Before becoming a mom, I had visions of serving beautiful, family-style meals with grand roasts and colorful salads at the center of the table. In my daydreams, my well-mannered kids gathered around, politely passing dishes and sharing stories about their day. When I actually became a parent, I realized that reality didn’t quite mirror my fantasy. Not even close. Instead, family meals involve tantrums over not liking my offerings, food being flung onto the floor, frequent trips to refill water cups (is any meal complete without at least one full cup spilling?), and a table decorated with scattered crumbs and wet napkins. Meaningful conversations? Yeah right. I know you’re probably tensing up just thinking about this and yes, managing meals with three small children is hectic and challenging. And yet, despite the chaos, I still prioritize family-style meals because I believe they help kids build a better relationship with food and feelings of connectedness at mealtime.
So, what exactly are family-style meals? Simply put, it means placing food in the middle of the table for self-serving rather than individually plating it. The concept behind family-style eating is to grant kids more autonomy at the table and expose them to a variety of foods in a pressure-free environment. While this idea sounds wonderful in theory (as I once believed), implementing it as a consistent routine can prove challenging, often leading to chaos, rejection, and more time cleaning in the kitchen. But if you simplify the process and keep at it, your entire family will come to enjoy mealtime a whole lot more. Here are some tips and tricks to make family-style serving work.
1. Include accepted foods
More than anything, we want our kids to actually eat the food we serve—and they won’t always jump on an adult-friendly dish. When preparing for family-style meals, be sure to include some foods that you know your kids enjoy, especially when you’re first introducing the routine. Serving these ‘accepted foods’ can work wonders in creating a comfortable atmosphere at the table. Try to incorporate options that aren’t too different from the main meal, like plain pasta if you’re serving lasagna. As a bonus, they’re more likely to be open to trying unfamiliar foods when they feel at ease.
2. Serve smaller portions
Let’s address the elephant in the room: the mess. Though spills are inevitable, there are ways to minimize them. Don’t fill cups to the brim (toddler parents learn this fast) and don’t pile serving trays with too much food. This way, there’s less volume to spill onto the floor. You can always refill a platter if your kiddos gobble it all up (dreams), but at least you know if that serving bowl of rice topples to the ground you won’t be picking up the pieces for weeks to come.
3. Opt for effortless dishes
What’s more frustrating than seeing the food you spent hours preparing rejected by all three of your kids or splashed onto the floor? Successfully implementing family-style breakfasts, lunches, or dinners requires ensuring that it’s mentally and physically manageable for you. Opting for no-fuss dishes means you won’t be toiling in the kitchen for hours, so you’ll likely care less if your kid start a revolt against corn niblets from a can versus your homemade corn casserole. Other ideas include frozen veggies, canned beans, or easy-to-prepare dishes like microwave cheese quesadillas or breakfast for dinner.
4. Invest in splat mats
Another strategy for managing the mess is to streamline the cleanup process. Lay down splat mats or disposable tablecloths under tables, chairs, and highchairs to catch any spills. This not only reduces cleanup time but also allows you to enjoy your meal with the kids without stressing about the aftermath.
5. Select finger-friendly foods
As your kids navigate the learning curve of family-style meals, offer them straightforward options that they can serve themselves with minimal need for utensils. Think choices like chicken nuggets, fish sticks, mini pizzas, and sandwiches. They’ll feel empowered and you’ll have even fewer drips and drops on the table and floor.
6. Try a hybrid
Depending on what you’re serving, sometimes it makes more sense to only offer certain dishes on serving platters. For example, if you’ve made saucy meatballs with roasted broccoli and couscous, plate the meatballs and let the rest be served family style. You can choose your own adventure based on what works for your meal and your family.
7. Ease into it
Not every meal needs to be served family style. Begin with one per day, or even just one meal each week if that’s more manageable. And don’t beat yourself up when it just doesn’t work. Because sometimes it won’t, or you’ll have had a particularly gruelling day and won’t have it in you, and that’s just fine.
Yes, breastfeeding makes you ravenous—and the right kinds of snacks should be nutritious, filling, and (most importantly!) easy to prepare
When a person chooses to breastfeed or chestfeed their baby, they usually know that some basic equipment is required—like a nursing bra and nipple cream. But one thing that often takes people by surprise is how incredibly hungry they feel once they start their breastfeeding journey. Lactation requires approximately 500 extra calories and at least 65 grams of protein per day. So, if you are eating like you were pre-pregnancy, it’s likely that you are getting pretty ravenous mid-day. Bring on the breastfeeding snacks!
Snacks can play a huge part in a lactating person’s journey. Because let’s be honest—some people can’t sit down for three square meals a day and snacks become the norm during the chaotic first few months of parenthood.
As a registered dietitian working with lactating parents, I tell my clients that when choosing breastfeeding-friendly snacks, they should stick to some general criteria:
It should be nutrient-dense to help support healthy nutrient levels in your breastmilk and to support mom’s healing and overall nutritional status
It should contain some protein, fiber, and/or healthy fat to help make your snack more satiating
It should ideally take little effort to make and easily be enjoyed with one hand
It should taste good
Among the sea of snack options, I have my go-to combos that I recommend to clients most frequently. And while the occasional ice cream or salt and vinegar chips can certainly fit into a healthy lifestyle, there are some satisfying and lactation-supporting options that should make up the bulk of your food choices.
Here are my top 3 “dietitian-approved” breastfeeding snacks that I recommend most parents keep on hand when they are on their lactation journey.
1. Chicken Salad & Whole Grain Crackers
Snacks that contain high-quality protein and whole grains check so many boxes when it comes to lactation nutrition. And enjoying some simple chicken salad on whole grain crackers certainly fits the bill.
Simply shred cooked chicken (using leftover chicken from a meal will do) and mix it with a little salt, pepper, and a combo of plain Greek yogurt and mayo for a nutrient-dense and simple snack. Throw in some herbs or your favorite seasoning if you want to kick up the flavor. Scoop the salad up with some whole grain crackers for a mid-day nosh.
Chicken is one of the best foods to enjoy when nursing for a slew of reasons. Yes, it is a fantastic source of high-quality protein, clocking in at 31 grams per each 3.5 ounce serving of dark meat. But chicken is also a source of key micronutrients that are important to focus on during lactation, including vitamin B12. One 3.5-ounce serving of roasted dark meat chicken contains 11% of the recommended daily need for lactating people. B12 is important for supporting baby’s neurologic development, and not getting enough is linked to developmental regression. Since breastmilk’s levels of vitamin B12 are dependent on the lactating person’s intake, including foods like chicken is important during this stage.
Chicken also contains choline, a nutrient that is important for a baby’s brain development. A lactating person’s intake influences breastmilk levels. A 3.5-ounce roasted skinless chicken breast is a good source of choline, providing about 15% of the daily needs of lactating people.
2. Hard Boiled Egg & Fruit
Do yourself a favor and hard-boil a batch of eggs once a week. Once they cool, store them in the shell in your fridge for up to a week. You will be jumping for joy to have a nutritious grab-and-go snack option when those hunger pangs hit and you need something ASAP. And since one large-sized egg contains 6 grams of high-quality protein, enjoying one mid-day is an easy-breezy way to get in this important macro, plus a host of micronutrients, too. And don’t skip the yolk. The colorful part of the egg is where you will find plenty of breastfeeding-friendly nutrients like choline and iodine, both of which support brain development. In fact, two large eggs provide more than half of a lactating person’s choline needs for the day.
Pair your egg with a piece of fresh fruit for a simple snack that packs a punch in the nutrition department and requires zero mess in the kitchen—something all new parents can appreciate.
3. Cranberry Smoothie
Smoothies are the ultimate snack when you have no time to eat and only one hand to do it with—which is basically every day when you have a newborn in tow. Smoothies are hydrating, packed with antioxidants, and are simple to sip on when you’re juggling all of the things.
Using cranberry juice in your postpartum smoothie is one way to add some satisfying taste to your drink while supporting urinary tract health.
To make a cranberry smoothie: blend 1/2 cup 100% cranberry juice, 1/2 frozen banana, 1/2 cup vanilla Greek yogurt, and a handful of ice in a blender and blend until smooth. Cheers!
Lauren Manaker is an award-winning registered dietitian, lactation counselor and author. Lauren's work has been featured in numerous publications and demostrates her committment to sharing evidence-based nutrition guidance that simplifies healthy eating. When she is not writing, Lauren can be found boating with her husband, daughter and rescue pup on the waters of Charleston, SC.
Fill them up with these tasty meals that aren’t chicken nuggets
Protein-packed meals and picky eaters don’t always go hand-in-hand. If your little one gags at anything but buttered noodles and you’re wondering where they’ll get their high-protein foods from, we have recipes and high-protein foods for picky eaters that kids will actually eat (especially if you adjust these ideas to their taste). From yummy breakfast shakes to easy dinner ideas, keep reading to find your new secret weapon.
High-Protein Breakfast Foods for Picky Eaters
Peanut Butter Cup Protein Shake
What kiddo says no to a peanut butter cup shake? None that we've met. This is a high-protein packed shake that's perfect for busy mornings, and especially for tweens who have a hard time eating breakfast. Get the recipe from Chelsea's Messy Apron.
Soft-boiled eggs are ready in five minutes, and when paired with buttered sticks of toast (soldiers) which the kids can dunk in the runny yolk, they're as fun as they are convenient. Head to Eat Live Run for tips and tricks on how to boil the perfect egg.
Having waffles for breakfast? Skip the regular syrup and whip up this delicious peanut butter syrup for a perfect high-protein food for picky eaters. Plus add a double dose of protein with this scrumptious peanut butter waffle recipe written out at Creations by Kara.
Picky eaters will be so excited about the chocolate chip muffin aspect that they won’t even notice the protein powder you add to the mix. These are a great on-the-go breakfast option!
High-Protein Foods for Picky Eaters Perfect for Lunch
Simple, easy-to-make, and pleasing to pint-sized taste buds—pizzadillas. It's the perfect combo pizza, and quesadilla all wrapped up. Blair over at The Seasoned Mom serves this savory dish with dipping sauce.
Skewered food often works for picky eaters, perhaps because there’s something of the lollipop about it. With this chicken satay dish from Eat Yourself Skinny, you get double the dose of protein from the chicken and the peanut sauce.
Choose-your-own-adventure meets the dinner table with this build-your-own-bowl idea from Liz's Healthy Table. All the choices are healthy with a choice of ready-to-eat teriyaki tofu, egg, edamame, bell pepper, and sugar snap peas. When kids get control over what goes on their plates, they might even be a little braver when tasting new foods.
High-Protein Meals for Picky Eaters to Add to Your Dinner Recipe Rotation
Yummy Toddler Food knows the challenges of getting little ones to eat something that'll fill their bellies! This four-ingredient recipe for chicken meatballs will be a crowd-pleaser, and they're super easy to whip up. Get the recipe from Yummy Toddler Food.
A classic carbonara has no cream and no heavy sauce because the eggs do all the work, making it both light and decadent at the same time. This recipe from Scrummy Lane gives lots of tips on how to make the perfect carbonara.
Aloha! Little eaters love sweet foods. So serve up salmon with teriyaki sauce and grilled pineapple. Even more, the meaty salmon texture tastes good in little mouths. Unicorns in the Kitchen gives us this easy 30-minute recipe that your half-pints will eat up (keep the pineapple for yourself!).
If your picky eater is hankering for something savory then this 30-minute instant pot hamburger helper packs in the protein. Stir in cheese when this delicious dish is ready to get your little one to eat up. If you don't have an instant pot, go here for the stove-top version.
Putting veg on the side of a simple rice dish allows kids to know exactly what they're eating and sometimes a suspicious ingredient is all it takes for a point-blank refusal to eat. This stir-fry recipe from our archives is a mix of sweet and savory flavors that's easy to prepare—just mince the onion small or omit it altogether.
Warm up your household with this mild chile con carne made just for kids. The best part besides the 18 grams of protein per serving is the four veggies in this delightful dish. Find the recipe at My Fussy Eater.
Sweet and savory is always a good combo, and this orange chicken recipe from Kitchen Sanctuary fits the description. This is a high protein-packed meal we’re sure will make picky eaters will rejoice.
Little diners will get hooked on these crunchy fish sticks from Super Healthy Kids. You'll be glad to know the breading has a secret ingredient—flax seeds—so these fish sticks are not only high in protein, but the crunchy outside and mild softer inside make them easy to gobble up.
A childhood favorite that's made up fresh? Sign us up! With 34 grams of protein per serving, this spaghetti and meatballs recipe from Shugary Sweets is perfect for picky eaters. She uses turkey meatballs to lighten up the dish. Add in a veggie, like carrots, with dipping sauce as a side dish.
When kids can get creative with their food at the table, they start seeing it as something other than "yucky." This chicken taco filling is the starting point for dinnertime creativity—add in other taco toppings like cheese, fresh tomato, avocado and lettuce, and those picky eaters might just surprise you! Head to Dinner At The Zoo for the recipe.
Don't let the picture put you off—plenty of picky eaters wouldn't go near a soup with the ingredients all mushed in together but Meredith at Feed Them Wisely says this delicious ginger coconut chicken soup can be deconstructed and all the ingredients served separately. While the soup option works for adults, kids get to taste the same flavors (and protein-packed soba noodles), just with a tweaked presentation—genius!
Sneaking veggies into a mac and cheese is super tempting as a parent and this recipe from A Sweet Pea Chef contains butternut squash and extra protein from Greek yogurt and parmesan cheese. This take on an old favorite can be prepped ahead of time and either stored in the refrigerator or frozen until ready to bake.
Dinner can be a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be with the best meal delivery service options available for your family.
“What’s for dinner?” is our favorite question—said no parent ever—especially not when it’s 5 p.m. and you don’t have an answer to that question. With our round up of meal and meal delivery services, you’ll say goodbye to grocery shopping, meal planning, prep and best of all, all that cleanup.
Hello Fresh
HelloFresh
The goal of HelloFresh is to bring the fun of cooking back into people’s lives by doing all the planning, portioning and shopping for in-season, sustainably-sourced, healthy and flavorful ingredients. HelloFresh prides itself on its delicious recipes with quick cook times; all your chopping, zesting and sautéeing will take less than 30 minutes.
Feeding your family delicious food that doesn't break the bank is just about everyone's goals so we are on board with this value meal brand. Of all the samples we've tried, their Cajun Chicken Sausage Penne was a top favorite—we're talking lick-the-plate-clean good!
Cost: starts at $6/meal + shipping. Online: everyplate.com
Hungryroot
Hungryroot
Offering both groceries and recipes to go with, your family can easily plan for meals, snacks and everything in between! Most recipes are prepped and on the dinner table within 10-15 minutes (try the creamy miso salmon) with the option for roast-and-ready meals that are conveniently popped in the oven. Fill your fridge with produce, protein and delicious snacks from Hungryroot and never be hungry again.
Cost: Starts at $70/delivery with free shipping. Online: hungryroot.com
Territory
Territory
Fresh meals from local chefs straight to your door equals taking your dinners to the next level. Easily meet your health and wellness goals with gluten, refined sugar and dairy-free recipes while subscribing to a plan to filter your preferences and choose for delivery even for once a week. We also loved that every packaging item was either recyclable or compostable which is important to us plus the ability to donate meals to our local community means you can feel great about your meal delivery service.
Cost: starts at $11/meal for the smaller “boost” size or $14/meal for standard size. Online: territoryfoods.com
Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon
Marley Spoon
Have 30 minutes and can follow six easy, precise steps? That is all it takes to allow your inner Martha to shine with this cook-at-home food delivery service! With 29 menu choices every week and meal tags such as family-friendly, under-30 minutes, gluten-free and other categories, there is something for everyone. Bonus: the website provides big, colorful step-by-step photos for kids who want to help.
Cost: Plans start at $10/portion + $10 shipping. Online: marleyspoon.com
Gobble
One pan. 15 minutes. That is the only requirement before dinner can be on your table! Gobble shops, chops and delivers gourmet three-step recipes for one-pan cooking with zero prep required. In fact, their main selling point is that every recipe takes 15 mins to cook, which is something we can all get on board with. Choose between Classic vs Lean and Clean recipes and personalize it as you see fit. Having been voted by Parents magazine as the #1 Meal Kit delivery service means that picky eaters are sure to find something they like.
Cost: Prices start at $12/serving (dinner for 4). Online: gobble.com
Freshly
Freshly
With a food philosophy centered on less sugar, less processed and more nutrients, the menu features fresh, chef-cooked comfort food meals with smart ingredient swaps.
Cost: starts at $10/meal for 4-12 meals per week. Online: Freshly.com
Green Chef
With plans like Keto + Paleo, Balanced Living and Plant-Powered, healthy eating at home is the name of the game with Green Chef. Organic produce and eggs delivered to you with easy recipes means eating well and healthy go hand in hand. Set up your deliveries to come weekly or less frequently if you prefer.
Cost: Meals start at $13/serving with $10 shipping. Online: greenchef.com
Blue Apron
Blue Apron has been part of the meal delivery game for a long time and their expertise shows. We love that the meals typically take 40 minutes or less and include kid-friendly ingredients like baked chicken and pasta while exposing kids to different flavors such as curry and chile-lime. With super easy-to-follow recipes, you can definitely get the kids involved in the cooking process.
Cost: Meals cost $12/serving with $10 shipping. Online: blueapron.com
Home Chef
Home Chef
Home Chef meal kits offer fresh, pre-portioned ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes delivered weekly. Curate a box to personalize the cooking experience you want: 30 vs 15 min meal prep, grill ready, oven ready, or even special occasions in which a premium meal ups the ante. Most recipes include a "Customize It" option to accommodate any dietary needs or kid-friendly preferences. Our taste testers enjoyed the Cheesy Steak and Chipotle Ranch sandwiches and were licking their fingers at the end of the meal while the French Onion Chicken was also delectable and essentially French Onion soup on a plate.
Cost: Meals start at $7/serving. Online: homechef.com
Dinnerly
Dinnerly
If your goal is to get a wholesome, easy meal on the table for your family, then Dinnerly is the meal delivery option for you. Each week Dinnerly customers choose from over a dozen options which change each week. Each meal has only five prep steps and takes less than 30 minutes to get on the table, perfect for rushed weeknight dinners. Not interested in getting your box this week? No problem! You can skip any time.
Cost: Meals start at $5/person. Online: dinnerly.com
Veestro
With 100% organic, vegan and gluten-free chef-prepared entrees, soups and juices there are no animal products of any kind here, ever! Chick'n Nuggets with chipotle dipping sauce complete with veganaise will do the trick and no one will miss the meat. Meeting your family’s dietary needs has never been easier or more delicious.
Cost: Starting at $11 for 30 meals. Online: veestro.com
Purple Carrot
Purple Carrot brings you plant-forward meals that are both good for you and good for the planet. Choose from Quick & Easy, High-Protein, Gluten-Free or Chef’s Choice dinners and customize your choices to your liking. All meals are meat-free, easy to prepare with the option to add on breakfast, lunch and snack items to get you through the week. Skip or cancel any time.
Sun Basket’s meal kits come with organic produce with paleo, gluten-free, vegetarian and family menu selections. Their "super speedy" meals go from box to table in less than 20 minutes, "one pot" meals keep the dishes to a minimum and Fresh & Ready meals are pre-cooked, pre-packaged to go from oven/microwave to dinner table in six minutes. WIN.
Parents will love how Sun Basket encourages kids to participate in the cooking process (which has been shown to create more adventurous eaters). Each recipe includes a "Kids Can" section with suggestions of how kids can contribute to the meal prep by juicing a lemon, timing the orzo or strip the mint leaves.
There's nothing fussy here—organic, non-GMO ingredients come pre-chopped, pre-measured and ready to go from box to table in less than 30 minutes. Kid-sized portions (about half of an adult-sized portion) and pricing is available by indicating how many children are in the family. Bonus: free, gourmet and organic cookie dough is included in every box!
Cost: Plans start at $14/serving. Online: onepotato.com
Thistle
Thistle
If you are looking to up your family's health quotient this year (and who isn't?!) then Thistle is the meal delivery service for you. They offer fully-prepared breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as juices, snacks, wellness shots and more. Every menu item is gluten and dairy free with vegan and non-vegan options.
Cost: Fully-customizable packages start at $42/week or $12/meal. Online: thistle.com
Methodology
Methodology
As a pre-prepared food delivery company, Methodology aims to nourish your body with foods that help it perform at it's tip-top level. With a menu designed by food lovers for food lovers, your taste buds will thank you.
Flexibility and options rule at Good Eggs as you can choose a single meal kits We love their family-friendly meal kits like the One Pot Pasta e Fagioli. Simply heat and toss to get a comforting meal in minutes (add a side salad and take-and-bake garlic loaf for a complete meal).
Cost: Meals start at $18 for 3 servings. Online: goodeggs.com
Pocket Chefs
Pocket Chefs
For a meal service of a different style, enlist the help of a professional chef in your own home! Pocket Chefs enables families to hire affordable and experienced culinary professionals to assist with everyday cooking needs. This service enlists vetted, culinary professionals who have served many years as private chefs, caterers or restaurant chefs. All of their chefs pass a background check and are certified through SafeServ for cleanliness standards. Pocket Chefs understands the needs of your family and aims to deliver delicious and affordable meals in the comfort of your home. You can simply create an account, pick your preferred package and schedule when you'd like your Pocket Chef to arrive and start cooking!
The chef will call you beforehand to go over your meal plan and grocery list, taking into consideration any food restrictions or allergies. You purchase the groceries according to a list provided by your chef and then the chef shows up at the agreed-upon time to cook the meals for you.
If the idea of coming up with a recipe and finding time to hit up the grocery store is too much to bear, this list of amazing meal delivery services in Dallas for families is the easiest way to get dinner on the table when you’ve got a busy plate (pun intended!) and exactly no time to plan. From heat-and-eat options for when you just can’t cook another meal, to meal kits that will have the kids cooking with you, there’s something on this list that will satisfy every family. Get ready to get cooking!
Front Porch Pantry
iStock
Since 2016, Front Porch Pantry has been feeding Texas families cost-effective, gourmet meals with no prep involved. They offer breakfast, lunch and dinner delivered to your door when you want them, no subscription required. We love the honey lemon dijon chicken with rice pilaf and the steakhouse dinner with pup fries for family-friendly options. Not sure what to order? Try a "Taste of Front Porch Pantry" that includes 6 meals for $84/week.
Based in Austin with stores across Texas and in Philadelphia, Snap Kitchen offers fresh and healthy, chef-designed meals that are ready to heat and heat, no meal prep or cooking required. All Snap Kitchen meals are personally designed by a team of registered dietitians and chefs, with curated lifestyle plans including low carb, keto-friendly, Whole30, paleo, high protein, vegetarian, balance and best-sellers. Committed to only using ingredients that promote optimal health and reduce the risk of disease, Snap Kitchen meals are made fresh daily and do not contain any gluten, antibiotics, added hormones, or artificial preservatives, flavors or colors.
Snap Kitchen stores across Texas are open and convenient curbside pickup and delivery will still be available for contactless shopping. Stock up with fresh, healthy, no-work-required meals for the week by ordering online or via the iOS app.
Cost: The six-meal plan costs $14/meal and the 12-meal plan is $11/meal. Save $10 on an order of $50 via this link.
Sun Basket provides meal kit customers with organic produce and clean ingredients with paleo, gluten-free, vegetarian and family menu selections. Consumers can also upgrade to premium meats like grass-fed filet and jumbo shrimp. Broaden your culinary horizons with family-friendly meals like chicken tagine and Taiwanese noodle soup. You can even select "super speedy" meals which can go from box to table in less than 20 minutes or "one pot" meals which keep the dishes to a minimum. Hooray!
Parents will love how Sun Basket encourages kids to participate in the cooking process (which has been shown to create more adventurous eaters). Each recipe includes a "Kids Can" section with suggestions of how kids can contribute to the meal prep by juicing a lemon, timing the orzo or strip the mint leaves.
Sun Basket recently released their Fresh & Ready meals and families will want to try them out for sure. Fresh & Ready is an ideal weeknight meal solution—the meals feature a complete dinner that is pre-cooked, packaged and can go straight into the oven or microwave, ready in 6 minutes or less, no additional prep required.
Chef-made, nutritionist-designed meal delivery service Territory Foods delivers meals free of gluten and refined sugars to families. With over 35 options that are updated weekly, you choose what you want, the items are cooked to order and delivered twice a week to keep your fridge stocked. Pause or cancel at any time. Try the chicken stir fry or BBQ pork with mashed potatoes as easy kid-friendly options.
The goal of HelloFresh is to bring the fun of cooking back into people’s lives by doing all the planning, portioning and shopping for in-season, sustainably-sourced, healthy and flavorful ingredients. HelloFresh prides itself on its delicious recipes with quick cook times; all your chopping, zesting and sautéeing will take less than 30 minutes.
This cook-at-home food delivery service partnered with Martha Stewart to help harried families discover their inner Martha. The partnership gives Marley Spoon access to Martha's archive of over 18,000 tried-and-true recipes to feature in their meal kits. They promise quality purveyors offering grass-fed beef, Berkshire pork, American-caught shrimp and artisanal cheeses. The menu features 22 choices every week and the website tags meals as family-friendly, under-30 minutes, gluten-free and other categories.
Purple Carrot brings you plant-forward meals that are good for you and good for the planet. Choose from Quick & Easy, High-Protein, Gluten-Free or Chef’s Choice dinners and customize your choices to your liking. All meals are meat-free and easy to prepare. You can add on breakfast, lunch and snack items to get you through the week. Skip or cancel any time.
Say goodbye to grocery shopping, meal planning and prep, and all that cleanup! Gobble shops, chops and delivers gourmet three-step recipes for one-pan cooking with zero prep required. What have you got to lose when it's just a one-pan cleanup?
Cost: Prices start at $15/serving. Dinner for two (3 nights a week) starts at $90. The first week of shipping is free.
Freshly is a weekly subscription service delivering fresh (not frozen), chef-cooked meals that can be heated and served in three minutes. Unlike meal kits, all you need is a microwave, fork and plate (optional!) to get a satisfying lunch or dinner on the table. Think “nutritionist meets personal chef” vs. TV dinner when it comes to quality and flavor. With a food philosophy centered on less sugar, less processed and more nutrients, the menu features better-for-you versions of comfort foods with smart ingredient swaps.
Cost: Customers can order 4-12 meals a week starting at $9/meal.
This meal delivery service is focused on kids. Carefully sourced fruits and veggies, and perfectly balanced—lunches, dinners and snacks from Yumble are nutritionist approved and kid approved, too! Choose your kids meals for the week and they'll be delivered free to your doorstep. Each box comes with new activities for kids, making mealtime a breeze for you and a joy for them.
Blue Apron has been part of the meal delivery game for a long time and their expertise shows. Choose among two-serving, four-serving, wellness and vegetarian menus to pick the options that are right for you. We love that the meals typically take 40 minutes or less and include kid-friendly ingredients like baked chicken and pasta while exposing kids to different flavors like curry and chile-lime. With super easy-to-follow recipes, you can definitely get the kids involved in the cooking process.
Healthy eating at home is the name of the game with Green Chef. Choose from three plans: Keto + Paleo, Balanced Living and Plant-Powered. Set up your deliveries to come weekly or less frequently if you prefer. Menus change every week.
Cost: Meals start at $13/serving and $10 shipping.
Home Chef meal kits offer fresh, pre-portioned ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes delivered weekly. With a variety 19 different recipes that rotate on a weekly basis, most recipes include a "Customize It" option to accommodate any dietary needs or preferences. Skip a week any time you'd like, the meals are convenient and kid-friendly.
Farmbox Direct offers various size boxes packed with seasonal, farm-fresh fresh fruits and vegetables to your door. You select the shipment size and customize your box, and check your doorstep for easy monthly deliveries.
If your goal is to get a wholesome, easy meal on the table for your family, then Dinnerly is the meal delivery option for you. Each week Dinnerly customers choose from over a dozen options which change each week. The choices are totally kid-friendly. Each meal has only five prep steps and takes less than 30 minutes to get on the table, perfect for rushed weeknight dinners. Not interested in getting your box this week? No problem! You can skip any time.
How about 100% plant-based, organic, non-GMO, chef-prepared entrees, soups, and juices that just show up at your front door whenever you want them to? Then look no further than this healthy bunch (bonus: they deliver nationally, too).
There are no, zero, zilch animal products of any kind, here, ever! Chick'n Nuggets with chipotle dipping sauce complete with veganaise will do the trick every time for your kiddos and no one will miss the meat. Veestro food is available a la carte, in full-on Meal Packs, and they also carry a surprisingly delicious weight loss menu plan. As with most vegetarian cuisine: most meals have nuts in them so be careful with a nut allergy, but all meals are completely dairy-free and don't contain other allergens.
The end-of-summer checklist is long, but we found the perfect hack to shorten that to-do list! Meal kits. We rounded up a host of meal kit delivery services that cut your prep work so you have more time for things like back-to-school shopping. There are 14 amazingly delicious and outrageously healthy services that now ship to the Washington, DC area. Convenience…it’s what’s for dinner!
1. Yumble
Yumble
This meal delivery service is focused on kids. Carefully sourced fruits and veggies, and perfectly balanced—lunches, dinners and snacks from Yumble are nutritionist approved and kid approved, too! Choose your kids meals for the week and they'll be delivered free to your doorstep. The Bowl of Yays Pasta with veggie marinara and the Mighty Meatballs and Veggie Chili are crowd pleasers for sure. Each box comes with new activities for kids, making mealtime a breeze for you and a joy for them.
Green eggs and ham? Not quite. Think: Green as in USDA-certified organic, GMO-free ingredients sent to your doorstep direct from local farmers. This meal kit delivery service is for the family that makes a conscious effort to eat clean dinners. Order the family meal plan, which sends two wholesome dinners for a family of 4 and the cooking is done in 30-45 min. Examples of the scrumptious meals you can be serving up include Hawaiian Pork Fried Rice, Steak & Smashed Potatoes, and Crispy Dijon Chicken.
This cook-at-home food delivery service partnered with Martha Stewart to help harried families discover their inner Martha. The menu features 22 choices every week and the website tags meals as family-friendly, under-30 minutes, gluten-free and other categories. Favorites include: chicken fajita bowl, bacon-wrapped skillet meatloaf and lemon-brown butter salmon. The website provides big, colorful step-by-step photos for careless cooks and kids who want to help.
Say goodbye to grocery shopping, meal planning and prep, and all that cleanup! Gobble shops, chops and delivers gourmet three-step recipes for one-pan cooking with zero prep required. How about picky eaters? Try Pan-Seared Sirloin Steak with Roasted Fingerling Potatoes & Béarnaise Sauce or Crispy Chicken Sandwich & Napa Cabbage Slaw with Caraway Vinaigrette. What have you got to lose when it's just a one-pan cleanup?
Cost: Prices start at $15/serving for dinner for two.
Blue Apron has been part of the meal delivery game for a long time and their expertise shows. Choose among two-serving, four-serving, wellness and vegetarian menus to pick the options that are right for you. We love that the meals typically take 40 minutes or less and include kid-friendly ingredients like baked chicken and pasta while exposing kids to different flavors like curry and chile-lime. With super easy-to-follow recipes, you can definitely get the kids involved in the cooking process.
Freshly is a weekly subscription service delivering fresh (not frozen), chef-cooked meals that can be heated and served in three minutes. Unlike meal kits, all you need is a microwave, fork and plate (optional!) to get a satisfying lunch or dinner on the table. Think “nutritionist meets personal chef” vs. TV dinner when it comes to quality and flavor.
With a food philosophy centered on less sugar, less processed and more nutrients, the menu features better-for-you versions of comfort foods with smart ingredient swaps. For example, Chicken Parm is coated in almond flour vs. bread crumbs and topped with marinara sauce sweetened with honey instead of refined sugars; Mac and Cheese is made with brown rice pasta and cheesy sauce blended with a purée of cauliflower and butternut squash; and Turkey Meatballs are packed with mushrooms and served over zoodles for a lower-carb alternative to pasta.
Home Chef meal kits offer fresh, pre-portioned ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes delivered weekly. With a variety 19 different recipes that rotate on a weekly basis, most recipes include a "Customize It" option to accommodate any dietary needs or preferences. Skip a week any time you'd like, the meals are convenient and kid-friendly. The 15-minute meal kits include options like Honey Garlic Chicken with Broccoli and Carrots. Or, opt for more sophisticated meals from the culinary collection like Steak and Garlic Thyme Butter with balsamic Brussels Sprouts and Parmesan Twists.
The goal of HelloFresh is to bring the fun of cooking back into people’s lives by doing all the planning, portioning and shopping for in-season, sustainably-sourced, healthy and flavorful ingredients. HelloFresh prides itself on its delicious recipes with quick cook times; all your chopping, zesting and sautéeing will take less than 30 minutes. Family-friendly meals include Tomato Tortellini Bake, Ginger Plum Chicken and Pork Chops with Apple Rosemary Pan Sauce.
If your goal is to get a wholesome, easy meal on the table for your family, then Dinnerly is the meal delivery option for you. Each week Dinnerly customers choose from over a dozen options which change each week. The choices are totally kid-friendly with options like sweet and sour Swedish meatballs, turkey burgers and enchiladas. Each meal has only five prep steps and takes less than 30 minutes to get on the table, perfect for rushed weeknight dinners. Not interested in getting your box this week? No problem! You can skip any time.
Healthy eating at home is the name of the game with Green Chef. Choose from three plans: Keto + Paleo, Balanced Living and Plant-Powered. Set up your deliveries to come weekly or less frequently if you prefer. Menus change every week and you'll enjoy options like Steak & Cheddar Melts, Salmon with Creamy Chimichurri, and Creamy Baked Penne Pasta.
Cost: Meals start at $13/serving and $10 shipping.
How about 100% plant-based, organic, non-GMO, chef-prepared entrees, soups, and juices that just show up at your front door whenever you want them to? Then look no further than this healthy bunch (bonus: they deliver nationally, too).
There are no, zero, zilch animal products of any kind, here, ever! Chick'n Nuggets with chipotle dipping sauce complete with veganaise will do the trick every time for your kiddos and no one will miss the meat. Veestro food is available a la carte, in full-on Meal Packs, and they also carry a surprisingly delicious weight loss menu plan. As with most vegetarian cuisine: most meals have nuts in them so be careful with a nut allergy, but all meals are completely dairy-free and don't contain other allergens.
Purple Carrot brings you plant-forward meals that are good for you and good for the planet. Choose from Quick & Easy, High-Protein, Gluten-Free or Chef’s Choice dinners and customize your choices to your liking. All meals are meat-free and easy to prepare. You can add on breakfast, lunch and snack items to get you through the week. Skip or cancel any time.
Sun Basket provides meal kit customers with organic produce and clean ingredients with paleo, gluten-free, vegetarian and family menu selections. Consumers can also upgrade to premium meats like grass-fed filet and jumbo shrimp. Broaden your culinary horizons with family-friendly meals like chicken tagine and Taiwanese noodle soup. You can even select "super speedy" meals which can go from box to table in less than 20 minutes or "one pot" meals which keep the dishes to a minimum. Hooray!
Parents will love how Sun Basket encourages kids to participate in the cooking process (which has been shown to create more adventurous eaters). Each recipe includes a "Kids Can" section with suggestions of how kids can contribute to the meal prep by juicing a lemon, timing the orzo or strip the mint leaves.
Sun Basket recently released their Fresh & Ready meals and families will want to try them out for sure. Fresh & Ready is an ideal weeknight meal solution—the meals feature a complete dinner that is pre-cooked, packaged and can go straight into the oven or microwave, ready in 6 minutes or less, no additional prep required.
Chef-made, nutritionist-designed meal delivery service Territory Foods delivers meals free of gluten and refined sugars to Dallas families. With over 35 options that are updated weekly, you choose what you want, the items are cooked to order and delivered twice a week to keep your fridge stocked. Pause or cancel at any time. Try the chicken stir fry or BBQ pork with mashed potatoes as easy kid-friendly options.
They also recently started offering Territory Grocery. Options: Produce Box featuring a 15+ lb. mix of garden veggies, root veggies, fruit, leafy greens and herbs; or Produce & Pantry Box including all of the above plus 2-3 lbs. of grains and legumes.
As parents we wear oh so many hats—driver, coach, nurse. You name it; parents do it. And with the start of the school year just around the corner, we know you’ll be putting another hat on top of your (very tall) stack—chef. But what if someone else helped with that heavy lift, at least a little? That’s where the best Boston meal delivery services for families come in. We’ve got tons of meal kit picks that let your family sit down to a healthy, home-cooked (and often plant-based) meal that you didn’t have to plan or prep…much. Read on to let someone else do the cooking for a change.
Jayna Kropas
Clover Food Lab
While we’re sure you’ve seen this local spot around town, if their meal delivery kits haven’t made it onto your radar yet, they’re worth a look. Clover started the delivery side of their restaurant biz in the early days of the pandemic, and they’ve kept it going because it filled a need. Boston families are always on the lookout for healthy, plant-based meals they can get on the table quickly (these take anywhere from 5-15 minutes to prep). That’s what you’ll find here.
There are a few ways to get in on the action. Subscribe to the Meal Box program and count on an evolving menu within a daily category (think: Salad Mondays, Taco Tuesday or Pasta Saturdays…you get the idea). Not sure you want to commit? Simply order Meal Boxes individually to see what you think and go from there. Families can also mix and match Meal Bundles any day of the week. It comes with everything you need to make the meal, and saves you (yet another) trip to the store. Sauces, dips and produce can be added to your order to help fill in the gaps.
With a name like Mama Sezz we’re already sold on this local mom-owned meal delivery service that makes feeding your family plant-based meals super easy. Each meal serves 2-3 people, can be frozen for up to two months and is completely heat-and-eat. That means families have total flexibility to get a healthy dinner on the table whenever they need it. If you’re not so sure about plant-based or have been flirting with the idea for a while now, try their Get Me Started bundle that helps newbies know where to be begin. Their MOM bundle is another great option for families—it’s got all kinds of vegan meals your kids will absolutely love.
If a local company focused on sustainability is what’s on your family’s menu, look no further than al FreshCo. Serving the greater Boston area since 2013, they source all of their ingredients fromlocal New England farms to make their creative and healthy meals. The service works like many other—families opt in to the number of meal kids they’d like each week (one kit feeds two), place your cooler outside and get your food. If you're not quite sure you want to go all in, you can also try a one-time order. Orders are placed by Saturday (at midnight) for delivery the following Tuesday. And thesustainable packaging used to wrap these easy-prep meals will make you feel extra good about the whole experience.
Feast & Fettle is like having a private chef without someone cooking in your kitchen. The business was founded by Maggie Pearson, a former personal chef who believes busy, working families shouldn’t have to sacrifice quality for convenience. The meal delivery service puts an emphasis on high quality ingredients that are delivered locally to Rhode Island and Boston residents. The menu changes every week, incorporating seasonal trends and local partners. All meals are made in their local kitchen, then delivered to your door by their own team of delivery drivers. This model ensures your meals arrive fresh, not frozen.
Their plans for singles, couples families are highly customizable, and each menu incorporates items fit for all dietary preferences. Not sure what tastes great together? Try out the Chef's Pairings. They even have their own line of kids meals that are perfect for the picky eaters in your life.
Purple Carrot brings you plant-forward meals that are good for you and good for the planet. Families have two options when it comes to meal delivery with Purple Carrot and both are great for busy families. Boxed Meal Kits include everything you need to make a healthy dinner. All you have to do is prep and cook and call the kids down to eat. Then there's fresh, Prepared Meals (think: Italian Pasta Bowls and Chilled Curried Chickpea Salad). These tasty dishes are heat and serve, leaving you more time to do things like help with homework, make the latest after school run or even just relax (imagine that!). All meals are meat-free and easy to prepare. You can add on breakfast, lunch and snack items to get you through the week. Skip or cancel any time.
Good to know: We're crushing on Purple Carrot's Plantry ingredients like cauliflower snacking crackers and chocolate-covered oat bites that kids can grab and eat.
This cook-at-home food delivery service partnered with Martha Stewart to help harried families discover their inner Martha. The partnership gives Marley Spoon access to Martha's archive of over 18,000 tried-and-true recipes to feature in their meal kits. They promise quality purveyors offering grass-fed beef, Berkshire pork, American-caught shrimp and artisanal cheeses. The menu features 45 choices every week and the website tags meals as family-friendly, vegetarian, gluten-free and more.
Favorites include: chicken fajita bowl, bacon-wrapped skillet meatloaf and lemon-brown butter salmon. The website provides big, colorful step-by-step photos for careless cooks and kids who want to help. Also, the blog offers great tips and ideas, like what to do with lentils, immune-boosting foods and Martha’s easy Oscar party snacks. The family kit feeds four adults, so will easily feed two adults and two kids.
Freshly is a weekly subscription service delivering fresh (not frozen), chef-cooked meals that can be heated and served in three minutes. Unlike meal kits, all you need is a microwave, fork and plate (optional!) to get a satisfying lunch or dinner on the table. Think “nutritionist meets personal chef” vs. TV dinner when it comes to quality and flavor.
With a food philosophy centered on less sugar, less processed and more nutrients, the menu features better-for-you versions of comfort foods with smart ingredient swaps. For example, Chicken Parm is coated in almond flour vs. bread crumbs and topped with marinara sauce sweetened with honey instead of refined sugars; Mac and Cheese is made with brown rice pasta and cheesy sauce blended with a purée of cauliflower and butternut squash; and Turkey Meatballs are packed with mushrooms and served over zoodles for a lower-carb alternative to pasta.
If your goal is to get a wholesome, easy meal on the table for your family, then Dinnerly is the meal delivery option for you. Each week Dinnerly customers choose from over a dozen rotating options. The choices are totally kid-friendly with options like sweet and sour Swedish meatballs, turkey burgers and enchiladas. Each meal has only five prep steps and takes less than 30 minutes to get on the table. Perfect for rushed weeknight dinners! Not interested in getting your box this week? No problem. You can skip any time.
Home Chef meal kits offer fresh, pre-portioned ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes delivered weekly. You'll be able to choose from 30 different recipes that rotate on a weekly basis. Most recipes include a "Customize It" option to accommodate any dietary needs or preferences. Skip a week any time you'd like wit these meals that are convenient and kid-friendly. The 15-minute meal kits include options like Honey Garlic Chicken with Broccoli and Carrots. Or, opt for more sophisticated meals from the culinary collection like Steak and Garlic Thyme Butter with balsamic Brussels Sprouts and Parmesan Twists.
The goal of HelloFresh is to bring the fun of cooking back into people’s lives by doing all the planning, portioning and shopping for in-season, sustainably-sourced, healthy and flavorful ingredients. HelloFresh prides itself on its delicious recipes with quick cook times. All your chopping, zesting and sautéeing will take less than 30 minutes and you'll have 27 different recipes to choose from each week. Family-friendly meals include Tomato Tortellini Bake, Ginger Plum Chicken and Pork Chops with Apple Rosemary Pan Sauce.
Say goodbye to grocery shopping, meal planning and prep and all that cleanup! Gobble shops, chops and delivers gourmet three-step recipes for one-pan cooking with zero prep required. How about picky eaters? Try Pan-Seared Sirloin Steak with Roasted Fingerling Potatoes & Béarnaise Sauce or Crispy Chicken Sandwich & Napa Cabbage Slaw with Caraway Vinaigrette. New recipes are added weekly. What have you got to lose when it's just a one-pan cleanup?
Blue Apron has been part of the meal delivery game for a long time and their expertise shows. Choose among two-serving, four-serving, wellness and vegetarian menus to select the options that are right for your family. We love that the meals typically take 40 minutes or less and include kid-friendly ingredients like baked chicken and pasta, while exposing kids to different flavors like curry and chile-lime. With super easy-to-follow recipes, you can definitely get the kids involved in the cooking process.
Healthy eating at home is the name of the game with Green Chef. Choose from three plans: Keto + Paleo, Balanced Living and Plant-Powered. Set up your deliveries to come weekly or less frequently if you prefer. Menus change every week and you'll enjoy options like Steak & Cheddar Melts, Salmon with Creamy Chimichurri, and Creamy Baked Penne Pasta.
How about 100% plant-based, organic, non-GMO, chef-prepared entrees, soups and juices that just show up at your front door whenever you want them to? Then look no further than this healthy bunch (bonus: they deliver nationally, too). There are no (as in zero, zilch) animal products of any kind, here, ever! Chick'n Nuggets with chipotle dipping sauce complete with veganaise will do the trick every time for your kiddos, and no one will miss the meat. Veestro food is available a la carte, in full-on Meal Packs, and they also carry a surprisingly delicious weight loss menu plan.
As with most vegetarian cuisine: most meals have nuts in them so be careful with a nut allergy, but all meals are completely dairy-free and don't contain other allergens.
What's not to love about a meal delivery service that's focused on kids? Carefully sourced fruits and veggies, and perfectly balanced, lunches, dinners and snacks from Yumble are nutritionist-approved and kid-approved, too! Choose your kid's meals for the week and they'll be delivered free to your doorstep. The Bowl of Yays Pasta with veggie marinara and the Mighty Meatballs and Veggie Chili are crowd pleasers for sure. Each box comes with new activities for kids, making mealtime a breeze for you and a joy for them.
Families can enjoy Sunbasket two different ways, depending on your busy schedule. If you've got time to cook, Meal Kits are the way to go. Each scrumptious meal comes pre-portioned ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes; all you supply is the people power to cook it. But if you're extra short on time, you can order one of Sunbasket's Fresh & Ready meals that go from container to table in just three minutes. Hello, making it to soccer practice on time! The Meal Kits come with easy to filter options like Paleo, gluten free and vegetarian, and you can order breakfast, lunch and snacks to help with the other aspects of your busy family life too. Basically, you can go quite a long time without having to set foot in a grocery store with this to-your-door service.
Farmbox Direct offers various size boxes packed with seasonal, farm-fresh fresh fruits and vegetables delivered straight to your door. You select the shipment size, customize your box from there, then check your doorstep for easy monthly deliveries. Menus changed based on the season and you can stick with an all-organic box or go with a natural one. Add in a juicing box (red, orange or green) for a tasty boot, too.
Get dinner on the table in a jiffy during this busy back-to-school season
Hey, Chicago! Sometimes mealtime creativity is difficult to conjure and meal-planning fatigue creeps in. Set yourself up for stress-free, inspired meals with one of these meal delivery services in Chicago. From heat-and-eat meals to kits with all the ingredients you need to cook the meal yourself, there’s a just-right option for every family. Make dinner prep something that the whole family joins in on.
Sun Basket
Sunbasket, a healthy meal delivery service, offers a single portion size of their subscriber-favorite Fresh & Ready meals perfect for ready-to-heat lunch with no waste or extra groceries and leftovers. Simply heat them in the microwave or oven and they're ready in as little as 4 minutes.
HelloFresh is a pretty great option for families that like to serve home-cooked meals, but don't have time (or desire) for grocery shopping. You pick the size and number of meals and receive a weekly delivery on your chosen day of the week. Each meal's ingredients come individually packaged in brown paper bags with easy-to-follow recipe cards. They also have a well-rounded Veggie Meal plan for families that like to pass on meat and fish.
This cook-at-home food delivery service partnered with Martha Stewart to help harried families discover their inner Martha. The menu features 40 choices every week and the website tags meals as family-friendly, under-30 minutes, gluten-free and other categories. The website provides big, colorful step-by-step photos for careless cooks and kids who want to help.
Cost: Plans start at $9.49/serving and $9.99 for shipping.
Purple Carrot brings you plant-forward meals that are good for you and good for the planet. Choose from Quick & Easy, High-Protein, Gluten-Free or Chef’s Choice dinners and customize your choices to your liking. All meals are meat-free and easy to prepare. You can add on breakfast, lunch and snack items to get you through the week. Skip or cancel any time.
Versatility is what makes Home Chef stand out in the meal delivery crowd. You can choose to select your meals ahead of time, or for those that prefer to skip the planning phase, wing it and grab a meal to go at Mariano’s. Every kit you order from Home Chef has all the ingredients you need to make a simple delicious meal with options that take 30 minutes or less, 15 minutes or less or lunch kits that can be assembled in 5 minutes. You can also customize your protein in online orders and added slow cooker and carb and calorie-conscious meals.
Say goodbye to grocery shopping, meal planning and prep, and all that cleanup! Gobble shops, chops and delivers gourmet three-step recipes for one-pan cooking with zero prep required. How about picky eaters? Try Pan-Seared Sirloin Steak with Roasted Fingerling Potatoes & Béarnaise Sauce or Crispy Chicken Sandwich & Napa Cabbage Slaw with Caraway Vinaigrette. What have you got to lose when it's just a one-pan cleanup?
Cost: Dinner for two plans start at $14.99/serving, dinner for four plans start at $11.99/serving. (First week of shipping is free).
Freshly is a weekly subscription service delivering fresh (not frozen), chef-cooked meals that can be heated and served in three minutes. Unlike meal kits, all you need is a microwave, fork and plate (optional!) to get a satisfying lunch or dinner on the table. Think “nutritionist meets personal chef” vs. TV dinner when it comes to quality and flavor.
With a food philosophy centered on less sugar, less processed and more nutrients, the menu features better-for-you versions of comfort foods with smart ingredient swaps. For example, Chicken Parm is coated in almond flour vs. bread crumbs and topped with marinara sauce sweetened with honey instead of refined sugars; Mac and Cheese is made with brown rice pasta and cheesy sauce blended with a purée of cauliflower and butternut squash; and Turkey Meatballs are packed with mushrooms and served over zoodles for a lower-carb alternative to pasta.
Blue Apron has been part of the meal delivery game for a long time and their expertise shows. Choose among two-serving, four-serving, wellness and vegetarian menus to pick the options that fit your family's needs. We love that the meals typically take 40 minutes or less and include kid-friendly ingredients like baked chicken and pasta while exposing kids to different flavors like curry and chile-lime. With super easy-to-follow recipes, you can definitely get the kids involved in the cooking process.
Healthy eating at home is the name of the game with Green Chef. Choose from three plans: Keto + Paleo, Balanced Living and Plant-Powered. Set up your deliveries to come weekly or less frequently if you prefer. Menus change every week and you'll enjoy options like Steak & Cheddar Melts, Salmon with Creamy Chimichurri, and Creamy Baked Penne Pasta.
If your goal is to get a wholesome, easy meal on the table for your family, then Dinnerly is the meal delivery option for you. Each week Dinnerly customers choose from over a dozen options which change each week. The choices are totally kid-friendly with options like sweet and sour Swedish meatballs, turkey burgers and enchiladas. Each meal has only five prep steps and takes less than 30 minutes to get on the table, perfect for rushed weeknight dinners. Not interested in getting your box this week? No problem! You can skip any time.
How about 100% plant-based, organic, non-GMO, chef-prepared entrees, soups, and juices that just show up at your front door whenever you want them to? Then look no further than this healthy bunch.
There are no, zero, zilch animal products of any kind, here, ever! Chick'n Nuggets with chipotle dipping sauce complete with veganaise will do the trick every time for your kiddos and no one will miss the meat. Veestro food is available a la carte, in full-on Meal Packs, and they also carry a surprisingly delicious weight loss menu plan. As with most vegetarian cuisine: most meals have nuts in them so be careful with a nut allergy, but all meals are completely dairy-free and don't contain other allergens.
Mosaic is a plant-based, clean-label meal delivery service looking to make wholesome eating more accessible. Their ready-to-heat oat and veggie bowls are cooked in a real kitchen with real ingredients, then frozen for convenience and delivered to your door. You'll have a satisfying meal packed with at least 10g of plant-based protein in just a few minutes. With 30 inventive meals like Jerk Lentils and Plantains with coconut rice and Golden Milk and Blackberry Oats with turmeric, ginger, and almond milk, you'll always have exciting options to choose from. Choose a delivery cadence of every 1, 2 or 4 weeks with the flexibility to switch dates in your account profile.
Mosaic oat bowls make great grab & go breakfasts and veggie bowls make super convenient and tasty lunches or dinners when you're working or studying from home. And since they're frozen, they're conveniently there for you when you need them!
This meal-delivery service is focused on kids. Carefully sourced fruits and veggies, and perfectly balanced—lunches, dinners and snacks from Yumble are nutritionist-approved and kid-approved, too! Choose your kid's meals for the week and they'll be delivered free to your doorstep. The Bowl of Yays Pasta with veggie marinara and the Mighty Meatballs and Veggie Chili are crowd pleasers for sure. Each box comes with new activities for kids, making mealtime a breeze for you and a joy for them.
Fresh Picks works with area farmers and bakers to bring you the freshest organic and sustainable foods in the midwest. Deliveries are made weekly and you can schedule recurring orders or order as needed.
If you’re good about meal planning in advance, this is a great solution for you. With Kitchfix, you order a few meals for the week and have them delivered to your home or coordinate curbside pickup.
These meals come in a variety of sizes and can be real people pleasers. This service is great for the kiddos because they’re cognizant of food allergies for little ones. Tip: Be sure to try their wildly popular granola (it's a great addition to homemade smoothie bowls or to liven up your standard cup of yogurt).
Fresh Midwest is a new fresh food and meal delivery solution providing locally grown produce, precut fruits and veggies, prepared salads, restaurant-quality meats and seafood and chef-inspired meal kits. Under their "Restaurant Made" section, you'll see favorites from Beatrix, Bang Bang, Gibsons and more. This is not a subscription service, so you can order at any time. Just go online, pick your goods and select a delivery window, Mon.-Sat., that works for you.
This one has become a busy parent’s dream! This one isn’t meal delivery per se. It's grocery delivery. But, sometimes having someone do the shopping for you is the little time-saving boost you need. See a recipe you want to make while cruising Instagram? Point click and order everything you need (from Mariano’s, Jewel, Costco—just to give a few examples) and have it delivered. If the store is out of something, they will text (or call) and ask how they might be able to replace the item for you.
Pro tip: Some areas have pet store and liquor store delivery.
For those Chicagoans who crushed on Radish, they were purchased by Tovala, which shares the same goal of making it easy to eat incredibly healthy meals in the comfort of home. This one is a bit different from other services, as it requires the use of a steam oven, which you can order through them. The Tovala convection bakes and broils just like a regular oven, but it also steams, making your proteins juicier and more tender and veggies more flavorful.
Craving a dish from one of your favorite Chicago restaurants? DoorDash probably delivers from there, from national favorites, like Chipotle, to neighborhood gems you're crushing on. They have “dashers” stationed around the city so when you place your order, they’re there and ready for a speedy delivery.
With grocery store shelves sitting empty and schools closed, you could be driven to your wits end planning three square meals for the kids at home. Chicago-based subscription meal service Nurture Life prepares fresh, ready-to-enjoy food options that appeal to kids ages 10 mos.-11 yrs. Each meal focuses on organic produce, antibiotic-free proteins whole grains and can be served up in 2 minutes or less.
Setup a fun spirits tasting with your significant other as a date-night-in idea! Spirit Hub is one of America's legally compliant online marketplaces for uncommon craft spirits from independent distilleries across the country, authorized to deliver straight to IL residents' doors.
With the school year and work in full swing, now is the time when you might look to shortcuts for your family meal plan. With these local (and some not-so-local) meal kit delivery services, you can add another feather to your already full cap and whip up something delicious faster than you can load everyone in the car for take-out. Keep reading for our favorite meal delivery services in Atlanta, and let someone else do the cooking (or at least the shopping and prep) for a change.
iStock
Instead of Flowers
This Atlanta meal delivery service offers ready-made dinners for diners who prefer to leave the prep work to someone else. With meal delivery from Monday to Friday between 3 and 6 p.m., Instead of Flowers guarantees you'll have a hot meal on the table before the last kids gets home from practice. Choose between complete meals or a la carte options, and be sure to check out the special kids' menu, as well.
Insider tip: When you gift a meal from Instead of Flowers, they contact your recipient, take their preferred order and delivery date, and even include an enclosure card letting them know that the dinner came from you. Sounds like an easy way gift for new parents to us.
With a weekly menu with multiple options—as well as three to four à la carte kits—and a delivery zone both ITP and OTP on Thursdays, Sundays and Mondays (plus multiple pick up locations), Garnish & Gather is as big on offering their customers options as they are on offering quality local ingredients. They work with Atlanta's best chefs for meal kit recipes, recently featuring menus from the chefs of Miller Union, Banshee, Revival and Tiny Lou's.
Insider tip: Garnish & Gather has "kid approved" menu items, like lemon caper chicken, that take 20 minutes or less to prepare. They'll also deliver local groceries from Georgia farmers and artisans to your doorstep.
Owner Carol Rice's goal has always been to help families of all sizes get supper on the table because she knows what it means to be a busy parent of younger kids. Expect family friendly meals that are totally customizable for your family (you add the desired amount of spice to all entrees from the included bag yourself). If you want something left out or put on the side, or low sodium, or vegetarian or gluten free, or want to switch meats, all you have to do is make a note of it during check out. Menus include 16-20 choices that change monthly, and delivery includes all of metro Atlanta.
Insider tip: We love that Carol used to have her children's friends over to taste test upcoming menu items. Clearly these meals are crafted with the family table in mind.
Bag'd Atlanta is your source for local vegetables and fruits delivered to your door, also featuring a variety of add-ons and health and wellness products. While this isn't a prepared kid per se, the robust local fruits and veggies have a week's worth of produce to inspire any aspiring chef. Serving Intown Atlanta, and offering free delivery to Decatur and Avondale Estates for orders over $25 (and a small delivery fee elsewhere), Bag'd lets you get dinner in the bag.
Insider tip: Check the website for availability of dairy, eggs, and meat, all sourced from Georgia farmers and can be delivered to your door.
This cook-at-home food delivery service partnered with Martha Stewart to help harried families discover their inner Martha. The menu features over 45 choices every week, and the website tags meals as Family-Friendly, Under 30 minutes, Vegetarian or Vegan and other categories. Our favorites include: chicken fajita bowl, bacon-wrapped skillet meatloaf and lemon-brown butter salmon. The website provides big, colorful step-by-step photos for careless cooks and kids who want to help.
The goal of HelloFresh is to bring the fun of cooking back into people’s lives by doing all the planning, portioning and shopping for in-season, sustainably-sourced, healthy and flavorful ingredients. HelloFresh prides itself on its delicious recipes with quick cook times; all your chopping, zesting and sautéeing will take less than 30 minutes. Family-friendly meals include Tomato Tortellini Bake, Ginger Plum Chicken and Pork Chops with Apple Rosemary Pan Sauce.
Cost: starting at $10/serving + $10/box for delivery
If your goal is to get a wholesome, easy meal on the table for your family, then Dinnerly is the meal delivery option for you. Each week Dinnerly customers choose from over a dozen options which change each week. The choices are totally kid-friendly with options like sweet and sour Swedish meatballs, turkey burgers and enchiladas. Each meal has only five prep steps and takes less than 30 minutes to get on the table, perfect for rushed weeknight dinners. Not interested in getting your box this week? No problem! You can skip any time.
Healthy eating at home is the name of the game with Green Chef. Choose from three plans: Keto + Paleo, Balanced Living and Plant-Powered. Set up your deliveries to come weekly or less frequently if you prefer. Menus change every week and you'll enjoy options like Steak & Cheddar Melts, Salmon with Creamy Chimichurri, and Creamy Baked Penne Pasta.
Purple Carrot brings you plant-forward meals that are good for you and good for the planet. Choose from Quick & Easy, High-Protein, Gluten-Free or Chef’s Choice dinners and customize your choices to your liking. All meals are meat-free and easy to prepare, or you can select from prepared meals to be delivered to your door. You can add on breakfast, lunch and snack items to get you through the week. Skip or cancel any time.
Good to know: We’re crushing on Purple Carrot’s Plantry ingredients like cauliflower snacking crackers and chocolate-covered oat bites that kids can grab and eat.
How about 100% plant-based, organic, non-GMO, chef-prepared entrees, soups and juices that just show up at your front door whenever you want them to? Then look no further than this healthy bunch (bonus: they deliver nationally, too). There are no, zero, zilch animal products of any kind, here, ever. Chick'n Nuggets with chipotle dipping sauce complete with veganaise will do the trick every time for your kiddos, and no one will miss the meat. Veestro food is available a la carte, in full-on Meal Packs, and they also carry a surprisingly delicious weight loss menu plan.
Good to know: As with most vegetarian cuisine: most meals have nuts in them so be careful with a nut allergy, but all meals are completely dairy-free and don't contain other allergens.
Sun Basket provides meal kit customers with organic produce and clean ingredients with paleo, gluten-free, vegetarian and family menu selections. Consumers can also upgrade to premium meats like grass-fed filet and jumbo shrimp. Broaden your culinary horizons with family-friendly meals like chicken tagine and Taiwanese noodle soup. You can even select "super speedy" meals which can go from box to table in less than 20 minutes or "one pot" meals which keep the dishes to a minimum. Hooray!
Parents will love how Sun Basket encourages kids to participate in the cooking process (which has been shown to create more adventurous eaters). Each recipe includes a "Kids Can" section with suggestions of how kids can contribute to the meal prep by juicing a lemon, timing the orzo or strip the mint leaves.
Sun Basket recently released their Fresh & Ready meals and families will want to try them out for sure. Fresh & Ready is an ideal weeknight meal solution—the meals feature a complete dinner that is pre-cooked, packaged and can go straight into the oven or microwave, ready in 6 minutes or less, no additional prep required.
Chef-made, nutritionist-designed meal delivery service Territory Foods delivers meals free of gluten and refined sugars to Dallas families. With over 35 options that are updated weekly, you choose what you want, the items are cooked to order and delivered twice a week to keep your fridge stocked. Pause or cancel at any time. Try the chicken stir fry or BBQ pork with mashed potatoes as easy kid-friendly options.
They also recently started offering Territory Grocery. Options: Produce Box ($60) featuring a 15+ lb. mix of garden veggies, root veggies, fruit, leafy greens and herbs; or Produce & Pantry Box ($70) including all of the above plus 2-3 lbs. of grains and legumes.
When it comes to feeding families, One Potato has got you covered. Co-founder Catherine McCord's best selling Weelicious recipes are the basis of the One Potato meals. There's nothing fussy here—the organic, non-GMO ingredients come pre-chopped, pre-measured and ready to get from box to table in no time. Each recipe will be ready in less than 30 minutes, which makes weeknight meals a cinch. Bonus: there's cookie dough included in every box!
One Potato understands that not every family has two adults and two kids so they offer plans for two to six servings per meal. By indicating how many children are in your family, you'll receive kid-sized portions (about half of an adult-sized portion) for them. Choose two or three meals to be delivered per week, or skip that week if you'll be out of town.
Blue Apron has been part of the meal delivery game for a long time and their expertise shows. Choose among two-serving, four-serving, wellness and vegetarian menus to pick the options that are right for you. We love that the meals typically take 40 minutes or less and include kid-friendly ingredients like baked chicken and pasta while exposing kids to different flavors like curry and chile-lime. With super easy-to-follow recipes, you can definitely get the kids involved in the cooking process.
Freshly is a weekly subscription service delivering fresh (not frozen), chef-cooked meals that can be heated and served in three minutes. Unlike meal kits, all you need is a microwave, fork and plate (optional!) to get a satisfying lunch or dinner on the table. Think “nutritionist meets personal chef” vs. TV dinner when it comes to quality and flavor.
With a food philosophy centered on less sugar, less processed and more nutrients, the menu features better-for-you versions of comfort foods with smart ingredient swaps. For example, Chicken Parm is coated in almond flour vs. bread crumbs and topped with marinara sauce sweetened with honey instead of refined sugars; Mac and Cheese is made with brown rice pasta and cheesy sauce blended with a purée of cauliflower and butternut squash; and Turkey Meatballs are packed with mushrooms and served over zoodles for a lower-carb alternative to pasta.
While this meal kit delivery service isn't exclusive to Atlanta, it only preps and delivers gourmet three-step recipes (fist bump!). Their one-pan cooking with zero prep required means you cut down on the clean-up time, too. Plus, menu items are marked as "Certified" Gobble Kid Friendly, making it easy to pick the most foolproof meal for your little foodies.
Good to know: Gobble sends meal kits with the intent of 15 minutes or less of prep time, so you can spend more time hanging with your little gobblers—instead of stirring away over a hot stove.
Home Chef meal kits offer fresh, pre-portioned ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes delivered weekly. With a variety of more than 20 different recipes that rotate on a weekly basis, most recipes include a "Customize It" option to accommodate any dietary needs or preferences. Skip a week any time you'd like, the meals are convenient and kid-friendly. The 15-minute meal kits include options like Mini Pesto Pork Pizzas. Or, opt for more sophisticated meals from the culinary collection like Crispy Chicken with Lemon Pistachio Butter.
The new year often means lots of resolutions, and if one of yours is to make healthy meals for your family, we’ve got you covered! Our roundup of 35 quick and easy recipes like baked fish tacos and healthy crockpot soup will make your weeknight dinners easy. Keep scrolling to get your menu planning on a roll.
This article is sponsored by Sun-Maid, one of the most iconic, timeless and trusted snacks in America. With delicious yet versatile products, busy parents can make wholesome recipes that are ready to eat anytime, anywhere. Learn more about Sun-Maid here!
Low carb, filling and ready in 25 minutes? That's what you get with this tasty Peanut Chicken Lettuce Wraps recipe from Damn Delicious! Ground chicken and chopped veggies make this dinner not only gorgeous but healthy and something the entire family will love.
Need dinner in a flash? This healthy chicken and broccoli stir fry from Gimme Some Oven is here to save the day! Homemade sauce tops off this delicious meal made in just one pan. Add rice and enjoy!
If cutting the carbs is on one of your new year's resolutions, you'll want to sink your teeth into this Peas and Crayons recipe, Baked Bell Pepper Tacos. Low carb bell peppers are stuffed with high-protein meats, tofu or lentils and topped with your family's favorite goodies like cheese and sour cream.
Honey Lemon Chicken Stir Fry with Asparagus and Mangos
It takes just thirty minutes from pan to table for Carlsbad Craving's Honey Lemon Chicken Stir Fry. Lightly breaded chicken and homemade sauce make this a perfect busy weeknight dinner that's bursting with flavor and is oh so easy on the waistline.
Say hello to the best alternative to fatty butter and carb-loaded pasta with Gimme Delicious' 15-Minute Garlic Shrimp Pasta! Zucchini noodles (aka zoodles) are swapped for traditional noodles and seasoned with olive oil and Italian dressing that is so good, your kiddos will hardly miss the carbs.
Weeknight dinners have never been so easy once you try this 10-Minute Italian Chicken Wrap recipe from Chelsea's Messy Apron. Pre-cooked chicken is paired with bright and colorful lettuce, tomatoes and avocados and a zesty dressing for a healthy and speedy evening meal.
All the things you love about burritos come together in this healthy and 30-minute burrito bowl recipe from I Heart Naptime. The best part? It only needs one pan, so cleanup has never been easier!
Juicy chicken and pineapple come together in Rasa Malaysia's simple and tasty Hawaiian Chicken Bites recipe. Skewers are pan-fried in the kitchen (no BBQ needed!) and brushed with tasty BBQ sauces that are so delicious you kids won't realize they're also eating fruit!
Packed with protein-rich quinoa, black beans, and hummus, these wraps are good for lunchboxes as well as dinners. Check out the recipe for this plant-based healthy meal in our archives.
This easy soup needs very little effort for a big result. Once the veggies are chopped, simply throw things into the pot and let it all simmer. Head over to Well Plated for the how-to.
Pomegranates are in season and high in fiber and vitamin C, making this recipe from Weelicious, a perfect addition to a healthy New Year menu. The seeds add great texture and flavor to savory dishes and this salad is quick and easy to prepare.
This green goddess of a smoothie from Pinch of Yum will put you on track for a healthy New Year. Banana and kale are blitzed with nuts and topped with pomegranate seeds to make this the perfect January drink, with one eye on the festive season and the other looking forward to a healthy new year!
Comfort meets healthy with these tray-baked nachos. Layer up tomatoes, cheese and spices on corn chips and top with avos and cilantro for a super easy meal that takes just 15 minutes to put together. Check out the recipe in our archives.
Packed with protein, these lentils mixed with salsa end up tasting like refried beans. The lentils take just 20 minutes to soften, and you're set for an easy dinner the kids will love. Serve with guacamole for a superfood boost.
Make use of seasonal kale with this soup that's high in fiber as well as dairy and gluten-free. The recipe uses chicken sausage, lots of beans, and is spiced up with Worcestershire sauce. Made in a crock pot or slow cooker, this soup is cooked largely unattended.
This recipe combines the genius of zoodles (zucchini noodles) with the kid fave pizza and the ease of a casserole. Layer up ingredients in an oven-safe dish and you'll have a veggie-packed dinner ready in around 30 minutes.
This satisfying and healthy dinner from Averie Cooks is easy, family-friendly and ready in 15 minutes. The fish is lightly baked—switch out tilapia for another lean white fish if you prefer and serve with avocado, crunchy corn, cabbage and cucumbers.
Sweet potatoes are a winter favorite with all that Vitamin A and C, magnesium and potassium. Put the sweet veggie in the dinner spotlight by spiralizing it with chickpeas and green onions and adding a peanut sauce for a vegan meal that comes together in one pot, in about half an hour. Head to Kristine's Kitchen for the healthy how-to.
Combine chicken stock, chopped tomatoes, onion, garlic and you'll have a healthy pasta dish that virtually makes itself. Check out the recipe in our archives. Garnish with grated cheese and dinner's done.
A healthy kick doesn't mean burgers are off limits—when they're made with black beans! High in fiber and served with a fresh salad, you can find this healthy recipe in our archives. You can even use lettuce as an alternative to brioche or burger buns.
This fish recipe from our archives comes from Robert Rosenthal's cookbook Short Order Dad. Sole has flaky white flesh with a mild taste - add some steamed greens and you've got a lean protein supper that can be ready in under twenty minutes.
There are just five ingredients in this soup from Boulder Locavore—and all of them are wholesome and healthy. Serve with toast for a meal that's not only easy to make but perfect for getting back on track after a diet of rich holiday foods.
Layer up browned chicken pieces with rice and lemon for a recipe that, while it has lots of carbs, is full of goodness. Garlic and nuts add flavor, but you can adapt the dish to your palate. Biriyani is a comforting, much-loved dish and this recipe from The View From Great Island keeps it simple too.
This easy sheet pan dinner from Scrummy Lane is a quick way to bake salmon and makes for a healthy dish with a citrus zing. Not every child likes asparagus, so switch it out for a trimmed root veggie like carrot or parsnip if you think the kids will prefer it.
Here's a healthy twist on the potato salad—make it with sweet potatoes, black beans, crunchy pumpkin seeds, and juicy pomegranate seeds for a dish packed with vitamins and minerals. This colorful creation from Take Two Tapas is the perfect celebration of healthy.
These chicken teriyaki cups are easy to eat with your hands like all the best kid-friendly foods. Grill up chicken pieces and top it off with cheese and veggies. For kids needing more carbs, just serve with a side of warm jasmine rice.
Don't be put off by all the ingredients with this lasagne soup. Packed with veggies, it's a mid-winter pick-me-up that's worth the shopping list, plus it cooks unsupervised in a crock pot or dutch oven. Open to lots of variations, you can switch out the sausage to ground turkey or beef and add different veg, like carrots, to the mix.
Salmon is packed with omega-3s, protein, vitamins, and minerals, and soba noodles are another protein powerhouse. Add crunchy cucumber and green beans (skip the radishes if you prefer), and you have this healthy dinner from My Little Larder that's hearty enough to fill empty bellies but healthy enough to give everyone lots of energy.
Combine apples, chops and mashed potatoes for a sweet comfort food packed with nutritional value. The recipe involves just a bit of prep and then 20 minutes baked in the oven. This sweet and savory combo makes for a hearty meal the kids will love.
Couscous works well with veggies and is easy to prep. This simple salad uses ever-seasonal cucumbers and tomatoes with olives and feta for a Mediterranean feel. Get the recipe from Plated Cravings.
Vegan, gluten-free and packed with nutrients, this stew from Cookie and Kate by way of No Excuses Detox is also super easy to cook. Thickened with quinoa and beefed up with black beans, it is fresh and full of flavor. Ditch the jalapeños and spices if that’s too much for tiny taste buds—it’ll still taste great.
Your kids will dig into this Spaghetti Squash Marinara from Weelicious and not even realize it's not spaghetti noodles! Dinner will be ready in less than an hour and everyone will gobble it up.
While this recipe has cream in the ingredients, tomato soup has lots of vitamin K and calcium and simmers with nutritional value. Head to our archives for this version of a classic. It's the perfect way to transition from holiday excess to a healthy New Year.
You and your family will love this Air Fryer Preserved Lemon Chicken recipe from Weelicious! Between prep and cook time, you'll have dinner on the table in 30 minutes and the kids will love how it tastes.
This Easy Breezy Roast Veggie Salad from Weelicious is no boring salad! With delicious roasted veggies and a sweet maple syrup dressing, your kids will get excited about this dish.