A frozen meal delivery service is an easy way to ensure you always have a convenient, nutrient-packed option on hand. Unlike the frozen meals of your childhood, which are chock-full of excess sodium and preservatives, these modern-day options incorporate fats, proteins, and carbohydrates into a balanced offering that’s bound to leave you feeling recharged and satiated. Of course, not all frozen meal services offer the same caliber of ingredients or even nutritional content. Before settling for a subpar option that leaves your body (and taste buds) begging for something different, uncover our top picks below, which all prioritize quality, sustainability, and nutrition in every entrée. Plus, freezing certain foods can actually be beneficial when trying to maximize the nutrients in your meals. “It can ’lock in’ some of the nutrients found in fresh produce, such as antioxidants, whereas they might lose their potency if those foods hung out on the shelf or in the fridge for a while,” according to registered dietitian Jessica Cording, M.S., R.D., CDN. Just remember that the nutritional value of produce starts to decline after more than a year in your freezer. As a result, Cording recommends a “FIFO” or “first-in-first-out” system, which is practiced in hospital food services. She says this ensures you don’t overcrowd your freezer or accidentally leave a meal in the back of your freezer for too long. The best way to ensure a frozen entrée works for your preferred eating plan is to review the nutrition label. For Cording, this entails a vegetable-forward meal with at least 15 to 30 grams of protein, as well as fibers and healthy fats. If a meal doesn’t meet your desired breakdown, she suggests adding some additional ingredients to meet your goals, such as greens for more veggies, egg for added protein, or half an avocado for more fat. Don’t want to spend time scanning every meal? Skip to the best frozen meal delivery services, which we’ve already vetted for no preservatives or excess sodium, as well as quality ingredients (i.e., organic or locally sourced). Committed to real ingredients, the brand doesn’t include any artificial ingredients or preservatives in any of its recipes. Every item is vegetarian, but some are also vegan (i.e., they don’t contain any eggs or dairy). Luckily the menu makes it super easy to identify which category the entrée falls into, along with showcasing the key ingredients in a recipe. Plus, on-site icons indicate whether a recipe is made without nuts, sugar, or wheat. Example Recipe: -Italian ‘sausage’ & pumpkin lasagna -Coconut chickpea curry Sustainability & Quality: Mosaic’s mission is focused on making healthy food accessible and sustainable; part of the decision to go frozen rather than fresh was to help reduce food waste. Naturally, all packaging is curbside recyclable including the box, lining papers, boxes, and trays. The brand also opts for dry ice rather than ice packs to keep goods frozen; it often creates less waste and weighs less than gel, making shipping more efficient. Extra points? The brand donates 2 pounds of food to City Harvest for every Mosaic box sold. Check out our full review to learn more. Meals tend to be on the lighter side, but that’s not a bad thing if you’re partial to doctoring your recipes at home with extra protein-packed toppings, like hummus or shredded chicken. All in all, you’ll get more than 100 items to choose from with a range of ingredients that are just as diverse. Select a small, medium, or large box depending on your needs. Prices vary by the items selected, but the brand will send a text the day your order processes, which gives you ample time to change your order if needed (or to cancel altogether). Example Meal: -Mint and cacao smoothie -Mulberry and dragon fruit oat bowl Sustainability & Quality: Daily Harvest prioritizes organic ingredients with a special emphasis on the Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen list. The company also supports farmers and helps new contractors convert to regenerative food systems. Nearly all packaging is recyclable, but a few items must be taken to a local facility to ensure they’re repurposed. Check out our full review of Daily Harvest. When selecting your box items, you can easily filter for recipes containing less sodium, calories, sugars, or fats, as well as allergens such as sesame, soy, tree nuts, or coconuts. Of course, there’s also the opposite; filters for recipes with more protein and/or more fiber. The five available plans adjust offerings based on desired meal times and can be delivered weekly, biweekly, or monthly. You’ll get total control over the items in your box and can choose to skip ingredients that you don’t care for, such as mushrooms, bananas, or spice. Another standout site feature is the key ingredient box, which highlights the nutritional benefit of key ingredients in the recipe. Example Meal: -Black bean and plantain grain bowl -Kale pesto noodles Sustainability & Quality: Every plant-based Splendid Spoon meal is GMO-free; smoothies and wellness shots are 95% organic. Similar to other frozen options, the biggest downside of the company’s product is the amount of packaging produced by each order, but it’s 100% recyclable with the company actively working toward 100% sustainability in all aspects of the business, from growing to distribution. Boxes are available with 8, 12, or 16 frozen items included in shipments every 2, 4, or 8 weeks. Each box has its own shipping fee, so we recommend maximizing your order size and including add-ons, such as bakery items or bone broth. But even if you go small, you shouldn’t have an issue hitting the $99 order minimum, as many items are close to $20. Example Meal: -Coq au Vin with herb mashed Japanese white sweet potatoes -Moo shu pork taco kit with AIP-friendly tortillas Sustainability & Quality: Along with adhering to the Dirty Dozen & Clean 15 list for organic produce, Paleo On The Go follows strict standards for protein, requiring they be raised humanely or wild-caught. Packaging materials follow the same standards; they must be recyclable or compostable. Meals tend to be on the lighter side, but that’s not a bad thing if you’re partial to doctoring your recipes at home with extra protein-packed toppings, like hummus or shredded chicken. All in all, you’ll get more than 100 items to choose from with a range of ingredients that are just as diverse. Select a small, medium, or large box depending on your needs. Prices vary by the items selected, but the brand will send a text the day your order processes, which gives you ample time to change your order if needed (or to cancel altogether). Example Meal: -Mint and cacao smoothie -Mulberry and dragon fruit oat bowl Sustainability & Quality: Daily Harvest prioritizes organic ingredients with a special emphasis on the Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen list. The company also supports farmers and helps new contractors convert to regenerative food systems. Nearly all packaging is recyclable, but a few items must be taken to a local facility to ensure they’re repurposed. Check out our full review of Daily Harvest. The smallest plan starts at 18 entrées per box with an option to shop the curated menus or to create your own meal plan, which entails selecting your desired protein, sides, and toppings. While customization is slightly pricier, it ensures you’re really eating the food you want—and even offers real-time insights into the macronutrient breakdown of your creation. The only downside? The limited menu means meals could start to feel repetitive, especially if you have more limited dietary restrictions. Example meals: -Lean beef lasagna -Alaskan code with yams & string beans Sustainability & Quality: Mealpro is serious when it comes to sustainability, always using BPA-free plastic and 100% recycled cardboard boxes with insulation made from eco-friendly materials. The carbon-neutral company also donates a portion of every sale to the hunger banquet. All ingredients are GMO-free and sourced from different parts of the world based on season; January through May is Mexico; June through October is California; November through December is Florida. Regardless of source, you can expect no refined sugars or artificial preservatives, as well as sustainably sourced seafood and humanely treated proteins (no hormones or antibiotics).
