Vegan Meal Kit Delivery in Canada
The basics of a vegan diet
Vegan diets exclude the use of animal products and byproducts in one’s diet. This diet relies, therefore, on vegetables, fruit, grains, and nuts to receive nutrients and energy.
Many people may follow a vegan or vegetarian diet because of the many health benefits it may offer. Some may even adopt a vegan lifestyle—which excludes animal products beyond one’s diet—to advocate for animal rights or the environment, often by also consuming only organic foods.
Keep in mind that consulting a health professional can make the transition to a vegan diet simpler and safer, and can help you make sure you are receiving all your dietary needs. Read on to learn more about the vegan diet and how vegan meal kit delivery services can help you maintain it.
What does a vegan diet consist of?
The vegan diet consists of plant-based foods such as fruit, vegetables, legumes, nuts, plant-based dairy alternatives, sprouted or fermented plant foods, and whole grains. Foods that are excluded are
- animal products: eggs, dairy, meat, and seafood
- animal byproducts: honey, whey, casein, lactose, gelatin, carmine, shellac, fish-derived omega-3 fatty acids and more
Preferred food items for the vegan diet are rich in nutrients like vitamins A, C, E, and K, fibre, antioxidants, and phytonutrients.
Types of vegan diets
There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to a vegan diet, so you can choose to follow one—or a few—of its variations and see what works best for you.
- Raw-food vegan diet: this is all about raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, or plant foods cooked at temperatures below 48°C
- Whole-food vegan diet: consists of whole-plant foods such as fruit, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds
- 80/10/10: limits fat-rich plants such as nuts and avocados to focus on raw fruit and soft greens only. It is a low-fat, raw-food vegan or fruitarian diet
- The starch solution: focuses on potatoes, rice, and corn in place of fruit
- Raw till 4: inspired by 80/10/10 and starch solution, this diet is raw until 4 pm and plant-based for dinner
- Thrive diet: a raw-food, vegan diet where plant-based and whole foods, either raw or partially cooked at low temperatures, are eaten
- Junk-food vegan diet: relies on mock meats and cheeses, fries, vegan desserts, and other processed vegan foods
The benefits of vegan meal kit delivery services
Following a vegan diet may be challenging as you may need to closely read food labels and opt for more intricate cooking techniques. Vegan meal kit delivery services can make following a healthy, delicious vegan diet much easier.
Vegan meal kit delivery services can help you save time and money by delivering strictly vegan meals and ingredients—pre-portioned and partially cooked—right to your door, and some of them even work with nutritionists to make sure you can get all of your dietary needs from their menu.
Going Vegetarian for Personal Health Benefits
Scientific research has shown that a vegetarian lifestyle is very beneficial for one’s personal health. People who eat mostly vegetarian meals tend to lose excess weight and keep it off. As a result, they have fewer cardiovascular problems, lower glucose levels, better cholesterol levels, and a lower incidence of total cancer. Research shows that a vegetarian diet may also reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome, which includes obesity and type 2 diabetes.
How to choose a vegan meal kit delivery service
Consider these key factors to find the vegan meal kit delivery service that best suits your needs:
Nutritional value
Compare the nutritional benefits the providers have to offer. Go through the nutritional info and the ingredient list thoroughly. You can compare the brands based on the nutrients provided per 100g.
Size
Check the portion size offered. As vegan meals are usually lower in energy, they may be consumed in high quantities to make a fulfilling meal. Consider your appetite level and pick the service accordingly.
Cost and terms
Cost is the major motivating factor to opt for a particular service. Check the services’ cost per meal or weekly plans to determine the best value. With certain services, you can subscribe to a weekly plan to receive a discount per meal. You can also compare promotional discounts.
Shipping efficiency
Vegan meal kit delivery services usually provide timely delivery to keep customers happy. But if you want a quick turnaround, compare the delivery time, delivery cost, and handling procedures. Sometimes the delivery cost is also influenced by the location of the main kitchen. Some vegan meal kit delivery services also offer free delivery upon spending a specific amount.
Vegan meal kit delivery services: FAQs
Do meal kit services offer vegan and vegetarian meal plans?
While some meal kit delivery services, such as Purple Carrot, are fully vegan, others might have a specific vegan menu, even if they’re not fully vegan. For example, Green Chef, HelloFresh, and Sun Basket offer impressive vegan options.
How much do vegan meal kit delivery services cost?
Most vegan meal kit delivery services may cost between $6 and $26 per meal. It all depends on the type of service and meals you pick from the menu. On average, your per meal cost can be around $9.
Which is the cheapest vegan meal kit delivery option?
Dinnerly may be the cheapest vegan meal kit delivery starting at $4.85 per serving, followed by Soulara, which starts at $8.50 per serving.
Vegan meal kit delivery services: our final thoughts
Following a vegan diet can be fun and fulfilling even though many foods are seemingly excluded. Keep in mind that it is important to make sure you are getting all of your nutrient needs from your diet, so consulting a professional nutritionist can help. Vegan meal kit delivery services can also help you make sure all of your dietary needs are met while consuming tasty vegan meals.
