If you’re looking for the best vegan or vegetarian meal delivery, now that’s Purple Carrot for you!

Then you have HelloFresh meals, which is one of the leading meal kit services in the United States for one too many reasons!

The thing about meal kit providers is that some services accommodate special diet plans and food preferences,for example, Purple Carrot’s only vegan/vegetarian menu. At the same time, you also have those that aren’t frugal about the quantity/quality of meat sources such as chicken, fish, steak, or even plant protein -and that would be HelloFresh!

You probably already know that every meal kit delivery has its own target niche market. On top of that, these services deliver meal kits and premade, oven-ready, heat-and-eat, or microwaveable meals.

Some offer simple lunch/dinner options, while others are the best for at-home cooks who genuinely enjoy cooking,although even in the latter case, the process of ingredient preparation and food cooking is simplified. So, there should be no hindrances or complaints during your time in the kitchen.

There’s no denying that meal delivery services have both ups and downs, but the list of companies or services that have managed to flourish nonetheless matters the most about the meal kit industry. Undoubtedly, Purple Carrot and HelloFresh are a part of that list.

Hence, we present to you the complete, in-depth, and unbiased review and comparison of Purple Carrot vs HelloFresh (just-vegan vs not-just-vegan).

Why Should You Choose Meal Delivery Services?

A meat kit delivery service will save you both money and time. With meal deliveries, busy bees, like most of us in the twenty-first century, have one less important thing to worry about,and that’s meal planning, prepping, and cooking!

Healthy, fresh meal kits and premade meals delivered to you every week are such a convenient option, and now it has also become affordable. All you need to do is order your meals online where you can just simply add the recipes you like to your weekly cart! That eliminates the time-consuming errand of grocery shopping once and for all.

One of the biggest advantages of selecting the best meal delivery service is that it offers you all meal options,such as Purple Carrot which is best for vegans and HelloFresh which offers the best menu variety for both meat and non-meat eaters.

Moreover, low-calorie, low-carb, high-protein, gluten-free, and the like imply that dietary preferences/restrictions are well-accommodated too.

Speaking of which, their recipes, be they meal kits or prepared, oven-ready meals, come with complete nutritional information. I think this is an invaluable benefit in that it informs you about how many calories you’re consuming, along with how much protein, dietary fiber, carbs, etc. are present in each chosen recipe.

The unbiased truth about meal kits and the whole concept of meal delivery services is that the experience is customizable. You can modify the recipes depending on your dietary inclinations. Plus, you also get to edit, skip, and cancel these weekly orders if you like!

Regarding waste, meal deliveries reduce not only money and time but also food that end up in the bin. A single-serve meal kit is adequately portioned, which means the serving size is perfect for a one-person meal, meaning there are no unnecessary leftovers to deal with. Plus, there are serving size options as well in case you want more than just one serving per meal. Likewise, nobody really needs to tell us all how expensive it has now become to eat out or order takeout and fast food!

Then what about the wastage of packaging materials used by meal delivery services? To be upfront about this, most of it is recyclable if you pick the best meal kit delivery service like Purple Carrot or HelloFresh.

Let’s not also forget that meal deliveries provide cooking instructions for their meal kits. That should sound like a relief to those who don’t mind cooking or want to learn how to cook. You can also try out different dishes and develop your cooking skills!

Lastly, achieving health and fitness goals becomes possible when your meals are consistent in terms of their diet-specific nutritional value, for instance, low-calorie, low-carb, or even plant-based meal plans for weight loss.

Let the Comparison Begin!

Purple Carrot vs HelloFresh -General Information

Here’s an overview.

I’ll start with Purple Carrot simply because it ranks among the top contenders in the vegan meal kit delivery service category. They have been thriving in the business since 2014. Purple Carrot features plant-based recipes, including meal kits, prepared meals, and breakfast and snacks.

It has a weekly rotating menu with meals that take less than 30-40 minutes to prepare and contain no more than around 600 calories per serving.

Apart from meal kits and premade meals, Purple Carrot also has extras in the form ofservings or breakfast items, packaged snacks, and plant-based Plantry.

As for HelloFresh, which is one of the oldest meal kit companies, it’s created for both meat and non-meat eaters. Preparing HelloFresh meals requires just 30 minutes of your time, and there are at least 25 recipes on every weekly menu. The calorie count of these lunches/dinners falls in the range of 600-900 calories per serving.

One very striking feature of HelloFresh is its upgraded collection of meals tagged “Seasonal Faves,” “Celeb Chef Series,” “Premium Picks,” and more. The “Gourmet Plus” option consists of more expensive, premium-quality cuts of meat, and for these, you obviously have to pay a little extra.

Purple Carrot vs HelloFresh – Types of Meal Plans and Meals

Even though there are major differences between the two brands, one thing is certain: HelloFresh and Purple Carrot offer the most delicious and highly nutritious meals. This stands true despite the biggest difference that one of them is a purely plant-based meal delivery service, that is, Purple Carrot.

What sets Purple Carrot apart from the crowd is its vegan/plant-based food philosophy. The Meal Kits menu comprises some of the most wholesome and appetizing recipes (lunches, dinners, breakfasts, and plantry).

Moreover, the Prepared Meals menu is no less inviting – that’s for sure. A 2-minute Italian Pasta Bowl, Spelt Risotto, and Peanut Noodles are seriously delicious!

You only have to choose which plant-based meal plan you prefer (meal kits or prepared meals) and then select your meal plan size (2 or 4 servings per meal and 3 or 4 meals per week).

The HelloFresh scenario, on the other hand, seems more diet-focused. For instance, during the sign-up process, you have to pick the type of recipes you want in your weekly meal plan:

• Veggie (only plant-based meals)
• Meat & Veggies (most popular plan)
• Fit & Wholesome (a well-balanced diet approach)
• Family Friendly (kid-friendly recipes)
• Pescatarian (seafood-based and veggie-based meals)
• Quick and Easy (perfect for busy workday nights)

If you ask me, the HelloFresh menu is the most approachable. What that means is that it includes both traditional, easy-to-prepare, and “gourmet” options. Some meals are on the more familiar, classic side with a fun twist, while others are unique in terms of new, global cuisine-inspired flavors.

Plant-based recipes are included, but needless to say, these options are not as plentiful or exciting as the ones on Purple Carrot. With Purple Carrot, the experience is more wholefood-centered and loaded with fresh vegetables and no dairy, meat, or any other animal by-products.

Hearty bowls of veggies, grains, nuts, and the like are one of the most acclaimed meals on Purple Carrot. You can also choose plant-based sandwiches and tacos if you like. I’d also like you to know that Purple Carrot is all about transforming your vegetable-oriented daily/weekly diet. So, expect the most flavorful spice blends, sauces, and curries to upgrade your vegan recipes.

However, you might also want to know that the Purple Carrot weekly menu consists of fewer meals than that of HelloFresh. It makes sense since the latter provides you with all kinds of options – meat and no meat.

So now you see how each meal delivery service comes with its own pros and cons. Honestly, it’s about your dietary preferences, plans, or restrictions.

Speaking of restrictions, both HelloFresh and Purple Carrot mention the list of allergens in their recipes. You may find labels like dairy-free, nut-free, etc. on some of the meals. However, if you’re looking for full, specific plans that do not contain a particular allergen or a set of common allergens, you’d be disappointed with both Purple Carrot and HelloFresh.

To sum it up, Purple Carrot meals are more flavorful and adventurous for vegans and plant lovers. On the other hand, HelloFresh features quite a few meal options for meat and non-meat eaters.

Purple Carrot vs HelloFresh – Signing Up, Editing, and Canceling Orders

The entire sign-up process for both brands is fairly quick and straightforward. With Purple Carrot, you have to enter your email ID, customize the weekly order (meal kits or prepared meals), enter your shipping and billing details, and that’s about it!

With HelloFresh, you need to choose your meal plan – Veggie, Meat &Veggies, Fit &Wholesome, Family-Friendly, Pescatarian, or Quick and Easy. After that, you select the number of servings per meal and meals per week.

What about canceling your HelloFresh or Purple Carrot order/subscription? This can be done simply by heading to the “Account Settings” page. See where you can edit or change your subscription and meal plan settings. Thus, canceling your account is possible with both Purple Carrot and HelloFresh, and so is modifying, skipping, or altogether canceling weekly orders.

Both brands also have set deadlines to skip, edit, or cancel meal deliveries:

• Purple Carrot-The Tuesday before the scheduled delivery week starts, before 12:00 a.m. EST.
• HelloFresh-5 days prior to the actual delivery day (they have an “Upcoming Deliveries” page where you can make any changes before the cutoff date and time allotted for that particular order).

Purple Carrot vs HelloFresh – Pricing Strategies

Both are subscription-based meal delivery services. Therefore, meals arrive at your doorstep once a week, although you do have the option of pausing or even canceling your subscription if you like. So what’s the cost of these delicious, nutritious meals?

Purple Carrot Pricing

No. of Servings	Cost of Serving
2 servings per meal	$12 per serving (3 meals of 2 servings each = $72 for the whole week)
4 servings per meal	$9 per serving (3 meals of 4 servings each = $108 for the whole week)

HelloFresh Pricing

Meals Per Week	Cost Per Serving for the 2-Person Plan	Cost Per Serving for the 4-Person Plan
6 recipes per week	$8.49 per serving	$8 per serving
5 recipes per week	$9 per serving	$8 per serving
4 recipes per week	$9.49 per serving	$8 per serving
3 recipes per week	$10 per serving	$8.49 per serving
2 recipes per week	$12 per serving	$9.49 per serving

Based on the two pricing tables above, it doesn’t take long to discern that the cost per serving comes down when you increase the servings per meal and/or meals per week.

For example, HelloFresh’s meals from the Veggie plan are priced between $6.99 and $8.99 per serving. The Classic meal plan is between $7.49 and $8.99 per serving, and then there’s the Family Friendly meal plan where the price per serving can be $7.49-$8.

As for Purple Carrot, the $12per-serving rate applies when you choose 2 servings per meal with 3 or 4 meals per week. So you end up committing to either 3 or 4 lunches/dinners on a weekly basis. However, if you select 4 servings per meal, the cost reduces to $9 per serving, and here you can pick between 2 and 3 meals per week.

Purple Carrot vs HelloFresh – Type and Quality of Ingredients

It’s all completely vegetarian and plant-based with Purple Carrot. So are these ingredients that comprise veggies and fruits fresh? What about where they’re sourced from? Purple Carrot sources all of its natural, seasonal produce from local farms and only those that adhere to safe, sustainable farming standards!

The freshness and quality of the ingredients used are high-quality. As for the other non-produce food items, such as beans, tempeh, tofu, and nut-based milk, it’s all organic.

Furthermore, fruits and veggies are also GMO-free, and everything, including the unique ingredients and seasonal flavors, is delivered fresh. The taste of Purple Carrot vegan meals is brimming with delectable, well-balanced flavors and the right amount of texture variations.

You can hop on to this page to get to know all the nutritional and dietary information about Purple Carrot.

Moving on, in the Recipes & Ingredients section of HelloFresh’s Help Center & FAQs page, they provide full nutrition information and whether or not they offer nut-, dairy-, or gluten- options.

As for the freshness and quality of the ingredients here, fresh produce, some organic items, and all hormone- and antibiotic-free meat take center stage. The pork and chicken are hormone-free, and the seafood is sustainably-sourced and ocean-friendly.

HelloFresh meals are incredibly appealing in terms of both taste and quality. A wide range of regional foods is found on the menu every week!

Purple Carrot is great if you’re vegetarian or vegan or if you wish to infuse a little bit of plant-based cooking and eating into your weekly diet. Here, you learn how to cook the most basic vegan dishes!

On the downside, Purple Carrot is not for meat eaters. This particular meal kit and prepared meal delivery service is not a fitting choice even for those on a strict, specific diet, such as Mediterranean, paleo, keto, etc.

On the other hand, because of the wide-ranging menu of HelloFresh, this meal delivery service is the most suitable for families. For the same reason, it can be a good option for a picky eater – customers will have a large selection to choose from!

Since all HelloFresh meals take just half an hour or less to prepare, they’re perfect for weeknights when you don’t have the time, energy, or interest to cook. HelloFresh certainly makes meal planning much easier for couples (with or without kids) living busy lives.

However, there are a few limitations with HelloFresh. For example, vegans and vegetarians may find the variety of plant-based meals on the menu slightly confined.

Also, a minor setback is the lack of strict allergy or dietary accommodations.

Finally, and this is both good and bad news, HelloFresh meal kits are comparatively much more effortless to prepare. That’s good because it means you don’t have to be an expert or experienced at-home chef. What’s bad is that those truly fond of cooking may be unable to expand their kitchen skills since the recipes are more technical and gourmet.

Purple Carrot vs HelloFresh – Meal Customizability

Purple Carrot is a purely plant-based meal delivery service, so they don’t allow swaps and other such meal modifications. The recipes for both meal kits and premade dishes already consist of veggie- or plant-based alternatives; hence, you may not feel the need to switch from meat to meat-free.

Purple Carrot includes the freshest and even organic produce with substantial portion sizes. So, in terms of meal customizability, it’s not such a disadvantage that they don’t make room for that. What seems like a setback is that there’s no option for changing how many servings and meals you wish to receive weekly.

Another one is that, unfortunately, Purple Carrot doesn’t allow you to mix and match their meals either.

Moving on, for meat-based meals, you should turn your attention to HelloFresh. This is a meal delivery service with a certain level of customizability. You may already know that the HelloFresh menu is much more diversified and generous than Purple Carrot. With that in mind, it could be a relief to many to have greater options to pick from every week.

Also worth noting is that HelloFresh lets you change how many servings per meal and how many meals per week you order. It helps even more to know that most HelloFresh meals are family-friendly. Combine that with the larger menu, and you’ll surely find at least some recipes that work for you.

Purple Carrot vs HelloFresh – Meal Preparation

The meal kits of Purple Carrot, compared to the meal kits of HelloFresh, are slightly more tedious to prepare. Now it depends on how you perceive this particular trait of the former. Meaning, if you see it as a challenge in that cooking slightly more complicated dishes will make you a better cook, then the Purple Carrot meal kit experience is a more favorable one.

You end up preparing recipes you don’t normally have the confidence to try. It certainly upgrades your cooking skills and sharpens your kitchen instincts.

All plant-based ingredients generally demand more attention and time during cooking. For instance, whole grains take more time on the stovetop, and even while they’re cooking, you must constantly ensure you’re hovering over the saucepan.

That said, this doesn’t mean you have to be an experienced at-home chef. No prior or advanced cooking experience and skills are required with Purple Carrot meals. The maximum time the most “complicated” recipe on Purple Carrot might require is around 45 minutes. The rest, which constitutes the majority of their meals, takes no more than around 30 minutes.

What about HelloFresh?Are their meal kits easy and quick to prepare? HelloFresh recipes are definitely more straightforward and less time-consuming to spruce up. That’s how the meals are designed by default. A few examples are pan-seared meats, tossed pasta-based dishes, simple-to-put-together side dishes, and a lot more that don’t need too much time or effort.

Even their meatloaf recipe is relatively easier to follow and cook even though there is some mixing and chopping. Nevertheless, the overall task of cooking is quite effortless in the case of HelloFresh. But then this could be bad news for those wanting to level up their kitchen/cooking abilities.

Purple Carrot vs HelloFresh – Vegan/Vegetarian Meals

Purple Carrot is a remarkable meal kit delivery service for vegetarians and vegans. Their menu features the yummiest plant-based meal kits and prepared meals, including lunches, breakfasts, and snacks.

Purple Carrot is among the few completely vegan meal delivery services. This works in favor of not just those following a meat-free diet but also those who eat meat and want to add a few plant-based meals to their weekly plan. Lots of healthy veggies, grains, lentils, and nuts – when is this ever a bad idea?

Purple Carrot’s entire meal plan structure is plant-based, so they send all vegan ingredients with clear, accurate instructions. This way, you can cook delicious, and not plain or boring, “vegan” food at home.

There are around 8-10 options to choose from their weekly-rotating menu – that’s the Purple Carrot experience. The limited number of dinner recipes may seem like a con, but the pro here is that this is a vegan-only food service, which is just great!

On top of that, you also get to add lunch and breakfast meal kits as well as snacks – all plant-based once again. Everything is 100% vegan and centers around vegetables and whole foods without dairy, meat, or any animal by-products.

Expect hearty bowls loaded with nuts, grains, and veggies as well as filling soups with lentils, vegan pasta meals, plant-based tacos, sandwiches, and a lot more. Even the plant-based curries, spice mixes, and sauces are incredibly flavorful.

That was all for Purple Carrot, which now leads us to HelloFresh. They have a Veggie-only meal plan, which is plant-based, among many other meal plans. “Meat and Veggies” is another one, and it’s the most popular one on their website.

I would like to add, however, that your options become more limited when your narrow or filter down the menu. Otherwise, the HelloFresh menu is impressively extensive, with over 30 recipes to select from each week. Out of these, maybe 4-5 meals would be vegetarian and/or plant-based.

Whether or not this is good news depends on your diet plan. If you just want to add some vegan/vegetarian dishes into your weekly routine and meat-based recipes, HelloFresh seems like a suitable choice. It’s also a great option if you wish to learn how to cook tasty plant-based meals, although it’s not the best for a purely plant-focused diet!

Purple Carrot vs HelloFresh – Recipes and Their Nutritional Value

Below, you see three exquisite Purple Carrot meals from the Chef’s Choice menu. Everything you might need to know about them is mentioned in the table.

Beet & Coconut Bacon Flatbreads with Herbed Cashew Cheese	Kashmiri Spiced Dal with Basmati Rice & Carrot-Apricot Halwa	Spicy Almond Butter Noodles with Bok Choy & Red Pepper
Chef’s Choice, Quick and Easy	Chef’s Choice, High-Protein, Gluten-Free	Chef’s Choice, High-Protein
2 or 4 serving sizes	2 or 4 serving sizes	2 or 4 serving sizes
30 minutes cook time	30 minutes cook time	35 minutes cook time
Nutrition Profile (per serving)	Nutrition Profile (per serving)	Nutrition Profile (per serving)
650 cal	570 cal	670 cal
18 g of protein	21 g of protein	27 g of protein
86 g of carbs	110 g of carbs	97 g of carbs
27 g of fats	8 g of fats	18 g of fats
15 g of dietary fiber	7 g of dietary fiber	25 g of dietary fiber
21 g of total sugar	20 g of total sugar	11 g of total sugar
Allergens: tree nuts (cashew and coconut), wheat, soy, sesame	Allergens: tree nuts (cashew and almond)	Allergens: tree nut (almond), soy, wheat, peanut

Here are four different delicious dishes from the HelloFresh menu – each containing a different source of protein!

Silky Sicilian Penne tossed with Mushrooms, Zucchini & Tomatoes	Italian Chicken & Pepper Sandos with Potato Wedges & Tangy Garlic Sauce	Beef Tenderloin & Garlic Herb Pan Sauce with Asparagus & Basil Roasted Potatoes	Sweet Heat Shrimp Tempura Bowls with Sesame-Roasted Broccoli & Quick Pickles
Plant-based	Chicken-based	Beef-based	Seafood-based
Hall of Fame, Calorie Smart, Veggie	–	Premium Pick	Premium Pick, Spicy
30 minutes cook time	35 minutes cook time	40 minutes cook time	45 minutes cook time
Nutrition Profile (per serving)	Nutrition Profile (per serving)	Nutrition Profile (per serving)	Nutrition Profile (per serving)
650 cal	1110 cal	600 cal	930 cal
20 g of protein	47 g of protein	37 g of protein	26 g of protein
84 g of carbs	103 g of carbs	46 g of carbs	98 g of carbs
29 g of fats	57 g of fats	31 g of fats	45 g of fats
8 g of dietary fiber	6 g of dietary fiber	5 g of dietary fiber	5 g of dietary fiber
12 g of sugar	11 g of sugar	8 g of sugar	18 g of sugar
Allergens: milk, wheat	Allergens: wheat, milk, eggs, soy	Allergens: milk	Allergens: wheat, eggs, milk, shellfish

Purple Carrot vs HelloFresh – Meal Add-Ons

The Purple Carrot menu features meal kits and prepared meals (these are dinners), each consisting of lunches, breakfast foods, and snack items. You can easily add them to your weekly order a la carte.

The average cost per serving of the lunch meal kits is around $9 (2-serving plan), while breakfast kits are priced below $5 per serving (4-serving plan). As for snacks, they have a separate, individual cost. This includes sweet, savory munchies like Goodio Chocolate Coated Oat Bites – it’s all plant-based, so no worries!

The experience of HelloFresh, on the other hand, is comprised of weekly meal kits only. Meal add-ons are not part of the HelloFresh menu, but their more extensive menu size/options and the addition of both meat- and plant-based recipes make up for just about any possible drawback.

I mean, what if you don’t get add-ons such as breakfast meals and snacks? At least you have a huge variety of lunch/dinner dishes to choose from with HelloFresh, which is something Purple Carrot falls behind on.

Purple Carrot vs HelloFresh – Packaging and Delivery of Meals

Top meal kit delivery services like Purple Carrot and HelloFresh promote the recycling of packaging materials. Almost all their packaging is recyclable except for HelloFresh’s liners, which protect their meals from severe weather conditions. However, it’s important to note that both companies promote the concept of composting all the leftover food.

HelloFresh ingredients come not just pre-prepped but also neatly and strategically packaged, which means that every item is wrapped individually. Although this does imply the use of more packaging materials, all of it is recyclable – including the cooler bags and ice packs!

Even Purple Carrot sends recyclable cooler bags and also degradable ice packs. Each meal is separated from the others and packed in a plastic bag. Plastic liners, bottles, and jars are also included, so here’s all you need to know about Purple Carrot’s recycling of the packaging materials.

Just so you know, HelloFresh involves paper bags for packaging ingredients, except for meats that are wrapped using plastic and stored away from the rest of the contents with the help of cardboard liners. The meat, needless to say, is kept cool, thanks to the ice packs.

What about deliveries?

• Purple Carrot delivers within the contiguous states of the United States (thus, Hawaii and Alaska are not included) with no shipping fee!
• HelloFresh’s delivery charges, on the other hand, are $8.99 (flat price). And deliveries are made all across the continental United States, barring Hawaii and Alaska.

Purple Carrot and HelloFresh FAQs

How Do They Work?

Both meal delivery services are on the list of top meal kit companies, so it’s a given that every step of the process is simple to understand and follow. Purple Carrot and HelloFresh both deliver ingredients in the form of meal kits for the recipes you select from their weekly menus.

The ingredients are fresh, no doubt, but Purple Carrot’s ingredients are also just plant-based, and some are even certified organic. That’s where Purple Carrot differs from HelloFresh in that it’s a wholly vegan meal delivery service. On the downside, meal options can seem quite limited since the former is all plant-based and vegan.

On Purple Carrot, you sign up first and then pick the number of servings and meals you want to add to your weekly order. The more servings and meals you choose, the lower the priceperserving decreases.

I’ve already discussed the lack of a higher number of dinner recipes on every weekly menu of Purple Carrot. Nonetheless, it’s important to note here that this is a vegan-only meal kit delivery service, which in itself is a huge advantage (especially for those who don’t eat meat). Add to those other extra offerings like lunch and breakfast meal kits and delicious, healthy snacks.

HelloFresh, au contraire, has a more diet-focused approach. This particular meal kit delivery service sends fresh, high-quality ingredients and offers both meal kits and premade meals, just like Purple Carrot. The major difference here, however, is that HelloFresh also has meat-based recipes, unlike plant-based Purple Carrot.

Also, HelloFresh’s meals are comparatively much easier, quicker, and more convenient to prepare. On top of that, HelloFresh provides you with a wide range of meal plans to choose from. Moreover, you select how many servings you want and also how many meals per week.

HelloFresh meal plans:

• Veggie (for plant-based meals)
• Meat & Veggies (most popular meal plan)
• Fit & Wholesome (for well-balanced meals)
• Family Friendly (for kid-friendly meals)
• Pescatarian (for seafood + veggie meals)
• Quick and Easy (meals for busy workday nights)

Now it goes without saying that the narrower your weekly meal plan, the fewer recipes to pick from. Lastly, every plan costs the same, more or less. However, if you add a few “gourmet” items, you will have to pay for those extra options.

Where Do They Stand on Diet-Friendliness?

You follow a wholesome plant-based, vegan diet when you opt for Purple Carrot because all their meal kits, premade meals, and even snacks are vegan! Purple Carrot meal delivery features tags/labels on their recipes, such as the following:

• High-Protein
• Gluten-Free
• Nut-Free
• Soy-Free
• <600 Calories
• Chef’s Choice
• Quick and Easy

These, undoubtedly, cater to specific diets or food preferences/restrictions, although Purple Carrot is not for you if your diet plan typically relies on animal protein, like in the case of a keto or paleo diet. Even options for diet plans, such as low-fat, low-carb, etc., are a bit limited.

However, what one person may find limited might not be such a setback for someone else. Purple Carrot includes a nutritional breakdown for every meal. At the same time, they list all common food allergens like wheat, soy, tree nuts, etc. even for their breakfast and snack options.

Nevertheless, all Purple Carrot’s foods are processed and handled in the same facility. Meaning, the same facility is used for allergy-triggering ingredients as well. This could bother those with severe food intolerances or allergies. HelloFresh also uses one facility for all ingredients, even though they too mention potential allergens in each recipe.

But I found the HelloFresh meal delivery experience to be more diet-focused since it includes various types of meal plans, not just plant-based meals:

• Veggie
• Meat & Veggies
• Fit & Wholesome
• Family Friendly
• Pescatarian
• Quick and Easy

Full nutritional values for every recipe are provided so you know how much protein, carbs, dietary fiber, etc. your body is getting through that meal.

Does HelloFresh include labels like High-Protein and <600 Calories (something that Purple Carrot has done)? They have tags that convey the “special” elements of the dishes. For example, Hall of Fame, Seasonal Faves, Premium Picks, and 10-Min Lunch.

Furthermore, on display is also other useful diet-specific information about the meal, such as Calorie Smart, Veggie, Vegan, Carb Smart, and more.

Do They Work for Weight Loss?

The health benefits directly associated with a plant-based diet cannot be refuted or downplayed by anyone, that’s for sure. Plant-based diets protect your body against chronic medical conditions (e.g., heart disease, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes).

Moreover, when you consume more fresh vegetables and fruits regularly, you also lower your chances of developing mental conditions like dementia and cognitive impairment. But what about weight loss?

Here’s a trusted scientific source that takes you through the well-confirmed fact that a plant-based diet can help with shedding weight. When you’re on a vegetarian, vegan, or pescatarian diet, your BMI (body mass index) also lowers. Plus, your tummy fat and overall body fat reduces as well.

That said, even though Purple Carrot meals are not specially labeled as weightloss-friendly, you now already know how effective a purely plant-based diet is for weight loss. Thanks also to some of their recipes’ low-calorie content (below 600 calories). Low-calorie consumption, that is, calorie deficit equals weight loss!

Plus, there are whole food alternatives included, which means the meals are plenty filling to prevent unnecessary snacking or binge eating.

Moving on to how effective HelloFresh meals are for achieving weight loss goals, they also offer low-calorie and low-carb options.

Furthermore, the recipes curated by HelloFresh are all approved by professional dieticians. However, I would like to add that the brand/service doesn’t advertise its meal kits as “weightloss-friendly” or anything of the sort, but complete nutrition information is at your disposal on every recipe page.

Wrapping It Up

Purple Carrot Pros and Cons

The Good:

• Perfect for a plant-based diet.
• Meals, even though vegan, are delightful and flavorful.
• The menu includes dinners, lunches, breakfasts, and snacks.
• Ingredients are fresh and sometimes organic too.
• Mostly recyclable packaging is used.
• Simple meal plan with a simple pricing structure.
• Free shipping.

The Bad:

• Not the best for accommodating diet plans or food allergies
• Lacking in menu variety
• Limited information about how ingredients are sourced
• Long, slightly tedious cooking process

HelloFresh Pros and Cons

The Good:

• Customizable, easy-to-prepare meals and affordable service.
• Large menu with both meat-based and plant-based options.
• Packaging, most of it is recyclable.
• You can choose the number of servings and meals per week.
• It also includes a wine club.

The Bad:

• Shipping is not free.
• Exclusive gluten-free, soy-free, etc. options are lacking.

Both Purple Carrot and HelloFresh deserve patronage because these two meal delivery services offer a satisfactory level of flexibility when it comes to selecting meal kits and premade meals, pricing, delivery adjustments, and more.

However, HelloFresh is slightly better than Purple Carrot as it accommodates dietary preferences and meal customizations, but then Purple Carrot is the best as a vegan-only meal subscription service. Every item on their menu, including delicious snacks, curries, and sauces, is plant-based.

Ultimately, the type of meal kit delivery you choose depends on your diet plan and health goals.