If you follow the paleo diet, meal delivery subscriptions are an easy way to discover new recipes and simplify your time in the kitchen. So, we’ve rounded up the best paleo meal delivery services to help you narrow your search. On the paleo diet, you’ll stick to meat, fish, eggs, veggies (with an emphasis on leafy greens), fruit, nuts, and minimally processed oils. Whether you cook using primitive tools over an open flame is up to you—kidding, of course! Studies suggest1 that the paleo diet may be a more effective method than conventional low-fat diets for short-term weight loss. It’s also been shown to improve heart health when compared to a lifestyle based on current dietary standards. A similar diet is the Autoimmune Protocol (or AIP). It’s a restricted yet nutrient-dense diet that emerging evidence suggests2 may be beneficial for those with inflammatory bowel disease. When it comes to meals, you can choose between 5, 7, 10, or 14 premade entrées each week. The 7-meal option comes out to about $15 per meal, which is definitely on the pricier end if you’re not utilizing Trifecta’s fitness resources. If you’re a paleo eater, there is a paleo-only menu option, with additional filters to rule out allergens or certain items, like meats, fish, or mushrooms. Unfortunately, you’re not able to peruse the menu without subscribing, but Trifecta does offer a full refund if you’re dissatisfied. A few meals we’ve tried: -Pollo Guisado white meat chicken with tomatoes, pumpkin seeds, and citrus -Tropical Garlic Shrimp with bell peppers, lemon, and coconut Sustainability & Quality: Trifecta Nutrition boasts its environmental efforts all over the company website. The brand uses 98% biodegradable materials in boxes and packaging and recently switched to ice packs that are made with nitrogen-based plant food. All of Trifecta’s produce is organic, and proteins are grass-fed, pasture-raised, or sustainably caught. And, to top it all off, any leftover food from Trifecta Nutrition’s kitchen is delivered to Feeding America to support hunger relief. What our editor says: “If you have weight loss goals, certain dietary preferences, or simply want to take the guesswork out of eating healthier, Trifecta is a great meal delivery option. I enjoyed it even though I love to cook, but these fully prepared meals would be even better for someone who wants to spend a very minimal amount of time in the kitchen.” — Carleigh Ferrante, commerce editor Read our full Trifecta review here. Example Meal: Chicken piccata with garlic roasted cauliflower Bison shepherd’s pie with fresh herbs Sustainability & Quality: On the surface, Snap Kitchen doesn’t present themselves as overtly sustainable. However, the brand says they try to use organic ingredients as often as possible and stick to sources that practice mindful, sustainable farming. They also avoid overly processed foods and produce everything in-house to maintain quality control over their meals. Whipping up a Green Chef meal can take anywhere between 15 and 40 minutes, but most of the prep and chopping is already handled for you. Plus, spending a little time crafting your meal is a great way to learn new recipes and hone your kitchen skills! Example Meal: -Pork meatballs with chipotle aioli, cauliflower rice, cabbage, and carrot slaw -Mediterranean-style chicken with kale, sautéed yellow squash, gremolata, and lemon aioli Sustainability & Quality: With a name like Green Chef, you’d hope the company would have serious environmental efforts. To be honest, they’re not so different from a lot of other brands on this list in terms of sustainably sourcing ingredients and partnering with smaller farms (and that’s a good thing!). It does stand out from the crowd for being a certified organic business by the California Certified Organic Farmers Foundation (CCOF), which is why we ranked them “best organic paleo meal delivery.” Additionally, Green Chef’s kits are both carbon and plastic offset. Example Meal: -Coq au Vin with herb mashed Japanese white sweet potatoes -Moo shu pork taco kit with AIP-friendly tortillas Sustainability & Quality: Paleo on the Go maintains high standards for meat and poultry, ensuring all animals are raised humanely and fish is wild-caught. It sticks to the Dirty Dozen & Clean 15 list for organic produce and buys conventional only if necessary. All of Paleo on the Go’s packaging materials are recyclable, and its Green Cell Plus liner is 100% backyard compostable. Anyone with additional dietary preferences beyond paleo, such as AIP or low FODMAP, should select the “Eat What You Love” plan, which gives you the choice of five frozen meals. While they won’t arrive fresh, the entrées do cost less. Other options include the paleo breakfast plan and “Pete’s Paleo Lite” subscription, which is the same as the basic menu but in smaller portion sizes. Example Meal: -Chicken meatballs with cauliflower mash and sweet potato fries -Caramelized onion burgers with chimichurri sauce, roasted plantains, and cilantro cauliflower rice Sustainability & Quality: Pete’s Paleo uses recyclable materials in their packaging—however, only the box is curbside recyclable. Getting the rest of the plastics and fibers to a recycling point is up to you (you can do it!). As for quality, Pete’s Paleo caters its menu weekly to whatever local ingredients are in season (with a full list of ingredient sources available on the website). The chef-prepared meals are made in kitchens in Atlanta or San Diego with a priority on organic ingredients and hormone-free, grass-fed meat. When it comes to premade paleo meals, The Good Kitchen has a solid selection that rotates weekly. Meals arrive fresh and are easily heated up in just three minutes—so you can spend less time roaming the kitchen. Every TGK meal is also gluten-free, but you’ll have to be on the lookout for potatoes in some paleo meals. Not to mention, filtering out nightshades from your dietary preferences narrows the list significantly. Example Meal: -Blackened chicken with sweet potato and kale -Chicken satay with pineapple and cilantro cauliflower rice Sustainability & Quality: The Good Kitchen sources ingredients from small local farms and uses organic produce as often as possible. It also works with farmers who practice regenerative agriculture through a partnership with the Savory Institute. Meals contain 100% grass-fed beef, pastured pork, lamb, and turkey; antibiotic- and hormone-free poultry and eggs; and Seafood Watch–compliant fish. Plus, packaging is recyclable, but the website doesn’t offer thorough how-to instructions. Along with control over the recipes in your box, another great thing about Sunbasket is the ability to mix and match from various menus, or even to supplement your order with premade meals. The meal kits only offer a minimum of two servings, so they may not be great for a solo show (leftovers, anyone?), but the fresh, premade meals arrive in single-serving portions. Example Meal: -Mediterranean turkey meatballs with chard and red-pepper-cashew crema -Vietnamese beef salad with zucchini ribbons and pickled vegetables Sustainability & Quality: Sunbasket uses organic produce, eggs, yogurt, and tofu whenever possible. They also use responsibly sourced, hormone-free meat and seafood. All brand packaging is also recyclable, reusable, or compostable with most components made from recycled materials like paper and denim.
