The Rise of Meal Kits: Are They Healthier—And Are They Worth The Cost?
Source: Silicon Bay Partners’ staff with assistance from ChatGPT
Photo: Courtesy of Hello Fresh
There was a time when dinner started with a trip to the grocery store, a recipe book and a vague hope that you remembered everything on the shopping list. Then came meal kits.
For a generation of consumers who want something better than takeout but don’t necessarily have the time—or inclination—to plan, shop, measure and prep, meal kits have become the middle ground between cooking from scratch and ordering DoorDash.
And the industry is still growing. One market research estimate puts U.S. meal-kit delivery revenue at about $15.3 billion in 2025, with the market projected to reach roughly $28.6 billion by 2033. Another recent survey from KPMG found that 22% of U.S. consumers surveyed had used meal-preparation kits in the previous three months, with HelloFresh and grocery-store meal kits leading usage.
The pandemic gave meal kits a major boost, but convenience—not COVID—is what appears to have kept them around. Consumers increasingly want home-cooked meals without all the work that traditionally comes with them.
So, the obvious questions are: Are meal kits actually healthier? And are they worth what they cost? The answer to both is: sometimes.
The appeal is pretty simple
Meal kits solve several problems at once.
You don’t have to decide what you’re making.
You don’t have to write a shopping list.
You don’t have to buy an entire bottle of a sauce or spice when the recipe calls for one teaspoon.
Instead, a box arrives containing measured ingredients and a recipe card.
Companies have also become considerably more sophisticated. Today’s menus can include vegetarian, vegan, Mediterranean, low-carb, high-protein, gluten-free, paleo and calorie-conscious choices. Some services have also moved beyond traditional kits into prepared meals, allowing customers to mix cooking with simply heating dinner.
Sunbasket, for example, currently offers both meal kits and prepared meals, with meal kits starting at $11.49 per serving and prepared meals starting at $9.99. Its menus include vegetarian, vegan, Mediterranean, paleo, pescatarian and lower-calorie choices. Here are the most popular five:
1. HelloFresh — Best Overall for Variety
HelloFresh remains one of the biggest names in meal kits, and for good reason. Its biggest strength is variety, with dozens of recipes offered each week and choices ranging from family-friendly and vegetarian meals to pescatarian and calorie-conscious options. Recipes are generally straightforward, making HelloFresh particularly appealing to busy people who want to cook without spending an hour planning dinner. Current reviews continue to rank it among the strongest choices for selection and convenience.
2. Blue Apron — Best Overall for Food Quality
Blue Apron is one of the original meal-kit pioneers and remains a standout for people who actually enjoy cooking. Recent testing by Healthline and The Kitchn rated it among the best overall services, praising its ingredients, recipes and flavor. One particularly attractive feature is that customers can now order without committing to a traditional subscription. That makes Blue Apron a good choice if you want meal kits occasionally rather than having another recurring charge on your credit card.
3. Sunbasket — Best for Health-Conscious Eaters
Sunbasket is arguably the strongest choice for people who want healthier meal options without feeling like they’re eating diet food. It offers meal kits and prepared meals, with menus catering to vegetarian, vegan, Mediterranean, paleo, pescatarian and other eating styles. Healthline gave Sunbasket a 4.3/5 rating and highlighted its healthy options, while other 2026 reviews have singled it out for variety and organic ingredients.
4. Green Chef — Best for Organic and Special Diets
Green Chef puts more emphasis on specialized eating plans and organic ingredients than many mainstream competitors. It’s a particularly good fit for people following specific dietary approaches who don’t want to spend Sunday afternoon figuring out what they’re going to eat all week. Healthline rated Green Chef 4.2/5 and praised its organic ingredients and nutritious recipes. The trade-off is price: it tends to cost more than budget-oriented meal-kit services.
5. Home Chef — Best for Families and Flexibility
Home Chef is particularly well suited to families because of its flexible menu and ability to customize meals. That matters when one person wants chicken, another wants steak and somebody else suddenly announces they’re no longer eating mushrooms. Current reviews highlight Home Chef for family-friendly meals and weeknight convenience, with Healthline giving it a 4.2/5 rating.
The good news is that most of these companies let you skip weeks or cancel, so you don’t necessarily have to marry your meal-kit provider. Try one for a few weeks, see whether the convenience justifies the premium over grocery shopping, and then decide whether it deserves a permanent place in your refrigerator.