Best Healthy Meal Services, Tested & Reviewed

To test each meal delivery service, I tried at least five and sometimes as many as ten meals from a given service. I tried to choose a range of meals from the different menus and meal plan offerings. For example, if a service offered plant-based meals, I made sure to try at least one. I also mixed up the meal types to include rice bowls, meat dishes, plant-based offerings, and other different styles from the brand. I also made sure to test different cuisines—Italian, Indian, Thai, Mexican—if they were offered.

Since healthy eating is subjective and people have different dietary needs and goals, I tried to approach this list from all angles and determine which meal delivery services are healthiest for different types of eaters. For example, people following the keto diet may find low-carb meal delivery to be the healthiest. Others who find vegan and plant-based foods healthier than meat-based meals may look for a service that offers more meatless options.

I also paid close attention to each meal delivery service’s website, including what information was provided (ingredients, nutritional information), how well the menu was organized, and how easy it was to choose a healthy meal plan and order meals. When they arrived, I noted how well they were packaged and checked to see if each meal was still refrigerated or frozen.

To reheat meals, I took a two-pronged approach. For some, I followed the heating instructions on the label closely. Because these are suggestions, I reheated others as I would if I had to do it myself. Often that meant gently reheating in a nonstick pan or reheating in an air fryer. Many meal delivery services offer a microwave option, but I almost always found that this yielded worse results.

Meal kit testing requires cooking, and therefore a different set of evaluation practices and procedures. Here’s more about how we test meal kits at CNET.