Snap Kitchen Review 2024: My Honest Take
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Snap Kitchen Overview
Snap Kitchen delivers to 38 states, offering low-calorie, gluten-free prepared meals for those on keto, paleo, and carb-restricted diets. Eating well on these kinds of diets can be challenging, but Snap Kitchen promises to make it a whole lot easier.
The menu is certainly intriguing and its food photography looks appetizing. But as a meal delivery service analyst, I know not every menu lives up to its promises. So does Snap Kitchen succeed in making dieting both healthy and tasty?
Spoiler alert: Snap Kitchen knocks it out of the park.
Its weekly menu lets you choose from a variety of fresh meals that you can simply heat and eat. The dishes can be stored in the refrigerator, which means you can enjoy delicious, low-carb meals in minutes whenever you’re hungry.
Intrigued? Read on for my detailed Snap Kitchen review and find out how you can eat healthier with ease.
Pros
Whole30™ approved meals
All meals come in at less than 600 calories, with most under 500
Wide selection of dishes from different cuisines
Delivery Rank discount: Save $80 with code SALE80 plus FREE SHIPPING.
Cons
Small portion sizes – but that’s to be expected from a diet meal service
Six- or 12-meal plans may not work for families
Snap Kitchen Is Best For
Calorie- and carb-conscious dieters
Those starting the Whole30 plan
Individuals and couples looking to eat healthier
Keto and paleo diners looking for a prepared meal service
Snap Kitchen May Not Be Great For
Families
Vegans and vegetarians
What’s on the Snap Kitchen Menu
Snap Kitchen’s menu is more diverse than some of its competitors, with Asian, Central American, and Middle Eastern flavor combinations.
There are more than 30 meals to choose from each week, all of which are packed with protein and come in at less than 600 calories. You can filter the menu by dietary preferences (such as keto or gluten-free) or simply browse the diner favorites.
Since they arrive fresh, Snap Kitchen’s meals are to be eaten within four to seven days after delivery, but do check the package date beforehand. Many diners choose to freeze their meals for a longer shelf-life – this is fine, just be sure to defrost before cooking!
Unboxing
Snap Kitchen uses insulating liners and frozen gel packs designed to keep your meals fresh for 48 hours during transit and up to 10 hours at your door.
The company briefly tried plant-based, compostable packaging, but found it didn’t sufficiently protect the meals. But its current packaging strives for sustainability and uses no more plastic than absolutely necessary.
Prepared meals are always going to have a bigger carbon footprint because they require more materials than loose produce, but Snap Kitchen does what it can to protect the environment. For example, all of its boxes, ice packs, lids, and trays are recyclable.
Cooking (and Eating) with Snap Kitchen
My Favorite Meals
When I chose my Snap Kitchen meals, I selected the Whole30-approved dishes. Whole30 is a 30-day “reset” program that cuts out sugar, alcohol, grains, dairy, and almost all legumes. As you can imagine – I imagined, anyway – this would make for 30 days of joyless munching.
But if Snap Kitchen can make tasty Whole30-compliant meals, the odds are good that everything on its menu is going to be great, right?
I didn’t exactly sign up to the complete Whole30 program. That would mean 30 days without cream in my morning coffee. I love this job, but I don’t love it that much. That being said, Snap Kitchen’s food was so good that I’m considering stocking up on almond milk.
Almond-Crusted Salmon with Roasted Carrots & Zucchini
Snap Kitchen’s cooking instructions are clear and easy to follow. I noted a few cool spots, so I gave it another 20 seconds in the microwave and all was well. If you have a smaller microwave you may need to extend the cooking time a tiny bit.
My first impression was that the food tasted much fresher than I anticipated from a meal in a plastic tray. The roasted carrots and zucchini had a sweetness that went well with the salmon, while the almond crust added a nice texture.
A few hours later, as I was shopping, I realized I was still full. It turns out clean protein, fresh vegetables, and healthy plant-based fats stick to your ribs better than you’d expect from 420 calories. It was a good start to my Snap Kitchen voyage.
Za’atar Chicken with Lemon-Roasted Potatoes
My second Snap Kitchen meal avoided the sophomore slump and batted one out of the park, with a complex blend of flavors that mixed better than my metaphors.
The sumac za’atar tang makes Snap Kitchen’s Za’atar Chicken a Middle Eastern sensation. Lemon zest gives the roasted potatoes extra complexity, while the garlic-roasted cherry tomatoes add both sweet and savory notes.
The kalamata olives add a rich, briny undertone, but I found that just half the container was sufficient for my needs. At 1.41g, this dish is a tad high in sodium and the olives probably add a good bit to that number. But as far as taste, this lived up to the oft-heard but seldom-achieved promise of “restaurant-quality prepared meals.”
At the end of my first day of Snap Kitchen meals, I was full and had no snack cravings after two Whole30-compliant meals that totaled under 900 calories!
Cod Piccata with Garlic-Roasted Cauliflower
I love cod, so I had high hopes for the Cod Piccata with Garlic-Roasted Cauliflower. And I wasn’t disappointed. Snap Kitchen’s chefs have made liberal use of heart-healthy roasted garlic and salty-sour capers that highlight the rich cod.
This particular dish replaces flour with almond meal and uses Whole30-approved ghee in place of butter. If the ingredients didn’t tell me, I would never have known.
Snap Kitchen’s meals have a complexity you rarely find in prepared meal delivery services. There’s a sophisticated blending of flavors that you hope for in gourmet meals, but would never expect from a diet-focused meal delivery service.
Chicken Tenders with Potato-Turnip Mash
Sometimes you just want easy comfort food – and there are few foods easier and more comforting than chicken tenders. But are Whole30-compliant chicken tenders possible?
Snap recommends baking this meal for 18 to 20 minutes for best results. I cooked it in the microwave, as befits chicken tender tradition, then ate it out of the container at my desk (ditto).
So how do Snap Kitchen’s tenders compare to the usual pressed mystery meat?
These tenders are lower in sodium, the house-made barbecue sauce has no high-fructose corn syrup, and there’s no MSG. But they do hit the spot. I found them to be a tasty, healthier take that will satisfy your junk-food cravings.
Naked Beef with Roasted Cauliflower & Green Beans
Snap Kitchen’s Naked Beef is – as per its name – a portion of grilled sirloin with some modestly seasoned vegetables. This kind of stripped-down cuisine rises or falls on the ingredients. In the hands of Snap Kitchen’s chefs, it soars.
The sirloin is top-notch and the vegetables impeccably fresh. The hint of mustard adds zing to the cauliflower’s natural sweetness. It’s a bit Spartan for my tastes, but it’s unsporting to complain that a diet meal delivery service gives you small portions. As with all Snap Kitchen’s meals, the Naked Beef staved off hunger for hours. It just left me wanting a bit more.
Cajun Salmon with Braised Greens & Bacon
Mass-market bacon is fast-cured, sometimes using unhealthy chemicals. Pederson Farm, which supplies the sugar-free bacon in this recipe, smokes its bacon rather than curing it. The flavor is complex and savory.
The salmon tasted fresh, even on the last day of its Use By date, and it held up to the bitter collard greens and the cured bacon. I often find salmon a bit overpowering, but in this dish you need a strongly-flavored fish to rise above the accompaniments.
I left the remoulade sauce out for a bit so it could warm to room temperature before pouring it over the salmon. It added creamy, spicy goodness that was worth the extra calories. This isn’t just eating well on the Whole30 plan – it’s living luxuriously.
Shipping & Delivery
Snap Kitchen will send you a reminder to make sure you get your order in before the cutoff date, which the company calls your “lock date”. Your dedicated delivery day will depend on your zip code.
Most Snap Kitchen orders ship via FedEx or UPS, and spend one or two days in transit. Your meal box will arrive between 8 am and 9 pm on your delivery date.
My box arrived promptly on a Saturday afternoon and was waiting in my foyer when we came home from grocery shopping. The box was in good shape and, upon opening, all the meals were still cool and intact.
Not only is Snap Kitchen’s shipping quick and efficient, it’s free! The cost is included in all its subscription plans.
Subscription
How to Sign Up
Once you’ve chosen a plan of either six or 12 meals per week (both with free delivery), and input your details, you’ll get to choose from a seasonal, rotating menu of more than 30 dishes.
To help you choose your weekly box, Snap Kitchen offers filters like:
New – recently added meals
Favorites – the most popular meals
High Protein – 35 to 40% of calories from protein per meal
Gluten-Free – with veggies, clean proteins, and healthy fats
Keto Friendly – 10g or less net carbs per meal
Low Carb – less than 30g net carbs per meal
Paleo – no grains, dairy, soy, legumes, refined sugar, or vegetable oils
Whole30 – no ingredients forbidden by the Whole30 plan
Managing Your Subscription
Managing your Snap Kitchen subscription is straightforward.
You have until 11:59pm CST before your specific “lock date” to edit the meals in your order. You also get an email reminder the day before to help you avoid missing the deadline. After your menu for the next week “locks,” you can then go ahead and set up your order for the upcoming weeks after that.
You can easily edit your menu, update your address or payment method, or even change the delivery date (if available in your area. I live in New Jersey, which is central enough that I had a couple of days to choose from).
Cancellations
You can cancel your Snap Kitchen subscription via the app or the website. Scroll down to the bottom of the Subscription page and press Cancel Subscription.
This will not cancel any order which has passed its lock date, but all future orders will be canceled.
Customer Service
You can skip weeks if you’re going to be out of town. Should there be any problems with your order, customer service can be reached via email at [email protected] between 7 am and 9 pm CST.
You can also reach the customer service team on the phone at
Prices
Starting from | Minimum Order | Shipping Fee |
$9.66 per portion | 6 meals/week: $75.99 | Free |
Six Snap Kitchen meals per week will cost you $75.99, or $12.67 per serving. Twelve meals cost $125.99, or $10.50 per serving.
It might seem costly, but remember that Snap Kitchen offers free delivery. Actually, their prices per serving are similar to most high-end meal delivery services, and are good value for the quality of the meals.
Bottom Line: Is Snap Kitchen Worth It?
If you want to start the Whole30 plan but quake at all the restrictions, Snap Kitchen can help you overcome those early hurdles.
If you’re trying to stay on a keto or paleo diet but don’t have time to plan meals and cook, Snap Kitchen delivers tasty carb-conscious meals to your door.
So yes, if you want to incorporate healthier, low-calorie meals into your diet but struggle to do so for whatever reason, Snap Kitchen is worth it.
What is Snap Kitchen?
Snap Kitchen is a prepared meal delivery service that specializes in paleo, keto, and low-carb diets. It also participates in the Whole30 plan and has meals designed for those doing a Whole30 cleanse.
How Much Does Snap Kitchen Cost?
Snap Kitchen offers you a choice between six meals per week at $75.99 ($12.67 per meal) or 12 meals per week for $125.99 ($10.50 per meal). Shipping is always included.
How Much is Snap Kitchen Delivery?
Snap Kitchen offers free delivery across both its plans. This is a nice perk that helps offset the cost of Snap Kitchen’s prepared meals.
What Do Nutritionists Think of Snap Kitchen?
Dietitians often praise Snap Kitchen for its wide variety of low-carb and calorie-conscious meals, though they also note that Snap Kitchen’s selection of vegan- and vegetarian-friendly dishes is very limited.
