Budget Tip: Chicken often goes on sale, so when it does, stock up and keep it in your freezer. This one-pot pasta uses less-expensive flavorful chicken thighs combined with veggies, dried herbs and cheese for a delicious and creamy one-dish dinner.

Pictured Recipe: Slow-Cooker Beef Stew. Budget Tip: Tougher cuts of meat, like the beef chuck used in this easy beef stew recipe, are affordable options that simply need more cooking time to become tender and juicy—which makes them perfect for the slow cooker.

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List of Partners vendors. Healthy Eating Budget Cooking Guide. By Victoria Seaver, M. Victoria Seaver, M. Victoria Seaver is a registered dietitian and Associate Editorial Director for EatingWell.

She completed her undergraduate degree in nutrition, dietetics and food science and her masters degree and dietetic internship at the University of Vermont.

Before you tuck in for bed, pop a pork shoulder and some seasonings in your slow cooker. In the morning, you'll wake up to an intoxicating aroma and remarkably tender fajita filling. This cheap lunch idea tastes like it came from a pricey build-your-own-burrito restaurant.

Pack the tortilla, mango salsa, veggies, and pork in individual containers, reheat the pork, and assemble your cheap lunch box wrap when ready to dig in.

Give them a savory spin to transform low-cost breakfast oats into a cheap lunch idea. Cook steel-cut oats in chicken broth, then top with Asian ingredients like sesame-scented mushrooms, green onions, ginger, and soy. if you have a little wiggle room with the price of your lunch, a jammy soft-boiled egg would be an excellent addition.

In a hurry? Turn to this four-ingredient, five-minute brown bag cheap lunch idea no refrigeration required! that will please kids and adults alike. With crunch from granola and creamy, salty peanut butter holding everything together, this ridiculously affordable lunch allows for a lot of wallet wiggle room to add sides like a banana and a cheese stick.

From there, it takes just four minutes of cooking time to reach gooey provolone perfection inside these economical eats. Make this your own with your favorite meat, cheese, and dressing.

Try the same ratios with different building blocks for a new flavor experience each time. Do you like ramen but dislike all the preservatives in those little seasoning packets?

Then try this jar of goodness made with ingredients you can pronounce beef stock, teriyaki sauce, fresh ginger, garlic , plus satisfying shredded chicken for a protein boost. All that can be yours in this cheap lunch idea for work—for less than two bucks per serving.

Enjoy the flavors of an epic holiday dinner any day of the year with these flatbreads topped with smashed sweet potatoes, sliced ham, melty mozzarella, and cranberry sauce. All of this can be yours just 25 minutes from now! We call for starting with whole sweet potatoes , microwaving, and mashing with orange juice.

If you're too busy to invest the full 25 into prepping for this cheap lunch idea, snag a package of mashed sweet potatoes from the refrigerated produce section during your next grocery run. Say "See ya! Instead, mash up homemade meatless patties.

You can absolutely afford to make it a double with pantry staples like canned beans , corn, salsa, and rice. Potatoes never break the bank, but they can get soggy if cooked and stored in specific ways. When you sauté up a hash made with potato cubes rather than shreds , spuds are perfect for a pack-and-reheat cheap lunch idea.

Try it out with this minute Mexican meal—and add some grilled chicken or steak for extra hunger-fighting protein. Bring the whole avocado with you to slice and add to the cheap lunch for work immediately before serving.

Alternatively, grab a single-serving cup of premade guacamole from the supermarket instead. Use limited data to select advertising. Create profiles for personalised advertising. Use profiles to select personalised advertising. Create profiles to personalise content.

Use profiles to select personalised content. Best cheap meal kits that include steak and seafood. See at Daily Harvest. Best cheap meal delivery for breakfast and lunch.

See at HelloFresh. Best cheap meal kits for diet and weight loss. FILTER BY all Meal Kit Prepared Meal. Showing 7 of 7 Results. Editors' choice. Show less. CNET rating out of 10 8. Cons Not as many healthy options No customization allowed.

Type Meal Kit. Good for Healthy, family-friendly, comfort food, picky eaters, quick and easy. Full Review Read full review.

See at EveryPlate Best cheap meal kits overall EveryPlate. Show expert take Show less. CNET rating out of 10 9. Pros Food mostly tastes great Good for diets and healthy eating plans. Cons Expensive if you only order fewer than 10 meals per week. Type Prepared Meal. Meal options per week Good for Keto, paleo, Whole30, gluten-free Mediterranean, vegan, vegetarian, high-protein.

See at Fresh N' Lean Best cheap prepared meal delivery overall Fresh N Lean. CNET rating out of 10 7. Pros Huge recipe selection More healthy options than other budget services.

Cons Some recipes are bland and boring. Regional Availability Continental United States. See at Dinnerly Best cheap meal kits for picky eaters Dinnerly. png","caption":" ","credits":"Mosaic Foods meal delivery service","imageData":{"id":"1cb0d31acfa-a2ea-2ad6b","filename":"mosaic.

Pros Food is some of the best we tried Hearty and filling recipes. Cons Vegan pizzas are just OK. Type Prepared meal. Good for Vegan, vegetarian, paleo, gluten-free, low-calorie. See at Mosaic Foods Best cheap vegan meals Mosaic Foods.

Pros A standard plan includes steak and seafood recipes Recipes are interesting and easy to make. Cons Some produce was a little overripe. Recipes per week Good for Vegetarian, low-calorie, gluten-free, pescetarian.

See at Blue Apron Best cheap meal kits that include steak and seafood Blue Apron. Cons Some of the bowls an noodle dishes are just OK Smoothies can be sneakily high in sugar.

See at Daily Harvest Best cheap meal delivery for breakfast and lunch Daily Harvest. Pros Massive selection of recipes Recipes are customizable. Cons The menu can be overwhelming Not every recipe works. Good for Vegan, vegetarian, keto, gluten-free, low-calorie, Whole30, families, picky eaters.

See at HelloFresh Best cheap meal kits for diet and weight loss HelloFresh. Cost After you've picked between meal kits or meal delivery, you'll want to find a service within your budget. Meal kit or prepared meal delivery The first big decision you'll make is whether you want meal kits, which require some prep and cooking, or a prepared meal service that sends fully cooked meals ready to heat and eat.

Healthiness While most meal delivery services have healthy options, some are much healthier than others. Number of meals per week With almost every service, the more meals or servings are in your order per delivery, the cheaper it becomes per meal. What is the cheapest meal delivery service?

What is the best meal delivery service for weight loss? What's the difference between meal kits and premade meal delivery? 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. Nutrition Guides Meal Delivery Best Meal Kit Delivery Service Best Healthy Meal Delivery Service Best Cheap Meal Delivery Service Hungryroot Review EveryPlate Review Best Vegan Meal Delivery Service Best Vegetarian Meal Delivery Service Best Keto Meal Delivery Best Grocery Delivery Service Fresh N Lean Review Blue Apron vs.

Hello Fresh. Dieting Program Guides Best Weight Loss Programs Optavia Diet Review Noom Diet Review Nutrisystem Diet Review Weight Watchers Diet Review Noom vs.

Don't foolishly pay full price for meal kits. We found meal subscription deals in February good for up to 80% off normal prices 1. McDonald's: $20 Piece McNugget Meal · 2. Taco Bell: $25 Build Your Own Meal for 4 · 3. Domino's: $7 Mix and Match Deal · 4. Burger King: $30 72 Cheap Dinner Ideas for Weeknight Meals · Inside-Out Stuffed Cabbage · Teriyaki Chicken Thighs · Easy Tamale Pie with Peppers · Hearty Pasta Fagioli

Discounted meal options - Boston Market: Current selections include rotisserie chicken, roasted turkey, BBQ ribs (where available) or home-style meatloaf, with sides and Don't foolishly pay full price for meal kits. We found meal subscription deals in February good for up to 80% off normal prices 1. McDonald's: $20 Piece McNugget Meal · 2. Taco Bell: $25 Build Your Own Meal for 4 · 3. Domino's: $7 Mix and Match Deal · 4. Burger King: $30 72 Cheap Dinner Ideas for Weeknight Meals · Inside-Out Stuffed Cabbage · Teriyaki Chicken Thighs · Easy Tamale Pie with Peppers · Hearty Pasta Fagioli

Hungryroot offers a unique take on meal delivery, in that you find a recipe you like, and the company will send you all of the ingredients to make it. There are many options for types of food to choose from, and you can even order extra groceries that you might need as well.

You do have to cook though, so if that's not interesting to you, this won't be the right plan. This feels less like a meal service and more like grocery shopping, according to GGR head of content and certified personal trainer Kate Meier, who tested out Hungryroot.

The ease of prep was fantastic for a meal kit service, according to Kate. But it was so easy—not a lot of chopping, because everything is prepackaged and ready to throw in a skillet.

There is an abundance of variety with Hungryroot, particularly for those with dietary restrictions. Also, Kate was a bit overwhelmed by the initial quiz at the start—asking lots of questions before you even get to see the meal options.

Nevertheless, this is a solid service that provides high-quality ingredients for a relatively inexpensive price. Mosaic is a frozen meal delivery service that offers plant-based options for vegetarians, vegans, and omnivores alike.

Mosaic has a wide selection of frozen veggie bowls, family meals, pizzas, smoothies, soups, and oat bowls. Dishes vary from smoothies to pizzas and flatbreads, and even soups and oat bowls. Family-friendly meals were also available, which dietitian Perry Nix, RD, enjoyed.

Vegetables are full of vitamins and minerals that promote immune health, improve vision, and support strong bones and a healthy metabolism. Make sure to check if they deliver to you though, as their delivery is limited to certain parts of the U. RELATED: Plant-Based Protein Powder Benefits.

Good for: Families needing meal kits with options for all family members. Blue Apron is a meal kit delivery service that sends you everything you need for a fun, tasty meal right to your door.

Blue Apron is our favorite budget-friendly meal delivery service for families. With wellness and veggie plant-based options available in their preferences, Blue Apron also provides family-friendly options for kid-friendly meals, as well as a fast and easy quick prep option.

RELATED: Blue Apron Vs HelloFresh Vs Home Chef. Our tester, Sarah Carlton, enjoys the meal kits overall, although some meals shine brighter than others. On the other hand, the Salmon was packed with flavor and so good. The quality of the ingredients impressed Perry Nix, RD.

These ingredient standards support the environment, farmers, and animal welfare. A fault that Perry notes is that Blue Apron is fairly limited when it comes to dietary preferences. RELATED: Best Meal Delivery for Weight Loss.

There are no subscriptions, you can order at the frequency to like. Our favorite prepared meal delivery on a budget is Clean Eatz.

Clean Eatz allows you to pick six meals from their meal plans—including keto, high-protein, and gluten-free plans—and then a quantity of these six-meal packs.

Only being able to choose six meals at a time with limited variety might not be what some are looking for; still, with a decent amount of protein in each meal and delicious ingredients, Clean Eatz provides good value at a pretty low price.

Busy parents will rejoice in picker-eater approved menu items with hidden vegetables and wholesome ingredients from Little Spoon, a kid-specific meal delivery service. Little Spoon has meal options for babies who are not yet eating solid foods, little ones moving to bite-size pieces, toddlers eating finger foods, and smoothies for on-the-go snacks.

Subscription plans offer biweekly delivery cadence that can be skipped, paused, or canceled at any time. For the picky eaters in your household, we suggest Little Spoon.

Providing meals for all age ranges, from infants to toddlers to young kids, Little Spoon exposes kids to a variety of flavors and ingredients at a young age. Dietitian Perry Nix, RD, speaks on the importance of diversifying the foods a child is exposed to early on.

Senior editor and certified nutrition coach Nicole Davis tested out these meals directly with the source: her two oldest children. The kids, being moderately picky in their foods, had mixed reactions to some meals.

Whether or not Little Spoon is right for you and your children will mostly depend on how your children like it. However, with organic ingredients that are non-GMO, this is a great meal service for kids.

You can read our in-depth thoughts in our Little Spoon review. Not every meal service we tried made our top picks; here are a few honorable mentions we tested:. Obviously, one of the biggest factors we accounted for on these meal delivery services was the price that these meal services brought to the table pun intended.

There are more benefits to an inexpensive meal service besides the money. You can still have many of the benefits of meal services while staying on budget. Finding a meal delivery service that fits in your budget will help you save money. You buy just the meals you need at affordable prices, and can save on the cost of a grocery run in many cases.

Meal prep for the week can take up a lot of time, which is a huge perk of meal delivery services. Meal kits provide just the right amount of ingredients for your meals, with many ingredients prepared already, so it minimizes the time needed to prepare and cook meals.

Additionally, prepared meals can just be put in an oven or microwave to heat up, virtually eliminating prep time completely. Many meal services provide plans and options for people with specific dietary restrictions or needs.

Also, anyone following keto, low-carb, paleo, vegan, or pescatarian diets will often find options through meal delivery services.

This takes out a lot of the hassle of having to find the right meals for your exact needs. 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. Table of Contents Top. Cheapest Meal Delivery Services of What's the best cheap meal delivery service? Cheapest meal delivery services for Cheapest prepared meal services compared. How we test meal kits and meal delivery services.

Factors to consider when choosing a meal delivery service. Why you should trust us. Cheap meal delivery FAQs. Back to selection. See at EveryPlate. Best cheap meal kits overall. See at Fresh N' Lean. Best cheap prepared meal delivery overall.

See at Dinnerly. Best cheap meal kits for picky eaters. See at Mosaic Foods. Best cheap vegan meals. See at Blue Apron. Best cheap meal kits that include steak and seafood. See at Daily Harvest. Best cheap meal delivery for breakfast and lunch. See at HelloFresh. Best cheap meal kits for diet and weight loss.

FILTER BY all Meal Kit Prepared Meal. Showing 7 of 7 Results. Editors' choice. Show less. CNET rating out of 10 8. Cons Not as many healthy options No customization allowed. Type Meal Kit. Good for Healthy, family-friendly, comfort food, picky eaters, quick and easy. Full Review Read full review.

See at EveryPlate Best cheap meal kits overall EveryPlate. Show expert take Show less. CNET rating out of 10 9. Pros Food mostly tastes great Good for diets and healthy eating plans. Cons Expensive if you only order fewer than 10 meals per week.

Type Prepared Meal. Meal options per week Good for Keto, paleo, Whole30, gluten-free Mediterranean, vegan, vegetarian, high-protein. See at Fresh N' Lean Best cheap prepared meal delivery overall Fresh N Lean. CNET rating out of 10 7. Pros Huge recipe selection More healthy options than other budget services.

Cons Some recipes are bland and boring. Regional Availability Continental United States. See at Dinnerly Best cheap meal kits for picky eaters Dinnerly.

Add some crackers, some cheese, a little fresh fruit, and you've got a meal! Get the recipe for Tuna Salad. Broken noodles simmer in a tomato broth with sausage and spinach, capped off with a big dollop of blended cheese.

Get the recipe for Lasagna Soup. An easy way to save on dinner costs? Have breakfast for dinner. This simple but delicious mix of eggs, tortillas, and sausage is a fun way to go all out while still saving some cash.

Get the recipe for Migas with Chorizo. If you're craving a tasty pasta dish that's a little more grown-up than jarred red sauce, give this dish a whirl.

We're pretty sure it'll become a regular part of your dinner plans. Get the recipe for Salmon and Creamed Spinach Fettuccini. We always seem to have the makings for tuna salad around, and elbow macaroni is not expensive. So when we're on a budget, this tuna mac makes a dinner that's fun, filling, and fast.

Get the recipe for Classic Tuna Macaroni Salad. Is there a more classic cheap dinner than mac 'n cheese? Especially because this recipe shows you how to cook the pasta and make the sauce all in the same pot, no draining required!

Get the recipe for Easy-Peasy Stovetop Mac 'n Cheesy. Known around the Upper Midwest as "hot dish," this pure comfort-food classic is easy, inexpensive, and plate-lickingly good.

Get the recipe for Tater Tot Casserole. Linguine with Clam Sauce. Oysters Rockefeller. Steak au Poivre. Marry Me Chicken. Filet Mignon with Duck Fat Potatoes. Truffled Risotto with Mushrooms and Parmesan.

Lemon-Garlic Pasta with Scallops. Coconut Curry Chicken.

Discounted meal options - Boston Market: Current selections include rotisserie chicken, roasted turkey, BBQ ribs (where available) or home-style meatloaf, with sides and Don't foolishly pay full price for meal kits. We found meal subscription deals in February good for up to 80% off normal prices 1. McDonald's: $20 Piece McNugget Meal · 2. Taco Bell: $25 Build Your Own Meal for 4 · 3. Domino's: $7 Mix and Match Deal · 4. Burger King: $30 72 Cheap Dinner Ideas for Weeknight Meals · Inside-Out Stuffed Cabbage · Teriyaki Chicken Thighs · Easy Tamale Pie with Peppers · Hearty Pasta Fagioli

Busy parents will rejoice in picker-eater approved menu items with hidden vegetables and wholesome ingredients from Little Spoon, a kid-specific meal delivery service.

Little Spoon has meal options for babies who are not yet eating solid foods, little ones moving to bite-size pieces, toddlers eating finger foods, and smoothies for on-the-go snacks. Subscription plans offer biweekly delivery cadence that can be skipped, paused, or canceled at any time.

For the picky eaters in your household, we suggest Little Spoon. Providing meals for all age ranges, from infants to toddlers to young kids, Little Spoon exposes kids to a variety of flavors and ingredients at a young age. Dietitian Perry Nix, RD, speaks on the importance of diversifying the foods a child is exposed to early on.

Senior editor and certified nutrition coach Nicole Davis tested out these meals directly with the source: her two oldest children. The kids, being moderately picky in their foods, had mixed reactions to some meals.

Whether or not Little Spoon is right for you and your children will mostly depend on how your children like it.

However, with organic ingredients that are non-GMO, this is a great meal service for kids. You can read our in-depth thoughts in our Little Spoon review. Not every meal service we tried made our top picks; here are a few honorable mentions we tested:.

Obviously, one of the biggest factors we accounted for on these meal delivery services was the price that these meal services brought to the table pun intended. There are more benefits to an inexpensive meal service besides the money.

You can still have many of the benefits of meal services while staying on budget. Finding a meal delivery service that fits in your budget will help you save money.

You buy just the meals you need at affordable prices, and can save on the cost of a grocery run in many cases. Meal prep for the week can take up a lot of time, which is a huge perk of meal delivery services.

Meal kits provide just the right amount of ingredients for your meals, with many ingredients prepared already, so it minimizes the time needed to prepare and cook meals.

Additionally, prepared meals can just be put in an oven or microwave to heat up, virtually eliminating prep time completely.

Many meal services provide plans and options for people with specific dietary restrictions or needs. Also, anyone following keto, low-carb, paleo, vegan, or pescatarian diets will often find options through meal delivery services.

This takes out a lot of the hassle of having to find the right meals for your exact needs. Often at the grocery store, you may have to purchase more food than you want or need for the week, like purchasing a bag of onions when you only need one.

Plus, many meal services source their ingredients sustainably through local organic farmers, which also impacts the environment in a positive way.

With trying to be frugal with your money, here are some things to look out for:. Many meal delivery services offer a first-time discount, which can vary depending on the company.

These discounts can be substantial, although prices may jump back up after a bit of use. Here are a few of our best picks for meal services that offer consistently inexpensive meal options:.

Many meal delivery services have smaller minimums and meal plans to cater for just one person. The cost of HelloFresh varies depending on the number of meal portions you order each week.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases. What is the FITT Principle? It could be the missing ingredient to your workout regimen. Read more. To find the best protein shakes for weight loss, our GGR team of experts tested several premade and powder options.

Here's what we found. Is there any benefit to dry scooping protein powder? An RDN breaks down the purported benefits and risks associated with this viral trend. With cold therapy gaining popularity, which is the best cold plunge tub option for you? ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Check Out the 14 Best Treadmills for Your Home Gym View More.

Best Online Workout Programs Learn More. This includes physicians, certified trainers, elite-level coaches, and more. Learn more about our experts. GGR Score: 4. Check Price. Cons Fresh ingredients need to be cooked within 4 days of delivery Meal selection only after signing up and entering payment information.

Bottom Line Skip the food shopping and the chopping—Dinnerly is a meal kit service that sends you fresh ingredients right to your door with most of the food preparation already done.

Low minimum of meals Over meals to choose from. Cons Very little customization when choosing meal plans Meals can be pricey. Bottom Line Fresh N Lean is a prepared meal delivery service that has a variety of meal plans to choose from. Product Highlights Meal service that delivers ingredients and recipes 6 different plans available, including vegan and pescatarian options Can swap out different proteins and sides Can purchase between 2 and 6 meals, in portions to feed 2 or 4 people 40 weekly recipes to choose from Sourced from U.

Pictured Recipe: Tomato Bun Tuna Melt. Budget Tip: Budget-friendly canned fish, like tuna and wild salmon, are convenient options for fast and healthy dinners on a budget. At a fraction of the price of fresh or frozen fish, you'll get the same health benefits from canned options, like healthy omega-3 fats and protein.

You can still plan to check out the fish counter when you do your grocery shopping to see what fresh seafood options are on sale. Frozen fish may be the better option as it's often less expensive, and you can defrost it when you're ready to use it so you know it's fresh.

Pictured Recipe: Vegetarian Spaghetti Squash Lasagna. Budget Tip: Going meatless a few times a week is good for your health, good for your wallet and good for the environment.

This vegetarian spaghetti squash lasagna, with 18 grams of satisfying protein and 7 g of filling fiber , is a great budget recipe you'll turn to time and time again. Pictured Recipe: Easy Chicken Fried Rice.

Budget Tip: Fried rice with plenty of vegetables and a little meat is an obvious choice when you want to make a quick and healthy dinner that's easy on your wallet.

Feel free to throw in whatever veggie odds and ends you have in your fridge. Being versatile and using what you have on hand helps you save money and minimize food waste. Pictured Recipe: Roasted Buffalo Chickpea Wraps. Budget Tip: Canned beans are an affordable, healthy and convenient ingredient that add satisfying protein and fiber to your meals.

Here, canned chickpeas replace the more-expensive chicken but still deliver that satisfying Buffalo flavor. Stock up when beans go on sale and use in wraps, salads, soups, stews and more for a healthy, inexpensive plant protein.

Budget Tip: Canned black beans, precooked rice and whatever veggies you have on hand are all it takes to whip up this fast and flavorful bean and veggie taco bowl. Use whatever pantry staples you have on hand to create this low-cost meal and skip an extra trip to the grocery store.

Budget Tip: Chicken often goes on sale, so when it does, stock up and keep it in your freezer. This one-pot pasta uses less-expensive flavorful chicken thighs combined with veggies, dried herbs and cheese for a delicious and creamy one-dish dinner.

Savings also include free shipping on that first order, as well as additional savings across your next four deliveries. Blue Apron offers an impressive selection of meals to choose from, with more than 70 recipes to browse each week. This includes low-calorie or less , diabetes-friendly thanks to a collaboration with the American Diabetes Association , WW-approved formerly Weight Watchers , and vegetarian choices.

You can also find recipes that fit into the heart-healthy Mediterranean diet. Blue Apron also comes with some noteworthy add-ons and features. Another perk that may sit outside your food budget is Blue Apron's unique wine pairing service.

We looked at these and other perks during an extensive Blue Apron review. Thankfully, you can still save big by sticking to the no-frills weekly plan. And hey, if you want to splurge on some of Blue Apron's premium services once in a while, who are we to stop you? You deserve it! Blue Apron also makes it easy to pause services or skip a week.

This kind of flexibility is key when it comes to long-term savings on your food budget. Why we highlighted Blue Apron: Blue Apron is a popular meal kit known for fun and unique recipes with affordable prices that really sealed the deal for this delivery service in our books.

If you want prepackaged meals that cut out prep entirely, Fresh N Lean would make for the perfect addition to your weekly routine. This meal delivery service hooks subscribers up with ready-made meals that are fresh, never frozen, and made from quality ingredients.

With over menu items to choose from each week, Fresh N Lean wins points for variety. This includes a number of low carb, vegan, and gluten-free meals to consider on a weekly basis. While not USDA-certified, this company does aim to ship organic ingredients whenever possible.

In the event that an ingredient doesn't meet the brand's quality standards, it may be replaced with conventional ingredients.

Why we chose Fresh N Lean: Fresh N Lean is a great meal delivery service to turn to for budget-friendly, fully prepared meals -- especially if you order enough meals to earn free shipping each week. Do you like healthy fruit smoothies for breakfast? What about harvest grain bowls or soups for lunch?

If you started salivating at the mention of even one of those options, then Daily Harvest is the meal delivery service for you. With a menu packed full of whole fruits and vegetables, Daily Harvest is great for finding the perfect meal for breakfast or lunch.

There are more than 20 unique, flavorful, and nutritionally-packed smoothies to choose from including the dragon fruit and lychee smoothie, pineapple and Matcha, and our personal favorite : the strawberry and peach smoothie.

Don't worry, there are plenty of dinner options to consider here as well. Daily Harvest's menu includes hearty soups, forager bowls, flatbreads, and pasta recipes -- so there's truly something for everyone here. Deliveries are put together one item at a time, so you have the freedom to build your own meal plan each week.

Pick anywhere from nine to 24 items each week. Why we highlighted Daily Harvest: Despite smoothie prices that are higher than you expect, Daily Harvest is still a top contender for healthy meals and treats on a budget, especially if you're interested in the variety of breakfast and lunch options here.

Admit it: It's a bit of a flex to have a delicious, homemade meal ready and waiting multiple nights throughout the week. It takes time and a bit of planning to pull this off, especially if you're cooking for a busy family. And that's not even factoring in high prices that come with eating out.

If you live in New York City, for example, your food budget would likely benefit from a change to meal kit delivery. But wait -- we already know your next question: "With so many meal kits out there, how do I pick the best one?

Choosing the right meal kit for you comes down to a few things. In addition to hunting down the lowest prices per serving, you should always keep an eye out for added discounts.

First-time customers can typically find some level of savings right from the plan selection page. Instead of signing up for the first appealing price you see, shop around a bit to make sure there aren't other better deals waiting for you elsewhere. Take into account factors such as portion sizes, number of meals per week, and any additional fees for shipping or customization.

That note about shipping fees is worth mentioning again. It's not always easy to see how much a meal kit service charges for shipping until you get into the plan selection process.

In order to make the best selections possible, it's important to pull out all the stops when reviewing meal kit delivery services. We considered a number of factors when choosing the best meal kits for affordability and the biggest ones were:.

Tom Horton is a resident health expert for CBS Essentials, with deep experience in topics ranging from chronic conditions to health-care devices to diet options.

He lives in upstate New York, and draws his power from local bookstores, long hikes on a sunny day, and his cat Sammy. Major appliances, laptops, tablets, smartwatches -- you'll likely find a good deal at Best Buy this weekend. Don't miss out on our top five picks for the Nintendo Switch games you can enjoy on your console today.

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