Here's How Blue Apron, Plated, and HelloFresh's Vegetarian Boxes Stack Up
Chances are you've probably seen quite a few articles and reviews of the big-name meal-kit delivery services. So have I, TBH.
But here's my gripe. As a real-life vegetarian, I find it a little condescending when authors of these posts "order one veg box for variety" and then feel licensed to talk about how great the service is for vegetarians. So I decided to test the vegetarian boxes from three major names in the meal kit delivery game to see how they all stack up.
Now, before I get into it, I'm gonna say something about waste. Every one of these boxes produces a LOT of trash. Each of the brands has their own approach to using recycled materials and trying to reduce their carbon footprints, but plastic waste is still pretty bad. Basically, there's no way around this issue when it comes to these three brands — so if that concerns you, stick to grocery shopping with reusable produce bags.
And lastly, if you are vegan, I don't recommend any of these brands. There are certainly some meals that would work out for you if you left off the cheese, but there are also some meals that are completely dairy-centric and not so vegan-friendly. Go for an exclusively plant-based service instead.
Okay, are you ready?! Let's go!
Blue Apron
How does the service work?
Blue Apron offers a two-person vegetarian plan for $59.94 per week that includes three meals at two servings each, with free shipping. They also offer a family plan that allows you to choose two meals at four servings each for a total of $69.92, or four meals that serve four each for $139.84. For the purpose of this post, I tested the two-person plan with my partner (but it's also great for people who live alone).
Once you sign up with your email address, you can select "vegetarian," and every week you'll receive a new veg box. You can select which recipes you want if you opt for the two-meal family plan, but for the regular three-meal plan, you'll get a box with each of their vegetarian options. You can choose which day of the week you want to receive your delivery, and you can pause the service or skip weeks anytime you want.
What was on the menu? (I tested three weeks' worth)
Week 1: Baked ricotta cannelloni with romaine salad and Meyer lemon dressing. Vegetable fried-rice bowls with cauliflower, gai lan, and fried eggs. Chipotle vegetable and farro salad with avocado and crispy tortilla strips.
Week 2: Vadouvan-spiced vegetable fritters with lemon yogurt and butter lettuce salad. Roasted broccoli and fregola sarda with pepper and olive salsa. Udon noodle soup with miso and soft-boiled eggs.
Week 3: Spinach risotto with fried leeks and mascarpone. Mushroom and barley miso ramen with smoked dulse and spicy red cabbage. Oaxaca cheese and plantain tortas with tangelo and radish salad.
Was the food good?
YES! I really loved Blue Apron. The food was interesting, eclectic, well thought out, and most of the dishes were actually delicious and not smile-through-the-boredom, fake delicious. Though most of the meals were really carb-heavy, they also had a decent amount of protein, which is really important for vegetarians.
What are the calories and portion sizes like?
Calories run a little high for these meals. Most are around 700 to 800 per serving, which is probably why everything tasted so good! This probably also has to do with the portion sizes, which are actually pretty big. You may even be able to eke out an extra serving for lunch the next day if you're not totally starving at dinnertime.
Were instructions easy to follow?
Yes, but it helps to have some cursory knowledge around the kitchen (like the difference between dicing and mincing, and how to properly use a knife). In your box, you'll receive a one-pager for each meal that features step-by-step instructions, pictures, and a visual guide to every ingredient you'll be working with. If you are fairly comfortable in the kitchen, you'll have an easy time following along.
Did it produce a sink full of dishes?
Yes. Blue Apron is pretty heavy on technique for each dish, meaning they don't just have you throw everything into one pot or pan — they have you marinating, roasting, and sautéing something all for one dish. I used more dishes than usual to make dinner most nights, but TBH it felt worth it.
Who is this box best for?
This box is best for someone who knows their way around a kitchen, and who appreciates food that takes a little extra effort for a lot of extra payoff. It's also for the person (or people) who loves exploring interesting delivery food but wants to cut down on costs.
Want to try it for yourself? Sign up for Blue Apron here!
HelloFresh
How does the service work and how much does it cost?
HelloFresh offers a "veggie plan" with three meals at two servings each for $59.94, or three meals at four servings each for $119.88 (all with free shipping). You can also select a family plan that features two meals at four servings each for $69.92, or three meals at four servings each for $104.88.
Once you sign up with your email address and select your plan, you can cancel or skip at any time. If you get the two-meal family plan, you can select which meals you want, but for the regular veggie plan, you'll get all three of that week's vegetarian offerings. You can also choose when to have your box delivered.
What was on the menu? (I tested one week's worth)
Day 1: Double citrus farro salad with roasted sweet potatoes and avocado.
Day 2: Kale chip quinoa bowl with olives, tomatoes, and feta cheese.
Day 3: Pad see ew with rice noodles, mushrooms, and broccoli.
Was the food good?
If you are really into healthy eating, then yes, but if you are really looking for something that's gonna satisfy your cravings for delivery food at the end of a long day, this probably isn't the box for you. HelloFresh's focus is on nutritious eating, so you can expect each box to be really vegetable-forward.
To be honest, since I usually make myself healthy breakfasts and lunches every day, I look forward to dinner as a time to eat something a little richer or more exciting than the salad or brown rice bowl I had earlier in the day. But if you tend to do the opposite by grabbing more indulgent lunches like pizza and sandwiches during the day, you might really appreciate coming home to HelloFresh boxes for dinner.
What are the calories and portion sizes like?
The calories for HelloFresh meals tend to be a bit more reasonable, ranging from about 450 to 750 calories per meal (but most are somewhere in the 500s). They have a heavy emphasis on protein for the most part, so you can count on a relatively balanced meal. The portion sizes are big, but we never really ended up with leftovers since the meals were more veg-forward and thus easier to finish in one sitting.
Were instructions easy to follow?
Very! Each meal came with a one-page write up that featured step-by-step instructions with pictures, as well as a layout of the ingredients and tools you'll need. This is pretty standard, but HelloFresh does an especially good job with their photo layouts.
Did it produce a sink full of dishes?
Not really! HelloFresh does a pretty good job of keeping prep steps and dishes to a minimum.
Who is this box best for?
This box is best for people who are looking for healthy, nutritious, simple meals that are easy to prep after a long day.
Want to try it for yourself? Sign up for HelloFresh here!
Plated
How does the service work and how much does it cost?
Plated only offers two vegetarian options per week, so your choice in plans will depend solely on how many servings of each meal you want to receive. You can choose from a two-serving box for $47.80 + $8 shipping per week, a three-serving box for $69 per week with free shipping, or a four-serving box for $79.60 with free shipping.
Once you sign up with email, you can skip weeks whenever you want, and you can also swap out one of your meals for the monthly vegetarian "encore" recipe which is a fan favorite that they bring back for four weeks at a time. You can also choose delivery dates to fit your schedule.
What was on the menu? (I tested two weeks' worth)
Week 1: Buffalo cauliflower bowl with corn, romaine, and greek yogurt ranch. Broccoli cheddar calzones with marinara sauce.
Week 2: Cobb salad with pear, pecans, and crispy mushrooms. Pizza-dough tostadas with Italian street corn.
Was the food good?
Yes! It was comforting and familiar with just enough of a unique touch that it felt special. I wouldn't say that Plated pushes the envelope in the way that Blue Apron does when it comes to introducing new ingredients, but that makes it especially great for anyone who's new to cooking for themselves.
What are the calories and portion sizes like?
Plated portions are sizable, but I wouldn't necessarily say that you're likely to have leftovers. In terms of calories, you can expect a similar value as Blue Apron — most of their dishes are in the 600- to 900-calorie range.
Were instructions easy to follow?
Yep! Just like the other brands, Plated provides a one pager for each recipe that gives you step-by-step instructions and a list of ingredients. They have photos to show you what the process should look like, which are very straightforward and helpful.
Did it produce a sink full of dishes?
Plated has an interesting approach when it comes to dishes. Most of their recipes are developed to either use the stove top or the oven, with the occasional meal relying on both. This helps to cut down on dishes, and to keep the amount of moving parts and extra work to a minimum.
Who is this box best for?
Because they only offer two vegetarian meals per week, I'd recommend this box for someone who has a busy after-work life and isn't looking to fully commit to cooking for themselves. Twice a week is a good place to start, and if you opt for the larger number of servings, you can cook big portions at one and use it to pack lunches.
Want to try it for yourself? Sign up for Plated here!
In conclusion, our top pick for vegetarians is...
Blue Apron!
Of all the food, theirs felt the most interesting and exciting. There are definitely advantages to the other services (Plated is great for busy people who aren't ready to commit to 3 meals a week, HelloFresh is great for anyone looking to eat healthier), but as someone who likes to cook and explore with food, I felt that Blue Apron's recipes stood out as the most creative and satisfying.
Follow BestProducts.com on Facebook and Pinterest for all the latest products, so you can find the item that's perfect for you (at the right price)!
More from BestProducts:
5 Meal Delivery Services for Every Type of Eater
Top Alcohol Delivery Apps for Ultra Convenience
You Might Also Like
