One of the most dreaded questions we encounter on a daily basis is: “What’s for dinner?”
Whether you’re asking this question of yourself, your partner is posing the question, or your kids are nagging you for an answer, it can immediately trigger a sense of indecision and, often, dread.
With everything that life throws at you on a daily, it can be hard to put a lot of thought, time, and effort into preparing a delicious, home-cooked meal every night. Luckily, it’s incredibly easy to outsource your meals these days.
Meal delivery and meal kit services have revolutionized the way we eat, taking the hassle out of mealtimes. In this article, I am comparing three popular, but very different, meal kit services: Purple Carrot, Green Chef, and Sun Basket. Between the three of these companies, there’s a wide range of people and dietary needs that are catered to. So whether you’re vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, or somewhere in between, you’ll be able to find what you’re looking for.
I mentioned in my previous post that Splendid Spoon is still my GLAM Vegan meal delivery service to date. Sprinly, as well as Vegin' Out, are also on that level, but so are the three brands mentioned in this competitive comparison.
Ready? Let’s dig in and find your meal kit match!
| Table of Contents |
|---|
| Comparison Table |
| Is Purple Carrot Worth It? |
| – Purple Carrot's Pricing |
| Is Sun Basket Worth It? |
| – Sun Basket's Pricing |
| Is Green Chef Worth It? |
| – Green Chef's Pricing |
| Which Is Best For You? |
What Is The Best Plant-Based Meal Delivery Kit? Purple Carrot Vs. Sun Basket Vs. Green Chef
There’s a big difference between prepared meal delivery services and meal kits. The three companies that I am discussing today fall into the meal kit category, which means that they send you everything you need to prepare a delicious, fresh meal at home, eliminating the need for planning, shopping, and prepping. This type of service is perfect for those of us who love the art of cooking but hate the planning and shopping part.
To kick things off, have a look at the comparison table that I put together below to start getting your wheels turning about which meal kit is going to be the best option for you.
 |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price: | $9.99/serving | $8.99/serving | $11.99/serving |
| Vegan-Friendly?: | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| 100% Plant Based?: | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Breakfast: | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Lunch: | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Dinner: | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Snack: | ✔️ | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Sourcing: | Non-GMO, organic (when possible) | Organic, Fresh, Sustainable, Local Farmers | USDA Certified Organic Ingredients |
| Are prepared meals available?: | ❌ | ✔️ | ❌ |
| Best Price | Website | Website | Website |
Is Purple Carrot Worth It?
If you’re vegan, like me, and you’re looking for healthy, delicious meals that are expertly designed and ready for you to put the finishing touches on, then Purple Carrot is well worth it. Purple Carrot provides you with all the tools you need to prepare a taste bud-tantalizing vegan meal, so all that’s left to do is follow the recipe directions and infuse it with your love of cooking and dining.
I am in love with how simple and straightforward Purple’s Carrot’s process is. I’m able to choose the meals that I want and they show up at my doorstep each week ready to be prepared in my own kitchen. What’s even better is that the meals are insanely delicious and creative – something that has been severely lacking in the vegan community!
You can get $40 off your first order from Purple Carrot by clicking the link below and entering the Promo Code: carrot40.
Furthermore, they have a large selection of meals, which includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even snacks. The variety and versatility of this plan make it suitable for vegans of all kinds. Whether you want just one meal per day, or three, you can get everything you need to eat a healthy, balanced diet.
Speaking of healthy, balanced meals, every meal from purplecarrot.com allows you to see the recipes, ingredients, and prep time before making a decision, which can really come in handy both from a time and taste preference perspective.
If you’re someone who lives a vegan lifestyle or wants to incorporate more vegan meals into your diet and you love the idea of rolling up your sleeves and having a front-row seat to the cooking action, then Purple Carrot is worth it. On the other hand, if you want the ultimate in convenience and time savings, then a meal service that offers prepared meals may be better suited for you. In that case, you’re going to love the option to choose prepared meals with Sun Basket, a company that offers both prepared meals and meal kit options.
In summary, Purple Carrot encourages you to embark on a delicious adventure, which makes their meal kit service worth purchasing if your priorities are based on eating delicious vegan meals that you get to prepare yourself.
Related: Purple Carrot vs Hungryroot vs Veestro
How Much Does Purple Carrot Cost?
Let’s take a look at Purple Carrot’s pricing structure to give you a better idea of what to expect. To make things simple, I put together a table below that details their main pricing and package offerings. It’s important to note that they have two plan options: 2 serving plans and 4 serving plans.
| Purple Carrot's Pricing | Servings | Starting Prices |
|---|---|---|
| Dinners | 2 or 4 | $9.99/serving |
| Lunches | 2 | $8.99/serving |
| Breakfasts | 4 | $4.49/serving |
Snacks Pricing
If you’re like me, you need more than just three meals per day, you need some snacks in between. Luckily, Purple Carrot lets you choose from a variety of tasty treats and snacks that can be added to your order in an a-la-carte fashion. Snack pricing starts at $3.99 and can go up to $10.99, depending on which options you choose.
Is Sun Basket Worth It?
Sun Basket takes a different approach to meal delivery services, offering both meal kits and prepared meals. Most other companies are on one side of the fence of the other, so it’s nice to see that this company offers more versatility.
The cornerstone of Sun Basket’s service is premium quality ingredients and responsibly sourced ingredients, which is a breath of fresh air in a world where we often don’t know where our food comes from.
In this comparison, Sun Basket wins hands-down in the battle for the most selection. Not only do they offer the option of receiving prepared meals vs. a meal kit, but they also offer every meal option you need plus snacks and more. Here’s a rundown of what you can expect to find on the Sun Basket menu:
- Dinners (meal kits or Fresh & Ready)
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Pasta & Sauce
- Proteins
- Snacks
Within each of these categories, there are a plethora of options to choose from. There’s something for just about anyone on the menu, regardless of what your eating preferences are. While I am vegan and obviously eat that way, I have a great appreciation for meal kits that offer a broad range of options as I am the only person in my family that is vegan.
I find Sun Basket to be a very worthy competitor and one that I happily purchase for my family and other non-vegan friends. You really can’t beat the convenience of the menu options and size as well as the taste of the food. Lastly, the brand is simply phenomenal, practicing values that we can all feel good about like giving back to local organizations and those in need.
Sun Basket is the better choice if you want to have the option to get prepared meals sometimes. Cooking can certainly be time-consuming, not to mention the time it takes to clean everything up when you’re done. However, this is not a vegan meal service, so Purple Carrot is the best choice if you’re vegan and you enjoy cooking your own meals. Of course, we can’t leave out Green Chef, who also offers delicious vegan meals that you cook yourself.
How Much Does Sun Basket Cost?
Sun Basket’s pricing is very competitive, especially when comparing it to Purple Carrot and Green Chef. Taking a look at the average cost per meal for the 2-person plan, you’re looking at around $11.49 per serving. If you go for the larger, family plan, you’ll be looking at around $9.99 per serving. Keep in mind that there will also be a $5.99 delivery charge each week.
With the option to choose between the classic menu and the family menu, you can get the right amount of food each week without worrying about having too much waste or not enough to feed the fam. Here’s a quick chart to give you a rundown of what to expect from Sun Basket’s current pricing.
Classic Menu
| Recipes Per Week | Servings | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | $51.96 |
| 2 | 4 | $103.92 |
| 3 | 2 | $71.94 |
| 3 | 4 | $143.88 |
| 4 | 2 | $87.92 |
| 4 | 4 | $175.84 |
Family Menu
| Recipes Per Week | Servings | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 4 | $87.92 |
| 3 | 4 | $131.88 |
| 4 | 4 | $175.84 |
Is Green Chef Worth It?
Green Chef totes that they’re “the #1 meal kit for eating well,” which of course is subjective, but based on my personal experience and research, they aren’t being facetious. With an exceptional list of meal plans that cater to a variety of dietary preferences, Green Chef truly delivers meal kits that cater to your lifestyle.
Similar to Purple Carrot and Sun Basket, Green Chef offers meal kits that you make at home. The process is simple, easy, and ultra-convenient. Green Chef specializes in meal delivery kits that come pre-measured and prepped, which allows you to just follow your instructions and enjoy!
Each kit offers premium ingredients that you can feel good about, especially since they are a certified organic company, and the option to choose boxes that feed 2 or a family of 4. For this reason, Green Chef is 100% worth it if you’re looking for a simplistic meal kit that’s designed to fit your lifestyle.
How Much Does Green Chef Cost?
Just like the other two meal kits we compared here, Green Chef’s pricing depends on the meal plan you choose and how many servings per box you choose. Depending on these criteria, you can be looking at spending anywhere from $10.99-$12.99 per meal. Here’s a table breakdown of what you can expect from Green Chef’s pricing:
| Plan | Price Per Meal | Price Per Box | Including Shipping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plant-Powered Plan | $11.99 | $78.93 | ✔️ |
| Balanced Living Plan | $11.99 | $78.93 | ✔️ |
| Paleo Plan | $12.99 | $84.93 | ✔️ |
| Keto Plan | $12.99 | $84.93 | ✔️ |
| Family Plan | $10.99 | $94.91 | ✔️ |
Which Vegan Meal Kit Service Is Right For You? Purple Carrot Vs. Sun Basket Vs. Green Chef
When I first started eating vegan, I was preparing my own food almost exclusively. However, I quickly realized that it’s time-consuming and I’m not overly creative. That’s when I decided to start looking for a meal delivery kit that would take all the guesswork and creative genius time off my plate.
At first, I was overwhelmed by the number of plant-based meal delivery options (in a good way, of course). However, after trying a few of them for myself, I discovered that finding the one that’s the right fit isn’t all that difficult.
So, the point of this article is to share a few of them here in an attempt to help you make the decision of which option is best for you and your lifestyle.
Purple Carrot is the best choice for those who want a truly hands-on cooking experience that still allows you to save some time and energy (aka no shopping and meal planning!). Thanks to the delicious, easy-to-follow recipes, and pre-portioned ingredients, it’s easier than ever to enjoy a truly vegan meal kit experience.
You can get $40 off your first order from Purple Carrot by clicking the link below and entering the Promo Code: carrot40.
Sun Basket is a better option for those who want the option to choose between a meal kit and prepared meals. Not everyone wants to cook their meals themselves, and if that’s you, you’ll be delighted with the prepared meals that you can get with Sun Basket. It’s the same quality ingredients and tantalizing recipes but done for you so that all that’s left for you to do is quickly microwave them and enjoy. It doesn’t get any easier than that!
Green Chef is a great choice for those who need options. For example, I can easily order vegan meals for myself, while also making sure to cover the needs of my family by ordering meals that better suit their lifestyle and eating habits. Additionally, the certified organic stamp makes me feel wonderful about my choice to consume Green Chef’s meals.
I have personal experience with all three brands (I went on a bit of a meal kit bender) and can tell you that each box has something great to offer. Of course, you can do the same and formulate your own opinions, but my hope is that this comparison article helps you to save some time and money.
Regardless of which option you end up choosing, you can rest assured that you’ll get delicious meals that you will enjoy both preparing and eating! Cheers!
