Keto On A Budget: Cheap Meal Delivery Options

The keto diet is a low-carb, high-fat, protein-dense diet that has gained traction in recent years. Adopting this diet can be challenging, and preparing keto meals can be time-consuming and tedious. This is where keto meal delivery services come in. These services provide ready-to-eat or easy-to-prepare keto meals delivered straight to your door, making it more convenient to stick to your keto diet.

There are several keto meal delivery services available, each offering unique features and benefits. Some services provide fully prepared meals, while others offer meal kits with pre-portioned ingredients and recipes. The cost of these services varies, with prices per serving ranging from as low as $7 to over $20. When choosing a keto meal delivery service, it's important to consider your budget, the variety of meals offered, the quality of ingredients, and your dietary preferences.

Some popular keto meal delivery services include Factor, Green Chef, CookUnity, Trifecta, The Good Kitchen, Pete's Real Food, and Territory Foods. These services offer a range of meal options, from classic comfort foods to gourmet dishes, and cater to different dietary needs and preferences.

Keto meal kits vs prepared meals

Keto meal kits and prepared meals each have their own advantages and disadvantages. Here are some things to consider when deciding between the two:

Meal Kits

Keto meal kits, such as those offered by Green Chef, typically provide pre-portioned ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes. They offer more flexibility in terms of customisation and allow you to cook meals according to your preferences. Meal kits may require more time and effort in the kitchen, as you need to prepare and cook the meals yourself. The cost of meal kits is usually slightly lower compared to prepared meals. Green Chef's keto meal kits, for instance, start at $11.99 per serving.

Prepared Meals

Prepared keto meals, such as those offered by Factor, Trifecta, and Pete's Real Food, are delivered ready-to-eat and only require heating. They save time and effort, as there is no cooking involved. Prepared meals may be more expensive, with prices ranging from $11 to $20 per serving for different services. Additionally, you might have limited options for customisation, as the meals are already prepared.

Both meal kits and prepared meals have their advantages, depending on your needs and preferences. If you prioritise convenience and don't mind a higher cost, prepared meals might be a better option. On the other hand, if you enjoy cooking and want more flexibility in customising your meals, keto meal kits could be the way to go.

Cost

The cost of keto meal delivery services varies depending on the service, the number of meals ordered, and the desired level of customization. Most services offer subscription plans with weekly or bi-weekly deliveries, and the price per meal generally decreases when more meals are ordered at once. Here is a breakdown of the cost for some popular keto meal delivery services:

• Factor: Factor offers a variety of keto-friendly meals and add-ons, with prices ranging from $11.49 to $13.99 per meal. The cost per meal decreases when more meals are ordered, and shipping is a flat rate of $10.99 per box.
• Green Chef: Green Chef is a certified organic meal kit service with keto-friendly options. The price per serving ranges from $11.99 to $13.49, with the cost per serving decreasing for larger orders. Shipping is an additional flat rate of $10.99 per delivery.
• Home Chef: Home Chef offers a Carb Conscious plan with keto-friendly options, starting at $9.99 per serving. It provides customizable and affordable keto meal kits, making it a budget-friendly option.
• Trifecta: Trifecta provides prepared keto meals designed for weight loss and fitness goals. The cost of the service depends on the number of meals ordered, with the minimum weekly order of five entrees and five breakfasts costing $154.99, or approximately $15.50 per serving. The price per serving decreases for larger orders.
• CookUnity: CookUnity offers a wide variety of chef-crafted keto meals, with prices ranging from $11.09 to $13.59 per serving. The cost per meal is lower for larger orders, and there may be additional shipping costs depending on your location.
• The Good Kitchen: The Good Kitchen delivers fresh, prepared keto meals, with single-serving entrees ranging from around $14 to $20. Family meal options are also available, and shipping costs vary based on location.
• Pete's Real Food: Pete's Real Food offers fresh, prepared keto meals with prices ranging from $15 to $20 per serving. The service delivers to all 50 states, and shipping costs may apply.
• Sunbasket: Sunbasket provides keto-friendly meal kits and prepared meals, with prices ranging from $9.99 to $29.99 per serving. The cost varies depending on the specific meal chosen, and there is a weekly shipping fee of $9.99.

Customisation options

• Factor: Factor offers a large keto meal selection and generous portion sizes. It provides optional add-ons such as breakfast, dessert, shakes, and extra proteins. The service also includes a free 20-minute dietitian consultation. However, customisation is limited as you cannot swap or exclude ingredients.
• Trifecta: Trifecta offers a designated keto diet plan with up to 21 keto meals each week, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You can also add seven breakfasts to your weekly delivery and choose from an à la carte option for individual meal items. Trifecta's keto meals are designed for weight loss and are lower in sodium.
• Home Chef: Home Chef's Carb Conscious plan offers tasty and easy-to-prepare keto recipes. It allows you to swap, double, or upgrade proteins in most meals. You can also customise meals by substituting conventional chicken for organic chicken using the "Customise It" feature.
• Green Chef: Green Chef provides a dedicated keto menu with 8 to 10 easy-to-prepare entrees per week. It offers the option to mix and match recipes on different plans, making it ideal for families. You can also add breakfast and additional proteins.
• Sunbasket: Sunbasket's keto-friendly meal kits include a mix of prepared meals and meal kits. It offers customisation through its "Customise It" feature, allowing you to swap conventional chicken for organic chicken. However, the number of keto meals is not guaranteed each week.
• The Good Kitchen: The Good Kitchen offers a rotating menu of keto-friendly options, with at least five choices available each week. You can customise your order by excluding ingredients or sorting meals by specific criteria like protein or calorie content.
• Pete's Real Food: Pete's Real Food offers a rotating seasonal menu with a mix of keto, paleo, vegan, and AIP-friendly meals. You can customise your order by mixing and matching meals or adding optional add-ons like snacks, proteins, and kids' lunches.

Ingredient quality

When it comes to ingredient quality, there are a few key things to consider. Firstly, it's worth noting that keto meal delivery services will generally be more expensive than non-keto options due to the cost of ingredients. However, this also means that you can expect high-quality ingredients that are fresh and nutritious.

Many keto meal delivery services use organic ingredients, including Green Chef, which is a USDA-certified organic company, and Pete's Real Food, which uses organic ingredients where possible. Other services, like Sunbasket, source their ingredients sustainably and locally, while HelloFresh provides seasonal produce.

When it comes to meat, you'll want to look for services that offer humanely-raised, grass-fed, and antibiotic-free options. Services like Green Chef, Sunbasket, and Provenance Meals fit the bill here. For seafood, look for wild-caught, sustainably-sourced, or locally-sourced options, which you can find at Sunbasket, Provenance Meals, and Territory Foods.

If you have any specific dietary requirements or allergies, be sure to check the ingredients list carefully. While some services cater to specific dietary needs, others may not be as accommodating. For example, Factor is not allergy-friendly, and HelloFresh's Carb Smart menu may not be strict enough for those following a ketogenic diet.

In terms of taste and flavour, this will vary depending on the service and your personal preferences. However, services like Factor, Green Chef, and CookUnity have received praise for their tasty and flavourful meals. Ultimately, the best way to find out if a keto meal delivery service meets your ingredient quality standards is to try it out and see how it fits your needs and preferences.

Nutritional information

Factor

Factor is a popular keto meal delivery service that offers a large selection of keto-friendly meals and generous portion sizes. Their meals are prepared and ready to heat, making them convenient for busy individuals. The nutritional profile of their keto meals includes a minimum of 60% of calories from fat, 20% from protein, and 10% or less from carbohydrates. This aligns with the standard keto diet. Their meals are also designed to be low in calories to aid weight loss.

Home Chef

Home Chef is a budget-friendly option, with meals starting at $9.99 per serving. They offer a Carb Conscious plan with keto-friendly options. While they don't have a specific keto plan, their Carb Conscious meals typically contain fewer than 15 grams of carbs per serving. Their meals are generally high in protein, with around 30 grams per serving.

Green Chef

Green Chef is a USDA-certified organic meal delivery service, making it a great choice for those who prioritise organic and sustainable ingredients. Their keto meals contain 15-20 grams of net carbs, 20 grams of protein, and 450-800 calories on average. They also offer gluten-free options.

Trifecta

Trifecta is a keto meal delivery service designed for weight loss and fitness goals. Their keto meals contain no more than 10 grams of net carbs per meal. They offer a good balance of protein and healthy fats, with an average of 41 grams of protein and 35 grams of fat per meal. Their meals are also lower in sodium, with less than 500 milligrams per meal.

Sunbasket

Sunbasket offers a keto-friendly meal plan with a focus on fresh, organic ingredients. Their keto meals typically contain fewer than 15 grams of net carbs and at least 20 grams of protein. They also include healthy fats from sources like avocados, nuts, and seeds.

Clean Eatz Kitchen

Clean Eatz Kitchen provides a keto meal plan with meals that are high in healthy fats, moderate in protein, and low in carbs. Their meals are carefully crafted to support ketosis and weight loss goals. Each meal is single-serve and frozen for convenience. Nutritional information for their keto meals includes options like the Keto Chicken Lasagna (400 calories, 24g fat, 9g net carbs, 35g protein) and the Keto Cilantro Lime Chicken Bowl (300 calories, 16g fat, 8g net carbs, 29g protein).

HelloFresh

HelloFresh offers a Carb Smart menu with meals that are lower in carbs. While not strictly keto, these meals can be a good option for those looking to reduce their carb intake. HelloFresh provides pre-measured ingredients to minimise waste and ensure perfect portion sizes. Their Carb Smart meals are flexible, allowing you to customise your delivery days and the number of meals received.

The Good Kitchen

The Good Kitchen offers keto-friendly meals that are fully prepared and ready to heat. Their meals are sourced sustainably and are free of gluten, soy, and refined sugars. Nutritional information for their keto meals includes options like the Chili Lime Chicken with fajita vegetables (400 calories, 23g fat, 10g net carbs, 34g protein) and the Beef Shepherd's Pie (510 calories, 36g fat, 10g net carbs, 30g protein).

Frequently asked questions