a growing number of single-parent and dual-income households (where both partners work). 

For the time-crunched working crowd, this means the possibility of regular homemade meals has all but faded from reality. 

Restaurant food delivery, or “takeout” services – a subject Americans hold near and dear to our hearts – made its world debut in 1995 in northern California. 

Companies like UberEats, GrubHub, and DoorDash have since become the household names of restaurant food delivery.  Together they account for some 80 percent of the sector’s revenue. 

But what about preparing our meals ourselves, at home? 

In 2007, the first meal kit delivery service was launched in Stockholm, Sweden.  Kicki Theander, Swedish mother of three, created Middagsfrid, which aimed to help families enjoy home-cooked fare without the logistics of meal planning.  It was an instant success. 

With direct-to-your-door delivery now in the consumer spotlight, the niche product market was next to see a surge.  Some examples: FabFitFun for fashion and wellness items, BarkBox for dog treats and toys, and Graze for healthy snacks.  This also paved the way for modern meal delivery services. 

The next decade saw an explosion in the meal delivery sector and by 2017, some 150 companies joined up to stake their claim. 

Even retail giants like Amazon and Walmart have joined the game. 

Convenience is King 

Companies like Blue Apron, Plated, HelloFresh, and many others promise the experience of real cooking without the time investment.  Each of these companies claims to take the guesswork out of meal prep by delivering fresh, delicious food that is pre-measured and easy to prepare. 

Just pay a small fee and a box of food will arrive on your doorstep with pre-measured, pre-picked, and (in some instances) pre-cut or precooked ingredients.  All you have to do is fire up the stove, and voilà!  You’ve got a “home cooked” dinner for you and your family without the trip to the grocery store. 

Sounds too good, right? 

But what does this mean for the plant-based community?  In an era of time-poorness, where we juggle multitasking with the desire to eat mindfully, choosing the right meal delivery service can feel like finding a needle in a haystack. 

It’s saturated – and we don’t mean the fat! 

So, why are the options so vast?  And how do we, as plant-based eaters, choose the right one? 

The meal delivery industry has become totally saturated amidst its rapid spread and rising popularity.  And as it continues to flourish, many of us feel overwhelmed by an endless sea of choices. 

If the room is spinning for you, too, don’t worry – it will all be okay.  DadGoesGreen is here for you! 

So, what are the types of plant-based meal delivery? 

Plant-based meal delivery services are generally broken down into two major categories, depending on the type of food prep involved. 

Food Prep Basics: DIY vs. Pre-Cooked 

Do it Yourself (“DIY”) 

For the culinarily inclined, do-it-yourself meal kits include all the ingredients you’ll need to cook at home.  Often accompanied by instructions, guides or recipes, each ingredient is pre-measured, individually packaged, and labeled inside the kit. 

This generally takes the stress out of food prep and offers an easy process that anyone can follow. As we mentioned before, some DIY kits even feature pre-sliced ingredients to shave off even more prep time.   

Pre-Cooked 

If you don’t have the time for meal prep, “heat-and-eat” pre-cooked meals are delivered ready to eat, without much need for cooking. 

No need to fuss with ingredients, dicing or slicing – just add heat and you’re all set. 

Is the industry regulated? 

Consumers today are purchasing food differently than ever before.  The global food industry is constantly evolving, raising more complex questions than we’d faced a decade ago. 

Food packaging and waste are also growing concerns in an increasingly eco-conscious consumer market.  As we opt for direct-to-door fare over visits to the grocery store, many of us question the environmental impacts of meal delivery. 

Despite its growing popularity, however, the meal delivery sector still remains wholly unregulated.  There is no nameable regulatory authority – at least in an official capacity – to moderate the market. 

What does this mean for those of us in the plant-based community?  Well, we are not exempt from the same lack of moderation as the non-niche mainstream consumer market. 

There’s an app for that! 

Hungry on a Friday night?  Searching for the perfect DIY lunch to cook up with friends?  No matter your situation, there’s an app for that! 

In a convenience-centered world, it’s no surprise that hungry diners can choose from a whole host of mobile meal delivery apps.  Whether you’re partial to iOS and Android, you’re covered. 

A Quick Comparison of the Most Popular Plant-based Meal Delivery Services:

Courtesy of U.S. News & World Report 

The Bottom Line: Who delivers? 

Okay, so we’ve given you the meal delivery rundown. But, ‘What are the Top 3 Plant-Based Meal Delivery Services?’ 

We’ve rated our top picks based on several key factors: 

• Menu variety 
• Cost (per meal) 
• Environmental impact 
• Whether each service is 100% plant-based 

1.  Purple Carrot 

A DGG top pick!  We love Purple Carrot for its combination of inventive recipes, 100% plant-based ingredients, environmental footprint, and affordability. 

Started in 2014 out of Founder and CEO Andy Levitt’s garage, Purple Carrot has a company philosophy we can really sink our teeth into. 

After Levitt was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in 2012, he observed that integrating plant-based foods into his diet drastically improved his symptoms.  Now the company seeks to help others experience the same health benefits. 

Another perk?  “Meal kits have a smaller carbon footprint than equivalent meals bought from a grocery store?  Cool, right?”  This is stated front-and-center on Purple Carrot’s website. 

And with the company raking in some $43 million in revenues in 2018 – more than a bite-sized chunk of the overall industry’s earnings – people are listening. 

So, why is this “plant-based food for non-vegans” so popular?  Here’s our rundown: 

Our overall review: Purple Carrot has more high points than low.  Measuring well against our combination of factors, Purple Carrot delivers (pun intended!) 

If you’re looking for fresh, tasty plant-based meal delivery at an affordable price point, look no further than Purple Carrot.  We give it two hearty thumbs up! 

2.  Sun Basket 

Next on our list is Sun Basket, the 100% organic San Francisco-based startup founded in 2014.  We love how their kits include carefully chosen organic and sustainable ingredients.

With heightened global awareness about the environmental impacts of food production, sustainability is definitely part of the discussion.  Here’s how it works:

SunBasket nabs high scores particularly in our eco-friendly category.  Each component of its packaging and shipping scheme is sustainable and waste mindful, with all components either recyclable, reusable or compostable. 

For the environmentally conscious, Sun Basket is a foolproof plant-based meal delivery choice. 

In terms of overall cost, Sun Basket’s price point is slightly higher per meal than that of its competitors.  However, when you consider that you’re getting organic, sustainably sourced produce, one could argue, “You get what you pay for.” 

Menu variety is a high point, with lots of diverse, ethnically inspired dishes to choose from.  Each week you can see “what’s cooking” on the website. 

It’s also worth noting that Sun Basket markets its meals as “vegan” rather than “plant-based.”  Either way, you can be sure your deliveries are free from animal products. 

3.  PlantPure Nation 

This earns a top spot on the DGG Top 3 because of its company mission and sustainability objectives.  On top of delivering flavor-packed plant-based meals, PlantPure Nation offers easy access to a network of plant-based thinkers revolutionizing the consumer food industry. 

We love the company’s focus on reducing the carbon footprint created by ongoing global food needs.  Their mission is to create a 100% plant-based world – and you don’t have to read the fine print to find it.

The key driver behind their menu offerings is WFPB – a whole food, plant-based diet.

According to PlantPure Nation’s website, WFPB consists of the following foods: 

• Whole grains, potatoes, and other starches 
• Legumes (beans, peas) 
• Fruits and vegetables 
• Nuts and seeds 
• No animal products (meat, fish, eggs, or dairy) 

• Minimally processed with low salt, sugar, and no added oil 

Their menu offerings follow this scheme, so you can be sure you’re getting quality foods held to a high standard. 

And now, let’s break it down: 

PlantPure Nation weighs in with an impressive menu variety. However, it is not readily accessible.  You’ll have to break out your phone or tablet for the latest recipes.

And if you want even more options, there is an official cookbook.  It’s not included in the kits – but you can find it on Amazon at an extra cost. 

Speaking of cost: PlantPure Nation is one of the most affordable plant-based meal delivery services on the market.  A cheaper price tag doesn’t mean fewer meal options, either – for $7.25, you can have a sweet chana masala.  And for only 20 cents more, there’s a hearty African stew. 

Where PlantPure Nation falls short is in its subscription options.  The company is not accepting any new members at this time, according to its website. 

The only option offered is ‘Standard Boxes’.  These are only available in 10-meal or 20-meal lots.  You’ll have to order them individually. Unfortunately, the time-saving option to schedule shipments is missing. 

This leaves something to be desired when sizing up PlantPure against its competitors. 

Another downside, only the 20-meal box is customizable, offering less options for those who don’t want to bulk buy. 

How do they compare? 

So, we’ve outlined all the individual merits of each company – but how do they compare?  And which takes first prize as the best plant-based meal delivery service?

Let’s take a look at our top 3 picks side by side:

Conclusion

There you have it, our ‘What are the Top 3 Plant-Based Meal Delivery Services’ recommendations. As a plant-based eater, there are many aspects to consider when choosing a meal delivery service. 

Thankfully there is no shortage of companies to choose from, each with its own set of advantages and weak points.

We hope this article has made it easier to choose the best meal delivery option for you and your family.  Happy plant-based eating!

You may also like: WHAT CAN YOU EAT ON A PLANT-BASED DIET? >>CLICK HERE!

Share this...

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Linkedin

email

Related posts:

WHAT ARE THE BEST PLANT BASED DIET WEBSITES? Top 5DOES A PLANT-BASED DIET MEAN NO MEAT?WHAT SNACKS CAN YOU EAT ON A PLANT-BASED DIET?