Here’s my dilemma: As a young professional who barely has enough free time to go to the gym, I’ve become fed up with regular trips to the grocery store—to say nothing of blowing my budget on takeout.
While I’m an accomplished home cook, I’d be lying if I said some of those leftovers and grocery items didn’t go to waste because of my busy schedule. Earlier this year, I started looking for high-quality prepared meals that wouldn’t generate waste or break the bank, but my high standards left me disappointed at the first few options I tried.
Then a co-worker introduced me to Purple Carrot’s Prepared Meals—a selection of 100% plant-based meals delivered directly to your door that are ready in under 5 minutes.
Because my co-worker raved about Purple Carrot, I decided to give them a shot. Here are my honest thoughts…
Surprisingly Good Flavor
While Purple Carrot offers a few different options like meal kits and frozen meals, I decided to try out their Prepared Meals, which felt like a good balance between convenience, cost, and freshness.
I ordered five meals to start, which came out to only $13 per serving—definitely better than takeout prices. After my delivery arrived, I started with General Tso’s Crispy Shiitake Protein on my first night—and honestly? I was impressed (for two reasons).
First, it only took me two minutes to heat up my first meal in the microwave. Two minutes later, it was cool enough to eat. Ready in under five? Check.
When I took my first bite, I was genuinely impressed at how flavorful it was, particularly for a plant-based meal. Top-notch flavor? Check. Not only was this one of the more convenient meals I’d tried, it was potentially the freshest, most flavorful microwave meal I’d had to date.
No More Nutrition Doubts
I’ve always believed a colorful plate is paramount to a healthy diet. Not being able to maintain this was one of my biggest fears while shopping around for prepared meals…but Purple Carrot made my worries disappear.
Dishes like their Chilled Noodles & Tofu with Rainbow Veggies & Sesame Miso Vinaigrette gave me no doubt that I was getting my recommended amount of veggies and nutrients. Purple Carrot dieticians plan all the meals to ensure all their super tasty meals meet the nutritional requirements of a plant based diet.
Vibrant, fresh dishes bursting with flavor that are 1) affordable 2) nutritious, and 3) ready in less than 5 minutes? Purple Carrot’s Prepared Meals were turning this skeptic into a believer…
Recipes You’ll Never Get Tired Of
One of the worst things about most ready-made meals is that, even if you love the first few, you might get tired of eating the same limited selection week after week. Because I love variety, meal monotony was a total deal breaker.
Purple Carrot has held my attention week after week with meals that are both 100% plant-based and 100% crave-worthy. Seriously, options like their spicy, creamy Thai Red Curry and hearty Pesto Portobello Tortellini have left me with some serious new cravings—and with 16 rotating options to choose from each week, I don’t see myself getting bored anytime soon.
More Flexibility Than I Expected
Like I said, I love to cook—but I often just don’t have the time. Still, prepared meals are only convenient insofar as you don’t have more (or less) than you need in a given week.
Because Purple Carrot allows you to skip an order or cancel at any time, I’m never worried about overpaying for meals I won’t eat or having to run out to the grocery store because I didn’t get enough.
I’ve also started to dive into some of Purple Carrot’s other offerings like meal kits that give me more control over prep and portions and grocery items delivered to my door along with my Prepared Meal Kits.
Thanks to Purple Carrot, there’s always something good in my fridge or pantry and—after crunching the numbers—I’m saving hundreds of dollars compared to when I was getting takeout every other night. That’s a win-win.
Finally, Convenience and Quality
While juggling work, blogging, and some semblance of a social life, finding the time (and money) to eat right was becoming a major challenge. I’m happy to report that Purple Carrot has helped me reverse course with their affordable, flavorful, varied, nutrient-packed, and 100% vegan, Prepared Meals.
If you’re looking for a convenient option to simplify your meal routine without compromising on quality, flavor, or your budget, I highly recommend you give Purple Carrot’s Prepared Meals a shot!
