What’s a Meal Delivery Service?

A meal delivery service brings pre-portioned ingredients (with recipe cards) or fully prepared meals right to your door each week. Customers can customize their plan based on specific dietary and lifestyle needs, from health-conscious to family-friendly meals.

Meal delivery services typically operate on a subscription model, where customers pay a monthly fee and receive weekly deliveries on a day that suits their schedule. You can choose how many meals you want each week, select specific dishes, and even add grocery items. Plus, most products come with freezing instructions for flexibility in case plans change.

How Do Meal Delivery Services Work?

Meal delivery services cater to all types of home cooks, whether you're someone who likes to experiment in the kitchen or someone who prefers quick, no-fuss meals. They offer pre-portioned meal kits with only the ingredients you need to follow simple recipe cards, or fully cooked meals ready to heat in the oven or microwave.

Plans can be customized based on specific diet and lifestyle preferences, with many services offering options for:

• Organic
• Vegetarian
• Keto
• Mediterranean
• Weight Loss
• High Protein
• Family-Friendly
• Plant-Based
• Nut-Free*
• Dairy-Free*
• Gluten-Free*
• Vegan*

Many services also allow you to customize your meals by swapping sides, changing proteins, or removing certain ingredients, giving you even more flexibility.

*Please Note: While individual meals or meal kits may be free from certain ingredients, such as nuts, dairy, gluten, or animal products, most facilities handle major allergens. Be sure to check each service's site for specific allergy and cross-contamination policies before purchasing any products.

What Do Meal Delivery Services Include?

Meal delivery services cater to all types of people, from home cooks to those who prefer quick, no-fuss options. They typically offer two types of meals: pre-portioned meal kits with all the ingredients you need or fully cooked meals ready to heat and eat. All pre-portioned kits come with easy-to-follow instructions, with many also including step-by-step images to help guide you through the preparation process.

How Much Do Meal Delivery Services Cost?

Meal delivery services generally cost between $6 to $12 per serving, depending on the service, plan size, meal selections, and any extra customization or add-ons. This price is often cheaper for first-time users, with introductory deals like free shipping and discounted meals–which can be especially beneficial for testing out more than one service until you find the best fit.

If you're ready for a longer-term subscription or ordering for several people (many services offer kid-friendly meals), you might find that the price per serving is even lower.

Meal Delivery Services vs. Grocery Stores

On the low end, a meal delivery plan that includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week might cost $504 on average. However, many customers opt for fewer meal options, such as weekday or dinner-only meal plans, which can bring the price down as low as $150 per month.

The average monthly grocery bill for a U.S. household ranges from $300 to $400 per person,² with bigger cities and more populated areas averaging slightly higher.

Many people find that the convenience of meal delivery services justifies the higher cost, especially when considering the time saved on planning, shopping, gas, and food prep. But, if saving money is your top priority, sticking to a strict grocery plan could be a better option.

Though, those who often find themselves throwing away unused or spoiled produce may find meal delivery services a helpful more effective solution. By offering pre-portioned ingredients, these services provide exactly what’s needed for each meal, helping ensure ingredients don’t go to waste.

Meal Delivery Services vs. Takeout

When comparing meal delivery services to dining out, the cost benefit becomes clearer. If the average American eats out once a day, spending between $11 and $20 per meal, that adds up to about $308 to $560 a month¹ – and that's without counting delivery fees.

For those who frequently dine out or order takeout, meal delivery services provide a more budget-friendly and often healthier alternative. Plus, they often offer greater control over portion sizes and specific ingredients.

How Are Meals Delivered?

Once you've selected the type and quantity of meals you want each week, they are delivered directly to your door. If you need to skip a week or change your delivery address, it’s easy to pause your membership or update your delivery instructions.

The meals arrive in well-sealed boxes designed to keep ingredients fresh, even if you can’t unpack them right away. Most boxes come with detailed recipe cards, and some include step-by-step photos to make cooking even easier.

References
_{GoBankingRates."How Much the Average American Spends on Dining Out." Gabrielle Olya, edited by Ashleigh Ray, September 23, 2023.
Zippia."Average Cost of Groceries by State." Jack Flynn, February 27, 2023.}