For some, I meticulously followed the heating instructions on the label. But since these are suggestions, I reheated other meals the way I would if left to my own devices. Often that meant warming gently in a nonstick skillet or reheating in an air fryer.

Many of the meal delivery services offer a microwave heating option, but I almost always found that produced worse results.

Testing meal kits requires cooking and thus a different stand of practices and procedures for evaluation.

Here's more on how we test meal kits at CNET. The first thing you'll want to consider is what your nutrition goals are, ideally with the help of a health professional, since some services are better suited to specific diets or health conditions. If it's eliminating some or all meat from your diet, there are vegan meal plans that will make it easy.

If you're trying to cut carbs or calories from your weekly intake, there are other services that specialize in keto, paleo and low-calorie foods. Others have meal plans specifically for diabetics in case you are carefully managing your blood sugar.

You'll also want to decide if a meal kit service or prepared meal subscription is best. If you like the idea of cooking, but don't want to do the shopping and prep, a service such as Blue Apron or Sunbasket will take the legwork out of dinner a few nights each week.

If you'd rather not cook at all, prepared meal delivery is the obvious choice. They'll send ready-to-eat meals to be stored in the fridge or freezer for whoever you need them.

The price you're willing to pay is another important consideration. Meal delivery can make life much easier but not if it adds financial stress. Use our comparison chart to help determine which meal services best fit your budget and go from there.

Most health experts will tell you that eating a healthy, balanced diet is just about the best thing you can do to improve your health.

While strict diets aren't necessarily at the top of the list for doctors and dieticians, consuming more whole foods, protein and vitamin-rich vegetables as well as eating less sodium, unhealthy fats and sugar will drastically improve health outcomes over time.

Heart health, bone health, cardiovascular health and even mental health are all tied directly to diet, and choosing a healthy meal service or subscription is one way to kick a healthy new nutritional regimen into gear. Healthy meal kits and meal delivery services offer delicious, curated meals catered to your personal tastes and nutritional needs.

One reason folks -- like me, for instance -- tend to prefer meal kits and meal delivery over classic fad diets is they take away some of the risk for those weak moments of dietary self-sabotage. You should check with your doctor or a health professional before making any drastic changes to your diet.

That said, there are meal delivery services that cater to nutrition plans of all types including keto, paleo, Mediterranean diet, low-calorie, vegan, vegetarian and diabetes-friendly. The most budget-friendly meal kits are EveryPlate and Dinnerly.

This really depends on your nutrition goals. And know that just about every meal delivery service claims to be healthy. The options that made this list excelled among the competition, with fresher ingredients, a better selection of truly balanced and nutrition-packed meals as well as detailed guidance and information to make tracking nutrition, carbs, calories, fat and protein easier.

Even among this list, there are meal services that are geared towards particular health and nutrition goals including plant-based meal delivery, meal delivery for paleo eaters and those for folks trying to eat a low-carb diet.

Some of the services listed here are healthy prepared meal delivery services , sending fully cooked meals -- often frozen or partially frozen -- and ready to eat when you receive them. Others include health-focused meal kits with premeasured ingredients all boxed up and ready for easy weeknight cooking.

There's a stark difference between meal kits and meal delivery, but both make dinnertime easier and can translate into healthier eating choices for you in Plus, we sussed out the best healthy meal services for those on special diets like keto or paleo or for those who wish to eat organic prepared meals and meal kits.

Wellness Nutrition. Best Healthy Meal Delivery Services of , Tested and Reviewed If you've vowed to eat better in , these healthy meal subscriptions and meal kit services will keep nutritious food rolling in with minimal effort required.

Written by David Watsky. Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks.

If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement. David lives in Brooklyn where he's spent more than a decade covering all things edible, including meal kit services, food subscriptions, kitchen tools and cooking tips.

Since earning a BA in English from Northeastern in Boston, he's toiled in nearly every aspect of the food business, including as a line cook in Rhode Island where he once made a steak sandwich for Lamar Odom. Right now, he's likely somewhere stress-testing a blender or researching the best way to make bacon.

Anything with sesame is his all-time favorite food this week. Expertise Kitchen tools, appliances, food science, subscriptions and meal kits. See full bio. Why You Can Trust CNET. See at Green Chef. Best healthy meal delivery for most. See at Fresh N' Lean. Best for eating keto or low-carb. See at Daily Harvest.

Best meal delivery for easy lunch. See at Purple Carrot. Best healthy vegan meal kits. See at Hungryroot. Best healthy grocery delivery. See at Mosaic Foods. Best vegan meal delivery. See at Blue Apron. Best meal kits for weight loss. See at ModifyHealth. Best for those with digestive issues.

See at Splendid Spoon. Best for soup and smoothies. See at Pete's Paleo. Best paleo meal delivery. Pete's Real Food formerly Pete's Paleo. Best Cheap Meal Delivery Services in See at Cnet. Show less. Pros Healthy meal kits with plenty of organic options Good recipes variety Allows protein swaps to suit your taste.

Cons Expensive Some premium meals trigger an upcharge. Type Meal kits. Recipes per week Good for Organic, healthy, low-calorie, pescatarian, vegetarian, keto, gluten-free, Whole30, gourmet. See at Green Chef Best healthy meal delivery for most Green Chef.

Show expert take Show less. Editors' choice. Pros Meals are consistently good Options for keto, paleo, gluten-free, low-sugar, Whole30, vegan and more.

Cons Expensive if you don't order enough meals Recipes aren't kid-friendly. Online Ordering. Enterprise solution for catering companies and multi location restaurants. Book Meeting. Home Blog 10 Cheap Catering Ideas For Any Event.

Buffet-style meals: Offer a variety of dishes that guests can serve themselves, such as pasta, salad, and sandwiches. Pasta dishes, like spaghetti and meatballs or lasagna, are an excellent option for buffet-style meals as they are easy to prepare in large batches and can feed many people.

Salads are also a great option as they are inexpensive to prepare and can feed many people. Salads can be creative and super nice when prepared using ingredients such as sultanas, dukkah, nuts, feta cheese, etc.

Get creative with the salad; your guests will love it. Sandwiches are also an excellent option for buffet-style meals, they are easy to prepare, and guests can choose from various fillings. Family-style meals: Serve large platters of food that guests can share, such as roasted chicken or lasagna.

Finger foods: Offer a variety of bite-sized snacks, such as sliders, spring rolls, and mini pizzas. Read More: Everything You Need to Know About the Catering Business 4. BBQ: Grill-up burgers, hot dogs, and other summer favorites. Potluck: Ask guests to bring a dish to share to help keep costs down.

Food trucks: Hire a food truck to serve various street foods, such as tacos, ice cream, and hot dogs. Read More: Dealing With Catering Disasters 7. Brunch: Offer a variety of breakfast and lunch items, such as eggs, bacon, and sandwiches. Desserts: Serve a variety of sweet treats, such as cookies, cakes, and fruit cups.

Soups and salads: Offer a variety of soups, stews, and salads that can be served as a main dish or side. Read More: 30 Best Catering Websites and How To Design One Appetizer spreads e.

cheese and crackers, fruit and dip Appetizer spreads are an excellent option for events where you want to provide a variety of small bite-sized options to guests before the main course.

Conclusion In conclusion, many affordable catering options are available for any event, from sandwich platters, pasta salad bars, and build-your-own pizza stations to slow cooker meals, salad buffets, and dessert platters. Speak to Us. Recent Posts 10 Best Catering Tips of All Times Dec 14, 18 Creative Catering Marketing Ideas to Grow Your Business Jan 20, 10 Cheap Catering Ideas For Any Event Feb 20, Book a Demo Today Powerful Solution for the Food, Catering and Event Industry Get A Demo.

Google Rating. Flex Catering. review us on. Joseph Calnan 15 Dec Great software for our small catering company. It has revolutionised the way we work from taking orders online to invoicing. Lauren Hamilton 28 Nov Excellent service and support from the team - great to easily be able to problem solve as needed.

Product fits our needs, makes things easy and is simple to use if you have some small amount of experience with similar software. A great solution. Rael Ross 18 Nov Hands down, the best catering software we have ever come across! Peter Botros 05 Aug Flex Catering was the best business decision we made.

It has built consistency within the business and provided transparency for our customers. Now customers can view and order from our online menu.

Everyone knows meat is expensive. The good news is there are plenty of ways to create a classy and enjoyable menu based on vegetables, regardless of the event type. For example, these vegetarian wedding menu ideas look absolutely stunning. Want to make it fancier?

Include a larger quantity of affordable, heavier snacks like mini grilled cheese sandwiches, tortellini and sauce cups, or even items like spinach puffs. This tip is also great for if you have a lot of children or grown up picky eaters or want to save on wait staff expenses.

Which means that a slightly smaller plate might subconsciously discourage them from wasting food or taking too much of your carefully alloted dishes. Finally, here are other ways to keep event catering costs down. Soups, spruced up canned goods, and all manner of delectable roasted creations combat common colds and ward off overspending on event food.

Check out these light, refreshing, and floral ideas for some spring event food and beverage inspiration.

$7-$10 Fresh N Lean Home Chef Oven Ready

Low-cost meal catering - Daily Harvest $7-$10 Fresh N Lean Home Chef Oven Ready

And unlike a salad, cooked components like these will keep well in the freezer. The takeaway: A catering package from Qdoba costs a little less than the regular menu when you include chips and salsa, but each serving is more than double what most Americans allegedly pay per meal.

The Family Meal pack nets out at a better deal overall than catering, especially considering you could use it as a base and stretch it further with a few supermarket staples. Still, cooking at home remains the cheapest option of all. Grocery dupe: Is the Family Meal combo cheaper than cooking the same meal at home?

The Family Meal also comes with three entrees, so you could divvy up your portions to ensure a bit more variety than pre-made bowls like Sweetgreen.

Catering: At Boston Market, a chicken buffet for five includes mashed potatoes, sweet corn, cornbread, and two liters of soda.

Special deals: This is where things get exciting. Then, get unique budget-friendly centerpiece ideas or summer event decor ideas. The cheapest food to cater is any rice or noodle-based cultural cuisine. Pizza is also a reliably cheap option. Catering costs can vary widely depending on cuisine, location, and level of service.

Webinar Spotlight: New Year, New You: Discover Tools to Make Your Events Better Than Ever! Register now. Home » Monday Motivation: 40 Budget-Smart Event Catering Ideas for Every Season. When searching for catering menu ideas for large groups, make sure you take the time of day into account.

Save money on catering with easy seating Get Started Now. Stay on budget with free diagramming software Get Started Now. Not only are pancakes simple, fast and easy to make - if done in large batches and pre-prepared ahead of time, you can save even more time in the kitchen and money as well.

Furthermore, pancakes can also be customized according to your event's theme! For example, why not add sprinkles or cutouts with cookie cutters for a vibrant look that appeals to guests of all ages?

Pancakes are the most economical and creative way to please your party participants. When catering a large event, finding budget-friendly food options that can be efficiently provided to many people at once is key. Soup is one of the perfect recipes for this purpose: it can be made in large batches relatively easily, and ingredients like stock and vegetables are often inexpensive.

Plus, there are so many varieties of soup - from vegan vegetable stews to hearty creamy chowders - and it easily fills up a plate. For those looking for the cheapest food to cater, add soup to your menu plan for an economical choice without sacrificing quality or taste.

There are many cheap and easy options when it comes to catering food for large groups. Cereal, spaghetti, rice and beans, macaroni and cheese, pancakes, and soup are all great choices that will save you money. Keep these in mind the next time you need to cater an event!

Home About Us Private Parties Contact Why us? Events Catering Menu Blog. Catering Button. Private Parties Button. Always fresh menu Button. Talk to a Chef. Talk To Chef. What is the cheapest food to cater? Moms, Weddings Planners , Brides, Birthday boy, Brithday girl - we all know that catering can be expensive.

Spaghetti is another cheap option that can be easily made in large quantities Spaghetti is a cheap, hearty dish that can easily be served in large quantities, making it an ideal catering option. Rice and beans is a classic cheap meal that can be dressed up with different toppings Rice and beans have long been a go-to dish for people looking to create an affordable meal.

Macaroni and cheese is always a hit with kids and adults alike Macaroni and cheese is always a hit for catering events, no matter the age group! Pancakes are a great breakfast or brunch option that can be made ahead of time Pancakes are an excellent budget-friendly option for catering breakfast or brunch.

Soup is another budget-friendly food that can be made in large batches When catering a large event, finding budget-friendly food options that can be efficiently provided to many people at once is key.

Contact us: - - cateringwithtwochefs gmail. The benefits of catering a buffet near me. If you're searching for a buffet near me, chances are you're looking for a great deal on catering.

A buffet can be an excellent catering option for a variety of events, from birthday parties to corporate functions. Bosses are people too, and they love a good office party just like the rest of us.

But when it comes to impressing your boss with your catering skills, you need to step it up a notch. How to make your office party a success with great catering.

Low-cost meal catering - Daily Harvest $7-$10 Fresh N Lean Home Chef Oven Ready

Everyone knows meat is expensive. The good news is there are plenty of ways to create a classy and enjoyable menu based on vegetables, regardless of the event type. For example, these vegetarian wedding menu ideas look absolutely stunning. Want to make it fancier? Include a larger quantity of affordable, heavier snacks like mini grilled cheese sandwiches, tortellini and sauce cups, or even items like spinach puffs.

This tip is also great for if you have a lot of children or grown up picky eaters or want to save on wait staff expenses. Which means that a slightly smaller plate might subconsciously discourage them from wasting food or taking too much of your carefully alloted dishes.

Finally, here are other ways to keep event catering costs down. Soups, spruced up canned goods, and all manner of delectable roasted creations combat common colds and ward off overspending on event food.

Check out these light, refreshing, and floral ideas for some spring event food and beverage inspiration. Check out our list of the top cheapest foods to cater below! Believe it or not, cereal isn't just for breakfast; it's one of the most affordable foods you can buy in bulk for catering.

Whether it's crispy Rice Krispies or fruity Froot Loops, buying cereal in bulk provides a great option for budget-conscious event planners. It also serves as an easy snack that any partygoer is sure to love.

Plus, being able to pour your favorite cereal right into your party guests' cups is sure to be a hit at any celebration! Spaghetti is a cheap, hearty dish that can easily be served in large quantities, making it an ideal catering option. By using inexpensive ingredients such as ground beef, spices, and canned tomatoes, you can make a delicious spaghetti dinner without breaking the bank.

Furthermore, many brands of spaghetti offer bulk-sized packages specifically designed to feed multiple people — so you don't have to count every strand! So if you're looking for an affordable way to feed all your party-goers this summer, consider spaghetti as your catering choice!

Rice and beans have long been a go-to dish for people looking to create an affordable meal. It is a classic combination that can easily be dressed up with different toppings, such as cheese, salsa, guacamole, or sour cream.

The addition of these flavorful accompaniments transforms this traditional budget meal into something that can be served alongside tacos or burritos during a catered event. A great way to cater on a budget is to include rice and beans as part of the menu; it's sure to be popular among guests no matter what their taste buds desire!

Macaroni and cheese is always a hit for catering events, no matter the age group! Whether it's for a corporate event or a birthday party, the deliciousness of creamy cheese and perfectly cooked noodles have an amazing appeal to everyone. And, bonus: it's inexpensive to prepare and serve as well!

Not only will you meet your budget goals, but you'll also be sure to bring smiles with this communal favorite. With macaroni and cheese on the menu, no event will ever go wrong.

Pancakes are an excellent budget-friendly option for catering breakfast or brunch. Not only are pancakes simple, fast and easy to make - if done in large batches and pre-prepared ahead of time, you can save even more time in the kitchen and money as well.

Furthermore, pancakes can also be customized according to your event's theme! For example, why not add sprinkles or cutouts with cookie cutters for a vibrant look that appeals to guests of all ages? Pancakes are the most economical and creative way to please your party participants.

When catering a large event, finding budget-friendly food options that can be efficiently provided to many people at once is key. Soup is one of the perfect recipes for this purpose: it can be made in large batches relatively easily, and ingredients like stock and vegetables are often inexpensive.

Plus, there are so many varieties of soup - from vegan vegetable stews to hearty creamy chowders - and it easily fills up a plate. For those looking for the cheapest food to cater, add soup to your menu plan for an economical choice without sacrificing quality or taste.

There are many cheap and easy options when it comes to catering food for large groups. Cereal, spaghetti, rice and beans, macaroni and cheese, pancakes, and soup are all great choices that will save you money.

Keep these in mind the next time you need to cater an event! Home About Us Private Parties Contact Why us? Events Catering Menu Blog. Best vegan meal delivery. See at Blue Apron.

Best meal kits for weight loss. See at ModifyHealth. Best for those with digestive issues. See at Splendid Spoon. Best for soup and smoothies.

See at Pete's Paleo. Best paleo meal delivery. Pete's Real Food formerly Pete's Paleo. Best Cheap Meal Delivery Services in See at Cnet. Show less. Pros Healthy meal kits with plenty of organic options Good recipes variety Allows protein swaps to suit your taste.

Cons Expensive Some premium meals trigger an upcharge. Type Meal kits. Recipes per week Good for Organic, healthy, low-calorie, pescatarian, vegetarian, keto, gluten-free, Whole30, gourmet. See at Green Chef Best healthy meal delivery for most Green Chef.

Show expert take Show less. Editors' choice. Pros Meals are consistently good Options for keto, paleo, gluten-free, low-sugar, Whole30, vegan and more. Cons Expensive if you don't order enough meals Recipes aren't kid-friendly.

Type Prepared meals. Meal options per week Good for Keto, paleo, Whole30, gluten-free Mediterranean, vegan, vegetarian, high-protein. Full Review Read full review. See at Fresh N' Lean Best for eating keto or low-carb Fresh N Lean. Pros Meals are light, healthy and made with quality ingredients Pasta recipes are excellent and affordable Meals are priced a la cart Most food tastes great.

Cons Soups and smoothies requires some prep Flatbreads were just OK Not many low-carb options. Type Prepared Meal. Good for Vegan, vegetarian, paleo, Whole30, gluten-free, breakfast, lunch.

See at Daily Harvest Best meal delivery for easy lunch Daily Harvest. Pros Fresh ingredients and vibrant recipes Great for learning to cook vegan food. Cons Expensive Only 12 recipes per week.

Recipes per week 8. Good for Vegan, vegetarian, paleo, gluten-free, low-calorie. See at Purple Carrot Best healthy vegan meal kits Purple Carrot. Pros A more convenient way to buy groceries High-quality items at good prices Flexible recipe suggestions. Cons A bit more expensive than shopping yourself Somewhat limited selection.

Type Meal kit, grocery provider. Regional Availability Continental United States. See at Hungryroot Best healthy grocery delivery Hungryroot. Cons Not many low-carb options The flatbreads were just OK. See at Mosaic Foods Best vegan meal delivery Mosaic Foods.

Pros Easy to track calories Premium proteins like steak and seafood are included. Type Meal kit. Good for Vegetarian, pescatarian, diabetes-friendly, low-calorie, picky eaters, quick meals.

See at Blue Apron Best meal kits for weight loss Blue Apron. Pros Free dietician support Good for those with digestive issues Food is mostly tasty. Cons Clunky website No discount for ordering more meals per week.

Type Pre-made. See at ModifyHealth Best for those with digestive issues ModifyHealth. Pros Interesting smoothie recipes Lots of superfoods. Cons Expensive Smoothies can be high in sugar.

See at Splendid Spoon Best for soup and smoothies Splendid Spoon. Pros Food is mostly excellent Good for gluten-free, low-carb and high-protein diets Good portion sizes. Cons Limited plant-based options Meal plans are confusing Expensive.

Good for Healthy, paleo, keto, low-calorie, diabetes-friendly, gluten-free, Whole30, high protein. See at Pete's Paleo Best paleo meal delivery Pete's Real Food formerly Pete's Paleo.

Other healthy meal services I tested. BistroMD : This health-focused service is intended to help with weight loss and has dozens of weekly menu options that are calories or less.

Veestro : This vegan meal delivery service had some hits and misses. Territory Foods : This service relies on partnerships with local chefs to curate menus that are specific to each region. The food was excellent and there were plenty of healthy options. Sakara Life : This fresh food service was tasty and good for a cleanse, but it's also one of the most expensive meal subscriptions we tried.

Snap Kitchen : Snap Kitchen has solid prepared meals, mostly under calories. The portions were a bit small, and some meals were underwhelming.

FlexPro Meals : These frozen keto meals were some of the worst I tried. Nutrisystem : Though it's affordable, I disliked most of the meals I tried from this frozen meal subscription. Sunbasket : This service has high-end meal kits, but the bloated cost keeps it off our list.

How I tested healthy meal delivery services. What to consider when buying healthy meal delivery. Your nutrition goals The first thing you'll want to consider is what your nutrition goals are, ideally with the help of a health professional, since some services are better suited to specific diets or health conditions.

Type of meal delivery: Meal kits or prepared meals You'll also want to decide if a meal kit service or prepared meal subscription is best. Cost of meals The price you're willing to pay is another important consideration. How diet and nutrition impact your overall health.

Healthy meal delivery service FAQs. The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice.

Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

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