What to Buy Food Food & Meal Delivery Best Kids Meal Delivery Services Nurture Life is the best meal delivery service for kids By Marisa Olsen Marisa Olsen Marisa is a food writer with a background in marketing and communications for the arts and restaurant industries. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on March 13, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Photo: Catherine Delahaye / Getty Images As parents, it can often be challenging to find meals that appeal to children that are also healthy and easy to prepare. That's where a kids’ meal delivery service can help, by mitigating the precious time it takes to plan meals, shop for groceries, and cook and clean your kitchen. Thanks to kids’ meal delivery companies, meals can be ready in minutes, so you can focus on enjoying your time together as a family. With a plethora of meal services geared toward families and children, there is a match for your household. Whether your child has allergy sensitivities, follows a vegetarian diet, or is just a picky eater, there is a meal delivery service suited to fit your family’s needs. We tried and tested a bevy of kids’ meal delivery services to help you find your best match. Read on to discover our testers’ top picks for the best meal delivery services for kids. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Nurture Life Best Value: EveryPlate Best for Easy Prep: Gobble Best for Picky Eaters: Hungryroot Best for Toddlers: Little Spoon Best for Meal Kits: Home Chef Best for Older Kids: Dinnerly Best for Adventurous Eaters: Blue Apron Best Overall: Nurture Life Nurture Life Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $6.49 per servingDelivery Area: 48 statesProducts Arrive: Fresh Why You Should Try It From finger foods to smoothies to wholesome entrées, Nurture Life offers a convenient way to provide your little ones of all ages with fresh foods. Pros and Cons Pros Can order up to 15 items a week Plenty of dietary needs addressed Variety of foods and snacks Cons Shipping is not free Not all packaging is recyclable Overview Nurture Life is a children’s meal subscription that creates healthful, nutritious meals and snacks designed by dietitians. Customers build custom boxes each week with six, nine, 12, or 15 items from a wide range of kids’ meals, as well as finger foods, smoothies, and snacks. With numerous tags available, you can easily filter foods by “picky eater favorites,” vegetarian, and dietary restrictions, such as gluten-, egg-, pork-, milk-free, and more. Foods arrive fresh and ready to heat, and can be stored in the fridge for up to a week. Pricing and Plans 6 items per week: $7.49 per item9 items per week: $6.93 per item12 items per week: $6.66 per item15 items per week: $6.49 per item Meals We Tried White mac and cheese Chicken and mac Beef taco pockets Tortellini Bolognese Chicken dumplings Pesto and cheese ravioli Best Value: EveryPlate EveryPlate Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $4.99Delivery Area: 48 statesProducts Arrive: Fresh Why You Should Try It With meals starting at just $4.99 a serving, your family will enjoy home-assembled meals featuring comfort food favorites in 30 minutes or less. Pros and Cons Pros Affordable Great for home cooks Family-favorite menu items Cons Limited dietary offerings Some meals are on the heavy side Overview EveryPlate is a traditional meal kit subscription focusing on comforting homestyle dinners. Meal items are preportioned and designed for minimal prep, so dinner is ready in six steps or less, with cooking times that average about 30 minutes. Featuring a dedicated family-friendly menu plan, customers can select from a rotating menu of 25 dinners designed for two or four people, with an option for three to six meals per week. The meal kits include step-by-step instruction cards, so (supervised!) older children can assist with the fun of getting dinner on the table. Pricing and Plans Family-friendly plan: 3 meals for 2 servings: $6.49 per serving6 meals for 2 servings: $5.49 per serving3 meals for 4 servings: $5.49 per serving6 meals for 4 servings: $4.99 per serving Meals We Tried Crispy Caesar chickenSteak fritesBlackened shrimp saladHotel butter barramundi Best for Easy Prep: Gobble Gobble Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $11.99 per servingDelivery Area: 47 statesProducts Arrive: Fresh Why You Should Try It Thanks to a team of chefs, Gobble’s fresh meal kits arrive pre-measured and pre-prepped so you can execute a gourmet dinner in 15 minutes or less. Pros and Cons Pros Dinners in three simple steps Several dietary offerings Globally inspired flavors Some protein customization options Cons Expensive Overview Gobble curates family-favorite meals that are preportioned and ready in three steps or less. Select from classic, lean and clean, and vegetarian meal kit plans with options to personalize proteins, including swapping in a variety of plant-based proteins. Dietary offerings also include dairy-, nut-, and wheat-free meals. Choose from two or four servings with two to five meals per week. In addition to dinners, Gobble makes it easy to add on breakfasts, soups, salads, sides, and desserts for a complete household meal plan. Pricing and Plans 2 meals for 2 servings: $16.99 per serving5 meals for 2 servings: $11.99 per serving2 meals for 4 servings: $12.99 per serving5 meals for 4 servings: $11.99 per serving Meals We Tried Scampi-style chicken with linguine in lemon garlic butter sauceChimichurri fish tacos with shredded cabbageGrilled king salmon with heirloom tomato panzanellaKorean bulgogi beef lettuce cups with sweet potato noodles Best for Picky Eaters: Hungryroot Hungry Root Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $9.69 per servingDelivery Area: 48 statesProducts Arrive: Fresh Why You Should Try It Hungryroot is a meal planning platform and online grocery store rolled into one. Choose from thousands of easy-to-assemble, kid-friendly meals with plenty of dietary options that will satisfy even the pickiest eater in your family. Pros and Cons Pros Access to both groceries and meals Thousands of meals, snacks, and beverages to choose from Variety of allergy-friendly foods Cons Lots of packaging Overview New customers take a quiz about their meal needs and preferences to create a customized weekly meal plan that doubles as a grocery delivery service. Hungryroot features easy-to-assemble, mix-and-match grocery items that are preportioned, so meals are ready in about 10 minutes or less. In addition to dinners, select from breakfasts, lunch, sides, salads, soups, flatbreads, beverages, and more. With a robust online menu that allows you to easily filter out unwanted ingredients, Hungryoot makes it a cinch to feed your picky little one. Pricing and Plans Meals start at $9.69; plan on a minimum of $70 an order per week Meals We Tried Spinach artichoke and mushroom tortelloni Roasted salmon and sweet potato on Brussels sproutsSouthwest chicken and rainbow veggie tacos Thai peanut beef and broccoli stir-fry Best for Toddlers: Little Spoon Little Spoon Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $5.99 per servingDelivery Area: 48 statesProducts Arrive: Fresh Why You Should Try It Your toddler will love the independence Little Spoon’s delicious finger foods provide, while the adults will appreciate how meals are chock-full of hidden vegetables for added nutrition. Pros and Cons Pros Great price point Available for various eating stages Large menu selection Cons Products use a lot of packaging Overview Little Spoon is a kids’ meal delivery service that places emphasis on sourcing organic ingredients while cleverly incorporating hidden vegetables into its meals for a nutritional boost. The meals are freshly prepared, and consumers can choose from three types of menu plans: organic baby blends; toddler-friendly plates composed of finger foods that are ready to heat in minutes; and smoothies for on-the-go snacks. With over 30 types of prepared plates available each week, you can filter by dietary restrictions and unique preferences, such as picky eaters’ favorites, nutritional needs, and beginner, intermediate, or advanced eating stages. Pricing and Plans Plates start at $5.99Baby blends start at $2.99Smoothies start at $2.79 Meals We Tried Broccoli bites with sweet potato carrot poppers and green beans Chicken nuggets with veggie patties with breading and sweet potato carrot poppers and broccoli Whole-wheat penne with veggie marinara and mini turkey kale meatballs Mac and three cheese with invisible butternut squash carrots Chicken pot stickers, brown rice, quinoa veggie stir-fry, and edamame Turkey rice ball with sweet potato mash Three cheese egg bites with sweet potato hash Turkey kale patty bites with veggie millet poppers and carrots Best for Meal Kits: Home Chef Home Chef Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $7.99 per servingDelivery Area: 48 statesProducts Arrive: Fresh Why You Should Try It If you want to get your family engaged with meal prep, then Home Chef’s gourmet, family-friendly meal kits are a great place to start. And with access to a six-week menu calendar, your little ones can have fun selecting their favorite meals in advance. Pros and Cons Pros Customizable meals and proteins Variety of meal styles Calendar available for advance meal planning Cons Minimum order to ship Overview Home Chef offers a personalized quiz to understand your household’s needs, serving sizes, and food preferences, as well as a unique online tool to customize your proteins and meals. Featuring traditional meal kits with preportioned ingredients, prepared ready-to-heat meals, grill-ready entrées, a gourmet culinary collection, and fast and fresh meals, there are plenty of meal styles and options for families. Plus, with plenty of add-ons, sides, and beverages, it’s easy to stock your fridge for the week. Pricing and Plans Meals start at $8.99 per servingMinimum weekly order is $49.95 Meals We Tried Crispy sweet chili shrimp rice bowl Creamy tomato and steak penne Gnocchi and red pepper cream Moo shu pork lettuce cups Best for Older Kids: Dinnerly Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $4.99 per servingDelivery Area: 48 statesProducts Arrive: Fresh Why You Should Try It With hearty comfort meals that can be ready in just a few steps, the older children in your household will enjoy preparing and eating Dinnerly’s simple yet delicious dinners. Pros and Cons Pros Affordable price point Simple recipes to follow Helpful recipe filters, including kid-friendly Cons Digital recipe cards only Overview Dinnerly is a meal kit service focusing on hearty and comforting classics. Ingredients are preportioned and arrive fresh. To save on costs, Dinnerly has removed print materials from shipments, so count on referencing your browser or app for recipe instructions. Dinnerly offers meals for two or four people, with an option for three to six meals per week. Select a vegetarian option or choose from a variety of categories, such as kid-friendly, healthy, one-pot meals, and dairy- and gluten-free. Dinnerly also offers ready-made meals that are family friendly and heat up in the microwave in minutes. Pricing and Plans 3 meals for 2 servings: $7.04 per serving6 meals for 2 servings: $6.29 per serving3 meals for 4 servings: $6.14 per serving6 meals for 4 servings: $4.99 per serving Meals We Tried BBQ cheeseburger with sautéed onions and smashed potatoesLow-cal veggie drunken noodles with broccoli, peppers, and cilantroGrass-fed ground beef and cheddar quesadillas with cornCaramel chicken stir-fry with snow peas and jasmine rice Best for Adventurous Eaters: Blue Apron Blue Apron Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $7.99 per servingDelivery Area: 48 statesProducts Arrive: Fresh Why You Should Try It With entrées inspired by global cuisines, the adventurous eater in your family will have fun traveling the world from your kitchen, exploring enticing, worldly meals. Pros and Cons Pros Interesting meals Variety of menu preferences Family-sized prepared meals Cons Shipping is not free Overview With over 50 meal options a week, your adventurous eater will stay engaged in the kitchen and at the table with Blue Apron. Recipes and meals can accommodate two to four people with two to four meals per week. Blue Apron offers a traditional meal kit with menu preferences including chef’s favorites, wellness, vegetarian, fast and easy, and family-friendly meals, as well as breakfasts, snacks, sides, and protein add-ons. For quicker meal turnaround, Blue Apron now produces prepared meals that arrive ready to heat and serve up to four people. Pricing and Plans 2 meals with 2 servings each: $11.99 per serving3 meals with 2 servings each: $9.99 per serving4 meals with 2 servings each: $9.49 per serving2 meals with 4 servings each: $9.49 per serving3 meals with 4 servings each: $8.49 per serving4 meals with 4 servings each: $7.99 per servingShipping is $9.99 Meals We Tried Meal Kits Togarashi shrimp and vegetable fried rice Space Ranger chicken enchiladas One-pan white bean and poblano shakshuka Baked meatballs and romesco mayo Heat and Eat Sweet and spicy beef bowl with rice, peppers, and edamame Chicken Alfredo pasta with peas Final Verdict Nurture Life is our pick for best overall kids’ meal delivery service. We loved the flexible subscription model and the ability to build a custom box each week. The service offers plenty of foods and snacks based on a wide age range, and incorporates wholesome ingredients, including organic produce and antibiotic-free proteins. The company offers freshly prepared meals that are ready in minutes, along with a variety of grab-and-go snacks and meals, giving you more time with your family and less time meal prepping and planning. Compare the Best Kids’ Meal Delivery Services Company Starting Price Delivery Area Products Arrive Customers Can Choose Delivery Date? Free Shipping? Best Overall Nurture Life $6.49 per serving 48 states Fresh Yes No Best Value EveryPlate $4.99 per serving 48 states Fresh Yes No Best for Easy Prep Gobble $11.99 per serving 47 states Fresh Yes No Best for Picky Eaters Hungryroot $9.69 per serving 48 states Fresh Yes Yes, with minimum Best for Toddlers Little Spoon $5.99 per serving 48 states Fresh No No Best for Meal Kits Home Chef $7.99 per serving 48 states Fresh No Yes, with minimum Best for Older Kids Dinnerly $4.99 per serving 48 states Fresh Yes No Best for Adventurous Eaters Blue Apron $7.99 per serving 48 states Fresh Yes No How to Choose the Best Kids’ Meal Delivery Services Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Kids’ Meal Delivery Service When choosing a meal delivery service that can accommodate children, there are several factors that may help you select the best option for you and your family. Below are some things to consider: Price/Cost Per Meal: Identifying a weekly budget can help you plan for your meals each week. Some kids’ meal delivery services start at just a few dollars per serving, while others may be $10 or more. Thanks to a wide range of meal plan costs, there is most likely one that can align with your budget.Number of Meals Per Delivery: Depending on your household size and your specific meal needs, considering serving sizes and meal quantities is helpful. Are you looking for a few on-the-go smoothies to have at your fingertips, or do you want a fridge stocked for every weeknight meal for your four kids? Regardless of what your needs are, identifying necessary quantities each week will help when choosing a delivery service. Flexibility: Reading the fine print can help determine if a meal delivery service is right for you. Is it easy to pause, skip, or cancel via an online account or app? Or do you have to contact customer service? Finding a service with the flexibility that aligns with your family’s needs will help you find the best kids’ meal delivery service. Menu Selection: Does the service offer a rotating menu each week? Or does your child appreciate their tried-and-true favorites? Does your family have specific dietary needs? Identifying which kids’ meal delivery service best suits your child’s allergies or dietary restrictions will help your little one stay safe and healthy while giving you peace of mind. Who Should Consider Kids’ Meal Delivery Services? There are a variety of factors to consider if a kids’ meal delivery service is right for your family. If you’re looking to cut down on menu planning and grocery shopping, a meal service may help with that. From ready-to-heat meals to meal kits, having prepared meals and pre-measured ingredients arrive at your doorstep can save you time and hassle. Plus, knowing that you have the control every week to customize your meals from your computer or smartphone in minutes can also be a big win for adults. Additionally, for families looking for new menu ideas, foods to placate a picky eater, or who want to avoid specific allergens, many kids’ meal services also offer appealing, kid-friendly foods while catering to allergen and dietary restrictions, making it easier to enjoy nutritious and healthful foods at home. Frequently Asked Questions Are Kids’ Meal Delivery Services Healthy? Kids’ meal delivery services may offer nutritious and quick meals that are geared toward healthy offerings. Some services fortify meals with hidden vegetables or protein-rich ingredients, while others specialize in meals that eliminate common allergy triggers. However, it’s always best to carefully read the nutrition facts when selecting meals so you can determine if the menu aligns with your child’s needs and dietary restrictions. Can You Cancel Kids’ Meal Delivery Services Anytime? Most kids’ meal delivery services easily allow customers to cancel. The cancellation process may vary depending on the service. Some companies offer cancellation via the customer online profile or downloadable app, or by contacting customer service. Having an option to easily pause or edit delivery preferences is a convenient bonus to many kids’ meal subscriptions. For any specific questions and details, reaching out to customer service can help. Are Kids’ Meal Delivery Services Good for Picky Eaters? Kids’ meal delivery services are dedicated to creating a bevy of kid-friendly foods, offering a variety of delicious and nutritious meals. There are even services that feature search tags and filters, including tags dedicated to picky eaters and dietary restrictions, making it easy to find child-approved meals in moments. Other kids’ meal delivery companies cleverly sneak in hidden vegetables, boosting nutrition and fiber. What’s the Difference Between Kids’ Meal Delivery and Other Meal Delivery Services? Kids’ meal delivery services operate similarly to many other meal delivery services. Some kids’ meal delivery companies produce fresh or frozen, ready-to-heat meals and snacks, while other services may operate as a more traditional meal kit, with pre-measured and preportioned ingredients for an easy meal assembly. Kids’ meal delivery companies also focus on kid-approved foods and snacks or family-sized portions, so the whole family can join in on the fun (and deliciousness). Methodology Our team of researchers independently reviewed over 35 kids’ meal delivery services. Researchers looked at myriad factors, including a variety of delivery offerings, product type, pricing, sustainability initiatives, shipping fees and timelines, delivery areas, and customer service. After careful review, researchers identified which kids’ meal delivery services were our top picks for various categories. 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