10 Best Meal Delivery Services for Athletes 2022: For Fitness

As an athlete, your days are most likely structured around your workouts, with limited free time. Even though your diet is as important as training, sometimes it’s hard to juggle everything – including planning balanced meals, food shopping, and meal prep.

My colleagues and I have put numerous meal delivery services through their paces, and I’ve pulled together a list of the top 10 specifically for athletes. No more struggling to count macros and calories – these services do it for you.

After weighing the pros and cons of each service, HelloFresh is my top choice. It balances great value meal kits and a varied menu with a specialized Fit & Wholesome plan that makes it easy to find recipes comprising lean protein and body-fueling whole grains, fruit, and veg. 

The Best Meal Delivery Services for Athletes Reviewed

1. HelloFresh – Best Overall Meal Delivery Service for Athletes

Key Features

• Simple recipes – with Easy Prep and Easy Cleanup options 

• High-quality ingredients – seasonal, farm-fresh produce

• Low-carb dishes – look out for the Carb Smart tag

• Current deal: 18 Free Meals Across 8 Boxes, First Box Ships Free + 3 Surprise Gifts 

HelloFresh is here to make sure you never get tired of your meals, with more than 50 recipes to choose from every week. That means you get to enjoy the flexibility of planning your meals for the week, without the hassle of shopping and prep.

HelloFresh also prioritizes sustainably sourced proteins and farm-fresh produce, so it’s especially great if you’re trying to be mindful of the foods you’re consuming. You can learn more about the quality of HelloFresh’s ingredients – and how good the meals really are – in my colleague’s tried-and-tested review.

Choose from plans like Meat & Veggies, Pescatarian, and Fit & Wholesome –  the latter of which is specially designed to support an active and healthy lifestyle. You can order as many as four portions of a recipe if you’re bulking up, and carb- and calorie-smart options are available as well.

Servings start at just $3.79, making HelloFresh an affordable and sustainable way to fuel your body. 

2. Freshly – Best For Lean Prepared Meals

Key Features

• Quick and easy – all meals are ready in three minutes

• Paleo- and keto-inspired – high-protein and low-carb dishes

• Tons of variety – pick from more than 40 dishes

• Current deal: Save $125, Promo Code: SAVE125AFF

Freshly offers a whole menu category called FreshlyFit, which has been created specifically for athletes and anyone with an active lifestyle. These prepared meals have been designed by pro chefs and are delivered to your door fresh, ready to heat and eat.

The focus of FreshlyFit is the macronutrients that make up each dish. Not only are the meals high in protein and great for those with allergies (almost all are certified gluten-free and many are dairy free), they’re also packed with veggies to ensure you’re getting the vitamins you need.

Unlike HelloFresh, Freshly offers single-serving meals, and you can order up to 12 dishes each week. Find out more about how the plans work in this in-depth Freshly review. 

Freshly meals start at $6.90 per serving, which is pretty affordable compared to other prepared meal delivery services. 

4. Fresh N Lean – Best For Prepared Gluten-Free Meals

Key Features

• Get breakfast, lunch, and dinner – and snacks, too!

• Athlete-friendly diet plans – Protein+, Keto, Low-Carb Vegan, and more

• Certified organic ingredients – locally sourced and GMO-free

• Current deal: $20 off 1st Box + 15% Off All Orders 

If you find you’re almost always short on time and would prefer a service that chooses your meals for you, Fresh N Lean could be the most convenient option. Choose from six different plans with up to three meals a day. Or you can purchase dishes a la carte if you want more flexibility.

My colleague goes into more detail on what sets Fresh N Lean apart in this expert review.

What’s also great about Fresh N Lean is that you can add extras from the Bulk menu – this includes additional proteins or nutritious sides like quinoa and brown rice. It even has snacks such as oatmeal, breakfast muffins, and coconut-almond buttercups. 

Similarly to Freshly, everything on the menu takes around three minutes to heat and serve. All Fresh N Lean’s meals are certified gluten-free, and with two dedicated vegan plans, it’s great for those with allergies or intolerances. 

The price per serving starts at $7.53.

5. Pete’s Paleo – Best For Paleo Dieters

Key Features

• Locally sourced ingredients – rotating seasonal menu

• Allergen-free – zero gluten, dairy, or soy

• Flexible plans – order as needed or subscribe 

• Current deal: $10 Off your next order. Code: FRESH10 ​

Pete’s Paleo offers the freshest prepared paleo meals delivered to your door. With an emphasis on organic and locally sourced ingredients, you can expect tons of seasonal variety week by week.

Similarly to Fresh N Lean, Pete’s Paleo doesn't give you the freedom to choose your meals if you sign up to a plan. Instead, once you’ve selected your protein preferences, your meals are curated for you – great for anyone who wants to put their meal planning on autopilot. 

The company always outlines the macronutrients for each meal. It’s even partnered with the MyFitnessPal app, allowing you to track full meals, sides, or snacks at the click of a button.

The meals are heavy on protein and high in calories, at around 500 to 600 per dish. However, if you’re looking for low-calorie options, the Pete's Paleo Lite plan offers smaller portion sizes.

Prices start at $15.25 per single-serving meal.

6. Diet-to-Go – Best Calorie-Controlled Meal Plan

Key Features

• Portion-controlled – great for athletes on rigorous diets

• Nutritionally balanced – cover all your macronutrients

• Four plans available – including Keto-Carb30 and Vegetarian

• Current deal: Save 50% Off 

Diet-to-Go offers prepared meals that are flash-frozen to ensure all the nutrients are maintained. This service allows you to enjoy calorie-controlled meals without having to worry about what to eat week after week. 

All the meals provided follow either a 1,200 or 1,600 calories per day plan, and are based on a nutritionally balanced scale comprising 50% carbohydrates, 25% protein, and 25% fat.

The plans include keto and diabetes-friendly options, as well as a vegetarian one. Learn more about each one in this Diet-to-Go review.

By subscribing, you also gain access to a registered dietitian, nutritionist, and certified health coach to help support you in your fitness goals. If you're looking for a community space that’ll help you stay on track – in addition to meal delivery – you're in the right place! 

Diet-to-Go prices start at Save 50% Off per serving. 

7. Home Chef – Best For Customization & Extra Protein

Key Features

• Premium ingredients – organic proteins available

• Great for families – order up to six servings per meal 

• Easy Prep and Oven-Ready options – lunch ready in 10 minutes

• Current deal: Get 16 Free Meals! 

Home Chef’s recipes are familiar and fast – perfect for when you need a meal in a snap. You can customize your order to feed up to six people at a time, or just have plenty of leftovers to help hit all of your macronutrients throughout the week.

Find out what my colleague thought when they gave Home Chef a try! 

There are Carb-Conscious and Calorie-Conscious meals available, and – even better – you can control the protein type and quantity in every dish with the Customize It feature. 

So if you want to double-up on chicken or shrimp, you're able to do so (for an extra charge). Some recipes even allow you to switch the protein altogether or upgrade to organic.

You can also add protein packs to your order, including ground turkey, chicken breast, salmon fillets, and Italian sausages. That's great news for your muscles, right? 

Home Chef servings start at $6.99.

8. Factor – Best Plant-Based Prepared Meals

Key Features

• Wide variety – more than 29 meals to choose from 

• Flexible plans – choose anywhere from four to 18 meals per week

• Ready in minutes – prepared meals just need to be heated

• Current deal: $130 Off your first 6 boxes! 

Factor specializes in prepared keto and vegan meals, but this health-focused service is a great fit for athletes and anyone else wanting fuss-free, diet-friendly dishes. 

In my research, Factor has emerged as one of the very best prepared meal delivery services. The only factor keeping it from ranking further up the list is its price point, since Freshly offers a similar product for cheaper.

Still, athletes should know about this service. The high-protein keto menu is optimized for lean living, and you can mix and match items from any of Factor’s plans, so if you want to cut down on your meat intake, you can include some vegan dishes in your order, too. 

There’s even optional nutritional coaching packages available (you’ll get a free 20-minute session when you sign up), plus add-ons such as smoothies, shakes, breakfasts, and sides. 

For a more in-depth look at the pros and cons, and to find out whether the price tag is worth it, check out my colleague’s Factor review.

Meals from Factor start at $5.49 per serving. 

9. Ice Age Meals – Best For Buying in Bulk

Key Features

• Flash-frozen organic ingredients – free from dairy, gluten, and preservatives

• Build your box – choose 12, 16, 30, or 60 meals

• Sampler options – for those who can’t decide

• Current deal: N/A 

Ice Age Meals offers keto and paleo meals designed by the company’s head chef, Nick Massie, who is well-known in the CrossFit community. All the dishes are frozen for convenience, and free of GMOs, dairy, gluten, and preservatives.

With an extensive menu of more than 80 dishes and the option to order up to 60 meals at a time, there’s plenty to sift through. Or, if you’re having a hard time choosing, try one of the sampler boxes and rest assured that the meals will be lean and balanced with all the macros you need.

The menu categories include Keto, Paleo, and Paleo + Rice, and each meal averages around 500 calories, so hearty enough to satisfy your body after a challenging training session. 

Prices start at $9.74 per serving.

10. Sunbasket – Best For Organic & Sustainable Ingredients

Key Features

• Caters to many diets – 10 plans to choose from

• Exciting, innovative recipes – lots of global-inspired dishes

• Clean ingredients – organic produce, wild-caught fish, and hormone-free meat

• Current deal: $90 off Plus a Free Gift! 

Whether you want meal kits for those quieter days or Fresh & Ready prepared meals for a quick post-workout dinner, you can have it all with Sunbasket.

Sunbasket’s generous menu has a real Mediterranean feel, so you'll get the best out of lean meats, seafood, and fresh, organic veggies.

You can also mix and match across Sunbasket’s plans, allowing you to try new and inventive flavors each week, with a helpful filter identifying meals that are less than 600 calories. Find out more about how subscriptions work in my colleague’s review.

Servings start at $4.27 which, though at the pricier end of the scale, reflects the high quality of the ingredients. 

Quick Comparison Table

Tips for Choosing the Best Meal Delivery Services for Athletes

If you’re not sure what to look for when choosing the best athlete-approved meal delivery service, here are some things to keep in mind:

• Time efficiency: How much time do you have between workouts or training? If you prefer to cook your own meals when you have the time, consider a meal kit service like HelloFresh. If your schedule is tight, prepared meals like the ones from Factor might be better for you.

• Balanced macros: Let’s be real: as an athlete, what matters most about your food is exactly how much of everything you’re getting. A service like Fresh N Lean provides key nutritional info for each meal and ensures everything is perfectly balanced.

• Special dietary requirements: If you have any allergies, restrictions, or preferences, choose a service that caters to your needs. Green Chef and Freshly are both good options here. 

• Generous portions: If you’re training hard, the last thing you want is to lose weight. In order to maintain strength or even bulk up, you need portions tailored to your needs. Home Chef lets you double the protein in each dish if you want.

Bottom Line: Which Meal Delivery Service is Best for Athletes?

With quick-cook options and hardworking plans, meal delivery services are a great way to help you train hard and stay in shape. They’re also great for helping you save time by cutting out grocery shopping or meal prep entirely. But how do you choose which to try?

I love HelloFresh because its meals are delicious, healthy, and easy enough for anyone to flex their culinary muscles in the kitchen. 

That said, it only offers meal kits, so if you find yourself wanting something you can throw into the microwave, a lean and health-forward prepared meal delivery service like Freshly or Fresh N Lean could be better for you. 

These services also calculate macros and other nutritional information for you, so you can focus your energy elsewhere.

Whether you’re in the market for meal kits or prepared meals, the bottom line is you have many great choices for healthy, time-saving meal delivery services.

FAQ

What is a good meal plan for an athlete?

HelloFresh came top of my list as the best meal delivery service for athletes. With its colorful and varied menu, including plenty of calorie- and carb-smart and high-protein options, anyone with an active lifestyle is sure to find meals they’ll love week after week.

You even have the option of a family-sized order, which is excellent if you need to feed more people or if you want leftovers for additional meals throughout the week.

What is the best dinner for bodybuilders?

Fresh N Lean is my top choice for bodybuilders, with its Protein+ and Bulk menus. You can add additional sides, veggies, and proteins to your order to make sure you’re hitting all your macronutrients in each meal.

What is a good lunch for athletes?

Factor is my top pick for athletes who want quick and easy lunches. The service offers super speedy prepared meals – including keto, vegan, and calorie-smart dishes – that combine convenience with healthy and filling food.

What is the healthiest premade meal delivery service?

Freshly is my top choice for prepared meals. Its dedicated FreshlyFit range was created specifically for athletes. The single-serving portions are quick to heat up – ideal for when you’re starving after an intense training session.