In January, I made the decision to drastically change my nutrition. I committed to a 100% plant-based, gluten free diet. I had been contemplating this for many reasons, but ultimately I wanted to allow my immune system to perform at its best going forward. I’ve been gluten-free for well over a decade, but cutting out meat, dairy, seafood and any animal products in general seemed intimidating. I never shy away from a challenge, especially one where I can directly learn from, and control the outcome of success.
Each weekend, I would prepare my meal plan for the upcoming week, and cook things I could make ahead of time. This usually took 4-5 hours on a Saturday and a few more to get the plan in place and groceries purchased. At first, this was excellent because it created discipline to my new lifestyle. I learned a lot about different ingredients and substitutes so I wasn’t skimping on flavor, texture or nutrients. However, over time, I needed more convenient options. For example, we had to move out of our house for three weeks so hardwood flooring could be installed. It wasn’t easy taking fresh produce to someone else’s house or a hotel for preparation. It also meant I wasn’t eating much fresh food, which I didn’t love. This is where I began finding vegan restaurants and a variety of plant-based meal delivery services!
If you’re curious about attempting the plant-based lifestyle for a month, using a plant-based meal delivery serivce is a great way to experiment, and not spend much time meal prepping or planning. The three services I tried extensively are listed below, along with their pros and cons.
Veestro was the first at-home delivery service I tried based on several, positive online reviews. Upon arriving, the first box of food was well-packaged and flash frozen. Veestro is a ready-made vegan meal service that offers a la carte and subscriptions options.
By selecting your preferred options (Gluten-free, weight-loss, low-calorie, kosher, etc.) you quickly find the meals that are within your dietary restrictions without having to hunt through nutrition labels. I found this extremely helpful, especially when they offer meals that contain gluten.
The price was something I was willing to pay, but they were the most expensive of all three services. I signed up for the “weight-loss” subscription which gave me 3 meals a day for 5 days, all within 1200 calories. Weekly Cost: $175.50 (includes tax & shipping)
Per Meal Cost: $11.70
I enjoyed Veestro until summer arrived. Then, I received two boxes in a row that were delivered thawed and rotten. Gross!
Because Veestro ships to me from their east coast warehouse, they hadn’t planned on the 100+ degree Kansas heat and humidity. After several days on a UPS truck, the food had thawed and become inedible. Granted, they refunded my purchase (after the 3rd box arrived looking OK via FedEx).
I was glad they made it right, but ultimaltely I decided to cancel my membership knowing heat and humidity would be a regular occurrence. I didn’t want to deal with the headache this presented each week in getting a refund and then having to figure out what I was going to eat for lunches/dinners on top of the inconvenience.
I also didn’t love that my food wasn’t as fresh as it could be. I know, I know, I can hear your voice now saying, “Then just go back to making food each week like you were before!”
I was determined to find the perfect at-home meal delivery that catered to my needs but also was a little more affordable.
The second service I ordered was from Whole Harvest. Unlike Veestro, this is a very LOCAL company, based in Kansas City, MO. I found them from a Facebook ad that kept recurring (gotta love Google marketing).
I really liked that they offered only one day a week when their deliveries happened, so I always knew that Wednesdays were when my new food box would be showing up. I’m sure as a startup and local company, this also allows them to keep costs in check by cooking and delivering in bulk.
The delivery person also picked up my empty box and refrigeration package from the week before, so I knew each box was recycled appropriately.
As soon as I placed my first order, I received an email thanking me and asking about my plant-based journey. I ignored it, knowing it was likely an auto-responder.
However, a few days later, I received a phone call from Mark Gossman, Whole Harvest CEO. He asked why I had chosen them, where had my plant-based journey began and if we could continue to communicate as they grew their business.
Not only had I found a local home delivery service, I was extremely impressed with their willingness to receive open feedback as inevitable growing pains would occur. Mark let me know they had just created a partnership with a few local hospitals like KU Medical Center and Saint Luke’s to offer their meals inside the hospital for staff and patients staying there. What an incredible way to promote healthy eating – while someone is recovering and needing dense nutrition the most!
Weekly Cost: $76.67 ($69.95 without tax) for 5 meals.
Per Meal Cost: $10.95
I’ve been using Whole Harvest since June 3, and I will most likely continue my subscription. They use locally sourced, organic food whenever they can and everything is delivered refrigerated so the food is at its utmost in freshness. They’re already 100% gluten-free, so I never have to worry that any of the food they offer will conflict with my dietary needs.
The only thing I can’t say I’ve been impressed with is the variety of meal choices. After 3 months of using their service, I’ve become a bit fatigued with the choices I’m eating. And, because I’m only ordering 5 meals a week, I felt the need to look for another subscription that could fill in the gaps or give me variety when I wanted to pause Whole Harvest. I have faith this little startup will do great things in the future. Right after I wrote this, I was sent a sample of their new energy bites they’re testing with customers. They were delicious, carrot cake-like protein balls that I’ll be ordering in the future.
I know what it’s like to create a business from scratch. I’m confident Whole Harvest will offer more variety and expand as resources beome available. I’m thankful to be one of their first customers who gets to enjoy yummy, vegan food and support a local business.
The final service I’ve been enjoying is Daily Harvest. Unlike Whole Harvest, the variety and unique recipes I found here were vast. Everything is vegan and gluten-free. The subscription is simple: choose the weekly or monthly plan that works best for you and your family. The one I use is the 6-11 meals per week.
The first thing I noticed about Daily Harvest versus the other ordering experiences was the striking, simplistic design and ordering process. Photos and details on the website are super easy to see and read. The contemporary design continues onto the box you receive. It’s eye-catching and intriguing.
In addition to the website, I was offered the option to download their app. This was immediately exciting, because instead of email reminders (I get hundreds per day), I was now able to sign up for text alerts about when to re-order. I could also now manage my subscription more easily from my phone. The app is very user friendly and so easy to navigate as well.
I was even more excited to see the huge variety of meals, smoothies and flatbreads. That’s right, I said gluten-free FLATBREADS!!!
I’ve really enjoyed their smoothies because I just add my protein powder and all other supplements I need in a day into the blender. The cup doubles as the container to drink it from, complete with a plastic lid that has a place for a straw. For busy families or days when you’re in the car a lot, this is a wonderful meal replacement!
Did I mention I’m in LOVE with their flatbreads? The portobello + pesto with broccoli base is to die for. They also offer a variety of bowls, soups and ice cream that are all 100% plant-based and gluten-free.
I really like the flexibility in the subscription because some weeks I need more smoothies and other weeks I just need a few bowls here and there. It’s also the most affordable of all three services. Weekly Cost: $50.91-$69.91
Per Meal Cost: $5.66-$7.76
I’d love to hear about your nutrition journey and what has worked for you (comment below)!
