The Best Fitness Meal Delivery Services to Help Support Your Goals
If you have health or fitness goals but are crunched for time, Green Chef is a great option for busy home cooks looking to take the guesswork out of meal planning.
With so many meal delivery options out there, it can be hard to know where to start, especially if you have fitness-related goals. You may need added protein to help you recover from a deadlift PR, or a good mix of carbohydrates to give you the energy you need to finish the last mile of an endurance race; or perhaps you're just looking for nutritionally-balanced meals to provide you with the fuel your body needs to get you through your day. Knowing this, testers looked at 40 different meal delivery companies and compared them based on price, nutritional transparency, the number of dietary choices accommodated,and, of course, the quality of the cooked meals. The resulting data was used to narrow the field to help you find a meal delivery service to complement your fitness goals.
Best Meal Delivery for Fitness of 2022
Best Overall: Green Chef
Best Value: Fresh N' Lean
Best for Nutrition Consultation: bistroMD
Best Variety: Hungryroot
Best Gluten-Free: Freshly
Best Vegan: Trifecta
Best Keto: Factor
Best Paleo: Paleo On The Go
Best Whole30: The Good Kitchen
Best Overall: Green Chef
Key Specs
Starting Price: $12 per serving
Delivery Area: 47 states
Products Arrive: Fresh
Why You Should Try It
With a roster of meals that accommodates a variety of nutritional needs, Green Chef's fresh meal kits make flavorful weeknight meals a snap.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Up to 12 servings per meal can be ordered
Meals ready in about 30 minutes
Full nutrition label with each recipe
Cons
Expensive
Limited cuisine
Overview
If you enjoy cooking but are crunched for time, Green Chef's meals are a great weeknight option. Meals are ready in 30 minutes or less, and you can easily order up to 12 servings to satisfy your whole family. The company is clear in its nutrition labeling, which is especially helpful if you're tracking macronutrients.
Pricing and Plans
2 people, 3 meals per week: $13 per serving
2 people, 4 meals per week: $13 per serving
4 people, 3 meals per week: $12 per serving
4 people, 4 meals per week: $12 per serving
6 people, 3 to 4 meals per week: $12 per serving
Meals We Tried
Harissa-spiced shrimp
Sesame ginger bavette steak and shrimp
Middle Eastern-style chickpea bowls
Maple glazed carrots with figs
Best Value: Fresh N' Lean
Key Specs
Starting Price: $8 per serving
Delivery Area: 50 states
Products Arrive: Fresh
Why You Should Try It
If you're looking for budget-friendly premade meals, Fresh N' Lean's selection may appeal to you.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Delivers nationwide
Provides medically-tailored meals
Provides high-protein options
Cons
Difficult to recycle materials
Customer service somewhat limited
Overview
Fresh N' Lean offers the best value among the meal delivery services testers tried. Prices are as low as $8.49 (compared to other companies that start at more than $10 per serving) and Fresh N' Lean delivers nationwide. Meals can be medically tailored, so if you have diabetes, high cholesterol, or celiac disease, Fresh N' Lean has meals that can accommodate your nutritional needs. Finally, Fresh N' Lean features multiple cuisines, including Greek, Japanese, and Mexican, to name just a few.
Pricing and Plans
The more meals you purchase per week, the lower your cost per meal will be:
Protein+ Meal Plan: $10 to $11 per meal
Keto Meal Plan: $11 per meal
Vegan Meal Plan: $8 to $10 per meal
Whole 30 Meal Plan: $11 to $16 per meal
Meals We Tried
Grilled shrimp with caper dill aioli and roasted winter squash
Moroccan mint grass-fed steak with spiced cauliflower and brown rice
Tikka chicken with turmeric-roasted cauliflower and quinoa
BBQ turkey meatballs with white beans
Cajun salmon with yukon potato and tomato rice
Best for Nutrition Consultation: bistroMD
Key Specs
Starting Price: $11 per serving
Delivery Area: 48 states
Products Arrive: Frozen
Why You Should Try It
BistroMD offers individualized support through one-on-one consultations with dietitians along with additional tools and resources so you can easily customize your meals based on your nutritional goals.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Physician and registered dietitians on the team
Medically tailored meals
Over 150 meals to choose from
Cons
No meal rotation
Lots of unlabelled plastic packaging
Overview
BistroMD's meals are created in collaboration with a staff physician and its registered dietitians to ensure nutritional balance, making this delivery service a great choice if you need additional nutrition consultation. With over 150 meals to choose from, there are meals free from common food allergens, carb-consistent options for people with diabetes, and food that meet the American Heart Association's recommendations for calories, sodium, total fat, and saturated fat.
Pricing and Plans
7 breakfasts, 7 lunches, and 6 dinners: $220
5 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 5 dinners: $187
7 lunches and 7 dinners: $189
5 lunches and 5 dinners: $150
Meals We Tried
Chicken, rice and cheddar casserole
Salmon with dill mustard sauce
Turkey breaks with cranberry apple chutney
Oven-fried catfish with spicy tomato leek sauce
Baked pasta marinara with chicken sausage
Meatloaf with honey bourbon glaze
Mojo pork with black beans and rice
Chicken pad thai
Grilled salmon with creamy pesto
Lasagna with garden marinara
Best Variety: Hungryroot
Key Specs
Starting Price: $10 per serving
Delivery Area: 48 states
Products Arrive: Fresh
Why You Should Try It
Hungryroot doesn't just offer meals; it also functions as a grocery delivery service, giving you plenty of options to help you streamline your weekly meal planning.
Pros & Cons
Pros
FDA-standard based meals
Over 3,000 recipes crafted by chefs
Cons
Delivery contained unmarked plastic
Poor transparency on pricing without a subscription
Overview
With over 2,000 recipes, Hungryroot offers plenty of variety for busy cooks. Ingredients are pre-measured and portioned, making meal prep a snap. Hungryroot's search filters and wealth of dietary options makes it easy to address your food and health needs, with nutritional guidelines that accommodate an array of medically necessary diets (including protocols for heart disease and celiac disease).
Pricing and Plans
Meals start at $10; a minimum of $70 an order per week to obtain free shipping
For orders less than $70, shipping is $7
Meals We Tried
Spinach artichoke and mushroom tortelloni
Roasted salmon and sweet potato on Brussels sprouts
Southwest chicken and rainbow veggie tacos
Thai peanut beef and broccoli stir-fry
Best Gluten-Free: Freshly
Key Specs
Starting Price: $9 per serving
Delivery Area: 48 states
Products Arrive: Fresh
Why You Should Try It
Freshly's rigorous gluten-free protocol makes this service our top choice for those with gluten allergies or sensitivities.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Weekly rotations of more than 50 meals
Foods prepared in a Gluten-Free Food Service-certified kitchen
Cons
Limited selection for other medically necessary diets
Poor transparency on pricing without a subscription
Overview
Freshly features a weekly rotation of more than 50 meals and you can filter according to your dietary preferences, including high protein, low-carb, pescatarian, and vegetarian options. All Freshly's meals are made in gluten-free facilities and certified through the Gluten Free Food Service, a division of the Gluten Intolerance Group, so you can feel confident that your meals will meet your gluten-free needs.
Pricing and Plans
4 meals per week: $13 per serving
5 meals per week: $12 per serving
6 meals per week: $11 per serving
7 meals per week: $11 per serving
8 meals per week: $10 per serving
9 meals per week: $10 per serving
10 meals per week: $10 per serving
11 meals per week: $10 per serving
12 meals per week: $10 per serving
Meals We Tried
Asian style chicken and noodles
Steak peppercorn
Thai green curry
Pork chile colorado
Best Vegan: Trifecta
Key Specs
Starting Price: $11 per serving
Delivery Area: 50 states
Products Arrive: Fresh
Why You Should Try It
Trifecta touts itself as a meal delivery service that caters primarily to athletes, making it a good choice if you're looking for portion-controlled meals with clearly labeled macronutrients.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Registered dieticians, doctors, and health coaches on staff
Chefs have Michelin-restaurant backgrounds
Cons
Expensive
Most of the packaging isn't recyclable
Overview
Compared to competitors, Trifecta has a high level of nutrition transparency thanks to its medical staff, which includes registered dietitians, doctors, and health coaches. Combined with the chefs with Michelin-restaurant backgrounds, Trifecta the best fitness food delivery for vegan meals, though the service also offers meals compliant with paleo, Whole30, and vegetarian diets. Factor also offers plans that accommodate conditions including heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, and celiac disease.
Pricing and Plans
5 entrées (breakfast, lunch, and dinner): $155
7 entrées (lunch and dinner): $111
7 entrées (breakfast, lunch, and dinner): $215
10 entrées (lunch and dinner): $159
10 entrées (breakfast, lunch, and dinner): $230
14 entrées (lunch and dinner):l $220
14 entrées (breakfast, lunch, and dinner): $215
Meals We Tried
Kung pao grilled chicken with broccoli and roasted sweet potato
Beef skillet with roasted sweet potato and marinated cabbage
Herb roasted cod with walnut basil pesto and vegetables
Slow-cooked rosemary thyme beef with root vegetables
Salmon Mexican bowl with tomato salsa and vegetables
Ginger shrimp with herb marinated sweet potato
Cajun chicken andouille sausage and roasted vegetables
Best Keto: Factor
Key Specs
Starting Price: $11 per serving
Delivery Area: 50 states
Products Arrive: Fresh
Why You Should Try It
Factor's menu primarily caters to keto and low-carb diets, so if your health-care provider recommends a keto protocol, this service may be a good choice for you.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Registered dietitians and health coaches on-staff
Offers complimentary 20-minute nutrition counseling session
Cons
Limited options outside of keto meals
Overview
Factor focuses on keto or low-carb meals with vegan, vegetarian, and high protein categories. The most significant benefit is a complimentary 20-minute nutrition counseling session that is offered once you have purchased a meal plan. If you have specific health or fitness goals, this can be a useful tool to help you customize your meal plan to suit your dietary needs.
Pricing and Plans
4 meals per week: $15 per meal
6 meals per week: $13 per meal
8 meals per week: $12 per meal
10 meals per week: $12 per meal
12 meals per week: $12 per meal
18 meals per week: $11 per meal
Best Paleo: Paleo On The Go
Key Specs
Starting Price: $15.93 per serving
Delivery Area: 48 states
Products Arrive: Frozen
Why You Should Try It
Paleo On the Go offers pre-made breakfast, entrées, and desserts that are paleo-friendly and autoimmune protocol (AIP) compliant.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Meal boxes very customizable
Transparent pricing
Clear nutrition facts
Cons
Questionable medical terms such as "leaky gut" used to market
Expensive
Overview
Paleo On the Go is an excellent option if you adhere to a paleo diet. The nutrition facts are easily accessible, so you can customize your plan if you're looking to up your protein intake or you prefer to avoid meals that contain foods eliminated by paleo or AIP diets. (This list includes gluten, grains, eggs, dairy, nuts and seeds, nightshades, sugar or artificial sweeteners, chocolate, or seed-based spices). The company's pricing is also transparent: It compares your one-time purchase or the other savings options right next to each other to make it easier for you to find a plan that fits your budget.
Pricing and Plans
Prices vary greatly depending on how you build your box, but the more you purchase, the more you will save.
Options include a one-time box with at least eight meals, or a subscription box with eight, 12, or 16 meals.
Meals We Tried
Homemade chicken pot pie
Bacon apple chicken burger with maple cranberry sauce and collard greens with smoky bacon
Coq au vin with herb mashed Japanese white sweet potatoes
Salisbury steak with mushroom gravy and onion confit cauliflower mash
Moo shoo pork tacos
German brats with sauerkraut and home fried potatoes
Polish stuffed cabbage rolls
Thai basil shrimp
Best Whole30: The Good Kitchen
Key Specs
Starting Price: $11.50 per serving
Delivery Area: 50 states
Products Arrive: Fresh
Why You Should Try It
If you opt to follow a Whole30 protocol, The Good Kitchen offers a bevy of meals that feature grass-fed beef and chicken raised without antibiotics or added hormones.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Packaging is primarily recyclable compared to competitors
Transparent food sourcing information.
Cons
Can't choose delivery date
Overview
The Good Kitchen is a good choice if you want to adhere to a Whole30 diet while supporting a company that puts sustainability and food sourcing information front and center. The website gives transparent details regarding its sourcing standards, and the meals are rotated weekly to feature various cuisines and eating patterns such as nutrient-dense, gluten-free, vegetarian, primal, paleo, low-fat, dairy-free, egg-free, shellfish-free, and tree nut-free.
Pricing and Plans
6 meals: $98.87
8 meals: $129.36
10 meals: $157.66
12 meals: $180.10
Meals We Tried
Beef shepherd's pie
Bison and beef sloppy joe with potato leek gratin
Chicken satay with cilantro rice and broccoli
Chili lime chicken with fajita veg and cilantro cauliflower rice
Miso glazed wild boar meatballs and hibachi zucchini
Tomato, asparagus, and spinach frittata with yukon potato hash
Final Verdict
The Green Chef provides enough variety to get you through the week while allowing you to order up to 12 servings of your favorite meals. Combined with the ease of prep that it lends to its meal kits and easily accessible nutrition information, it's our top pick for the best overall fitness meal delivery service.
Compare the Best Meal Delivery for Fitness
Company | Starting Price | Delivery Area | Products Arrive | Customers Can Choose Delivery Date? | Free Shipping? |
Best Overall | $12 per serving | 47 states | Fresh | Yes | No |
Best Value | $9 per serving | 50 states | Fresh | No | Yes, with order greater than $85 |
Best for Nutrition Consultation | $11 per serving | 48 states | Frozen | No | No |
Best Variety | $10 per serving | 48 states | Fresh | Yes | Yes, with order greater than $70 |
Best Gluten-Free | $9 per serving | 48 states | Fresh | Yes | No |
Best Vegan | $11 per serving | 50 states | Fresh | No | No |
Best Keto | $11 per serving | 50 states | Fresh | Yes | Yes, depending on plan |
Best Paleo | $16 per serving | 50 states | Fresh | No | No |
Best Whole30 | $12 per serving | 48 states | Fresh | No | No |
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Are Meals From a Meal Delivery Service Good For?
Meal deliveries may arrive fresh, frozen, or prepared. The fresh kits and produce will typically last two to five days, with fresh meats lasting the shortest time. Prepared foods that are adequately sealed will last longer. Check the FAQs page for the meal delivery services you are interested in or reach out to customer service.
Are Fitness Meal Delivery Services Expensive?
Costs vary greatly and depend on many factors. Generally speaking, the price of a meal delivery service will fall somewhere between a meal you cook at home and restaurant takeout. If your goal is to save time and pay less than you typically would for takeout or local restaurant delivery, a meal delivery service may be a good fit.
What Are the Benefits of Choosing a Meal Delivery Service Instead of Meal Prepping?
If the saying "time is money" rings true to you, comparing how much time you will save with a meal delivery service compared to meal prepping may be the deciding factor. Choosing a meal delivery service can save you time, as most offer meals or kits in pre-proportioned sizes, taking much of the guesswork out of meal planning.
Methodology
Testers reviewed 40 companies and evaluated flavor, packaging/sustainability, customer experience, nutrition and information transparency, cookability, family focus, and nutrition values when choosing our top picks. The ultimate goal was to provide selections in a variety of categories to help you choose a service that works best for your lifestyle.