Let’s face it, the struggle is real when it comes to online grocery delivery right now because of this world pandemic! If you are able to schedule online grocery delivery, it will likely be at least a week til you get your groceries. And you might even live in an area where grocery delivery is not an option yet in Lancaster County!
I decided to place my online grocery order for a week from now (I can update my order until the morning of delivery), and in the meantime, we’ll live on our pantry and try one of these meal kit delivery options.
Here are 5 meal delivery services offering excellent deals, especially on your first-time purchase:
1. Gobble – 6 meals for $36
I’ve never tried this meal service before, so it was quite helpful for me to see the types of meals Gobble offers. I love that you can see the majority of their meal options for the next few weeks without giving them any of your information first. Since this deal is for 2 people and 3 nights of meals, we plan to use these as a special date night for my husband and I, instead of using these for the entire family. I can’t wait to let you know how it goes!
You can try 6 Gobble meals for $36 plus FREE shipping, which is just $12 per meal or $6 per serving (assuming you don’t stretch the meals by adding extra sides, in which case its more like $3 per serving for a family of 4).
What I like about it >> They do all the prep work so you can make the meal in just 15 minutes! I also love that you can quickly and easily see next week’s meal options BEFORE you start ordering or sign up.
What I don’t like about it >> While they have kid-friendly options, I feel like a lot of their meals are more culturally unique. We plan on using this for a date night idea with just my husband and I.
Who this is good for >> Small families, or date nights. (That’s $12 per date—and we’ll go on 3 stay-at-home dates this week. :))
2. HomeChef – $35 off your first order
In February, our family tried HomeChef and loved it. My 10-year-old made two of the meals all by himself. With this deal, you can choose 2 meals of 2 servings each (but we easily stretched it to feed all five of us) and pay just $14.80. That’s only $7.40 per meal!!
What I like about it >> They send you a binder with your first order, in which you can keep all your recipe cards. Everything is simple enough for kids to do.
What I don’t like about it >> You can’t view your meals until you sign up. They have good options, its just annoying you can’t see it before you decide to order. But at this price, its worth choosing your meals later, and you can change your week delivery date after you sign up, so its really not too big of a deal.
Who this is good for >> Larger families can easily add to a lot of these meals and stretch them even though they are for just 2 people. You could order a 4 person meal but I was really surprised how easily we stretched ours by adding extra rice or ground beef, etc. Read more about how we stretched the meals.
3. HelloFresh – Get $40 off your first box!
This was the first meal delivery kit our family tried. My 8-year-old made most of the meals for us and loved it. We enjoyed the variety but simplicity of the recipes. In our first order we made honey siracha chicken legs, balsamic onion burgers, and maple-glazed pork chops. You have 22+ meals to choose from every week.
What I like about it >> Each meal is carefully separated into individual paper bags. This made it really easy for me to keep in the fridge and pull out on the night I served it.
What I don’t like about it >> Hmm, there isn’t much I don’t like about HelloFresh, other than its too expensive for me to use it without a coupon. 🙂
Who this is good for >> These meals are perfect for families, and many can be easily stretched. For instance, you could make extra rice or use your own burgers for the kids and the adults can enjoy the yummy balsamic onion topping. Anyone who is learning to cook or wants to try new cuisines would also enjoy trying some new styles and recipes in a very simple way.
4. Fresh Meal Plan – $20 off your first two orders
Fresh Meal Plan provides the perfect weekly meal options for those with an active lifestyle. Traditional, Paleo, Vegan, and Keto plans are available, each prepared with quality, healthful ingredients and delivered directly to your door. No mess, no prep. Subscriptions start at $89 weekly, and clients are encouraged to shop across all menus.
What I like about it >> Excellent selections for paleo, keto, vegan, lean and mean or traditional meal types. You can also order al-a-carte for a one time order and not a subscription.
What I don’t like about it >> You have to order at least 10 meals and pay shipping, so your order will be for $109. The good news is, that’s less than $11 per meal, which might be about the normal cost of your groceries for the week, plus you now don’t have to meal plan.
Who this is good for >> These meals are a good fit for individuals interested in fitness, a healthy lifestyle, weight loss and healthy living and meal planning. They could be perfect for newlyweds or new parents.
5. Sun Basket – $35 off plus 4 FREE Gifts
Sun Basket is a certified organic handler. Their 30-minute recipes are designed for busy people, and delivered right to your door. Every week you have 18 recipes to choose from no matter which meal plan you choose.
You can order as few as 2 recipes and 2 servings each per week, making your first order just $30.94, or $5.16 per serving.
What I like about it >> Their recipes are quick and easy and include organic produce and clean ingredients. You can choose from paleo, carb-conscious, gluten-free, lean & clean, diabetes-friendly, vegetarian, pescatarian, mediterranean and quick & easy categories.
What I don’t like about it >> They currently have a wait list, so you can’t order for next week, but they will contact you as soon as you are able to order. I love that they prioritize their wait list for health care professionals and the elderly.
Who this is good for >> Homes that love organic food and/or have specific dietary needs like diabetes-friendly or gluten-free or vegetarian.
6. Splendid Spoon – $25 off plus a FREE wellness shot!
You might also be interested in Splendid Spoon. They offer ready-to-eat, nourishing, plant-based smoothies, soups and grain bowls. Each meal contains fresh plant-based, gluten-free, and GMO-free ingredients—all clean ingredients. Smoothies are low-sugar to sip for breakfast, and bowls of soup are vegi-loaded.
I recommend choosing the lunch and breakfast combo for $45 (after discount).
Who this is good for >> Perfect for busy moms who want a little extra boost for themselves in the morning and might otherwise be tempted to skip lunch. This is a quick and healthy alternative.
If you’d rather buy your own ingredients, but love the idea of having a variety of meals in your meal plan, consider e-Meals (by Dave Ramsey) or the $5 Meal Plan, two of my personal favorites.
