Busy families need a meal-time solution the most, and a meal kit might just be the answer.
If you're in a never-ending quest to simplify weeknight meals, there's a good chance you've heard of meal delivery services — companies that send ingredients (or fully prepared meals) straight to your doorstep. It can be a smart way to cut down on the mental work required to come up with weekly menus, especially if you're constantly on the go.
Carolina Schneider, MS, a registered dietitian and nutrition adviser for Daily Harvest, says meal services can help families enjoy balanced meals with less prep, giving parents “flexibility to their routines” and easing the daily pressure of cooking. Rebecca Blake, RD, of Fay Nutrition, agrees that healthy meal delivery services are ideal for “busy, over-programmed” families and adds they’re “a great way to introduce kids to cooking.”
But how are you supposed to know which is right? The key is finding the best meal delivery service that fits your family’s needs — from dietary restrictions to picky eaters — so dinner arrives at your door planned, prepped and stress-free.
Our nutritionist-led team researched, tested and tasted over a dozen family-friendly meal delivery services — from keto meal delivery services to vegan meal kit services — evaluating cost, variety, freshness, sustainability and ease of use to help you find the best fit for your household.
Update, July 7, 2025: We checked all product prices and availability. Our No. 1 pick for the best meal delivery service for families remains unchanged.
Cost: Consider the price per serving and the number of servings you'll need for each meal. Meal delivery services for families should offer plans that cater to larger groups. Prices typically range from $7 to $13 per serving and decrease as you order more meals per delivery. It's important to compare the cost per serving across different services while also considering how the service suits your family’s dietary preferences and tastes.
Ease of use: Meal delivery kits for families should be easy to use, save time and reduce mealtime stress. They should have a simple ordering process, clear cooking instructions and a convenient delivery schedule. Some services offer prepared meals that only need to be heated, while others provide ingredients and recipes for you to cook the meal yourself. Still, others offer add-on sides, snacks or additional meals. Services that cater to families often offer meals that are easy to prepare and are kid-friendly.
Menu choice: A good variety of recipes and ingredients make it more likely that your family will enjoy meals without waste. Look for a service that offers a range of recipes that fit your family's dietary needs and tastes, especially if you're following a particular diet or have a weight loss goal. "For people with dietary restrictions, meal delivery services can make it easier to get adequate nutrition while following diets like vegan, vegetarian or gluten-free," says Schneider. The ingredients should also be fresh and high quality.
Taste: Above all, the meals should be delicious; otherwise, uneaten dishes mean wasted money and food. Taste can be subjective, so it's a good idea to read reviews or try a few different services to find one that suits your family's palate.
Eco-friendly packaging: Consider the type of packaging the meal delivery service uses, including how it's shipped and whether you can reuse or recycle the packaging. Many services try to reduce their environmental impact by using recyclable or compostable packaging. This is especially important for families who want to shrink their ecological footprint.
Every meal kit we reviewed has different strengths and weaknesses. Some are very easy, others offer more variety; some are great for families with picky eaters and special diets, others are geared toward vegans and vegetarians. We also tested some heat-and-eat meal options (remember when we used to call them TV dinners?) to throw into the mix for busier families.
To narrow down the list of the best meal delivery services, an in-house culinary expert and Yahoo testers and editors collectively tried 15 of the top delivery services with their families. We evaluated the services according to the number of weekly menu choices, quality and freshness, ease of cooking, cost, eco-friendly packaging and — most of all — taste.
Green Chef and EveryPlate offer boxes for up to six people and are some of the best meal delivery services for large families. However, you can always double up on boxes or individual meals to reach the necessary number of servings for your household. Choose a meal delivery service that balances price with flavor and variety since feeding a larger family costs more.
Meal delivery services can benefit families with picky eaters since they offer a range of meals suited for different dietary preferences, making it easier to find meals that everyone in the family will enjoy.
While meal delivery services seem expensive up front, they can help families save money in the long run. They reduce food waste by providing preportioned ingredients, and they can save time spent on meal planning and grocery shopping. If you regularly rely on takeout, delivery or other more expensive, convenient options, these delivery services can save you money and provide more nutritional meals.
Many meal delivery services offer plans catering to larger groups, including families of five or more, though some serve only up to four. The specific number of servings will depend on the particular service and the meal plan. Green Chef and EveryPlate have options for up to six people, but you could also double up on a specific meal if you have a larger family and save any leftovers for lunches.
Most meal delivery services have flexible subscriptions that allow you to cancel anytime. Specific cancellation policies are unique to each service, so be sure to research these when choosing a plan.
Carolina Schneider, MS, registered dietitian and Nutrition Advisor for Daily Harvest
Rebecca Blake, registered dietician at Fay Nutrition.