When I first heard about meal kits, I had my doubts. I was skeptical about the ingredients' freshness and the meals' nutrition and taste. As a certified culinarian, I care about eating healthy. And in my mind, meal kits were everything but healthy.
Some of my friends recently switched to meal kits to make their lives easier. Getting pre-packaged groceries with simple-to-follow recipes shipped to their doors saves them stressful trips to the grocery store and they don’t need to worry about what's for dinner.
After talking to my friends, they asked me to try Green Chef and share my honest, professional opinion. So I started with some basic research on their site to get an overall idea of what their service has to offer. Here's what I found:
Meal Plans
Green Chef offers six meal plans to choose from:
- Keto + Paleo
- Vegetarian
- Mediterranean
- Fast & Fit
- Vegan
- Gluten Free
To my surprise, Green Chef is a certified organic company, dietary-friendly meal kit service. Compared to other services such as Blue Apron, they even offer options for Keto and Vegan diets.
Pricing
Green Chef meals start at $11.99 per serving, plus $9.99 shipping per order. I've definitely seen
cheaper meal kit services, but for their dietary options and premium ingredients, the price isn't bad at all – especially when comparing it to organic produce at the grocery store.
Flexibility
When it comes to subscription services, I always ensure I don't enter into a binding contract. Thankfully Green Chef's subscription is very flexible with zero commitments. You can easily change your meals, skip weeks or cancel anytime before their weekly deadline.
The ordering process was super easy. I chose the Vegetarian meal plan with 3 recipes per week for 2 people. With their current discount, I ended up paying only $6.45 per serving and enjoyed free shipping!
There were lots of options on their weekly menu – I honestly had a hard time choosing my meals because they all looked super delicious. I loved that I could view each item in detail, including a photo, ingredient list, nutrition label, and allergen information.
When my box arrived, I was amazed by how well the ingredients were packaged. Everything was pre-measured, so there's zero food waste. The produce arrived cold and fresh in a cardboard insulated box with recyclable ice packs.
"Green Chef meals are super easy to prepare and ready in less than 30 minutes!"
Each of Green Chef's recipes comes with a step-by-step recipe card that includes a brief description of the dish, cook time, list of ingredients, equipment, calories, and allergens.
The first meal I prepared was their Sesame-Ginger Glazed Tofu with cashew-studded quinoa, cabbage & carrot slaw, and mango salsa. With a good amount of protein (29g), healthy fats, and fibers, it’s a well-balanced meal, perfect for mindful eaters.
Even though I went to culinary school, I must say that any adult of any skill level can master Green Chef’s meals, thanks to the easy instructions. It took me less than 30 minutes! I was a little skeptical about their pre-made sauces’ flavor, but their sesame-ginger amino sauce tasted truly delicious – nutty, garlicky, bright, and a little spicy – just perfect for the crispy pan-seared tofu!
I love that Green Chef recipes include a wide variety of flavors and styles inspired by global flavors – from modern meals to rustic comfort foods! The Creamy Corn & Potato Chowder with carrots, roasted red peppers, and homemade multigrain croutons was just as excellent.
I liked that I got the opportunity to make the toasty multigrain croutons myself. Seasoned with nutritional yeast, they made the perfect topping. I've never seasoned my croutons this way before – happy I learned something new!
Expert Summary:
Green Chef exceeded my expectations with nutritious, delicious and easy-to-make meals! They’re an excellent choice for people who want to save time without sacrificing food quality or health-conscious eaters craving more variety in their diet.
Because Green Chef offers keto, paleo, vegan and vegetarian plans, it's also a great option for those who need or choose to avoid certain foods, such as dairy, grains, or meat. Plus, you’ll for sure improve your cooking skills!