These Meal Kits May Be Cheap, but They Still Taste Great

These Meal Kits May Be Cheap, but They Still Taste Great

At the end of the day, the last thing many of us want to do is think about meal planning and preparation; and skyrocketing food costs are making these decisions even more stressful. But thanks to the increasing variety and affordability of many prepared meals and meal kit delivery services, an easy solution might be within reach.

Prepared meals and meal kits not only do the hard work for you, but they can also save you money. “If you’re someone who overbuys at the grocery store and is regularly throwing out spoiled food at the end of the week, they can even cut down on food waste, since you get everything you need pre-portioned. And they tend to be a more affordable and a healthier alternative to traditional takeout,” according to registered dietitian Stefani Sassos, Deputy Director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition Lab.

The food and nutrition experts at Good Housekeeping Institute conducted a three-month-long meal delivery services study. We surveyed over 800 individuals to find out which meal delivery brands they loved. Then, we recruited over 150 consumer testers, as well as our in-house experts, to test the services and make sure they lived up to the hype. We evaluated each on taste, pricing, variety, serving size, ingredients and availability. We have tested over 40 meal delivery services and among the offerings, there are a few that stand out because they have been able to maintain a certain level of quality while keeping costs down. These are the six best cheap meal delivery services we’ve tested.

Our top picks:

courtesy of Blue Apron