7 Best Low-Carb Meal Delivery Services, Tested and Reviewed for 2023
Just remember: Carbs are not the enemy.
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Any chance you're here because (1) cooking isn't your strong suit, (2) you're trying to kickstart your health journey, or (3) you're busy af, so you don't have time to meal prep every single day? Well, whatever it is, maybe you've decided that a low-carb diet—i.e., limiting carbohydrates which are often found in grains, starchy veggies, and fruits—is an option you'd like to explore. So today, I'm here to bring you a list of my seven favorite low-carb and healthy delivery services of the year (so far).
But before we begin, if you're choosing to cut back on carbs with the idea that you're making a healthier diet choice, it's important to note that carbohydrates are not the enemy. Though a low-carb diet may be beneficial for certain forms of childhood epilepsy, metabolic disorders, and type 2 diabetes, "research shows that low-carb diets are not more effective for achieving weight loss than a balanced diet," says nutritionist Dr. Hazel Wallace, adding that the most effective way to lose weight is the way that is the most sustainable for you, and going low-carb rarely is.
However, if—after speaking to your doc, doing research, and determining it's right for you—you decide that you want to incorporate some more low-carb meals into your daily diet, I've got a list of the best meal delivery services and lots of information, below.
Our top picks for the best low-carb meal delivery services in 2023:
Now that you've got a sneak peek of the content to come, keep reading for a breakdown of each meal delivery service, what Dr. Wallace has to say, and everything you need to know about low-carb diets, below.
Hello Fresh
Pros
- Widely available
Cons
- Clean up and prep takes some time
Want to chef it up but don't feel like going to the grocery store, prepping ingredients, and figuring out which recipe to make? No worries, Hello Fresh has got ya covered. The delivery service has a special low-carb meal plan, but also several other meal plans if you're looking to mix it up. (P.S. There are always incredible deals when you first sign up!)
- How it works: With HelloFresh, meals are delivered through a subscription service. Each box includes pre-measured ingredients along with the corresponding recipe. The best part? You can totally customize your box and choose between 35+ recipes each week, plus how many people the subscription will include, so you can cook for one or the whole family.
- Price: One meal comes out to $7.49 per person
- Availability: Anywhere in the United States besides Alaska and Hawaii
Performance Kitchen
Pros
- You can pause, skip a week, or cancel at any time
Cons
- Some testers wish that there were more veggies incorporated
Endorsed by NFL player Russell Wilson and internal and integrative medicine practitioner, Robert Graham, MD, MPH, this delivery service is the real deal. But the best part? You can book a free nutrition consultation with registered dietitians to make sure you choose the right meal plan for your individual needs.
- How it works: Choose your diet plan (i.e., low-carb, gluten-free, dairy-free), your delivery rate (i.e., weekly, monthly, or a la carte), and whether or not you would like a frozen or prepared meal.
- Price: Prices begin at $8.99 for individual meals and around $108 for meal bundles.
- Availability: Nationwide shipping
Green Chef
Pros
- USDA-certified organic
Cons
- It's not available in all 50 states
This USDA-certified organic meal delivery service was the first ever keto meal kit to hit markets. This service includes pre-measured and prepped meals for you to cook at home by yourself. Plus, you can skip whenever you want and cancel at any time.
- How it works: Begin by selecting your meal plan option (for low-carb, go with Keto), choose how many people you wish to feed (two, four, or six), and how many meals per week (three or four). Once you checkout, you can then select your meals for the upcoming week.
- Price: Meals begin at $9.99. There is a "hero's discount" for medical providers, nurses, teachers, first responders, active military, and veterans.
- Availability: Anywhere in the United States besides parts of Louisiana, Alaska, and Hawaii
Sakara Life
Pros
- No prep and super convenient
Cons
- Reviews say that you may have to supplement meals in order to get enough food to feel full
If you want to drop a pretty penny on a celeb-loved meal delivery service, consider Sakara. Each meal comes pre-made and pre-portioned in individual containers, so essentially you're really paying for convenience and no prep meals. But this meal service is different from the others—Sakara wants to heal your relationship with carbs because they believe that carbs are essential for a healthy diet and lifestyle, which is why I love it so much.
- How it works: Choose between the most flexible option, the Signature Nutrition Program, which offers breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner for two-five days a week based on your location, or the other four meal plans that offer one-, four-, or eight-week programs based on your health goal (i.e., metabolism, cleanse, gut health, or performance). Whichever plan you choose, you'll get some bonus items, such as supplements, tea, and protein bars.
- Price: Signature Nutrition Program ($185 - $440); The Fresh Start Cleanse ($460 for 7 days, $1,730 for 30 days, $3,410 for 60 days); The Performance System ($575 for 7 days, $2,125 for 30 days, $4,200 for 60 days); The Metabolism Reset ($460 for 7 days, $1,610 for 30 days, $3,170 for 60 days); The Gut Health Reboot ($595 for 7 days, $2,275 for 30 days, $4,500 for 60 days).
- Availability: Nationwide
Fresh N Lean
Pros
- Organic produce and sustainable animal proteins
Cons
- Can't make specific meal selections
Fresh N Lean meal delivery really takes "fresh" to the next level. Most ingredients in their meal kits are sourced from a local farm in California andddd the animal proteins are grass-fed, free-range, and cage-free, so you know you're getting quality food.
- How it works: Most options serve a high-protein, low-carb diet, and everything offered is gluten-free and dairy-free (with the exception of the Keto plan). Select one-, two-, or three meals per day, or opt to go a la carte. Specify if you have any allergies, add additional meals and/or snacks, and if you have any specific dietary needs, you can choose to order your meals in bulk. Plus, if you don't like a specific ingredient, you can choose to exclude up to three in your meals.
- Price: $8.99 per serving
- Availability: Nationwide
Factor 75
Pros
- Meals are never frozen and always fresh
Cons
- Not a ton of plant-based options
Designed by dieticians and chefs, Factor 75 is a great option for those interested in the keto diet. Every single meal is fresh, never frozen, so you're guaranteed quality food each delivery. Plus, first-time subscribers get a pretty sweet deal on their first five boxes.
- How it works: Choose your meal program—for low-carb, opt for Keto—then choose how many meals per week you'd like to receive (i.e., six, eight, ten, twelve, fourteen, eighteen). After paying, you then choose from 35 recipes and new menus every week.
- Price: $11 per serving
- Availability: Anywhere in the United States besides Alaska and Hawaii
Home Chef
Pros
- Different menu each week
Cons
- Not great for someone living alone
If you have a partner or a family of up to six, you should consider taking a peek at the Home Chef meal service. Choose between 'calorie-conscious' and 'carb-conscious' menus for up to six people. Plus, you can even let them know about certain ingredients you want to avoid.
- How it works: The first step is to decide if you want a meal plan that includes pre-portioned ingredients, or little to no prep meals. Once you've done that, you'll select your preferences: How many people you're cooking for, and how many recipes per week you want to receive. Once you choose that, it's time to customize the meal. Choose from different menus each week, as well as the ability to upgrade, swap, or add extra protein.
- Price: $9.95 per serving, $4.95 per add on
- Availability Nationwide
How to choose the best low-carb meal delivery service:
Understand that carbs are not the enemy
Though the images of bread, pasta, and cake pop up when you think of carbohydrates, the food group also includes fruit, veggies, and whole grains. Carbs, in their simplest form as glucose, act as the main source of energy in the body, fueling all of our activities, from simply breathing to running a marathon, explains Dr. Wallace. "In addition to energy, they also provide fiber, vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, and water."
Make sure you're getting enough nutrients
Low-carb diets are not very sustainable, they're low in fiber, and there are side effects (i.e., bad breath, constipation, tiredness), explains Dr. Wallace, adding that the "brain also preferentially uses sugars from healthy carbohydrates, and lack of these can lead to confusion and irritability."
Another problem Wallace emphasizes? The risk of micronutrient deficiencies, which can have negative consequences on your health. In terms of weight loss, a low-carbohydrate diet has not been found to be superior: "When people cut carbohydrates from their diet they may lose weight as it often means cutting a large portion of energy-dense foods from the diet," says Wallace.
Instead, make sure you're prioritizing complex carbs from whole grains and starchy vegetables, like sweet potatoes. And while some may prefer to experiment with cutting back on carb intake, you should avoid removing them completely from your diet.
Meet the expert:
- Hazel Wallace is the founder of The Food Medic, a medical doctor, registered associate nutritionist, and personal trainer.
Why trust Cosmo?
As you probably know, the Cosmo team spends all day, every day scouring the internet, testing products and services, and reading reviews so we can bring you the type of high-quality content we’d want for ourselves (and our standards are preeeetty darn high, TBH). If we wouldn’t buy something for ourselves, we sure as heck won’t recommend it to you—and we’re always gonna keep it really, really real. Pinky swear.
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