Here’s how to get the good stuff brought right to your doorstep
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Do you want ready-made meals for your busy weekday dinners? How about each meal, seven days a week?
A bevy of food delivery services have you covered, whether you want to heat and eat or do a bit of prep work.
Sweet Pea Plant-Based Kitchen is based in Rochester and touts its services as “the only whole food, plant-based service in the area,” according to Ryan Jennings, president and co-founder.
The meals are free of oils and some are gluten-free and soy-free. As much as possible, Sweet Pea sources from within New York state, including its flours for pasta and bread.
“There are folks who are living a whole food, plant-based lifestyle and want more convenience,” Jennings said. “These include younger families and working professionals who are looking to incorporate more plant-based foods into their diet.”
Sweet Pea offers about 250 unique recipes. Home delivery is available for a small fee within 40 miles from Rochester. The entrées are $13. Sweet Pea is also available at the Strong Memorial Hospital café and on the patient menu at Highland Hospital.
Shaina Sidoti founded Rochester-based Effortlessly Healthy to help people maintain a healthy weight through wholesome, healthful food. Effortlessly Healthy includes options for gluten-free, dairy-free, low sodium, diabetic friendly and vegetarian meals.
They average $10 per meal and seniors can get a discount of 10% (family plan not included).
Lorraine’s Take N Bake in Fairport provides 45 ready-to-cook meals for around $11 each, including gluten-free, vegetarian, low sodium and low fat. Many include locally grown produce. They’re also preservative-free.
Founder Lorraine Serpe felt drawn to help older adults stay healthy through eating well. After numerous years of working in catering, she launched the Take N Bake idea in 2006.
Based in Brighton, Project LeanNation allows customers to choose from among 24-plus chef-prepared meals with a focus on healthful weight loss. The meals cost an average of $8.50. Project LeanNation also includes one-on-one health coaching.
Based in Germany but with US locations as well, HelloFresh provides meal kits for busy chefs to complete at home. The weekly selections include 100 options for any meal, plus snacks and desserts. “Fit and Wholesome” and “Veggies” are among the menu categories. The meals cost about $10 each, plus shipping.
Fresh N Lean delivers to Rochester organic, healthful, ready-to-heat meals.
Based in Anaheim, California, Fresh N Lean prepares 100 different menu items in Mosic, Pennsylvania, for Northeastern customers. The 100-plus meal plan options include keto, paleo, protein plus, vegan, vegetarian, Whole30, and Mediterranean. Gluten-free and non-GMO is also available. The meals start at about $8 each.
Before signing up for a meal delivery service, see if a trial period is available to ensure you can sample the food for a bit. In addition, compare the cost based upon the price per meal and shipping, not just for the cost of the food. Most companies require ordering by a certain day of the week, so plan to do so to avoid disappointment. Ask about any special dietary requirements such as allergies and food sensitivities before signing up.
Meal Delivery
• Effortlessly Healthy www.ehmeals.com
• Lorraine’s Take N Bake www.lorrainesfoodfactory.com/take-n-bake.html
• Sweet Pea Plant-Based Kitchen www.sweetpeaplantbased.com
• HelloFresh www.hellofresh.com
• Fresh N Lean www.freshnlean.com/locations/rochester-meal-delivery
• Project LeanNation https://projectleannation.com