Ah, that age-old question that haunts every fitness nut and workaholic alike: How much does a meal prep service cost?” Don your apron and sharpen those knives – we are about to tackle this question with surgical precision!
We’ve scrutinized 12 top meal prep services under the culinary microscope in order to present you with a comprehensive, no-nonsense guide that answers this inquiry. No matter if you’re an experienced meal prepper looking for a break, time-constrained professional, or simply new to health and fitness, this blog has something to offer everyone!
Here we provide information such as price comparison, factors that impact meal prep service costs and brief reviews for each service provider – make sure to feast your eyes! Get ready to feast your mind!
Factors that Affect the Cost of Meal Prep Services
Before we dive in head first to meal prep services, it’s worth understanding all of the factors affecting their costs. Just as in a restaurant, not all meal prep services have equal prices due to various variables affecting them – let’s use our culinary compass and guide ourselves through these price-affecting elements!
Meal Plan
Your choice of meal plan plays a key role in determining its cost. Selecting one that provides three meals daily and seven days a week will undoubtedly cost more than an option that provides only two or three meals weekly. In addition, certain services provide plans tailored to specific diets such as keto, paleo or vegan which could alter its price accordingly.
Number of Meals
Think about it – more mouthfuls equal more money! Ordering more meals each week directly increases the cost. Some services provide flexible packages where you can select how many you would like each day or week.
Dietary Restrictions
Do you have special dietary restrictions or allergies that require special ingredients that could add more cost? To accommodate them, often this means more costly dishes that cater specifically to them – for instance gluten-free, dairy-free or nut-free diets require different meals that contain special components which in turn increase costs.
Delivery Options
Some services provide free delivery, while others charge additional fees depending on your location. If you prefer specific delivery slots or days for delivery, be prepared to spend extra.
Quality of Ingredients
In many ways, what you eat reflects on you. Services using high-quality, organic or locally sourced ingredients often cost more than those who don’t; so if you want grass-fed beef and wild-caught salmon as part of their menu items, expect your wallet to take a hit in return.
Packaging
Even packaging can have an effect on final pricing. Services using eco-friendly or specially designed packages to keep meals fresh during transport could charge an extra fee to do their part in saving the planet one meal at a time!
Subscription or One-Off Orders
That is the question! Some meal services provide discounts for customers who commit to a subscription rather than making one-off purchases; so if you prefer purchasing meal services a la carte, be prepared to pay more upfront.
Cooking Time
Believe it or not, cooking time can also have a considerable effect on cost. For example, meals that can be ready in minutes might cost more than those requiring more work in the kitchen; convenient meals come at a premium!
We Studied 12 Meal Prep Services, and Here’s What the Average Cost Comes Around
As is evident from this information, meal prep services come with many factors that influence their costs. Your culinary guide is here to guide you and make an informed decision when choosing meal prep. Let’s continue our in-depth examination of 12 services we studied together.
| Meal prep service | Price per meal | Meal plans available | Dietary needs accommodated |
| Home Chef | $9.99–$11.99 | Calorie-Conscious, Carb-Conscious, Vegetarian, Family | Vegetarian and Carb- and Calorie-Conscious |
| Trifecta Nutrition | $13.79–$15.85 | Clean, Paleo Whole30, Keto, Plant-Based | Paleo, Keto, Whole30, Vegan, and Vegetarian |
| Factor | $10.99–$13.49 | Chef’s Choice, Keto, Calorie Smart, Vegan and Veggie, Protein Plus, Flexitarian | Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Keto, low carb, Paleo, and Dairy-Free |
| BistroMD | $10.99–$14.99 | Signature, Heart Healthy, Gluten Free, Keto Flex, Diabetic Friendly, Menopause, Vegan | Gluten-Free, Heart-Healthy, Diabetes-Friendly, Vegan |
| Territory Foods | $10.95–$22.95 | Paleo, Keto-Friendly, Plant-Based, Whole30, Low Carb, Mediterranean, Performance Nutrition, <500 Calories | Paleo, Keto, Plant-Based, Vegetarian, Vegan, Whole30, Low Carb, and Mediterranean |
| Diet-to-Go | $9.71–$15.20 | Balance, Balance-Diabetes, Keto-Carb30, Vegetarian, Mediterranean | Vegetarian, Keto, Low Calorie, Mediterranean, Diabetes-Friendly |
| Snap Kitchen | $11.88–$14.67 | High Protein, Low Carb, Keto, Paleo, Vegetarian | High Protein, Keto, Low Carb, Paleo, Gluten-Free, Vegetarian, Vegan |
| Sprinly | $16.05–$18.17 | All Items Vegan | Veganand Gluten-Free |
| Daily Harvest | $6.79–$9.79 | All Items Vegan and Gluten-Free | Vegan, Gluten-Free, Low Calorie |
| Splendid Spoon | $9.99–$13.49 | Smoothies, Soups, Noodles, Dishes, Shots, and Juices | Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Specific Avoidances, Higher Protein, Higher Fiber, Low Calorie, Low Carb, Low Fat, Low Sodium, Low Sugar |
| Mosaic Foods | $5.99–$11.99 | Veggie Bowls, Family Meals, Pizzas, Soups, Oat Bowls | Vegan, Vegetarian, Wheat-Free, Nut-Free, High Protein |
| Magic Kitchen | $5–$28 | Signature Meals, Senior Meals, Portion Controlled, Diabetic-Friendly, Dairy-Free, Low Sodium, Low Carbohydrate, Low Fat, Renal Diet, Dialysis-Friendly, Gluten-Free, Vegetarian, General Wellness | Diabetes, Dialysis, Renal Diet, Dairy-Free, Gluten-Free, Low Fat, Low Sodium, Low Carb, Vegetarian |
As part of our effort to provide readers with a clear understanding of average costs of meal prep services, we conducted extensive research into 12 popular meal prep services to give an accurate representation of their average costs.
To do this, we dove into their menus and price lists; from those offering gluten-free and vegan options to catering specifically to individual dietary requirements. So if meal planning, shopping, and cooking seem too burdensome, take another look at this table above.
Tips on Saving Money on Meal Prep Services
Sticker shock may strike when looking at meal prep services’ costs, but frugal foodies needn’t worry: substantial savings opportunities exist if you know where and how to search. Here are a few strategies that may help maximize the value for money:
- Make the Most of Long Haul: Many services provide discounts if you sign up for longer-term subscriptions, which could potentially save money along with your meals! By paying upfront for months at a time, you could often experience great savings as part of your meal service experience.
- Quality over Quantity: Choose less frequent delivery schedules to reduce weekly food costs while still enjoying convenient prepared meal service.
- Go Big or Go Home: Opting for larger portions is often an economical choice. These meals often cost less per serving and can easily be divided up into two meals, giving your wallet (and waistline!) some much-needed relief.
- Early Bird Gets the Worm: Many meal planning services offer special promotions or discounts when orders are submitted in advance, so take advantage of them by placing your order early.
- Referral Power: Many meal prep services offer referral programs. Referring friends can earn discounts or even free meals! After all, sharing is caring!
How to Choose a Prepared Meal Delivery Service
Selecting the ideal prepared meal delivery service requires more than flipping a coin or following your stomach instinct; rather, it requires careful consideration of several key factors:
- Identifying Your Dietary Preferences: Understanding and fulfilling the nutritional requirements and restrictions unique to you are paramount, so when searching for meal delivery services it is imperative that they offer low-carb, gluten-free vegan or any custom meals as necessary.
- Taste and Variety: Variety is key when it comes to culinary delight, so choose a service with a menu full of variety to keep your senses tantalized.
- Budget Boundaries: Keep your monetary restrictions in mind when selecting meal services, as there are various price points to consider. Look for one that meets both your budget and quality needs.
- Delivery Details: It is important to consider delivery service details carefully when choosing one for yourself, including fresh or frozen, daily or weekly, morning or evening deliveries and how frequently.
- Sustainability and Ethics: If you care about the environment, prioritize finding services which prioritize sustainability by practicing ethical sourcing practices and offering recyclable or compostable packaging options.
Be mindful to choose a meal prep service that ticks all your boxes – not only the price one. After all, you deserve more than an inexpensive rack of ribs!
Are Prepared Meal Delivery Services Worth the Investment?
If you’ve ever hoped that a five-star meal would appear by magic in your fridge, prepared meal delivery services might just be your culinary saviors. Ready-to-eat meals offer more than convenience: they can also help those with dietary restrictions or busy lives manage their time better, while following portion-controlled meals could help win the war on weight! Nevermind the variety – who wouldn’t enjoy traveling the culinary globe from their kitchen? But like any new toy, cost can be an issue.
To determine whether meal prep services are worthwhile investments for yourself, it’s essential that you balance convenience and variety against budget – after all, you won’t be able to enjoy that Moroccan tagine without worrying about breaking your piggy bank! At this point, that’s where we come in: We have done all of the hard work for you and analyzed 12 popular meal prep services to give you an overview of their costs, so that you can decide if adding extra ingredients to your budget makes sense.