5 Best Weight Loss Meal Delivery Services ({month-en} 2024)
Using a meal delivery program to help you on your weight loss journey is a great idea. After all, who among us has killed ourselves at the gym, only to find out that making dietary changes would have given you far more shorter and longer-term effects?
There’s so many things to keep track of with meal preparation, that meal kit delivery services for weight loss has all your bases covered: healthy food and portion control? Check. Meal preparation? Check. Calorie control? Double-check.
In a rush? Here’s my quick list of best weight loss meal delivery programs of 2024:
Sunbasket: Best for calorie-controlled meals
Hello Fresh: Best for its low-calorie plan
Fresh and Easy: Best for its pre-prepared, oven-ready meals
Blue Apron: Best for low-calorie plans on a budget
Home Chef: Best for a varied menu of low-calorie options
Although a weight-loss meal delivery program can go a long way towards helping you achieve your weight loss goals, there are other factors that come into play. That, and, there are some things you need to know about weight loss meal delivery programs before committing to one. Click here to learn more.
Sunbasket: Best for Exciting, Calorie-Controlled Meals
What I liked
Calorie-control plan gives you a range of meals of up to 550 calories each
Includes gluten-free, keto and other dietary preference options
Range of non-standard exciting meals with a twist
What I didn't like
Shipping costs $6.99, no matter the size of your order
With its inspired, calorie-counting designed meal plan for weight loss, Sunbasket is my overall choice for the best weight loss meal delivery service.
You won't even feel like you're missing out when you're on the Lean and Clean plan, which excluded gluten, soy and dairy, and each meal has clean ingredients and at least 20g of protein.
Sunbasket is an excellent choice if you’re looking for delicious - but calorie-conscious - meals, and are trying to watch your weight while also enjoying your food.
Hello Fresh: Best for An All-Round Low-Calorie Plan
What I liked
“Calorie smart” plan limits each meal to 650 calories max
Family-friendly recipes included
Really varied range of meals, with 17ish meals to choose from
What I didn't like
Shipping costs $6.99 a week
Hello Fresh’s “Calorie Smart” program is, well, calorie smart: you’ll enjoy a whole range of Hello Fresh’s menu choices (around 17-20 options a week), all while knowing that everything you're eating is 650 calories or less. In fact, some of the most delicious meals I ate were just 427 calories (Honey and Miso Cod on Stir Fry Veg, Sweet and Sour Tofu), and one was even 386 calories (Honey, Ginger and Soy Fish Parcels).
Shipping is $6.99 a week, and I'd say it's highly worth it for the quality of low-calorie meal plan you're getting.
Fresh and Easy: Best for Pre-Prepared, Oven-Ready Meals
What I liked
Pre-cut, oven-ready low-calorie meals delivered straight to your door
All meals 650 calories or under
Free shipping on orders over $49
What I didn't like
Slightly pricier than other options on the market
Fresh and Easy, by Home Chef, is one of my absolute favorite meal kit delivery services, hands down. That’s because it's so simple to choose and cook the recipes it provides, that even I couldn’t mess it up.
Fresh and Easy’s low-calorie plan is just like Home Chef’s: all of the recipes are 650 calories or under BUT you’ll receive your recipes portioned out and oven-ready. Each menu also includes a pan to stick straight into the oven. It’s so easy and convenient, I would highly recommend it to anyone looking to watch their weight...except, for convenience, you have to pay a little extra.
Blue Apron: Best for Calorie-Controlled Meals on a Budget
What I liked
Cheaper price points than other meal kit delivery services on the market
Free shipping on 3 meals ordered a week
Recipes under 700 calories available
What I didn't like
No dedicated low-calorie plan
Blue Apron is my favorite, lower-budget option for meal kit delivery services, and with some meals coming in at under 700 calories (and I think that’s an overestimation), it might just be a great option for you too.
There’s no actual dedicated low-calorie plan, but there’s smart labeling on the existing recipes initiating which recipes are low calorie: each recipe also has very detailed calorie and nutritional information. Even though there are around 11 or so recipes to choose from a week, you’ll easily find a few that are low calorie. For some people, this might be limiting, but for me, it was just enough.
Home Chef: Best for A Varied Menu of Low-Calorie Options
What I liked
Dedicated low-calorie plan
Free shipping on orders over $45 a week
Huge range of weekly recipe options
What I didn't like
Individually-priced meals mean you’ll sometimes pay extra
With a huge range of menu options and a dedicated low-calorie plan, Home Chef could easily be at the top of my best meal kit delivery services for weight loss list.
That and there’s free shipping on orders over $45 a week. So why isn't it at the top?
Because, due to the individually priced menu items, you might end up going a little over your budget - after all, some of those gourmet options and protein upgrades look insanely appetizing.
The low calorie plan promises all (20ish) meals on offer to be under 650 calories, while not skimping on flavor. I confirm (at least of the scrumptious meals that I tried) that this is true. The only thing I would say is that you might find yourself having a tough time picking between everything on offer!
What You Need to Know About Meal Kit Delivery Services for Weight Loss
While meal kit delivery services for weight loss seem like they’re heaven-sent, you should know a few things before staking all of your weight-loss hopes on them.
For one thing, unless you're using them for every single meal you're eating, they can have very little impact.
For another, unless you’re eating as a part of a calorie-controlled diet one low-calorie meal a day won't make much difference. The same goes for if you lead a sedentary lifestyle, or are snacking in-between meals.
Meal kit delivery services for weight loss work best as a part of a larger, more structured weight loss plan. This can include -
A nutritionist-designed calorie limited plan
Meal restrictions, such as removing sugar or caffeine from your diet
Light exercise several times a week
Drinking more water
Getting the right amount of sleep
Managing your stress levels
Eating the correct portion sizes
One more thing: meal kit delivery services for weight loss can give you the gentle push in the right direction, teaching you what kinds of food, and in what quantities, you should be eating. For me, it definitely changed my perspective in the kitchen, as well as taught me many cooking techniques, food pairing and gave me new meal inspiration.
Overall, meal kit delivery services for weight loss aren’t a budget option (but then what calorie-controlled meals or other diet plan is?), so you need to make sure that the meal kit delivery services for weight loss you choose is right for both your lifestyle and budget.
