Are Meal Delivery Services Worth It? My Veestro Review
Veestro has joined the explosion of plant-based meal delivery services to hit the industry in recent years and is separating itself by providing a la carte bulk purchases alongside subscription plans. The meals are designed to be low-calorie and high-protein and are centered around aiding weight loss.
Veestro has put together an impressive menu of tasty vegan meals and given the power back to the customer to decide how many meals they want and how often. Outside the tailored weight-loss plan, the number of meals you’d like is entirely up to you. Feel free to buy in bulk to cover the whole month, or place an order to tide you over for the rest of the week’s dinners. Healthy, organic, and convenient are the watch-words here and Veestro is on a mission to improve the well-being of the nation.
What is Veestro?
Veestro is an instant meal kit delivery service with a difference. Like its competitors, it offers a subscription-based plan that’s designed specifically to help customers lose weight. Or, if you simply like the look of the menu, you can pick and choose what you’d like and order a la carte. The diet plan covers every breakfast, lunch, and dinner over five days or seven days, while bulk orders can be made in lots of 10, 20, or 30 at a time. All meals are frozen, single-serving portions that can be cooked in minutes.
Veestro Pros & Cons
- Great for vegans
- Gluten-free options
- Easy to prepare
- Tasty dishes
- Cover every meal of the week, including breakfast
- Made with healthy, fresh ingredients
- Flexible ordering
- Weight-loss plan on offer
- It’s a little expensive
- Meals aren’t very creative
- Some dishes can get repetitive or bland
- Some meals aren’t filling
Who is Veestro Good For?
Healthy eaters – We’d be lying if we said it wasn’t a struggle to get more veg in our diets. It’s rare to see microwave meals offer healthy ingredients, so it’s great to get a service that offers so much in the way of nutrition
Flexible dieters – We really love the fact that you don’t need to commit to a subscription if you don’t want to. Not everyone needs a meal kit every week, and you can mix and match what you need, order ahead for the month and even freeze what you don’t eat. There’s more freedom here than at a lot of other platforms
Time-savers – Each meal only takes a few minutes to heat through, so if you’ve had a hectic day and are rushing around to get the kids fed, then Veestro will come to your rescue
People that want to lose weight – The only subscription plan here is designed around weight loss. Meals are tightly controlled and conform to the 1,200 calories per day as recommended by dieticians for people looking to lose weight quickly. Every meal is taken care of for you so you don’t need to stress about complicated meal planning
Big families – Being able to order in bulk means you can stock up on as many meals as you need to feed your whole family
Who Isn’t Veestro Good For?
People on a tight budget – Meals average out at around $10.80 per serving, which is a lot more expensive than the instant meals you’d find at the supermarket. The price goes down the more you buy, but it’s still a little expensive
Adventurous palettes – The meals are pretty simple here, with a good mix of stews, hot pots, curries, and risottos. While tasty, there’s nothing here that’s going to blow you away in terms of creativity and some of the dishes can be a little bland
Specialist dieters – Fans of keto, paleo, carnivore, and other types of diet, will only find very limited options available. You’d be better off finding a platform that caters specifically to these needs
How Veestro Works?
After you’ve had a browse through the menu, you can choose to make a one-off purchase of 10, 20, or 30 meals. Or, you can opt to make your order on a recurring weekly basis, choosing meals as you see fit from the menu of around 50 dishes. Alternatively, you can choose to have every breakfast, lunch, and dinner delivered each week as part of a comprehensive diet plan subscription.
We Cook
We Deliver
You Heat, Eat and Enjoy
Veestro Website and App
All the important information you need to know is clearly marked out and easily accessible via the website. You can check out plans, menus and even read through a quite interesting blog featuring a number of bonus diet and health tips. The al la carte and weight-loss menus are on distinct pages, and each meal comes with a detailed list of ingredients and nutritional information.
There’s no app for either Android or iOS, but managing your account via the website is a pretty straightforward process.
Creating an account / Sign-up
Account sign-up only takes a few minutes and just requires a few personal details. If you’re looking to just buy a one-off a la carte purchase, the process is even quicker.
Veestro Meal Plans and Meal Selection Options
There are two options presented to you on sign up:
Subscription weight-loss plan – Your breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be provided for you either five or seven days per week, providing you with either 15 or 21 meals per week. You can pause or cancel at any time, but it’s recommended you stick to the diet strictly until you hit your weight goal
A la carte menu – Pick 10, 20, or 30 meals of your choice from the full menu and have the items delivered in bulk. You can choose to have a recurring weekly order or make a one-off purchase
Veestro Meal Types
Since all of Veestro’s meals are focused on health and well-being, there’s a lot of crossover between the weight-loss menu and the a la carte menu. However, those on the specialist diet plan will be a little more restricted and will be offered calorie-controlled portions.
That being said, the types of meals are generally quite similar across the two, and both focus on hot pots, casseroles, and other types of home cooking. We’ve picked some of the best examples below
Subscription weight-loss plan
Carrot Osso Bucco
Enchilada casserole
Kale and quinoa salad
Shepherdless pie
Oatmeal breakfast pie
Savory croquettes
Full a la carte menue
Farro ragout
Hearty veg bowl
Creamy spinach Bombay
Miso Udon
BBQ chick’n’ pizza
Ultimate veggie wrap
Morrocan melange
Quinoa risotto
Choosing Veestro Recipes
Choosing the recipes is completely in your hands, even on the weight-loss diet. There are roughly 50 meals to choose from each week, so those on the diet plan for any length of time will likely see a lot of repeat meals, or you could get a little bored after a time.
How Much Does Veestro Cost?
The pricing structure is very straightforward and based on the number of bulk meals you order, or how many days of the week you’d like to access the diet plan. There’s a $10 shipping charge for any one-off orders.
Servings and Recipes/Week
|
Total Cost
|
---|---|
A la carte menu
2 people, 10 recipes per week |
$11.7/serving ($234 total + $10 shipping = $244/week)
|
A la carte menu
2 people, 20 recipes per week |
$10.8/serving ($432 total + $10 shipping = $442/week)
|
A la carte menu
2 people, 30 recipes per week |
$9.9/serving ($594 total + $10 shipping = $604/week)
|
Weight-loss menu
2 people, 15 recipes per week |
$9.9/serving ($297 total + FREE shipping = $297/week)
|
Weight-loss menu
2 people, 21 recipes per week |
$10.8/serving ($453.6 total + FREE shipping = $453.6/week)
|
Diet Friendliness
Besides the obvious health benefits of getting more greens in your diet, the weight-loss plan has a proven track record of helping customers meet their weight goals. The a la carte options are a great way for vegans to find some different meals, or anyone that’s just curious about trying a vegan diet out for a bit.
You can filter your options into other categories too like:
High-protein
Low-carb
Gluten-free
Nut-free
Soy-free
Kosher
However, there isn’t really enough variety on the menu to sustain any of these types of diet in the long term.
Add-Ons: Wine & More
There are no extras or add-ons at Veestro, your choices are limited to what’s on the menu. The platform does occasionally update the list with new dishes, but not very frequently.
Veestro Customer Service
Customer service options are the same as those typically found across the meal kit industry. You can call the helpline anytime between 8am – 5pm PT or get in touch via email or an online form. Agents are generally very friendly and courteous.
There’s an FAQ page too and, while not as extensive as many rival platforms, there are more than enough answers there to cover the most common issues and queries.
Veestro Cancellation Policy
The best thing about Veestro’s a la carte menu is that you never have to sign up for a subscription, so you don’t have to worry about cancellation deadlines. Simply order again if you want more meals delivered.
Those signed up to the subscription diet plan can cancel or pause orders whenever they’d like for no additional charge. Each week you’ll receive an email confirming your order. You’ll have three days from receipt of this to cancel your plan otherwise you’ll be charged for the next week’s delivery.
Veestro Alternatives
If Veestro isn’t quite what you’re looking for, or you’d like to sign up for a meatier alternative, why not check these rival platforms out?
Meal Kit
|
Price / Serving
|
Minimum order
|
Meal options
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|
|
Splendid Spoon
|
$9
|
5 Servings
|
5-15
|
|
Blue Apron
|
$7.49
|
4 Servings
|
2-4
|
|
Home Chef
|
$6.99
|
4 Servings
|
2-6
|
|
HelloFresh
|
$7.49
|
4 Servings
|
2-5
|
Summary
If you’ve been searching for a straightforward way to lose weight with a service that takes the stress out of meal planning, then Veestro will be an ideal choice for you. Plus, it’s a good shout for people that don’t need a subscription service but want to try out a collection of vegan instant meals.
However, if you’re looking for exotic dishes, a constantly rotating menu and a little more spice in your life, then there are a few other alternatives you’d be better suited to.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How Do Veestro Meals Arrive?
All Veestro meals are cooked fresh and immediately frozen. Your meals will arrive in an insulated box to keep them frozen and will keep for up to 8 -10 weeks in your freezer.
Does My Order Require a Signature?
No, you don’t need to be home to receive your order, but you should be aware that the meals will only stay frozen for around six to eight hours after delivery in their original packaging so you should collect your order as soon as possible to prevent thawing.
How Can I Customize My Shipments?
You’ll be emailed each week to confirm the meals that will be delivered in your next package. You have three days to make any amendments via your online account, so make sure you make your changes before the deadline or your meals will be repeated for the next week.
Are All Veestro Products Gluten-Free?
No, not all, but Veestro does have a large, and growing, selection of gluten-free options.
Does Veestro Have Meals for Kids?
Yes, you can find several kid-friendly options on the a la carte menu, but the diet plan isn’t suitable for anyone under the age of 18.