6 Best Organic Meal Delivery Services 2020: Eat Healthier!

Say goodbye to eating at the mercy of your local health food store, or tracking down ingredients from organic farmers or at Trader Joe’s. Organic meal delivery services do it all – and more. 

From meal planning to selecting the finest organic ingredients, you can now get everything you need delivered to your door. That means ultimate convenience, at affordable prices, while feeling great about what you eat. 

Better still, many organic meal delivery services cater to specific diets. So you can stick to your existing diet while experiencing the benefits of clean eating. To help you find the right service for your needs, we’ve taken a close look at the best organic meal delivery services out there and have singled out six that will make your life healthier and easier. 

Short on Time? Here Are the Best Organic Meal Delivery Services of 2020

• Green Chef – Best overall organic meal kit 

• Sun Basket – Best for diet options

• Purple Carrot - Best vegan organic meal kit

• See 3 more organic meal delivery services 

• Comparison table 

• FAQ 

What to Look For in the Best Organic Meal Delivery Services

Before jumping into our list, let’s take a look at what makes a great organic delivery service stand out from the rest.

Organic Meal Kits 

• Top-quality produce and ingredients – One of the joys of meal kits is that the food arrives at your home fresh, firm, and perfectly ripe – there’s no need to sift through sub-par fruit and veggies at the supermarket. Also, meat, poultry, and fish will always be responsibly sourced. 

• Organized and labeled ingredients – If you’re cooking a number of meals – possibly using unfamiliar ingredients – it’s important everything arrives clearly packaged and labeled. There’s nothing worse than misplacing a little packet of herbs and spices that are essential to a meal.

• Ingredients that arrive how you want them – Some companies send ingredients pre-prepared, while others deliver them whole, leaving you to do some chopping and dicing. Make sure you know what you’ve signed up for, so you don’t get more (or less) work than you wanted.

• Recipes that work for you – Some meal delivery services guide you through complex recipes, others have a “throw it in the pan and give it a stir” attitude. Many offer plans across a range of skill levels. For example, a standard Sun Basket meal takes about 30 minutes to put together. However, its Quick & Easy choices are ready in less than 20 minutes. 

Organic Prepared Meals 

• Chilled or frozen meals – Meals come either fresh or frozen, for your fridge or freezer respectively. Frozen meals may evoke images of airplane trays or old-fashioned TV dinners, but don’t fear. Today’s frozen meals are flash-frozen using advanced technology and arrive on your doorstep as fresh and bursting with flavor as when they were made.

• How you heat them – Some organic meals, like grain bowls, can be eaten at room temperature or easily heated up in the microwave. You might not have a microwave, or you may prefer heating your food in the oven or on the stove, so make sure you choose a service that suits your preferred cooking methods.

• Containers included – Sure, you could hunt through your kitchen cupboard for a pan to heat your meal, but that just means more washing up. Many services include convenient oven-ready containers to make clearing up quicker.

• How long they’ll last – Some meal services offering diet plans or low-cost options might send shelf-stable meals that only require you to add water. Chilled meals are meant to be kept in the fridge and will usually need to be eaten a few days after storing. Frozen meals can last weeks to months in the freezer.

What to Look For in Prepared Home Delivery Meals and Meal Kits

Whether you opt for a prepared meal or a meal kit, here’s what you should keep an eye out for:

• A wide variety of recipes – Since you’re outsourcing recipe planning, the last thing you want is to receive the same meals on repeat. Make sure you check the variety of food on offer and the frequency that meals are rotated. There’s a huge difference between companies as to how many choices they offer, so check carefully before committing.

• Breakfast or snack options – Some meal delivery companies are limited to lunch or dinners. But that still leaves you to cover breakfast and snacks throughout the day. Look for a service with the option to add these important meals – especially the snacks!

• Flexible, commitment-free plans – It might take you a few tries before you find the right meal service for you, so make sure you find one that’s easy to edit, pause, or cancel (and don’t forget to read the small print so you know exactly when you need to say au revoir). 

• Reasonable shipping costs – Don’t get hit with steep delivery fees because they soon add up. There are plenty of companies offering free or low-cost shipping, so it’s worth shopping around.

Now that you know our high standards for compiling this list, let’s get into the top organic meal delivery services for 2020!

Our Best Organic Meal Delivery Service Kits Reviewed

1. Green Chef – Best Overall Organic Meal Kit

Green Chef Best Features

• Certified organic – Ingredients don’t contain GMOs, pesticides, antibiotics, growth hormones, or steroids

• A variety of plans – Keto, Paleo, Balanced Living, and Plant-Powered plans, for all types of health goals

• Easy-to-make meals – Ingredients arrive ready prepared so it’s easy to put together a delicious meal

• New customer discounts – Free shipping on your first order and discounts on your first four deliveries

Green Chef in a Nutshell 

Green Chef is a trailblazer as the first-ever certified organic meal delivery service. There are paleo and keto plans for strict dieters, and there’s a vegan plan for those after plant-powered meals. There’s also a balanced living plan for people who just want to enjoy good, organic food. Learn more about Green Chef’s plans in our dedicated Green Chef review.

The recipes are clear and easy to follow, and most take about 30 minutes to make. These meal kits don’t have the fastest prep time on the market, but they’re a must-try if you want to improve your kitchen skills and learn how to make delicious organic meals you can be proud of. 

Green Chef lets you change things up so you can vary your plan each week (just make changes at least seven days before delivery). Shipping costs $8.99 a week and is available across the U.S. (except Alaska, Hawaii, and some areas of Louisiana).

2. Sun Basket – Best For Diet Options

Sun Basket Best Features

• High-quality meal kits – Meat and seafood is antibiotic and hormone-free, and ingredients are organic where possible

• Dietitian-approved – Recipes comply with the latest USDA dietary guidelines

• Flexible meal plans – Select a preset plan or choose your own recipes

• Free shipping – Available on your first order

Sun Basket in a Nutshell 

Sun Basket stands out for the specialized organic food options across its Vegetarian, Lean & Clean, Gluten-Free, Paleo, and six other diet plans. We go into more detail on Sun Basket’s plans in this dedicated Sun Basket review.

From its partnership with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch® Program to its commitment to providing free-range and antibiotic-free meat, poultry, and eggs, Sun Basket goes to great lengths to provide organic animal products at minimal environmental costs.

Sun Basket delivers to most of the country (check for exact restrictions, but some parts of Montana, North Dakota, and New Mexico are not serviced) and weekly deliveries take place Monday-Thursday between 8 am-9 pm. 

3. Purple Carrot – Best Vegan Organic Meal Kit

Purple Carrot Features

• All vegan – Prepare delicious plant-based dishes, without the hassle

• All-day menu – Opt for dinner only or add in breakfast, lunch, and snacks

• Four flexible plans – Stick with one meal plan or combine choices from each one

• Free shipping – Shipping is always free, so there’s no need to worry about extra costs. 

Purple Carrot in a Nutshell 

Purple Carrot strives to make its meal kits as organic as possible. Due to logistics, it’s still not able to provide fully organic produce on a regular basis, but most of the ingredients are organic and non-GMO. 

As a vegan, you’re probably used to limited choice on a menu, but with Purple Carrot, you get eight meals to choose from each week. Learn more about Purple Carrot’s plans and how to edit your order in our full length Purple Carrot review.

Purple Carrot isn’t too complicated to prep, with meals taking about 30 minutes to put together. Delivery takes place weekly and the delivery day is determined based on your distance from the delivery center. 

4. Veestro – Organic and Vegan Prepared Meals With the Most Variety

Veestro Best Features

• Precooked meals – Heat, eat, and enjoy 

• Completely vegan – All meals are free from chicken, dairy, fish, eggs, meat, and honey

• Three plans – Choose between A La Carte, Chef’s Choice, and Weight Loss

• Flexible ordering  – Pick 10, 20, or 30 meals at a time

Veestro in a Nutshell 

Veestro delivers healthy, fully cooked vegan food with ingredients that are 96% organic and preservative-free. The meals arrive packed in dry ice and Veestro recommends they’re kept in the freezer to maintain freshness (meals keep for eight weeks in the freezer and three to five days in the refrigerator). Meals can be heated in the oven or microwave, or on the stove.

Veestro’s handy menu filters make sure you get meals to suit specific diets, like gluten-free or kosher. We talk more about Veestro’s plans and menu in this dedicated Veestro review. 

Shipping is free with auto-deliveries, and once your order is shipped, you’ll be kept up to date with tracking information. Currently, Veestro doesn’t deliver to Alaska, Hawaii, or Puerto Rico. 

5. Fresh n'Lean – Organic Prepared Meals for Staying Fit

Fresh n’Lean Best Features

• Chef-prepared – Delicious, freshly cooked meals, whenever you want them

• Top-quality ingredients – Organic, gluten-free, and GMO-free, and locally grown products

• Flexible options – Select one of five plans or pick meals from the a la carte option

• Individual servings – Perfect for singles

Fresh n’Lean in a Nutshell 

Fresh n’Lean is perfect for anyone who wants to eat healthy, organic food, but doesn’t have the time to cook. All meals are gluten-free and CCOF certified organic. 

Each meal across the five plans (Protein+, Keto, Paleo, Plant-based, and Low-carb/low-cal plant-based) arrives individually packaged to be kept in the fridge (though they freeze well, too). When hunger strikes, heat your breakfast, lunch, or dinner in the microwave, and three minutes later enjoy a complete meal. 

Bear in mind that if you opt for one of the plans, you don’t get a say in which meals are included in your delivery. That means if you have a particular food preference, you might be better off looking at the a la carte option so you can pick your meals in advance.

Shipping is free and available throughout the country, with deliveries arriving on a Friday.

6. Splendid Spoon – Easiest Vegan, Organic Meals and Shakes

Splendid Spoon Best Features

• Prepared meals – Flash frozen to lock in vitamins and nutrients 

• Vegan and gluten-free – Controlled allergen cross-contamination

• All-day meals – Enjoy breakfast, lunch, dinner, and anytime soups

• Prepay plans available – Get a significant discount on up to 12 deliveries

Splendid Spoon in a Nutshell 

Splendid Spoon calls itself “a plant-based wellness brand” and offers ready-to-eat meals designed for detoxing and feeling great. The company states its ingredients are entirely GMO-free, while 95% of the smoothies are organic. Splendid Spoon clearly labels its meals so you know which options have the most organic ingredients.

All choices are gluten-, dairy-, and soy-free and include breakfast, lunch, and a light soup (called a reset). Breakfast is a smoothie, while lunch/dinner is a grain or soup bowl, or a noodle option. There are more than 50 customizable options each week to ensure you’re slurping up exactly what you want! Learn more in our in-depth Splendid Spoon review. 

Splendid Spoon ships across the continental United States. Food is sent frozen (on dry ice), with delivery available on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Best Organic Meal Delivery Services: Comparison Table

How Organic Meal Delivery Services Work

It doesn’t if you choose a meal kit or prepared meals, organic delivery services work more or less the same way. Every week or month, you order a certain number of meals to be delivered to your doorstep, in a box designed to keep the food cold during transit. 

If you opted for prepared meals, all you need to do is store them in the fridge or freezer, then heat and enjoy. If you chose a meal kit option, you’ll receive all the ingredients you need to prepare the recipe you chose, along with detailed instructions on how to cook the meal to perfection. 

Most organic meal delivery services offer a range of plans and some allow you to customize your food choices. 

Meal Kits V.S. Prepared Meals: Which Is Right for You?

Deciding between a meal kit or a prepared meal plan depends on a range of factors, like how much time you want to spend in the kitchen, your skill level, the type of food you like, and even your budget. While prepared meals focus on ease and taste, meal kits are about more than just the food. They’re also about the process of preparing the meal and learning new skills in the kitchen. 

If you opt for prepared meals, you’ll receive a large box filled with individual portions to be stored in the fridge or freezer. The cooking instructions are listed on each meal. They usually include instructions for the microwave and oven, but some meals can also be cooked on the stove or in a steamer. Veestro and Fresh n’Lean provide prepared organic meals that take the guesswork out of eating healthy. 

If you go the meal kit route, you’ll receive everything you need to make your chosen recipe with the exact ingredients packaged in individual bags or boxes (you might need to provide your own olive oil and salt and pepper, though). You’ll also receive a detailed recipe card or recipe book giving you step-by-step instructions on how to cook your chosen dish. 

Some companies send everything already chopped and diced, while with others, you’ll have to prep the ingredients yourself. Green Chef, for example, does most of the veggie prep for you. 

Organic Delivery Service Plans Explained

These days, “organic” is a mainstream concept, so organic plans work like any other meal delivery services. That means you can get organic weight-loss plans, organic vegan plans, organic keto plans, and so on. Of course, there are also plenty of choices for people who just like good food, without any specific requirements! 

As well as supplying main meals, many organic delivery services will also send breakfast and snacks, to help you eat healthily throughout the day. 

While it’s not always the case, many organic meal delivery services also focus on providing in-season and responsibly sourced ingredients. Sun Basket, for example, often provides free-range fish and meat products. Green Chef does its part with sustainable practices, like its recyclable packaging.

Organic Meal Delivery Service Prices

When it comes to pricing, there’s no hard and fast rule. Each service has its own system. Broadly speaking, organic meal delivery services do cost more per serving size. Considering that you’re getting clean, non-GMO produce, and often wild-range animal products, it’s worth the difference in price.

There’s no one-size-fits-all way that meal delivery services charge their subscribers. Some charge a flat rate per meal, others reduce the price the more meals or kits you order. Then there’s the frequency of delivery. Some charge weekly, others monthly. Monthly meal plans, like Green Chef and Veestro, might seem like a big upfront investment, but they tend to work out more reasonably on a per-meal basis.

While the cost of meals is important, you should also take into account other associated savings: gas to and from the supermarket, expensive ingredients that go to waste, and leftover food that doesn’t get eaten. 

How Organic Meal Service Shipping Works

An important factor in choosing an organic meal delivery service is making sure the delivery schedule works for you. While some services let you select your day, others have a set delivery day and depending on where you live, delivery might be limited. That means if you like to cook on the weekends, but the only delivery day in your area is a Monday, you’re going to have to keep looking. 

There’s also variation in how companies charge for shipping and delivery. Some build shipping into the meal price, some deliver for free if you order above a certain amount, while others add delivery to every parcel shipped (which can soon add up). 

Depending on how the parcel is shipped, you can track your delivery either through the shipping company or through a dedicated app. 

All companies ship their food in insulated boxes, with individual elements packed in a separate bag or container (if you opted for a meal kit) or individually wrapped meals. Most of the shipping materials can be recycled, but there will inevitably be some waste that goes into the garbage. 

How to Pause, Skip, or Cancel Your Orders

One of the best things about organic meal delivery services is that they’re designed to make things easy for you – and that includes signing up, editing orders, and canceling orders altogether. If you decide a particular service isn’t for you, you can usually pause, skip, or cancel your orders directly from the website. 

Some companies do make you send an email or call their customer service team to make changes, but most are totally commitment-free. This makes it easy for you to try out multiple services until you find the right one. 

The only thing you need to be aware of is how far in advance you need to make changes so you don’t get charged for your next order. Companies vary in their requirements (but it’s often at least five days). Make sure you read the small print in advance to avoid getting caught out. 

When Is a Meal Service NOT Right for You?

It might seem like an organic meal service is the solution to so many of life’s problems: no time to shop, no time to cook, too much food waste, and the eternal question: “what on earth is for dinner?!” However, there are certain people who need to take a closer look before diving into a meal delivery service. 

If you have allergies, especially severe celiac, or there are certain foods you can’t eat, you need to ensure the company you order from can guarantee there will be no cross-contamination. If you have severe allergies, you may be better off with a specialist company. The same warning holds true for people with diabetes or Crohn’s disease. 

If you have a particular medical condition, consult with a healthcare professional first to double-check you aren’t taking any unnecessary risks.

While medical issues and allergies might hold you back, there are also more “mundane” issues to consider. For example, you might want more choice and variety than a service offers. You might also dismiss a particular company because it only delivers during the week and you only have time to cook at the weekend. 

Bottom Line – Why Choose a Healthy, Organic Meal Delivery Service?

An organic meal delivery service is the perfect choice for anyone who wants to eat healthily but doesn’t want the hassle of thinking about what to cook every day.

Green Chef lets you cook meals yourself, but often provides all of the ingredients prepped and ready to throw into a pan. Sun Basket’s meal kits are ideal if you’d like to be slightly more involved cooking your meals. 

For anyone who can’t cook (or simply doesn’t want to), a prepared meal plan, like a vegan one from Veestro, is the best option. All you need to do is heat up the food and you're good to go. Whichever option you choose – prepared meals or meal kits – you’ll be getting healthy, organic food that tastes great and cuts down on food waste. 

FAQs

Is HelloFresh organic?

HelloFresh is one of the most popular meal delivery service options, but most of its products are not organic. Instead, the company focuses on produce that looks and tastes as good as possible. Green Chef is a great alternative. You get meal plans tailored to specific diets like keto and plant-based, and everything is organic. 

Is Home Chef organic?

Home Chef’s meals change every week, meaning they use different vendors and suppliers. As a result, most of its ingredients are not organic. If you’re looking for a meal delivery service that offers a range of recipes and meal plans, Sun Basket might be the best fit. It’s got meal plans for 10 different diets, and is certified organic.

Is Blue Apron organic?

Some, but not all, of Blue Apron’s ingredients are certified organic. For a meal delivery service that provides all-organic ingredients with easy-to-prepare meal kits, check out Green Chef. You get the option of four, reasonably priced meal plans, all shipped to your door in environmentally friendly packaging.

Is Fresh & Easy organic?

Fresh & Easy is powered by Home Chef so the ingredients and produce it uses are not certified organic, although occasionally organic ingredients may be used. Green Chef and Sun Basket are both organic alternatives with a wide range of recipes.

Is Freshly organic?

No, it’s not. However, Freshly’s food philosophy encourages people to eat healthily with less sugar, less processed food, and more nutrients. For a similar wellness-oriented organic company, take a look at Fresh n’Lean. It also provides fully-prepared organic meals packed with nutrients and free of processed ingredients. 

What is the best organic meal delivery service?

While it may be a close call, Green Chef is the best organic meal delivery service. It was the first-ever certified meal delivery service and offers a really good range of plans and customization options. The recipes are easy to follow, and many of the ingredients come pre-prepared, so you can create delicious organic meals in no time at all.