With both these meal delivery services, healthy eating is made fast and easy – But what are the main differences between Hungryroot and Hello Fresh? Continue reading to find out.
With the increased number of meal delivery kit companies since the first company launched in 2012, it’s easy to see why many people turn to meal delivery services when their schedule is too busy for home-cooked meals. This article compares two top choices – Hungryroot vs. Hello Fresh – to help you decide which option best meets your needs.
While both meal delivery services provide pre-portioned, fresh ingredients and the option to select which meals/recipes you receive each week, some main differences help set them apart. For example, Hungryroot allows you to customize the available snacks, sides, and mains, but Hello Fresh only allows customization in selecting meals.
Continue reading to learn more about the primary differences when comparing Hungryroot vs. Hello Fresh.
About Hungryroot Meal Delivery Service
Hungryroot is a grocery and meal delivery that ships food items to your door weekly so you can skip the grocery store. This service focuses on deciphering which ingredients best suit your dietary needs to offer customized deliveries. With Hungryroot, you’ll get meals, snacks, desserts, and more ingredients. You can order fresh produce alongside any other typical grocery items at the store. Hungryroot also offers recipes under 10 minutes, making it an excellent option for busy professionals, parents, and families.
How Does Hungryroot Work?
The process begins with an in-depth online test to help determine your food needs, such as how many people are in your home, how many meals are needed, and whether you have any dietary restrictions. After completing the quiz and sign-up process, the website creates a grocery plan for you based on your quiz answers. You can edit, remove, or add items as needed before the order ships.
Then, you’ll receive your delivery right to your door each week. You get to rate items you receive, so the system can better suggest foods, snacks, and recipes for your needs. With this system, you won’t need to go grocery shopping during the week.
Hungryroot Pros and Cons
Pro's 👍
- An excellent option for those with dietary restrictions that most meal delivery services don’t cover
- Includes the option to select groceries before finalizing the weekly meal plan
- Good variety, with international cuisine options
- Some items can be eaten right away or be ready within 30 minutes
Con's ⛔
- Not many meat-based recipes, mainly using chicken breast
- The initial quiz can be time-consuming
Hungryroot Meal Plan Options
Instead of typical meal plans (like other delivery services), Hungryroot offers grocery plans that change depending on how many servings you’d like for each meal. You can customize the meal plans by selecting two or four servings per recipe. Then, you’ll need to pick how many meals you’d like each week. The final step is selecting the recipes you want to enjoy in your delivery.
Hungryroot Meal Variety & Meal Offering Examples
This meal delivery company has impressive weekly offerings – 100+ recipes across the categories. Hungryroot also has 100+ grocery items which you can select from. You’ll find options like the ones below on their menu.
- Cilantro lime shrimp + jasmine rice
- Turkey pesto grilled cheese
- Grilled chicken + crispy Brussels bowl
- Ribeye steak sweet kale salad
- Turkey meatloaf + cauliflower mash
Hungryroot Quality Of Ingredients
Hungryroot boasts ingredients and food items which have been sustainably and humanely sourced. For example, you’ll find choices like grass-fed sirloin steaks and wild-caught gulf shrimp on the menu. Additionally, Hungryroot follows a vetting process for ingredients and items, known as their “Root Standard.” Any item you receive from Hungryroot must be free from artificial sweeteners and colors, sans artificial preservatives, etc.
Hungryroot Price
When comparing the price of Hungryroot vs. Hello Fresh, you’ll notice the cost per meal is about the same (especially when factoring in shipping costs). However, the shipping costs themselves are quite different. Hungryroot has a flat rate shipping cost until you hit a specific amount per order; then, shipping is included.
Ordering, Delivery, Unboxing – Our Experience With Hungryroot
Hungryroot has an easy ordering process; you can select your items through the app. This app also means it’s easy to skip a delivery, cancel an order, and reach out to customer service. This company offers shipments to most areas in the contiguous US. Depending on where you live, your delivery date will fall on a specific day of the week.
We were impressed by the organization of the Hungryroot box since the pantry and refrigerated items were separated. However, the recipe ingredients are not bundled, so you must reorganize your delivery upon arrival.
Does Hungryroot Accommodate Dietary Restrictions?
Yes, Hungryroot is a great option for those with dietary restrictions. During the initial questionnaire, you can note which items you should never receive and which you are allergic to. As mentioned, adding or removing items as needed gives you more control over what you receive.
HelloFresh Meal Delivery Service
This meal kit service is well-known for offering family-friendly choices in its weekly deliveries. It began as a German company selling meal kits, though it has quickly become a popular meal delivery service for US customers.
Every week, you have the option of 100+ recipes to select from, with the ability to pick up to six meals with each delivery. Like Hungryroot, you can order other kitchen staples with your delivery, such as fresh produce, drinks, snacks, and more. Moreover, HelloFresh gives you the option to customize meals based on your food preferences.
How Does HelloFresh Work?
You’ll find the HelloFresh sign-up process much quicker than Hungryroot’s. You begin by selecting which meal plan best fits your needs (veggies, pescatarian, family-friendly, etc.). Then, you select whether you want enough servings for two or four people and how many meals you’d like each week. After entering your delivery details, you’ll select which meals you want for your first weekly delivery.
HelloFresh Pros & Cons
Pro's 👍
- A diverse 100+ meal kits offerings each week
- Recipe cooking methods change to create even more recipe options
- Clear recipe pictures and directions for home chefs of all skill levels
- Reach customer support through live chat, automated email, and phone
- Great add-on options as part of their market selection
- Option to customize meals
Con's ⛔
- Minimal vegan options for customers
- Must look through ingredients to ensure no allergens are present
- Requires a kitchen with all tools and cooking basics
HelloFresh Meal Plan Options
This meal delivery service has six straightforward meal plans that you can select from, each available for 2-4 people. Below, you’ll find the available options.
- Meat & Veggies (omnivore eaters)
- Veggies (vegetarian meals)
- Family Friendly (kid-friendly options)
- Fit & Wholesome (meals for specific diets, like low carb)
- Quick and Easy (beginner-friendly)
- Pescatarian (fish-forward options)
Hello Fresh Recipe Variety
Even though HelloFresh has fewer available recipes each week, it has more recipe variety than many other meal delivery services. Each week, you can select from 65 (or more) recipes. Like Hungryroot, you’ll find plenty of internationally-inspired meal options.
HelloFresh Meal Offering Examples
Here are a few meals you may find on HelloFresh’s weekly menu.
- Pork katsu with sesame-roasted carrots & ginger rice
- Vegan street cart-style chickpea bowls with yellow rice, garlicky hummus sauce & pitas
- One-pan pineapple salsa beef tacos with cilantro & sour cream
- Sweet chili pork & cabbage stir-fried with cilantro & crispy fried onions
- Caramelized onion Swissburgers with roasted garlic horseradish aioli & potato wedges
HelloFresh Quality Of Ingredients
Our experience with Hello Fresh ingredients has always been extra pleasing! Some, not all, of HelloFresh’s ingredients are organic. The company does put focus on using ingredients that are sourced from trusted, sustainable companies. The ingredients you receive in each box are high-quality, in-season, and delivered at peak ripeness.
Hello Fresh Price
As mentioned, the price difference when comparing Hungryroot Vs. Hello Fresh is minimal. Unlike Hungryroot, Hello Fresh has a flat shipping rate regardless of the quantity purchased. So, whether you purchase a small or large amount, you’ll find the shipping costs to be the same. It’s important to note Hello Fresh shipping costs will change slightly depending on the area you deliver to.
Ordering, Delivery, Unboxing – Our Experience With HelloFresh Meal Kits
Like Hungryroot, you can order your meal kits through an app with HelloFresh, making it a convenient option for meal kit deliveries. There’s a straightforward and quick setup process when using HelloFresh.
HelloFresh offers delivery in the 48 contiguous states. However, it’s worth noting that delivery is restricted to certain days, depending on your zip code.
We were also pleasantly surprised with the organization of the HelloFresh box. Unlike Hungryroot, the ingredients for each recipe were clearly separated, making it easier (and quicker) to unpack the box.
Does HelloFresh Accommodate Dietary Restrictions?
HelloFresh accommodates dietary restrictions to a certain point. For example, their recipes are labeled vegetarian, protein smart, calorie smart, carb smart, plant-based protein, and Mediterranean diet friendly.
However, they don’t offer the option of customizing their meals beyond that. So, if you have particular allergies or restrictions beyond those labels, you’ll need to make swaps at home, leading to extra grocery shopping.
Hello Fresh And Hungryroot Alternative Meal Kits To Consider
Perhaps HelloFresh and Hungryroot aren’t the best choices for your lifestyle for one reason or another. If that’s the case, the alternative meal kit service options below are great for enjoying nutritious meals during the week.
Green Chef
This meal kit company is a great alternative for specific dietary needs/preferences and for healthy organic eating at home.
The Green Chef selection includes vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, keto, omnivore, carnivore, and paleo recipes. All meal kits are designed to be easy to cook and take no more than 30-min.
Click here to get a coupon for Green Chef>>
Home Chef
Home Chef has 30 recipes – including meal kits and ready-to-eat meals – you can choose from weekly, plus 18 extras. The recipes in this delivery meal kit company are easy to follow, so it’s a great option for beginners.
You can select meal options that are ready in 30 minutes or prepared meals that only require heating in the microwave.
Click here to get a coupon for Home Chef>>
Factor
Perhaps you don’t have time to cook yet but still want nutritious, delicious meals. If that’s the case, Factor may be a good option for you.
This company sells ready-to-eat meals which are well-balanced and chef-prepared, with a clear focus on healthy eating at home.
Click here to get a coupon for Factor>>
Hello Fresh Vs. Hungryroot – Which Is Better?
After comparing various categories, including pricing, recipe variety each week, ingredient quality, and overall unboxing experience, we’ve come to a consensus on which meal delivery service is best.
Our Winner Is Hello Fresh!
It’s our top choice since you receive fresh, raw items (such as uncooked chicken breast), high-quality ingredients, and beginner-friendly recipes with Hello Fresh. It’s a great option for those who want to cook more at home without meal planning. While the recipes take longer, receiving ingredients that are not precooked means you have more control over seasoning, salt levels, and more.
Additionally, HelloFresh has family-friendly meals that are great for those with packed schedules. Having family-approved meals means you won’t need to cook a separate dish for picky eaters. HelloFresh is a great option for households with families and those without major dietary restrictions.
