Written by Cathy Habas, Fortune Recommends Writer
Eating vegan or plant-based meals can be a great way to consume more vegetables, whole grains, and other healthy foods while limiting cholesterol intake. For many, eating a plant-based diet means exploring new flavors, ingredients, and recipes—and that can feel a little daunting if you’re not sure where to start. A vegan meal kit delivery service like Purple Carrot can help you sample healthy, well-balanced meals while reducing food waste from unused produce or condiments.
Purple Carrot also sells premade plant-based meals that reheat in about two minutes in the microwave. This is a good option for people recovering from surgery or simply looking to spend less time in the kitchen.
Our team tested both types of meals from Purple Carrot to ensure the service is accessible and convenient. Our testers also rated the freshness of ingredients and the taste of each meal. Keep reading to find out how Purple Carrot fared.
Medical disclaimer: This article is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. For health advice, contact a licensed healthcare provider
Key product features
What you should know
Purple Carrot is an all-vegan meal delivery service that can ship meal kits, premade meals, and optional snacks and beverages to your doorstep each week.
- Our tester preferred the taste of the Purple Carrot meal kits rather than the microwave-ready prepared meals.
- One Purple Carrot serving ranges from $11 to $13.25, which is a little pricier than average meal kits on the market.
- Purple Carrot is an excellent choice for people following a vegan diet who are trying to prioritize convenience as well as nutrition.
How does Purple Carrot work?
Purple Carrot is a meal delivery subscription service that specializes in 100% vegan food with mostly organic ingredients. The company ships fresh meal kits and premade, microwave-ready meals to your door each week. You can select specific items from the menu in advance, or the company can randomly choose meals for you.
Purple Carrot also sells extra “Plantry” items such as desserts, snacks, and beverages. As with the main menu, all add-ons are vegan—including the “cheese” and “salami.”
Signing up for Purple Carrot is as easy as registering a username and password and choosing how many meals and servings you’d like to receive each week. Then, fill out your shipping and payment information. You can’t select a specific delivery day or time—everything arrives on a specific day based on your ZIP code.
If you need to skip a week, you can do so through your online account. You can also indicate any preferences, like high-protein or gluten-free meals, which will help Purple Carrot staff fill your box if you ever forget to log in and choose specific meals.
Choosing meals
Purple Carrot offers a variety of dinner meal kits each week, as well as a small selection of breakfasts (starting at $4.50 per serving) and lunches (starting at $9 per serving). Premade meals are also available, but only for dinner items.
To help you easily choose meals, Purple Carrot lists each option’s prep time and calories per serving. Click on any menu item to view a complete list of ingredients, allergens, nutritional information, required cookware, and instructions. Icons tell you whether a meal is high-protein, low-calorie, low-sodium, high-fiber, gluten-free, or soy-free.
Purple Carrot defines a high-protein meal as having 15+ grams, which is consistent with how the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defines high protein. (1) Additionally, low-sodium meals from Purple Carrot are more likely to meet the FDA’s definition of low sodium (140 milligrams or less per serving) than other meal delivery services we’ve reviewed.
Changing orders
You have until Tuesday at 11:59 p.m. ET, the week before your delivery, to make any changes to the order. Log into your online account to review the order, swap meals, or add Plantry items.
Specs
| Price per serving | $11-$13.25 |
| Shipping cost | $10-$20 per week depending on location; free shipping on orders over $100 |
| Shipping availability | Contiguous U.S. |
| Meal type | Meal kits, prepared meals |
| Number of meals per week | Three or four meal kits; six, eight, or 10 prepared meals; or mix-and-match |
| Meal options | All menu items are 100% vegan, with additional options that match high-protein, low-calorie, nut-free, soy-free, gluten-free, low-sodium, and “fast and easy.” |
| Cancellation method | Online |
Our Purple Carrot experience
After testing Purple Carrot, we discovered a few key takeaways that may be helpful to customers before they place an order.
Packaging
Like other meal delivery services, Purple Carrot sends your entire order for the week in one cardboard box. If you order multiple meal kits, the ingredients can weigh down the box—our tester said hers weighed about 20 pounds. You may need to unpack the box at your front door and bring items in a few at a time. Prepared meals weigh less.
“Ingredients were well protected, and everything in the box was cold.”
Team Product Tester
Inside our tester’s box, some of the vegetables were in bags while others were loose. Ingredients used to make sauces were pre-portioned in small packets or jars. Our tester thought everything was easy to open and would be suitable for someone with limited dexterity.
Preparing the meals
Because Purple Carrot sells meal kits and prepared meals, you get to choose how much meal prep you want to do each week. Some premade meals can be eaten cold, while others heat up in the microwave in about two minutes. The meal kits take 20–55 minutes to prepare and cook.
Our tester was able to cook each meal within the advertised time. “Not much chopping was required, and the meals would be suitable for beginner to intermediate cooks,” they said.
It’s worth noting that the recipe booklet and nutritional labels are printed in small font, so it may be difficult for come customers to read the instructions.
Quality of meals
Our tester thought most of the ingredients looked fresh, but they decided not to use some green beans that were starting to turn brown. The meal kits don’t come with an expiration date, so you’ll need to use your best judgment when evaluating the quality of the ingredients. The premade meals were due to expire four to five days after our tester received them.
As for taste, our tester found the meals to be hit-or-miss. They liked the Stuffed Sweet Potatoes but had trouble with the texture of two premade meals. “The Vibrant Falafel Bowl was very weird and rubbery, and the broccoli in the Tahini Caesar Broccoli Bowl was mushy. I was unable to finish those meals,” they said.
We asked Amy Beney, RD, a registered dietitian based out of Lockport, New York, to evaluate the Purple Carrot menu. She approves of the variety of plant-based foods available.
“Ideally, if our plates mimic a rainbow with a variety of vibrant colors, our diets are more likely to supply the antioxidants and phytonutrients our bodies need. Purple Carrot meal kits provide a variety of colors.”
Amy Beney, RD, Fortune Recommends Advisor
Although Purple Carrot meals offer plenty of dietary fiber, antioxidants, and phytonutrients while remaining low in sugar and sodium, Beney warns that eating a vegan diet may lead to deficiencies in vitamin B-12, calcium, iron, and zinc. Getting enough protein from a variety of sources is also a concern for people who don’t eat animal products.
“Ideally, getting 21 grams of protein or more per meal can help you feel fuller longer and meet your estimated protein needs,” said Beney.
We found meals on the Purple Carrot menu that contain only 11 grams of protein per serving and some that contain more than 20 grams. The Korean Tofu Tacos have 43 grams of protein, which almost single-handedly meets the Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggested by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which is 46 grams of protein per day for women 60 years and older. (2)
A careful inspection of each meal’s nutritional label can help you choose the highest levels of protein available. Consult a nutritionist and get regular blood work to ensure a vegan diet meets your nutritional needs.
Serving sizes
On the Purple Carrot menu, we saw dinners with 420–820 calories per serving. Our tester thought each meal had more than enough food.
“I think the portion sizes were very accurate,” they said. “Each meal was two servings, and since I live alone, I had enough leftovers for dinner the next day.”
We’ve Featured Purple Carrot in:
- Best meal delivery services
- Best vegetarian meal delivery services
- Best meal delivery services for singles
- Best organic meal delivery services
- Best meal delivery services for weight loss
How we test meal delivery services
Signing up for a meal delivery service that caters to your specific needs, like vegan meals, can be a game changer for both your schedule and nutrition goals. But just because a meal delivery service offers the dietary preferences you’re looking for doesn’t always mean it’s the right choice for your specific needs. That’s why our team aims to personally test every meal delivery service we review. Our goal is to provide you with unbiased feedback that helps you find the meal delivery service that best fits your needs.
Every Fortune meal delivery review features:
- In-depth analysis by testers and/or authors who are certified nutritionists and/or registered dietitians
- Testing for portion/ingredient accuracy, taste, and freshness
- Fact-checking and reviewing by qualified experts
You can read our full meal delivery testing methodology here.
The following criteria is what we use to assess meal delivery services.
Testing criteria
Meal choices—30%
A meal delivery service should provide a variety of meal options that taste good, fit your specifications, and don’t leave you bored after a week. When evaluating this category we look at the following:
- Multiple options
- Substitutions
- Guidance
- Label transparency
Food quality—30%
When looking at meal delivery services, we’re focused on finding the highest quality meals on the market. Here’s what goes into our quality rating:
- Flavor
- Healthiness
- Freshness
Value—20%
While meal delivery service prices can vary, we want to make sure the cost of a meal delivery service matches what you expect to receive for the money you paid. Here’s what we factor into a program’s value rating:
- Fair price
- Multiple quantity options
- Customization
Customer experience—20%
Becoming a regular customer means feeling satisfied with both the goods you receive and the help you can depend on. When evaluating customer experience we look at the following:
- Packaging
- Ease of preparation
- Reviews
- Customer service
Compare Purple Carrot
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| Purple Carrot | Sunbasket | CookUnity | Factor | Hello Fresh | |
| Rating | |||||
| Starting cost per serving | $11 | $9.99 | $11 | $10.99 | $9.99 |
| Shipping cost | $10–$20 per week, depending on location; free shipping for orders that total $100 or more | $9.99 | Varies | $10.99 | $10.99 |
| Shipping availability | Contiguous U.S. | Not available in Alaska, Hawaii, Montana, North Dakota, and parts of New Mexico | Not available in Alaska, Hawaii, North Dakota, South Dakota, and parts of Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, West Virginia, and Wyoming | Most areas in the contiguous United States; may not deliver to some rural areas. | Contiguous United States and select ZIP codes in Honolulu, Hawaii, and Anchorage, Alaska |
| Meal type | Meal kits, prepared meals | Meal kits, prepared meals | Prepared meals | Prepared meals | Meal kits |
| Diet options | 100% vegan with high-protein, low-calorie, nut-free, soy-free, gluten-free, and low-sodium options | Gluten-free, vegetarian, pescatarian, low-carb, keto-friendly, paleo, Mediterranean, diabetes-friendly | Vegetarian, vegan, keto, paleo, gluten-free, low-calorie, low-carb, dairy-free | Keto-friendly, high protein, low calorie, vegan, vegetarian, flexitarian | Low-calorie, vegetarian, pescatarian |
FAQs
Is Purple Carrot food healthy?
According to registered dietitian Amy Beney, Purple Carrot food is healthy because it has low sodium, low added sugar, and low cholesterol while incorporating a variety of nutrient-rich ingredients. She suggests looking for high-protein meals to meet recommended daily values. Because vegan foods can also be low in some micronutrients, consult with a doctor or nutritionist to make sure your dietary needs are met.
Who should try Purple Carrot?
Purple Carrot is ideal for people who want to eat plant-based, organic meals at home. Some Purple Carrot meal kits have lower sodium content than other options we’ve reviewed, making this meal delivery service a good choice for people with high blood pressure, heart conditions, or kidney disease. Plant-based foods are naturally cholesterol-free and can be lower in fat than animal-based foods, so Purple Carrot may be a good fit for anyone watching their blood cholesterol levels.
How much does Purple Carrot cost?
Purple Carrot meals cost $11–$13.25 per serving. The weekly shipping cost depends on your location and ranges from $10–$20, but is waived for orders that total $100 or more.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.
Our experts
Lily Moe
Lily is a Brooklyn-based writer and editor with over seven years of experience in health media. As a former Fitness Coach, Lily’s editorial prowess has largely focused on fitness, nutrition, and weight management. She has also spent a fair share of time in testing labs, analyzing everything from protein powders to yoga mats. Her work has appeared in Verywell Fit, Verywell Mind, Health, and more.
Amy Beney, RD
Amy Beney is a registered dietitian based outside Lockport, New York. After working with many people who have blood sugar issues and were diagnosed with diabetes, she pursued and received an advanced certification as a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES). She enjoys breaking down complex medical information into smaller pieces that people can apply daily.
Chrissy Arsenault, MBA, RDN
Chrissy Arsenault is a registered dietitian with over nine years of experience in the health and wellness space. She first started in the industry working as a personal trainer at Cornell Fitness Centers. Now, she owns her own private practice and nutrition communications firm, Pink Pamplemousse.
Cathy Habas
Fortune Recommends Writer
About Author
Cathy has written about older adult care and technology—including medical alert systems—since 2021. Her career highlights include writing about home security and child safety on SafeWise.com and contributing higher education guides to Forbes Advisor. Cathy has been consulted as a subject matter expert by Alzheimer’s Caregivers Network, Consumer Affairs, U.S. News & World Report, Lifewire, and more. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Indiana University Southeast and has been writing professionally since 2014.