The 7 Best Meal Kits in Waterloo
You don’t need to be a world class chef to start making world class meals for you and your family if you live in Waterloo, Ontario. With these meal kit services, you get pre-measured ingredients and recipes, so you can skip the planning and shopping and focus on the cooking and eating. Meal kits in Waterloo come in a range of options, including vegetarian, low-calorie, and gluten-free for everyone’s needs, with a range of serving options and cost per plate to fit different budgets and lifestyles.
Let’s take a look at some of the best meal kits in Waterloo, from popular options like HelloFresh and Chefs Plate, to local companies such as Fat Sparrow Group and MVP Meals.
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| Meal Kit Company | Cost Per Plate | Size Options | Ideal For | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HelloFresh | $8.83-$11.49 | 2 or 4 servings 3-5 recipes per week | Couples Families Dietary Restrictions | Visit Site |
| Chefs Plate | $8.99-$9.99 | 2 or 4 servings 2-5 meals a week | Singles Couples Busy parents | Visit Site |
| GoodFood | $9.46 - $12.45 | 2 or 4 servings 2-4 recipes per week | Singles Couples Families | Visit Site |
| Fat Sparrow Group | $9.25-$14.50 | 2 or 4 servings 1-4 meals per week | Single Couples Families | Visit Site |
| Meels | $14.99-$17.99 | Large meals and snacks | Busy individuals Eco-conscious | Visit Site |
| MVP Meals | $9.99-$10.99 | 5, 10, 15, or 20 meals per week | Couples Families Health-conscious | Visit Site |
| Lakelands Diet Delivery | $11.50-$12.50 | Regular and large meals 2-3 meals per day | Singles Couples Macro Tracking | Visit Site |
Contents
HelloFresh
Australia, Canada, Europe, United States Low-calorie, Vegetarian Two (Couple), Four (Family) $10 to $15 No Yes Recycling Germany
Delivers to:
Dietary Plans Available:
Dinners for:
Price per Plate
Free Shipping?
Intro Deal:
Sustainability
HQ Location
HelloFresh is one of the most popular meal kit services available in Waterloo and throughout Canada. HelloFresh has over 35 delicious meals available each week with a rotating menu. They offer dietary options including vegetarian, ketogenic, and pescatarian meals along with healthy meals with low-cal, low-carb, and high-protein options as well. Each week, you can choose 3 to 5 meals to order for 2 to 4 people making it a great option for both couples and families.
Meals usually take 30-40 minutes to make and HelloFresh makes it super simple with recipe cards that include pictures and step-by-step instructions. All the ingredients are separately packed, measured, and labeled for your convenience. All you have to do is cook and eat. The cost per plate ranges between $8.83-$11.49 which is relatively cheaper than some of the other options in this list, although shipping costs $9.99 per order. There’s no commitment required, either—if you don’t like the upcoming meal options for a specific week, you can skip that week or cancel altogether with no charge.
Pros:
- 35+ meals to choose from each week for various dietary needs
- Consistent quality
- Easy-to-follow recipes
Cons:
- Too much packaging due to every ingredient being packaged separately
Chefs Plate
Canada Vegetarian Two (Couple), Four (Family) $10 to $15, $5 to $10 Yes First 2 meals free Ocean Wise, Sustainability Toronto
Delivers to:
Dietary Plans Available:
Dinners for:
Price per Plate
Free Shipping?
Intro Deal:
Sustainability
HQ Location
Chefs Plate is another popular meal service available in Waterloo and throughout Canada, known for their value and simplicity. Chefs Plate offers 21 recipes per week and fewer dietary options compared to other meal kit services. It offers your basic meat and vegetarian options; however, you can always list ingredients you wish to exclude for any dietary restrictions. You can choose 2 to 5 meals per week for 2 or 4 people.
Meals from Chefs Plate take between 15-30 minutes to make and come with detailed recipe cards. This is ideal for the busy parents that have no time to grocery shop or prep and cook large meals for the family. The cost per plate is $8.99 -$9.99 with free shipping on all weekly orders (except for 2 meals for 2 people, which costs $6.99). The free shipping and quick prep times makes Chefs Plate a great choice for quick and easy meal prep for busy families.
Pros:
- Budget-friendly
- Free delivery with almost every meal plan
- Quick prep time
Cons:
- Not great for those with serious dietary restrictions
Goodfood
Canada Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Low-carb, Vegan, Vegetarian Two (Couple), Four (Family) $9.99-$15.49 Yes Yes Recycling Montreal
Goodfood
$9.46
Per Serving
Delivers to:
Dietary Plans Available:
Dinners for:
Price per Plate
Free Shipping?
Intro Deal:
Sustainability
HQ Location
Goodfood is the third part of the Big 3 meal kit companies in Canada (alongside HelloFresh and Chefs Plate), delivering to Waterloo, Ontario. They offer a choice of 18 recipes every week with options for low-carb and vegetarian along with some vegan and gluten-free meals. The meal kit company does not allow you to list dietary restrictions but you do have the option to swap out ingredients you don’t want. While they don’t offer the most weekly options, their meal kits include a larger selection of meats and feature flavors from different cuisines, making them a great choice for families with adventurous taste buds. Goodfood is also committed to supporting local farmers, with 85% of their fresh ingredients locally sourced or packaged.
Goodfood meal kits include recipes which can take 30-60 minutes to prepare; however, their Easy Prep Basket offers recipes that cut prep time to just 15 minutes. The cost per plate ranges between $9.46 – $12.45—slightly higher than other meal kit services on this list, but it does come with free shipping on all orders. You can choose between 2 to 4 recipes for either 2 or 4 people.
Pros:
- Free delivery
- Minimal food waste
- Time-saving options with pre-cut ingredients
- 85% of ingredients are locally sourced
Cons:
- Not the best for dietary restrictions
- Prep time takes longer than estimated
Fat Sparrow Group
If you’re looking for a meal kit service that does a whole lot more than just meal kits, you’ll be interested in The Fat Sparrow Group. The family-owned business is an online marketplace that serves the Waterloo region and features locally sourced food and drink, meal kits, frozen prepared meals, meats and cheese, and groceries. If you’re looking for a local business to purchase meal kits in Waterloo, Fat Sparrow Group offers a meal kit subscription program for 1, 2, or 4 weeks. Each meal kit comes with easy to follow recipes for all levels of culinary experience and most recipes come with an instructional video hosted by lead Chef Nick Benninger. Like other delivery companies, the meal kits arrive in eco-friendly, recyclable packaging.
The meal kits subscription doesn’t offer options for any dietary restriction. Instead, you choose from the available recipes each week to build your own meal kit. The cost per plate for Build Your Own Meal Kit ranges from $9.25-$14.50 with prices decreasing the more portions you order. You can order for 2 or 4 people and choose between 2 to 4 kits in your subscription. While the cost is a bit higher compared to the bigger companies, delivery is free and each subscriber gets exclusive discounts for Fat Sparrow Marketplace items and other events hosted by the independent, family-owned business. For those looking to support a family-owned local business, Fat Sparrow Group’s meal kit service is a great choice.
Pros:
- Family-owned local business
- Most recipes have instructional videos on website
- Free delivery
- Includes exclusive offers for Fat Sparrow marketplace
Cons:
- A bit pricey
- Not the best for dietary restrictions
Meels
No time to step in the kitchen? Try a prepared meal service instead. For busy professionals and parents in Waterloo looking to cut down on take out dinners and skip meal planning, Meels offers ready-to-eat, handcrafted prepared meals that are both delicious and nutritious. With no grocery shopping, no meal prep, and no cooking required, all you need to do is heat it and eat it. The prepared meals subscription service allows you to choose the number of entrees you’d like for the week along with protein and side preferences (including vegan options). Dietary restrictions include gluten-free, soy free, nut free, and dairy free options, and you can list any ingredients you don’t want in your meals.
The cost per plate ranges between $14.99 and $17.99 per meal with optional sides ranging from $4.99 to $5.99. Delivery costs $5 flat for orders below $80. Meels is committed to sustainable & environmentally responsible packaging and all containers and sleeves are 100% recyclable. You can also return the insulated bag and ice bags from each delivery to get credit on your account for your next delivery. If you’re looking for a sustainable and eco-friendly company that offers prepared meals, give Meels a try.
Pros:
- Ready to eat, prepared meals
- Decent for dietary restrictions
- Insulated bags and ice packs can be returned for credit
- All containers and sleeves 100% recyclable
Cons:
- Most expensive option
MVP Meals
MVP Meals is another great option for ready-to-eat meal delivery service to save you from stepping into the kitchen. The company offers fully cooked, prepared meals with a focus on high quality ingredients and healthy balanced meals in the Waterloo region. You can choose between vegan, paleo, gluten free, and balanced meal plans with the option to order 5, 10, 15, or 20 meals for the week. While it isn’t possible to list any dietary restrictions, you can choose your meals from a list of available options for that week.
The cost per plate ranges between $9.99-$10.99 per meal. While the cost is a bit cheaper compared to other local companies, shipping is a bit on the pricey side ranging from $6.50-$10. They also ask you to leave an insulated bag and ice pack outside your door if you don’t expect to be home, which other meal delivery services usually include in their deliveries. Meal containers are recyclable and reusable as well as freezer and dishwasher friendly. If you’re looking for a local meal delivery business that offers cheap meals, MVP Meals could be for you.
Pros:
- Budget-friendly
- Local business
- Focus on healthy, balanced meals
Cons:
- Not the best for dietary restrictions
- Expensive delivery fees
- Does not deliver in insulated bag
Lakelands Diet Delivery
Lakelands Diet Delivery rounds out the list with the largest selection of prepared meals, including breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. They also have 10 different meal plans to choose from based on the number of meals, which range from Simple (2 meals a day) to Complete Large (3 large meals and 3 large snacks a day). Once you select a plan, you can choose between a large variety of meal and snack options.
While there are no plans aimed at special diets, the company does offer meal and snack options that are gluten free, vegetarian, low carb, and dairy free. Lakeland Diet Delivery is aimed at people looking to eat healthier and lose weight through portion control. The calorie count and nutritional facts for each meal ensures you can track your calorie intake, protein, and other macros and stay on top of your diet.
The cost per plate sits between $11.50-$12.50 with additional savings if you choose to order for 12 days or 30 days. The meal delivery service offers free shipping on all orders and ships your food in a styrofoam container with ice packs.
Pros:
- Large variety of meal plans and meals (including breakfast)
- Provide nutritional facts and calories for each meal
- Free shipping
Cons:
- Not the best for dietary restrictions
- Website difficult to navigate
Final Thoughts
Meal kits companies are no longer just for busy individuals living in large cities like Toronto. It’s easier than ever to find the meal kit company that works for you in Waterloo. They’ve been a real lifesaver for this busy mom. If you’re a foodie who loves to cook but doesn’t have time to shop, meal kit delivery services can help you cook delicious and nutritious meals without spending hours in the kitchen and grocery store every week. And if you’re super busy and have no time to cook at all, opt for a meal delivery service that offers prepared meals. For parents of picky eaters, you’ll be sure to find a meal kit service in this list that you can personalize for your tastes and dietary restrictions.
If you live in Southwestern Ontario, check out our other recommendations for the best meal kit services in London and the best meal kit services in Hamilton. Skip the meal plan and grocery list next week and choose one of these meal delivery services instead!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most popular meal kit company?
HelloFresh is the most popular meal kit company in Canada with over 7.5 million customers worldwide as of 2022.
Which meal prep service is best in Canada?
There are a number of meal kit companies which offer delicious meals for affordable prices in Canada. The best meal prep services in Canada include HelloFresh and Chef’s Plate.
What is the most affordable prepared meal delivery service?
Prepared meals are usually more expensive than meal kits as the food is prepared and fully cooked by chefs and delivered to your residence ready to heat and eat. In the Waterloo area, Lakelands Diet Delivery offers the cheapest prepared meal delivery with the cost per plate ranging from $11.50-$12.50.
How much does the average meal kit cost?
The average meal kit costs between $10-$12 per plate in Canada. Usually, ordering more servings or for more people can bring down the cost to $8-$10 per plate.
