Best 9 Out-of-the-Box Dinner Subscription Services Recipes, News, Tips And How-Tos (2024)

ADVERTIsem*nT

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

quick and easy

by Brent Furdyk

updated February 10, 2022

Given the hectic lives of many Canadians, we often take the easy route by grabbing fast food or ordering takeout. But what our tastebuds are really craving is a home-cooked meal made from fresh, quality ingredients. Thankfully, a number of Canadian food subscription services are delivering just that, offering home delivery of fresh, measured ingredients, accompanied by easy-to-follow recipes that make cooking a breeze. Here’s a sample of some that are gaining legions of hungry fans across Canada.

ADVERTIsem*nT

Best 9 Out-of-the-Box Dinner Subscription Services Recipes, News, Tips And How-Tos (1)

Courtesy of Culiniste

1/9

Culiniste

Location: Montreal

A team of in-house chefs creates different menu items each week, with the fresh ingredients delivered along with recipe cards, designed to make dinnertime a snap. “Best of all,” declares the Culiniste website, “by letting us shop for you, we can bring you fresher and higher-quality food than what’s sitting on supermarket shelves — and for better prices.” With dishes ranging from Shrimp and Linguine fra Diavolo to Moo Shu Vegetable Wraps, it’s a safe bet your taste buds won’t be getting bored anytime soon. They deliver throughout Québec and Ontario

Best 9 Out-of-the-Box Dinner Subscription Services Recipes, News, Tips And How-Tos (2)

Courtesy of The Jolly Table

2/9

The Jolly Table

Location: Calgary

Delivering to customers all across Canada (with free delivery anywhere in Calgary), The Jolly Table’s chefs create different recipe options each week, with both one-time ordering and subscription plans available. Customers receive a cooler box packed with fresh, seasonal ingredients in the exact quantities required for each recipe, with the company committed to “sourcing seasonal, high-quality ingredients directly from local farmers and sustainable producers.” An eclectic menu is offered, ranging from Brandy Peppercorn Steak to Coconut Curry Fish and Potatoes.

Best 9 Out-of-the-Box Dinner Subscription Services Recipes, News, Tips And How-Tos (3)

Courtesy of Chef’s Plate

3/9

Chef's Plate

Location: Toronto

Using the tagline “a better way to cook,” Chef’s Plate delivers fresh ingredients in a refrigerated box so food will stay fresh even if it arrives when you’re not home. The emphasis is on local and seasonal, and Chef’s Plate has developed relationships with small butchers and fish-mongers, sourcing ingredients from local family-run farms. On the menu you’ll find such dishes as Cornmeal Crusted Fish Tacos, Malaysian Curry Laksa, and Havarti Stuffed Chicken Supreme. Chef’s Plate delivers throughout Ontario.

ADVERTIsem*nT

Courtesy of Chefx

4/9

Chefx

Location: Ottawa

In addition to delivering home-cooked meals anywhere in Ottawa, Chefx offers its “Gourmet Recipe Kits,” available for a one-time purchase or cost-reduced subscription. Each week, a different recipe is offered, with the amount of pre-portioned ingredients altered to suit the number of diners. An example of their ever-changing menu is the Pan-Seared Chicken Breast with Mushroom-Sherry Cream Sauce and Wilted Winter Greens. As a bonus, Chefx even offers suggested wine pairings with each meal.

Best 9 Out-of-the-Box Dinner Subscription Services Recipes, News, Tips And How-Tos (5)

Courtesy of Fresh City Farms

5/9

Fresh City Farms

Location: Toronto

Sourcing ingredients from organic farms, the vision of Fresh City Farms is to “empower all to make conscious food choices.” In addition to delivering organic produce and groceries to select cities across Ontario, the company also delivers recipe bags, each of which includes all the ingredients necessary to create one of their many recipes. Choices abound (vegan and gluten-free options are available), and can be customized depending upon how many people you’ll be feeding. Options include Basil Pesto Spaghetti with Roasted Tomatoes and Arugula, Feta-Crusted Arctic Char with Garlic Wilted Spinach Risotto, and Greek Lemon Chicken with Potatoes and Greens.

Best 9 Out-of-the-Box Dinner Subscription Services Recipes, News, Tips And How-Tos (6)

Courtesy of Cook It

6/9

Cook It

Location: Montreal

This Montreal food subscription service takes its cuisine seriously, offering “all-inclusive” meals, which include meat and poultry, along with vegetable and fish dishes (for the pescatarians out there) as well as healthy kid-friendly options. With menus created by Cook It’s in-house culinary team as well as renowned guest chefs, recipes use seasonal, fresh ingredients that have arrive to your doorstep anywhere in Québec, precisely pre-measured, ensuring zero waste.

ADVERTIsem*nT

Best 9 Out-of-the-Box Dinner Subscription Services Recipes, News, Tips And How-Tos (7)

Courtesy of Food Trip To…

7/9

Food Trip To...

Location: Montreal

Food Trip To… puts an international spin on the monthly subscription service, with each month featuring themed recipes and food from a particular country (the current offering spotlights Morocco). Each box contains six imported products and four recipes designed to make a meal for six (you’ll need to pick up the fresh ingredients yourself). As a bonus, each Food Trip To… box also includes cultural facts about each month’s destination, a playlist of typical music from that locale “to enrich the experience” and a “small surprise” brought back from the trip. Food Trip To… delivers within North America (Canada and the U.S.).

Best 9 Out-of-the-Box Dinner Subscription Services Recipes, News, Tips And How-Tos (8)

Courtesy of Dinnerlicious

8/9

Dinnerlicious

Location: Hamilton

Delivering to Hamilton, Ontario and the surrounding area, Dinnerlicious plans three different meals each week, focusing on local, seasonal ingredients. Featuring such recipes as Chicken Laksa and Shepherd’s Pie with Sweet Potato, company founder Malin van der Meer, who believes we should know where our food comes from and how it made it to our plates, with pre-portioned ingredients arriving to customers in order to make the process of cooking dinner fun and delicious.

Best 9 Out-of-the-Box Dinner Subscription Services Recipes, News, Tips And How-Tos (9)

Courtesy of Fresh Prep

9/9

Fresh Prep

Location: Vancouver

Fresh Prep offers a variety of chef-designed dishes, ranging from “seasonal classics” to weekly specials, all of which can be prepared in 30 minutes or less. Menu items include Turkey Chili with Butternut Squash and Homemade Cornbread, and Chicken Souvlaki with Cucumber Dill Tzatziki and Lemon Rice. After ordering, the fresh ingredients are delivered to your door, and Fresh Prep also offers same-day delivery. They currently deliver strictly within the city of Vancouver.

Brent Furdyk is a freelance writer in Vancouver.

  • dinner
  • quick and easy
Best 9 Out-of-the-Box Dinner Subscription Services Recipes, News, Tips And How-Tos (2024)

FAQs

What is the downside of HelloFresh? ›

Because there are limits on modifications, I would say HelloFresh is not ideal for anyone with strict dietary or allergy requirements. There are also meal-kit companies with more gourmet and technical recipes, so if your goal is to really stretch yourself as a chef, this may not be the service to do it.

What is the healthiest prepared meal delivery service? ›

Our Top Healthy Meal Delivery Service Picks
  • Best Overall: Hello Fresh.
  • Best Budget: EveryPlate.
  • Best Prepared Meals: Factor.
  • Best for Athletes: MealPro.
  • Best Meal Kit: Sunbasket.
  • Best Plant-Based: Purple Carrot.
  • Best Gluten-Free: Epicured.
  • Best Variety: Hungryroot.
Jan 29, 2024

What is the downside to meal delivery services? ›

Excess Packaging

In addition to the box everything comes in, many ingredients are packaged individually, and there are cold packs to keep the food fresh and safe. To avoid a sky-rocketing carbon footprint from disposing of all that packaging, you must be committed to recycling as much of it as possible.

How much does factor actually cost? ›

Factor cost
Cost per mealBest for
6 meals per week$13.49those who prioritize easy, wholesome food during the workweek
8 meals per week$12.99working couples
10 meals per week$12.49working couples who prefer meals for the entire workweek
12 meals per week$11.99working parents or caregivers with small children
2 more rows
Mar 25, 2024

Is there a lawsuit against HelloFresh? ›

On October 15, 2021, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts entered a final order approving a $14 million class action settlement resolving claims against HelloFresh for alleged violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (“TCPA”), 47 U.S.C. § 227, et seq.

Is HelloFresh in financial trouble? ›

Since peaking at 16.6 billion euros ($18.1 billion) in August 2021, HelloFresh's market value has plunged about 90%. U.S. meal-kit rival Blue Apron was bought by startup Wonder Group for $103 million last year after warning revenue and customer numbers would fall in 2023.

What is the highest rated food delivery service? ›

What's the best meal delivery service?
  • Best Overall: Gobble.
  • Best Comfort Food: Martha & Marley Spoon.
  • Best Variety: Home Chef.
  • Best for One: Factor.
  • Best for Home Cooks: EveryPlate.
  • Best Value: Blue Apron.
  • Best Affordable: Dinnerly.
  • Best for Families: HelloFresh.
Jan 11, 2024

Which food delivery service is most worth it? ›

Uber Eats and Postmates are great options for people who want the most food options and the fastest delivery and don't mind paying for it. Uber bought Postmates in 2020. The main difference is that you can order an Uber in Uber Eats, not Postmates.

What is the most affordable prepared meal delivery service? ›

The cheapest meal delivery services compared
TypePrice per serving
EveryPlatemeal kit$4.99+
HelloFreshmeal kit$8.99+
Daily Harvestprepared meals$6.79+
Dinnerlymeal kit$4.99+
1 more row
Feb 27, 2024

Are meal plans cheaper than groceries? ›

How much more is a meal kit than buying groceries? When compared to the cost of buying all the necessary groceries at the store, EveryPlate clocks in at around $2 more per serving. If you were to pick one of the plans with servings for four, it would be more like $1 more. So, it's pretty much a wash.

Are meal delivery services actually healthy? ›

Summary. If your idea of dinner is regularly eating at a restaurant, takeout or drive-thru, then meal kit delivery services are a healthier option. Most companies offer fresh ingredients that are minimally processed and some use non-GMO and organic produce and meats.

Do meal subscriptions save money? ›

The cost of a meal from most popular meal delivery services is typically between $8 and $11. This is quite a bit cheaper than an average meal out, so if you tend to eat at restaurants frequently, meal delivery subscriptions will likely help you save money.

Is Factor owned by HelloFresh? ›

Factor Meals was acquired by HelloFresh in 2020.

How much does HelloFresh cost per meal? ›

HelloFresh is a popular meal kit delivery subscription service that delivers weekly boxes filled with the pre-portioned ingredients needed to make a complete meal. HelloFresh costs between $8.99 and $12.49 per serving, depending on how many meals you order.

Are Factor meals cheap? ›

Factor operates on a volume-based pricing system, so the more meals you order every week, the lower the cost of each one will be. For example, if you choose six meals per week, you'll pay $13.49 per meal, for a total of $80.94. If you select the 18-meal plan, the per-meal cost drops to $10.99, for a total of $197.82.

Is HelloFresh all healthy? ›

Yes! Most HelloFresh meals are nutritionally balanced and feature a good source of protein, carbs, and healthy fats.

How ethical is HelloFresh? ›

Sourcing responsibly

We look to source high quality, locally grown, fresh produce from suppliers that focus on sustainable production. In 2023, 96% of the fresh products we purchased came from suppliers that are GLOBAL G.A.P. (or equivalent) or GFSI-certified.

Can HelloFresh cause stomach issues? ›

The beef shipments in question are linked to possible E. coli illness, which can cause diarrhea, stomach cramping, fever, and vomiting, according to the Mayo Clinic. In some people, the illness is pretty mild, but it can be life-threatening and lead to long-term complications.

Are HelloFresh meals high in sodium? ›

However, I think it's important to note that the high sodium levels are not present in all of HelloFresh's meals. They do offer lower sodium options (for example, this Steakhouse-Style Organic Chicken with a Creamy Pan Sauce, Roasted Potatoes & Lemony Broccoli dish is 520mg of sodium per serving).

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Tyson Zemlak

Last Updated:

Views: 6207

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (63 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Tyson Zemlak

Birthday: 1992-03-17

Address: Apt. 662 96191 Quigley Dam, Kubview, MA 42013

Phone: +441678032891

Job: Community-Services Orchestrator

Hobby: Coffee roasting, Calligraphy, Metalworking, Fashion, Vehicle restoration, Shopping, Photography

Introduction: My name is Tyson Zemlak, I am a excited, light, sparkling, super, open, fair, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.