7 Best Meal Delivery in Virginia Beach 2024

There are plenty of meal delivery services available to those in Virginia Beach. Whatever your diet, budget, or level of culinary skill, there’s pretty much a meal delivery service to match. But with so many choices, finding the one that best suits your needs can be daunting. 

I’ve compiled the 7 best meal delivery services in Virginia Beach to help you out. I’ve tried and tested many of the options on this list – and undertaken plenty of in-depth research on the others. Through extensive experience, I’ve picked the services that use only the highest-quality ingredients, provide the best value, and offer the most flexible delivery options. 

Factor is my top pick thanks to its great variety and healthy yet tasty dishes. But every service on this list has something to offer those who live in our vibrant coastal city. Whether you’re looking for meal kits or prepared meals, and whatever your dietary preferences or budget, there is something here for you. 

The Best Meal Delivery Services Reviewed

1. Factor – Best Prepared Meal Delivery Service in Virginia Beach

Factor caters to health-conscious individuals with a rotating menu of single-serving meals prepared by chefs and designed by dietitians. All the meals are microwaveable (though they can be cooked in the oven, too), which means they’re ready to eat within 2-3 minutes. If you’re often busy or just dislike cooking, Factor is a convenient way to maintain a healthy diet.

What’s on the Menu?

Factor is best known for its keto and high-protein meals. Those dishes tagged Protein Plus contain more than 30 g of protein per serving, making them a good choice for athletes, bodybuilders, and people looking to build muscle or burn fat. You’ll also spot lots of low-carb alternative ingredients in each dish, like cauli-rice and zucchini noodles.

The selection of vegan and vegetarian meals is backed by a flexitarian plan, a great way to incorporate some meat-free days into your week.

You can also add extras to your weekly Factor box. These include super-healthy drinks and snacks like fruit smoothies, cold-pressed juices, and wheatgrass shots, plus high-protein breakfasts like pancakes and egg bites, and keto-friendly snacks. Not only can these extras save on trips to the grocery store, but they can also help you stay on track with your diet. 

What Makes It Special?

Those on specific diets will find many options to choose from. In our tested review, we loved the wide variety that Factor offers. It includes meals suitable for keto, veggie and vegan, high-protein, low-calorie diets, and more. You can opt to see only certain dietary types when you sign up, but you’ll always have access to the full menu.

You’ll get a free 20-minute virtual consultation with an in-house dietitian when you sign up. This is a great way to seek personalized advice about your diet moving forward, whether you’re aiming for weight loss, want to manage a health condition, or are looking to boost athletic performance. You can take the opportunity to find out more about the meals on offer.

Is It Good Value?

Factor provides restaurant-quality dishes at competitive prices. There are more affordable alternatives around, true, including on my list of best meal delivery services in Virginia Beach. But I think that the convenience Factor offers and a great quality-to-price ratio make it stand out among its competitors. 

Factor pricing depends on how many single-serving meals you order each week. The best-value box offers 18 meals for just $103.41 for first-time customers using our link.

2. Green Chef – Best Organic Meal Kits in Virginia Beach

Green Chef offers some of the highest-quality ingredients of many meal kits. As well as promising certified organic eggs and produce, you’ll only find sustainably sourced seafood and humanely raised proteins that meet strict animal welfare standards. So while this service is 1 of the more premium-priced – it might be worth it for many. 

What’s on the Menu?

The menu is varied and exciting. You’ll find lots of bold and interesting flavor combinations, with dishes like the Spicy Chili-Ginger Chicken Kale Salad with Toasted Almonds, Mushrooms, and Ginger-Lime Aioli (pictured). Some healthy and comforting options are the Curried Coconut Turkey Soup with Summer Squash and Garlic Pitas. The Cajun Surf ‘n’ Turf is 1 of the Premium meals.

If you need a meal for a romantic dinner or some other special occasion, I recommend choosing Chef Select meals. If you’re in a hurry, the 10-Min Lunches are the right fit for you. At times, Green Chef includes themed recipes for special occasions like Valentine's Day.

While Green Chef’s add-ons are more limited, the quality is excellent. You can order a range of breakfast and lunch options for the week. Some of them are on-the-go meals like oatmeal and cinnamon muffins, snacks, and bulk-buy proteins, including wild-caught salmon filets, organic ground beef, and chicken breasts.

What Makes It Special?

This service caters well to those with specialized dietary needs. You can choose from 8 menu preferences when you sign up, but you’ll always be able to mix and match.

These include Protein Packed, Keto, Plant Based, Quick & Easy (ready in 25 minutes or less), Calorie Smart, Mediterranean, certified Gluten Free, and Gut & Brain Health. Note that some dishes will cross over – the dish pictured above, for example, is keto, gluten-free, and is also a calorie-conscious recipe.

Green Chef offers a free, 20-minute online nutrition coaching session. Get in touch with a certified dietitian to get advice or to learn more about the service's offerings. If effective, you can sign up for additional coaching. 

Is It Good Value?

Green Chef’s clear recipes and prepped ingredients make cooking easy. When we tried Green Chef at home, we enjoyed some of the tastiest, restaurant-quality dishes we’ve ever had. 

Green Chef prices start at $9.99 per serving. You can order 3 or 4 meals for either 2 or 6 people per week. The 4-serving plan also gives you the option to order just 2 recipes per week.

3. Blue Apron – Best for Picky Eaters

Blue Apron is famous for its variety of upscale world cuisines and family classics. Even the service’s more complex entrees are likely to win the hearts (and stomachs) of picky eaters. The 80+ weekly options (including kits and prepared meals) are also a great way to introduce kids (and yourselves!) to new flavors in a familiar form.

What’s on the Menu?

You can choose from 5 Meal Kits preferences each week. These are Chef’s Favorites (the test kitchen’s top picks), Wellness recipes, Family-Friendly, Fast & Easy, and Veggie meals. If you prefer Prepared & Ready meals, choose between Keto Friendly, 600 Calories or Less, 30 g of Protein, and Carb Conscious alternatives. No matter which plan you select when you sign up, you can always order from the wider menu.

Blue Apron’s Wellness recipes are inspired by the Mediterranean diet and feature plenty of lean proteins like fish, tofu, and poultry alongside fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. The Veggies menu offers flavorful meat-free options like the Couscous-Stuffed Poblano Peppers with Spinach, Raisins, and Tahini Dressing.

The varied selection of extras is what makes this service stand out, as we discovered when we reviewed Blue Apron. Alongside prepared meals, you can add desserts, breakfast dishes, and salads to your box.

What Makes It Special?

The recipes are straightforward to follow. You can find video tutorials on the website or via the Blue Apron app, and the recipe cards that accompany each dish are clear and concise. All the ingredients used promise to be GMO-free, and Blue Apron only uses sustainably sourced, hormone-free meats and seafood.

Blue Apron’s Make It Vegetarian label allows you to swap meat in a recipe for extra veggies. Some otherwise vegetarian meals can be customized to add meat. You can also search for lower-calorie meals that contain less than 600 calories per serving.

You can find additional items in the Blue Apron Market. The cool thing about this section is that you can buy recipes without subscribing first. I like the seasonal Holiday Boxes that can take the stress out of feeding your guests.

Is It Good Value?

Some meal kits are great for nights when you’re short on cooking time. Recipes like the Sweet and Spicy Chicken Stir-Fry with Rice and Snow Peas take 25 minutes or less to get on the table. Elsewhere, Blue Apron’s wide selection of prepared meals is even quicker, taking just a few minutes in the microwave.

Blue Apron’s prices start at $4.00 per serving. Box sizes start at 2 meal kits for 2 people, or 4 prepared meals per week. You can’t mix and match these, and there doesn’t appear to be an absolute limit to how much you can order. If you want both types, place 2 separate orders, or switch your box type each week.

4. HelloFresh – Best Family-Friendly Meal Kits in Virginia Beach

HelloFresh is the world’s largest meal delivery service – so this giant has meal kits down to a science. The menu is extensive and varied. The recipes feature only fresh, seasonal produce, and everything arrives packaged so you can easily see which ingredients go with which dishes.

What’s on the Menu?

HelloFresh offers a vast menu catering to various tastes and lifestyles. Tags help you narrow down your choices based on dietary restrictions, skill level, and cooking time. Top-performing dishes have labels like Best Recipe, Hall of Fame, and Premium Picks, while there are also tags for quick options like the 10-Min Lunch.

HelloFresh publishes its menus 6 weeks in advance, so you can see what’s coming up. You can choose dietary/lifestyle preferences such as Under 20 Minutes, Family Friendly, Pescatarian, Veggie, Meat & Veggies, and Fit & Wholesome to help HelloFresh make recommendations to you. But you’ll always be able to order from the wider menu.

Once you set up an account, you can access Market items, which you can include in your weekly orders for a more convenient grocery shopping experience. The selection of items, such as breakfast options, snacks, desserts, extra proteins, and others, may differ based on your location.

What Makes It Special?

The dietitian-approved Fit & Wholesome meals have 650 calories or less per serving. You’ll also spot carb- and calorie-smart options, which are great if you’re looking to make healthier choices a few times a week. But those who are keen to stick to a stricter low-carb diet – like keto – should check out our options for the best keto meal delivery services.

HelloCustom lets you swap proteins or sides for selected recipes each week. While this adds to the wide variety of options, it’s only available on around 12 dishes each week, and the swap choices are limited. If customizable meals are important to you, I highly recommend checking out Home Chef.

HelloFresh is known for its excellent customer support, which is available 24/7. The app also receives high ratings. We tried this service for ourselves and applauded HelloFresh for its high standards of service.

Is It Good Value?

HelloFresh stands out as a top option for both picky eaters and families. It has a diverse menu with over 100 menu items. It's also for all skill levels, providing recipes with clearly marked difficulty levels: Easy, Medium, and Hard. Note that most recipes are classified as Easy.

HelloFresh provides affordable meal kits with the best per-serving price on larger orders. For example, using our link, new customers can enjoy 6 meals for 4 people for just $107.75.

5. Home Chef – Best Customizable Meal Delivery Service

Home Chef stands out as 1 of the most flexible meal kit services on the market. You can order meal kits for every kind of skill level and schedule, as well as a variety of add-ons that you can mix and match to create your own meals. 

What’s on the Menu?

The menu features many familiar American recipes – think baked, cheesy chicken, burgers, and pasta dishes. But alongside comfort food like the Turkey Meatballs and Mushroom Sauce (pictured), there’s a range of Culinary Collection dishes that feature more premium ingredients like filet mignon or mahi mahi, which are perfect for special occasions.

There are meal types for many tastes and every schedule. Look out for the Express meal kits, which take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes to put together. The ingredients for the Oven-Ready options only need to be assembled in the accompanying pan and baked.

Home Chef’s Market offers protein bundles, breakfast items, and desserts that are sure to put a smile on everyone’s face at mealtimes. Many of Home Chef’s meals are family-friendly. Look out for the Family tag, which indicates that a dish comes in family-sized portions. Or click on the link in the lower-left corner of the screen for more choices.

What Makes It Special?

The Customize It feature lets you swap or double-up on protein in almost all of Home Chef’s recipes. For example, the Turkey Meatballs can be swapped for ground beef, ground pork, or plant-based Impossible Burger. This makes it easy for you to get the meal you’re craving. While other services offer customizations on a few entrees, none offer as many choices as Home Chef. 

Home Chef’s filters let you avoid recipes that contain common allergens. However, the selection is somewhat limited for those with special dietary needs. All the meals are prepared in the same facility, so there’s still a chance of cross-contamination. If you have more serious sensitivities, you may want to read our list of the best allergy-friendly meal delivery services.

Is It Good Value?

We loved the combination of learning new techniques and having easy-to-cook meals on hand. The value of the service impressed us in our tested Home Chef review.

Home Chef prices start at $9.99 per serving, but since the meals are priced individually, this is just a guide. The minimum order is 2 meals for 2 people, but you can order up to 6 meals for 6. This makes Home Chef a great choice for larger households. 

6. BistroMD – Best Diet Meal Delivery Service in Virginia Beach

BistroMD makes losing weight or managing a health condition easy thanks to its portion-controlled prepared meals. The low-calorie, high-protein, high-fiber dishes are designed to leave you feeling full, while the program aims to teach you better eating habits to help you keep the weight off after you lose it.

What’s on the Menu?

BistroMD's website features a consistent menu of 150 meals, organized into Breakfast, Lunch/Dinner, and Snacks categories for easy browsing. This selection caters to various dietary preferences, including pescatarians, vegans, and gluten-free diets. Note that the available meal count differs by plan, ranging from 25 Vegan to more than 150 Signature options.

All the meals come in at 450 calories or less and are designed to stabilize blood sugar levels and keep you feeling full, with 25-30 grams of protein, low glycemic carbs, and fiber per serving. It’s little wonder BistroMD regularly scores highly on our list of the best weight loss meal delivery services.

The service’s Essential and Tasty Snacks (EATS) are optional but recommended. You’ll get familiar items like whey protein shakes, granola mixes, and high-fiber bars, but also treats like keto-friendly cheesecake and low-calorie cookies. We tried BistroMD at home and found it was a great way to stay on track and avoid the temptation of the grocery store aisles.  

What Makes It Special?

The service was set up by Dr. Caroline Cederquist, a physician specializing in weight management. With the help of registered dietitians and her foodie husband Ed, Dr. Cederquist offers plans tailored to many dietary and health requirements, including heart health, diabetes, and even menopause.

BistroMD’s vegan plan is great for anyone wanting to begin a plant-based diet. Some store-bought vegan meals tend to be higher in carbs and not so rich in protein. But BistroMD’s prepared dishes are designed to be rich in plant-based protein, with options such as Mushroom Couscous with Roasted Beets, and the Harissa Chickpea Power Bowl. 

Is It Good Value?

BistroMD’s meals cater to many diets, not just for weight loss. There are signature plans for both men and women, for example. But you’ll also find the Heart Healthy, Gluten Free, Keto Flex, Diabetic, Menopause, and Vegan programs.

BistroMD’s prices start from $6.59 per serving. The service’s minimum plan offers 5 days of lunch and dinner per week (10 meals), while its maximum plan sends 3 meals per day 6 days a week, and 2 meals for the seventh day (20 meals). Adding EATS to your plan will increase the price by $30 to $40 a week.

7. Purple Carrot – Best Vegan Meal Delivery in Virginia Beach

Purple Carrot's colorful and exciting menu makes it the best choice for vegan diners. Each week, the menu is curated by pro chefs and is packed with seasonal produce and ingredients you may not have tried before. You’ll find plant-based twists on tons of family favorites, like stir-fries and pasta dishes, as well as brand-new flavor combinations.

What’s on the Menu?

Purple Carrot offers both meal kits and prepared meals. If you're looking for a compromise between the 2, Purple Carrot's Less Prep meals may be the perfect solution. The Stuffed Sweet Potatoes (pictured) are a Less Prep option. It requires just a sheet pan, saucepan, and small bowl – so there’s minimal post-prep cleanup. These meals also come with prepped ingredients to make cooking even quicker.

You can navigate dishes on the menu by checking symbols that have meanings such as High-Protein, Soy-Free, Gluten-Free, and Nut-Free, making this a great option for those with specific dietary needs.

You can also get plant-based breakfasts and lunches, as well as some vegan pantry staples, snacks, and desserts like brownies, crackers, and plant-based meat alternatives.

What Makes It Special?

The ingredients are also mostly organic where possible, particularly its non-produce items, including beans, non-dairy milks, tofu, and plant-based cheeses.

Purple Carrot's FAQ section is remarkably thorough. It provides encyclopedic information that virtually eliminates the need to contact customer support. I found answers to every possible question I had in mind. Such exhaustive detail is rare and reduces the typically long wait times for support replies.

Is It Good Value?

We spoke highly of Purple Carrot’s offerings and its tasty meals when we tested this service at home.

Purple Carrot’s prices start from $11.00 per serving. You can order 3 or 4 meal kits each week for 2 or 4 people, or pick up 6, 8, or 10 single-serving prepared meals. For a custom plan that incorporates both, you can contact Purple Carrot directly. 

Quick Comparison Table

Tips for Choosing the Best Meal Delivery Service in Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach residents have many meal delivery options – here's how to choose the best service for you:

• Seek variety: Variety is the spice of life, especially when it comes to food. In Virginia Beach, where seafood and international cuisines are popular, you might crave an array of meal options. A service like HelloFresh, which changes its menu regularly, could be an excellent choice for those who like to mix things up. This ensures that you won't get bored and helps you discover new dishes that you may have otherwise missed out on.

• Consider your dietary needs: Virginia Beach is an active community, and specialized diets are becoming increasingly popular to maintain that active lifestyle. If you're sticking to a specific diet, a generalized meal service may limit your choices. A service like Green Chef, which offers dedicated menus for vegan, keto, and high-protein diets, can better align with your nutritional goals. By choosing a specialized service, you ensure that you're getting meals that are both flavorful and compliant with your diet.

• Think about expenses:  Living in Virginia Beach can be costly, especially with the temptation of fine dining and ocean-side eateries. When choosing a meal delivery service, it's important to consider not just the upfront costs but also the value you're getting. Besides the meal kits, think about the additional features like detailed nutritional information or grocery add-ons that could save you extra trips to the store.

• Feel free to switch to a different service: One of the best things about meal delivery services is the flexibility they offer. Most services, like those on my list, have straightforward cancelation policies. If you find that a service isn't meeting your expectations or needs, there's no penalty for switching. This is especially useful in a place like Virginia Beach, where seasonal changes might shift your meal preferences. It gives you the freedom to explore different menus and plans until you find the one that's perfect for you.
  

FAQ

What’s the best prepared meal delivery service in Virginia Beach? 

Factor offers the best prepared meals in Virginia Beach. This service offers a wide range of fresh and healthy meals, with menus for specialized diets, including keto. Every week, you get a choice of 35+ meals created by nutritionists and prepared by in-house chefs, as well as a selection of add-ons.

What’s the best healthy meal delivery service in Virginia Beach?

Green Chef’s certified organic meal kits make it the healthiest meal delivery service in Virginia Beach. Not only are the ingredients clean, fresh, and seasonal, but Green Chef offers a range of plans suitable for specific dietary needs, including a dedicated gluten-free plan.   

What’s the best diet meal delivery service in Virginia Beach?

Best Meal Delivery Services in Virginia Beach in 2024 — Final Score