Even after the peak of the pandemic, meal kits are still all the rage in America.
Whether your priority is frugal dining or organic ingredients, chances are there’s a food delivery service out there to cater to your unique needs and desires… unless you’re alone.
But many meal kit delivery options are too much food for one person. So, those of us who cook one recipe that lasts a whole week, or buy ingredients that spoil long before we have a chance to use them, struggle to find the perfect set.
Luckily, while most food delivery services order at least three meals for two per week, there are still plenty of great options for single adults. Here are four of the best ones to try.
An overview of the best food delivery services for one
Freshly: Best for a single serving
- Price per serving – $8.99+
- Estimated Cooking and Cooking Time – 3 minutes
- Special diets – Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Peanut Free, Plant Based, Low Calorie, No Carbs
- Current promotion – Get $60 Off Your First Four Boxes
As we have established, most food delivery services cater to couples and families… most.
Freshly is unique among food box giants because they don’t offer the traditional meal kits of at least two people and three meals a day. Instead, Freshly offers single serving meals, and you can order between 4 and 12 servings per week.
Besides, Fresh does not ship a box full of individually wrapped bags of mayonnaise and chicken breasts. Instead, they send a fully cooked frozen meal that can be reheated in three minutes or less.
All of which goes to show that if Freshly has a downside, it’s the price. For the glorified frozen dinner, you’ll pay $8.99 per serving (or more) plus shipping costs of $9.99 or more. If you’re hesitant, consider the fact that $8.99+ includes delivery of a Chef’s Healthy Dinner, and you can choose from several dietary and allergy-free options, including plant-based and low-fat meals. alcohol. calorie.
For singles who are career-focused, travel-focused, or just on the go, Freshly couldn’t be better.
Try Freshly now or read our full Freshly review.
EveryPlate: the best for the price
If you find Freshly’s prices a bit out of reach, EveryPlate will be a pleasant surprise.
EveryPlate Dinner is only $4.99 per serving, making it one of the most affordable food delivery services. This company uses simpler ingredients and packaging to keep costs down, but still manages to offer 17 delicious and healthy meals every week.
Customers interested in a specific diet, such as keto, or those with food allergies, such as peanuts or gluten, should consider that EveryPlate’s thinner business model also means they don’t cater to specific dietary needs other than vegetarianism.
However, if you’ve never tried a food delivery service before, EveryPlate is a great place to start, especially since their current promotion drops the price per serving to just $1.99 for the first three boxes!
Try an EveryPlate subscription or read our full EveryPlate review.
Blue apron: the best for variety
Among the food delivery services listed so far, Blue Apron is one of the original ones.
With a decade in the industry, this formidable food giant has established itself as a leader. blue apron offers tasty and nutritious meals at a competitive price starting at $7.99 per serving, but perhaps its biggest draw is its truly comprehensive menu. Every week, customers choose from a wide selection of over 50 dishes!
For singles who hate cooking the same five main meals week after week, Blue Apron can help you expand your palate with popular dishes from around the world. You can order something unique like chimichurri tilapia, or play it safe and opt for a steak taco.
Even the time it takes to prepare each dish is not the same, with some dishes being prepared in almost an hour, while others are delivered from the box to the table in less than 10 minutes.
Try a Blue Apron subscription or read our full Blue Apron review.
Solar basket: best for the environment
Last on our list is Sunbasket, a consumer-focused, environmentally conscious, and sustainable company.
Sunbasket’s business model is nutrition that puts health first, i.e. your personal health as well as the health of the planet. They use fresh organic produce and work with farmers and fishermen who care for their animals as much as they care for their land.
With their sustainable approach and talented culinary team, Sunbasket’s menu is playful and all-inclusive, with options like Khao Suey Burmese beef or Korean BBQ tostadas with pollock, charred green onions and carrot sprouts. In addition to their creative dishes, sunbathing basket offers a variety of breakfasts and snacks, as well as selected products such as salmon fillet and ravioli with fried mushrooms.
All of which is to say, if Sunbasket suits your taste buds the best, be prepared to pay a hefty sum. Their Fresh & Ready meals (which are microwaved in four minutes or less) are $9.99 per serving, while their traditional meal kits (which take 4-40 minutes to cook) are $11.49 per serving.
Try a Sunbasket subscription or read our full Sunbasket review.
Summary of the best food delivery services for one
| Food delivery service | Price per serving (from) | Cost of delivery | Number of options each week | Number of servings/meals | Estimated preparation and cooking time | Special diets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresh | $8.99 | $9.99+ | 50+ food options | 4-12 single meals | 3 minutes | Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Peanut Free, Plant Based, Low Calorie, No Carbs |
| EveryPlate | $4.99 | $9.99 | 17 food options | 2 or 4 people; 3-5 meals per week | 20-40 minutes | vegetarian |
| blue apron | $7.99 | $9.99 | 50+ food options | 2 or 4 people; 3-4 meals per week | 5-50 minutes | vegetarian |
| sunbathing basket | $9.99 | $9.99 | Approximately 20 meal kit options, plus 10 microwaveable options. | 2 or 4 people; 2-5 meals per week | 4-40 minutes | Paleo, Gluten Free, Low Calorie, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Mediterranean, Diabetic, No Carbs |
How did I come to this list?
First of all, there is only one popular food delivery company that delivers single serving food: Freshly. The Freshly business plan is unique among competitors and is designed for a narrow audience.
To further hone my list of America’s best food delivery services for singles, I’ve looked at the values and concerns of many single people, especially single millennials and Gen Z, as the average single person in America is roughly 30 years old. This prompted me to prioritize food delivery services focused on three values: price, variety, and sustainability.
Expenses
Cost is a big issue for many meal kit buyers, whether we’re worried about saving up for retirement or spending extra change on travel and treats. With food available at $4.99 per serving, EveryPlate has created a solution for the budget conscious gourmet.
Diversity
Another value for many single people, especially those who love to travel and try new dishes, is the extensive and creative menu. Food delivery services allow us to sample many different dishes, and with over 50 options per week, Blue Apron offers one of the widest options available.
sustainability
Finally, a growing priority for many Millennials and Generation Z — and by extension, single people — is sustainability and supporting environmentally conscious companies. Among the leading food delivery companies, Sunbasket clearly leads the way in this department, using nearly 100% organic products and partnering with sustainable fishermen and farmers across the country.
What are grocery delivery services?
Food kit delivery services deliver healthy meal kits right to your door, some with pre-made meals and others with do-it-yourself ingredients.
Most of the nation’s leading food delivery kits provide a wide selection of dozens of options each week, and you can cancel or skip deliveries at any time. Many offer meals that can cater to certain dietary preferences, such as vegetarian options, as well as food allergies, such as gluten-free options.
On average, these companies charge between $5 and $10 per serving, with an additional charge of $10 or more for shipping.
Why use food delivery services?
The main advantage of the meal kit delivery service is time.
For busy singles building their careers, passionate travelers and less creative chefs, food delivery services save significant time and energy each week. You’ll save yourself hours spent searching for recipes, wandering around the grocery store, and depending on the food selection you choose, preparing delicious and nutritious meals.
That being said, people who are looking for more affordable meals may not find the solution in a meal kit. Depending on the company, some food delivery services cost as much as eating out each night. If cost is important to you, consider a company like EveryPlate, which offers a competitive price per serving of just $4.99.
Connected: Best Food Delivery Services for Families
bottom line
Food delivery subscriptions can be a great help for customers who want to save time and eat healthier.
Unfortunately, most of these companies offer packages that serve at least two people per week. As a result, it can be difficult for single people to find a company that meets their specific wants and needs.
Freshly is the only established food delivery service that provides single serving meals, 4 to 12 per week, but there are many other popular companies to consider for individual shoppers. EveryPlate, for example, offers a particularly affordable price of $4.99 a serving, while Blue Apron’s extensive menu gives singles the opportunity to sample fine dining from around the world.
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