Meal Delivery Service: Pete’s Paleo Review
Pre-cooked dishes made with organic ingredients are what Pete’s Paleo offers its customers, and to relieve the stress that comes with cooking healthy meals. When you don’t have the time to cook at home it’s easy to turn to takeout which isn’t always healthy, as we all know. Pete’s Paleo offers the alternative of pre-cooked, fresh meals that are delivered straight to your door.
All the Pete’s Paleo meals are of course paleo-friendly and cooked to order. All ingredients used are locally sourced, organic, and from sustainable food sources, and the pre-cooked food is delivered fresh within a day or two after an order is placed.
It’s quality dining at its best that can be heated up and eaten within a matter of minutes, and all food is prepared by a classically trained chef. These meals are perfect for anyone following the paleo diet, and for those looking for healthy food options without added sugars or preservatives.
What is Pete’s Paleo?
Pete’s Paleo was started by Pete – a Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef with over 15 years of experience in the elite restaurant industry. The meal service focuses heavily on the use of prime ingredients such as locally sourced produce and organic components, and the menu changes seasonally to adapt to what’s available to purchase from local farmers.
The brand promises that you won’t get bored, as it experiments with a variety of different cooking methods and flavors. It’s an ideal option for someone who wants to enjoy every bite of the food they consume while knowing that they’re eating clean and healthy.
Everything made and shipped by Pete’s Paleo is free from gluten, dairy, and soy, 100% paleo, free from added preservatives and sugar, always shipped fresh and made from scratch!
Pete’s Paleo Pros & Cons
Not sure Pete’s Paleo is the meal delivery service you’re looking for? To narrow things down, we’ve put together a list of the pros and cons that come with signing up.
- Sustainably Sourced Ingredients
- 100% Paleo
- No Dairy, Soy or Gluten
- Packed and Shipped Fresh
- No Added Sugar
- Prepared by a Chef
- Little Flexibility in Meal Selection
- No Available Plant-Based Protein
Who Is Pete’s Paleo Good For?
Still not convinced? Let’s look at the ideal Pete’s Paleo customer to get a better idea of what the service can do for you, or if you’re better off continue looking for a different meal delivery service. This is definitely a company that stands out, but it doesn’t mean it’s right for everyone.
People Following a Paleo Diet – The Paleo diet makes it more of a challenge to eat out and even to cook at home, as there are few restaurants that can supply a good selection of food that’s 100% paleo. Pete’s Paleo solves this problem by sending pre-cooked restaurant-quality food to your home.
Those with Refined Taste – Eating healthy should be more than a diet, and it should never mean you have to compromise on flavor. With Pete’s Paleo, you get healthy and nutritious food without having to compromise on your favorite dishes.
Lactose or Gluten Intolerant Individuals – The facility used to cook the food is completely free from gluten and dairy, so your food won’t ever come in contact with either of the two.
Who Isn’t Pete’s Paleo Good For?
Unfortunately, it’s not the ideal option for vegetarians due to the lack of vegetarian dishes. The brand offers no meat-free proteins, for example, and that could be a problem if you’re vegetarian and plan to use the service long-term. You can choose a vegetarian meal plan but it might not be as varied as you hope.
The second thing is if you’re someone who likes to be in control of your weekly menu. With Pete’s Paleo you pretty much get a fixed menu each week, and while the company may be able to accommodate certain requests, the meal flexibility and choices are a lot more limited than what we’ve seen with other meal delivery services.
How Pete’s Paleo Works?
There are four simple steps involved when ordering and receiving food. Your order is the first thing that needs to happen, and it’s recommended that you place it by Monday so that you can receive it on the following Friday.
Step two is that Pete’s Paleo will gather the ingredients needed for your meals. That’s right, you’ll be receiving food cooked from scratch upon the reception of your order.
Pick your meals
Customize your plate
Cook and Enjoy
Pete’s Paleo Website and App
All orders are made directly in the Pete’s Paleo online store on their website. There are no apps or calling options, something that inevitably means you’ll need access to a computer, cell phone, or tablet.
Creating an account / Sign-up
By clicking on ‘My Account’ in the menu to the right, you’ll be given the option to sign up for your own Pete’s Paleo account. Having your account lets you place orders, make changes, check weekly menus, and much more. You can register with only your name, email, and password.
Pete’s Paleo Meal Plans and Meal Selection Options
One thing you need to know is that the price per meal, or per serving, is somewhat higher than average when purchasing the smallest meal plan (5 meals per week), but then the price per plate gets lower the more you buy.
An example is how the value of a serving is $25 in the 5-meal box and $17.8 in the 14-meal box, which indicates that when ordering from Pete’s Paleo, it’s beneficial to order more meals. It’s clear that Pete’s Paleo isn’t the most flexible meal delivery service, but if you feel any of the plans work for you then you’re in for a treat with every delivered meal!
Meal Plan 1: 5 meals, 1 box per week
Meal Plan 2:10 meals, 1 box per week
Meal Plan 3:14 meals, 1 box per week
Family Plan:5 meals and 4 servings, 1 box per week
Pete’s Paleo Meal Types
The type of food you can expect here is basically anything that falls under paleo. All meals are 100% paleo and you get grass-fed beef, delicious vegetables, oven-baked potatoes, duck, roasted eggplant, and much more.
The meal types are best suitable for lunch and dinner, with no real breakfast options available. If you’re looking for a food delivery service that will give you meals for a whole day then perhaps Pete’s Paleo isn’t the ideal option, unless you don’t mind having lunch and dinner meals for breakfast.
Choosing Pete’s Paleo Recipes
The catch with this food service is that it doesn’t allow you to pick out your own recipes. It’s not like other brands where you have a menu to choose items from; instead, you’re sent a menu designed by the chef each week.
You could almost say that Pete’s Paleo offers reversed flexibility – flexibility for the chef rather than flexibility for the customer. You do have the option to add an extra side or additional proteins to your meals, but other than that there’s little room for customizing the menu.
How Much Does Pete’s Paleo Cost?
Servings and Recipes/Week
|
Total Cost
|
---|---|
1 people and 5 servings
1 people, 5 recipes per week |
$25/serving ($125 total + FREE shipping = $125/week)
|
2 people and 5 servings
2 people, 5 recipes per week |
$18.9/serving ($189 total + FREE shipping = $189/week)
|
2 people and 7 servings
2 people, 7 recipes per week |
$17.8/serving ($249.2 total + FREE shipping = $249.2/week)
|
4 people and 5 servings
4 people, 5 recipes per week |
$16.2/serving ($324 total + FREE shipping = $324/week)
|
Diet Friendliness
The food is both healthy and suitable for someone who’s trying to lose weight and is a perfect meal plan for someone following a strict Paleo diet. Plus, it works great for those who are sensitive to dairy and gluten.
My Experience Using Pete’s Paleo
If you’re looking for an easier way to eat healthy and save money, allow me to introduce you to the beauty that is the meal delivery service. Not only is it an easier way to shop for groceries, but it takes the guesswork out of making healthy choices.
Whether you’re a meal-delivery pro or just getting started, services like Pete’s Paleo make the process easy. Not only do they offer a wide variety of meal selections, but they come right to your door. Eating healthy has never been easier.
As a lover of meal delivery services, I recently tried out Pete’s Paleo to give you everything you need to know before trying it out for yourself.
Ordering Process
The ordering process at Pete’s Paleo is fairly straightforward. First, you’re given the option to select a plan. I chose “Eat What You Love,” which allows you to pick which meals go into your box. The one thing I didn’t love, however, was that it required a minimum of 5 meals to receive a box, whereas I would have preferred 3 or 4 to start.
There are 13 meals to choose from, all of which are different combinations of protein, carbs, and vegetables. All of the meals are seasonally selected, which I found to be a nice touch. However, I will say that the vibes of the meals are incredibly similar, and I found choosing 5 of them to be a bit redundant.
Regardless, I did appreciate my ability to choose exactly what was going into my box, as there are plenty of meal delivery services that choose for you. It is a nice feeling to know exactly what I am paying for.
Delivery
As soon as you place your order with Pete’s Paleo, their team starts preparing it for shipment. They advertise that most boxes ship for free, however I ended up paying $9.99 for two-day delivery (as that was the cheapest option available for me). As promised, the box shipped two days after confirming my order, and it arrived on my doorstep two days later.
On the website, it says that if you order by Monday night, your meals will arrive by Friday, which I can confirm. The meals came packaged inside a make-shift cooler within a larger box, and I transferred the frozen meals into my freezer upon arrival.
Packaging
Let’s just say I was VERY excited to open my long-awaited meal delivery box. When the day came, I was pleasantly surprised. I have had horror story experiences of delivered food arriving spilled and messy, however this wasn’t at all the case with Pete’s Paleo.
I’m sure this is partially because the meals were individually sealed and frozen, but when I took everything out of the box, it was all in tip-top shape. Each meal was neatly contained within its own plastic container, so all I had to do was transfer it from box to freezer.
Food Quality
Pete’s Paleo has meal options that cater to paleo, keto, AIP-Friendly, and low-FODMAP diets. They are also gluten-free, dairy-free, and soy-free. All of their meals are healthy, seasonal, organic, and are cooked farm-fresh by Pete’s Paleo chefs.
Personally, I loved knowing that my frozen, microwaveable meal was jam-packed with fresh ingredients that I could feel good about.
Taste/Flavor
In terms of flavor, I think Pete’s Paleo does pretty well for a frozen, microwaveable meal service. I definitely felt that some meals were more flavorful than others (Pork Meatballs with Cauliflower Rice and Spinach, I’m looking at you), but overall I was satisfied with my order.
Freshness
Fresh is not a term I would typically associate with frozen, pre-made meals. However, Pete’s Paleo does a superb job of debunking that. Once the meals were reheated and plated, the food tasted as fresh as it would in a farm-to-table restaurant. The vegetables weren’t soggy or dry and the meat was packed with flavor.
Supporting Materials
Each of the meals came with detailed instructions on the back of their packaging that offered guidance for microwave and stove top reheating methods. Overall, they were simple, straightforward, and easy to follow.
Pete’s Paleo Cooking Process
The included instructions (and microwave-safe containers) made for an incredibly simple cooking process. For flavorful and fresh results, all you had to do was pop the original container into your microwave and cook for about 5 minutes. Then, you could enjoy your meal from that very container, or — if you’re like me — re-plate it, to make it feel more like a home-cooked meal.
I’m not sure if my culinary ability was to blame, but the meals prepared over the stove tasted blander than those reheated in the microwave. I think this may have had something to do with the containers’ plastic seals, which steam the meals as they reheat in the microwave.
Some meals were tastier than others, so here are my thoughts on each of them:
Meal 1: Roasted Garlic Grilled Chicken with Crispy Grilled Broccoli
I made this dish via stovetop, and it took about 10 minutes to reheat. The flavors were well-blended, and I must admit it tasted like a healthier version of my favorite takeout dish. The only drawback: the chicken could’ve been a bit less frozen-meal-esque.
Meal 2: Maple Roasted Meatballs with Parsnips and Spinach
I also made this dish on the stovetop, and it was actually the fastest dish to reheat. Although they were good, I thought the meatballs could’ve used a tad more flavor or seasoning, but the veggies were crunchy and fresh-tasting.
Meal 3: Tarragon Braised Chicken with Roasted Cauliflower and Sweet Potato Mash
This was my third and final meal cooked on the stove, and I enjoyed it the most. Although the chicken, cauliflower, and potatoes blended together in the saute pan, I loved the comfort-food aspect of this dish. Truly, it reminded me of my grandmother’s dining room, or perhaps Thanksgiving.
Meal 4: Pork Meatballs with Cauliflower Rice and Spinach
This dish was my favorite, hands down. The meatballs were perfectly flavored, juicy, and warm. Usually, I find cauliflower rice to be incredibly bland and lacking in flavor, however this rice was not. It complimented the spinach wonderfully, and I was truly sad when the meal ended. PS—I microwaved it for 5 minutes.
Meal 5: Balsamic Braised Pulled Pork with Acorn Squash and Kale
This was yet another microwaved endeavor, and yet again I was impressed. The vegetables were crunchy and fresh, whereas I typically find microwaved veggies to be a bit soggy. My only complaint was the meat itself, which I thought was a tad dry.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I had a great experience with Pete’s Paleo. The ordering process was easy, the delivery quick, and the meals itself were healthy, fresh, and perfectly portioned. My advice to any prospective Pete’s Paleo-ers is to ditch the stovetop instructions and microwave everything, every time.
So, if you’re looking for a meal delivery service that ensures nutritious meals, while nixing the need to cook, Pete’s Paleo is a wonderful choice. After a 15-minute ordering process and 4 short days, you will have a freezer filled with easy and healthy meals right at your fingertips. What more could you ask for?
Add-Ons: Wine & More
Pete’s Paleo sells quite a few different things other than just their regular meal plans, and one popular item is their bone broth. Bone broth is sold frozen, unlike the weekly meals, and can be added to any order.
You can also add extra protein to your meals if preferred, which will cost you an additional fee depending on the type of protein you wish for your meal order to include. This is a great option for someone who feels they need more than just the average portion, and it’s one of the few customizable features offered.
Pete’s Paleo Customer Service
There’s a green help button at the bottom of the page that will take you straight to an FAQ section full of questions and answers. The smartest thing to do is to check there first to see if you can find a solution to your problem.
If you need to speak with someone at Pete’s Paleo, the green help button also has the option of contacting the company directly. Once you click it, a small contact form pops up for you to reach out to customer service.
You can also click on the contact page and use the listed email address or phone number, but these (and especially the phone service) may have limited hours of operation.
Responsiveness – Apparently quick to answer
How can you get in touch? – Contact form, email and phone
Pete’s Paleo Cancellation Policy
Cancellations can be made at any time and you’re not obligated to continue receiving food deliveries unless you want to. That said, once an order has been processed and/or sent out, the order can no longer be canceled, for obvious reasons.
Very few meal delivery services want to make their customers feel stuck with their food and are usually eager to make you want to order! Pete’s Paleo is no exception and you can easily log onto your account to cancel recurring orders or to make changes to an existing order (provided it hasn’t yet been processed).
No refunds are issued unless there’s something noticeably wrong with the food, and this would be handled on a case-by-case basis.
If a package is lost by FedEx or damaged in transport, this could potentially enable you to receive Pete’s Paleo points for future orders, but it doesn’t make you eligible for a refund. Delivery problems would have to be brought up with the shipping company directly.
Pete’s Paleo Alternatives
While we’re almost sure you’d love the taste of the food delivered by Pete’s Paleo, there are so many other things to take into consideration as well. If you aren’t convinced that this option is right for you, then you’re most likely better off looking into other alternatives first.
Meal Kit
|
Price / Serving
|
Minimum order
|
Meal options
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
Pete’s Paleo
|
$16.2
|
5 Servings
|
5-14
|
|
Sunbasket
|
$11.99
|
4 Servings
|
15-20
|
|
Home Chef
|
$6.99
|
4 Servings
|
2-6
|
|
HelloFresh
|
$7.49
|
4 Servings
|
2-5
|
Final Verdict
Perhaps the regular meal delivery services aren’t making you feel as excited as you should when it’s time to eat. If that’s the case, you might benefit from a brand that offers something a little extra. It’s almost like dining out at a fine restaurant when you dig into the pre-cooked meals delivered to your home, without the hassle of having to go anywhere.
The meals are 100% paleo, which is something that isn’t easy to find despite the diet having gained popularity recently. This gives the service a few additional plus points.
The only downside is the lack of vegetarian proteins and flexibility when it comes to selecting meals, but if you’re happy to try new things and appreciate food prepared by a renowned chef, then this could be the option you’ve been looking for.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
You can find a few frequently asked questions on the Pete’s Paleo website, but as the website isn’t the most user-friendly we’ve seen, we chose to include a few questions in this review as well. Additional questions can be directed to Pete’s Paleo customer service for clarification.
Is Pete’s Paleo Worth the Price?
Can you find cheaper meal services? Yes, absolutely, but probably none that meet the same standards and provide you with organic food directly from a farm. Considering the quality of the ingredients the answer would be yes; Pete’s Paleo is worth its price.
Is Pete’s Paleo Healthy
Everyone seems to have a different perspective of what could (and should) be considered healthy, and it depends on how you look at it. The food is organic, clean, and contains no preservatives or added sugar, but the calories in each dish may vary.
Does Pete’s Paleo Deliver Every Day?
No, Pete’s Paleo only ships on Wednesdays with orders arriving on Fridays, but there’s the option to have the food delivered faster than regular delivery. If you need your meal packages to arrive fast, you can request to have them shipped by Next Day Air Saver for an additional cost.
Does Pete’s Paleo Have Gluten-Free?
None of the recipes used to cook food for their meal program contain gluten, and that makes it a perfect option for those who are intolerant. As a plus, the facility used to cook is also 100% free from the use of gluten and dairy.
Is Pete’s Paleo Organic?
Yes, all food cooked and shipped by Pete’s Paleo is organic, and the ingredients come from local and sustainable food sources.