9 Best Bodybuilding Meal Delivery Services in 2024

Bodybuilders need high-carb, moderate-protein, and low-fat meals to build muscle and keep in top physical condition. But between your work and life commitments and regular trips to the gym, you might not have time to prepare and cook healthy meals that meet your specialized dietary needs.

Meal delivery services can save you time and help you eat healthier. But because not all services offer recipes suited for muscle-building, finding one suited to your needs can be challenging. To help, I’ve provided a list of the best bodybuilding meal delivery services.

Many bodybuilders opt for quick and convenient prepared meals they simply heat and eat. Others prefer cooking their own meals from a meal kit. Some vegan bodybuilders want plant-based protein, while other weightlifters want protein packs to supplement their diet. I’ve included bodybuilding meal delivery services that cover all these options.

Factor tops my list thanks to its great selection of healthy prepared meals. But every bodybuilding meal delivery service on this list has something to offer bodybuilders looking to count their macros and maximize their gains.

The Best Bodybuilding Meal Delivery Services Reviewed

1. Factor – Best Bodybuilding Meal Delivery Service in 2024

Factor’s healthy prepared meals are great for bodybuilders. Every meal includes complete nutrition data and ingredients so you can keep track of your macros. And because Factor meals only require 3 minutes in the microwave, you can spend more time at the gym and less time in the kitchen.

What’s on the Menu?

Factor offers 6 plans, 2 of which are great for athletes – Protein Plus and Chef’s Choice. Flexitarian and Vegan & Veggie meals are also worth checking out, depending on your dietary needs.

The Protein Plus meals contain more carbohydrates for workout energy. And if you’re lifting to replace fat with muscle, Factor’s Calorie Smart meals give you all the nutrition you need with 550 calories or less per serving. 

The Ground Pork Cheddar Chili & Mac meal, for example, suits bodybuilders’ nutritional needs. It includes 47 g of carbohydrates, 31 g of protein, and 30 g of fat. 

What Makes It Special?

Our expert reviewer tried Factor at home and found its meals to be really tasty and quick to make. While some bodybuilding meal delivery plans concentrate more on macros than taste, Factor uses a wide range of seasonings and sauces that makes its meals stand out.

Factor also offers nutrition coaching plans with in-house registered dietitians. Every Factor subscriber gets a free 20-minute consultation, with optional bi-weekly coaching sessions and unlimited messaging available. This personalized support is very helpful for people who want to achieve specific health goals like losing weight or building muscle.

Is It Good Value?

Factor isn’t cheap, with prices starting at $6.19 per serving. But it’s a great investment for bodybuilders who live a particularly active and fitness-conscious lifestyle. And it always scores high on our list of the best prepared meal delivery services.

You can choose between 6 and 18 single-serving Factor meals per week. You can also add shakes, protein packs, and breakfast items for an extra cost.

2. Green Chef – Best for Bodybuilders Seeking Organic Meals

As the first USDA-certified organic meal delivery service, Green Chef always scores highly on our list of the best organic meal delivery services. All produce is organic, so you avoid exposure to synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Proteins are sustainably raised without hormones or antibiotics.

What’s on the Menu?

Green Chef has 8 plans, which you can mix and match any way you want. But I think that the Mediterranean, Plant Based, and Protein Packed plans are best for weight lifting.

Protein Packed meals average 40 g of protein per serving, which is great for building muscle mass. If you’re looking for a good post-workout supper, you’ll love the lean protein found in dishes like Garlic-Herb Chicken & Sun-Dried Tomatoes.

The Calorie Smart menu offers quick meals that come in at under 650 calories per serving. While that’s a bit high for restricted-calorie diets, it’s fine for people who are burning calories in regular workouts. And with Quick & Easy meals that are ready in 25 minutes or less, you’ll have plenty of time for the gym.

What Makes It Special?

I prepared several Green Chef meals at home. I can honestly attest that Green Chef’s meal kits produced some of the most delicious suppers I’ve ever cooked with a meal delivery service. And Green Chef’s premade sauces and seasonings helped me prepare recipes well above my culinary pay grade.

The great thing about meal kits is that you have full control over what goes into them. For example, it would be easy to add more protein to the Harissa and Zhoug Cauliflower recipe above. You can find extra protein and other ingredients in Green Chef's Add-ons or add an ingredient that you already have at home.

Is It Good Value?

Green Chef’s Green Market offers a wide selection of healthy add-ons, including protein packs like chicken cutlets and salmon filets. If you have trouble finding high-quality meats and seafood at your local grocery store, Green Chef can deliver them to your door.

Green Chef starts at $9.99 per serving with a new customer coupon. Green Chef has a minimum order of 3 meals for 2 people per week and a maximum of 4 meals for 6 people per week.

3. Blue Apron – Best for Bodybuilders Who Like to Cook

Blue Apron’s gourmet dishes and international flavors may not seem gym-friendly at first. But Blue Apron gives you a great selection of healthy and delicious meals that your whole family can enjoy. Staying in shape or getting ripped doesn’t have to be a joyless slog. Blue Apron lets you eat better without sacrificing taste or variety.

What’s on the Menu?

Blue Apron’s Wellness menu features nutritionist-approved meal kits tailored to your unique goals. If you want to shed pounds and build muscle simultaneously, many Blue Apron recipes offer pointers for cutting calories, like replacing sour cream in a meal kit with nonfat yogurt.

On the Meal Kits plan, you can choose between 5 different preferences that help Blue Apron select suggested meals. But you can always order any Blue Apron kit on the menu:

• Chef Favorites: The Test Kitchen's top picks

• Wellness: Nutritionist-approved recipes

• Family Friendly: Kid-friendly meals the whole family will love

• Fast & Easy: Includes quick prep options

• Veggies: Plant-based meals

Blue Apron’s recipes are easy to follow. Our reviewer had high praise for Blue Apron’s variety of cuisines and ease of cooking. And Blue Apron’s how-to videos and online demos can walk you through the steps of a recipe if you get confused.

What Makes It Special?

Blue Apron even offers a separate plan for single-serving Prepared & Ready meals that take just minutes to heat up. Not all of these meals are Wellness-oriented, so be sure to check the nutritional information and ingredients list before ordering!

Blue Apron's Customized feature allows you to swap proteins or add meat to a vegetarian meal in meal kits. For example, the Mexican-Spiced Tilapia, a Wellness entree, can also be ordered with salmon. And you can boost your intake of lean protein by adding shrimp or chicken to a dinner salad.

Is It Good Value?

If you’re an athlete who enjoys gourmet meals, Blue Apron is an excellent choice. Its range of Wellness meal kits offers adventurous but healthy meals designed by nutritionists. 

Blue Apron lets you order 2 to 5 meal kits for 2 or 4 people, although you can add more if needed. If you choose the Prepared & Ready plan, you can order a minimum of 4 fresh prepared meals each week. Pricing starts at $3.74 per serving.

4. Fresh N Lean –  Best Meals for Competitive Bodybuilders

Fresh N Lean caters specifically to the needs of fitness-focused people, making it a great choice for serious bodybuilders. You can order complete meal plans including breakfast entrees and snacks to ensure maximum results from your training program. Fresh N Lean is especially good for Paleo dieters, and it scores highly on our list of the best paleo meal delivery services.

What’s on the Menu?

Fresh N Lean offers 8 diet plans, many of which suit weightlifters. These are:

• Keto: Meals with premium proteins and clean fats

• Protein+: High protein meals for high performance

• Mediterranean: Meals based on the heart-healthy Mediterranean diet

• Paleo: Paleo-compliant grain-free and soy-free meals

• Standard Vegan: 100% plant-based meals for vegan athletes

• Vegetarian: Plant-focused meals that include eggs and dairy in some meals

• Whole30 Approved: Premium proteins and low-carbs

• Bulk: Clean bulk proteins and side dishes

You can choose one of the above plans if you want to stick to that specialized diet exclusively. However, if you want to mix and match, you can choose the new FNL Unlimited plan, where you can customize your weekly menu by choosing meals from across all the plans. 

Our reviewer recommended Fresh N Lean for those on specialized diets, saying it was “one of my favorite services in its particular niche.”

What Makes It Special?

All Fresh N Lean meals are organic and certified gluten-free, regardless of which plan you choose. And the Fresh N Lean Allergies/Preferences filter lets you exclude up to 3 ingredients or allergens, including items like bell peppers, red meat, quinoa, mushrooms, turkey, and cilantro.

Whatever plan you’re on, you can order bulk proteins or healthy snacks. Snack options include almonds, granola, and oatmeal. Bulk proteins like salmon and steak and sides like brown rice are also available.

Is It Good Value?

If you’re a serious bodybuilder preparing for a competition, Fresh N Lean may be perfect for you. Fresh N Lean starts at $7.53 per single-serving meal, with a minimum order of 5 meals and a maximum order of 21 meals, plus any sides, snacks, or bulk proteins you choose.

5. HelloFresh – Best Meals for Bodybuilders with Families

Bodybuilders with families need to make sure everyone eats well. Prepared single-serving meals can be a great part of a bodybuilding regimen, but may not be a good fit when you’re feeding a whole household. HelloFresh provides meals that your family will love but which fit into your workout plan.

What’s on the Menu?

HelloFresh divides its large menu into 6 categories that can support your muscle-building efforts:

• Meat & Veggies: omnivorous meals

• Veggie: vegetarian and vegan meals

• Family Friendly: kid-approved recipes

• Fit & Wholesome: healthy meals with around 600 calories per serving

• Quick and Easy: easy prep meals

• Pescatarian: meals with seafood and veggies

Fit & Wholesome HelloFresh meals are low in calories but not flavor. The Brown Sugar Bourbon Apple Pork Chops with Apple Pan Sauce pictured above is a great dish for bodybuilders. It contains 52 g of carbs, 41 g of protein, and 35 g of fat.

The HelloFresh Market also gives subscribers access to extra grocery items like spices and bulk proteins. You can supplement your HelloFresh meals with extra helpings of steak, chicken, pork, or salmon. That way, you can make sure you get the muscle-building protein you need while providing your hungry family with tasty, nutritious meals they’ll love.

What Makes It Special?

HelloFresh categorizes recipes as Easy, Medium, or Hard so you can select recipes based on your cooking skill. Easy Prep and Easy Cleanup recipes are especially convenient and well-suited for busy nights. Our expert reviewer tried HelloFresh at home and stated that everything they cooked turned out looking and tasting delicious.

HelloFresh’s HelloCustom feature lets you swap out proteins or sides on some entrees. For example, you can swap steak with chicken in your Roasted Veggie Kale Salad.

Is It Good Value?

HelloFresh always scores highly in our lists of the best meal delivery services. Its variety of meals and well-organized and labeled menus make it easy to find dishes that support your bodybuilding journey.

HelloFresh offers a variety of serving sizes. You can order 2 to 6 recipes of 2 or 4 servings per week, or between 4 and 24 weekly servings. Prices start at $3.32 per serving.

6. Home Chef – Best Customizable Bodybuilding Meal Delivery

Home Chef lets you customize almost all of its 30+ weekly rotating dishes with its Customize It feature. You can order the Stovetop Meatloaf Marinara pictured above with ground turkey or ground pork if you want to lower the fat content. You can also double up on the proteins in some recipes for an extra helping of steak, salmon, or chicken.

What’s on the Menu?

The Fresh Start dishes are lighter spins on classic favorites. Home Chef consults with dietitians to ensure that these meals are healthy and marks them with a green tomato icon.

The service also offers Calorie-Conscious meals, some of which may suit your muscle-building efforts. You can check each dish to ensure it hits the right ratio of nutrients. My favorites include the Hot Honey-Maple Chicken and the One-Pan Buffalo-Style Chicken Quesadilla.

Home Chef offers meals for every level of culinary skill. Culinary Collection meals use more sophisticated cooking techniques and ingredients and cost a few dollars more for serving. For example, you can prepare Express meals in just 15 minutes.

What Makes It Special?

Our expert reviewer tried Home Chef at home and had a great experience cooking their meals. They were particularly impressed with the low-prep speedy options. 

You can also order a la carte proteins, breakfast entrees, smoothies, and other extras in addition to your meal orders. And Home Chef’s easy-to follow recipes appear on our list of the best easy-to-cook meal delivery services.

With Home Chef’s user-friendly website filters, you can exclude meals containing specific ingredients like pork, sesame, nuts, mushrooms, or more.

Is It Good Value?

Home Chef has various meals suitable for weightlifters. It may not offer organic produce, but antibiotic-free meats are available on some customizable meals at an upcharge. If you’re keen to have organic produce, try Green Chef instead.

Home Chef prices start at  $7.99 per serving, with a minimum order of 2 meals of 2 servings per week and a maximum order of 6 meals of 6 servings each. 

7. Fresh and Easy – Easy Prep Meals for Busy Bodybuilders

Fresh and Easy is Home Chef’s line of quick and easy-to-prepare meals. If you have limited time, kitchen equipment, cooking skill, or need more time for the gym, Fresh and Easy is a great way to eat better and healthier meals at home. When our expert reviewer tried Fresh and Easy at home they made some impressive dishes.

What’s on the Menu?

Fresh and Easy meal kits come prepped and pre-portioned, which saves you the hassle of slicing, chopping, and peeling. Oven-Ready and Grill-Ready meals can be cooked in their recyclable packaging, making cleanup a breeze.

The Firecracker Petite Scallops Rice Bowl pictured above is an Express Premium-labeled meal. You can serve it in 20 to 30 minutes if you’re an intermediate cook. I recommend pairing it with a la carte protein from Home Chef’s Extras selection to make it even better for building muscle.

Here are some of Fresh and Easy’s meal types:

• Fast & Fresh: ready to heat in the microwave or oven

• Oven-Ready: dishes you assemble in the oven-safe aluminum tray provided

• Express: meal kits ready with minimal prep

• Salads: simply toss the ingredients together and enjoy fresh

• Extras: prepared desserts, bread, protein bundles, and more

What Makes It Special?

Fresh and Easy’s Express meals let you enjoy restaurant-quality meals that are ready in less time than you might spend waiting for a table at a popular bistro. You can enjoy date night meals featuring shrimp, sirloin steak, scallops, or other higher-end proteins.

You can also take advantage of Home Chef’s Customize It feature. If clean proteins are important to you, you can order meals with antibiotic-free chicken breasts. You can also swap out ground beef for ground turkey or pork in many recipes if you want to lower the fat content.

Is it Good Value?

A Fresh and Easy subscription also gives you access to the entire Home Chef menu. If you see a meal kit that suits you, you can add it to your weekly order and prepare it as your schedule permits. And Fresh and Easy is not only convenient, it’s on our list of the best cheapest meal delivery services.

Fresh and Easy’s minimum order is 2 meals of 2 servings each, with a maximum order of 6 meals of 6 servings each. Prices start at $7.99 per serving.

8. Purple Carrot – Best Vegan Bodybuilding Meal Delivery

Many bodybuilders are discovering the health and ecological benefits of a vegan diet. But most bodybuilding meal delivery services focus on animal proteins. Purple Carrot has a 100% plant-based menu that will provide you with meals that taste great and meet your macros.

What’s on the Menu?

Purple Carrot’s menu labels let you sort meals for:

• High-Protein

• Soy-Free

• Low Sodium

• Nut-Free

High-Protein Purple Carrot meals contain 25+ grams of protein, which makes them a good choice for vegan bodybuilders who are cutting. (If you’re bulking up, you may want to throw in some extra tofu or plant-based protein supplements). And Purple Carrot’s low-calorie meals are excellent for the cutting phase when you’re seeking maximum definition.

Purple Carrot meal kits celebrate veggies with dishes that feature Asian, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern influences. Its meal kits can teach you vegan recipes and techniques you can use in your own cooking. For busy days, Purple Carrot also offers a line of Less Prep meals that include premade sauces and some pre-chopped vegetables.

Braised Coconut Chickpeas (above) is a Less Prep meal that’s ready in 30 minutes. Chickpeas and quinoa provide plenty of protein (28 grams per serving), and turmeric’s anti-inflammatory properties make this a great and satisfying post-workout meal.

What Makes It Special?

Purple Carrot also offers fully prepared vegan meals that are ready with just 2-3 minutes in the microwave. And because you can order from all menus, you can choose between meal kits, Less Prep kits, and prepared meals. You can also order vegan breakfasts, lunches, and staple items like cashew cream cheese at the Plantry.

Lactose-intolerant bodybuilders should note that Purple Carrot made our list of the best dairy-free meal delivery services.

Is It Good Value?

Even if you’re not vegan, you may be looking for a way to include more plants in your diet, without compromising on protein. Our reviewer, a committed meat-lover, tried Purple Carrot at home and declared its meals were guaranteed to please even the fussiest of omnivores.

Prices start at $8.50 per serving, with a minimum order of 3 recipes for 2 people and a maximum order of 3 recipes for 4 people per week. Prepared meals come as single portions and can be ordered as bundles of 6, 8, or 10 meals per week.

9.Eat Clean – Prepared Meals for Specialized Diets

Eat Clean’s single-serving meals are inspired by a number of world cuisines, including Latin American, Indian, classic American, Italian, Caribbean, Chinese, and Hawaiian. Many bodybuilding and fitness menus are great for nutrition but uninspiring in the flavor department. Eat Clean lets you enjoy both your meals and your gains.

What’s on the Menu?

Eat Clean offers 4 meal plans and 3 of them suit weightlifting. These are:

• Paleo

• Traditional

• Plant Based

The Eat Clean Paleo plan sends you meals that provide clean proteins, fruits, and vegetables without grains or dairy products. The Plant-Based menu provides a weekly selection of vegetarian and vegan meals. You may need to supplement these meals to make them ideal for building muscle.

The Traditional plan is my top recommendation for bodybuilding. For example, the Chilean Garlic Butter Sea Bass with Jasmine Rice in the image above has 46 g of carbohydrates, 29 g of protein, and 21 g of fat. 

Eat Clean’s Traditional menu offers healthy meals that range between 270 and 500 calories (a bit more for the large portions). They also contain just 300-500 mg of sodium per serving. Our expert reviewer tested out Eat Clean and found it a convenient way to fuel your body with all the necessary nutrients.

What Makes it Special?

All Eat Clean meals use organically-grown fruits and vegetables, so you don’t have to worry about synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. Eat Clean also lets you choose between regular and large portions, so you can order meals tailored to your nutritional needs and workout cycle.

Each Eat Clean plan has a good selection of proteins, including chicken breast, pulled pork, ground beef and turkey, shrimp, and steak. Customers on the Plant Based plan can choose veggie proteins like beans, chickpeas, Beyond Sausage, and vegan chicken strips. That being said, vegan bodybuilders will probably do better with Purple Carrot.

Is It Good Value?

If eating clean, nutritious meals is an important part of your bodybuilding plan, Eat Clean is a convenient way of meeting your macros.

You can order a minimum of 6 portions. The maximum purchase is 20 Eat Clean meals per week. Prices start $8.89 per serving.

Quick Comparison Table

Tips for Choosing the Best Bodybuilding Meal Delivery Services

If you’re thinking about signing up for a bodybuilding meal delivery service, here are some pointers to keep in mind.

• Know your training goals: If you’re training for a bodybuilding competition, you may benefit from a dedicated bodybuilding meal delivery service. If you’re an amateur seeking to lose weight and improve your physique, you’ll do better with a meal delivery service that provides healthy meals to help you resist takeout temptation.

• Maintain realistic expectations: Bodybuilding meal delivery services can provide nutritious food that aligns with your macro goals. However, they won't instantly transform your physique to resemble Arnold Schwarzenegger. Regular workouts and a balanced diet are still necessary for optimal results.
  

• Taste matters just as much as macros: If you're looking for long-term success, you need to enjoy your food. Meal delivery services can help you build good eating habits by showing you that meals can be both delicious and healthy.

• Switching is okay: Discovering the ideal bodybuilding meal service might require a few trials. The good news is all services on this list feature uncomplicated cancelation procedures, enabling you to easily switch if needed.
  

How Can a Meal Delivery Service Help with Bodybuilding?

Streamlining your diet with a meal delivery service saves you time and energy. Time, the often overlooked component in a bodybuilder's journey, plays a vital role in recovery and exercise. Cooking and meal planning not only consume precious hours but also drain energy that could be better spent on workouts or rest. 

A meal delivery service optimizes your bodybuilding nutrition plan. When pursuing muscle growth and enhanced performance, nutrition stands as a cornerstone. Yet, the hustle of daily life often impedes consistent, high-quality meal prep. This is where I recommend a service like Factor that offers protein-rich, carefully calibrated meals directly to your doorstep.

FAQ

What is the best bodybuilding meal delivery service?

Factor’s healthy prepared meals earned it my top spot in our list of the best bodybuilding meal delivery services. The Protein Plus plan is a great place to start, but some of its other plans could work for you, depending on your bodybuilding goals.

What is the best organic bodybuilding meal delivery service?

Green Chef is the first USDA-certified organic meal delivery service, and it offers healthy and delicious meals that bodybuilders can enjoy without guilt. If you want to eat cleaner, Green Chef brings you restaurant-quality meal kits that meet your macros and satisfy your inner gourmet.

What is the best vegan meal delivery service for bodybuilders?

I recommend Purple Carrot for vegan bodybuilders. Purple Carrot offers a good selection of 100% plant-based meals that are much healthier than fake meats and includes high-protein vegan meals on its weekly menu.

Is HelloFresh good for bodybuilding? 

HelloFresh is great for bodybuilders with families. While it’s not exclusively tailored for high-protein needs, its versatility means bodybuilders and their families enjoy nutritious and tasty meals. Balancing bodybuilding nutrition with family-friendly dishes is easy with its diverse menu options.

Which meal delivery services are best for muscle gain?

Eat Clean is a top contender for muscle gain. It prioritizes meals that promote muscle growth and provide the nutritional balance essential for bodybuilders.

Best Bodybuilding Meal Delivery Services in 2024 — Final Score