Can a Pescatarian Diet Be Affordable?

Seafood is notoriously more expensive than other sources of animal protein. However, one of the ways this can be mitigated is by also consuming vegetarian protein options, which are often much less expensive. It is also typically the same price to order a pescatarian meal delivery service as it is for the meat-containing options, making it a cost-effective option to try these services as well.

Can You Lose Weight Being Pescatarian?

As with most diets, weight loss may or may not occur depending on your approach. This diet is mostly geared toward the consumption of more seafood and plant-based protein sources rather than red meat, pork, and poultry sources. This could lead to improving health outcomes, especially those related to heart health, regardless of weight status.

What Do Pescatarians Eat for Breakfast?

Breakfast on a pescatarian diet may look a lot like what you’re used to, just without the meat. Classics like eggs and oatmeal are still on the menu, and a bagel with smoked salmon lox fits right in, too. Although American favorites like bacon or sausage wouldn’t work, you can have your fill of all the pancakes, waffles, smoothies, and tons of globally inspired options too.

What Foods Do Pescatarians Avoid?

Pescatarians mainly avoid meat and meat products like poultry, beef, pork, and game animals. This type of diet allows for most other protein sources that a vegetarian diet would also include, such as eggs and milk, plus seafood options like fish and shellfish .

Best Pescatarian Meal Delivery Services of 2023

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Healthy pescatarian breakfast with toast and salmon meal delivery — Photo:
Anna Denisova / Getty Images

Whether your reasons for going pescatarian are rooted in the pursuit of health, concern for the environment, or simple preference, following this eating style can be tricky. Seafood is a hotly contested topic when choosing what's “best,” to say nothing of the effort involved in simply planning and executing meals for yourself or your family. Meal delivery services can offer a respite from decision fatigue, but with so many to choose from, it can be hard to know where to begin.

Luckily, we were able to look at over 40 of the industry’s top services to see who holds up on quality, flavor, and convenience. These are our selections for the best pescatarian meal delivery services, and whether you’re new to the diet or a seasoned pro, we think you’ll enjoy what they have to offer.

Best Pescatarian Meal Delivery Services of 2023

Best Overall: Sunbasket
Best for Foodies: Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon
Best Prepared: CookUnity
Best for Beginners: Blue Apron
Best for Weight Loss: Trifecta
Best Value: Home Chef

Best Overall: Sunbasket

Sunbasket

Key Specs

Starting Price: $9.99 per serving
Delivery Area: 48 states
Products Arrive: Fresh and frozen

Why You Should Try It

We know customers come to Sunbasket for the variety, but we think the sustainable sourcing and added convenience are great reasons to stay.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Meal kits, prepared meals, and grocery Items
Dynamic, diverse menus
Commitment to sustainability

Cons

Smaller portions
Higher price point

Overview

The menu of meal kits alone is reason enough to order from Sunbasket with offerings like lemony pollock salad with scallion dressing and sesame salt or sole with caramelized onions, potatoes, and sun-dried tomato za’atar. Not only is there more variation among types of sustainably sourced seafood and preparations than with any other meal delivery service, but Sunbasket also makes it easy to find choices that fit your needs, with a dedicated pescatarian diet option and clear labeling. Meal kits are complemented by single-serve prepared options and a robust menu of grocery items too.

Pricing and Plans

Meal Kits: start at $11.49 per serving (price varies depending on selection)
Fresh & Ready Meals: start at $9.99 per serving (price varies depending on selection)

Best for Foodies: Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon

Key Specs

Starting Price: $8.69 per serving
Delivery Area: 46 states
Products Arrive: Fresh

Why You Should Try It

If you’re looking to expand your culinary skills, Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon will have you whipping up the pescatarian feast of your dreams.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Chef-driven menus
Focused on seasonal and premium ingredients
Reasonably priced

Cons

No customization
Fewer prepared options

Overview

Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon makes a chef-quality dinner achievable at home with recipes that not only tempt the taste buds but also keep dinner accessible for home cooks with categories like “kid friendly,” “under 30 minutes,” and even some sheet pan options. If you’re crunched for time, you can choose menu items like a tofu banh mi, a maple roasted sweet potato sandwich with minty pea hummus, or a five-spice glazed barramundi with charred broccoli, all of which can come together in under 30 minutes. With a range of serving sizes, we think it makes a great choice for couples or families of up to four who crave that extra foodie flair.

Pricing and Plans

2 meals with 2 servings each: $12.99 per serving
3 meals with 2 servings each: $10.99 per serving
4 meals with 2 servings each: $10.49 per serving
5 meals with 2 servings each: $9.99 per serving
6 meals with 2 servings each: $9.49 per serving
2 meals with 4 servings each: $10.49 per serving
3 meals with 4 servings each: $9.49 per serving
4 meals with 4 servings each: $8.99 per serving
5 meals with 4 servings each: $9.99 per serving
6 meals with 4 servings each: $8.69 per serving

Best Prepared: CookUnity

Key Specs

Starting Price: $10.39 per serving
Delivery Area: 47 states
Products Arrive: Fresh

Why You Should Try It

With food good enough to rival any takeout, CookUnity is the ultimate culinary experience for folks who want prepared meals without sacrificing quality.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Ready to eat, no cooking required
Large menu of options that are easy to search
Restaurant-level execution

Cons

Higher cost per serving
No customization or add-ons

Overview

CookUnity relies on its chef collective and regional kitchen format to deliver its best-in-class prepared meals. If you’re picturing the TV dinners of your childhood, think again; CookUnity’s dishes offer flavors that could easily take the place of your favorite restaurants. Order as much or as little as you like, up to 16 meals per week from a huge menu that’s easy to filter for seafood options. CookUnity will have your fridge filled with dishes like Malabar shrimp biryani or lobster ravioli with garlic cream sauce, delivered fresh to your door and ready in minutes.

Pricing and Plans

4 meals a week: $12.69 per meal
6 meals a week: $11.39 per meal
8 meals a week: $10.89 per meal
12 meals a week: $10.49 per meal
16 meals a week: $10.39 per meal

Best for Beginners: Blue Apron

Blue Apron

Key Specs

Starting Price: $7.99 per serving
Delivery Area: 48 states
Products Arrive: Fresh

Why You Should Try It

Blue Apron is known for its culinary chops, and our testers loved the skills and knowledge they picked up while cooking these top-notch recipes.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Quality sourcing and ingredients
Restaurant-style flavors and preparations
Competitive price point

Cons

Limited leftovers
No customization

Overview

Whether you’re an entry-level home cook or a beginner to the pescatarian diet, Blue Apron is a great choice to pick up cooking skills while enjoying tasty, restaurant-quality meals. With staple seafood proteins like salmon, shrimp, scallops, and cod in the regular menu rotation, you can master these ingredients in any flavor profile with the help of Blue Apron’s detailed and thorough recipes. Of course, there is room for low-effort nights with “fast & easy” recipes and sheet pan meals, but if you’re anything like us, the seared scallops and truffle risotto with pancetta and butternut squash will be calling your name.

Pricing and Plans

2 meals with 2 servings each: $11.99 per serving
3 meals with 2 servings each: $9.99 per serving
4 meals with 2 servings each: $9.49 per serving
2 meals with 4 servings each: $9.49 per serving
3 meals with 4 servings each: $8.49 per serving
4 meals with 4 servings each: $7.99 per serving

Best for Weight Loss: Trifecta

Key Specs

Starting Price: $12.80 per serving
Delivery Area: 50 states
Products Arrive: Fresh

Why You Should Try It

Trifecta gave our testers satisfying portions of meals designed by dietitians to help support your dietary needs.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Quality ingredients
Dietitian support on staff

Cons

Can’t fully customize meals
May need more heating than package indicates

Overview

Trifecta specializes in preportioned, premade meals to accommodate a range of lifestyles as well as a “classic” plan and an option to build your own meal prep. While there may not be a specific pescatarian plan, you can start with a lower-priced vegetarian diet plan and add on some marine proteins like salmon, or build your own meal prep box. Actual meal selection for plans is up to the experts with Trifecta, which relies on registered dietitians, and with filling portions of quality ingredients, we think this service makes a great staple for folks on a health journey.

Pricing and Plans

Paleo Meal Plan (7 dinners): $110.99 per week
Vegan Meal Plan (7 dinners): $99.99 per week
Vegetarian Meal Plan (7 dinners): $99.99 per week
“Clean” Meal Plan (7 dinners): $110.99 per week

Best Value: Home Chef

Home Chef

Key Specs

Starting Price: $8.99 per serving
Delivery Area: 48 states
Products Arrive: Fresh

Why You Should Try It

Our testers love the hearty favorites and affordable pricing from Home Chef.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Cost-effective pricing
Protein customization available
Meals ready in as little as 10 minutes

Cons

Fewer dietary accommodations
Meals can be higher in sodium

Overview

Home Chef offers a menu of filling comfort foods like honey mustard baked salmon with mashed potatoes and Brussels sprouts, or Tuscan-style shrimp penne with mushrooms and tomatoes. While not necessarily the lowest-priced meal kit, we think it delivers on value with portion size and ease of customer experience. Some meals can be customized to your liking with various protein options, while others on the “express” menu can be ready in as little as 10 minutes. This kit makes a great choice for families or anyone who wants to ease the burden of tackling a pescatarian diet.

Pricing and Plans

2 meals with 2 servings each: $47.96
3 meals with 2 servings each: $59.94
4 meals with 2 servings each: $79.92
5 meals with 2 servings each: $99.90
6 meals with 2 servings each: $119.88
2 meals with 4 servings each: $79.92
3 meals with 4 servings each: $119.88
4 meals with 4 servings each: $159.84
5 meals with 4 servings each: $199.80
6 meals with 4 servings each: $239.76
2 meals with 6 servings each: $119.88
3 meals with 6 servings each: $179.82
4 meals with 6 servings each: $239.76
5 meals with 6 servings each: $299.70
6 meals with 6 servings each: $359.64

Final Verdict

Sunbasket is a standout for its diverse range of flavors, variety of oceanic proteins, and commitment to supporting sustainable practices. For anyone wanting to follow a strict pescatarian diet, or simply looking for delicious ways to enjoy more seafood, we think it’s a top-tier choice.

Compare the Best Pescatarian Meal Delivery Services

Company	Starting Price	Delivery Area	Products Arrive	Customers Can Choose Delivery Date?	Free Shipping
Best Overall: Sunbasket	$9.99 per serving	48 states	Fresh & Frozen	Yes	No
Best for Foodies: Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon	$8.69 per serving	46 states	Fresh	Yes	No
Best Prepared: CookUnity	$10.39 per serving	47 states	Fresh	Yes	Yes
Best for Beginners: Blue Apron	$7.99 per serving	48 states	Fresh	Yes	No
Best for Weight Loss: Trifecta	$12.80 per serving	50 states	Fresh	No	No
Best Value: Home Chef	$8.99 per serving	48 states	Fresh	Yes	No

How to Choose the Best Pescatarian Meal Delivery Service

What to Consider When Choosing a Pescatarian Meal Delivery Service

Price/Cost per Meal: Meals can vary widely, with our favorites starting as low as $7.99 per serving and going up to over $16 per serving.
Number of Meals per Delivery: Most meal kit services will have a minimum order of two servings of two meals per week, and go up to as many as 36 servings per week across six different recipes.
Flexibility: Most meal delivery services don’t allow for a ton of flexibility above and beyond selecting your own meals, but some include extras, add-ons, and the ability to customize certain proteins.
Menu Selection: While services geared toward specific diets might feature a preselected menu, most meal kit delivery services allow folks to choose from a weekly rotating menu of options.
Nutrition Goals/Dietary Restrictions: Be sure to have a handle on your dietary needs before selecting the right service to try: While most will offer some accommodations, not all are friendly to certain diets.

Are Pescatarian Meal Delivery Services Right for You?

Perhaps the main advantage of a pescatarian meal delivery service is the ability to streamline your meal planning. Most meal delivery services offer options to filter out ingredients that you wish to avoid, such as certain animal proteins. A pescatarian meal delivery service can make it easy to have new, interesting recipes that take the guesswork out of getting meals on the table. You can also save time by avoiding the grocery store or local markets. Your budget is another factor; you may find the time saved is well worth the potential added cost of having your meals delivered to your door.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a Pescatarian Diet Be Affordable?

Seafood is notoriously more expensive than other sources of animal protein. However, one of the ways this can be mitigated is by also consuming vegetarian protein options, which are often much less expensive. It is also typically the same price to order a pescatarian meal delivery service as it is for the meat-containing options, making it a cost-effective option to try these services as well.
Can You Lose Weight Being Pescatarian?

As with most diets, weight loss may or may not occur depending on your approach. This diet is mostly geared toward the consumption of more seafood and plant-based protein sources rather than red meat, pork, and poultry sources. This could lead to improving health outcomes, especially those related to heart health, regardless of weight status.
What Do Pescatarians Eat for Breakfast?

Breakfast on a pescatarian diet may look a lot like what you’re used to, just without the meat. Classics like eggs and oatmeal are still on the menu, and a bagel with smoked salmon lox fits right in, too. Although American favorites like bacon or sausage wouldn’t work, you can have your fill of all the pancakes, waffles, smoothies, and tons of globally inspired options too.
What Foods Do Pescatarians Avoid?

Pescatarians mainly avoid meat and meat products like poultry, beef, pork, and game animals. This type of diet allows for most other protein sources that a vegetarian diet would also include, such as eggs and milk, plus seafood options like fish and shellfish.

Methodology

Our team of food and nutrition experts ordered from, cooked, and evaluated over 40 different meal delivery services. Each company was rated on over 50 separate criteria encompassing food quality and flavor, sustainability considerations, customer experience, nutrition, value, and more. These services are put through rigorous testing and review to allow us to provide evidence-based ratings and name the best meal delivery services in the marketplace.

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