Green Chef Review

What is Green Chef?

Meal delivery services have been popping up all across the USA, and they have become quite a popular option for busy individuals who still want a home cooked meal. With their restaurant quality recipes and ever-changing menus, more and more people are turning to these services when it comes to making dinner.

But in a sea of delivery services, how do you know which one is the best? And which one is right for you? Many of the companies are doing the same thing, but there are a few stand out brands, such as Green Chef, that have taken a bit of a different route. 

Green Chef, as the name implies, is not only providing convenient meal options but is doing so in the greenest way possible. Their mission is to be sustainable, with a reduced carbon footprint, and they do so by working closely with local suppliers in order to ensure each ingredient meets their strict standards. They are the first, and only, meal delivery company that is USDA certified organic, and all of their ingredients are non-GMO. Beyond that, they are also the only Keto meal kit that is on the market.

Committed to providing you and your family with healthy, nutritious, and delicious meals, Green Chef offers a variety of plans that aim to meet specific dietary needs and preferences. From Keto-friendly to vegetarian and vegan, Green Chef makes meal time less complicated and far more enjoyable. Regardless of your lifestyle, Green Chef offers more meal choices than anywhere else, so you can eat just the way you like and enjoy a healthy lifestyle. 

Green Chef Pricing & Plans

Green Chef is one of the more expensive meal delivery services out there, and the prices reflect the care and quality that goes into sourcing each and every ingredient used. While you may be paying a bit extra, you can feel comfortable feeding each meal to your family, knowing that everything is Non-GMO and organic. 

There are various plans available to meet your personal needs, and you can select between them, switching whenever you feel you want to try something different. The most popular plan is their Balanced Living option, which is their most diverse and flexible option. With the Balanced Living Plan, you will have access to more recipes each week, and they range from ones that include meat to fully vegan options. Similar to the Balanced Living Plan, there is also a Family Plan that is just as diverse. If you are looking to feed more than two people, this would be the option for you.

If you happen to be gluten-free, Green Chef has two certified options, the Keto plan and the Paleo plan. Finally, there is a vegetarian plan that also includes some vegan options, something not commonly found in meal delivery services. Others may have vegetarian options, but few go the extra step to include vegan meals as well, making Green Chef more unique in this area.

In terms of actual pricing, it varies depending on what you personally select. Here is a breakdown of the plans and prices:

Recipes & Ingredients

As discussed above, Green Chef is one of the only meal delivery companies that uses USDA certified organic ingredients, as well as all non-GMO foods. Their focus on both sustainable farming practices, as well as sustainable packaging, put them into a very unique category when it comes to meal delivery services.

Each plan uses the same high-quality ingredients, and the differences simply come down to what is, and isn’t included with each. For example, if you opt for the Keto option, you will only have access to recipes that are low-carb and higher in fat. Ingredients are listed so that you can make sure it matches your dietary preferences, and out of the seven meals offered every week, you will select the three that appeal to you most.

When your delivery arrives, you will find inside everything you need to make these delicious meals at home. All of the ingredients are pre-portioned for you, and they even do a majority of the prep work as well. There is still some chopping that may need to be done, but for the most part you just need to put everything together and cook. All of the sauces and dressings are pre-made, ensuring that your dinner time routine is easy and simplified.

One thing that people love about Green Chef is the diversity that they bring to each week’s menu. Taking inspiration from all across the globe, Green Chef designs and prepares a wide range of meal options that have new and exciting flavors. It is a great way to try new things, and learn to cook with ingredients you may never have even heard of before.

Below is a sample of some of the recipes offered, as well as how many calories per serving, and which plan they are associated with.

Ordering & Delivery

Placing an order with Green Chef is all done online via their website, and their easy to follow prompts make signing up a breeze. First you will need to give your email address and zip code so that Green Chef can determine shipping costs and delivery location, and from there you will be taken to a screen where you can put in your preferences.

Unlike most other companies which allow you to select how many meals you want per week, Green Chef only offers a total of 3, regardless of which plan you opt for. Each box is 3 recipes, with 2 servings worth of that dinner. Anyone who is looking to feed 3 to 4 people per meal, you will actually need to order two boxes to do so.

The way the boxes work in regards to portion sizes is a bit confusing, but Green Chef simplifies it by simply asking you how many people you are trying to feed. You pick a number between 1 and 4, and then they will give you the plan that best meets your needs. At the bottom of your screen you will then be given a detailed breakdown of what exactly your order contains, how many meals you are getting out of it, and how many people it will serve.

Once you set the number of people who are eating, you will then get to select which plan you want. The Keto and Paleo plans are a bit more expensive, and the Plant Based Plan is the cheapest, especially if you are feeding 4 people. Except for the Plant Based option, none of the other plans offer any type of discount for those ordering multiple boxes, so that is something to keep in mind if you are feeding more than two people.

Whichever plan you select initially can be changed whenever you’d like, and you can do so from your dashboard on the website. It is here that you can also pause and even cancel your subscription whenever you feel like it. Green Chef is quite flexible, and if you are away or simply don’t want a delivery, you can skip weeks with ease.

After you have placed your order, you will select which day of the week you want your delivery to fall on. This will be the same every single week, so it is best to choose a day that always works for you. If you aren’t home to collect the delivery that isn’t a worry, as each box is insulated to ensure everything stays cool until the end of the day. Just make sure when you get home that you pop it all into the fridge.

Just like with their ingredients, all of the packaging used is sustainable and recyclable. The boxes are made from 40% recycled cardboard, and insulation is made from a plant-based substance that breaks down and is compostable.All of the plastics that are used to store ingredients are also recyclable, as Green Chef only uses #4 plastic film which is accepted at most depots.

Is Green Chef Worth It?

One of the biggest things people tend to debate when it comes to meal delivery services is if the price is actually worth it. Many people point to the fact that you can feed yourself, or even your whole family, for a lot cheaper simply by planning and budgeting accordingly. While this is very much true, services like Green Chef aren’t attempting to be the cheapest option possible, and what they offer is convenience at a premium.

Services such as Green Chef are aimed at individuals who are looking to cook at home more, but may not have the time or skills to do so. This isn’t for the budget shopper who likes to use coupons at the grocery store, and is certainly not ideal for anyone trying to feed a very large family. Instead, these types of services are best suited for busy professionals or couples on the go, groups of people who typically eat out more than they eat at home.

When you compare the pricing to eating at a restaurant, the numbers are incomparable. Someone who eats out multiple times per week will actually end up saving quite a bit of money by switching to something like Green Chef, and they will still get restaurant quality food. 

Green Chef may be a bit more expensive than other meal delivery services, but it is aimed at people who are looking for organic, non-GMO options. If you are on a Keto diet, or are gluten-free, then Green Chef is going to be the best choice for you. Likewise, if you are vegetarian, this is one of the few companies that offers a better selection each week, catering to that diet instead of including it as an afterthought. 

If you are someone who hates meal planning, who doesn’t want to head to the grocery store after work, and who wants a variety of new and exciting menu options then Green Chef is absolutely worth the cost each week. 

How Does Green Chef Compare?

We’ve talked a bit about how Green Chef differs from other meal delivery companies, but how does it compare as a whole?

One of the first things people notice about Green Chef is that the cost is a bit higher than its competitors, and some people are turned away because of that fact. However, when you actually break down the prices, and what you get for that price, the difference becomes fairly negligible. 

If you care about sustainability and organic ingredients, then Green Chef is by far the best option on the market. While you may be paying a slight premium for this, you are granted access to a wide variety of menu options that are designed to promote healthy living. Their focus on nutritious meals that meet a variety of dietary preferences makes them one of the more popular services among those who are trying to adapt better eating practices. 

Below we have laid out some of the differences between the most popular meal delivery services to help you to make a more informed decision.

Bottom Line

For those who are concerned about what they are consuming and putting into their bodies, Green Chef is a wonderful option to help you plan more nutritious and filling meals. Cooking for yourself, and trying to make sure every ingredient is organic and sustainable can be a tricky road to navigate, which is why companies like this are such a positive experience for many people. Dinner time doesn’t have to be a hassle, and you don’t need to stress about what you are going to make and if you have the necessary ingredients on hand to make it. Instead, simply open your fridge, pull out your pre-portioned bag, and follow the step by step instructions.

Yes, there is a premium associated with this convenience, but when you compare the cost to what you would pay grabbing take out, you are not only saving money but you’re eating better as well. With low calorie options, gluten free choices, and flavorful vegetarian dishes, you can choose the perfect plan for you and feel good about doing so. 

Green Chef may be a bit more costly, but in terms of value it’s hard to beat. For those who want delicious dinners and a smaller carbon footprint, Green Chef is well worth looking into today.