Becoming a new parent is a great and exciting period, but it can also quickly become exhausting. I mean, who has time to grocery shop, plan menus, cook, and clean up three meals a day when you’ve got a newborn? Definitely not you! And that’s why you’re probably reading this blog right now – to find a solution.
But guess what? That’s where Meal Fan comes in. We’ve reviewed a list of meal delivery kits and prepared meal services that we’re sure will be a great fit for a new parent like you. You can trust these services to take care of basically everything meal-related so you don’t have to.
These companies that we’re about to explore can provide you with healthy, delicious meals and easy-to-heat-and-eat snacks that you can prepare in less than 30 minutes, reducing your shopping, cooking, and cleaning time while providing you with that much-needed break to relax.
Now, we get that the list for these different services can be long as many companies offer nice packages that can fit your needs as a new parent, but after reviewing so many companies and trying out their menus, here’s our top pick for the year 2024.
1. Factor – For Nutrition-Conscious Parents
- Factor’s Meal Type: Prepared meals
- Factor’s Minimum Order: 6 meals
- Factor’s Prep Time: 2–3 minutes
- Factor’s Starting Price: $6.19/serving
Factor offers fully prepared meals catered to new parents starting at just $6.75 each if you order a 6-meal-per-week minimum. Even better, upgrade to 18 meals delivered weekly, and prices drop down to $5.50–$6 per entrée depending on your menu preferences.
I’m telling you, for the convenience of not shopping, prepping, or cleaning up after dinner during those blurry-eyed baby months, Factor is the real deal!
And don’t think quick microwave meals means any lack of variety and nutrition. It’s actually quite the opposite! Factor offers awesome menu customization potential, and their entire menu is gluten-free. Plus, you can expect nutritious ingredients like lean meats, seafood, and vegetables.
Not forgetting to mention that most of their meals contain 600 calories or less, this makes them the perfect service if you’re watching your weight.
And in case you’re wondering what their menu looks like, Factor’s menu features dishes with Latin, French, Italian, and classic American flavors. However, it’s important to note that their meals are not for parents with larges families as they offer single servings just enough to suit you and your spouse – and that’s it!
Expect anything from Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken with Zucchini Noodles to Creamy Parmesan Chicken with Roasted Broccoli & Tomatoes.
Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken with Zucchini Noodles
Creamy Parmesan Chicken with Roasted Broccoli & Tomatoes
They’ve seriously got you covered with their huge selection of easy single-serve entrées which you can mix and match to your heart’s content. Here’s a full review on Factor.
You can check out their menu and cash in on this active deal.
2. Green Chef – If You Love Organic Meals
- Green Chef’s Meal Type: 30-minute meal kits
- Green Chef’s Minimum Order: 3 meals for 2 people
- Green Chef’s Prep Time: 25–40 minutes
- Green Chef’s Starting Price: $9.99/serving
Green Chef makes dinner a breeze with organic meal kits containing everything you need for fresh, tasty meals you can prepare in 30 minutes or less. They also offer a couple of options that may take up to 40 minutes or less to prepare.
The beauty of this service is that their menu will cater to your diet goals, like protein-packed, keto, plant-based, Mediterranean, quick and easy, calorie-smart, and gluten-free.
Plus, with Green Chef, you can build a customized box that works for your family! Extras are on offer too; we spotted breakfasts, smoothies, desserts, and packs with beef, salmon, etc. – you name it.
However, expect lots of veggies, whole grains, and lean proteins like chicken, fish, shrimp, pork, and beef on their menu, and since Green Chef is a gourmet service, you’re sure to find global cuisines like Peruvian, Italian, Greek, Mexican, and French.
They also have a good variety of classic American options, like Cheesy Ground Beef Melts or Turkish-Spiced Chicken Tacos.
Cheesy Ground Beef Melts, Roasted Red Potato Wedges &Lemon Aioli
Turkish-Spiced Chicken Tacos, Lemon Honey Crema, SchugSlaw, Pistachios
As for sustainability, we had to give Green Chef a thumbs up for their packaging, which aims for low emissions, and the effort they put into sourcing top-quality USDA organic ingredients and proteins for delicious, good-for-you meals so you can feel good about your green choices.
The minimum order you can make is 3 meals for 2 people per week (which is quite enough to take care of a small family) and up to 4 meals for 6. You can choose to order the maximum to save around $1.50 per meal – just $9.99 per serving. Here’s a full review on Green Chef.
You can check out their menu and cash in on this active deal.
3. HelloFresh – Perfect for Large Families
- HelloFresh’s Meal Type: Meal kits, speedy kits, prepared meals
- HelloFresh’s Minimum Order: 2 meals for 2 people
- HelloFresh’s Prep Time: 5–50 minutes
- HelloFresh’s Starting Price: $4.49/serving
Finding quick, healthy, and affordable meal options can be a challenge if you have a large family. That’s why we reviewed HelloFresh and found it to be the perfect service that can provide you with family-sized meal kits with simple recipes you can whip up in around 20 minutes or so.
We checked out their menu, which spotlights six meal plans that include Meat & Veggies, Veggie, Family Friendly, Fit & Wholesome, Quick & Easy, and Pescatarian. Additionally, they have low-carb, low-calorie, or seafood-based dishes if you have dietary preferences.
In terms of affordability, HelloFresh lands somewhere in the middle – not the absolute cheapest, but not overly expensive either. Their minimum order is 2 meals for 2 people per week. Larger orders of 6 meals for 4 people offer the best value at $4.49 per meal.
What we really loved about this service, though, was the ability to browse through their menu six weeks in advance, and their recipes tend to change weekly rather than repeat. This means no recycling of old dishes!
If you’re opting to use HelloFresh, you can expect fresh, high-quality ingredients and an array of global cuisine options from their menu. In fact, their sample recipes include classic American, Italian, Latin, Chinese, and Middle Eastern dishes you’ll love.
There’s also a large assortment of add-ons available, like breads, soups, proteins, and even some fully prepared meals. If you’re the type that loves Greek yoghurt, you can try out their Blueberry, Granola & Greek Style Yoghurt Bowl with Honey.
Blueberry, Granola & Greek Style Yoghurt Bowl with Honey
You might also like the Salted Caramel and Chocolate Granola from the Granola Yoghurt and Oats Breakfast Selection. However, we would suggest you visit their menu yourself and see through the variety of amazing dishes they have for you.
Salted Caramel and Chocolate Granola
These meals can be prepared between 5 and 15 minutes. And we discovered that each of their ready-to-eat sides and desserts meets the convenience factor in terms of preparation time. For detailed coverage of this service, here’s our full review on HelloFresh.
You can check out their menu and cash in on this active deal.
4. Home Chef – For Preferential Meals
- Home Chef’s Meal Type: Kits, speedy kits, oven-ready
- Home Chef’s Minimum Order: 2 meals for 2 people
- Home Chef’s Prep Time: 5–50 minutes
- Home Chef’s Starting Price: $7.99/serving
Home Chef is a unique service for new parents because of its convenience, flexibility, and variety that take the stress out of those weeknight dinners.
What we really liked about this service was how fast and easy many of their meals were. In fact, they have an entire section devoted to Easy Prep Meal kits which are meals you can prepare for around 20–30 minutes or so. They also have the Express and Express Plus meal options taking as little as 10–15 minutes from start to finish.
As for their menu, they offer over 25 recipes and around 6 fast oven-ready meals per week – just pop them in the oven, serve, and you have a fresh, homemade dinner with barely any hands-on effort.
As if that wasn’t convenient enough, you can also swap out proteins and customize ingredients in most of their recipes, so you can accommodate preferences and dietary needs. Say you get the Creamy Blackened Chicken Alfredo kit but want shrimp instead – no problem, just select that when ordering.
Creamy Blackened Chicken Alfredo
And while customization is essential, Home Chef doesn’t skimp on quality or variety either. They offer add-ons like smoothies, salads, desserts, and more so you can find options the whole family will enjoy.
You can order between 2 and 6 recipes per week, which helps cut down on food waste. Ordering the 6 servings for 6 people box brings costs down to just $7.99 per portion, which is cool! Here’s our full review on Home Chef.
You can check out their menu and cash in on this active deal.
5. Fresh and Easy – If You love Easy Meals
- Fresh and Easy’s Meal Type:Oven- and grill-ready, kits, prepared
- Fresh and Easy’s Minimum Order:2 meals for 2 people
- Fresh and Easy’s Prep Time: 15–30 minutes
- Fresh and Easy’s Starting Price: $7.99/serving
As a subsidiary of Home Chef, you get the convenience of Home Chef’s huge menu plus Fresh and Easy’s specialization in lightning-quick recipes. We’re talking oven-ready entrées you just heat and eat, 15-minute skillet meals where the prep is done for you, and fresh assemble-it-yourself salads. Just look for the Express, Express Plus, and Fast & Fresh labels to find their fastest offerings.
What we like about them is how they simplify cooking without sacrificing flavor or nutrition. The Southwest-Style Pork Skillet, for example, pulls together in 10–15 minutes thanks to pre-chopped veggies and homemade spice blend.
Southwest-Style Pork Skillet with Jalapeño Guacamole
But you can also swap in different proteins like turkey, shrimp, or Impossible meat to suit your needs or picky family.
Customization extends to most Fresh and Easy meals, allowing you to tweak proteins and portions. So, whether you need more or less of a certain ingredient, want to try a vegetarian swap, or need to avoid certain allergens, you’ve got options. It takes the guesswork and stress out of having to cater to different diets.
And as part of the Home Chef family, you can complement your Fresh and Easy choices with anything from their huge menu like desserts, sides, breakfasts, etc. It’s meal kit mix-and-match freedom!
Just like Home Chef, the minimum you can order from Fresh and Easy is 2 recipes for 2 people per week. You may decide to opt for 6 meals for 6 people which cost around $7.99 per serving.
For new parents searching for the holy grail of fast, fresh, and flexible weeknight dinners, Fresh and Easy checks all the boxes. Their <30-minute (often more like 10–15 minutes!) offerings combined with customization and menu variety gives you back some sanity during a chaotic season. It’s the kind of easy yet delicious solution we all need in our lives right now!
You can check out their menu and cash in on this active deal.
6. Blue Apron – For Delicious Gourmet Dishes
- Blue Apron’s Meal Type: Meal kits
- Blue Apron’s Minimum Order: 2 meals for 2 people
- Blue Apron’s Prep Time: 5–45 minutes
- Blue Apron’s Starting Price: $5.74/serving
If your plan is to elevate your family dinners with sophisticated recipes that somehow simplify cooking, Blue Apron is the way to go!
As a new parent, you should definitely try out Blue Apron, not just because they’re one of the pioneers of the meal kit business, but also because they’ve perfected the art of sending exactly what you need for creative recipes that taste professionally plated but are surprisingly manageable.
You’ll find globally inspired dishes from various cuisines, plus American classics with unique twists your family will love. While selections rotate weekly, there’s enough variety to keep things interesting because they offer over 19+ options per week.
And let’s not even get started on how easy it is to prepare their recipes. They provide you with helpful resources like videos on their website to walk you through anything that may be new. So you still end up with restaurant-worthy outcomes without overly complex dishes.
If you’re wondering which of their dishes you should try out, we would suggest their chorizo and broccoli pasta, which blends Italian inspiration with some of the flavors you’re familiar with.
Chorizo & Broccoli Pasta with Tomato Cream Sauce
You can have this meal ready in 30 minutes or less, and don’t worry about customization – Blue Apron allows you to customize your box, so you can make meals that are a great fit for your family.
And let’s not leave out Blue Apron’s massive grocery section which allows you to add extras like desserts, sides, breakfasts, pantry items, etc.
While not the most budget-friendly service, costs come down when ordering larger 5-meal boxes serving 4. In fact, you’ll be doing yourself a whole lot of favor when you order larger boxes for your family as the price per will drop to just $5.74.
If you’re opting for this service, then you’re in for a treat because no other meal kit brand equals Blue Apron’s consistent quality and epicurean appeal. The gourmet recipes they offer open up a world of flavorful possibilities without demanding hours in the kitchen – something new parents like you desperately need! Here’s our full review on Blue Apron.
You can check out their menu and cash in on this active deal.
7. BistroMD – If You’re Watching Your Weight
- BistroMD’s Meal Type: Prepared meals
- BistroMD’s Minimum Order: 10 prepared meals
- BistroMD’s Prep Time: 2–3 minutes
- BistroMD’s Starting Price: $8.24/serving
As a new parent (and a mum), summoning the energy to cook healthy, low-calorie meals for your family amidst sleepless nights can feel impossible, yet nutrition is vital for recovering postpartum and safely shedding lingering baby weight.
That’s why if you want doctor-designed dishes supporting weight loss goals without sacrificing flavor or convenience, BistroMD is our top pick.
Created by bariatric specialists, BistroMD’s programs offer entirely balanced meals following different diet approaches. So whether you need heart-healthy, diabetic-friendly, gluten-free, keto, or vegan plans, you’ll find options tailored to your needs.
While you can’t mix various programs, BistroMD’s smart menu filtering makes customizing for tastes easy. You’ll discover tasty dishes spanning different cuisines and categories.
What sets BistroMD apart is their weight loss expertise guiding nutritionally sound meal creation. The dishes satisfy without the bland “diet food” stigma, striking an artful balance between health and flavor. Expect mostly classic American recipes spotlighting fresh ingredients rather than exotic spices, yet still with solid variety. So, whether you crave their Meatloaf with Honey Bourbon Glaze or Blackened Chicken with Creamy Smoked Paprika Sauce, they design menus that are sure to intrigue you every week.
Meatloaf with Honey Bourbon Glaze
Blackened Chicken with Creamy Smoked Paprika Sauce
Order configurations are also wonderfully flexible whether you need partial meal coverage or complete support. And cost-wise, getting full meals including breakfast lunch and dinner breaks down affordably, especially when you consider the high-quality nutrition and weight loss guidance included. Here’s our full review on BistroMD.
You can check out their menu and cash in on this active deal.
8. Purple Carrot – For Vegan Diets
- Purple Carrot’s Meal Type: Meal kits, prepared meals
- Purple Carrot’s Minimum Order: 3 meal kits for 2 people
- Purple Carrot’s Prep Time: 30–40 minutes
- Purple Carrot’s Starting Price: $8.50/serving
As pioneers of the plant-based meal kit movement, Purple Carrot’s global recipes celebrate veggies in all their glorious potential – no imitation meat required!
With quick prep times and options ranging from ready-to-heat meals to chef-designed kits, they empower new parents like you to serve nutritious, exciting dinners quickly.
The great thing is their meals are usually ready in about 30 minutes, with simple step-by-step instructions, so even when you’re short on time and energy with your child, you can still put together a tasty plant-based meal. They even have a Less Prep menu where things take only 25 minutes start to finish!
And they pull inspiration from cuisines around the world too. You’ll find meals like the Crispy Cauliflower Pakoras with Red Lentil Dal & Cilantro Chutney and Pasta alla Norma with Blistered Tomatoes and Fresh Basil.
Crispy Cauliflower Pakoras with Red Lentil Dal & Cilantro Chutney
Pasta alla Norma with Blistered Tomatoes and Fresh Basil
They also have some handy extras like prepared breakfasts, snacks, and sides you can add to your order. So, if having premade items on hand makes life a little easier some weeks, you’ve got options.
One thing to know, though, is that the minimum order is 3 meals for 2 people per week. So, they’re more preferable for smaller families. However, you can choose to go big with their largest order. This lowers the cost per serving to just $8.50 per meal, which is pretty sweet!
While their recipes celebrate whole foods over substitutions, flexibility still allows omitting ingredients if needed. And costs come out reasonably for the quality, especially when ordering larger boxes to feed more mouths or stock up for busier weeks ahead. Here’s our full review on Purple Carrot.
You can check out their menu and cash in on this active deal.
9. Marley Spoon – For Large Menus
- Marley Spoon’s Meal Type: Meal kits
- Marley Spoon’s Minimum Order: 2 meals for 2 people
- Marley Spoon’s Prep Time: 20–40 minutes
- Marley Spoon’s Starting Price: $2.99/serving
For new parents struggling to put healthy home-cooked meals on the table every night, meal kit services like Marley Spoon could be a real game changer for you.
Marley Spoon sends you preportioned ingredients and straightforward recipes to take the stress out of planning and grocery shopping. Everything you need for dinner is delivered right to your door!
The service offers tons of dietary options too, like carb-conscious, low-calorie, vegan, and veggie meal options if you’re following a plant based diet. They also provide gluten and dairy free meals. So whether you’ve got picky kids or family members with food allergies, there’s something for everyone.
On those special nights, you and your spouse would flip for dishes like Cheese Tortelloni Marinara with Garlic Butter Breadcrumbs & Tossed Salad.
Cheese Tortelloni Marinara with Garlic Butter Breadcrumbs & Tossed Salad
And with recipes that pull from diverse cuisines like French, Italian, and Turkish, dinnertime stays exciting week after week.
For super hectic nights, Marley Spoon has some ready-made entrées you can order alongside your meal kits. And extras like desserts, salads, and sides let you round out your meals.
One thing you’ll surely love about this company is that most of their recipes are simple, kid-friendly, and made with accessible ingredients you may already have at home. Less stress, less mess!
One important tip: to get the best value, go for the max order of 6 meals for 4 people. That brings the per-serving price down to just $2.99!Here’s our full review on Marley Spoon.
You can check out their menu and cash in on this active deal.
10. Dinnerly – For Budget-Friendly Meals
- Dinnerly’s Meal Type: Meal kits
- Dinnerly’s Minimum Order: 3 meals for 2 people
- Dinnerly’s Prep Time: 20–45 minutes
- Dinnerly’s Starting Price: $2.12/serving
Finding budget-friendly meal solutions as a new parent can feel impossible without sacrificing nutrition or flavor. But that’s where Dinnerly comes in.
At practically half the price of other popular meal kits, Dinnerly provides a way to cook healthy homemade dinners while sticking to a tight budget. We’re talking less than $3 per serving for some fast, family-friendly recipes. This is perfect for new parents looking to cook more without overspending.
Despite the low cost, Dinnerly’s meals aren’t super difficult or boring to prepare. Lots of these meals take around 40 minutes or less. Plus, their menu includes appetizing meals like the Pastrami Crusted Steak with Everything Bagel Baked Potato, Easy Peas-y Tortelloni Alfredo with Melted Parmesan, and Chicken-Fried Chicken with Mashed Potatoes & Green Beans.
Pastrami Crusted Steak with Everything Bagel Baked Potato
Easy Peas-y Tortelloni Alfredo with Melted Parmesan
Chicken-Fried Chicken with Mashed Potatoes & Green Beans
And there are the crowd-pleasers like fajitas, pastas, and stir-fry bound to satisfy even picky eaters.
You won’t find a ton of those ready-made entrées like with some pricier kits. But for an affordable option, Dinnerly has more than enough quick and tasty recipes to choose from each week.
They make the process super straightforward too by labeling meals as Easy, Medium, or Hard right on their website. And most are tagged with that Easy difficulty, which is awesome. This means less stress for you and more time for your new born child.
Now if you want extras like desserts or add-ons, Dinnerly doesn’t have a huge selection since the focus is keeping costs down. But for the basics, they’re there for you!
To fully enjoy Dinnerly and save the most possible, we would suggest you get theirmax order of 6 meals for 4. This will bring your cost all the way down to just over $2 per meal! To find out more about this and the other offerings Dinnerly provides, here’s our full review on Dinnerly.
You can check out their menu and cash in on this active deal.
Tips for Choosing the Best Meal Delivery Service from This List
Focus on Quick Recipes
Look for services that offer a lot of meals that can be made in 30 minutes or less. You’ll likely have a tiny human attached to you most of the time, so the quicker you can get dinner on the table, the better. Prioritize companies with recipes requiring minimal prep and easy-to-follow instructions.
Seek Out Family-Friendly Options
Your little one will be eating solids before you know it! Choose meal kits that emphasize kid-friendly, well-balanced meals to please both tiny and grown-up palates. Bonus if they include extras like smoothie packs, organic purees, or fresh baby food add-ons.
Check Dietary Preferences
If your family follows food guidelines like vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, etc., verify whether the service offers recipes aligning with your diet. The best meal kit companies cater to all types of eaters with clearly labeled menu choices.
Compare Portion Sizes
Whether you’ll have lots of leftovers or still be hungry after dinner depends on portion size accuracy. Carefully check each company’s meal serving sizes before committing. Overestimating is better than underestimating!
Read Up on Add-Ons
From heat-and-eat sides to desserts and gourmet breakfasts, add-ons are fantastic for giving your meal kit a boost on chaotic days. See what’s available, and account for extras in your budget from the start.
Wrapping Up
We hope you’ll find the perfect meal service on this list to make your life as a new parent a little bit easier and that these tips help you in the decision-making process. Let us know if you have any other questions.
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