District Dish: Meal subscription box options for college students

Written by Emma Pilger. Image courtesy of Hello Fresh.

Meal subscription boxes are everywhere. Nowadays, there are plenty of companies that will send meals to your front door. Whether you’re looking for gourmet meals or have a dietary restriction, it can be difficult to navigate the endless options, especially for college students on a budget. But there are a lot of perks to ordering meal boxes, especially for busy lifestyles. College students often find themselves eating cheap, unhealthy food due to accessibility and convenience, but subscription boxes are changing that.

One of the main pros of ordering meal boxes is convenience. It’s hard for college students to find the time to keep fresh ingredients on hand consistently and use them to cook unique meals. Meal subscription boxes allow you to choose meals for the week while avoiding the hassle of the grocery store. Every ingredient is sent to your home, making it incredibly simple to cook meals for yourself on a regular basis.

However, a big con of these subscriptions is that they are expensive. Certain boxes are particularly pricey, which are unfortunately those which include vegan and organic options as well as meals for dietary restrictions. This makes meal subscriptions inaccessible for many people who fall into any of those categories.

Listed below are some meal subscription boxes that may be options for college students who want to try one out and are on a budget.

1. Hello Fresh

Possibly one of the most popular subscriptions, Hello Fresh offers a wide range of recipes each week to choose from, including vegetarian options. The ingredients are shipped quickly and the recipe cards are easy to follow. It’s a great starter box but does not offer vegan meals or meals for dietary restrictions. The price starts at $8.74 per serving.

2. Blue Apron

Blue Apron is the classic OG in the world of subscription boxes. The company offers gourmet recipes and sends the ingredients to your door, similarly to Hello Fresh, but is known for offering more adventurous meals. If you value convenience but want to try something new, Blue Apron could be a good fit for you. Although vegan and specific dietary meals are not offered, Blue Apron starts at $7.49 per serving.

3. Dinnerly

This is the most affordable subscription box that functions similarly to Hello Fresh and Blue Apron, so this may be the perfect option for those on a tight budget with each serving starting at $4.69. However, the low price means lower quality ingredients. Dinnerly sources the ingredients from specific places to keep the price low. The company also does not offer vegan meals or meals for dietary restrictions. But if that doesn’t matter much to you, it’s the perfect box for saving money.

4. Purple Carrot

Purple Carrot is the iconic 100% vegan meal subscription box on the market. Each meal is unique and delicious and comes with fresh ingredients. Purple Carrot is also one of the few services that offer meals for most dietary restrictions like gluten and nut allergies (however, the facility is not allergen-friendly certified so keep that in mind). One of the only downsides to Purple Carrot is the price. Starting at $12 per serving, this is one of the most expensive subscriptions out there. But if you can afford it, Purple Carrot is an exciting option.

5. Green Chef

Green Chef is one of the only meal subscription boxes that offer completely organic ingredients that are sourced from farmers sustainably. This may be the best option for those who value high-quality ingredients that are ethically sourced. Green Chef also offers vegan meals as well as meals for dietary restrictions (but again, the facility is not allergen-friendly certified). This is a great option for those seeking an overall accommodating box, however, it is more expensive due to its high-quality ingredients. Each serving starts at $10.99.

With some options provided, I hope that you can find a meal subscription box that fits your lifestyle. Cooking can be a great way to wind down from a busy day, which is why having ingredients and recipes prepared is so wonderful to come home to.