Not only do these delivery services bring meals, or the ingredients to make meals, right to your door, but they also take the guesswork out of calculating macros since it’s already been done for you. And if you’re worried about food quality, don’t be. The best low-carb meal delivery services use organic or local ingredients while also prioritizing sustainability by using mostly recyclable packaging. Below, find our favorites for those cutting down their carbohydrate intake. Better yet, there’s a lot of variety in meal cadence. Trifecta offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner entrees, plus the option to add an extra meal to help you meet macro goals. You can choose from two to four meals per day and five or seven days of the week. The entire kitchen is gluten-free and peanut-free, and you can also opt for meals without dairy and/or soy. A few meals we’ve tried: -Pollo Guisado white meat chicken with tomatoes, pumpkin seeds, and citrus -Tropical Garlic Shrimp with bell peppers, lemon, and coconut Sustainability & Quality: Trifecta does what it can to reduce its carbon footprint by eliminating unnecessary steps in the food supply chain and using sustainable packaging whenever possible. All packaging is 100% recyclable, but the company’s goal is to use biodegradable packaging by 2023. Cost: From $12 per meal What our editor says: “If you have weight loss goals, certain dietary preferences, or simply want to take the guesswork out of eating healthier, Trifecta is a great meal delivery option. I enjoyed it even though I love to cook, but these fully prepared meals would be even better for someone who wants to spend a very minimal amount of time in the kitchen.” — Carleigh Ferrante, commerce editor Read our full Trifecta review here. The menu changes weekly, offering about 10 low-carb and keto options, as well as meals to suit a variety of meal preferences, including gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan. While some meals take 40 to 45 minutes to make, most can be prepared in less than 30 minutes—ideal for getting those weeknight dinners on the table fast. Example Meal: -Spiced Chicken and Coconut Cauliflower “Rice” -Monterey Jack Beef Patties Sustainability & Quality: Green Chef is one of the most sustainable meal kit options available. All produce and eggs are certified organic, and proteins are only sourced from farms with high animal welfare standards. The company also buys ingredients from local and family farms. Plus, most of the packaging is made from recyclable, reusable, and/or compostable materials. There are some exceptions when different types of packaging are required for food safety reasons—like the plastic to vacuum seal some of the proteins. Price: From $12 per serving While the meal choices are more limited than the meat-based options—for example, you’ll get around five new meal options each week, while some of the other menu plans get 12—the meals change every five days, so you won’t get bored. You can opt for breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner and have meals for five or seven days of the week. When choosing your menu, you can also specify up to three allergens or food preferences and the Fresh N’ Lean chefs will exclude them from your meal plan. Example Meal: -Spinach Pesto Veggies -Tomato Coconut Bisque Soup Sustainability & Quality: Every Fresh N’ Lean meal is packaged in a BPA-free, recyclable plastic tray. The plastic film used to seal the meals, the cardboard box the meals ship in, and the packaging are all recyclable. The only thing you can’t recycle is the gel packs that keep the food cold. In addition to its focus on sustainability, Fresh N’ Lean also prioritizes quality ingredients. All meals are freshly prepared with as many organic ingredients as possible, and everything is made in a gluten-free kitchen. Price: From $9 per serving Each meal, which is chef-created with input from dietitians, arrives premade. You can heat directly in the microwave for a meal that’s ready in about three minutes, or opt for the oven instead. As an added bonus, Factor also offers a 20-minute complimentary consultation with an on-staff dietitian, if you need specific nutrition advice or guidance on which meals are best for you. Example Meal: -Jalapeño Popper Burger -Keto Ranch Chicken Sustainability & Quality: Factor makes all its meals without refined sugars, GMOs, or antibiotics. The company also prioritizes humanely raised meats, and it has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to animal welfare. Most of Factor’s packaging is recyclable, with the exception of the plastic film that covers the food. Price: From $11 per serving While menus don’t change weekly, the chefs regularly add new options to the low-carb meal plan. They also keep customer favorites so you can go back and reorder your go-to’s. There are more than two dozen options, and each meal is tagged with a qualifier like “new” or “favorite” to help you navigate the menu more easily. You can also choose from complete meals, or opt for separate sides and proteins to build your own. Example Meal: -Chorizo con Papas Breakfast Tacos with Salsa Roja -Baja Shrimp Taco Salad with Pickled Slaw and Mango Salsa Sustainability & Quality: Each meal is curated with the freshest ingredients available, many of which come from local farms or purveyors as close in proximity to the company as possible. While not every ingredient is organic, the company does prioritize organic ingredients whenever possible. Almost everything, including sauces, is made in-house to ensure quality control. As for sustainability, all of Snap Kitchen’s packaging is recyclable, with the exception of the gel pack filling (but you can reuse them if you want). Price: From $11 per serving If you’d rather not individually choose your own meals, you can mark food preferences in your account and Territory Foods will automatically curate your menu for you. Before each box ships, you can swap meals based on your preferences or choose to have it shipped as is. Example Meal: -Pork Egg Roll in a Bowl -Creamy Mustard Chicken with Rosemary Cauliflower Rice Sustainability & Quality: Territory Foods has nutritionists on staff and a network of local chefs who ensure everything is macro-balanced and of the highest quality. Some of those chefs prioritize using organic ingredients, while others focus more on getting food from local businesses and farms. Most of the packaging material—including the cardboard boxes, liners, and meal sleeves—is recyclable. Price: Varies based on area Each meal arrives pre-cooked and can be heated up in two to three minutes if you use the microwave. You can opt to use the oven instead, but you’ll have to transfer your meal to an oven-safe dish (the trays they come in aren’t safe for oven use). The Good Kitchen is one of the only meal delivery services that offers a one-time shipment without the hassle of going into your account to skip deliveries or cancel your subscription. You can also sign up for weekly, biweekly, or monthly deliveries of 6, 8, 10, or 12 meals if you want to commit. Example Meal: -Ranch Chicken with Buffalo Cauliflower -Venison Meatloaf With Broccoli Squash Casserole Sustainability & Quality: In addition to sourcing local ingredients, The Good Kitchen includes only humanely raised protein sources in its meals. The company is also committed to sustainability by shipping meals in recyclable packaging and containers. Price: From $16 per serving You’ll also want to consider dietary preferences and/or allergens outside of carbohydrates. Some services offer plenty of options to customize your meals, while others don’t give you a lot of wiggle room. If you have other dietary restrictions, make sure to check what the company can accommodate. Other factors to take into consideration are price and overall commitment. Prices vary depending on ingredients used and types of meals offered.
