The best food subscription boxes to make mealtimes easier

HelloFresh's boxes have all the good qualities excellent meal subscription boxes should have: exciting recipes, fresh ingredients, and free delivery. You can skip a week or cancel at any time, and create flexible plans that fit your lifestyle. There are also plenty of special offers available throughout the year, like money off your first box and discounts on further boxes throughout.

Our review: "I received my first HelloFresh box last week with three meals in it - I didn't want to commit too much too soon. I can say I'm already a convert, though; and I'm really surprised, as I thought it would be a waste of money and I could do better doing the shopping myself. But actually, the price is really good and pretty on par with how much I'd spend at the supermarket. The recipes are delicious, and it's just such a massive time saver - even if I only got this for three meals a week, it would save me so much time shopping and prepping. The food was all top-notch condition and fresh, all packaged up separately so when it comes to cooking it's all there ready. I'm pleasantly and happily surprised at how good this is!" Starts from £5 per meal, but depending on how many meals you have per week, and for how many people, it varies and can work out at £3.15 per person.

Mindful Chef is an old hand on the food delivery block and has been operating since 2014. They've recently launched a family box and promise delicious, nutritionist-designed recipes. As well as special offers like £10 off your first and second box, Mindful Chef also boasts all gluten-free, dairy-free recipes, is carbon neutral, and there are one-person meal plan options.

Our review: "We've got to admit, at first we were underwhelmed with our delivery, a spinach and chickpea curry. We've had a spinach and chickpea curry in our repertoire for years. But we were wrong - this creamy, delicately spiced dish, blew our minds. Even our toddler scoffed it down, his first (known) chickpea consumption. The website is impressive - all meals have calorie information as well as suggested prep time (N.B. we found they'd wildly underestimated that), and there's a large selection of vegan meals. There's no getting away from the fact it's pretty pricey, but the quality of ingredients was high and, like we say, it's a while since we've had our tastebuds blown by a chickpea."

Sure, veganism is healthy, but that doesn't mean it can't also be comforting and downright delicious. Vibrant Vegan is a subscription service dedicated to delivering hearty, ready-made vegan meals to your door. The company delivers its food in boxes of six frozen meals, picked by you from a range of 20 meals. Alternatively, you can opt for six meals chosen for nutritional needs, such as low-calorie, high-protein or slow-burn.

Our review: "The meals come pre-prepared and frozen - all you need to do is store them and put them in the microwave or oven whenever you're in the mood for an easy, tasty vegan meal. It's super easy, and the meals are diverse and loaded with goodness - the Hearty Persian Hotbox and Keralan Kokonut Curry are particular highlights. The meals are delivered in highly-sustainable packing, which can be returned for use with the provided label and can be popped straight in the freezer. It's super flexible too - you can order one-off, weekly or fortnightly deliveries. At most, the meals cost £6 each - considering that they're made up of lovely fresh ingredients and are ready to go whenever you need them, we think this is a bit of a bargain."

Pasta Evangelists promises restaurant-quality pasta in the comfort of your home with 15 different recipes to choose from. Recipes are delivered and can be kept in the fridge for up to one day, or there are instructions for freezing. There are one-person options but works out slightly cheaper buying a double serving. Receive 40 per cent off and free Prosecco for two on your first order.

Our review: "We went for trofie with walnut pesto: a generous portion of unusually shaped pasta and a recipe so simple my three-year-old could have followed it. The meal was thoroughly yum, but more suitable for a sophisticated parental dinner for two once the kids are in bed than a family meal. And, priced at £7.20 per head, it could really add up if you tried to feed a family."

Gousto has a large selection of recipes, with 75 to choose from each week, meaning your family won't get bored of the same meals night after night. It also delivers every day, which is really useful. Get meals for two or four people with high-quality ingredients. The price ranges from £2.98 to £6.25 per serving; it gets cheaper the more meals you order per week. A two-person box starts from £24.99 and a family box (meals for 2 adults and 2-3 children) starts from £31.75)

Our review: "I've been using Gousto for over a year now and there are always so many recipes to choose from - it's rare to pick the same one twice! The quality of ingredients is really high and there are some really interesting flavour combinations. As a pescetarian with a meat-eating husband, I quite often select a meat meal and buy fish/veggie options to have with it. That being said, there are also a good number of vegetarian meals to choose from. The portions can be a little on the small side if you or your partner likes a big plate, but we just pad it out with extra veg."

For delicious, healthy meals that cater to a busy lifestyle, STOCKED is a great option. The unique freezer packs contain eight blocks which are brilliant for speedy lunches, dinners or snacks - just simply select the number of blocks recommended for each meal or portion. They're nutritious, packed with goodness and give you so much flexibility. Order a one-off box or subscribe, choosing your frequency. Plus you can pause, cancel and change your dishes at any time.

Our review: "I am so impressed with how delicious these little blocks of goodness are - they taste just like a home-cooked meal you'd make in your own kitchen. Taking just a few minutes to heat up, they're versatile and filling, and there are so many options to choose from. Ready meals have had a modern makeover and I'm here for it."

With more than 100 recipes to choose from, ranging from burgers to pasta and curry, there are loads of flavours to try. They're all pretty quick and easy to cook, most taking 15-20 minutes. You get a letterbox-sized box with four recipe cards and ingredients, but you will need to buy additional ingredients as it's all about the flavours here. It's £9.99 per box, so it's not the cheapest option on our list, especially as you only get some of the ingredients - the selling point of this box is the different, authentic flavours it offers you. This does mean you have a bit more flexibility than other boxes, but equally, you might prefer to just do all the shopping yourself.

If boxes of food and the thought of cooking isn't for you, then PRESS juices have the option to build your own custom subscription of juices. From juices, smoothies, kombucha, ginger shots and soups there is plenty on offer if you're looking for convenience over substance. This is an expensive subscription, at around £100+ depending on your selections, so if you're looking to feel refreshed for a specific event then picking up a week's worth is ideal.

Our review: "I was sent a seven-day supply of the Daily Lean Greens juice, made up of kale, spinach, celery, romaine, cucumber, ginger and lemon, the Daily Celery, and the ginger shots. After a week of shotting the ginger mix, I honestly felt very energised, my gut was in impeccable condition and my skin felt glowing. I really enjoyed these and they gave me what felt like a burst of energy in the morning. I chose to drink the Daily Lean Greens for lunch which had an overwhelming taste of cucumber, and by around day five I was in need of actual food for lunch. I'm afraid to say I couldn't stomach the celery juice, it was too overpowering. A good short-term subscription choice, and I'm inspired to start drinking the ginger concoction every day."

Looking for something a little different? This quirky box from Mon Dessert delivers exactly what it says on the tin - desserts! Whether you're a pro baker or a novice, you can work on your skills with this dessert subscription box. Select from a three-month, six-month or 12-month option. You get everything you need to create a unique recipe, whether it be a cheesecake, Mille Feuille or doughnuts, including any tools, so it's great for building up your baking collection.

Our review: "I received the Mille Feuille as a tester and despite being labelled 'advanced', the instructions were clear and easy to follow. Making rough puff pastry from scratch was a real smug moment, and everyone raved about the final result."

Whether you're looking to lose weight or fuel your active lifestyle, MuscleFood's Goal Getter meal plans on subscription provide you with nutritious, tasty, and easy meals and snacks to help you reach your goals. Fully flexible to you, you can customise your box, pick and choose your favourite meals, and can cancel anytime. Everything is super convenient, especially if you find yourself too busy to cook, with microwaveable meal pots that are ready in a matter of minutes, and kits that require only 10 minutes of prep. Miss a meal for an unplanned social event? Every meal pot is freezable so nothing will go to waste. It certainly takes the hassle out of mealtimes.