Our reviewers evaluate products and services based on unbiased research. Top Consumer Reviews may earn money when you click on a link. Learn more about our process.
Wednesday, February 12th
Green Chef, founded in 2014 in Boulder, Colorado, gained recognition as the first meal kit company to achieve both organic and gluten-free certifications. They provide a range of meal kits catering to different dietary needs, including a high-protein plan, all featuring organic ingredients that promote a healthy and environmentally conscious lifestyle.
Meal kits do most of the work for you
Get ready for a hassle-free cooking experience with Green Chef. Their meal kits are a game-changer, arriving with pre-prepared ingredients that let you skip the pumpkin wrestling and lemon zesting nightmares. But don't worry, you'll still get your hands dirty with some dicing, chopping, and peeling - all made fun and easy with their detailed recipe cards. Complete with step-by-step instructions, timing, and visual cues, these guides are perfect for turning even a novice into a chef in about 30 minutes.
Nutritionist consultations at no extra cost
Got questions about the effectiveness of protein shakes versus real food? Green Chef's nutritionists are ready to chat. They offer complimentary 20-minute phone calls to help you align your meals with your dietary goals, making it a breeze to stay on track.
Tailor your meals to your taste and goals
Your new high-protein diet starts with choosing Green Chef's Protein Packed plan. (Their other options are Mediterranean, Keto, Gut & Brain Health, Calorie Smart, and Quick & Easy.) Then you'll be asked for your address and billing info before you can proceed to pick your meals.
Options for families and couples
Green Chef provides meal plans for different serving sizes, including 2, 4, or 6 servings. You can choose the frequency of meals based on your needs. If you're meal planning for a couple, you can select 3 or 4 meals per week. For families or groups of four, you have the option of 2, 3, or 4 meals weekly. And for larger groups or families of six, there's the choice of 3 or 4 meals per week. If you're dining alone, the Dinner for 2 Plan can be a convenient option for having lunch the next day.
Not particularly cheap
A Green Chef meal costs $11.99 a serving if you choose the maximum of 4 meals a week for 6 people. In a more realistic scenario of 2 people, 4 meals a week, it costs $12.99 per serving, putting them on par with other high-protein meal delivery services. However, we did find a discount to soften the blow: you can receive a 60% discount on your first box, with free shipping, and enjoy a 20% discount for the first two months.
Premium option is vague
Green Chef also offers the opportunity to buy a special high-quality meal each week, which supposedly comes with upgraded proteins and ingredients. However, it's not clear how much extra protein you would get with this choice - or what "upgraded” means coming from a service that already claims to use top quality ingredients in all of its offerings. You can enjoy this fancy dining experience for an added price of $6.99 to $9.99 per serving.
No "Protein Packed” meals listed
If you want to see what Green Chef is serving up this week, you can visit their Weekly Menu page. They claim to have over 80 menu items every week, but when you go to the weekly menu page, you'll only find around 50 recipes, and it's not easy to filter for high-protein dishes. Annoyingly, you have to click through the menu items to find the "Protein Packed" label. And, unfortunately, we didn't find a single one. Supposedly, the meals on this plan all have 30 grams of protein or more, but we can't attest to that, given that we couldn't even find one clearly labeled meal.
Certified organic by the USDA
Green Chef is not as transparent as some of its competitors when it comes to naming the farms where they source their ingredients. However, they assure customers that their sources are sustainable. As a USDA certified organic company, you can trust that Green Chef's ingredients are not only delicious but also environmentally friendly.
Fully recyclable packaging
Your Green Chef box will be delivered between 8 am and 8 pm on your chosen day, Monday to Saturday. You don't need to be there to sign for it, as the box will be waiting for you at your doorstep. All the packaging materials are made from recyclable materials like cardboard, plant-based insulators, and various types of plastics. Even the ice packs can be drained and recycled.
Delivery is $9.99 per box
When it comes to shipping, Green Chef keeps it simple: a flat rate of $9.99 per box. This means every box you order carries its own shipping fee, unlike some services that charge per delivery. If you're someone who orders multiple boxes weekly, this is crucial to remember for your budget planning. No one likes unexpected charges.
Canceling your subscription: not as simple as it seems
Green Chef promises a flexible subscription, but some users have reported a less-than-seamless cancellation experience. Instead of a quick click in the account settings, you might find yourself navigating through several menus and possibly chatting with a representative. If you need a break, you have the option to skip up to four weeks of deliveries, provided it's done at least five days before your next scheduled delivery.
Championing sustainability
Green Chef's commitment to sustainability makes them stand out in the meal kit market. They run their operations on renewable energy and offset all their carbon emissions, right from shipping to your doorstep. By choosing Green Chef, you're not only enjoying a meal kit but also supporting eco-friendly practices. They claim their service can cut down food waste by at least 23% compared to regular grocery shopping, proudly positioning themselves as "the most sustainable meal kit".
Green Chef under the HelloFresh umbrella
Since joining forces with HelloFresh in 2018, Green Chef continues to shine with an "A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau. However, HelloFresh's own challenges cast some uncertainty over Green Chef's operations. Public ratings are mixed: in the U.S., Green Chef enjoys a respectable 3.8 rating on Trustpilot, while the UK branch scores slightly lower at 3.4.
Flexible meal selection
One customer raved about the ease and deliciousness of Green Chef's meals. They highlighted being able to swap out their meals with options outside of the pre-selected 4 each week and the ability to substitute the kind of meat used. This customer, who wasn't much of a cook before, found that Green Chef's offerings have led them to cook more frequently and nutritiously, particularly appreciating the keto options.
Reports of premature expiration
On the flipside, another customer had a less savory experience. Picture this: you're all set to be a Green Chef, and you end up just feeling green around the gills. Unfortunately, this customer reported a case of food poisoning from a shrimp dish and mentioned that the food, especially the meats, often spoiled quickly. Receiving produce and proteins that are close to expiring can be quite a bummer, especially when your four-legged friend ends up with more gourmet meals than you do. Despite liking the recipes, they were disappointed with the shelf life of ingredients and the restrictive consumption window, leading to a lukewarm two-star review.
Not recommended for the high-protein plan
While Green Chef has a lot going for them (like being certified organic and gluten free), we can't really recommend them for their high-protein plan, chiefly because they tell us almost nothing about it. We couldn't find even one meal from the Protein Packed plan on the Menu tab they make visible to the public, and that doesn't inspire confidence about the rest of their operations. Some potential customers did give Green Chef their billing info to gain access to the full menu - and were charged for an order without their permission. We'd recommend you check out one of our higher-rated high-protein meal delivery services that is more transparent about what their meal plans include.
Recently, high protein meals have become very popular. And why not? There are many benefits to a high protein diet - it boosts your metabolism, helps you feel fuller, and builds muscle and strength, just to name a few. But shopping for the ingredients and preparing high protein meals can be a chore.
This is where high protein meal delivery services come in. In the hustle and bustle of modern life, where convenience often trumps all, the allure of High-protein meal delivery services has captured the attention of fitness enthusiasts and time-strapped individuals alike. No more tedious meal prepping or calorie counting - these services deliver nutritious, protein-packed meals straight to your doorstep.
High protein meal delivery services are a game-changer, especially for those with specific fitness goals. Maybe you're a bodybuilder, for whom every gram of protein is crucial in your quest for gains. Or you could be closely monitoring your macronutrient intake, aiming for a precise balance in your diet and a lean physique. These services cater to those looking to maintain a healthy diet, build muscle, or simply enjoy the benefits of a protein-rich diet.
The options provided by these online services are highly appealing. With a wide array of plans, ranging from meat-based to plant-based protein options, they have something for virtually every dietary preference and restriction. Customizable meal plans, competitive pricing, and the luxury of home delivery make these services a go-to choice for anyone looking to increase their protein intake and reduce time spent meal prepping.
However, the difficulty is in choosing the correct service from all the options available to you. With the surge in popularity of meal delivery services, it's become a daunting task to sift through the multitude and find one that aligns with your dietary preferences, lifestyle, and budget.
When choosing a high-protein meal delivery service, here's what to consider:
At Top Consumer Reviews, we have thoroughly explored and ranked the best high-protein meal delivery services out there. Our aim is to help you find a service that doesn't just feed you but fuels your goals, whether it's building muscle, tracking macros, or simply leading a healthier lifestyle.
Select any 2 High Protein Meal Delivery to compare them head to head