5 Best Vegetarian Meal Delivery Services of 2026: Taste-Tested and Reviewed

How we tested the best vegetarian meal delivery services

We started our process of finding the best vegetarian meal delivery service for adults ages 50 and older by researching the market. Which services with vegetarian options are popular and why? Which companies have the best customer reviews — and are the reviews legitimate? After talking with nutrition experts, we narrowed our list to the options featured on this page.

To identify each service's strengths and weaknesses, we recruited a group of testers ages 50 and older — including AARP members from The Ethel community — to order their meals and give us their unbiased feedback. Our lab testers also placed orders from the companies for additional insights into the ordering and delivery process. Testers then cooked their meals in their homes or our AARP Smart Picks test kitchen and shared their thoughts on important factors such as food quality, portion size, taste, customization options and ease of preparation.

We also paid close attention to the delivery process, including whether the service gives you the option to schedule your delivery, the number of updates the company provides during delivery and the quality of the packaging. In addition, we went through the cancellation process for each to determine how long it takes and whether there are any hoops to jump through before pausing or ending a subscription.

For more details, see our meal delivery service testing methodology page. 

Is a vegetarian diet beneficial for older adults?

“A well-planned vegetarian diet has real advantages for older adults,” says Kristen Kuminski, a registered dietitian nutritionist in Buffalo, New York. A vegetarian diet may lower the risk of heart disease, reduce “bad” cholesterol and improve blood sugar control, adds Madison Reeder, a registered dietitian in Washington, D.C. 

Vegetarian diets tend to be lower in saturated fat than diets that include meat. A diet high in saturated fat, on the other hand, can contribute to a buildup of low-density lipoprotein (often called “bad cholesterol”). According to the American Heart Association, bad cholesterol is associated with heart disease, which is the leading cause of death for adults.

People who eat vegetarian diets also tend to get plenty of fiber. "Fiber clears cholesterol from the gut, feeds the bacteria that regulate inflammation, slows sugar absorption to protect against type 2 diabetes and supports the digestive regularity that becomes harder to maintain with age," Reeder says.

There are considerations to keep in mind before going meatless. Older adults need sufficient protein to preserve lean muscle mass, so you need to make sure you’re getting enough from meat-free sources. And a meat-free diet may be so high in fiber it can lead to bloating, gas or constipation, Reeder says.

If you're interested in following a vegetarian diet, you can consult with your doctor or a registered dietitian who can help you create a balanced meal plan.

How to choose the best vegetarian meal delivery service 

The difference between a good vegetarian meal delivery service and an excellent one depends on how the recipes are created, Reeder says. All of the companies on this list say their meals have been reviewed and approved by dietitians. This input is important, Reeder says, because nutrition experts can address issues such as making sure the meals include nutrients vegetarians commonly underconsume.

If you’re not sure which service is right for you, keep these factors in mind.

Vegetarian-specific recipes and adequate protein intake

While all the companies on this list offer vegetarian-friendly meals, the number of recipe options varies. Some services, such as Factor or Green Chef, have dedicated vegetarian meal plans that may make it easier to select your weekly meals. 

One challenge of using a vegetarian meal delivery service is making sure you're getting enough protein, Kuminski says. "Older adults have higher protein needs than most people realize, around 1.2 grams per kilogram of body weight to preserve muscle," she says. To put that into perspective, if you weigh around 150 pounds, your recommended daily protein intake is between 80 and 110 grams. When evaluating a vegetarian meal delivery service, she recommends examining the protein sources as well. "Are legumes, eggs, dairy, tofu and tempeh showing up regularly and in meaningful amounts, not just as a garnish?" she says.

Also, consider the number of vegetarian-specific meals each service offers. Some companies allow you to scroll through the recipe catalog and preview the weekly meals before you sign up, while others require you to complete the signup process to see specific recipe offerings. "Rotating through the same five meals is one of the fastest ways to develop nutrient gaps and lose interest in the program," Reeder says. All the companies on this list offer rotating vegetarian meals, which give you multiple new options each week.

Dietary restrictions

In addition to offering vegetarian-specific meals, most services on this list let you specify dietary limitations or preferences. This can help the service recommend the best recipes for you. These services also have a badge or distinction on their recipes that helps you quickly determine which diet they fit into. For example, Home Chef displays badges on recipes such as "fiber-rich," "gluten-smart" and "calorie-conscious," and you can filter by category when browsing meals to further tailor your preferences.

This is a key feature because, as Reeder notes, adults 50-plus may be managing certain health or dietary needs, whether that's lower-sodium, kidney-friendly recipes or diabetes-supportive choices. "Most older adults are working with at least one health condition that shapes what their meals should look like," she says.

Sodium was one of the most common concerns raised during our focus group. Several testers noted having trouble finding meals that suited their low-sodium diet. Kuminski says prepared meals, in particular, tend to be salty. "Older adults managing blood pressure or kidney function need to watch this closely," she says.

Nutrient content and ingredient sourcing

A balanced vegetarian meal delivery service can meet the nutritional needs of older adults, but it's important to check that the service provides the nutrients you’re seeking. "The nutrients worth watching most closely for older adult vegetarians are protein, B12, iron, calcium, vitamin D and omega-3s," as these are the ones vegetarians sometimes don’t get enough of, Reeder says. Vitamin D and vitamin B12 play roles in bone health and central nervous system function. As we age, our ability to absorb enough vitamin B12 decreases, so it's even more important to ensure a vegetarian diet is delivering enough.

If you're not sure whether a meal delivery service meets your nutritional needs, check with your health care provider.

Prep time

A big draw of meal delivery services is that they may make meal planning and preparation easier. Around 54 percent of respondents to our 2026 survey of 300 adults ages 50 and older said they use meal delivery services because they are convenient.

However, how much time you save in the kitchen may vary by service. Meal kits typically state an estimated prep time for each dish on the recipe card, but several older adult testers said it took them longer to prepare the meal than the card indicated. Many factors go into this, such as your comfort level in the kitchen, the complexity of the recipe and whether you require breaks after chopping or standing for extended periods. Still, you can use the estimated cook time as a guideline to help you select meal kits that suit your needs.

Prepared meals that come chilled or frozen and only require heating may be a good fit for busy older adults or those who don't want to experiment with new cooking techniques. If you're looking for prepared vegetarian meals, you may like options such as Factor or CookUnity. 

How much do the best vegetarian meal delivery services cost?

The vegetarian meal delivery services on this list have starting prices between $6.99 and $15.99 per serving.

Finding a reasonably priced meal delivery service is a common concern, according to our 2026 survey. In fact, the majority of respondents (63 percent) said cost was the reason they canceled their subscription. 

The prices below are the typical starting price per serving. They do not account for upgrades or modifications that could change the cost per serving. The total cost of your weekly meal subscription can vary depending on factors such as the number of meals you select, the dishes you choose (some specialized meals may be more expensive), any customizations you make and the length of your subscription.

How to save money on meal delivery services

Meal delivery companies often run sales and offer discounts that can help you save money. Some of the most generous sales are offered when you sign up or reactivate an account. For example, when our testers ordered Home Chef meals, the discount for first-time customers was 50 percent off the first box (with a maximum discount of $41 on the box) and then 17 percent off the next four meal delivery orders (with a maximum discount of $14 per box). 

We’ve also seen some meal delivery services offer discounts to teachers, health care workers, first responders and active military. For example, Home Chef offers 50 percent off your first box (up to $60) and 10 percent off future orders for health care workers, military personnel, first responders and teachers. For these occupations, Factor offers 55 percent off the first box and 15 percent off future boxes for a year. 

FAQs

What is the best prepared vegetarian meal delivery service?

Factor is the best prepared vegetarian meal delivery service based on our assessment. Testers rated the service highly for taste and ease of preparation. Factor offers about 10 vegetarian meals each week in its rotating menu. These recipes replace animal-based proteins with proteins like eggs, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese or plant-based proteins like tofu, black beans or chickpeas. 

Do vegetarian meal delivery services save you money?

Whether you save money with meal delivery services depends on a few factors, including how much money you currently spend on food per week. For example, the cost per serving for these services may not be cheaper than buying ingredients at the store and making a meal from scratch. But these services may be more wallet-friendly than ordering takeout and getting it delivered. Also, if you often throw away food, pre-portioned meals may help you limit waste, which could be more cost-effective over time.

Can you get enough protein with a vegetarian meal delivery service?

Yes, you can meet your daily protein goals with a vegetarian meal delivery service, even though the recipes don't include meat. For vegetarian recipes, many companies substitute meat with protein-dense plant-based substitutes, like tofu, tempeh or beans. Many companies also allow you to apply multiple filters to weekly recipes, giving you the chance to find vegetarian meals that specifically target high-protein goals.

Questions or feedback? Email us at AARPSmartPicks@aarp.org.