Move Over, Purple Carrot: My Favorite Vegetable Meal Kit is a Complete Surprise
I’ve spent 21 years of my life as a vegetarian, and as such, I naturally cook and eat a lot of vegan recipes that don’t contain meat. However, when I first heard about meal kits, I had my doubtsthinking they won’t deal with a plant-based diet. But when I started to explore food delivery services on CNET, I was pleased to find that there are a number of kits for that purpose allow for vegan dietary restrictions.
When it comes to vegan food services, Purple Carrot it often comes to mind because it is a 100% plant-based service. However, there are many companies that offer vegan dishes – just not many. It’s one of those services that beats Purple Carrot in my eyes. I’m talking USDA-certified organic Green Chef.
Although Green Chef it’s not like 100% vegan Purple Carrotthat’s why I would choose the first one if I were to spend my money on vegan groceries.
The Green Chef puts thought into his vegan dishes
Chef’s Choice Green Over Red Carrot as my vegan meal kit service comes down to taste and recipe considerations. In two decades of preparing and eating vegan meals, I’ve noticed that some recipes tend to equate “vegan” with “frictionless,” or overpay for spices or salt or underpay by throwing tofu into a dish without preparation.
I found that Green Chef’s food includes a lovely combination of vegetables, herbs, grains, seeds and beans while ensuring that each layer of his dishes is packed with just the right amount of flavor. Even though Green Chef doesn’t focus exclusively on vegan cooking, each one I tried didn’t feel like an afterthought.
Roasted squash and pepper sandwiches, creamy tomato pasta with roasted vegetables and black bean and spiced cauliflower burritos are three Green Chef dishes I’ve tried, and I’d happily make them all again.
Chef’s green creamy tomato pasta with roasted vegetables, which was full of flavor.
Purple Carrot protein crisis
From Purple Carrot, I tried eight different meals, and I liked some better than others, but overall it feels like the brand is struggling to get the taste right, especially in the way its vegan proteins are prepared. For example, the two proteins I tried, the crispy lemon chick’n and the adobo-roasted tofu, lacked a sweet, rounded flavor, and I couldn’t finish eating them.
Recently, I tried Head Peloton Instructor Robin Arzón’s “Eat To Hustle” high protein meal collaboration with Purple Carrot. I liked that dish better than the others I tried from the brand, but still, Green Chef’s recipes win in the taste category.
If it’s important to you, Green Chef’s food is also USDA-certified organic, while only Purple Carrot’s ingredients are organic or non-GMO.
The Puerto Rican Purple Carrot Rice and Beans was not my favorite, especially since the tofu was just sliced in half and rubbed with a spice mix.
Green Chef vs. Purple Carrot: Price comparison is out
The Purple Carrot and Green Chef meal kits are about the same price, and both are subscription services. The Green Chef charges a flat $14 per serving, while the Purple Carrot meal kit is $13 to $14 per serving. Ready-to-eat dishes range from $13 to $18, and grocery items are $3 to $40.
Purple Carrot shipping is $12, but orders over $100 ship for free. A $15 delivery fee may apply to select ZIP codes. As for Green Chef, delivery is a flat $10.
Some Purple Carrot meal kits may be $1 cheaper per serving than Green Chef, but shipping on orders under $100 is $2 less.
The ingredients for Green Chef’s sandwiches are roasted squash and bell peppers, which are fresh and flavorful.
Where the Purple Carrot wins: Variety
Green Chef offers at least five vegan meal kits per week, while Purple Carrot offers more than 50 options, including snacks and ready-to-eat meals, each week. During the week of writing, there were 33 meal kits.
Both services include breakfast, lunch and dinner options. While Purple Carrot has ready-to-eat foods and grocery items, such as oatmeal, cheese, snacks and vegan proteins, Green Chef has its own Green Market as “add-ons” to its menu, including side dishes, juices, egg bites and ready-to-cook non-vegan proteins.
If you want more than five vegan meal kits each week, Purple Carrot may be a better choice.
Some food restrictions are given
Along with vegan food, Green Chef offers recipes for the following dietary restrictions and preferences: vegetarian, Mediterranean, gluten-free, calorie smart, high protein, high fiber, low added sugar, keto, milk-free, sodium smart and carb smart. There are also kits with ingredients that support gut or brain health.
In addition to being 100% vegan, Purple Carrot supports a gluten-free, high-protein, high-fiber diet and less than 600 calories.
Between the two, Green Chef has many options that you can use to organize its menu. It would also be great for flexible people who want to eat a plant-based diet but don’t want to go all the way.
Purple Carrot ingredients for its miso leek pasta, which I enjoyed more than the brand’s other meal kits.
My final thoughts
After testing a variety of vegan meal kit supplies over the past few years, I’ve come to the conclusion that, as long as price isn’t an issue, the deciding factor between companies is taste. This time, and since they cost about the same, my favorite vegan meal kits are Green Chef, despite Purple Carrot’s popularity in the category.
Finally, if you are vegan and want to try meal kits, or if you eat meat but want to eat less, here are my personal recommendations for meal kits. Green Chef. But if you want variety and options every week, then check out Purple Carrot.
