Daily Harvest Review
A Plant-Based Meal & Snack Delivery Subscription
Pros:
- Daily Harvest's huge menu features over 80 different items (and 25 different smoothies).
- You can customize your box with whichever items/flavors you like.
- The food is vegan, gluten-free, GMO-free, and made with 95% organic ingredients.
- Items are shipped frozen and kept cold en route with dry ice.
- Daily Harvest is moving toward 100% recyclable and compostable packaging.
- You can pause or cancel your subscription online.
Cons:
- Daily Harvest is not the most affordable option on the market.
- Portion sizes are sufficient, but not ample.
- Ships to 95% of the U.S. Check to see if they deliver to you here.
My Verdict:
Daily Harvest has a huge menu full of enticing plant-based meals and snacks. Keeping my freezer stocked full of healthy options helps me make good food choices, and I love that I can select how many items I'd like to receive, schedule deliveries to suit my schedule, and customize each box with the flavors of my choosing.
ACTIVE DEAL: Use code ADDICTION40 for up to $40 off your first box
CODE: ADDICTION40
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out our review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About Daily Harvest
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Plans & Pricing
When you sign up for Daily Harvest, you pick the number of items you'd like to receive per week (or per month). Items are priced individually, but you'll receive a discount if you order a medium or large box. Here are a few sample orders I put together to showcase pricing for a small, medium, and large box:
Small Box: 9 items with free shipping. Sent weekly.
Medium Box: 14 items with a $10 discount and free shipping. Sent weekly.
Large Box: 24 items with a $20 discount and free shipping. Sent monthly or weekly.
You can fill your box with whatever items you like. (Want all smoothies? No problem.) Items are priced individually, as follows:
- Oat Bowls and Chia Bowls are $5.99 each.
- Smoothies, Soups, Bites, and Lattes are $7.99 each.
- Harvest Bowls, Scoops, and Flatbreads are $8.99 each.
ACTIVE DEAL: Use code ADDICTION40 for up to $40 off your first box
CODE: ADDICTION40
The price of your box will depend on which items you choose, but hopefully, the above sample orders give you a rough idea of how much each size box will cost. For a variety of items, you're looking at around $68.91 for a small box, $102.86 for a medium box, and $171.76 for a large box.
Daily Harvest ships to 95% of the U.S. Check to see if they deliver to you here.
Packaging & Recycling
Here's a quick overview of how to recycle the packaging you receive with your Daily Harvest delivery:
As of April 2020 our company is moving toward 100% compostable, recyclable packaging. The cardboard box, cups, and insulation surrounding the dry ice are all recyclable. Our lids can be recycled in most locations. The liner that holds the dry ice is made from paper and plant-based parts (literally just air and starch), which makes it completely curbside recyclable. Our Harvest Bowls are made out of molded pulp and can be curbside recycled or composted. For information on the specifics of recycling any piece of packaging, please visit our recycling page.
Menu Categories
There are a lot of different types of foods to choose from, and the way they showcase the ingredients is super cool. Here's a look at the different categories:
Smoothies: Packed with fruits & veggies. Just fill the provided cup to the top with your liquid of choice (water, milk, tea, etc.), blend, and enjoy.
Harvest Bowls: Full of beans, greens, veggies, seeds, and the like. Heat up on the stove or in the microwave.
Flatbreads: Made from whole grains and gluten & dairy-free. Just like a frozen pizza, when you're ready to eat you just heat these up in the oven for about 20-25 minutes.
Soups: Made with farm-fresh veggies and lots of unique ingredients to keep things interesting. Soups can be enjoyed chunky (by heating with broth or water), puréed (by blending until smooth with water or broth and then heated), or chilled (simply blended smooth with water and eaten cold).
Oat Bowls: Oats mixed with whole fruits, veggies, and superfoods. To serve, just add your milk of choice and heat up on the stove.
Chia Bowls: I love chia parfaits and these are just pretty as pie. You can prep them by pouring over your favorite milk and then letting them sit in the fridge for 6+ hours. (Best done the night before so breakfast is waiting the following morning.)
Scoops: This vegan ice cream is made without fake fillers, gums, or refined sugars. Like everything else on the menu, these are gluten-free and dairy-free.
Bites: Superfood balls with a touch of sweetness. They may look like cookie dough, but there's no need to bake these. You can pop them right in your mouth.
Lattes: Daily Harvest's lattes come in a variety of flavors (not just coffee), and offer a pick-me-up that's powered by plants.
The Food
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Everything from Daily Harvest is vegan and gluten-free, and 95% of the ingredients are organic. Everything is prepped, packed, and frozen. (Boxes are shipped cold with lots of dry ice to keep things from thawing.) You can customize your shipments with whatever items you like. There are over 80 different menu items to choose from (25 smoothies alone), spanning breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.
The meals are tasty and the flavor combinations are exciting. It's important to keep in mind though that this isn't your average meal kit subscription. (Read: don't expect large portions of stodgy comfort foods.) These meals are healthy and some items are a little on the lighter side. If you plan on cooking up some of these meals for dinner, you may want to supplement with an additional side dish.
If you avoid certain foods or have food allergies, you can filter the available items to see what works for your diet. Here's more info from the Daily Harvest site:
Daily Harvest crafts food and provides plans to seamlessly fit diverse lifestyles, preferences, and needs. We offer a variety of food that fits all types of flavor preferences and dietary needs. To find exactly what fits your dietary preference, visit daily-harvest.com/app/browse and filter based on "Dietary Needs" or "Likes and Dislikes." For example, we offer over 30 items that are nut-free. Please note that all Daily Harvest is made in a facility that processes dairy, nuts, soy, and gluten.
My Daily Harvest Box
I've tried a lot of meal kits over the years, but I'm always eager to try out new subscriptions — especially ones that are vegan or vegetarian. I don't follow a strictly plant-based diet (I eat meat, seafood, and dairy), but my husband prefers to limit his intake of animal products, and I try to support that whenever I can. We've switched to non-dairy milk products and very rarely eat meat at home. My kitchen isn't 100% vegan by any means, but I'm always looking for new plant-based recipes and cooking hacks. The idea of being able to stock the freezer with fully-prepared, high-quality vegan meals and snacks is extremely appealing to me.
My Daily Harvest box arrived packed with dry ice. Everything was ice cold and even the scoops were solidly frozen through. I transferred my items into the freezer, and my first impression was a good one! The packaging is great-looking and cleverly designed, I was excited by the variety of products in my box, and eager to try the different flavor variations.
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Along with the food, my box contained a little promotional mirror and some information about Mylk, the newest addition to the Daily Harvest product line.
Smoothies
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Strawberry + Peach
Daily Harvest is best known for their smoothies. There are 25 different flavors to choose from, and I'm not sure I'll ever get around to trying them all. I received 3 in this box, and the first one is Strawberry + Peach, a fruit-forward flavor made with strawberry, banana, peach, raspberry, oats, and goji berry that's kind of a modern twist on the classic strawberry-banana flavor. I enjoy fruity smoothies, and this one is tasty. It's simple and fairly sweet, and the oats give it a heartiness that helps ward off hunger.
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Banana + Greens
Next up, I tried Banana + Greens, a smoothie made with banana, cucumber, spinach, kale, lemon, and wheatgrass. For me, this flavor is extremely subdued and pretty green. There's a little bit of sweetness from the banana, but this is the smoothie that tasted the "healthiest" to me. I could easily pick out the flavors of cucumber and spinach.
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Mint + Cacao
At first, I thought this smoothie might be something of a bait and switch. Mint + Cacao gives me visions of mint chocolate chip ice cream, so I was surprised to see so many bananas when I peeked inside the cup. The flavor delivered, though. This smoothie didn't have the same sweet creaminess I'd expect to find in ice cream, but the mint and cacao (not sweet and creamy chocolate, mind you, definitely the more restrained and healthy-tasting cacao) were at the forefront flavor-wise. I'd happily order this flavor again.
Oat Bowls
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Apple + Cinnamon
I went through a phase a couple of years ago where I'd keep the fridge stocked with overnight oats, and it's one of those obsessions that hit fast and hard and then fizzled out. I don't think I've had one in months, and it was nice to try a couple of fairly complex recipes without the work of making them myself. For those who haven't had overnight oats before, you simply pour some milk of your choice (I like to use almond) over oats mixed with fruit, nuts, and/or spices and let everything soak overnight. In the morning, you've got soft oats that are ready to eat! Daily Harvest's Apple + Cinnamon flavor is made with oats, apple, cauliflower, walnut, pumpkin seed, and cinnamon, and I thought it was really tasty. The little chunks of apple were particularly nice. (FYI Daily Harvest's oat bowls can be eaten cold or hot. I just tend to prefer overnight oats over the hot variety.)
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Cherry + Dark Chocolate
Of the two flavors of oat bowls in my box, I was most excited for this one (a mix of cherry, oats, raspberry, cacao, strawberry, and maca), but I didn't end up loving it. The whole cherries were a fun touch, but the addition of chocolate didn't work for me. I think my brain expected this to be sweeter than it was and then rebelled with outrage that "Cherry + Dark Chocolate" wasn't as indulgent as expected.
Lattes
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Chaga + Chocolate
Daily Harvest's Lattes have been on my radar for a while, but this is my first time trying them. Here's how they work: each container holds three pods, which is enough to make three different lattes. You transfer a pod into a blender along with milk and then blend until smooth. They whip up really nicely with a foamy head and can be enjoyed hot or cold. I tried the Chaga + Chocolate first, and it was seriously good. It tastes like very lightly sweetened chocolate milk and has a velvety smooth texture. I sampled it cold, but next time I'll heat it up on the stovetop so it's like hot chocolate.
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Matcha + Lemongrass
Next up, I tried the Matcha + Lemongrass, which whipped up into a similarly smooth and delightful texture. Flavor-wise, I got a lot of matcha flavor but not a lot of lemongrass (which I'm not sure is a bad thing, to be fair... lemongrass is a strong flavor). If you like matcha tea lattes, I think you'll really like this one. It tastes kinda like a matcha milkshake.
Flatbreads
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Tomatillo + Pepper
This box was sent to me at no cost for review, so I didn't get to pick out all of my own items, and I'll be honest, I'm not sure I would have picked this flavor for myself. The combination of sweet potato, Brussels sprouts, tomatillo, pickled pepper, cayenne, and oregano sounds tasty enough, it just wouldn't be my top pick. Well, let me tell you how glad I am that I got to try it. This ended up being one of my favorite items in the entire box! The toppings were super flavorful, and the peppers were at the forefront, flavor-wise. There was a nice level of spice that built up with each bite into a warm burn. Really yummy.
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Kabocha + Sage
Next, I tried the Kabocha + Sage, a flatbread that features (in addition to squash and sage) cauliflower, leek, fennel, and nutritional yeast. This variation wasn't the prettiest to look at, but the flavor was great. It was really delicious and the flatbread that tasted the most like a traditional, non-vegan pizza. The nutritional yeast gives everything a savoriness that's really satisfying.
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Kale + Sweet Potato
Check out the photo of this flatbread— how beautiful is that purple kale? I'm a big believer that we eat with our eyes first, and I was delighted by the look of this one. Funnily, the flavor wasn't what I was expecting, and I kept going back for little bites to try and figure out what I was tasting. One look at the ingredients (sweet potato, red cabbage, kale, cauliflower, spinach, and coriander) turned on the light bulb for me. Coriander! Coriander was the leading flavor here for me, and it gave this flatbread an earthiness that reminded me of stew or curry. While an unexpected flavor for a flatbread, I thought it worked well.
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Artichoke + Spinach
This is another flavor I probably wouldn't have ordered. (It's an unpopular opinion, but in my book, artichoke is extremely overrated.) I had a hard time figuring out how to describe the flavors here, and I think it's because everything is extremely mild. Of all the flatbreads, I found this one to be the least memorable. The ingredients include tahini, broccoli, cauliflower, and thyme, and while everything works together well enough, I think I would have preferred something with a little oomph... I ended up adding some cracked black pepper to give this dish a boost.
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Tomato + Basil
The final flatbread in my Daily Harvest box was classic Tomato + Basil, and it ended up being my least favorite. There wasn't anything wrong with this flavor, but it was easily outshined by the others. By comparison, this one just seemed a little meh. Tomato and kale lead the charge, flavor-wise. I found it to be perfectly edible but just not that exciting. I'd eat it again if it was in front of me, but if I was ordering items for my box I'd probably skip it in favor of flavors I liked better.
Scoops
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Ooey, Gooey Midnight Fudge
I have a weakness for ice cream, so I was excited to try some of Daily Harvest's "Scoops." I'm pretty well versed in ice cream, and I regularly keep a pint or two of vegan ice cream in my freezer, so I was eager to see how these would stack up! First, I tried Ooey, Gooey Midnight Fudge. I love the visible swirl of chocolate, and there are little flecks of coconut that add an interesting texture. The flavor of this dairy-free ice cream is chocolatey and rich (is that thanks to the avocado?), but I want to point out from the start that I found all of the scoops noticeably less sweet than comparable products from the grocery store. Personally, I'm not bothered by this. (I don't really have a sweet tooth that demands my sweet treats be super sweet.) But I think it's important to adjust your expectations going in.
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Rich, Rippled Berry Compote
Rich, Rippled Berry Compote is a sherbet-esque flavor made with coconut, strawberry, dragon fruit, raspberry, vanilla, and probiotic. There's a swirl of berry compote that runs through a creamy, fruity base. All of the flavors benefitted from softening at room temperature for about 10 minutes, and I found this one needed even longer; the berry swirl was rock hard when frozen. The taste was worth waiting for, though. I loved this! The creamy and fruity flavors were delicious together.
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Dark, Melty Cacao Chips
Next up, a play on mint chocolate chip. I LOVED this ice cream, but I'm not sure it's necessarily a crowd-pleaser. Here's why: the cacao chips are extremely bitter, not sweet and creamy like the chocolate you typically find in a flavor like this. Now, I would happily sit and snack on bitter baking chocolate, so this was great for me, but my husband found it a little off-putting. The creamy and slightly sweet minty base is delicious, but the flavor of the cacao lingers for a long time after each bite. If you aren't into bitter chocolate, this might not be for you.
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Sticky, Sweet Salted Caramel
Of all the flavors I tried, this one was the sweetest, and it's hard to dislike creamy ice cream laced with ribbons of caramel. The ingredient list includes coconut, maple, Murasaki, reishi, Himalayan sea salt, and vanilla (so there are some healthy, hidden ingredients playing a role here), but the taste is 100% indulgent. I love salted caramel, and I would happily eat this any day of the week.
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Salted, Swirled Black Sesame
I left my favorite for last. This variation tastes like sesame seeds, coconut, and cacao, and I found it to be utterly delightful. The combination of flavors is exciting and surprising, and I found it hard to stop eating— I kept going back for "just one more bite!" (My inner goth girl also got very excited about ice cream with black swirls!)
Mylk
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Almond Mylk
Rounding out my box were packets of Mylk, the newest (and perhaps most innovative) product in Daily Harvest's lineup. These concentrated triangles of pressed almond can be turned into almond milk whenever you need it; just add two cubes to the blender with 8 oz of water and blend until smooth. The only ingredients are almond and sea salt, none of the additives and fillers that you'll find in other brands' almond milk. There's no added sweetener either, which means this almond milk tastes like... well... almonds.
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Almond + Vanilla Mylk
Mylk is available in Almond as well as Almond + Vanilla, and I got to try them both. My honest opinion? They taste pretty similar. I enjoyed the addition of vanilla beans in the Mylk, but it's subtle. When I used vanilla Mylk in coffee and smoothies, I couldn't really pick out the vanilla flavor.
Is Daily Harvest worth it?
I've just tossed a lot of information your way in this review of Daily Harvest. Let's take one final look at some of the main points before wrapping things up.
Did it taste good?
The short answer is yes. I really enjoyed the majority of the items in my Daily Harvest box; however, I think it's important to understand what you should expect going into this subscription. The flavor combinations are innovative, tasty, and exciting, but there's an emphasis on healthy ingredients and clean eating. You're more likely to find cacao than chocolate, veggies abound, and nothing is over-the-top sweet. (And, of course, everything is vegan.) Personally, I find this type of food enjoyable, and I like how it makes me feel when I eat it. But if you're looking for stodgy comfort foods, this ain't it.
What about the portions?
The portion sizes varied pretty greatly by category. The flatbreads were sized generously, for example, whereas the oat bowls were on the small side. I never felt like a portion was too big, but there were a few times I could have eaten more.
Was it convenient?
Absolutely, 100%. Vegan takeout is a rare thing where I live, so if I want a vegan meal or snack I usually have to make it myself. Having a freezer full of plant-based options is extremely convenient.
Is it easy to skip a week or cancel?
It is! To skip a future delivery, sign in to your account and navigate to the delivery calendar to make changes to your upcoming order(s). Note that the deadline to skip or modify upcoming orders is Sunday at 6 pm EST for the following week's delivery.
If you'd like to cancel, you can do so in your account setting or via email at [email protected].
Should YOU try Daily Harvest?
I'd recommend Daily Harvest to anyone who:
- Is looking for snacks and healthy meals that are plant-based
- Wants to skip meal prep and the grocery store and stock up on frozen foods that make healthy eating easy
- Doesn't mind paying a premium for healthy food and the convenience of vegan meal delivery
Ready to try Daily Harvest for yourself? Save on your first order here:
ACTIVE DEAL: Use code ADDICTION40 for up to $40 off your first box
CODE: ADDICTION40
Or if you've tried Daily Harvest already, tell us about your experience! Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
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