Build your own combo. What to order: It's a little tricky to get the price down while filling up at your favorite mall-based restaurant.

Nonetheless, you can get pretty close, especially if you opt to skip a soda and get some water. You probably need to hydrate anyhow, right? It's pretty damn solid all things considered. While this meal is put together with menu prices, you can pretty reliably find a deep discount in the Wendy's app and occasionally even land a free burger.

Nonetheless, to get your meal, skip the Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger and grab two Jr. You haven't really eaten at Wendy's until you've dipped your fries in a Frosty. The money goes to charity and you wind up getting free Frostys for an entire year. What to order: If you're looking to maximize your caloric intake for the buck, the Sausage Egg and Cheese on a croissant has a whopping calories.

The bagels at Dunkin' tend to survive life before your mouth a little more intact than the croissant. No, you aren't getting a coffee, but Dunkin' isn't fooling anyone with the name change. You still came there for the donut. What to order: Chipotle is not the go-to spot for a budget-conscious eater.

You really can't get anything there's a kid's menu. The same thing less the juice box from the adult menu costs slightly more. However, it's entirely possible if you think outside the Mountain. Yeah, the Jamocha Shake is only available here, but these are the best damn fries in the game.

It's also worth checking if they're offering anything for signing up for the Arby's email list. Sometimes handing over your email lands you a free sandwich or gyro. What to order: If you've ever been to a White Castle or have seen a film with the words "Harold and Kumar" in the title, you know the drill.

What to order: No, the Colonel still isn't bringing back the long-dead Double Down. Though, the nuggets would substitute well and keep you in the same price range. Plus, you'd be getting those sweet, sweet sauces. Sometimes the classics are classics for a reason.

What to order: Jimmy John's hasn't always been the best place for a super-cheap lunch. You can opt to make the box vegetarian too. The menu is robust, allowing you to choose from over recipes each week that include family-friendly offerings, vegetarian and vegan fare, reduced-carb options and more.

Everything is designed to be prepared in 30 minutes or less with no more than six ingredients. Lab results: Our experts were very impressed with the variety and quantity of meals that Dinnerly offers, and they appreciate that the brand is able to remain affordable without sacrificing flavor or quality.

Testers were really impressed with the abundance of meals to choose from and just how tasty they were. But testers did note that some items came un-bagged in the box and that even though the recipes require only six fresh ingredients, you'll often need to work in a few basic additional items of your own.

That said, you can see in advance what ingredients they will send and what you'll need to have on hand. Many also noted that they would have preferred printed recipe cards, though Dinnerly does give you the option to print the recipe yourself at home. You'll also find only basic nutrition information like calories and macronutrients on the recipes.

The most inexpensive meal delivery kit out there, EveryPlate was launched by the popular HelloFresh a few years ago as a budget-friendly alternative.

The company is able to keep costs down by using less packaging and simple, accessible ingredients. How it works: Choose from either a two-person or four-person plan with three to six meals per week. Lab results: Even though EveryPlate was the cheapest meal delivery kit we tested, both our experts and testers gave it top scores across the board.

Although the offerings lean more toward the comfort-food side, our dietitians noted that it easy to find the nutrition facts for each meal readily available on the website.

More expensive services will package the food in individual bags or containers, but the food from EveryPlate doesn't come particularly well-organized in the box. This was one of the few complaints from testers, as some of the items were scattered around the box in transit.

Some testers also said that certain meals took longer to prepare than the time stated on the recipe cards. That being said, the meals are great value for the price, and testers loved how easy they were to prepare. I also found the cooking instructions less complicated," a tester commented.

Another said, "I like that EveryPlate has simple directions and comes with everything you need even stock packets to get your meal going. This delivery service has been popular in the meal kit game since and focuses on easy-to-follow recipes. On its website, HelloFresh shares its own week price comparison study analyzing customers' costs versus the cost of shopping at nationwide grocery stores and found that HelloFresh is significantly cheaper than grocery shopping.

How it works: Choose a plan for two or four people and from two to six meals per week. Upgrades and add-ons are available as well, and there are over weekly menu options.

Lab results: HelloFresh provides a solid meal delivery kit, with everything neatly packed into little bags with separators making the experience feel very organized and seamless.

The packaging in general also proved superior to other services we tested in terms of both performance and sustainability. Our experts like that full nutrition information and entire recipes are available on the site so you can get a preview before you commit to a particular meal.

Allergens are listed per meal as well. Testers appreciated the number of recipes, with one saying, "I liked that it seemed to have a lot of variety of meals to choose from.

One tester said, "It allowed me to try new foods, minimize food waste and save time planning meals for the week. Rated as our best overall meal delivery kit , Blue Apron offers high-quality ingredients, inventive recipes and lots of options for different dietary needs, including WW. How it works: Choose to feed two or four people, and select from two to four meals per week.

Their signature chef's faves menu offers a mix of meat, fish and WW-recommended recipes; the vegetarian menu highlights meat-free dishes with seasonal produce and the wellness menu focuses on balanced meals approved by nutritionists and WW-recommended dishes. Lab results: Everything in the kits came well packaged in little bags to keep things organized.

Full nutrition facts labels are available on the site, along with the complete recipes and ingredient lists. Our registered dietitians also loves the variety of WW-recommended meals for those trying to get creative in the kitchen and still manage their dietary goals.

Both our pros and testers agree that the ingredients are fresh and high-quality, with testers giving the service rave reviews and noting that the recipes were creative and full of flavor.

The recipe cards offered simple step-by-step instructions, and the meals had substantial portions. The ingredients are perfectly measured, packaged well and fresh.

Home Chef offers boxes that feed up to six people per meal , which is more than other services. They provide plans that include both pre-portioned ingredients with easy-to-follow cooking instructions, as well as low- or no-prep meals for busy families.

How it works: Users begin the process by taking an online quiz to determine which meal plan is the best for them, including answering questions on any dietary preferences and restrictions. Lab results: Our experts love just how many different meal kit options Home Chef offers, whether you're looking to get something on the table fast for the family or want to indulge in a more special premium cooking experience.

And you don't have to order a crazy number of meals to unlock their lowest pricing. While it may not be the lowest-cost meal delivery kit on the list, it's definitely less than other big names out there, and the quality is top-notch.

You can check to see what items you'll need to have on hand for each meal and also get full nutrition facts readily available for every recipe on their website, but our registered dietitians do point out that the sodium content is very high on some of the meals.

Great taste! I was very pleased," a tester said. Another commented, "It's always hard to find new dinner ideas; these are a perfect variety to keep everyone in your family happy and full. Those looking for more plant-based fare will appreciate the hearty vegetarian offerings from Mosaic.

You'll find everything from veggies and pizzas to smoothies, soups and oat bowls. The brand uses high-quality ingredients, choosing organic and local options when possible. How it works: Start by selecting your plan, which includes six, 12 or 18 options per box you'll get more savings the more you order.

Then fill your box with a variety of plant-based breakfast, lunch and dinner options. Meal filters include vegetarian, vegan, wheat-free, nut-free and high-protein. Select what you'd like or have Mosaic build a box for you based on customer favorites.

You'll then determine how often you'd like to receive deliveries, ranging from weekly to monthly. All of the meals are delivered frozen with free shipping on 12 and 18 item boxes. Testers were impressed with how tasty the veggie-forward meals were, with one saying, "Delicious!

So flavorful for frozen meals. We were impressed. I also love that they source their ingredients responsibly and offer a good variety of delicious food made from high-quality ingredients, including vegetarian options. That way, you can find the best service for your needs.

Here are some of the pros and cons of the most popular services:. Eat at home more, less typical, or unhealthy take-out. A cheap meal delivery service can be better on your wallet and for your body. Try new dishes. You can set menu preferences and get a wider variety, including things you may never have made otherwise.

The prep work is done for you. Most send you fresh food with pre-portioned ingredients, which takes out all guesswork. More time for you. You can spend more time with your family cooking meals or doing other things that you enjoy.

Learn new cooking techniques. They offer cooking tutorials and recipes to expand your culinary skills with family-friendly menu options. There is less food to waste. Any meal delivery service cost can be expensive.

It can be cheaper than ordering take-out, but the meals plus shipping costs may not be affordable for everyone. You have a membership to watch each week. These delivery services usually require a membership or subscription fee. Meals also need to be chosen and ordered in advance. There can be a lot of packaging in the boxes.

Since most meal delivery services send you fresh ingredients in their meal kit, there is usually a lot of packaging that includes insulated bags, dry ice, and the box. You still have to get other groceries. Delivery services are delivered to your door, but you still have to go grocery shopping at some point.

You still have other meals every day you need to think about! Planning your meals is self-explanatory- you create a meal plan and grocery list for the week, then cook all of your meals at home.

Buying groceries is usually cheaper than eating out or having your meals delivered. Savvy Tip: Like the convenience of having your meals delivered to your home but not the price of the meal kit services?

It has more great tips and ideas! Want to batch cook for the month and freeze the dishes? My Freeze Easy can help you get started with their free Quick Start Guide. Meal delivery is a great alternative if you eat out more or grab to-go meals from the grocery store. However, if you cook at home more and are very frugal about grocery shopping, it could cost more than getting groceries yourself and meal planning.

As a busy mom, I say these are most worth the cost when your family is really busy; meal kits help prevent food waste or eating out. Prepared meals are literally all put together for you, and just need to go into the microwave, govern, or skillet to heat up.

Meal kits are all the ingredients for a recipe delivered to you with a recipe and directions so you can whip up the whole meal yourself. It may be cheaper because it specifically offers kid meals rather than meals for adults or families.

I like this service because it offers a family plan to make sure you have enough food to go around. In my opinion, HelloFresh offers the most variety of meals, including great vegetarian options that could fit your weight loss plan. But check out the other meal delivery services to see other meal plans and see what fits best with your visions.

Cheap meal delivery services are a great way to get dinner on the table without any hassles and at a reasonable price.

Get free chips and homemade queso when you sign up for the eClub! Choose from Big Mouth Bite mini burgers, the Santa Fe salad, fajitas and more! Cracker Barrel : Order online for family meal baskets that include two sides and biscuits.

Pricing varies by location. Pick up a bucket meal for the family; pricing varies by location. See more details here. These meals feed people. Olive Garden: The classic Italian eatery offers family meals, appetizers, and bundles serving up to 12 people.

They even have a lasagna bundle that serves up to 12! Note that soup, salad and breadsticks are extra.

Panera : Panera offers Breakfast feasts, sandwich feasts, pizza meals and soup deals for your whole family!

Popeyes : You can order 5 different family meals from Popeyes, from only chicken to all the trimmings! Red Lobster : If you need a seafood fix, Red Lobster is offering Family Meal Packs for 4 people. Prices and availability are subject to change and may vary by location.

Christian C. Kathy S. Focus on Burger King Large Fries on Serving Paper, a Whopper Jr. on the Right Side by yum9me CC BY-NC-ND. Henry C. Closeup of Domino's Medium Pizza with Pepperoni, Tomatoes, Mushrooms, and Green Bell Peppers by Nadir Hashmi CC BY-NC-ND.

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They also offer several gluten-free options each week. Still, it may not be a good fit for families with picky eaters because the recipes tend to feature bold, regional flavors. However, they have a huge catalog of weekly options, including several that require minimal prep.

This makes Dinnerly a better fit for families on a budget who also need meals that come together quickly. Some of their recent menu options include No Chop! Low-Cal Chorizo Tacos and Ready Made! Cheesy Chicken Penne Alfredo. Many reviewers love the variety that Dinnerly provides, but they do say that occasionally produce arrives in bad shape.

Overall, the sheer variety of Dinnerly—along with its low price—makes it a great fit for most families without special dietary needs. They even offer some low-carb and dairy-free meals. HelloFresh is one of the most well-known meal kit delivery services.

They offer a wide variety of meals each week, including crowd-pleasing choices and more unique dishes. For singles, a two-serving plan provides a dinner and one serving worth of leftovers for lunch the next day. It can save a lot of money compared to dining out for lunch and dinner.

Other than occasional shipping issues, reviewers rate HelloFresh highly—with many saying that they cook at home much more since starting their HelloFresh subscription. Meal delivery services are companies that ship prepared meals or meal kits to your doorstep each week. There are several different meal delivery services to suit nearly all budgets and diet preferences.

Meal delivery services are convenient and they can help you save time and money. They also may help you incorporate healthier meals into your routine and they can add some variety if you find yourself in a cooking rut. By eliminating the need to meal plan and grocery shop, meal delivery services provide convenience and save lots of time.

Even if you choose a meal kit that requires you to prep and cook the ingredients, you may still save a couple of hours each week of planning and shopping. If you find yourself eating out or ordering out regularly, meal delivery companies could also help you save money.

Many meal delivery services also feature well-balanced, nutritious meals that prioritize fresh produce and healthy protein sources. They can be a good way to introduce your family to healthier meals. Finally, meal kit services often feature large selections of meals from different types of cuisine.

They can add some much-needed variety if your dinners have been feeling stale. There are two different types of meal delivery services: prepared meal delivery and meal kit delivery. Prepared meal delivery services send single-serving meals that are completely cooked.

They only require reheating and they may be sent fresh or frozen. Meal kits, on the other hand, consist of weekly shipments of recipe cards and all the corresponding ingredients to cook those recipes.

There are five main factors to consider when choosing the best affordable meal delivery service for your household. For individuals, prepared meals may be more convenient, but meal kits are often a better choice for families.

Families who follow specific diets like gluten-free, vegan or keto will need to choose meal delivery services like Purple Carrot or Green Chef, which are more expensive than some others.

Additionally, if you eat organic that will limit your options as well. Only Green Chef offers exclusively organic meal kits. Finally, you should review the menu before you sign up and make sure that there are plenty of options that you and the other members of your household will enjoy.

When choosing a meal delivery service, what to avoid really comes down to your personal preferences and budget. Fortunately, you can view the menu for all of these services on their websites before signing up.

In fact, I have tested all of the services on this list for myself, in addition to several others. We were able to use my first-hand experiences to help guide our decisions for the best cheap meal delivery. Additionally, we considered price per serving, specialty diets and customer reviews to ensure that we included highly-rated meal kits that offered affordable options for people with many different dietary needs and preferences.

Meal delivery services are weekly subscriptions that send pre-prepared meals or meal kits with recipes and ingredients to your door each week. Some, like Nutrisystem, send monthly shipments. Meal delivery services are available at a wide range of prices. Many of them cost around eight to ten dollars per serving, but they can range from five to fifteen dollars per serving.

Meal delivery services can be a good fit for athletes, depending on their unique nutrition needs. Typically, athletes need to prioritize protein intake and may need to time their carbohydrate intake around athletic events. Most meal delivery services feature protein-rich meal options and you can adjust the size of your carbohydrate serving if needed.

Cheap meal delivery services can save your family hours each week. Although they are typically more expensive than grocery store prices, there are several affordable options that can save money compared to regular dining out. Be sure to choose a meal kit that fits within your budget, is a good fit for your dietary needs and contains plenty of options that your household enjoys.

It is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. For health advice, contact a licensed healthcare provider. Good for: People looking for an inexpensive meal kit service with quality ingredients. Skip the food shopping and the chopping—Dinnerly is a meal kit service that sends you fresh ingredients right to your door with most of the food preparation already done.

Our pick for best overall cheapest meal delivery service goes to Dinnerly. Additionally, Dinnerly provides a market where you can purchase premade meals and food groceries, as well.

Within that time frame, meals rotated to new selections already. The meal kits were a hit for Nicole, who tried the turkey taquitos and pastrami-crusted steak with an everything bagel potato; they were both delicious to her. It has better ingredient quality and definitely less sodium than a TV dinner, but with very similar taste vibes.

Our expert dietitian Perry Nix, RD, likes that Dinnerly provides affordable meals to avoid going out to eat, which improves our diet as well as saving money. Good for: Those wanting an inexpensive prepared meal delivery with organic ingredients. Fresh N Lean is a prepared meal delivery service that has a variety of meal plans to choose from.

In addition, you can select exact meals from their A la carte section. I was surprised! What stood out to dietitian Perry Nix was the protein amounts provided in each prepared meal. Additionally, the one issue Kate ran into was that it was a hassle to cancel her meal subscription.

She actually had to call customer service…who does that anymore? Customers can choose between 10 and 21 weekly healthy meals geared toward weight loss.

You can eat meals after just microwaving them for a few minutes. Meal plans include options for specific diets, like keto, mediterranean, plant-based, or low carb diets. RELATED: Best Weight Loss Programs. Unfortunately, eating too few calories for a prolonged time can actually damage your metabolism and make it harder to lose weight.

HelloFresh is a subscription meal delivery service that provides ingredients and recipes for weekly meals. They provide six different plans, including plant-based, pescatarian, and quick and easy meals. Additionally, 40 different recipes are available each week, and proteins and sides can be swapped out as needed.

The subscription is flexible, as you can skip a week, pause, or cancel your account at any time. Meal kits include ingredients and recipe cards, and you prep and cook your meals for two people or four.

Our product tester, Ashley Little, has used HelloFresh for several years, and enjoys the ease of ordering and customizing your weekly meals.

There is quite a bit of customization, an aspect that appealed to dietitian Perry Nix, RD, as well, particularly for family-friendly options. Also, since you cook these meals at home, the kids can help prepare their meals, which inspires them to taste new foods. Still, with its low price and discounts, this meal service is worth a shot.

Good for: Meal kits that have variety up to par with grocery shopping. Hungryroot offers a unique take on meal delivery, in that you find a recipe you like, and the company will send you all of the ingredients to make it. There are many options for types of food to choose from, and you can even order extra groceries that you might need as well.

You do have to cook though, so if that's not interesting to you, this won't be the right plan. This feels less like a meal service and more like grocery shopping, according to GGR head of content and certified personal trainer Kate Meier, who tested out Hungryroot.

The ease of prep was fantastic for a meal kit service, according to Kate. But it was so easy—not a lot of chopping, because everything is prepackaged and ready to throw in a skillet.

There is an abundance of variety with Hungryroot, particularly for those with dietary restrictions. Also, Kate was a bit overwhelmed by the initial quiz at the start—asking lots of questions before you even get to see the meal options.

Nevertheless, this is a solid service that provides high-quality ingredients for a relatively inexpensive price. Mosaic is a frozen meal delivery service that offers plant-based options for vegetarians, vegans, and omnivores alike. Mosaic has a wide selection of frozen veggie bowls, family meals, pizzas, smoothies, soups, and oat bowls.

Dishes vary from smoothies to pizzas and flatbreads, and even soups and oat bowls. Family-friendly meals were also available, which dietitian Perry Nix, RD, enjoyed. Vegetables are full of vitamins and minerals that promote immune health, improve vision, and support strong bones and a healthy metabolism.

Make sure to check if they deliver to you though, as their delivery is limited to certain parts of the U. RELATED: Plant-Based Protein Powder Benefits. Good for: Families needing meal kits with options for all family members. Blue Apron is a meal kit delivery service that sends you everything you need for a fun, tasty meal right to your door.

Blue Apron is our favorite budget-friendly meal delivery service for families. With wellness and veggie plant-based options available in their preferences, Blue Apron also provides family-friendly options for kid-friendly meals, as well as a fast and easy quick prep option.

RELATED: Blue Apron Vs HelloFresh Vs Home Chef. Our tester, Sarah Carlton, enjoys the meal kits overall, although some meals shine brighter than others.

On the other hand, the Salmon was packed with flavor and so good. The quality of the ingredients impressed Perry Nix, RD. These ingredient standards support the environment, farmers, and animal welfare.

A fault that Perry notes is that Blue Apron is fairly limited when it comes to dietary preferences. RELATED: Best Meal Delivery for Weight Loss. There are no subscriptions, you can order at the frequency to like.

Our favorite prepared meal delivery on a budget is Clean Eatz. Clean Eatz allows you to pick six meals from their meal plans—including keto, high-protein, and gluten-free plans—and then a quantity of these six-meal packs.

Only being able to choose six meals at a time with limited variety might not be what some are looking for; still, with a decent amount of protein in each meal and delicious ingredients, Clean Eatz provides good value at a pretty low price.

Busy parents will rejoice in picker-eater approved menu items with hidden vegetables and wholesome ingredients from Little Spoon, a kid-specific meal delivery service. Little Spoon has meal options for babies who are not yet eating solid foods, little ones moving to bite-size pieces, toddlers eating finger foods, and smoothies for on-the-go snacks.

Subscription plans offer biweekly delivery cadence that can be skipped, paused, or canceled at any time. For the picky eaters in your household, we suggest Little Spoon. Providing meals for all age ranges, from infants to toddlers to young kids, Little Spoon exposes kids to a variety of flavors and ingredients at a young age.

Dietitian Perry Nix, RD, speaks on the importance of diversifying the foods a child is exposed to early on. Senior editor and certified nutrition coach Nicole Davis tested out these meals directly with the source: her two oldest children. The kids, being moderately picky in their foods, had mixed reactions to some meals.

Whether or not Little Spoon is right for you and your children will mostly depend on how your children like it. However, with organic ingredients that are non-GMO, this is a great meal service for kids. You can read our in-depth thoughts in our Little Spoon review. Not every meal service we tried made our top picks; here are a few honorable mentions we tested:.

Obviously, one of the biggest factors we accounted for on these meal delivery services was the price that these meal services brought to the table pun intended. There are more benefits to an inexpensive meal service besides the money. You can still have many of the benefits of meal services while staying on budget.

Finding a meal delivery service that fits in your budget will help you save money.