Why Family Meal Planning Matters
Meal planning can reduce stress, save time and reduce food waste. It’s also a great way to get the kids involved. Younger kids can be the sous-chef whilst older teens may even take over and cook the whole meal! Whether you’re a busy parent or simply want to stop visiting a supermarket every other day, meal planning can put you back in control of the kitchen.
How Meal Subscription Boxes Can Help
Meal subscription boxes take meal planning to the next level. These services deliver fresh, pre-measured ingredients and easy recipes straight to your door. The benefits for families include:
- Convenience: No shopping, measuring, or deciding what to cook.
- Family-friendly recipes: Boxes offer meals that appeal to kids and adults alike.
- Flexibility: Most services let you choose meals, skip weeks, or customise boxes.
- Less waste: Ingredients come in the right amounts — so you only use what you need.
Best Meal Subscription Boxes for Families 2026
Gousto
Best for: Variety & Family Meals
Why we love it: With 175+ recipes every week, there is something to suit everyone from the fussiest toddler to the pickiest teen. Flexible box sizes also available as well as the ability to pause, skip or cancel at any time.
How it works: Simply select the number of people and the number of meals that you would like fo the week, choose your meals, get everything delivered on the day of your choosing and follow the instructions. The recipe cards are easy to follow with photos showing you every step.
Cost: From £3.20 per portion
Junior Loves: The no-fuss ’10-Min Chipotle Pulled Pork Tacos’
HelloFresh
Best for: Easy tried and tested recipes
Why we love it: Tasty recipes that can be cooked in as little as 15 minutes. Boxes cater for all sizes of households. Fully flexible subscription.
How it works: Choose from an array of recipes every week, all ingredients are delivered in pre-proportioned amounts with step by step instructions. Cook and enjoy!
Cost: From £3.65 per portion
Junior Loves: ‘Ultimate homemade Chicken Kyiv’ for filling suppers
Mindful Chef
Best for: Health focused families
Why we love it: Family friendly recipes that aren’t only tasty but are naturally healthy and focused on balanced nutrition and wholesome ingredients. No refined carbs or palm oil.
How it works: Choose from 28 new recipes every week, choose a delivery day and frequency, whip up a tasty, nutritious meal in 20 minutes!
Cost: From £7.00 per portion
Junior Loves: Creamy Broccoli & Kale Pasta
COOK
Best for: Ready to heat family meals
Why we love it: For those weeks where cooking isn’t an option but eating well is a must! Meals are prepared using fresh ingredients that the whole family can enjoy.
How it works: Choose your meals – build your own bundle or select a ready made bundle, select delivery day and frequency, heat and enjoy!
Cost: From £5 per portion
Junior Loves: Chicken, ham and leek pie
Planthood
Best for: Families that want quick and easy plant based meals.
Why we love it: Pre prepared sauces means that you can cook these meals in minutes. No UPFS or preservatives are used in the sauces and fresh vegetables are always used alongside.
How it works: Choose your recipes from a weekly changing menu and select a delivery date and frequency. Chef prepared, restaurant quality plan based meals ready in 15 minutes.
Cost: £6.50 per portion
Junior Loves: Super green udon noodles with tenderstem broccoli, crispy sesame crusted tofu and rayu chilli drizzle.
Simmer
Best for: Time poor families who want to eat healthy, nutritious meals.
Why we love it: nutritionally balanced, seasonal produce and natural flavours – all meals also contain 2 of your 5 a day. All portions are individual making it ideal for catering for a family with different tastes.
How it works: Pick your required number of portions from over 50 dishes a month, pick a day for it to be delivered, heat and eat!
Cost: From £7.49 per portion (main meals)
Junior loves: Chicken katsu curry with coconut rice and asian greens.
Green Chef
Best for: Families where nutritionally
Why we love it: Lots of nutritional preferences catered for including pescatarian, vegan and high protein
How it works: Build your box depending on your family’s needs, choose the number of meals you need per week and the day you would like them to be delivered. Mindful chef offer total flexibility so you can pause/change your plan with 5 days notice.
Cost: From £5.99 per portion
Junior loves: Chicken, Cheddar Cheese and Wholegrain Mustard Gnocchi Bake with Broccoli and Crispy Onions
Riverford
Best for: Families who want an edited choice and organic ingredients
Why we love it: A small but delicious array of recipes to choose from all containing organic ingredients. Some recipes specifically designed with busy families in mind.
How it works: Choose what kind of meals you would like and the frequency. Pause, skip or cancel up to 48 hours in advance.
Cost: From £5 per portion
Junior loves: Mexican-style enchiladas recipe box
