Meal delivery services have become a game-changer for busy folks who want healthy, tasty meals without the hassle of meal planning or grocery runs.
Green Chef and Purple Carrot are two heavyweights in this space, each catering to specific dietary needs with distinct approaches.
Green Chef boasts organic, customizable meal kits for various diets, while Purple Carrot focuses exclusively on plant-based vegan meals with both kits and prepared options.
I’ve tested both services, diving into their customization, variety, taste, and more to see how they stack up.
If you’re torn between these two, this comparison will break down the key differences, share my experience, and help you decide which (if either) fits your lifestyle.
Quick Verdict
Green Chef offers organic variety and high-protein options for omnivores, while Purple Carrot delivers tasty vegan convenience.
Neither tops Trifecta Nutrition, my pick for athletes needing macro-precise, high-protein, fully prepared meals that skip the prep and fuel serious gains with unmatched macro precision and portion size.
| Feature | Winner |
|---|---|
| Customization | Green Chef |
| Meal Kits and Variety | Green Chef |
| Taste and Quality | Green Chef |
| Packaging | Purple Carrot |
| User Reviews | Draw |
| Cancelation Process | Draw |
| Price | Draw |
Winner
Based on my experience with each meal delivery service, neither Green Chef nor Purple Carrot hold a light to Trifecta Nutrition.
Trifecta caters to any allergies or dietary preferences and has a Performance Line with meals that don’t skimp on protein or calories.
They are high protein, moderate carb, and lower in fat making them perfect for muscle building, fat loss, or sports performance related goals. Use code “liftbig40” for 40% OFF.
What Is Green Chef?
Green Chef is a USDA-certified organic meal kit delivery service emphasizing sustainability and high-quality, customizable meals tailored to various dietary needs.
Launched to simplify healthy cooking, it offers plans like Protein Packed, Keto, Vegan, Mediterranean, and Quick & Easy, catering to everyone from meat lovers to plant-based eaters.
Green Chef keeps your plate exciting with over 50 weekly recipes inspired by global cuisines. Each kit includes pre-portioned, mostly organic ingredients paired with clear recipe cards for meals that take 30-40 minutes to prepare.
The service prioritizes eco-friendly packaging, using recyclable cardboard and compostable insulation, and claims to offset 100% of its carbon emissions.
While it’s a premium option, the focus on organic sourcing and bold flavors makes it a top pick for health-conscious cooks who want variety without sacrificing quality.
You can read my experience in my Green Chef review.
What Is Purple Carrot?
Purple Carrot, launched in 2014, is a 100% plant-based meal delivery service designed to make vegan eating accessible, flavorful, and sustainable.
Catering to vegans, vegetarians, and plant-curious omnivores, it offers two main options: meal kits with pre-portioned ingredients for 30-45 minute recipes and single-serve prepared meals that heat up in 2-5 minutes.
The weekly menu features up to 16 dinner kits and 15 prepared meals, drawing from global cuisines like Thai, Indian, and Mediterranean.
A “Plantry” section adds breakfasts, lunches, and snacks. Purple Carrot uses fresh produce and mostly organic non-produce (e.g., tofu, beans) and boasts a 72% lower carbon footprint than standard American meals.
Its eco-friendly packaging includes recyclable boxes and minimal plastic.
Flexible subscriptions allow easy skipping or pausing, and the service appeals to those prioritizing plant-based nutrition and convenience. However, its vegan-only focus and moderate protein content may limit its appeal for some.
You can read my experience in my Purple Carrot review.
Green Chef vs. Purple Carrot Key Differences
Customization
Green Chef offers robust customization, making it a standout for those who like control over their meals. You can choose from eight meal plans, including Protein Packed (40+ grams per serving), Keto, Vegan, and Mediterranean, and switch between them weekly.
Servings range from 2 to 6 per meal, with 2-4 meals per week, and you can tweak proteins (swap chicken for beef) or add extras like breakfasts.
The flexibility to skip weeks or pause deliveries fits busy lifestyles, though forgetting the deadline means you’re stuck with the box.
For a high-protein eater like me, the ability to prioritize meat-heavy, 40-gram-plus meals is a big win, though I wished for more ingredient-level swaps.
Purple Carrot, by contrast, is far less flexible. You’re limited to picking from up to 16 meal kits (2 or 4 servings) or 15 prepared meals weekly, guided by tags like “high-protein” or “gluten-free.”
There’s no option to swap ingredients or adjust portions, and the vegan-only menu locks you into plant-based eating.
The “high-protein” tag, maxing out at 20-25 grams per serving from tofu or beans, disappointed me as an athlete needing more fuel.
Green Chef wins here for its broader dietary coverage and meal tweaking options, especially for non-vegans.
Meal Kits, Recipes, and Variety
Green Chef’s variety is a powerhouse, offering over 50 weekly recipes across plans like Protein Packed, Keto, and Vegan. Dishes like Moroccan-spiced beef or Thai peanut chicken bring bold global flavors, ensuring you’re not stuck with repetitive meals.
Kits arrive pre-portioned with organic veggies, antibiotic-free meats, and premade sauces, keeping prep minimal. Most recipes take 30-40 minutes, though some can hit 50.
The Quick & Easy plan shaves time, but even standard kits are straightforward with clear recipe cards.
As a meat lover, I appreciated the protein-heavy options, though veggie-forward dishes sneaked in some balance I didn’t always want.
Purple Carrot holds its own with up to 16 meal kits and 15 prepared meals weekly, leaning on cuisines like Indian and Thai. Kits, like General Tso’s Tofu, take 35-45 minutes, with “Less Prep” options cutting effort.
Prepared meals, such as Spicy Dan Dan Noodles, heat in 2-5 minutes, perfect for tight schedules. The vegan-only focus limits variety for omnivores, feeling repetitive without meat to mix things up. Ingredients are pre-portioned and fresh, but the lack of animal protein left me wanting.
Green Chef’s sheer volume and dietary range outshine Purple Carrot, especially for non-vegans, but Purple Carrot’s prepared meals add a convenience edge for plant-based eaters who don’t want to cook.
Taste & Quality
Green Chef’s taste is a knockout, delivering bold, global flavors in dishes like beef tenderloin with chimichurri or spicy chicken with poblano cream. Premade sauces and spices elevate meals to restaurant quality, even for novice cooks.
The organic ingredients shine through, making every bite feel clean and premium. That said, I hit occasional duds, like wilted kale or leaky meat packs, which stung at this price point.
Overall, the quality aligns with its premium positioning, especially for protein-focused eaters like me.
Purple Carrot impresses with vegan flavor, nailing dishes like General Tso’s Tofu and Spicy Dan Dan Noodles with sticky, peanutty sauces. Fresh veggies and mostly organic non-produce (tofu, beans) deliver clean nutrition, and I never got mushy grains or off flavors.
Portions hit 500-700 calories, but the 20-25 gram protein cap leaves a gap in my optimal daily intake.
For vegans, the taste rivals top plant-based restaurants, but omnivores will find it less satisfying long-term.
Green Chef edges out slightly for its richer, meat-inclusive profiles and organic certification, though Purple Carrot’s vegan execution is stellar for its niche.
Both deliver high quality, but Green Chef’s versatility suits broader palates, while Purple Carrot’s plant-based focus nails flavor for vegans.
Packaging
Green Chef’s packaging is functional but not perfect. Meals arrive in sturdy, recyclable cardboard boxes with ice packs and compostable insulation, keeping ingredients fresh even after hours on the porch. Ingredients are organized in labeled bags per meal, which streamlines cooking.
The eco-friendly pitch is strong—40% recycled cardboard and 100% carbon offset—but the heavy reliance on plastic baggies for veggies, sauces, and spices undercuts it.
Unloading a box leaves a pile of plastic, which feels at odds with the sustainability claim. It’s practical, just not as green as advertised.
Purple Carrot’s packaging is similar but slightly leaner. Cardboard boxes with ice packs and recyclable liners ensure freshness, and the service claims a 72% lower carbon footprint than standard meals.
Meal kits use fewer plastic bags for ingredients than Green Chef, and prepared meals come in recyclable trays with non-recyclable film. The plastic waste still bugs eco-conscious folks, but it’s less excessive than Green Chef’s.
Both services prioritize recyclability, but Purple Carrot’s lower plastic use and prepared meal trays give it a slight edge for sustainability, though neither fully nails the eco-ideal.
Price
| Meal Delivery Service | Plan Type | Servings/Meals | Cost per Serving | Weekly Total (Example) | Shipping |
| Green Chef | Meal Kit (2-serving) | 3 meals (6 servings) | $13.49 | $80.94 | $10.99 |
| Green Chef | Meal Kit (4-serving) | 3 meals (12 servings) | $11.99 | $143.88 | $10.99 |
| Purple Carrot | Meal Kit (2-serving) | 3 meals (6 servings) | $13.25 | $79.50 | Free over $100, else $10 |
| Purple Carrot | Meal Kit (4-serving) | 3 meals (12 servings) | $11.00 | $132.00 | Free over $100, else $10 |
| Purple Carrot | Prepared Meals | 8 meals (8 servings) | $13.00 | $104.00 | Free over $100, else $10 |
Cancelation Process
Canceling Green Chef is straightforward, a relief for anyone with a packed schedule. You log into your account on their website or app, navigate to subscription settings, and select “deactivate” to cancel.
A quick “why are you leaving” prompt pops up, and you’re done in under two minutes. The process is user-friendly, with no pushy retention tactics, which I appreciated.
Purple Carrot’s cancellation is equally hassle-free. You log into your account, hit the cancellation button under subscription settings, and answer a brief “why are you leaving” question.
It took me about two minutes, no phone calls or annoying reps required. You can skip or pause by Tuesday, a week before delivery, matching Green Chef’s timeline.
Both services make exiting painless, unlike some competitors that bury the option or guilt-trip you.
User Reviews
Green Chef enjoys a loyal following, with customers raving about its organic ingredients and bold flavors.
On platforms like Trustpilot, it scores around 4 stars from thousands of reviews, with users praising the fresh produce, grass-fed meats, and variety of over 50 weekly recipes.
One Trustpilot user gave it “10 stars” for “truly amazing” dinners, while another lauded the vegan options and responsive customer service.
However, some gripes surface on Sitejabber, where scores dip to 3 stars, citing high prices ($11.49-$13.49 per serving), occasional wilted veggies, and limited ingredient swaps. Reddit’s r/mealkits echoes this, with fans loving the quality but others annoyed by shipping fees.
Purple Carrot’s reviews are more polarized. Trustpilot currently shows 75% of 892 reviews at 4-5 stars, with users highlighting tasty prepared meals and convenience for vegans.
Fans on X praise the creative flavors, but Sitejabber’s 1.3/5 from 51 reviews slams late deliveries, spoiled ingredients, and billing issues.
Reddit users split too. Some love the fresh produce, while others flag long prep times or bland meals. Green Chef’s broader appeal and organic certification give it a slight edge in positive feedback, especially for non-vegans, but Purple Carrot’s vegan focus resonates strongly with its niche.
My Experience With Purple Carrot And Green Chef
Green Chef hooked me with its Protein Packed plan, delivering 40+ grams per serving in dishes like Moroccan-spiced beef and Thai peanut chicken. The flavors popped, and global spices and premade sauces made every meal feel chef-driven.
Cooking took 30-40 minutes, with pre-portioned organic ingredients streamlining the process. I went with 3 meals for 4 servings, expecting to cover my wife and me post-workout, but portions sometimes left me eyeing extras.
Quality was top-notch, though a wilted kale batch and a leaky meat pack were bummers. Customization was a win, letting me tweak proteins and skip weeks easily, but the $11.99-$13.49 per serving plus $10.99 shipping stung for my budget.
Purple Carrot, meanwhile, was a different beast. Its vegan-only menu is not something I would choose if not to make reviews, but I gave it a fair chance, and I tried both meal kits (General Tso’s Tofu) and prepared meals (Spicy Dan Dan Noodles).
The flavors surprised me. Sticky, peanutty sauces and crisp veggies delivered, even for a meat guy. Kits took 35-45 minutes, while prepared meals were ready in 2-3 minutes, a lifesaver on busy days.
But the protein cap at 20-25 grams per serving (from tofu or beans) couldn’t fuel my lifting sessions, and the vegan-only focus felt repetitive.
At $11-$13.25 per serving, it’s comparable to Green Chef, but the lack of customization frustrated me. The eco-friendly packaging was solid, though plastic waste lingered.
Green Chef fit my high-protein needs better, with bolder variety and organic quality, but Purple Carrot’s prepared meals were more convenient.
Neither fully nailed my athletic goals due to Green Chef’s occasional quality slips and Purple Carrot’s low protein.
Should You Pick Purple Carrot Or Green Chef?
Green Chef is a powerhouse for omnivores and specialized dieters, offering over 50 weekly recipes across plans like Protein Packed, Keto, and Vegan. Its organic ingredients, bold global flavors, and customization make it ideal for health-conscious cooks who want variety and quality.
It’s a solid option for protein-focused folks or those juggling keto, gluten-free, or Mediterranean diets, but the price and cooking time may deter budget or time-strapped users.
Purple Carrot shines for vegans and plant-curious eaters, delivering 100% plant-based meal kits and prepared meals with global flair.
Its 16 kits and 15 prepared options offer solid variety, and prepared meals are a boon for busy schedules.
However, the 20-25 gram protein cap and vegan-only menu limit its appeal for athletes or meat lovers, and customization is rigid. It’s great for sustainable, plant-based dining but falls short for high-protein or omnivore needs.
Ultimately, neither fully suits my lifestyle, which is why Trifecta Nutrition takes the crown. Its fully prepared, high-protein meals (40+ grams per serving) cater to athletes with precise macros, larger portions, and no prep.
Priced around $16 per serving, Trifecta’s customization via its app and focus on clean, performance-driven eating makes it the smarter pick over Green Chef’s cooking or Purple Carrot’s vegan limits.
Trifecta
Trifecta Nutrition
A clean, high protein meal delivery service that doesn’t skimp on quality or portions. Use code “liftbig40” for 40% OFF.
