Honestly, there are few things more headache-inducing than the nightly "What are we going to have for dinner tonight?" saga. The choice itself is hard enough — and then, you have to dig through the fridge and pantry for ingredients... or worse, make a trip to the grocery store. It takes a lot of mental (and physical) energy and after a long days' work, who needs it?
It's no wonder that meal delivery services have been growing in popularity lately. These days, there are tons of great options to choose from, no matter what your eating preferences and lifestyle are like. Many offer organic options, vegetarian options, locally-sourced options — you name it, it probably exists. Oh, and don't even get us started on the plethora of delicious recipes they've got on file.
And you know what? They're actually not as much of a luxury purchase as you might expect. Think about how much money you spend at the grocery store on things you don't end up even using; all the extra ingredients you purchase that end up going bad and getting tossed into the trash — not to mention the wallet-emptying act of ordering take out multiple times per week. With many of these meal delivery kits ranging from $7-14/serving, you can get a high-quality, homecooked meal for a seriously fair price. Many of these services even offer breakfast, lunch, and dessert options as well.
We've gathered all the must-know details from some of our favorite meal delivery services out there in order to help you choose the best one for you. Click through the slideshow ahead and pick your fave... or, give them all a try.
Image via @marleyspoon
Price Range: About $9-10/serving with free shipping, if you're doing 6+ servings per week (shipping is $7.99 if you're ordering less)
Must-Try Meal Option: Focaccia Pizza
How It Works: Blue Apron specializes in bringing you only the freshest ingredients, which includes meat that are naturally raised on antibiotic- and hormone-free diets. Each meal delivery kit is perfectly pre-measured, which makes for less waste as well. All you have to do is choose the best day of the week for your refrigerated box, so your food stays fresh and gets there when you need it.
Image via @blueapron
Price Range: $8-9/serving with shipping around $7
Must-Try Meal Option: Balsamic-and-Fig Beef Tenderloin
How It Works: You'll start by picking out a plan that will work the best for you and your family (each plan depends on how many recipes you'd like per week and how many people you're feeding). Once you receive your delivery, you'll be able to follow the simple step-by-step recipes with the help of the pre-measured ingredients. Its chefs even test each recipe 200 times to ensure the meals are simple and delicious to make and enjoy!
Image via @hellofresh
Must-Try Meal Option: Starting at $7.99/serving with free shipping when you spend more than $45.
Favorite Meal Option: Sweet Chili Lettuce Wraps
How It Works: With Home Chef, you can use its Customize It feature, which allows you to choose from up to 26 fresh weekly options with the option to swap, upgrade, and double parts of each meal delivery kit. This service includes many different options like steak, chicken, pork, fish, and vegetarian options. Once you get the box, you'll use the easy-to-follow recipe card, the pre-portioned ingredients, and everything else you need to complete the meal.
Image via @realhomechef
Price Range: ~$10/serving
Must-Try Meal Option: Lemony Carbonara With Bacon and Roasted Broccoli
How It Works: Featuring over 18,000 recipes from the Martha Stewart archives, Marley Spoon's menus range anywhere from classics like spaghetti and meatballs to more eclectic and creative dishes. Choose the best arrival date for you, and then you'll be off creating delicious meals with only the highest quality ingredients like grass-fed beef, artisanal vinegar, and seasonal produce.
Image via @marleyspoon
