These curated offerings deliver fruit-and-veggie-packed meals directly to your front door, benefiting both new plant-based eaters and longtime herbivores alike. You’ll save time on food prep and use less brain power mapping out an equally nutritious and satisfying meal. Plus, there are a wide variety of services available to suit different lifestyles, including fully frozen foods, fresh-prepped fare, and meal kits with all the ingredients to channel your inner Ina Garten. The push to eat more fruits and veggies has been around for most since childhood, but this plant-powered way of eating gained traction in the last couple of years for its slew of benefits. Along with reducing your environmental footprint, a plant-based diet can aid in weight management1, support cardiovascular health, help improve glucose levels2, and promote healthy digestion. To craft your perfect plant-based meal, Palmer suggests sticking to the general plate breakdown of 25% protein, 25% whole grains, and 50% fruits and veggies with healthy fats or plant milk alternatives on the side. Most importantly, she suggests looking for whole plant foods like whole grains, fruits, veggies, nuts, and plant proteins such as tofu, tempeh, or pulses. You’ll have the choice to shop a la carte ingredients or curated recipes for your weekly delivery, which starts at $65 per box. Both options allow users to filter by dietary preferences like gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, nut-free, egg-free, and shellfish-free. Example Meals: We’ve tested out Hungryroot including these plant-based meals. If you’re a whiz in the kitchen, the flavors might leave something to be desired. But for a fast and easy meals, here’s our review: -Chickpea and Avocado Sriracha Chopped Salad: Our tester was obsessed with this dish and was blown away by how creamy and flavorful it was for such simple ingredients. -Peanutty Veggie Noodles with Tofu and Crispy Brussels: The peanut sauce is especially tangy, so it may be an unconventional flavor for those who prefer something sweeter or saltier, however the tofu packs enough flavor to counter the zing and add flavor to the Brussel sprouts and noodles. Sustainability & Quality: While not every item is organic, Hungryroot aims to prioritize as many non-GMO products as it can. Shipping materials are also curbside recyclable sans the ice pack—a newly launched pouch uses a nontoxic gel that can be poured down the sink or used to feed your plants (!!!). Unfortunately, the brand does source groceries from a variety of companies, which makes further recycling instructions difficult to track down. Recipe Nutrition Score: B+ Registered dietician nutritionist Molly Knudsen, M.S., RDN reviewed the nutritional label for the Peanutty Veggie Noodles with Tofu and Crispy Brussels and gave the final product a B. She liked that the meal provided lots of fiber, which is essential for optimal gut health and healthy bowel movements. Knudsen also noted the meal was “really good on sodium” and “low in added sugars” despite including sauce. However, she noted the recipe may be higher in fat than some people may wish for (about 60% of calories). While low-carb eaters may struggle to find enough options, it’s possible to filter out high-protein recipes and allergens like dairy, eggs, nuts, and wheat. The hardest part will be deciding what to try first: roasted garlic cauliflower soup, butternut squash risotto, or beet bourguignon. Example Meals: After trying more than a dozen different Mosaic meals spread across a few orders, mindbodygreen testers considered these plant-based picks the most delicious options: -Eggplant Masala & Mango Chutney: Who knew a microwave dish could pack this much flavor? The tender eggplant is perfectly seasoned with garam masala, ginger, cardamom and cinnamon. While the addition of mango is jarring at first, it perfectly balances the dish with a lighter, slightly sweet flavor. -Pozole Verde: The perfect fall dish, this flavorful soup packs beans for protein and pepita seeds for healthy fats in a warm, tangy tomatillo base. Reviewers could eat this at least once a week (and one did)! Sustainability & Quality: Mosaic sticks to frozen meals because they create less manufacturing waste and help buyers reduce their risk of food waste. This commitment to sustainability continues with the packaging with a curbside recyclable box, lining papers, boxes, and trays (though you’ll need to give these a rinse). You’ll likely need to make a trip to your local grocery store or recycling center to recycle the plastic film on the trays. Read our full review of Mosaic Foods. Recipe Nutrition Score: A- Knudsen reviewed the nutritional label for the Eggplant Masala & Mango Chutney and was impressed by the ingredients. She liked that the bowl incorporated a variety of whole plant foods (and we all know the importance of biodiversity in our diet), however Knudsen warned the recipe may be too low in protein for some (~10% of calories) and too high in fat for others (~39% of calories). Every hand-packed box is filled with pre-measured portions of all the ingredients you’ll need for a nutritious meal, and each recipe takes less than 30 minutes. Example Meal: -Baja Cauliflower Bowls with rice, corn, roasted red peppers, chipotle aïoli, cashews -Black Bean Flautas with kale salad, broiled corn, and guacamole Sustainability & Quality: Green Chef is the very first USDA-certified organic meal delivery kit—but the ethos on quality doesn’t end there. It also offsets 100% of its carbon emissions and focuses on completely recyclable packaging. Plus, the brand even partners with sustainability organizations to ensure they stay as green as possible. Recipe Nutrition Score: D Knudsen reviewed the nutritional label for the Baja Cauliflower Bowls and felt there was room for improvement; she noted the recipe was high in sodium (almost 60% of the daily 2,400mg recommendation) and much lower in fiber than many other plant-based meals. Beyond that, it also had a fairly high fat macro breakdown, which also leads to more calories per serving than may suit some people’s needs. Knudsen also noted the recipe lacked a significant protein source beyond nuts. Past selections like crispy harissa tofu, scallion mushroom dumplings, and lemon-braised chickpeas showcase the depth of options available—and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. You can also add on pantry items like vegan pesto, cheese, and sausage for extra excitement. Plus, the assortment can be filtered for dietary needs, such as low-calorie or high-protein meals, as well as allergy information for soy, gluten, and nuts. Example Meals: -Falafel bowl with harissa glazed carrots and dill garlic sauce -Loaded avocado toast with dill and seeds -Sumac tofu fattoush with kalamata olives and creamy cucumber dressing Sustainability & Quality: While the brand prioritizes organic produce, it doesn’t guarantee a completely GMO-free meal. However, shelf-stable ingredients are most likely organic, according to the brand. Plus, the company supports the Farmlink Project and offers an in-depth guide on how to recycle the leftover packaging from your order. Recipe Nutrition Score: A Knudsen only had positive things to say about Purple Carrot’s Sumac Tofu Fattoush recipe. She called the meal nutritionally balanced with a high-quality protein source (extra-firm protein), 11g of fiber, and no added sugars. Plus, she calls out the meal for packing 30% of the daily recommended calcium. Whether you opt for a spinach and shiitake grit bowl or an açai and cherry smoothie, your vegan goodies will arrive completely frozen and need minimal prep work. Think a few minutes in the blender or half an hour in the oven. Not to mention, there’s even a line of dairy-free frozen desserts crafted with whole foods and natural sweeteners. Example Meals: We have a full Daily Harvest Review for those who want even more intel on this plant-based brand, but these are some of mbg’s tester’s top picks: -Chocolate + Blueberry Smoothie: One of our editors loves this smoothie so much, she’s purchased an entire delivery with just this recipe. So while $9 may seem steep for ingredients you still need to blend yourself, she claims you can’t find (or make) anything that tastes this good. Plus, there’s kale and a hormone-balancing superfood hiding in this one. -Cremini + Asparagus Pot Pie: This plant-based take on a chicken pot pie packs plenty of flavor and a variety of veggies with a creamy, dairy-free base that tastes pretty darn close to the real thing. The perfect snack or side dish to a meal, it’s a great mid-day way to get a warm, nutrient-packed dish. Sustainability & Quality: The brand has a long-term goal to be 100% compostable, recyclable, and virgin-plastic-free—and we’re pretty impressed by its sustainability steps so far. The cups are the only paper that’s not curbside recyclable, and a few plastics require extra attention. Plus, the brand supports farmers in making the swap to organic farming with more biodiversity. Recipe Nutrition Score: B Knudsen gave the Daily Harvest Black Bean Cheeze Bowl a solid B, noting that the low-calorie entrée may not offer enough energy for some people. She also flagged that the meal could benefit from additional protein from plant-based sources, such as legumes or tofu. Nationwide deliveries arrive every Tuesday with options to skip or pause your subscription online at any time. Despite more streamlined offerings, the menu typically includes multiple nut-, soy-, and gluten-free options each week. Example Meal: -Mushroom and lentil burger with ranch salad -Almond ginger quinoa bowl with roasted sweet potatoes and sliced apples Sustainability & Quality: The only packaging you can’t recycle from your delivery is the ice pack, but Sprinly suggests thoughtful ways to give it a second life. The quality continues with nutritious high-quality recipes that prioritize organic ingredients and no preservatives or artificial sweeteners. Recipe Nutrition Score: C Knudsen felt the brand’s Roasted Tahini “Butter” Sweet Potatoes with Red Rice and Sweet Lemon Kale could benefit from a few improvements. She noted the meal was not well-balanced from a macro perspective, making it “high carbohydrates” while “very low in protein.” Plus, the recipe lacked non-starchy vegetables and a high quality protein source, which could be small at-home improvements. Plus, the menu can be filtered for a range of other dietary needs such as paleo, gluten-free, carb-conscious, or lean & clean. Example Meal: -Tofu burgers with Korean BBQ glaze, pickled daikon, and cucumber salad -Black rice bowls with delicata squash, pear, and cashew dressing Sustainability & Quality: Regardless of your selection, you can expect 99% USDA organic ingredients with notifications any time the brand subs in nonorganic ingredients. When your box arrives, most components are curbside recyclable except the plastic bags, which will require a special visit to your local recycling center. Recipe Nutrition Score: B Although Knudsen was impressed by the brand’s low-sodium and low-sugar Deconstructed Samosas recipe—which focuses on whole ingredients and no preservatives—she noted the lack of protein. “Protein really should reach the minimum of 10%, especially at this calorie range,” she says.
