4 Best Daily Harvest Alternatives – Branch Out Your Vegan Meal Options!

For a lot of people, Daily Harvest offers varied organic food choices that support a vegan and vegetarian diet plan. If you want to increase your daily intake of fruits, whole grains, legumes, veggies, and all non-processed foods, Daily Harvest is a fine choice.

But when considering the merits of such a meal delivery service, it’s also important to take into consideration the drawbacks. Daily Harvest’s plant-based meal plans do not accommodate all types of diets as a one-size-fits-all approach. Their portion size is very limited and may not be able to cater to an individual’s unique needs and preferences.

With that in mind, it’s essential to consider the many alternatives to Daily Harvest that are just as healthy and tempting to invest in.  If you want more options like diverse meal plan options, nutritious ingredients, unprocessed and non-GMO foods, and flexible meal prices, Daily Harvest alternatives may help you out.

What Is Daily Harvest?

Daily Harvest’s menu consists of a long list of varied meal options that are low maintenance and easy to prepare. The menu boasts smoothies, healthy bowls, baked items, flatbreads, grain bowls, soups, forager bowls, oat bowls, ice cream, small bites, and milk.

The truth about Daily Harvest is that their meals arrive frozen which may surprise some of you. The meals are not cooked and frozen, if that’s what you think. The individual ingredients are frozen which you then have to cook at home.

Consider Daily Harvest as a combination of meal kit and meal delivery service. While most of their food items are premade, there is some cooking involved like blending, mixing, heating, baking, etc.

You can select from 9, 14, to 24 items per order. Plus, you get to add a variety of food options that are vegan and made from organic ingredients.

Daily Harvest packs each meal in a single-serve box that you can easily store in the freezer or refrigerator. If you have some specific delivery instructions, you can mention them during checkout. Plus, Daily Harvest gives you the option to adjust your meal plan whenever you want.

How Much Does Daily Harvest Cost?

Daily Harvest features different prices for each of its items. You can add as many as 9, 14, or 24 items per order. The higher you go, the more discount you will receive during checkout.

• For 9 items, you get $5 off.
• For 14 items, you get $10 off.
• For 24 items, you get $25 off.

The prices, however, of each different food item is unique, starting from $6.79 per item to $11.99 per item. Additionally, the shipping charges are included in the per-item price of the meals. Here is the cost breakdown of all Daily Harvest’s meals:

Daily Harvest Pros and Cons

Pros:

-All the meals are frozen and packed safely.

-Fruits and vegetables stay fresh for a long time.

-All meals require minimal prep.

-Plant-based ingredients free of GMO, preservatives, and fillers.

-Vegan and gluten-free meal delivery service.

-Reduces food wastage with single-serve items.

-Suitable for people on a strict and restrictive diet plan.

-Flexible meal subscription with different box sizes.

-Packaging is compact and recyclable.

Cons:

-The portion size is too small.

-It is relatively more expensive.

-Not an ideal fit for large families.

Daily Harvest Meal Options

It is with the help of in-house nutritionists and chefs that the meals of Daily Harvest are prepared. According to their website, all their meals are vegan and include 95% organic ingredients.

The nutritional profile of the majority of Daily Harvest’s meals consists of fruits and vegetables. Plant-based alternatives are used for conventional ingredients to provide a boost of nutrition and wholesomeness to every meal.

Daily Harvest features some popular recipes that are best sellers which are very nutritious and tempting to eat. These include smoothies like Strawberry with Peach and Acai with Cherry. Harvest Bowls such as Sweet Potato with Wild Rice Hash and Broccoli with Cheeze are also included.

Every meal, no matter what you pick, comes with all the nutritional information and ingredients list on both the recipe page and the container label.

Daily Harvest’s menu caters to different dietary needs with several filters that allow you to choose the diet you want and select ingredients that suit your specific needs.

For ingredients, you can choose from the following:

• Avocado
• Banana
• Berries
• Caffeine
• Chocolate
• Cilantro
• Coconut
• Cucumber
• Garlic
• Greens
• Nuts
• Oats
• Onion
• Spice

For dietary needs, you can select meals that are either of the following:

• AIP
• FODMAP
• Keto
• Paleo
• Plant-Based Whole30
• Less Than 10g Fat
• Less Than 15g Carbs
• Less Than 15g Sugar
• Less Than 250 Calories
• Less Than 500mg Sodium
• More Than 10g Proteins
• More Than 6g Fiber

Daily Harvest Alternative #1 – Factor

Factor serves healthy precooked meals as an alternative to meal kit delivery services. All the meals are dietician-approved and are fully prepared, so they only need to be heated and served hot and fresh.

Factor is one of the most convenient and versatile premade meal delivery services out there. You can also schedule a free session with a nutrition coach online to help you figure out the best diet for you.

Factor offers several dietary meal plans starting with Keto, Calorie Smart, Vegan and Vegetarian, and Protein Plus. They also offer an exclusive Chef’s Choice category if you want only the best and most highly rated meals in your weekly box.

They have additional food options like shakes, smoothies, a la carte proteins, and desserts that you can quickly add to your cart.

Preparing the meals takes less than 5 minutes as the meals are already cooked and packed. Factor emphasizes the fact that they do not deliver frozen meals – all the cooked meals are packed with ice packs to preserve flavor and texture.

Whether you subscribe through the website or mobile app, Factor is simple to sign up for. The initial step is to select one of the pre-set meal preferences:

• Vegan and Vegetarian
• Chef’s Choice
• Keto
• Calorie Smart
• Protein Plus

Factor promises to only use premium-quality ingredients in all of its meals and maintains close relations with carefully selected suppliers. All produce is organic whenever feasible and free of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). All poultry, eggs, and meats are also cage- and antibiotic-free and either pasture- or grass-fed.

Factor Pricing

With Factor, the price per serving decreases as you purchase more meals. However, delivery is always free, regardless of how many items you order or where you live in the USA.

Here’s the meal price breakdown:

• For 6 meals – $13.49 per serving
• For 8 meals – $12.99 per serving
• For 10 meals – $12.49 per serving
• For 12 meals – $11.99 per serving
• For 14 meals – $11.49 per serving 
• For 18 meals – $10.99 per serving

Additional items like soups, smoothies, desserts, and shakes cost extra, but the price is not as high as the meals.

Factor Pros

• Flexible meal plans with pre-cooked meals.
• In-house nutrition coaching for new customers.
• Flavorful meals for people with several dietary restrictions.
• Keto, high protein, vegan, and vegetarian meals are included.
• Healthy fruit juices and smoothies are delicious.
• The meat is pasture-raised and veggies and fruits are non-GMO.
• The meals are packed in recyclable materials.
• Add-ons like breakfast, sides, snacks, and soups can be added.

Factor Cons

• No meal customization for ingredient/protein swapping.
• Not a lot of options for vegans and vegetarians.
• Some pre-cooked meals may be high in sodium.
• Not allergy-friendly.
• It may be costly for families in the long run.

Factor Meal Options

When speaking about Factor’s meal options, the first thing to consider is how weight loss-friendly their meals are. Factor offers a selection of nutrient-dense meals that could promote weight loss.

For instance, the company has several low-calorie alternatives, most of which have fewer than 500 calories per serving. Additionally, Factor delivers a variety of high-protein meals, with each serving containing between 30 grams and 50 grams of protein.

You simply have to click on the recipe you like to see its nutritional information, ingredients, and description. Having the ingredients list and the nutritional information at your disposal helps ensure that your dietary needs align with each meal you select.

Even a simple, home-inspired dish like the Potato Leek Mash & Grilled Chicken is low in calories and high in proteins.

You can even try cuisines inspired by different parts of the world like Indian, Mexican, Italian, Mediterranean, etc. For instance, the Chicken & Mushroom Tetrazzini is a top-rated meal on Factor’s menu that is also low in calories and high in proteins.

You also have versatile meal options to pick from if you’re on a vegan or vegetarian diet. Meals like the Vegan Mushroom Marsala and Smoked Tofu Almond Stir-Fry keep the vegan diet interesting and nutritious.

There are plenty of exciting recipes for people following a restrictive diet like keto. Turkey Chili & Zucchini and Pesto Salmon pack plenty of proteins and are low in carbs.

The standards that Factor sets for a premade meal delivery company are high. They offer a variety of diet plans, such as the following:

• Keto
• Vegan
• Vegetarian
• Protein Plus
• Low Calorie

They also offer a variety of top-rated and chef’s picks if you want to try only the top meals from their weekly rotating menu.

Daily Harvest Alternative #2 – Purple Carrot

This plant-based meal delivery service is just as good in comparison to the others on the list, and the setup is also just as easy.

After you sign up, meals for the first week are recommended by Purple Carrot, but you can change them if you like. There are meal kits, prepared meals, less-prep meals, and frozen meals.

The Purple Carrot menu also changes each week, plus upcoming weeks’ menus can be viewed as well. That means meal planning can be done well in advance – you can choose the meals you want and later even edit your order. Skipping a week is possible too!

All meal ingredients are packed in recyclable plastic bags; the ingredients are wrapped individually and also premeasured. Small jars and bottles are used whenever necessary. The only caveat is that ingredients are not prepped, so you may have to do the chopping, slicing, cutting, etc.

Purple Carrot sends you a recipe book that contains all the weekly meals, including the ones you did not order. The recipe book consists of detailed, step-by-step, easy instructions.

Vegetables, fruits, legumes, grains, sauces, spices, and herbs – all are top quality and fresh. Those who prefer using organic ingredients will be delighted to know that almost all of the non-produce food items are organic. This includes tempeh, tofu, beans, and nut-based milk. Needless to say, organic veggies and fruits are prioritized by Purple Carrot.

Purple Carrot Pricing

If it’s your first time ordering Purple Carrot meals, you get a $35 discount. The smallest weekly meal box (3 meals per week of 4 servings each) is going to cost you around $80, whereas the largest box (4 meals per week of 4 servings each) is $88.

Here’s the breakdown for a better understanding of Purple Carrot’s pricing:

• 3 meals per week, 2 servings per meal = $72
• 4 meals per week, 2 servings per meal = $96
• 2 meals per week, 4 servings per meal = $80
• 3 meals per week, 4 servings per meal = $120
• 6 prepared meals per week (single serving) = $78
• 8 prepared meals per week (single serving) = $104
• 10 prepared meals per week (single serving) = $130

Purple Carrot Pros

• Very healthy and delicious plant-based meals.
• Meal kits + prepared meals + less-prep meals + frozen meals.
• Organic ingredients, fresh ingredients, and international flavors.
• The menu has lunch, dinner, breakfast, and snack options.
• Recipes are labeled gluten-free, soy-free, high protein, etc.
• Mostly recyclable packaging.

Purple Carrot Cons

• No meal customization.
• Not the best choice for beginners.
• Dietary restrictions are not accommodated.
• Very few prepared meal options.

Purple Carrot Meal Options

Weekly rotating menu, new meals, meal kits, prepared meals, frozen meals, and less-prep meals – that should do it, and it does for Purple Carrot.

You can have a Farmers’ Market Tofu Scramble for breakfast, Smoky Tempeh BLTS for lunch, Peanut Butter Soft Baked Cookies for snacks but because they look so sumptuous, and then Vietnamese Seitan for dinner.

As far as flavor is concerned, Purple Carrot meal kits are the best. These are global-inspired recipes with interesting ingredients and special cooking techniques. Pulled BBQ Jackfruit Sandwiches, Crispy Tofu Burritos, and Spicy Szechuan Style Glass Noodles are only a few of the meals on the menu – you certainly have a lot more to look forward to.

Super convenient premade meals or special occasion frozen meals, the nutritional profile of each dish is hearty and wholesome.

Daily Harvest Alternative #3 – Sakara Life

Sakara Life focuses on dietician-approved and diet-focused meals that are certified organic and plant-based. Their meals, just like Daily Harvest, are free from any animal-based products like dairy, meat, and seafood.

Even though Sakara Life has many nutrition programs, none of them feel like a restricted diet. Sakara Life’s meals are designed to be lifestyle-friendly which means that they encourage healthy eating habits that are long-term and realistic.

Sakara Life is a weekly subscription service with a variety of different nutrition-based programs such as the following:

• Signature Nutrition Program
• The Metabolism Reset
• The Fresh Start Cleanse
• The Performance System
• The Gut Health Reboot
• Level II Detox
• The Bridal Program

Complementing these extensive and dietician-backed programs are additional items like health supplements including powders, probiotics, teas, and snacks such as granola bars.

You also have access to their next week’s menu which differs from location to location, so entering your zip code is necessary to view a personalized menu.

The meals are delivered in durable and recyclable cardboard boxes with the help of liners and ice packs that keep the meals fresh. The majority of lunches and dinners that Sakara Life serves contain loads of leafy greens and whole foods. So, packaging and delivery are easily handled in single-serve containers with the help of accessible support materials that are easy to unpack and recycle.

There is no cooking process involved as Sakara Life delivers ready-to-eat meals. Some meals, like salads, can be eaten chilled, while others require minimal heating either on the stovetop or in the microwave.

It’s worth mentioning that Sakara Life’s meals have a shorter shelf life because all their meals contain whole foods like seasonal fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Every meal has its shelf date, and freezing meals is not advised.

Sakara Life Pricing

Sakara Life features a pre-set weekly and program-based menu where their weekly schedule contains a variety of cuisines like breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks. The pricing, unlike Daily Harvest, depends on the nutrition program you select – not on the number of meals.

So, for example, 5 days’ worth of meals which includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks amounts up to $349 per week.

Alternatively, you can also pick the number of days between 2, 3, and 5 days. The order you place can be a one-time order, or you can set up a weekly recurring subscription if you want to receive packages every week.

The average price range of Sakara for a single day’s worth of meals falls somewhere between $55 and $80 per day, making it clear that Sakara Life is a luxury-grade meal delivery company for superfoods that are organic, plant-based, and gluten-free.

For example, this is how their varied nutrition programs are priced:

• Signature Nutrition Program: starts from $239 per week
• Metabolism Reset Program: starts from $460 per week
• Fresh Start Cleanse Program: starts from $460 per week
• Performance System Program:starts from $575 per week
• Gut Health Reboot Program: starts from $595 per week
• Level II Detox Program: $450 for 5 days
• Bridal Program: $1,680 per month

Sakara Life Pros

• Organic and plant-based ingredients.
• Naturally gluten-free, soy-free, and dairy-free meals.
• Expert meal planning backed by nutrition.
• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals are
• Additional items like health supplements and healthy bars.
• Ideal for losing weight and boosting metabolism and stamina.
• Preportioned and pre-prepped meals.
• The meals do not require any cooking.
• Durable and recyclable packaging.

Sakara Life Cons

• The meal plans are very expensive.
• No meal customizations.
• The serving size is relatively smaller.

Sakara Life Meal Options

Sakara Life features different nutrition programs and meal plans alongside their weekly menu and add-ons like health supplements and snacks.

Regardless of the meal program you choose, Sakara Life serves dairy-free, gluten-free, non-GMO, zero-refined sugar, and certified organic ingredients.

Their Signature Nutrition Program encourages clean eating with the help of organic whole foods that are nutritionally dense and weight loss-friendly. This is their most basic meal program that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. You can select how many days you want for each week and if you prefer add-ons like probiotics or smoothies.

The Metabolism Reset Program features a blend of healthy, plant-rich supplements, meals, probiotics, and snacks. This program is aimed at improving metabolism and digestion while also boosting fat loss efficiently.

The Fresh Start Cleanse Program is for beginners who want a fresh start to their healthy eating habits for detox, metabolic reset, and wellness. The program includes meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Also, additional items like snack bars, smoothies, powders, supplements, etc. support the cleanse.

The Performance Boost System is a better choice if you want to increase stamina for an active lifestyle. Energy-boosting foods and protein-dense meals make up the bulk of the diet program.

Other programs like the Gut Health Reboot, Level II Detox, and Bridal Program offer pre-set meals along with health supplements, snack bars, and smoothies. Based on their varying health benefits, you can pick a program that suits your lifestyle needs and preferences.

Meals are designed using only nutrient-dense foods and are delivered fresh to your doorstep by dieticians and chefs near your local delivery area. Every meal is carefully designed to boost the intake of healthy fruits and veggies and zero-processed or artificial foods.

Daily Harvest Alternative #4 – Sprinly

Sprinly’s meal delivery service is both plant-based and organic, plus several of their meals are vegan and made with whole, fresh ingredients. Compared to other Daily Harvest alternatives, the meal plan pricing and selections of Sprinly are highly flexible.

Sprinly has multiple subscription plans to get you started. Once you’ve selected the size of your weekly order, you can select the meals easily and quickly.

The menu consists of nutritious and premade meals, which means they take less than 3 minutes to heat up and serve. All the meals are single serve, packed in single-serve containers that are fully recyclable. You can also reuse some of the packaging after emptying and cleaning it.

The sign-up process and meal selection process are quick and user-friendly. Diet-wise, all their meals are prepared without GMOs, preservatives, fillers, refined sugar, or additives. The menu does include some dietary restrictions like vegan, keto, low carb, and paleo.

The good thing is that you can read and compare the nutrition information and ingredients list that Sprinly provides for each recipe. Speaking of which, though they do feature some dairy-free and gluten-free options, theirs is not an allergy-friendly meal delivery service due to the risk of cross-contamination.

If what you’re looking for is organic and plant-based services that serve you a wide variety of global flavors and cuisines and you don’t mind paying more per serving, Sprinly is a fine choice.

Sprinly Pricing

Sprinly is a premade meal delivery service which means it takes a little less than 5 minutes for you to heat and eat the meals. Compared to the pricing of meal kit companies, Sprinly is on the expensive side of things.

You have to choose between 3 meal plan sizes: 6 meals, 12 meals, and 18 meals weekly. The price for each weekly plan varies from $18.17 to $16.06 per meal serving.

You can see the weekly meal prices tallied together while choosing your meal plan:

• 6 meals – $109 per week
• 12 meals – $199 per week
• 18 meals – $289 per week

Sprinly Pros

• The menu has many worldly recipes.
• The meals require no additional prepping or cooking.
• Every meal offered is without any artificial preservatives and refined sugar.
• All meals are gluten-free and organic.
• You can custom-choose any type of meal you want.
• Healthier, more plant-based foods for vegans/vegetarians.
• Shipping is free all over the USA.
• Packaging is minimal and easy to recycle.

Sprinly Cons

• The premade meals are expensive.
• You have to pick between 6 and 18 meals at a time.
• No additional items like snacks or a la carte proteins are included.
• A very limited number of meals are available.

Sprinly Meal Options

Since Sprinly welcomes plant-based foods, their menu is suitable for vegetarians and vegans. On top of it all, their meals are prepared without preservatives, GMOs, and refined sugars, so you don’t have to worry about meals containing artificial preservatives, excess salt, or processed ingredients.

The menus are available to you after you sign up and select your meal plan size. Thankfully, Sprinly changes its menu every week with different cuisines like Italian, Mediterranean, Chinese, American, Asian, etc.

Along with a gluten-free menu, you can also tell when a meal recipe is soy-free, oil-free, nut-free, etc. The recipe page has several dietary icons that help you find more nutritious and diet-specific meals.

The serving size for each of their meals is for one person, and Sprinly also mentions the nutrient breakdown and ingredients list of each recipe.

They do feature an exclusive menu to give you a quick peek into the different kinds of meals they offer for the upcoming week:

• Smoked Sweet Potato Tacos
• Mediterranean Veggie Kofta Crumble
• Japanese Soba Noodles
• Cranberry Apple Salad

They also show menus for upcoming weeks – up to 4 weeks in advance.

Why Pick Alternatives Over Daily Harvest?

For Different Diet Plans and Add-Ons

Sakara Life: Sakara Life’s meal plans are varied and unique as they offer customized nutrition programs for boosting metabolism, gut health, detox, and immunity. Chef-curated recipes that will get you start on a plant-based and nutritious diet plan with the help of feel-good salads, smoothies, supplements, and snacks.

For Larger Portion Sizes

Both Factor and Purple Carrot offer meals with a larger serving size than Daily Harvest. Research suggests that the meals of Daily Harvest aren’t very filling which may be disappointing for some people. Factor and Purple Carrot are great alternatives that pack nutrient-dense meals with more than 300 calories per serving.

For No Meal Prep or Cooking

Sprinly is a reliable meal delivery service that delivers fresh, not frozen, meals to your doorstep. The meals are prepared with organic ingredients and lots of fruits and vegetables. They are also gluten-free with a wide variety of options for vegans and vegetarians to enjoy. Plus, you do not have to blend or warm up or cook the meals at all.

What You Should Know About Meal Delivery Services Like Daily Harvest

It’s the meal variety and convenience that make Daily Harvest and other such meal delivery services so popular these days. You get pre-portioned meals that are made up of healthy ingredients – all of them frozen and delivered to your doorstep!

The meals are very easy and quick to prepare, which is another very appealing aspect of the whole concept of meal delivery. Most of the meals on the menu of Daily Harvest and the like only take a few minutes to prepare – and sometimes not more than just a blender or microwave.

On the menu, there are healthy meals like smoothies, bowls, soups, snacks, and proper breakfast, lunch, and dinner options. The meals are well-balanced and are often gluten-free, vegan, or vegetarian. The ingredients are also GMO-free and organic whenever that’s possible.

You can even customize your meals, so you don’t have to worry about any specific dietary preferences or restrictions.

These are subscription-based meal delivery services with meal plans for weekly and monthly deliveries.

Final Say

You may be one of the many who prefers less prep work in the kitchen. In that case, you should definitely check out Daily Harvest. This vegan meal delivery service is the best for smoothies, bowls, soups, and so much more. They infuse a huge chunk of fresh vegetables and fruits into your daily diet.

On the other hand, Daily Harvest meals are hit or miss. And for that reason alone, there are Daily Harvest alternatives that are just as plant-focused!