These food delivery box services in London will definitely make life easier
Food delivery boxes are everything a Londoner loves: easy, convenient and increasingly specific, there's a delivery service out there for every palate
There are lots of reasons to order a food delivery box or food subscription: convenience, a healthy family meal with minimal effort, sustainability (not only do these food boxes use seasonal organic fruit and veg, everything is portioned out so there's less chance of food waste).
As anyone who's a newbie parent, has had an operation that requires (mostly) bed rest or is just exhausted will tell you, these boxes can be the difference between a nutritious, delicious meal... and shoving a bag of Kettle Chips down your throat.
Plus, we've noticed that food subscription boxes have started catering to Londoners' ever busier, more particular needs, whether you need freshly prepared baby food at your door or want to save some surplus vegetables that supermarkets have rejected.
These are the food delivery box services to check out now - and many do have intro deals so you can get your first couple of boxes on the cheap.
Photo: Gymology
For the gym buff: Gymology
Gymology offers a variety of fresh meals designed to suit a range of different needs - mostly related to fitness. Choose from high protein, high carb Build boxes for muscle gain to high protein low carb Burn boxes for fat loss and Balance meals for weight maintenance and recovery (these are high protein, medium carbohydrate meals). For fitness-first families, there are also Kids' Meals featuring favourites like spag bol and cottage pie with a healthy twist, like hidden vegetables and wholemeal instead of white pasta.In addition to offering a range of tasty meals with over 300 recipes for lots of choice, Gymology is focused on sustainability, from renewable and recycled cardboard packaging to excess food going to charity The Audacious Foundation (which helps feed hungry schoolchildren). The outer packaging is CoolTec - perfect for reusing for all your ice bath needs. Taster boxes start from £24.
Photo: COOK
For the most delicious frozen meals: COOK
A committed B-Corp, COOK has completely redefined what frozen meals look and taste like - not to mention upped their nutritional value significantly. All COOK dishes are handmade, then frozen at -35 degrees to retain their flavour. You'll find a variety of dishes from comfort-food faves like three varieties of mac and cheese and fish pie, through to special occasion meals (Christmas, Valentine's Day), Indian and Thai specialties and canapés and meals for dinner parties and home entertaining occasions.
You can also search for solo meals, kids meals and meals to feed eight hungry people, as well as allergy-requirement meals, like dairy-free, gluten-free and vegan-friendly. The puddings are also insanely delicious, and COOK offers tons of perks for new parents (the Mums Survival Box and First Fortnight for New Parents deal is a great gift for newbie parents), as well as offering 10% off everything for baby's first six months.
Photo: Bellota Baby
For parents of young children: Bellota Baby
Baby food delivery services are having a major moment in London - the days of panicking about pureeing baby food to perfection are well and truly over, and now you can always get a healthy, organic meal for your little one without lifting a finger. Bellota Baby is a favourite, with weaning and baby food and toddler snacks delivered straight to your door (this is a real essential for second-time-around parents, who are trying to negotiate their toddler and a young baby).
Developed with a nutritionist, the range includes such exotic flavour combos as puy lentil, carrot and kohlrabi puree, celeriac, potato and hazelnut puree, quinoa puff bliss balls, and pineapple, cashew and coconut smoothies. Order individual purees and snacks or subscribe (from £21 for one pot of puree daily every week).
Photo: Oddbox
For the food-waste warrior: Oddbox
As we're learning all too urgently, that reusable water bottle isn't quite the only lifestyle change we need to be making to help save the planet. Food waste is a major issue, and over a third of all food we produce gets wasted (and food waste is a major emitter of greenhouse gases).
Oddbox can help: it rescues surplus wonky veg from farms and saves fruit and veg that supermarkets don't want, so you can expect a ton of variety (onions, carrots, purple-sprouting broccoli, cabbage, courgettes, apples, pears, kiwi and bananas are some of the fruit and veg getting delivered to subscribers this month). Veg boxes start at a very reasonable sub-£10 weekly.
Photo: Pasta Evangelists by Tom Atkins
For the pasta fiend: Pasta Evangelists
Pasta is a regular weeknight staple, but who can be bothered to make an exciting sauce or invest in fresh ingredients most of the time (even though the ultimate flavour of our less-effort-required dish lets us down?). Enter Pasta Evangelists, which brings the most molto buono artisanal pastas direct from Italy to your door whenever you like.
And by artisanal, we mean beef tortelloni with fresh black truffle butter and hazelnut crumb, porcini and wild mushroom lasagne, prawn and chilli ravioli with grissini crumb, samphire and sage butter, to name a few. Delivery can be next day if you like, and the pasta of your dreams can be ready five mins after that. How do you say "bliss" in Italian? This is definitely that.
Photo: Mindful Chef
For the family looking to eat more healthfully: Mindful Chef
Mindful Chef (another B-Corp) offers delicious gluten-free and dairy-free recipe boxes, with a range of meals featuring top-quality ingredients - no refined carbs, UK-landed fish, 100% grass-fed beef and free-range chicken.
It's also a great meal box for those looking for enticing vegan and plant-based options, with delicious meals like veggie and cannellini bean lasagne, aubergine quinoa stuffed rolls and Vietnamese pho with courgetti noodles, tofu and cashews. Choose from solo meals up to family meals for four. Each meal is typically ready in 15-30 minutes (plus the whole family can get involved in the cooking). Even better? Each meal you buy means a meal is donated to a school child who needs it.
For variety: Farmdrop
Want the full variety of a weekly (gourmet) food shop delivered to your door? Look to Farmdrop. The company specialises in responsibly-sourced produce and works with over 450 producers - meaning there’s heaps of variety. From quality meats and organic veggies to craft beers and independent wines, you’ll find it all and plenty more on Farmdrop. The company also offers a range of ready-made meals and recipe kits, offering a little bit of ease and inspiration to get you cooking.
Photo: Ethical Butcher
For the committed carnivore: The Ethical Butcher
While many of us are trying to curb our environmental impact by eating less meat, we're also recognising that where our meat comes from is critical, from both an animal welfare and an environmental perspective. Working with farmers who use regenerative techniques in their farming to increase bio-diversity, with pasture-fed animals who have better living conditions, The Ethical Butcher can supply anything from your Sunday roast whole chicken to beef mince to special-occasion treats like whole turkeys and rib eye - the very next day.
Photo: HelloFresh
For the Londoner in a hurry: HelloFresh
HelloFresh is the veteran on the scene when it comes to wholesome, tasty delivery boxes, and the brand's specialty is catering to uber-busy folks and families. The brand's newest launch is particularly appealing: a range of delicious meals including harissa prawns and hoisin beef stir fry, all ready in under 20 minutes. Prices start at a reasonable £5 per meal.
Photo: Kurami
For gut-balanced goodness: Kurami
From blue moon mylks to squash and hemp hummus, teff pancakes with nut butter to fennel and olive tagines, Kurami's food delivery servie is designed with the mission of providing gorgeous dishes that improve gut health while harnessing food's healing, nourishing potential. Choose from calorie-controlled or signature meal plans, and enjoy revitalising yourself with collagen broths and berry ball snacks. You can also order fruit and veg boxes for delivery.
For a little lockdown control: Detox Kitchen Fridge Fill Box
If all the pandemic stress snacking has left you feeling sluggish and ready for a health kick, let Detox Kitchen do the hard work with virtuous yet flavoursome meals. Alongside the full meal plan subscription service, there is a Fridge Fill option, where you can buy a one-off bundle of six nutritionally balanced salads and fancy ready meals, which are either vegan, protein or mixed. It's ideal for those weekday working lunches, when you miss the convenience of nipping out for a salad. Price: £40-£45 for a Fridge Fill, roughly £7 per meal. 
For farm-to-fork dining: Riverford's Recipe Box
Riverford gathers all the farm-fresh organic ingredients you need to make seasonal dishes from scratch. There are boxes designed to feed the whole family and smaller vegan and veggie options for two, including the likes of shiitake and summer greens dhal, Mexican enchiladas and one-pot chicken with spring veg. Note: due to the increased demand from social distancing, Riverford are currently serving only those who already have an account but there is a waiting list you can join. Price: approx £7 per portion.
