4 Health-conscious Prepared Meal Delivery Services

Meal kit delivery services are all the rage, but sometimes, I don't want to cook. I believe that food tastes better when someone else prepares it. Admittedly, this leads me to enjoy frozen dinners more than I should, and if I had the money, I'd practically be sponsoring my favorite restaurants.

While searching online, I stumbled upon some brands that deliver healthy pre-made meals. I've only tried Mosaic (you can read my oat bowl review here), so I don't have experience with the other three, but I thought I'd give you a rundown and let you know about some of your options.

For the record, this is NOT a paid promotion of any of these companies. Also, the prices and menu items are subject to change. Check out their websites for current information.

1. Mosaic

Mosaic focuses on plant-based meals, but you won't find cold salads on their website. Instead, they offer soups, pizzas, oatmeal, pasta and bowls loaded with vegetables, such as pumpkin, spinach, eggplant and sweet potatoes. You can wash it all down with a Splendid Spoon smoothie.

If you're trying to feed an entire household, Mosaic also sells family meals. At $25 each, they're a little pricey, but they'll help your kids get more vegetables in their diet. Shepherd's pie, pasta bakes, casseroles and Thai curry are a few of your menu options.

Most of Mosaic's meals are vegan-friendly, but a few dishes contain dairy. Some meals contain meat substitutes, such as plant-based sausage, chorizo or meatloaf, while others focus on vegetables and grains. If you want to switch to a vegan diet without giving up your favorite foods, Mosaic might be your solution.

Instead of meal plans, Mosaic sells each item individually. This gives you more freedom, but you'll also have to plan your own menus.

Here's what you could theoretically eat in a day:

• Breakfast: Golden milk and blackberry oat bowl
• Lunch: Butternut turmeric soup
• Dinner: Coconut tofu korma
• Snack: Chocolate cherry smoothie

On average, you'll pay $7 for oat bowls, $10 for soups and smoothies, and $12 for pizzas and vegetables. To place an order, you'll need to build a box with 6, 12 or 18 items. Fortunately, 12- and 18-meal boxes get free shipping.

Pros:

• Lots of variety
• Hearty, filling options
• Family meals available

Cons:

• No desserts
• Prices are a little high
• Some meals contain dairy

2. Sakara

Sakara is virtually the opposite of Mosaic, specializing in light, airy menus with salads, broths, curries and vegetable bowls. Their Signature Nutrition Program emphasizes "eat[ing] the rainbow," which means snacking on leafy greens, healthy fats and water- and protein-packed vegetables.

Your subscription comes with a structured meal plan. No selecting meals here: what you see is what you get. Fortunately, Sakara offers inventive recipes that take inspiration from a variety of cuisines. Purple sweet potatoes, Jasmine rice, chili cashew creme, pickled serranos and pumpkin seed tofu are just a few of the ingredients that could make an appearance in your box.

Sakara's servings are pretty light--typically a baked good or granola for breakfast, a salad or vegetable bowl for lunch, and a curry, stew or vegan pasta for dinner--so if you're used to heartier servings, you might still feel hungry after eating.

For example, this is what you'd eat on May 14, 2025:

• Breakfast: Seaside smoothie bowl topped with seeds and berries
• Lunch: Sweet beet and toasted cashew medley with carrot-and-ginger dressing
• Dinner: Jackfruit "shawarma" bowl with nigella seed pita and hummus

At $372 for four weeks of breakfast, lunch and dinner, Sakara doesn't come cheap. If you want to save money, you can choose a 12-week subscription, select three days of meals instead five, and skip breakfast. This gets you down to $140.67 per week. Still, for some, the light portions might not be worth the cost if you have to supplement them with outside food.

Pros:

• Creative recipes
• Fresh, healthy ingredients
• Pre-planned menus

Cons:

• High price tag
• Limited options
• Snacks and desserts not included

3. Thistle

Like Sakara, Thistle is your source for structured menus with smoothies, salads, curries and veggie bowls. They also sell snacks and desserts, which could make you feel more satiated and help you treat yourself once in a while. Eating nothing but "clean" foods can get exhausting, so it's nice to see chocolate on the menu.

Thistle plans their meals to meet their strict nutrition standards, which include 250-400 calorie breakfasts, 450-650 calorie lunches and dinners, 10-15 grams of fiber, and small servings of superfoods. Common ingredients include mushrooms, baked tofu, chickpea pasta, edamame, summer squash and roasted cacao nibs.

Unfortunately, Thistle's range is limited to select areas in the United States. They also offer separate menus for the West and East Coast, so make sure you're looking at the right one.

This is what you'd eat on May 1, 2025:

• Breakfast: Mocha chia smoothie bowl
• Lunch: Gochujang cauliflower bowl
• Dinner: Roasted artichoke scampi
• Dessert: Pink lemonade mousse cup
• Snack: Cashew pub cheese plate with almonds and tomatoes

I couldn't view the prices because Thistle doesn't deliver to my area, but according to this 2024 review, breakfasts cost about $11, while lunches and dinners cost $12 if you choose the 16-week option. Snacks are a flat $6.50, which honestly sounds like a lot for granola bars and oat bites, but at least they're optional.

If you're still hungry, you can add extra meals, juices and shots to your order. These options are generally consistent from week to week.

Pros:

• High nutrition standards
• Healthy, creative recipes
• Snacks and desserts included

Cons:

• Limited menu
• Meals are a little pricey
• Not available in all states

4. Methodology

Methodology markets itself as the ultimate meal delivery service. Their weekly boxes include pasture-raised meat, Michelin-star ingredients and nutritious dishes with over 200 plants, all arriving in reusable jars and bento boxes. If you live in certain regions of California, they'll even pick up your packaging for recycling.

Their meals are pretty elaborate, too. You can choose from vegan, meat and seafood boxes, each with decadent recipes, such as mousses, chowders, parfaits, pastas and protein scrambles. Ceremonial matcha arrives in every box, so you can enjoy tea with your meals.

The (probably obvious) downside? Methodology is one of the priciest services on the market. One five-day breakfast and lunch program with meat and seafood costs $505. You can try a smaller package, but even the tiniest box--the one-day vegan program--costs $275.

If you have the money and want to eat healthier, Methodology could make mealtimes fun and exciting. However, if you're on a budget, you'll probably balk at a subscription box that costs a fraction of your rent.

Still, Methodology rounds out their boxes with extra treats and beverages that you can enjoy throughout the day. Here's what you'd get with the May 11, 2025 meat and seafood box:

• 5 servings of ceremonial-grade matcha
• 2 ginger-koji "zoodle" soups with chicken meatballs
• 1 ceremonial matcha and strawberry parfait
• 1 Ōra King salmon and Mediterranean salad
• 2 apple cider vinegar shrubs
• 5 protein truffles

Another downside is that the five-day boxes only contain two meals per day. If you want three meals per day, you'll have to choose a smaller box. On the upside, Methodology's dishes require no preparation: just pop them in the microwave and enjoy.

Pros:

• Diverse, nutritious meals
• Meat, seafood and vegan options
• Drinks and desserts included

Cons:

• Extremely pricey
• Some boxes only have two meals
• Small breakfast portions

Have you tried any of these subscription boxes? What did you think? Let me know in the comments.