It’s fall, and maybe you’re craving cozy soups and warm meals but don’t have time to cook. Splendid Spoon’s meal delivery service offers a menu of tasty dishes to add to your weekly rotation. Splendid Spoon has meals, smoothies, and wellness shots with ingredients like ginger and turmeric, which keep your immune system humming and may reduce your risk of chronic diseases. (1, 2)
If you want to save trips to the grocery store with ready-made, plant-based meals, read our Splendid Spoon review to see if it’s right for you. We worked with a dietitian to examine the quality of Splendid Spoon’s offerings and determine whether this meal service delivery is worth trying.
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
Splendid Spoon offers a variety of vegan soups, noodles, and rice bowls from global cuisines.
- Our tester enjoyed the Coconut Curry Rice and liked the taste of the spicy wellness shot.
- Smoothies start at $9.99, which is more expensive than similar items on the market.
- Splendid Spoon is great for people who want a plant-based meal loaded with veggies when they are too busy to cook.
How does Splendid Spoon work?
Splendid Spoon has an intuitive website you can browse before signing up for a subscription. Enter your zip code and email address, pick your plan, and add items to your cart.
Current menu items that caught our eye include:
- Smoothies: Chocolate Cherry, Power Greens, Pineapple Passion
- Soups: Butternut Turmeric, Green Split Pea, Tomato Rosemary
- Noodles: Mushroom and Spinach, Green Curry, Vegan Meatballs with Marinara
- Dishes: Burrito Bowl, Coconut Curry Rice, Roasted Tomato Risotto
- Wellness Shots: Exercise Recovery, Wellness, Detox, and a variety pack
Like many other healthy meal delivery services, Splendid Spoon has a filter for certain dietary restrictions, like low-carb, high-protein, high-fiber, or lower-sugar. The filter even allows you to filter out specific ingredients, like caffeine, cilantro, mushrooms, soy, or sesame. This can help you save more time while scrolling through potential meal options. Nutritional information is available for each item on the website where you manage your subscription. Unlike many other meal delivery services we’ve tested, such as Home Chef, there’s no subscription management app. If you are often on the go, you can log on to a desktop to alter subscription options.
Shipping and delivery
Splendid Spoon meals and smoothies are crafted from ingredients sourced from organic farms worldwide. These ingredients are then shipped to various fulfillment centers across the United States. When you set up your subscription, you can choose the frequency of your deliveries—weekly, every two, three, or four weeks—and select your preferred day of the week for delivery. Please note that the specific time of day for delivery cannot be chosen. However, you can provide special delivery instructions, such as “leave box on the covered porch,” during setup. Managing your subscription is flexible: you can easily skip weeks, pause your service, or cancel at any time.
Packaging
Splendid Spoon meals are packaged in recyclable boxes with dry ice to keep them cold. They arrive frozen and have reheating instructions for the microwave or stovetop. According to Splendid Spoon, the microwavable packaging and plastic smoothie bottles are made of post-consumer recyclable plastic.
Customer service
If you need help with your order or have questions, you can reach out to customer service at hello@splendidspoon.com. Customer service is available from Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. or Saturday, 9 a.m.– 5 p.m. EST.
Accessibility
Splendid Spoon has all kinds of shoppers in mind, including the visually impaired or blind who use screen readers to access the content online. Splendid Spoon built its website to comply with W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, and they welcome feedback. If there’s any section of the website you can’t access, they encourage you to send a message to accessibility@splendidspoon.com.
Specs
| Starting price | $9.99 |
| Shipping cost | Free for the first box; $12.99 for less than 10 items |
| Shipping area | Continental United States |
| Items | Smoothies, soups, noodles, meals, and wellness shots |
| Number of items per week | Seven, 14, or 21 |
| Meal options | Gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan |
| Cancellation method | Online |
Splendid Spoon meal plans
Splendid Spoon offers seven, 14, or 21 items per box. Unlike other meal delivery services, Splendid Spoon’s menu does not appear to rotate each week, and there aren’t many options. Current meals include seven noodle dishes and 13 soups, all of which look pretty tasty. The website notes which items are out of stock, which we appreciate.
Prices
Here are the current prices for each item:
- Smoothies: $9.99
- Soups: $9.99–$12.49
- Noodles: $13.49
- Dishes: $13.49
- Shots (5 Pack): $21.25
The first box ships for free and costs $12.99 after that.
Splendid Spoon weight loss
Splendid Spoon is not advertised as a weight-loss meal delivery service. However, if you’re looking for portion-controlled and low-calorie meals (calories range from 190 to 520 per meal), Splendid Spoon could be part of a diet plan. We’re just not sure how sustainable it would be in the long term. Specific needs vary from person to person based on age and current weight, but generally, women need approximately 2,000 calories per day, and sedentary men need 2,400 calories per day. These numbers increase for athletes and active people. (3)
If you’re on a weight loss journey, you can connect with some of the other 8,000 members on the Spoon Crew Facebook group to talk about health and wellness goals.
Who is Splendid Spoon best for?
If you’re a fan of light soups and plant-based meals during a hectic workweek, Splendid Spoon might be just what you need. This vegan meal delivery service features a diverse menu of globally inspired dishes, all packaged in eco-friendly materials. Ready in just three minutes, these meals are ideal for those busy days when time is scarce. While the portions are more modest compared to other meal delivery services we’ve tested, they’re perfect for breakfast or lunch rather than a hearty dinner. We recommend Splendid Spoon as an excellent choice for singles (or those eating for one) looking for convenient, healthy eating options.
Most ingredients are organic, soy-free, and GMO-free, meaning that they do not contain genetically modified ingredients. All items are gluten-free, but the service does not appear to be certified gluten-free, so it might not be optimal for people with celiac disease.
What customers are saying
Splendid Spoon has almost 60 reviews on Trustpilot, with 40% of customers giving the meal delivery service five stars.
“Splendid Spoon is jam-packed with flavor and nutrition. And you can’t beat the price or the convenience of doorstep delivery. With super easy-to-heat instructions, it makes mealtime easy and enjoyable,” says Jessica Y., Trustpilot.
Some customers complained they received items they didn’t order or items were substituted without their consent.
“I put my food on hold for a month, and two times they sent me food and charged my card. I asked for a refund, and they just gave me a credit. I also referred two friends and used the promo code and was told that I would get $25 credit and I did not,” says Cynthia, Trustpilot.
Our experience with Splendid Spoon
Our tester tried several of Splendid Spoon’s soups, smoothies, and wellness shots. She says some meals hit the high notes, while others missed the mark.
Overall, our tester enjoyed the Red Lentil Soup, Lentil and Kale Soup, and Coconut Curry Rice. She says both soups were a bit watery, but the flavor came through. Our tester says the egg roll that came with the rice dish got soggy in the microwave, and needed salt for taste. She says the soups were pretty salty as is. Each has 720 mg of sodium, which might not be ideal for people on a low-sodium diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends capping your total salt intake at 2,300 mg daily. (4)
Our tester liked the flavor of the three wellness shots she tried, although one of the shots she ordered was missing from her delivery. The 25-calorie Exercise Recovery shot is made with beets, cherry, and watermelon juice. Many athletes like tart cherry juice as part of workout recovery for its ability to lessen muscle soreness. (5) Beet juice may also help with sore muscles, and reduce blood pressure and cholesterol. (6) Our tester questioned if the three-ounce serving was enough to reap all those health benefits, but she still enjoyed the delicious drink.
Although our tester didn’t order smoothies, two came in her delivery. She says she prefers fresh, not frozen, smoothies and was disappointed that the Chocolate Cherry Smoothie and the greens drink separated when thawing from the freezer. Our tester says the chocolate smoothie had a bland flavor and chalky texture. To get a second opinion, her husband also tried the smoothie and he disliked the flavor as well.
How we test meal delivery services
Signing up for a meal delivery service like Splendid Spoon can save you time, and help you reach your health goals. Letting someone else handle the hard work of meal prep takes a lot off of your plate (literally), so you can focus on other things. Meal delivery services also provide dishes to meet your dietary, caloric, and macronutrient needs.
Not every meal delivery service is a perfect fit. We test every service we review to get honest feedback so we can help you pick the right one.
Here’s why you can trust our meal delivery reviews.
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
At times, we may feature meal delivery services we haven’t yet tested. Until we can try them, we examine each service’s cost, meal variety, nutrition breakdown, and customization options. We then update our reviews once we’ve tested them to highlight everything we liked and didn’t like.
Learn how we test all product categories here.
Testing criteria
Meal choices—30%
A good meal delivery service has numerous healthy, nutritious options for you to choose from. The service should also give you authority over what you order. Here’s what we take into account in our meal choices rating:
- Multiple options
- Substitutions
- Guidance
- Label transparency
Food quality—30%
Our goal is to find meal delivery services that use delicious chef-designed recipes and have the dietary firepower of nutritionists and/or registered dietitians behind them. Here’s what goes into our quality rating:
- Flavor
- Healthiness
- Freshness
Value—20%
Meal delivery services run the gamut in price, but what you receive should feel reasonable for what you’re paying. Here’s what we factor into a program’s value rating:
- Fair price
- Multiple quantity options
- Customization
Customer experience—20%
Being able to reach someone in customer service is crucial when you have questions or if something goes wrong with an order. We also visit Trustpilot and Better Business Bureau to see what other people have said about the company and its services. When evaluating customer experience, we consider:
- Packaging
- Ease of preparation
- Reviews
- Customer service
Compare Splendid Spoon
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Splendid Spoon | CookUnity | Purple Carrot | Trifecta | Daily Harvest | |
| Rating | |||||
| Starting cost per meal | $9.99 | $11 | $11 | $13.99 | $6.79 |
| Type | Prepared meals, smoothies, wellness shots | Prepared meals | Meal kits and pre-made meals | Prepared meals | Prepared meals, smoothies, snacks, drinks |
| Delivery areas | Continental U.S. | Shipping is limited, be sure to check the website | Continental U.S. | All 50 states | Continental U.S. |
Splendid Spoon vs. Daily Harvest
Splendid Spoon and Daily Harvest both prioritize vegan and organic ingredients to create tasty plant-based meals and smoothies. Daily Harvest‘s menu includes more dishes than Splendid Spoon, including flatbreads, nut-based milks, and protein bites. Daily Harvest prices start at $6.79 compared to $9.99 for a Splendid Spoon smoothie. Daily Harvest also offers discounts to students and educators.
Neither Splendid Spoon nor Daily Harvest rotates menus from week to week, so the service might become redundant after a few months. However, it’s hard to beat the convenience of having healthy plant-based food delivered to your front door. If you like the Splendid Spoon dishes but prefer to cook them from scratch, the company provides recipes for some of its best sellers on the website.
FAQs
How much does Splendid Spoon cost?
Splendid Spoon’s weekly cost varies depending on how many meals you choose. Smoothies start at $9.99. Soups, noodles, and other entrees cost between $9 and $13. A package of five wellness shots costs $21. Your first box ships for free, and shipping costs $12.99 afterward. There is a seven-item minimum per order, but orders over 10 items qualify for free shipping.
Where does Splendid Spoon deliver?
Splendid Spoon delivers to the continental United States.
Is Splendid Spoon good for vegetarians?
Yes! Splendid Spoon is a vegetarian meal delivery service. Every product is free from animal products, dairy, or eggs. If you value a plant-based diet, this meal service may be good for you.
Are Splendid Spoon meals healthy?
Splendid Spoon uses mostly organic ingredients, including kale, butternut squash, mushrooms, tomatoes, beans, spinach, and superfoods. The portions aren’t huge, but they make a good lunch option for many who favor plant-based meals.
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
Victoria Burgess, Ph.D., CSCS, CISSN
Victoria Burgess earned her Ph.D. in Health and Human Performance from Concordia University Chicago and holds her NSCA CSCS and Certified Sports Nutritionist (CISSN). She is an adjunct professor in the Human Performance and Nutrition department at Concordia University Chicago & Parker University, where she teaches undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral-level courses.
Jessica Coulon
Jessica is a contributing editor and writer who specializes in fitness, health, nutrition, and science content. Previously, she was an editor for Popular Mechanics and Bicycling, where she covered pro cycling news, wrote how-to guides, and tested all the latest and greatest bike gear. She was also a regular shoe tester and contributor for Runner’s World. You can often find her skiing or riding her mountain bike, and racing with the F1RE female enduro team.
Joana Neziri, M.S., NASM CPT
Joana is a writer, editor, and content strategist focusing on nutrition, fitness, and all things health. After earning a master’s degree in business from the University of North Florida, she began a career in research and digital marketing.
Kelly Uhler
Kelly has a multifaceted background in elder care, health care, and copywriting. She has worked for organizations such as A Place For Mom and Homecare.com, which gave her the opportunity to work closely with families, providing reliable information to help them make informed decisions about their loved one’s health, safety, and quality of life.
Lauren Evoy Davis
Fortune Recommends Staff Writer
About Author
Lauren Evoy Davis is a health journalist with expertise in cancer and other chronic conditions. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from American University and a bachelor’s degree in English from Elon University. Her work has been published by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, National Council on Aging, HelpGuide WebMD, Everyday Health and Verizon. She tests meal kits, meal delivery services, and fitness apps. When not writing or reading, Lauren enjoys paddle boarding on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland, weightlifting, and gardening.
References
- Hegde, M., Girisa, S., BharathwajChetty, B., Vishwa, R., & Kunnumakkara, A. B. (2023). Curcumin formulations for better bioavailability: What we learned from clinical trials thus far? ACS omega , 8 (12), 10713–10746. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.2c07326
- Anh NH, Kim SJ, Long NP, Min JE, Yoon YC, Lee EG, Kim M, Kim TJ, Yang YY, Son EY, Yoon SJ, Diem NC, Kim HM, Kwon SW. (2020, January 6). Ginger on human health: A comprehensive systematic review of 109 randomized controlled trials. Nutrients, 12(1):157. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7019938/
- Cleveland Clinic. How Many Calories Should You Eat in a Day? Accessed October 1, 2024. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-many-calories-a-day-should-i-eat
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Sodium in your diet. Accessed October 1, 2024. https://www.fda.gov/food/nutrition-education-resources-materials/sodium-your-diet#
- McHugh, MP. (2022, June). “Precovery” versus recovery: Understanding the role of cherry juice in exercise recovery. Scand J Med Sci Sports, 32(6):940-950. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9306613/
- Chen, L., Zhu, Y., Hu, Z., Wu, S., & Jin, C. (2021, September 9). Beetroot as a functional food with huge health benefits: Antioxidant, antitumor, physical function, and chronic metabolomics activity. Food Sci Nutr, 9(11):6406-6420. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8565237/