Best Meal Kit Delivery Services in Canada

For those who have little extra time on their hand, a meal delivery service could be a terrific idea. This is true for Canada, as well as other parts of the world. Rather than spend valuable time looking at recipes and then heading out to shop for sometimes elusive ingredients, a meal kit delivery service will do the work for you and you won’t have to compensate over quality and nutritional value.

Canadian meal kits arrive at your door, perfectly portioned and with all the ingredients you need to knock up that special meal. You cut out all the time you would have spent shopping and travelling to shops for ingredients.

Nielsen has found that over 4% of Canadians household have purchased meal kit in the past 12 months. Meal kits are a meal box subscription delivery service which you sign up for and can browse and choose different recipes, based on your dietary needs and ingredients you want to include.

Please note – some companies will send you a partially cooked meal that you just need to warm up while others will send the ingredients so that you can cook yourself – our focus is on the best meal kits rather than meal prep delivery (i.e. you have to cook the meal kit prior to eating, but it comes with a recipe and shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes per meal even for the the most novice cook.

For any meal kit company to make money and stay in the Canadian market — their products need to be of the highest standard. The food industry is particularly stringent in standards and that means that the majority of meal kit delivery companies in Canada supply high quality meals. The industry leaders being HelloFresh and Chefs Plate (HelloFresh sister company) operate internationally and delivery food to millions of people each year with glowing reviews. In fact, the HelloFresh is such a large corporation that it’s surprising how pristine its reputation has been and how positive were its client reviews. The same it true for regional meal kit delivery operations in Canada; those that we have reviewed aren’t necessarily the best meal kit in Canada but the quality has always been satisfying and customers generally enjoy the service which has been climbing in popularity with each passing year and particularly between 2020 and 2021. Here below some examples of meal kits providers we have reviewed and liked. 

1. HelloFresh

For aspiring chefs who would rather cook their food, Hello Fresh is a great service. They deliver all the fresh ingredients you will need in an insulated box, along with an easy-to-follow recipe. You can save $80 on your first three boxes with HelloFresh coupon code MKC80.

At Hello Fresh, you will have several choices for healthy meal plans to suit your needs. If you are a healthy eater, then you will love their Veggie Plan. It includes 100% vegetarian recipes. You will receive fresh and seasonal ingredients for meals that you can easily whip in the kitchen. You can curate your menu weekly and choose three from over 25 recipes available on their website. You can choose from two or four servings.

One thing that makes Hello Fresh stand out from the competition is its emphasis on sustainability. From sourcing to shipping, the company is committed to minimizing its environmental impact. They use paper-based packaging as a way to become eco-friendly

Cost/Minimum Order: As low as $59.95 per week for two recipes for two people. Minimum of two recipes for two servings. Price per serving as low as $7.49

Average Weekly Meals: Three to four recipes per week .

Availability: Deliver 95% of Canada, including Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Quebec.

What we liked:

1. You can skip a week or cancel anytime
2. You can customize your box
3. Environment conscious, take part in a recycling program

What we did not like:

1. Not enough Vegan Options 
2. Portions are not so large

Read full HelloFresh review

2. Chefs Plate

Chefs Plate is a sister company of HelloFresh. It is considered to be one of the most budget-friendly healthy meal kit companies on the Canadian market since 2014. Chefs Plate food subscription boxes are available at $5-9 per meal, and delivery is often free. For the first two boxes, the company offers a 50% discount with a promo code MKC2X50.

Chefs Plate offers three food subscription boxes to choose from. These are  Meat and Vegetables Box, Vegetarian Box, and Family Friendly Box. All the boxes are similarly priced, and delivery is free if you order more than two recipes for more than two people. Compared to HelloFresh, Chefs Plate recipes are easier and faster to make, yet equally fresh and tasty.

Vegetarians claim that Chefs Plate vegetarian box is one of the best healthy food subscription boxes in Canada created just for them. The recipes can be modified to follow a vegan diet since all the ingredients are packed separately. Unfortunately, no vegan-friendly substitutions for non-vegan items are offered or provided.

Cost/Minimum Order: A vegetarian box with two recipes for two people per week will cost you $45.96, including $6 shipping. In case you order more than two recipes for more than two people, shipping is free.

Average weekly meals: three meals a week

Sample meals we liked: 

Spanish Shrimp Risotto

Creamy Mushroom Carbonara Pasta

Coconut Lentil Curry

Availability: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Saskatchewan

What we liked: 

1. Fast and simple recipes
2. Well-insulated packaging
3. No shipping fee for orders over two recipes

What we didn’t like: 

1. No allergy information
2. No substitutions available

A meal delivery kit is a subscription program where a dedicated food company takes orders for meals and sends its customers pre-portioned meals. Sometimes the meals can be partially prepared, or the recipes and ingredients are delivered to the door for the customer to cook. A meal delivery kit is not to be confused with convenience foods which most supermarkets offer. Convenience foods are completely prepared and cooked before shipment. Meal delivery kits are perfectly proportioned using only the ingredients that you choose and the quantities that you need. Ingredients in the box come with exact instructions on how to prepare your meal leaving you with less to worry about and more free time on your hands.

Most meal kit options subscription based, which means that you need to sign up to receive them weekly or longer if you prefer. Normally you can start or stop your subscription at any time. You simply set up an account, decide on the meals you want and place your order to start on the day you select. Meal delivery kits arrive on an agreed date, with precise instructions on storing, cooking and serving.

Because there are so many meal delivery services available you will find that whatever type of meal you need, there will be a company that can send it. Once you have decided what you want you simply complete a form and your service will start.

• Price: there are many companies who provide services and in all price ranges. Ask for a menu from them and you will find that the prices vary for each type of meal.
• Type of ingredients: you decide what you like, what you don’t really like and what you absolutely refuse to eat. Also bear in mind any allergies you may have such as to shellfish or nuts.
• Portion size: choose a company that takes into account the portion size you need. Not everyone needs to be on a 600 calorie per meal diet, very active people may need more.

When you order a meal kit today, you can rest assured that only the best and highest quality ingredients have been used. Kitchens are routinely checked, and hygiene standards must be met for a company to stay in business, as per requirements by local governments. Any instructions that come with your meal kit will have been tried and tested to ensure that the meal comes out the way you expect. Hence we believe meal kits in Canada are safe, fresh and recommended.

Meal kit delivery services are a convenient way to cook at home. Are they healthy? Yes, they are as you are the person who decides what ingredients are used. You choose the calorie count for each meal and you also select the amount. Compared to eating out at restaurants, meal delivery kits are far healthier as less sodium and fat is used. However, if you are an avid cook who likes to cook from scratch, then your own home-cooked meals may be healthier.

What is important to remember is that meal delivery kits are primarily designed for people who cannot get out to shop, do not have time to shop or simply prefer them to being in the kitchen.

Benefits of meal delivery service

• Perfect portions: many people do not have a good idea of how large or small their portion of food should be. A meal delivery kit means that you always get the correct portion.
• Healthy meals: often people on a time frame resort to less than healthy meals, simply because they are pushed for time to prepare a healthy dinner. A meal delivery service means that a healthy meal kit is delivered, with no extra ingredients to buy, and ready to cook.
• Less waste: when a meal calls for a half an onion, you will receive a half an onion. You will not be faced with throwing the other half away because you have no need for it. Every ingredient you need comes with the meal of the day or is factored into the following day’s meal. No wastage of food that you cannot use after opening a can.
• Time saved: meal delivery services are a great help to people who simply do not have time to spend in the kitchen or shopping for ingredients. Even though you still need to cook the meal, you never need to stand in line at the supermarket.

Disadvantages of meal kit delivery

• Meal size: while the ‘average person’ may need only between 600-700 calories per meal, a very active person may need more calories. Often meal delivery kits may not supply enough calories per serving.
• Boredom: some people may become bored with having a kit to cook from instead of being able to have a ‘spur of the moment’ meal. When this happens, they do not have the ingredients in the house or do not want to cook what has been delivered.
• Cost: if people shop sensibly it is still possible that the meal delivery kit will cost more than making the same meal from scratch. Additionally, when cooking from scratch we know what the quality of ingredients we use is, and where we got them from.
• Environmental issues: many meal kits are extensively packed when they are delivered to prevent damage. The general waste which is created may not be a bonus for people who think about the environment.

If you order a meal delivery kit for two people you can expect to pay around $60 per week. This works out at about $9 per serving. This is certainly less than buying take-away food for two people every day, but it does work out more than the average home-cooked meal.

If you eat out every day, then a meal delivery kit will work out to be about $7 less per meal than a restaurant which makes them a good deal for a busy couple. Often meal delivery services offer discounts for orders of more than one week and for large families, so at this point they do become a better deal than cooking at home.

Meal kit delivery services offer several different types of food. Many organizations offer options such as:

• Vegetarian
• Vegan
• Gluten free
• Pescatarian
• Omnivore
• Keto
• Paleo
• Hormone-free
• Diabetic friendly

If you need a special meal kit then you may have to shop around to find a company that can provide it, but they are out there and with a  little research you will find a company supply your needs.

Meal delivery kits are so popular because people like convenience. More than that, they are willing to pay for that service. A meal kit will arrive at your door with all the right ingredients and herbs/spices that you need for your meal. No shopping or meal planning, you simply unpack and start to cook. For single people they are a great way of getting a variety of meals instead of having to eat leftovers for three nights.

Meal delivery services also save time, there is no shopping involved, no standing in line to get the piece of meat you want and no substituting veggies because the greengrocer has no fresh tomatoes. All you need is delivered. Another advantage is that a meal delivery plan allows you to stick to a diet. Once you have worked out the number of calories you need, the meal kit will provide them – no more or no less, so no over-eating.

Most companies will offer you the option of choosing the ingredients you like and omitting the ones you don’t like. This is great for people with allergies of any type. When you place your first order, you will be asked to complete a form asking which foods you refuse to eat (for any reason) and those you enjoy. You will be asked to state any allergies such as nuts, and any foods that you simply do not enjoy eating. Your questionnaire will also ask you what number of calories you are looking for per meal. It stands to reason that sedate people require lower calorie meals than extremely active people.

In the USA the meal kit market in 2017 reached $2.5 billion. This amount is due to increase to $8.9 Billion by 2025. Basically, this is a lucrative business to be in and for this reason there are so many meal kit delivery services in the world. Potentially every single person in the world is a future customer of a meal kit delivery service. Meal kits are popular all over the world. You can find meal kits in Canada, the USA, UK as well as in Europe. In fact, most countries now have some type of meal kit delivery service.

The amount you can expect to pay for a meal delivery kit varies with each meal and the requirements. Special diets such as vegan and diabetic friendly will cost more than a standard meal delivery plan. You can expect to pay a little more for Paleo plan meals, while vegetarian options may cost slightly less.

In general, you should budget for around $9.99 per meal for standard meals. Meal kits for larger groups such as dinner parties will be discounted by most services and you can expect to pay around $99 for a meal for four people (dinner party). Be sure to factor in delivery charges which can range from $10 to free if the order is over $49.

Yes, they are. There are several excellent firms that offer meal kits in Canada which we have reviewed here. These companies boast a large selection of menus and most will deliver an entire week. Canada meal delivery services have wide variety of menus that included such foods as Easy-prep, vegetarian, low-carb options, and organic, as well as standard menus.

Several companies deliver everywhere in Canada, even to remote areas. The price per meals are about $13 per person for two people and several companies offer discounts for four people or more. With over two million Canadians ordering meal delivery kits every month this is fast becoming a very popular way or eating in Canada.