Cook Clean, Eat Green: Choosing Organic Meal Kits

Going organic is more than a passing trend; it's a way of life that pays rewards in more ways than one. Organic ingredients are grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, which means fewer harmful chemicals in your meals. This leads to improved health since organic foods typically contain greater amounts of nutrients, like antioxidants, than conventional foods. Moreover, organic agricultural techniques benefit the environment, encouraging soil health, minimizing pollution, and saving water.

Organic meal kits have become increasingly popular in recent years due to people's increased concern for their health and the environment. These kits offer unmatched convenience and allow you to enjoy tasty, home-cooked meals without the trouble of traditional cooking methods. With a range of meal plans catering to varied dietary demands, organic meal kits have made it easier than ever to live a healthy lifestyle.

If you’ve been on this journey, you must have heard of companies like Sunbasket, Purple Carrot, and Green Chef and their significant market presence. Here’s an overview of the US's three most preferred organic meal kit providers.

Sunbasket

Sunbasket stands out in the market due to their focus on high-quality, organic ingredients, catering to those who enjoy the process of meal preparation from scratch. Sunbasket makes cooking effortless and enjoyable with simple-to-follow recipes and pre-portioned ingredients. Additionally, they offer a range of fresh, ready-made meals that simply need reheating, providing convenience without sacrificing quality. 

Emphasizing primarily organic, seasonal, and sustainable ingredients, Sunbasket offers a diverse selection of breakfast, lunch, and dinner options and healthy snacks for between-meal moments.

Available meal plans

Sunbasket offers a variety of meal options to accommodate different dietary demands and tastes. For individuals monitoring their carbohydrate intake, they provide carb-conscious meals that are rich in protein but minimal in carbs. Pescatarians can relish their meals with responsibly caught and fresh seafood, while vegetarians can savor vegetarian recipes.

For individuals following certain diets, Sunbasket offers Paleo meals that are grain, soy, legume, and dairy-free. These meals emphasize protein, healthy fats, and keto-friendly alternatives with low carbohydrates per serving. Their diabetic meal mainly consists of nutritious grains, beans, and lentils with very little added sugar to help with blood sugar management.

Key features

• Meal variety: Sunbasket offers a diverse range of meal plans tailored to various dietary needs and preferences, including vegan, keto, paleo, Mediterranean, and more. This wide variety ensures that there’s something for everyone, making them a versatile choice for households with different dietary requirements
• High-quality organic ingredients: Being USDA-certified, Sunbasket prepares all their ingredients organically without additives, preservatives, or GMOs. Their nutritious ingredients are naturally grown without compromising soil or water quality
• Flexible delivery: They offer flexible delivery options to accommodate busy schedules. Customers can choose their preferred delivery days and times, making it convenient to receive fresh, high-quality meal kits that fit seamlessly into their routine

Pricing details

Sunbasket’s pricing varies depending on the meal plan and the number of servings. Generally, the cost per serving starts at $11.49. This price includes high-quality organic ingredients and the convenience of home delivery. Additionally, Sunbasket offers options for both individual meals and family plans, which can affect the overall pricing.

Pros and cons 

Pros:

• Organic focus: This company prioritizes organic ingredients, provides fresh produce, and minimizes pesticide exposure. This commitment also supports environmental health
• Sustainability: They use recyclable and compostable packaging and source ingredients responsibly
• Mobile access: They offer a mobile app for managing meal deliveries, updating account details, browsing menus, choosing meals, tracking deliveries, and accessing recipes

Cons:

• Cost: They are considered to be more expensive than other meal delivery services and traditional grocery shopping
• Limited customization: There is a limited ability to customize individual meals within plans
• Limited availability: They are not available in all US regions, including Alaska, Hawaii, Montana, North Dakota, and some parts of New Mexico

Green Chef

Founded in 2014, Green Chef quickly became a leader in the organic meal kit delivery market. Thousands of customers across the United States use Green Chef, which HelloFresh acquired in 2018. The company aims to provide time-saving, nutritious meals while promoting sustainable eating habits. 

Green Chef focuses on organic, non-GMO, and sustainably sourced ingredients, catering to keto, paleo, vegan, and vegetarian diets. This versatility makes them a popular choice for households with specific dietary needs. The service provider simplifies meal prep with pre-measured ingredients and chef-crafted recipes, making them ideal for busy individuals and families.

Available meal plans

Green Chef’s diverse meal options seek to suit even the wildest preferences and tastes. As such, they curate over 50 meal options every week, including keto, Mediterranean, and vegan options. Their pre-measured ingredients offer a convenient solution by eliminating the need to prepare everything from scratch. This allows for the creation of wholesome meals, some of which can be easily reheated.

While many organic meal services do not often cater to clients with severe allergies, Green Chef caters to your needs by offering gluten-free meals. They also incorporate paleo, keto, and vegetarian meals, all packed in recyclable and compostable boxes.

Key features

• USDA-certified: Green Chef sources their ingredients under the USDA's strict guidelines, ensuring they’re naturally grown and sustainable
• Eco-friendly packaging: The service provider packs their kits in environment-friendly packaging that is easy to wash and compostable
• Diverse recipes: Green Chef offers over 50 meal options, drawing inspiration from global cuisines and catering to all food types and preferences

Pricing details

Customers can choose between three and four meals per week, tailored to fit different household sizes with 2-person, 4-person, and 6-person plans. The pricing starts at $11.99 per serving, with an additional shipping fee of $9.99 per delivery. They also provide promotional discounts for new customers and hero discounts for military and medical professionals. 

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Certified organic ingredients: They ensure high-quality, health-conscious meals
• Variety of flavors and large weekly menu: They provide over 50 meal options per week
• Meals approved by a dietitian: Green Chef’s kits are pre-approved by dieticians and come with additional in-house coaching services
• Eco-friendly packaging: Their products are shipped in fully recyclable packaging
• Discounts: They offer discounts for new customers, medical professionals, and military personnel

Cons:

• Higher price: They are considered more expensive compared to other meal kit services, especially for large families
• Not kid-friendly: Some of their meal options might not appeal to children

Purple Carrot

Purple Carrot is a leading provider of plant-based meal kits, perfect for those following or transitioning to a vegan lifestyle. They are most known for their creative and flavorful plant-based dishes that make healthy eating exciting and accessible.

Purple Carrot utilizes a variety of vegetables, grains, legumes, fruits, and spices, ensuring each meal is nutritious and flavorful. The focus is on high-quality, protein-rich, gluten-free, and nut-free ingredients.

Available meal plans

Purple Carrot explicitly caters to their clients' needs, offering plant-based, protein-rich foods at a friendly cost. The company also facilitates people's weight-loss journey by offering high-quality foods that lower LDL cholesterol levels with a minimal carbon footprint.

They also offer dozens of meal options, including 12 pre-portioned meals weekly. Their customizable option allows you to incorporate different food items for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snacking. This option, however, comes at a separate fee. 

Key features

• Menu options: They offer breakfast, lunch, dinner, prepared meals, and frozen meals. They also include a "plantry” option with snacks and vegan items
• Variety and specialty meals: They have a rotating weekly dinner menu, Chef’s Choice picks, and options for high-protein, gluten-free, and other dietary needs
• Quality ingredients: Their ingredients are primarily organic and GMO-free, rich in vegetables and grains
• Delivery: When delivering, they offer real-time tracking and nationwide delivery in the contiguous US
• Other features: They also include sustainable packaging, flexible subscriptions, an iOS app, and gift card options

Pricing details

Purple Carrot offers three flexible plans to suit various lifestyles. The 2-Serving Plan provides three or four weekly meals at $13.25 per serving. The 4-Serving Plan also offers three or four meals weekly, priced at $11 per serving. The 1-Serving Prepared Meal Plan costs $13 per meal for individuals seeking convenience.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Easy plant-based cooking: They provide clear instructions for creating flavorful vegan meals at home
• Meal kits for all meals: Purple Carrot has options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Prepared and frozen meals: They offer convenient options for quick, ready-to-eat meals
• Eco-friendly packaging: They use recycled and recyclable materials to reduce carbon footprint
• User-friendly ordering: They provide an easy-to-navigate website and a mobile app for iOS
• Referral program: They offer customers the opportunity to refer others and earn credits and discounts

Cons:

• Vegan only: Purple Carrot is limited to vegan meals, which may not suit those wanting a varied diet
• Limited allergy options: While they offer gluten-free, soy-free, and nut-free options, they may not suit those with severe allergies
• Involved prep work: Their recipes may require more prep time and multiple kitchen utensils

Conclusion

Meal prep has become much more accessible and healthier with the breakthrough of organic meal kit services. While there are three main options, the prerogative remains with you, affecting the type of services you get. Hence, careful consideration is needed before choosing a vendor.

Sunbasket offers diverse meal plans and high-quality ingredients but has limited customization; Green Chef provides organic, eco-friendly options with many dietary choices, though they are costly; and Purple Carrot specializes in plant-based meals, making vegan cooking simple, but they only offer vegan meals.

If these three vendors do not fit your needs, consider reading our reviews of the top meal kit providers and using our comparison tool. We also provide blogs about meal kits to help you make informed decisions.