The best meal kits for weight loss and fitness-friendly eating

Regardless of who you are, it's an important part of maintaining a healthy body. Luckily, meal kit delivery services like Green Chef can help you stick to a doctor-approved weight loss strategy and master fitness-friendly eating with ease.

The best meal kits can also help you avoid pitfalls like excessive added sugars or high-sodium intake, two big drivers of unhealthy diets in recent years.

"Meal kits provide fresh ingredients that are usually locally sourced with healthier cooking methods and minimal environmental impact," says Jennifer May, principle nutritionist and director of Sydney City Nutritionist Nutritionist and Food Intolerance of Australia.

You can typically find information on how different companies back up these claims in the "About Us" section on their websites. Start there when looking for truly fitness-friendly meal kits, just like we did when putting together our list below.

What is the best meal kit for losing weight?

Fitness-friendly eating is one thing, but what if you want to drill down and really commit? First off, your doctor is your best resource for planning lifestyle and dietary changes. Beyond that, we know that consistency is key when it comes to losing weight and keeping it off.

The average adult needs anywhere from 1,600 to 3,000 calories per day. Your personal limit is determined by a number of factors, from how old you are to how active your lifestyle is (the Mayo Clinic's calorie counter can help you narrow it down).

"Meal kits give you more control over the seasoning and nutritional content of your food," May says, "[which] is beneficial for those looking to tailor their diet to specific health needs." Pre-measured seasoning packets, for example, can help you to avoid loading up on sugar with each lean meal. Added sugars are another villain to avoid on your weight loss journey.

Meal kits make it easy to track how many calories you eat per meal. Many of the companies highlighted below serve up plenty of recipes that are high in protein, which can help stave off cravings and keep you feeling fuller longer.

For more, let's take a closer look at several of the most promising meal kit services to help with your healthy eating and weight loss goals:

Top meal kit delivery services for fitness-friendly eating

Many of the companies on this list cater to specialty diets like keto, vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free. 

"Understand which dietary needs or restrictions you must follow, and understand how to identify those ingredients," says dietitian Anthony DiMarino of the Cleveland Clinic's Center for Human Nutrition. "If you are following a gluten-free diet, for example, choose foods that do not contain gluten ingredients, such as wheat."

Take a look at the best meal delivery kits for fitness-friendly eating and revamp your eating habits today.

• Best overall for a lean diet: Green Chef
• Best vegan meals for healthy eating: Trifecta Nutrition
• Best for a Weightwatchers diet: Blue Apron
• Best frozen meals for weight loss: Diet-to-Go
• Best keto plans for healthy eating: Factor
• Most budget-friendly option: Mosaic Foods

Whether you're cooking for one or planning meals for a large family (or somewhere in between), you're bound to get something out of this list of health-conscious and nutrient-packed meal kits. There are organic recipes to bookmark, plant-based dinner options to consider, and wholly organic meals you just have to try for yourself.

Below, we break down some of the best meal delivery services you should check out for your health and fitness goals:

Best overall: Green Chef

Green Chef has a lot to offer when it comes to healthy eating. With fully organic meal kits and seasonal recipes that will keep the excitement up as you pick your favorites each week, it's no wonder this company is in the top slot. 

This meal delivery service caters to a number of restrictive diets with flexible meal plans, from plant-based preferences like vegan and vegetarian to keto, Mediterranean, and other diets geared towards weight loss. 

Take the garlic-honey chicken dish pictured here. We highlighted this protein-packed (more than 40g!) meal for its tasty blend of healthy greens and chicken (garlic-honey glazed, of course, because it's the best) that will keep you feeling full after dinner is long over. There are 660 calories per serving, which falls right into the ideal range of 500 to 700 calories per meal for many weight-loss plans.

You may want to go protein-packed when selecting recipes to hit your daily nutrition goals while eating delicious and organic meals each week. Alternatively, you can opt for the "Fast and Fit" option for lean recipes that are a breeze to prepare. Whichever you choose, there are more than 30 unique recipes to look forward to each month.

You're probably asking: "Can this get any more convenient?" 

The answer is yes, because you can set up your preferences, browse recipes and place weekly orders all through your phone with the Green Chef mobile app (available on Android and iPhone). You can also use the app to track delivery, making it easier than ever to plan your week around each and every order. If routine dietary habits are just as important to you as what you eat, then Green Chef is the meal delivery company for you.

First-time subscribers can save 50% off their first box total, plus another 20% off their next eight deliveries, with promo code PY-RK5QM (automatically applied at checkout).

Best vegan meals for healthy eating: Trifecta Nutrition

If your ideal weight loss regimen extends beyond the food you eat, Trifecta Nutrition has you covered with a more personalized approach to fitness-friendly eating. Instead of selecting from certain recipes on your own, with Trifecta Nutrition you're paired with a registered dietitian to build the ideal meal plan from the ground up.

One of the many lean meals you can get started with is the quinoa dish pictured here, with black beans, onions, spicy aïoli, and assorted greens. This vegan offering clocks in at just 430 calories per serving. It's low in protein (21g), but also low in total fat (15g) and sugar (10g), with 0 trans fatty acids.

With the Trifecta app (available on Android or iPhone), you can track your dietary goals, log workouts, jot down your water intake throughout the day – all the important elements of an active weight loss strategy. You can even learn a thing or two about the science behind weight loss by accessing additional resources through the app.

Trifecta Nutrition rounds out its offerings by helping you to build community with others who are on the same track as you. You can join the Trifecta community and work with an accountability partner. This improves your chances of staying focused with your diet – it's harder to call it quits when you have to share your actions with someone else!

If your health and nutrition goals are less about hardcore weight loss and more about improving your eating habits or trying new and nutritious food, other meal delivery services on this list may be a better fit. But for anyone ready to commit to an effective weight loss journey, Trifecta Nutrition is a great place to begin.

Best for a WeightWatchers diet: Blue Apron

Do you like to gamify your goals? Then Blue Apron might be up your alley. This instantly recognizable meal delivery service not only offers more than 30 flavorful and healthy meals to choose from each week, but also has a partnership with Weightwatchers (who rebranded to WW in 2018) to offer several nutritious, WW-recommended meals each week. 

Meals like the shawarma-spiced cod and arugula salad highlighted here are perfect for highlighting the sheer variety of cuisines available through Blue Apron. This Middle Eastern classic has 520 calories per serving, as well as 36g of protein and 55g of total carbohydrates. 

Track your WW Points as you cook to keep track of your daily and weekly goals. If you have the WW mobile app, you can even scan recipes as you go to log everything in real time. Just look for the WW logo on certain Blue Apron recipes to find delicious meals (each with their own unique points values). 

Every WW meal comes with a full breakdown of nutrition facts and a certain number of WW Points per serving. If you're wondering about adjustments or substitutions, don't: Blue Apron also lists alternate choices (such as substituting salmon for shrimp in the hearty Chimichurri Shrimp meal) and accounts for everything in the nutrition label.

Another fact worth mentioning is Blue Apron's latest offering, prepared and ready meals. These meals come pre-made and can be cooked in as little as 2 minutes, making them great for any types of on-the-go lifestyles. Single-serve, prepared and ready meals include four-cheese enchiladas with rice and vegetables, creamy pesto chicken, and more. Pre-made meal prices start at $10 per serving.

Best frozen meals for weight loss: Diet-to-Go

Sometimes you don't have the time or energy for a home-cooked meal come dinnertime; that's where Diet-to-Go's meal delivery service comes in. It specializes in fresh, fully cooked meals that are made up of locally sourced ingredients. The best part? Every meal comes pre-made and is ready to eat within minutes – no prep (or cookware) required!

For all you plant-based eaters, Diet-to-Go has a diverse vegetarian menu. Vegetarian dishes are reworked versions of the traditional menu counterparts, which means you don't have to worry about missing out on an appealing recipe when making decisions each week. 

One such dish is the stuffed chicken with steamed vegetables, which is pictured here (and our personal favorite). It's so simple, yet tasty and fulfilling – just what you want from a fitness-friend meal! There are just 440 calories per serving, but keep in mind that this option (like many on Diet-to-Go's different menus) is a single serving meal. 

Like Trifecta Nutrition and others on this list, Diet-to-Go centers weight loss and healthy eating in everything it offers. Unlike some competitors, however, Diet-to-Go lets you order anywhere from two to seven meals per week. This way, you can build the perfect meal plan that goes hand-in-hand with your personal weight loss journey.

Right now, new customers can save 20% off their first Diet-to-Go weekly delivery.

Best keto plans for healthy eating: Factor

If fresh and never frozen meals are what you crave, then Factor has the chef-prepared and dietitian-approved recipes for you. Previously known as Factor 75, this is one meal kit company that has something for everybody.

One of the many meals that will have you questioning your love for frozen meals is the jalapeño lime cheddar chicken meal pictured here. This lean dish has 610 calories per serving, as well as some other important ingredients: 4g of sugar, 3g of dietary fiber, and 42g of protein. This can also make for the perfect grab-and-go meal come lunchtime as well as dinner. 

Choose from dozens of nutritious and delicious meals each week that fit with your dietary preferences. You can find macronutrient-packed keto dishes like the devilishly tasty garlic-mushroom chicken thighs with creamy cauliflower rice and garlic green beans, as well as low-calorie and plant-based meals, on curated weekly menus. 

Want to add on a side to your order? Factor makes it easy with light and healthy mini dishes like the sticky pecan pancakes (with toffee sauce if your diet allows). Don't forget to check out the smoothies, too, if your doctor allows them.

Considering switching over to Factor meal kits? First-time customers can save 50% off their first box total, plus another 20% off of deliveries in the following month, so now's the time to sign up if you're interested!

Most budget-friendly option: Mosaic Foods

If nutritious and affordable are the two words you're looking for in a meal kit subscription, this last brand on our list might be right up your alley. Mosaic Foods specializes in all-frozen meals that are 100% vegetarian, making this a solid choice for anyone with an active lifestyle and limited time to spend in the kitchen.

This brand's plant-based dinners are split into several categories including veggie bowls, oat bowls, soups, pizzas and family meals. That last category is the saving grace for anyone cooking for a large household, thanks to bigger (and healthier) recipes like a plantain and chorizo bake, eggplant moussaka and veggie pot pie. 

For a meal kit delivery service that focuses on frozen food delivery, Mosaic Foods has an impressive menu with recipes that are a cut above your average frozen dinner fare -- perfect for anyone tired of the same old "protein and vegetable" pairing night after night.

The stand-out feature here, however, is the meal kit company's prices. While most bowl recipes start at $11 per serving, there are plenty of cheaper options such as various soups ($9 each) and breakfast oat bowls ($6) that can be tossed into the mix for a cheaper box total. Plus, those large family-sized meals cost $24 apiece -- but broken down, that translates to $6 per serving, since each family meal counts as a four-serving dinner.

How to pick the best meal kit for your fitness goals

Your first order of business should be to check out a company's list of meal choices. Lean dishes packed with key macronutrients won't matter if you don't like the food! As always, start with your own personal preferences when deciding on a meal kit subscription.

"Look for a meal kit provider that uses a good mix of vegetables, lean protein, and healthy fats," May says, outlining a crucial next step. When it comes to preparation, look for recipes that call for olive oil.

"Ideally you want to be using olive oil – not [another] vegetable oil or sunflower oils." 

Cooking oil is one of those ingredients that isn't always included in your meal kits, so keep a bottle on hand in the kitchen. You'll need it for recipes like the refreshing Mediterranean chicken from EveryPlate (a runner up for best fitness-friendly meal kits with impressively low prices for new, first-time customers).

Look for meal kits that support certain dietary restrictions. If a company offers vegan and vegetarian meal plans, for example, you can count on its commitment to healthy eating being more than just really good marketing.

Some additional factors to consider are:

• Transparency: You want recipes that show the nutritional value of their ingredients. Knowing how many calories a dish has, and whether it meets your daily intake requirements, is vital to your weight-loss journey.
• Meal variety and substitutes: Are there numerous recipes that caught your eye right off the bat? Can you easily swap out a meal for a meatless or lean alternative? You want a weekly selection that feels exciting to peruse each week and is easy to customize to match your needs.
• Quick and easy prep times: A quality that's always important when comparing meal delivery services, the convenience of a hassle-free dinner can keep you on the path of healthy eating. Some companies pack pre-measured ingredients for a light cooking experience while others ship you frozen meals that can be heated up and plated in record time: Both are good.
• Subscription costs: Don't neglect the price when considering meal delivery services. You want to save money over a trip to the grocery store when going with weekly deliveries, so make sure that a subscription is cost-effective. Figure out how much a delivery service costs per serving for the most accurate comparison.
  

How certain meal kits support a weight-loss-friendly lifestyle

One of the biggest roadblocks for weight loss is lack of consistency. It can be hard to stick to a restrictive diet week after week. Meal variety can quickly become a chore when you don your own chef's hat and try to cook for yourself. 

This is where meal kits come in. The best meal delivery service will help you to stick to healthy eating habits all year round. Signing up to have hand-picked recipes delivered to your door once or twice a week is a game changer. 

This can free a lot of time previously spent meal planning (or scrolling through a food delivery app, if we're being honest). Meal prepping is also easier than ever with delivery, since you can stock pre-made meals or leftovers in the freezer.

Meal delivery services also take some of the weight off your shoulders when it comes to portion control. Everything is measured out ahead of time and recipes are already chock full of the macronutrients you need to stay healthy.

How we chose the healthiest meal kit companies

Just what kind of diets are we talking about? They may include lots of whole fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. One way to lose weight is to reduce your daily calorie intake; cutting your total calories is easier than ever thanks to the readily available nutrition labels provided by every meal kit company highlighted here. 

For a closer look at how we review products, here is everything we prioritized when reviewing and ranking the best meal kits for weight loss and fitness-friendly eating: 

• Whole ingredients: We stuck with meal kits that offered health-conscious recipes built around whole fruits and vegetables, leafy greens, and whole grains.
• Nutritious recipes: If it's nutrient-packed, carb-conscious, or portion-controlled, it's on our list. The best healthy meal delivery services deliver recipes that are put together with the kind of care your body deserves.
• Keto-friendly meals: A ketogenic diet can be a great to lose weight. A number of meal kit companies serve up multiple high-fat, low-carb meals each week – so they're on the list.
• Diet-specific plans: Healthy eating looks different for everyone, but certain dietary restrictions (no meat, no processed foods, etc.) can be easier to stick to when you sign up for meal delivery. Our chosen companies have delicious and varied options for fitness-friendly eating, plant-based diets, and more.