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It can be rewarding to sit down with your family and enjoy a home-cooked meal, but it can also be stressful. Imagine staring at your fridge or spending hours upon hours facing your phone, trying to find the perfect recipe that will satisfy each member of your family.
My sister phoned in last week telling me about a baking kit delivery service she recently tried. And it got me thinking, how many more families like mine have trouble prepping healthy meals with a hectic schedule?
How many families decide to forego a warm, healthful meal or cooking with their kids just because they lack time to deal with the aftermath and preparation of it?
If you find yourself facing the same dilemma, or would like to start eating healthier meals but don’t know where to start, best meal delivery services are an ideal choice for you and your family. Take a look at some of my top picks below to find the right one for you and your family.
1
Sun Basket
- Delicious, varied menu
- It is ideal for kids and adults
- Fresh and ready meals
2
Gobble
- 15-minute dinner kits
- Great for one person
3
Hello Fresh
- Menus changing each week to give you more variety
- 20 weekly options
- Family Friendly meal plan
4
Yumble
- More focused on 3 to 6-year old children
- Organic
- For parents who don’t have the time
5
Green Chef
- Ideal for keto, paleo, or diets based on plants
- USDA-certified
6
Blue Apron
- At-home restaurant-quality meal option
- Premium Quality Ingredients
7
Yumi
- It caters to babies from 6 to 14 months old
- non-GMO
8
Baketivity
- Activity books that come with each box
- Well-packed and pre-proportioned ingredients
9
Foodstirs
- It caters to kids 6 years and above
- Each baking kit is kosher certified
10
Splendid Spoon
- Guaranteed based on plants, vegan, soy-free, Non-GMO
- Health quick go-to meal
11
Daily Harvest
- Delicious and varied menu
- Is an ideal option for you and your family
12
Freshly
- Low-calorie, and low-carb meal options
- Healthy microwave dinners
- Eco-friendly containers
Kid-Friendly & Family Meal Kits
Have you ever stood staring at our fridge or at your local supermarket thinking about what to cook or what to buy for your family? A week ago, one of my clients sent me a message asking for nutritional tips because she was running out of ideas.
What’s more, she had difficulty heading to the local supermarket to buy groceries in bulk because of the pandemic. If you’re facing the same issues, or perhaps you just want to have a healthy meal for your family at least once a day without having to resort to hours of meal prepping, I recommend you look into my favorite high-quality services.
1. Sunbasket - Best for the Whole Family
Rated #1 by Epicurious, Sunbasket allows you to choose between two food delivery types: meal kits and fresh and ready meals. Meal kits are ideal for instances wherein you’re in need of home-cooked nutrition without having to spend hours planning, shopping, and prepping it yourself.
Their meal kits are curated by chefs and feature premium seasonal components. They come with clear and easy to follow instructions for cooking, which means you’ll have fresh, home-cooked nutrition ready with less hassle.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for a truly hassle-free meal option, you can opt to have fresh and ready meals delivered. The fresh and ready meals are pre-cooked and will only need a short time in your oven for heating. This makes it ideal if you don’t have time to cook food, but still want it to be delicious, healthy, and fresh.
Recommended Age Group: it is ideal for kids and adults
Popular Dishes:
Chicago-style pork blade sandwiches with caramelized onion and coleslaw
- Korean chicken japchae with glass noodles and veggies
- Chipotle turkey chili with a cucumber-sumac salad on the side
- Southwestern turkey and sweet potato skillet
- Buttered chicken with basmati rice pilaf
- Beef chili with cheddar and yogurt
- Salmon tacos with cabbage slaw, salsa Roja, and chipotle yogurt
- General Tso’s tofu with broccoli and brown rice
Dietary Restrictions Catered: Sunbasket caters to a wide range of dietary restrictions. Their meal kits and fresh and ready meals use seasonal components and all-organic USDA-certified produce. You have the options to specify certain diet types and restrictions as well like:
- Paleo
- Lean and Clean
- Gluten-free
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Mediterranean
- Pescetarian
Summary: Sunbasket offers two plan options for anyone who wants more variety.
Their meal kits and ready to heat food options allow you to skip the dreaded meal-prep that comes with planning a full meal for your family.
Sunbasket’s various meal options (such as a Home Chef) allow you to choose specifically what meals per week your family needs, which makes it ideal for every member of the family. Also, i is a great service for one person.
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2. Gobble - Best 15-Minutes Dinners
Gobble’s service offers a diverse weekly menu that allows you to choose exactly which meals you want and when you want them.
They specialize in 15-minute dinner kits that take out the hassle of planning and prepping dinner for your family. Moreover, because you have the option to choose exactly which meals you want to cook, there’s no reason for you to be unpleasantly surprised with the meal choices delivered.
Recommended Age Group: it caters to kids and adults
Popular Dishes:
- Chicken scallopini with lemon garlic cream sauce and harvest rice blend
- Tuscan sirloin steak with mushrooms and fettuccine in three peppercorn sauce
- Souvlaki marinated salmon with greek orzo salad
- Potato and cheddar pierogies with caramelized onions and satuéed spinach
- Hatch green chile burger with mashed avocado and roasted carrots with jalapeno dressing
- Pan-roasted chicken with leafy greens and pureed sweet potato
Dietary Restrictions Catered: one of the highlights with Gobble is that they clearly state which meals are kid-friendly, or contain allergens like nuts or optional milk. This makes it easier to choose your meals based on dietary restrictions such as:
- Vegetarian
- Dairy-free
- Nut-free
- Gluten-free
Summary: If you often find yourself stuck trying to plan out ways to make dinner more convenient for you, you may want to consider Gobble. Their 15-minute dinner kits make it possible to have a home-cooked meal ready without much hassle.
I recommend it if you’re looking for a service that clearly states which nutrition is kid-friendly and which foods contain allergens. However, it is worth noting that their nutrition is not prepared in an allergen-free facility, so Gobble is not recommended for someone with serious food intolerance or food allergies.
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3. Hello Fresh - Best for Picky Eaters
Hello Fresh is dedicated to serving families who are in need of a convenient meal kit firm that caters to nagging eaters without sacrificing health and fresh options.
There are several kid-approved options, and the menus change each week to give you more variety. For families with small kids, I recommend looking into their Family Friendly plan that provides you over 20 weekly options not only for the nagging eaters in your family but delicious meals for adults as well.
Recommended Age Group: it caters to adults and kids
Popular Dishes:
- Beef bulgogi bowls
- Pasta parmesan
- Pork sausage and broccoli gnocchi with creamy lemon sauce
- Chipotle black bean tacos
- Balsamic bellissimo chicken
Dietary Restrictions Catered: Hello Fresh does not give you the option to select plant-based meals that are specifically free from allergens. However, they take care to prevent cross-contamination of components and highlight any potential allergens in their menu listings. It’s important to review the meals you’re choosing to make sure it doesn’t include nutrition that would conflict with your restrictions.
Hello Fresh also recommends substituting certain components when cooking if you end up choosing a meal that contains some of your allergens.
They also offer several options for various meal preferences like:
- Beef-free
- Pork-free
- Seafood-free
- Veggie
- Family-friendly
- Calorie smart
Summary: Hello Fresh is a convenient meal kit service option for any family with nagging eaters who want fresh, home-cooked meals without overspending on components and taking hours to prep your nutrition.
There are several options to choose from that are easy to understand and highlight any possible allergens, and they offer a menu of over 20 recipes to choose from which change each week.
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4. Yumble Kids - Best for Young Children
Yumble delivers pre-cooked food that young children will want to eat.
Each meal option is designed to sneak healthful nutrition into your picky eater’s diet. Yumble offers a variety of well-balanced, nutritionist-approved lunch, dinner, and snack options that come with fun activities for your children.
Recommended Age Group: caters to 1 to 12-year olds but is more focused on 3 to 6-year old children.
Popular Dishes:
- Chicken macaroni and cheese
- Orange chicken bowl
- Turkey sausage and eggs
- Snack poppers
- Chicken marinara and alfredo
- Pizza pocket and broccoli parm
Dietary Restrictions Catered: Yumble errs on the safe side when it comes to allergies for kids. While each kid’s needs may vary, Yumble chefs don’t use tree nuts, peanuts, and coconuts in their food. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean the kitchen is free from allergens. Each meal presented on their website also contains allergen information that is clearly marked for your convenience and your child’s safety.
However, they only offer a few specific dietary restriction options:
- Gluten-free
- Organic
- Vegetarian
Summary: Yumble Kids was founded by a mother for other parents. It’s specifically catered towards kids which makes it ideal if you’re having trouble getting your picky eater to eat healthier or to focus on eating their meals. Your first delivery comes with an activity pack that makes mealtime more fun and incentivizes kids to maintain healthful eating habits by offering a prize upon completion.
I recommend it for parents who don’t have the time or means to prepare a healthy meal for their kids without having to worry about it being cold, unbalanced, or unpalatable for your picky eater. One of my clients even lets her kids pick out the food they want, which allows them to actively select what they’ll be eating for lunch, dinner, or as a snack.
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5. Greenchef - Best for Families on a Keto Diet
Greenchef is one of the few meal kit delivery companies that use organic meat as a default. They utilize USDA-certified organic ingredients and focus heavily on healthful well-balanced meals. It’s an ideal choice if you’re looking for a meal kit delivery service that puts an emphasis on vegetables without the extra hassle.
Recommended Age Group: adults and children
Popular Dishes:
- Chicken bruschetta pasta
- Tuna poke bowl
- Enchilada quesadilla
- Rosemary sirloin steak
- Falafel-curry noodle bowl
- Shrimp fried rice
Dietary Restrictions Catered: Greenchef puts an emphasis on healthful meals by providing you options that utilize USDA-certified ingredients and meat.
Moreover, they cater to specific dietary restrictions as well such as:
- Keto
- Based on plants
- Paleo
Summary: Greenchef’s services are better suited for families with kids who aren’t nagging eaters or teenagers. While it’s commendable that they put an emphasis on vegetables and lessening saturated fat in your food, their meals are quite bland and not as flavorful as Sunbasket’s. That said, it is ideal if you’re following a strict keto, paleo, or based on plants diet and don’t have the time to meal prep or shop for all-organic components.
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6. Blue Apron - Best for Small Families
Blue Apron is ideal for any family who wants to experience restaurant-quality food at home without the fuss or the inconvenience of having to go and order takeout which, let’s be honest, is never as good as a warm meal in the restaurant. They have two menu options that allow you to choose a meal for two people or a family of four. Their components are sourced locally and are guaranteed premium quality.
Recommended Age Group: it caters to adults and kids
Popular Dishes:
- Sweet pepper chicken with ditali pasta and spinach
- Fresh radiatore pasta and beef bolognese with grana padano cheese
- Spiced cauliflower with jasmine rice and cilantro-yogurt sauce
- Provolone cheeseburgers and marinated kale with rosemary roasted potatoes
Dietary Restrictions Catered: Blue apron only offers a vegetarian-specific for couples plan at the moment. There are currently no meal plans set aside for people with specific dietary restrictions. However, they advise that you make substitutions when possible when you’re preparing your food.
Summary: Blue Apron is an ideal choice for you if you’re looking for an at-home restaurant-quality meal option. Their meals are flavorful, delicious, and easy to prepare. Blue Apron even gives you the option to choose strictly vegetarian meals. However, there are no set menu options for specific dietary restrictions like nut allergies at this time. Moreover, they don’t offer much variety since you’re only able to choose from eight meals each week.
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7. Yumi - Best for Small Babies
Yumi specializes in well-balanced, pureed food, and introductory finger food for small babies. This company is designed to lessen the strain on planning out and preparing various food options for babies who are just beginning to eat solid foods.
Many parents find it hard to introduce different foods to young children especially since it can be difficult to find the right combination of components, not to mention messy and time-consuming.
Yumi relieves you of the difficulties of feeding your baby for the first few months by delivering healthful, non-GMO, low-sugar, and freshly prepared food options for babies.
Recommended Age Group: it caters to babies from 6 to 14 months old
Popular Dishes:
- Peaches and greens
- Broccoli
- Blueberry
- All-star soup
- Broccoli mash bowl
- Squash quinoa combo
Dietary Restrictions Catered: Yumi does not give you the option to choose specific dietary restrictions. However, all of their meals are free from milk, eggs, tree nuts, fish, crustaceans, soy, peanuts, and wheat.
Summary: Yumi is ideal for parents who are looking for a convenient way to feed their babies fresh and healthful baby food. They offer multiple puree and finger food options with an age guide on when to introduce certain blends and finger foods.
This company is ideal if you find it difficult to maintain creativity when choosing which food you’ll introduce to your baby. Plus, it also removes the hassle and mess of actually preparing various food purees daily.
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8. Baketivity - Best Baking Kits for Kids
Baketivity makes it easy, fun, and cost-effective for you to prepare baked goods with your kids. The ingredients are well-packed and pre-proportioned, so there’s no need for you to take out extra tools for measuring components.
And since all the ingredients are pre-measured, you don’t have to purchase excess quantities of your components. All you need to do is follow the instructions and spend time with your kids. Each box also comes with an activity book that keeps your kids busy while waiting for the oven timer to go off.
Recommended Age Group: it caters to kids 4 to years olds
Popular Dishes:
- Chocolate chunk cookies
- Cinnamon buns
- Bagels
Dietary Restrictions Catered: Baketivity focuses heavily on providing you with easy to follow recipes that are kosher certified. You also have the option to choose gluten and wheat-free baking kits. Unfortunately, they do not cater specifically to nut allergies at the moment.
Summary: If you’ve ever stood in your kitchen looking at the mess you’ve made from just one batch of chocolate chip cookies, then you’ll appreciate Baketivity and the services it offers.
It’s ideal if you have small children who are eager to help you bake their favorite snacks and treats because it makes it easier and more efficient to do so.
It’s also a fun and easier way to introduce your kids to baking activities thanks to the activity books that come with each box that turns your kitchen or baking station into a fun-filled, less-messy area.
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9. Foodstirs - Best for Healthy Baking
Foodstirs makes it fun and hassle-free to spend your baking times with your children. Each kit comes with a decorating activity that allows children to participate more and explore their creativity without as much of a mess. It’s ideal if you’re looking for a baking kit service that allows you to easily prepare organic and all-natural baked goods at home with your family.
Recommended Age Group: it caters to kids 6 years and above
- Popular Dishes:
- Powdered mini donuts
- Chocolate chip cookies
- Wildberry unicorn pinwheel cookies
- Mini gingerbread house
- Rainbow pancakes
- Out of this world donuts
Dietary Restrictions Catered: Foodstirs is firm about using all-natural ingredients and providing you with baking mixes that are free from preservatives.
They also highlight that all their recipes are kosher certified. However, they do not cover specific allergies at the moment.
Summary: Foodstirs takes baking and creativity together to give you and your child a more meaningful way to bond in the kitchen.
Each of their baking kits allow you to let your child’s creativity roam with decorative elements. Each baking kit is kosher certified. However, they have only one gluten-free choice (Organic Vanilla Frosting Mix).
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10. Splendid Spoon - Best Smoothies
I think back to some mornings spent with kids getting ready for school and wish I had heard of Splendid Spoon then. Breakfast smoothies, grain bowls, and cold soups are a popular go-to meal for mornings where the family is pressed for time.
Splendid Spoon delivers delicious smoothies, ice cream and food bowls that are ready to eat. This means their meals are meant to be enjoyed cold and won’t cost you precious time waiting for food to reheat and cool down.
Recommended Age Group: it caters to kids and adults
- Popular Dishes:
- Aloo gobi quinoa
- Moroccan spiced buckwheat
- Kabocha congee
- Dragon fruit berry
- Blueberry coconut
- Green matcha
Dietary Restrictions Catered: Splendid Spoon does not allow you to specify dietary restrictions. However, all smoothies and food delivered to you are guaranteed Based on plants, vegan, soy-free, Non-GMO, and gluten-free. That said, Splendid Spoon food bowls and smoothies are processed in a facility that is not entirely free of allergens.
Summary: Splendid Spoon is an ideal choice if you’re looking for a quick go-to meal that’s filling, healthful, and aptly satisfying.
Their grain bowls and soups are delicious and, like their smoothies, are ready to consume. This means you don’t have to spend the extra time reheating your food before indulging yourself.
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11. Daily Harvest - Best Variety
Daily Harvest offers low-effort meals of every kind that are mostly made of all-organic ingredients. This meal-delivery service is ideal for families with varying tastes because it offers an all-in-one solution to your meals.
You can choose from a wide variety of different food options like smoothies, desserts, flatbreads, and soups.
Their emphasis on fruits and vegetables makes them an ideal option for families who want a better variety when choosing healthy and delicious meals.
Recommended Age Group: it caters to kids and adults
- Popular Dishes:
- Mint and cacao smoothie
- Strawberry and peach smoothie
- Sweet potato + wild rice hash
- Red lentil + cumin
- Kale + sweet potato
- Tomatillo + pepper
Dietary Restrictions Catered: By default, all Daily Harvest meals are based on plants and are curated to comply with vegan and diets without gluten. Some of their meals are also free from soy, which is clearly stated when you choose your meal options. However, their meals are processed in a facility that handles allergens like dairy, nuts, gluten, and soy.
Summary: Daily Harvest is an ideal option for you and your family if you’re looking for more variety with your meals. They have various meal type options, which include smoothies, flatbreads, and soups.
Not everyone has enough time to plan out complex healthful meals, sides, and desserts.
Daily Harvest makes it easy for you and your family to have a variety of healthy, based on plants meals that require little to no food prep.
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12. Freshly
If you find yourself needing a quick warm, go-to meal that is ready in three minutes or less, I suggest you take a look at Freshly. Their microwave and time-friendly meals are healthful, delicious, and are packaged in a way that reduces mess in your kitchen.
Freshly advocates for less sugar and processed food to focus on nutrients and complete health. It’s ideal if you have a few nagging eaters in your family as well, as Freshly utilizes clever swaps and tricks to sneak veggies into your food.
Recommended Age Group: it caters to kids and adults
Popular Dishes:
- Sicilian-style chicken parm with broccoli
- Steak peppercorn
- Chicken tikka masala
- Sausage and peppers
- Chicken teriyaki with brown rice and vegetables
- Golden oven-fried chicken and mash
- Cauliflower shell bolognese
- White bean turkey chili
Dietary Restrictions Catered: Freshly guarantees no gluten, nut-free, and refined sugar-free meals. They also offer some dairy-free, low-calorie, and low-carb meal options.
Summary: Freshly is an ideal choice if you want to take microwave dinners to the next level. Their meal options are not only delicious and offer a good variety, but they’re also packed in containers that are eco-friendly, yet reduce waste in your kitchen by minimizing or removing the need to wash dishes afterward.
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Is HelloFresh Worth it For a Family?
Fridays. That’s when most people look forward to when they are going to get the rest of their weekend. During the workweek, we become so busy that it’s tough to find that time to ourselves. While your Friday may have no plans (maybe you’re doing a little yard work, trying to catch up on laundry, or having a little cookout) you can get the same end results by simply staying at home. It takes a little more work, but it can definitely be worth it.
HelloFresh makes it easy to make healthy, delicious meals that are ready in less than 30 minutes. They offer weekly recipes from time to time and you can check them out by going to their site or Facebook page. It’s simple. Order the recipe and you’re done. Their services are highly flexible and they even have a “Once-a-Week” program and Nurture Life. There is a free trial with a money-back guarantee and your first shipment is on you for free if you decide that it’s not for you. There’s nothing to lose by trying HelloFresh.
Is Daily Harvest Okay for Kids?
Here’s the interesting part: I am not against using Daily Harvest in kids’ diets. The idea of these smoothies sounds like something kids might enjoy. One of my nieces had tried one of the smoothies on social media, but I honestly don’t know if she is going to be able to get through the large smoothie. That said, what I am concerned with is the marketing strategy for Daily Harvest.
I have no problems with a smoothie brand being sold to kids as a meal replacement if they can’t or won’t make a healthy choice themselves, but if they think that the smoothies are a meal replacement, what other snacks do they choose to substitute for a nutritious meal? It may not be the best option, especially for kids who struggle with dietary restrictions and weight management. Daily Harvest is a beautiful thing to see in the hands of children and will likely be good for some kids who struggle with hunger. But is it really the best choice for those kids?
What is the Easiest Home Meal Delivery?
These meal delivery services have been in existence for years. Home meal delivery services are designed for busy, working parents who want to have the comfort and ease of eating their favorite home-cooked meal at any given moment. While you can opt to do this at your own pace, most of these services offer healthy meals, which is something you’ll be interested in regardless. There are many options when it comes to home meal delivery service, but according to moms and moms-to-be from Mommy Nearest, these three are the best for the first-time parents-to-be. Mamava delivers prepared vegan, organic meals to your doorstep weekly, and comes with its own mobile app. Mamava meals are made from nutrient-dense, vegan proteins, and vegetables, plus a host of antioxidant-rich herbs.Does Hello Fresh Have a Family Plan?
No, but if you’re looking for a way to get some help in the kitchen during the busy holiday season, a Hello Fresh Family Plan is available for $40 per week. You can also order a set of ingredients to feed 4 people and have it delivered to your doorstep. Hello Fresh is known for its small family plan. There’s no hidden extra cost on Hello Fresh, so there’s no reason you can’t try it out with a couple of people. In fact, Hello Fresh offers a family plan that features five meals for $149.99.Final Words
Overall, my go-to for meal delivery services is Sunbasket. Its emphasis on USDA-certified meals and dual menu options will allow you to plan your meals according to your schedule and preferences without having to worry about skimping on your child’s nutrition.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for a service that offers more variety, I recommend looking into Daily Harvest, which offers multiple meal types ranging from smoothies to flatbreads to desserts.
If you’re looking for a strictly vegan option, Splendid Spoon specializes in based on plants, non-GMO, and vegan-compliant smoothies, grain bowls, and soup. Their smoothies are popular with kids and are an ideal breakfast option when you’re pressed for time. Plus, their food requires no heating.
Furthermore, if you’re dealing with a particularly picky eater, these services make it easy to plan out meals by encouraging your kids to join in the planning process.
While companies like Hello Fresh offer unique meal options each week, there are also a variety of other companies to choose from.
Sun Basket
- Delicious, varied menu
- It is ideal for kids and adults
- Fresh and ready meals
