The Ultimate Guide to Paleo Meal Delivery Services: Part 2

In The Ultimate Guide to Paleo Meal Delivery Services: Part 1, you learned why meal services are so awesome and the 3 scenarios that make it the right time to use one in order to maximize your dollar and save your sanity.

In part 2, I’ll break down the 3 different categories of paleo meal delivery services you need to know about before placing your order along with my tried-and-true Triple Peak meal service picks, and I’ll hook you up with my money-saving tips to make your dollar go further!

Power Supply’s Roasted Chicken w/ Fennel-Yam Medley & Spiced Fruit Sauce (w/ a 1/4 avocado)

THE 3 TYPES OF PALEO MEAL DELIVERY SERVICES

As with anything these days, there are so many options out there, making it more likely you’ll freeze up and bail rather than make an actual decision.  So here’s what you need to know: these are 3 most common categories of paleo meal services you can choose from to best fit your personal brand of busy.

1) LOCAL WEEKLY MENU

A weekly paleo meal service that operates in a specific area. Meals are made locally in a central kitchen or by local chefs and delivered once or twice a week to a nearby drop off location or directly to your door step.

HOW TO FIND:

• Google phrases such as “paleo meal service (your town or city name)”
• Ask around – call your local Crossfit box, gym, or talk to your fellow fitness friends

PROS: Fresh (not frozen), likely locally grown ingredients, save money with a pick up option, ready to eat immediately

CONS: Possibly limited menu options since it’s likely a smaller company, may not exist outside of urban areas, must order by specific cut off date for weekly menu

TRIPLE PEAK PICK:

Territory Foods // Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas Fort Worth, Washington DC

Territory Food (formerly Power Supply) serves a never-ending variety of fresh, high quality meals, offers convenient pickup and delivery options, is very affordable at $10.50 for the smaller portion meal or $13.50 for the larger portion, and all meals are packaged in containers that can be eaten directly out of.

OTHER LOCAL WEEKLY OPTIONS (untested by TPP): 

Primal Organic // Miami

KitchFix // Chicago

Northwest FitMeals // Seattle

Level Up Meals // San Diego

Paleo On The Go’s Plantain Pancakes w/ Sliced Banana & Maple Syrup

2) NATIONWIDE WEEKLY MENU

A weekly paleo meal delivery service that ships frozen prepackaged meals in refrigerated shipping boxes directly to you. A week’s worth of meals are made in a central kitchen and are shipped directly to your doorstep each week.

HOW TO FIND:

• Google phrases such as “paleo meal delivery service weekly” or “paleo weekly meal delivery”
• Look for advertisements on reputable paleo blogs or in paleo publications like Paleo Magazine

PROS: Ships nationwide, directly to you, more customizable menu options since it’s a larger company, you can store meals in freezer to eat on your own timeline, “set it and forget it” order system

CONS: Arrives frozen, must order by specific cut off date to take part in weekly menu, cost of shipping, must thaw meals before eating, cannot eat out of packaging.

TRIPLE PEAK PICK:

Pete’s Paleo (ships nationwide)

Pete’s Paleo is chef owned, the menu is seasonal, they offer specific paleo diet protocols (such as the 21-Day Sugar Detox and Wahl’s Paleo Protocol), the meals are simple, straightforward, and delicious (always one protein and two veggies), and as an add-on to your meal delivery, you can purchase their bacon, which is the BEST bacon I’ve ever had in my life. Approximately $18 per meal.

OTHER NATIONWIDE WEEKLY OPTIONS (untested by TPP): 

Trifecta Nutrition // Standard Paleo

IONutrition // Standard Paleo

The Good Kitchen // Standard Paleo, with a kids menu

Paleo On The Go’s Beef Chili

3) NATIONWIDE A LA CARTE MENU

A paleo meal delivery service that operates on an “as you need it” basis. Instead of offering a weekly subscription menu, you can purchase meals either a la carte or a with a more extensive 30 day menu. When you run out, it’s up to you to place another order.

HOW TO FIND:

• Google phrases such as “paleo meal delivery service” or “paleo meals a la carte”
• Look for advertisements on reputable paleo blogs or in paleo publications like Paleo Magazine

PROS: Ships nationwide and directly to you, more customizable menu options since larger company, can store meals in freezer to eat on your own timeline, no commitment to a weekly schedule/ can order only amount needed

CONS: Arrives frozen, cost of shipping, must thaw meals before eating, cannot eat out of packaging, must remember to order meals before running out

TRIPLE PEAK PICK:

True Fare (ships nationwide)

True Fare has an extensive menu offering of paleo-friendly meal plans for a number for specific diets including Whole30, Autoimmune Protocol (AIP), and Keto/ Low Carb. Their delicious meals typically include a protein and a veggie side, but they also offer a la carte snacks, bone broth, and meat.

Use code TRIPLEPEAKPALEO for 10% off your first True Fare order!

OTHER NATIONWIDE A LA CARTE OPTIONS (untested by TPP): 

Trifecta Nutrition // Standard Paleo

IONutrition // Standard Paleo

Paleo Power Meals // Standard Paleo, a la carte but can be shipped weekly

Power Supply’s Stuffed Red Pepper (w/ side of mashed sweet potato)

MAXIMIZE YOUR MONEY

When it comes to the paleo meal delivery service, the biggest reason people hold off is the cost. So I’d like to start with a small reality check: at the time I was writing this article, I paid $13.50 for my completely paleo lunch (provided by a meal delivery service) while the coworker beside me had just spent $14 on a burrito and chips from Chipotle. True story. When you consider that, it doesn’t make a paleo meal service seem so expensive now, does it?

All the same, keeping your healthy eating costs affordable is key, so here are my ninja tips to get the most bang for your paleo meal delivery service buck:

• Give them your email When you sign up for a meal service website’s email list, they’ll often thank you with 10-15% coupon as well as the occasional email discount or special promotion.
• Ask a friend If you’ve got a friend using a meal service, ask for a referral code. Businesses value referrals and may give you your first meal free or an exclusive discount.
• Refer a friend On the flip side, if you’re the one using a meal delivery service, refer your friends! Businesses also reward those doing the referring.
• Buy local Generally speaking, the local weekly meal services are less expensive than nationwide services.
• Pick it up If a meal service offers a pick up option, use it, and save yourself a delivery charge.
• Play the “free shipping” game If a website has a minimum charge to qualify for free shipping, take advantage of it. Sure, you may spend a little more, but it’s better to spend an extra $30 on food instead of paying $30 for shipping!
• Search for coupons Browse paleo blogs and and paleo publicans for special promo codes (usually only good for first time users).
• Buy in bulk Some a la carte meal service websites will give bigger discounts when you spend more money so play it smart and order more to get a better price per meal. Since it comes frozen, you can always keep it in the freezer until you’re ready to eat it!
• Know your schedule Stay on top of your calendar and always pause or cancel weekly food shipments before the cut off date so you don’t pay for food you don’t need.

There are a lot of ways to play the system, but do be aware that these tricks may not apply to every meal service company. So be a smart shopper and compare your options – you could easily save double digits!

Power Supply’s Steak Fajitas w/ Tomatillo Sauce

THE SUM UP

You don’t need a million dollars to be the healthiest version of you, even when you’re busy. You just have to know your schedule, know your limitations, and plan accordingly.

Using a meal service doesn’t mean you’re lazy or you aren’t able to take care of yourself. It means you’re smart. It means you value yourself. It means you prioritize your life and your work by providing your body with the right fuel so you can give them everything you’ve got.

When you use the strategies and tricks laid out in part 1 and part 2 of this article, you’re choosing to put your mental and physical health first so that you can be the best version of you in any circumstance, making a paleo meal delivery service more than worth it.