9 Best Meal Delivery Services for Kids: Kid-Tested and Dietitian-Approved

A quick look at the best meal delivery services for kids

• Best overall: Nurture Life
• Best organic: Cerebelly
• Best for pouches: Serenity Kids
• Best for babies and toddlers: Tiny Organics
• Best pureed meals for babies: Square Baby
• Best for picky eaters: Yumble Kids
• Best overall meal kit for families: HelloFresh
• Best organic meal kit for families: Green Chef
• Best affordable meal kit for families: Dinnerly

By providing products such as organic baby foods and family-style meals, meal delivery services can help make mealtime easier for parents who are short on time.

The delivery services on this list were selected based on their ingredient quality, meal options, and availability. Additionally, some services feature meals designed with the specific needs and food preferences of kids in mind.

What’s more, each service has been kid-tested and dietitian- and mom-approved.

Here are the 9 best meal delivery services for kids.

How we chose

When selecting the best meal delivery services for kids and families, we considered several factors:

• Nutrition: We looked for services offering nutritionally balanced meals that feature plenty of fruits or vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. We also prioritized services that limit the amounts of added sugar and salt in their products.
• Ingredient quality and freshness: We chose services that use mostly whole-food ingredients and are free from, or contain minimal amounts of, artificial additives. We also paid attention to the freshness of the products during taste testing.
• Products offered: We included a wide range of product types, from pouches and snack bars to full meals.
• Ease of preparation: We prioritized services offering easy-to-prepare meals.
• Taste: A mom and toddler taste-tested every service’s offerings.
• Texture: We included services to suit a wide range of texture needs and preferences, so you’re likely to find one that works for you whether you have an infant, toddler, or school-aged kid.

Healthline tester

There’s no denying that meal subscription services aren’t cheap. To ensure that we’re recommending services that are worth the money, we put each one to the test.

Healthline Nutrition and Fitness Market Editor Kelli McGrane, MS, RD, and her 18-month-old tried many of the most popular meal delivery services for kids and families to find the ones that are kid-, mom-, and dietitian-approved.

Healthline’s picks of the best meal delivery services for kids

Best overall

Nurture Life

• Cost: starts at $6.89 per meal ($3.99 for smoothies)
• Types of meals: smoothies, snack bites, fresh and fully prepared kids’ meals and finger foods
• Shipping: $8 for orders of 6 items, free for orders of 9 items or more
• Delivery area: contiguous United States
• Recommended age: infants, toddlers, and kids from 10 months to 12 years old

Nurture Life is one of the best overall meal delivery services for kids because it offers dietitian-designed meals for babies, toddlers, and children.

From finger foods for toddlers to pasta dishes for older kids, the meals are designed to be nutritionally balanced and to include at least one serving of vegetables per meal.

What’s more, Nurture Life is a good option for parents who are short on time, as the meals come fully prepared and can be reheated in 2 minutes or less.

All Nurture Life entrees are made in a facility that’s free of peanuts and tree nuts, and customers can use the dietary filter option to find meals that are free of wheat, eggs, milk, soy, fish, gluten, sesame, coconut, or pork. However, cross contamination is still possible.

The meals are made using organic produce and whole grains, antibiotic-free animal proteins, and sustainably sourced seafood.

Meals are shipped in insulated boxes and last up to 1 week in the fridge or 90 days in the freezer. Except for the seals and the interior of the freezer gel packs, all the packaging is recyclable.

What our tester says

Nurture Life scored major points for being easy to reheat and nutritionally balanced, with every meal containing a vegetable, a whole grain or starchy vegetable, and a protein.

My son seemed to be a fan of the textures and flavors of each meal. He particularly loved the smoothies, all of which are free of added sugar and contain a blend of fruits and vegetables.

His other favorites were the egg bites with sweet potato and the mac and cheese with hidden cauliflower.

Best organic

Cerebelly

• Cost: pouches and smoothies start at $2.46 each, Smart Bars cost $4.24 per serving
• Types of meals: pouches, bars
• Shipping: free for orders over $45, $4.99 for smaller orders
• Delivery area: throughout the United States
• Recommended age: infants and toddlers 4 months and older

Founded by a neurosurgeon and developmental neurobiologist, Cerebelly offers an assortment of purees, smoothie-inspired pouches, and bars designed to support brain health.

In addition to being certified organic, Cerebelly is the first shelf-stable baby food to receive the Clean Label Project Purity Award, which means the food has been tested for heavy metals and contaminants.

Cerebelly also offers an online quiz, which asks about your child’s age and developmental milestones to provide specific product recommendations to fit their needs.

You can purchase a six-pack of your favorite varieties or a bundle with several different products to try. All products free of gluten and major food allergens.

Plus, Cerebelly has a free recycling program, which allows you to print a shipping label and mail your plastic pouches so they can be recycled.

What our tester says

Finding kid-friendly snack bars that are flavorful without being high in added sugar is surprisingly difficult, which is why I was very excited about Cerebelly Smart Bars. In fact, since trying them, I’ve recommended the bars to all my mom friends.

The bars were a hit with my son, and I appreciate that they don’t melt and aren’t super crumbly, which means they’re ideal for park days or zoo trips. Just keep in mind that the bars are a bit chewier and not as soft as some others on the market.

I was also impressed by both the nutrition stats and the ingredient combinations offered by the pouches. My son isn’t always a huge fan of pouches, but he really liked this company’s smoothie-inspired line.

Best pouches

Serenity Kids

• Cost: pouches start at $3.49 per serving, containers of grain-free puffs cost $5.49–$5.99 each
• Types of meals: pouches, grain-free puffs
• Shipping: free
• Delivery area: throughout the United States
• Recommended age: infants and toddlers 6 months and older

Serenity Kids is a meal delivery service that offers a variety of meat- and veggie-based baby food pouches, along with grain-free puffs and toddler formula.

The products have been third-party tested for heavy metals by the Clean Label Project, which has determined that the company meets the standards for the Purity and Pesticide Free Award.

All items are also free of gluten, nuts, grains, soy, and corn. However, items are manufactured in a facility that also processes these ingredients, so cross contamination is possible.

The pouches are shelf-stable and free of preservatives. Additionally, all pouches are made with organic vegetables, and the meat is sourced from small family farms that practice regenerative agriculture to support sustainability.

Though the pouches are not curbside recyclable, Serenity Kids offers a free recycling program, making it easy to collect and mail back the containers once you’re finished.

What our tester says

Serenity Kids is one of my favorite brands for pouches, as it prioritizes herbs, vegetables, healthy fats, and even meats, making the pouches less sweet than those from other brands.

My son enjoyed pretty much all the vegetable pouches, and I appreciated having a stash of quick and easy veggie-packed snacks on hand. The grain-free puffs were also handy for keeping him busy at restaurants.

The only items my son didn’t like were the meat pouches. However, I gave the rest to my friend, and her kiddo gobbled them up.

Best for babies and toddlers

Tiny Organics

• Cost: starts at $4.66 per meal
• Types of meals: frozen and fully prepared meals
• Shipping: $5.99 for all orders
• Delivery area: contiguous United States
• Recommended age: infants and toddlers 6 months and older

Tiny Organics specializes in finger foods that are designed to encourage your little one to become an adventurous eater.

The dishes offer a variety of textures and flavors and are created by a team of chefs and neonatal nutritionists to suit your child’s developmental milestones.

All Tiny Organics meals are plant-based, nutritionally balanced, made with certified organic ingredients, and free of added sugar and salt. Instead, meals are flavored with real fruits and vegetables, whole grains, herbs, and natural seasonings.

The meals are flash-frozen and can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. They are easy to reheat in the microwave or on the stove.

Tiny Organics offers 12- and 24-pack meal subscriptions, with recurring deliveries at 1-, 2-, or 4- week intervals.

What our tester says

Tiny Organics is one of my favorite meal delivery services for older babies and younger toddlers because the ingredient lists are impressively short and the meals contain a good variety of seasonings and ingredients.

I also appreciate that the meals can be frozen for up to 3 months and take up very little freezer space.

My son took bites from every meal that we tried. He particularly loved the Bananas Foster, Coconut Curry, and Oat Em Gee.

Best for pureed meals

Square Baby

• Cost: starts at $4.98 per serving
• Types of meals: pureed meals
• Shipping: free
• Delivery area: contiguous United States
• Recommended age: infants 4–12+ months

Square Baby is a baby food company that was created by a registered dietitian and genetic counselor.

The company offers meals for various stages, including single-ingredient meals for babies 4 months and up and “square meals,” which contain a mix of ingredients, for infants over 6 months and 8 months of age.

You can filter the menu to find items suitable for your child’s age, as well as options that are smooth or chunky, dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan, or vegetarian.

Meals are also sorted by their specific source of protein and potential health benefits, making it easy to find meals that are rich in probiotics, fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, or sprouted grains.

The service also offers an assortment of foods that contain common allergens to help you introduce these foods into your child’s diet early. However, keep in mind that this may not be suitable for infants who have been diagnosed with a food allergy.

The items are made using high quality organic ingredients and packaged in reusable or recyclable containers.

What our tester says

The meals arrived frozen and were easy to thaw in the fridge or the microwave. They were also compactly packaged, so they didn’t take up valuable refrigerator real estate.

My 18-month-old enjoyed the Peachy Oatmeal and took a few bites of the Beet Berry. However, I found the serving sizes to be more appropriate for infants than toddlers.

I wish I had tried this service when my son was younger, as I think it’s a great way to expose infants to new flavors while ensuring that they’re getting a nutritionally balanced meal.

Best for picky eaters

Yumble Kids

• Price per meal: starts at $6.99
• Types of meals: fresh and fully prepared
• Shipping: free for orders of 8+ items, additional fee for smaller orders
• Delivery area: most of the East Coast, Texas, and certain parts of the West Coast and Midwest
• Recommended age: toddlers and children ages 1–12

Yumble Kids is a weekly subscription service that provides fully cooked meals designed by nutritionists for kids 1–12 years old.

You can select meals weekly, and menus rotate every few weeks. Yumble Kids also offers larger portion sizes for kids ages 7–12 and pre-curated boxes, including a Picky Eaters Box, for those who don’t want to choose each meal individually.

Each box comes with 4, 6, 8, or 12 meals, depending on the subscription plan, along with activities to help connect the whole family during mealtime.

For those with food allergies, meals that are free of gluten, dairy, eggs, or soy are clearly labeled to help make meal selection easier. Furthermore, all the meals are free of tree nuts and peanuts.

However, it’s important to note that there’s a risk of cross contamination because the meals are prepared in a kitchen that handles common food allergens. Therefore, the service is not a good option for those with severe food allergies.

Except for the gel ice packs, all the packaging materials and food trays are recyclable.

What our tester says

Yumble Kids offers a selection of standard kid-friendly foods, such as chicken nuggets and mac and cheese. While this may appeal to picky eaters, I was a bit disappointed that there wasn’t a better variety of ingredients, flavors, and cuisines represented.

I also wish that Yumble Kids used more spices, herbs, fruits, and vegetables to flavor its meals and lower the amounts of added salt and sugar.

With that said, my son still really enjoyed most of the meals, with the pizza pocket and cauliflower mac and cheese being his favorites. The snack bites were also a hit with the whole family.

Best overall meal kit for families

HelloFresh

• Cost: starts at $7.99 per serving
• Types of meals: meal kits
• Shipping: $8.99 for all orders
• Delivery area: contiguous United States
• Recommended age: children and adults

HelloFresh is one of the more popular meal delivery services, thanks to its easy-to-prepare meals and commitment to fresh, high quality ingredients.

It’s particularly a good option for families, as the service offers a variety of kid-tested recipes that are quick and easy to make.

Each week, members choose from 20 family-friendly recipes. While vegetarian options are available and food allergens are clearly labeled, HelloFresh doesn’t cater to specialized diets or allergies.

The company prides itself on sourcing high quality ingredients, including hormone-free chicken and pork, sustainable seafood, and fresh produce, some of which is organic.

HelloFresh plans can feed two or four people, though it’s also worth noting that each serving is meant to feed an adult, so those with younger kids will likely have leftovers.

Every HelloFresh meal kit is delivered in a recyclable cardboard box that contains insulated liners and gel packs to keep your food cool during transport.

What our tester says

I’ve tried numerous meal delivery services, and HelloFresh has consistently been one of my family’s overall favorites. There’s a good variety of recipes to choose from, and it’s moderately priced compared to others on the market.

As my son isn’t a huge meat eater, I appreciated that I could mix and match meals from different menus to create a meal plan that the whole family would enjoy.

My main complaint was that, compared to some pricier services, HelloFresh meals don’t contain as many vegetables — in terms of amount or variety — as I’d prefer. I often added veggies or a side salad to our meals.

Best organic meal kit for families

Green Chef

• Cost: starts at $11.99 per serving
• Types of meals: meal kits
• Shipping: $9.99 for all orders
• Delivery area: throughout the contiguous United States
• Recommended age: children and adults

Green Chef is an organic meal kit company that provides a variety of fresh and nutritious recipes that are easy to prepare at home.

Because the service offers plans for two, four, or six people with 2–4 recipes per week, it’s one of the best options available for families of all sizes.

You can easily filter the menu to find meals that are keto- or paleo-friendly, Mediterranean, calorie-conscious, gluten-free, and vegan or vegetarian.

The service has a rotating menu with 24 meals each week, which you can mix and match to build your custom box.

Detailed nutrition information and potential allergens are listed on the menu to help you find options that fit your family’s needs.

The packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable, whenever possible, to support sustainability.

What our tester says

Compared to HelloFresh meals, I found Green Chef’s meals even easier to prepare, as all the ingredients were premeasured and many were even chopped or shredded.

The meals were all flavorful yet still approachable for my son, and there was a good variety of recipes to choose from. Plus, all the meals we received featured a generous amount of vegetables.

While some recipes required multiple pots and pans, and therefore extra cleanup time, I think the service is worth the higher price tag if your family prioritizes eating mostly organic ingredients.

Best affordable meal kit for families

Dinnerly

• Cost: starts at $4.99 per serving
• Types of meals: meal kits
• Shipping: $9.99 for all orders
• Delivery area: most of the contiguous United States
• Recommended age: children and adults

Dinnerly is a good option for families on a budget, with meals starting at less than $5 per person.

The service offers plans with 3–6 meals per week, which include two or four servings each.

Every Dinnerly meal contains six or fewer ingredients and takes fewer than five steps to prepare. This makes the service a good choice for parents who are short on time but want to provide a home-cooked meal for their family.

Each week, customers choose from 45 rotating meals, all of which have labels, such as vegetarian or kid-friendly. These labels make it quick and easy to build a personalized menu that fits your family’s specific food preferences.

While Dinnerly sources ingredients from trusted suppliers, most of the fruits and vegetables are conventional. As a result, the service may not be the best option for those who prefer to eat organic.

For those with food allergies, a list of food allergens can be found on the recipe card for each meal. However, Dinnerly currently doesn’t allow customers to filter meal options by an allergen.

Furthermore, because the meals are all prepared and packaged in the same facility, there’s a risk of cross contamination. As a result, Dinnerly is not a good option for those with celiac disease or other severe food allergies.

What our tester says

If convenience is your top priority, then you’ll love Dinnerly. All the recipes are designed with minimal ingredients, and many don’t require any chopping or knife work. In fact, all the recipes I received were ready in 20 minutes or less.

Not only did this make preparing dinner quick and easy, but cleanup was also a breeze.

Every dish we tried was flavorful, and I found that there was a decent variety of recipe types to choose from. The biggest downside was the lack of vegetables, so I ended up adding frozen vegetables from my freezer to most of the meals.

A comparison of the best meal delivery services for kids

Here’s a quick look at how our top picks compare:

How to choose 

When looking for a kid-friendly meal delivery service, there are several factors to consider:

• Age-appropriate meals: Some services specialize in purees for infants, while others cater to only school-aged kids. Be sure to choose a service that’s appropriate for your child’s age and developmental stage.
• Recipe variety: It’s a good idea to browse each service’s menu to make sure you choose a company with recipes that fit your child’s food preferences.
• Products offered: Are you looking for help at mealtime, or do you simply need a few healthy snacks to stash in your kid’s backpack? Knowing the types of products you’re looking for will help narrow down your options.
• Food allergies: If your kid has a food allergy, make sure to choose a service that has strict standards in place to reduce the risk of cross contamination.
• Nutritional quality: Because proper nutrition plays an essential role in development, consider a service featuring meals that are developed by experts to meet the specific nutritional needs of children.
• Ingredient quality: Look for services that prioritize whole-food ingredients and limit the use of added sugar, salt, dyes, and artificial additives.
• Prep time: If you’re short on time, you may want to choose a service that provides microwavable prepared meals rather than meal kits.
• Packaging: Because most meal delivery services come with a lot of packaging, you may prefer a company that uses mostly recyclable, reusable, or biodegradable materials.
• Price: Make sure to have a budget in mind when looking at meal delivery services. Also keep in mind that many companies offer discounts on bulk orders or monthly subscriptions.

Frequently asked questions

Does Home Chef have kid-friendly meals?

Home Chef does not have a specific menu with kid-friendly dishes, but some of the recipes may be suitable for children. Be sure to check the menu to see what options are available and find meals that fit your child’s needs and preferences.

Is HelloFresh good for picky eaters?

Because HelloFresh provides meal kits rather than fully prepared meals, you can easily swap or remove ingredients as needed. This makes it a good option for picky eaters.

HelloFresh also has a large menu with more than 30 recipes to choose from each week, so you’ll likely be able to find meals that work for your family.

Is Daily Harvest good for kids?

Though Daily Harvest doesn’t offer meals or snacks specifically for kids, many items on the menu are kid-friendly. In fact, the service offers an assortment of smoothies, soups, and flatbreads that can easily fit into your child’s diet.

The bottom line

If you’re looking for a healthy meal delivery service to save time on preparing meals for your kids or family, be sure to choose a company that prioritizes quality ingredients, nutritional content, and kid-friendly recipes.

Because babies and toddlers reach developmental milestones at different rates, it’s important to consult your pediatrician if you have any concerns about whether a meal delivery service is age-appropriate for younger children.