More than ever, individuals are looking for quick solutions to prepare wholesome meals without the effort of grocery shopping or obsessively following intricate recipes.
Fortunately, there are healthy meal delivery services offered throughout the country. A meal kit delivery service called Green Chef places a high priority on nutrient density and food quality. Consumers who are concerned about their health frequently choose it.
Everything you need to know about Green Chef, including what it offers, how much it costs, and whether it's the best option for your lifestyle, is covered in this article.
Additionally, make sure to scroll down to the bottom to read about our editor's weeklong experience with Green Chef.
provides meal plans to accommodate different dietary constraints.
Some certified gluten-free meal plans are offered by a certified organic company, albeit not all ingredients are organic.
delicious, satisfying meals that are environmentally friendly
somewhat more expensive than other meal kit delivery services, with fewer options available each week.
What is Green Chef?
A meal kit delivery service called Green Chef was launched in Boulder, Colorado, in 2014. Green Chef was purchased by HelloFresh, a German food delivery service, in 2018.
Delivery services for meal kits are different from those for prepared meals. Meal kit delivery services provide premeasured ingredients and the instructions necessary to produce home-cooked meals, as opposed to completely prepared, heat-and-eat meals.
Your home will get boxes from Green Chef filled with goods to make meals, including cereals, beef, chicken, and fish, as well as colorful, simple-to-follow recipe cards created by chefs.
Each box contains a single container with the premeasured and prepared ingredients required to prepare the recipes you have chosen.
Although some customers have noted that some recipes can take closer to 40 minutes to fully prepare, recipes are meant to be made in less than 30 minutes.
Green Chef's Menus
Green Chef offers six programs, six of which are mostly based on your nutrition, with one program additionally emphasizing your lifestyle:
- Keto + Paleo: According to the manufacturer, this is a "carb-mindful" choice. These meals are "free of gluten, wheat, soy, and legumes" and are very high in protein. Past dishes include things like Chicken & Creamy Zucchini Noodles and Smoky Pork & Kale Salad.
- Vegetarian: Customers who choose vegetarian meals, according to Green Chef, will receive "well-balanced" cuisine that is devoid of meat and focused on plant-based ingredients. Past dishes include Creamy Truffle & Mushroom Linguine and Japanese Carrot & Cabbage Fritters.
- Mediterranean: These dishes have a lot of vegetables and good fats and are "influenced by Mediterranean cuisine." Past dishes include Mushroom, Artichoke, and Pesto Flatbreads and Italian Barramundi & Red Pepper Gremolata.
- Fast & Fit: This diet and lifestyle program emphasizes "convenient, calorie-conscious" meals that can be prepared in under 25 minutes. The company claims that customers can mix and match different dietary choices. Past dishes include Braised Chickpeas with Tomatoes and Kale and Spicy Chili-Ginger Chicken Kale Salad.
- Vegan: These dishes are made with a range of plant-based proteins and veggies. Additionally, they include "good-for-you grains." Past meals featured dishes like stuffed tortillas with refried beans and peppers and penne with mushroom cream sauce.
- Gluten-free options will be available to customers on this plan, including tasty, soy- and gluten-free "wholesome dishes." Past dishes include Lemon-Basil Caper Pork and Baja Shrimp & Bacon Salad, to name a couple.
The programs can also be altered based on the number of meals and portions you choose. You are given the option to select three or four meals per week that can serve two, four, or six people.
How does Green Chef work?
Green Chef registration is done online at the business' website. The six meal plans shown above (which offer a total of around 30 unique meal alternatives each week) can be chosen to accommodate different dietary preferences.
Your box will be delivered on the day you pick once you choose your plan and the recipes you want to create.
If you'll be traveling or won't need your meal kit for a while, you can also miss up to 4 consecutive weeks.
By going to the "Deactivate Your Plan" area of your account settings, the company makes it simple to cancel your plan online at any time.
Right now, Green Chef delivers everywhere in the United States barring Alaska and Hawaii. Boxes are delivered from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time, Monday through Saturday.
Although each box is insulated and refrigerated to keep your goods cold and fresh, you can contact Green Chef's customer care via phone, email, or live chat if you have any issues with your delivery.
What distinguishes Green Chef?
Despite having a large selection of food delivery and meal kit delivery services, Green Chef stands out for some reasons.
Since Green Chef is a USDA-certified organic business, all of the ingredients in your meal kit will be organic unless otherwise stated. The business is also accredited by California Certified Organic Farmers.
Green Chef does not, however, always employ 100 percent organic ingredients. When an organic product is not readily available, Green Chef will utilize a conventional equivalent, according to the company's website.
Customers who intend to consume only organic foods may find this frustrating. Green Chef does, however, let clients know when a traditional component is utilized.
Not just Green Chef delivers organic meals in this manner. Another organic food delivery service that occasionally employs conventional ingredients is Sunbasket. At the moment, no meal kit delivery business guarantees that each box will contain only organic ingredients.
Green Chef offers meal plans that are appropriate for particular dietary requirements, such as keto, paleo, and plant-based, in contrast to many other meal kit businesses.
The paleo and ketogenic meal plans from Green Chef are gluten-free, making them suitable for anyone with celiac disease and other conditions linked to gluten.
In contrast to most other meal kit delivery businesses, which only offer two- or four-serving meals, Green Chef also offers a six-serving option.
Green Chef also uses recyclable packaging and offsets its carbon emissions to run an eco-friendly business.
Who can benefit from Green Chef?
People who consume organic food may benefit from using Green Chef, particularly in more remote locations where the availability of organic food may be more difficult.
The majority of the materials used by Green Chef, including produce and eggs, are organically sourced. But when an organic ingredient is not accessible, the corporation may utilize conventional replacements.
You could decide not to utilize the non-organic ingredients in your Green Chef box if you want to keep your diet entirely organic. You will always be aware of what is organic and what isn't since Green Chef will let you know when non-organic items are utilized.
Families who follow vegetarian, vegan, keto, or paleo diets can also benefit from this service because it includes meal plans designed exclusively for these diets.
Families that wish to eat more nutritious meals at home and order less takeout or delivery food may find it to be a good fit as well.
How much does Green Chef cost?
The cost of a meal from Green Chef is determined by the number of servings required. Regardless of the meal type you select, the prices are the same.
The pricing breakdown offered by Green Chef on its website is as follows:
| 2 servings per meal | 4 servings per meal | 6 servings per meal |
|---|---|---|
| • 3 meals per week: $13.49 per serving • 4 meals per week: $12.99 per serving | • 2 meals per week: $12.99 per serving • 3 meals per week: $12.49 per serving • 4 meals per week: $11.99 per serving | • 3 meals per week: $11.99 per serving • 4 meals per week: $11.99 per serving |
It costs $9.99 to ship each order.
Although HelloFresh and Blue Apron and other well-known meal delivery services are less priced than Green Chef, you can attribute this to the superior quality of Green Chef's products.
However, some consumers might discover that Green Chef is out of their price range and that a different meal delivery service or a weekly trip to the supermarket is more cost-effective.
Green Chef vs. other meal delivery services
As was already said, there are various reasons why Green Chef is unique from other meal kits and prepared meal delivery businesses.
The following are some advantages of Green Chef:
- Customers with dietary limitations can use its plans: Green Chef offers solutions whether you can't eat or prefer not to eat things like meat, gluten, soy, grains, or dairy.
- The business chooses organic ingredients: Given that many other meal kits and meal delivery services do not offer organic foods or have a strong emphasis on sustainability, this may be an advantage for people who prefer organic options. When organic ingredients are not available, Green Chef will utilize conventional substitutes, therefore it is not entirely organic.
- Meals can now be combined and matched: While the company used to restrict subscribers to their chosen meal plan, it now offers a selection of approximately 30 weekly meals that cater to a variety of dietary choices.
Other businesses, though, are more open about their components. For instance, Sunbasket, a company that sells organic meal kits, goes above and beyond to use seafood and other animal products that have been reared and harvested ethically.
Here are some comparisons between Green Chef and its rivals:
| Green Chef | Sunbasket | Blue Apron | HelloFresh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price per serving | $11.99+ | $11.49 | $7.99+ | $7.49+ |
| Shipping cost | $9.99 per order | $9.99 per box (not necessarily per order) | $9.99 | $9.99 |
| Dietary meal plans | • keto • paleo • vegetarian • vegan • gluten-free | • paleo • dairy-free • soy-free • diabetes-friendly • vegan | • vegetarian • mix of low calorie and low carb meals | vegetarian |
| Ingredient quality | uses mostly organic ingredients (when possible) | uses mostly organic ingredients (when possible) | • non-GMO • certified sustainable seafood • some organic ingredients | some organic ingredients |
Reviews from customers and brand reputation
The meal kit business HelloFresh, which also owns the well-known meal kit service HelloFresh, the reasonably priced meal kit service EveryPlate, and the prepared meal delivery service Factor, is the owner of Green Chef. The reputation of the corporation and its brand as a whole is excellent.
But there are some unfavorable comments about Green Chef. The majority involve delivery, subscription problems, or missing ingredients in the boxes. Almost no complaints about the cuisine or its quality are made by reviewers, though some do claim that the meals are monotonous.
In any case, it seems like Green Chef is accommodating to consumer needs.
The cost of shipping used to vary based on the amount of your order and ranged between $10 and $30. Due to customer dissatisfaction with this shipping strategy, Green Chef now provides flat-rate shipping for $9.99.
Who should try Green Chef?
Many individuals with a range of eating preferences and dietary requirements will probably discover the service meets their demands. It might be appropriate for:
- People who are pressed for time but don't want to sacrifice meal quality: The majority of Green Chef customers have favorable things to say about the dish's flavor. Customers appear to value the flavor combinations and the superiority of the ingredients.
- Home cooks who desire more variety in their diets and don't mind spending some time in the kitchen to prepare their meals are also fans of Green Chef.
- Those with dietary restrictions: Green Chef is a great choice for those who must avoid or prefer not to consume things like wheat, dairy, or meat because it includes paleo, keto, and plant-based regimens. In addition, Green Chef offers family options for households with more people.
- Those that eat well: The meals served by Green Chef are wholesome and rich in protein and fiber. For those who are trying to control their calorie consumption or have dietary restrictions, the website's nutrition information is a huge plus.
Not everyone will find Green Chef to be effective, though. It has various qualities that, like any other meal delivery service, may be disadvantages for particular families or people.
You might discover that a different meal delivery service is more beneficial for you if:
- You would wish to be aware of the specifics of where some goods, such as beef and poultry, come from, notwithstanding the company's insistence that it uses sustainable ingredients and supports local farmers. No specifics are given in the company's claim that "our proteins come from animals that have been raised with good animal welfare standards."
- You're pressed for time or lack the fundamental cooking skills: Green Chef meals must be made, which calls for some fundamental culinary abilities. Additionally, keep in mind that Green Chef meals typically take about 30 minutes to prepare if you're pressed for time.
- You wish to follow a 100% organic diet: Green Chef may not be the ideal option for folks who want to follow a 100% organic diet because it doesn't always use organic ingredients. Additionally, despite the company's promises to employ sustainable seafood, Green Chef is less transparent about where its beef and poultry items are from.
Selection and delivery of recipes
I had to pick a meal plan initially, just like everyone else. Two factors led me to choose Plant-Powered:
- I like to eat primarily plant-based meals even if I'm not a devout vegetarian.
- I was interested to see how Green Chef would compare because the lack of vegetables in the meal delivery kits I've tested in the past, both in terms of amount and diversity, has been my main gripe.
I then had the option of choosing three meals for my delivery.
- Noodle bowls with bulgogi—by far my favorite of the three!
- Creamy Penne Bowls with Pesto
- Bowls of apricot-chickpea couscous
Shipping and packing
The meals were delivered in a sizable cardboard box with lots of ice, as was the case with many other kits, to maintain the proper temperature for the contents.
The contents were arranged by the recipe in paper bags, just like HelloFresh. This function is great since it keeps your fridge tidy and saves you time by eliminating the need to search for specific ingredients.
To that, each ingredient seemed to be of high quality and freshness. Only the ends of the shredded carrots were beginning to look a little browned, but they were still delicious.
The amount of packaging material used in meal kits in general is a typical point of criticism, particularly for services like Green Chef where the items are individually wrapped.
Even though there was a lot of plastic, I liked that each package had information about how to recycle it at the bottom - something I haven't seen with previous meal kits.
Cooking and eating
Each order includes recipe cards with step-by-step instructions in addition to your ingredients.
The recipes were really simple to make because all the ingredients were premeasured, and some of them were even shredded or diced.
I was able to cook most of the meal with just one hand while holding my child on my hip, except for slicing a few veggies.
However, I felt that a couple of sections of the recipe instructions should have been improved.
For the noodle bowls, for instance, you are instructed to boil the water after preparing the other components. The vegetables cooked a little bit too long and were softer than I would have preferred because the water took a long time to boil.
Another thing that bothered me was how many pans and pots some of the recipes required.
Positively, I liked that the recipes gave suggestions for how much salt to use at each stage.
Taste
The crucial question is now: How did the food taste?
As I previously stated, one of my major complaints about food kits is how few vegetables they provide. With Green Chef, this was not the case.
A variety of veggies were used in the meals, and the flavors were tasty without being unduly salty.
The variety of tastes and textures in each dish was another something I enjoyed.
For some people, this certainly won't be a drawback, but I thought the quantities of some of the ingredients were a little odd.
For the apricot couscous dish, for instance, I had enough chickpeas and sauce for three servings but only two servings of couscous.
In a similar vein, I just used half of the mozzarella cheese bag that was included with the pesto meal.
Overall impressions
The method was incredibly convenient despite a few minor annoyances, especially when I took into account the time I saved by not having to arrange meals.
The recipes were also often flavorful and simple to prepare.
Despite being one of the more expensive services, I found it to be the most satisfying one I've used in terms of inventive recipe options and high-quality ingredient selection.
It's also simple to determine whether the meal kit is a good fit for your family before paying the full price because the firm gives discounts on your first several boxes.
What to do first
Hit the "Sign Up" button on the home page to begin using Green Chef. You'll be taken to a website where you may select your meal type from six possibilities: Mediterranean, Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten Free, and Keto + Paleo. You may also choose the box size here.
To assist you in finding the meals that are the best fit for you, certain items on each menu may be labeled with the various meal kinds. For instance, "Gluten-Free" labels may appear on vegetarian menu items.
You can decide which day of the week works best for you to receive shipments, and a weekly deadline will be given to you depending on that day.
By this time each week, you can alter or cancel your order; otherwise, Green Chef will choose your meals.
Anytime you like, you can switch to a new menu, and you can combine meals from other menus in the same order.
It costs $9.99 to ship each order.
FAQs
Is Green Chef cost-effective?
It could be or it might not be, depending on your situation. If you frequently eat out or order takeout but would prefer to cook more frequently at home, Green Chef might be worthwhile and even result in a little cost reduction.
If you're accustomed to spending more for more expensive organic ingredients, it might also be financially advantageous.
Green Chef may not be worth the price, though, if you don't always eat organic cuisine.
Is Green Chef good for weight loss?
Meals from Green Chef can aid in weight loss if consumed as a part of a calorie-restricted diet. Both the recipe cards and the website have nutrition facts for every recipe.
However, if you're keeping track of your calorie intake, you'll probably want to stick to a single dish and avoid seconds.
Can you choose your meals with Green Chef?
You can choose meals from Green Chef, of course. Each week, you'll have access to all meal options, including Mediterranean, Keto + Paleo, Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten Free, and Fast & Fit.
Can I freeze my Green Chef meals?
Certain Green Chef meals might be suitable for freezing, however, this is not advised until after you've prepared them. Without being cooked beforehand, the fresh ingredients Green Chef offers for the recipes won't freeze properly.
Salads typically don't store well, but soups, stews, curries, and meats usually do.
Is Green Chef organic?
Ingredients used by Green Chef are primarily organic. However, the business will employ conventional equivalents if organic ingredients are not readily available. If any ingredients in your box are not organic, Green Chef will let you know.
Is Green Chef owned by HelloFresh?
Yes, Green Chef was purchased by HelloFresh in 2018.
The conclusion
With the help of the meal kit service Green Chef, you can prepare chef-curated meals in the convenience of your own home by receiving weekly, bimonthly, or monthly deliveries of boxes containing fresh ingredients.
Green Chef differentiates from the competition since it mostly employs organic ingredients and provides meal plans for people with certain dietary requirements, such as vegetarian, paleo, and keto diets.
However, Green Chef has some drawbacks and might not be the ideal option for everyone.
However, as our editor discovered, the dishes are delectable and simple to prepare, and they provide a welcome response to the query, "What's for dinner?"
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