I Tried Thistle For 30 Days (My 2025 Review)

I often explore meal services to complement my training and dietary needs, which lean toward high-protein, meat-based options. Thistle, a subscription-based meal delivery service, caught my attention with its promise of fresh, nutritionist-designed meals tailored to busy lifestyles.

Known for its plant-forward approach and sustainable practices, it also offers meat add-ons, making it a potential fit for someone like me.

In this review, I’ll share my experience with Thistle—covering customization, taste, pricing, and more—to assess its value for different users, drawing from personal testing and online feedback.

Pros

• Fresh, Flavorful Meals: Meals are delivered fresh, not frozen, with options like the Chicken Pesto Bowl offering an enjoyable taste.  
• Convenient Format: Pre-made meals require no preparation, making them practical for busy schedules.  
• Nutrient-Dense Ingredients: Organic, gluten-free, and dairy-free components align with health-focused diets. The nutritionist input ensures balanced offerings.
• Eco-Friendly Packaging: Reusable bags and recyclable containers reflect a commitment to sustainability. It reduces waste compared to typical meal delivery setups.

Cons

• Elevated Cost: Prices range from $14.49-$18.77 per meal with meat, which may strain budgets. It felt costly for my weekly meal plan.
• Moderate Protein Levels: Meat meals provide 20-25g of protein, which may not meet higher demands. I needed extra sources to hit my targets.
• Limited Menu Diversity: Options focus on bowls and salads with varying proteins, potentially lacking variety. It didn’t fully satisfy my preference for broader choices.
• Geographic Restrictions: Delivery is limited to specific cities locally and parts of the West for shipping. Availability depends heavily on location, unlike nationwide services.

What Is Thistle?

Thistle is a meal delivery service emphasizing health-conscious eating through fully prepared, ready-to-eat meals crafted to balance nutrition and convenience. The service primarily focuses on plant-based meals, ensuring they cater to individuals seeking wholesome, sustainable food options.

For those who prefer a mix of protein sources, meat can be added to the meals for an additional cost. This flexibility makes Thistle a versatile option for vegetarians, vegans, or those following a mixed-diet approach.

A distinguishing trait of Thistle is their commitment to using fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The menu features fruits, vegetables, nuts, and other organic components wherever possible.

This local-first approach not only supports nearby farmers but also ensures the ingredients are of high quality and freshness.

Thistle meals are prepared to be consumed within two days after delivery, underscoring the brand’s focus on freshness and minimizing food processing.

The menu rotates frequently, incorporating bold global flavors to keep dining experiences exciting and satisfying.

The meals are nutritionally balanced, providing detailed ingredient lists and calorie counts. Each dish is designed to meet the needs of health-conscious individuals, making meal tracking and diet adherence effortless.

All meals are gluten-free and dairy-free, free of refined sugars, artificial additives, and preservatives, making it particularly appealing to those with specific dietary restrictions or health goals.

The service operates on a subscription model with flexible plans, allowing customers to customize their weekly orders for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. It also offers cold-pressed juices, wellness shots, and desserts as add-ons.

Thistle prioritizes sustainability, using recyclable packaging, reusable delivery bags, and carbon offsets for deliveries, aligning with its mission to reduce environmental impact.

My Thistle Review & Experience

Customization

As a strength and conditioning coach who’s all about high-protein meals—preferably with meat—I was curious to see how Thistle would handle my dietary preferences. The customization process is pretty straightforward, and I’ll give them credit for making it user-friendly.

When I signed up, I got to choose between plant-based meals, meat-inclusive options, or a mix of both. Naturally, I went straight for the meat option since hitting my protein goals is non-negotiable with my lifting and wrestling schedule.

You can tweak your plan to focus on breakfast, lunch, or dinner—or all three if you’re going all-in—and set how many meals you want per week. I started with five lunches and dinners to test it out.

Thistle also lets you flag allergies or aversions, which is handy if you’re dodging soy or nuts that might pop up in plant-based dishes. I didn’t need that, but it’s a solid feature for those with restrictions.

The dashboard is clean: I could see my upcoming deliveries, adjust quantities, and pause if I needed a break. For local delivery, I had more control over picking specific meals from the weekly menu.

When I tried their shipping option for a week—simulating a trip—the flexibility dropped. They pre-selected some meals for me, which was fine but less ideal if you’re picky.

Plus, shipping’s only available in parts of California, Nevada, Arizona, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, so if you’re outside those zones, you’re stuck with local delivery or nothing.

The meat add-on bumps the price by about $3 per meal, which isn’t crazy but adds up quick. I liked that they use organic, local ingredients—feels like quality fuel for my training—but I’d love more control, like picking my protein or upping the portion size for us bigger guys.

Customization’s solid overall: not perfect for a high-protein buff like me, but it works if you’re cool with their framework.

Meal Variety, Kits and Recipes

Let’s get into variety—and first off, Thistle isn’t a meal kit service, so no recipes or raw ingredients to cook with here. It’s all pre-made, ready-to-eat meals, which I’m good with.

The variety’s decent but definitely skews toward Thistle’s plant-forward roots. The menu rotates weekly—about 5-7 options per meal type—and I tried dishes like the Green Grain Taco Salad with Cumin Pulled Pork and a Chicken Pesto Bowl with Quinoa.

The meat dishes averaged 20-25g of protein, which is okay but shy of the 30-40g I target.

Vegan options, like a Tofu Pad Thai or Lentil Curry Bowl, hit 15-20g with seeds, nuts, or legumes—not my thing, but they’re there.

The meat add-ons (chicken, pork, sometimes turkey) were flavorful and well-seasoned, though they’re more of a “topping”—think 4-6 oz. portions, not a massive cut.

No kits or recipes—it’s all prepped, so you’re eating cold (salads work great that way) or heating for 2-3 minutes (dinners held up fine). The variety in cuisines felt limited after a bit—lots of bowls, salads, and “healthy” comfort food, but not much else.

They throw in snacks (like a Chocolate Caramel Muesli Bar) and cold-pressed juices, which were a nice perk—though not protein-heavy enough to lean on.

Taste & Quality

First off, the freshness is undeniable. These meals show up ready-to-eat, never frozen, and you can taste that they’re not sitting around for weeks.

The Green Grain Taco Salad with Cumin Pulled Pork was a standout—crisp veggies, a nice smoky kick from the pork, and a dressing that didn’t drown it.

The Chicken Pesto Bowl with Quinoa was another win: the chicken was tender, not dry, and the pesto had a legit herbaceous punch without being oily.

Even the meat portions—usually 4-6 oz.—felt thoughtfully seasoned, which matters when you’re paying extra for that add-on.

The vegan dishes I sampled—like a Tofu Pad Thai—were solid but leaned lighter on flavor and heft. The tofu was well-marinated, but the protein punch (15-20g) didn’t quite satisfy my post-training appetite.

The quality of meat options is high—organic, local sourcing —but the portions can feel more like a sidekick than the main event.

Nothing tasted processed or cheap—no artificial aftertaste, no soggy textures even after a quick microwave zap.

The snacks and add-ons deserve a shoutout too. The Chocolate Caramel Muesli Bar was a sneaky treat—rich without being junky—and the cold-pressed juices were crisp and clean, though not exactly muscle-building material.

Everything’s gluten-free and dairy-free, which I don’t need but didn’t hurt the experience either. Quality-wise, it’s top-tier: fresh ingredients, balanced flavors, and a clear effort to make healthy taste good.

Packaging

The meals arrive in a reusable insulated bag with ice packs—nothing fancy, but it does the job of keeping everything cold, even when I’m not home for the drop-off.

Each meal comes in a recyclable plastic container with a clear lid, so you can see exactly what you’re getting. The portions are neatly packed, and I didn’t run into any spills or crushed salads.

Thistle leans hard into sustainability. The bags get picked up at your next delivery for reuse, and the containers are curbside-recyclable. The ice packs are reusable too, but if you don’t hand them back, you’re stuck figuring out what to do with them.

The setup for the shipped boxes I tested was similar—cardboard outer layer, recyclable plastics inside—but it felt a tad bulkier with extra insulation.

Price

For local delivery in the eligible areas, vegan meals start around $11.50-$16.32 each—breakfasts closer to $10.65-$14.14, lunches and dinners more like $12.83-$16.32.

Add meat, which I did every time, and you’re taking on $3 per meal, pushing lunch or dinner to $14.49-$18.77.

My five-meal-a-week plan (lunches and dinners with meat) ran me about $75-$90, plus a $4.95 delivery fee.

If you go big—say, 16+ meals—the per-meal cost drops a bit ($12.83 for dinner, say), but it’s still a chunk of change.

For shipping, it’s boxed up differently:

• The Essentials Box (2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners) is $84, or about $14 per meal, and meat bumps that higher.
• The Lite Bites Box (4 salads, 2 snacks, 4 soups) was $76—decent if you’re not leaning on meat. Shipping fees vary by location.

Compared to other services, it’s mid-tier: cheaper than Sakara Life ($20+) and pricier than Daily Harvest ($6.99-$11.99).

For organic, ready-to-eat meals with meat, the quality justifies some of the cost, but as a guy who aims at around 200 grams of protein daily, I’m not sure it’s the best bang for my buck

Cancelation Process

Thistle’s cancellation process was pretty painless, which I appreciated when I decided to pause after a couple of weeks of testing it out.

The whole thing lives in their online dashboard, so there are no awkward phone calls or jumping through hoops. I logged in, found the subscription settings, and had the option to either pause or cancel outright.

The cutoff’s clear: you’ve got until Thursday at 11:59 PM PST to make changes for the next week’s delivery.

Who Is Thistle For?

Health-Conscious Eaters

Folks obsessed with clean eating—think organic, gluten-free, dairy-free—will vibe with Thistle. The plant-forward focus, plus meat options, keeps it nutrient-dense without junk.

I liked the quality for my health goals, even if the protein wasn’t maxed out. It’s perfect for anyone prioritizing wellness over fast food.

Plant-Based Enthusiasts

Vegans or vegetarians get a lot here. The rotating menu’s packed with creative tofu, lentil, and seed-based dishes—15-20g protein’s decent for plant-based.

I skipped most of these, but the flavors held up. If meat’s not your thing and you want sustainable, tasty options, Thistle’s got you covered.

Busy Professionals

Thistle suits individuals with demanding schedules who lack time for meal preparation. The pre-made, fresh meals require no cooking, making them a practical choice for those with limited downtime.

While the cost is higher than some alternatives, the service offers a balance of nutrition and ease that aligns well with the needs of professionals prioritizing efficiency over kitchen time. It’s a viable option for those managing a packed workday.

Customer Thistle Reviews

On Trustpilot (4/5 from 1,078 reviews), one user called it “super tasty” and loved the variety that kept boredom at bay, while another on Yelp said it “changed our lifestyle for the better” as busy people—echoing my own relief at skipping meal prep.

The freshness gets big props too; a Redditor noted meals stayed good into week two, and I felt that with my Chicken Pesto Bowl.

But it’s not all sunshine—delivery gripes pop up a lot. A Trustpilot user fumed about a day-late shipment that spoiled food, and a Yelp reviewer in LA mentioned missing items, though customer service fixed it quick.

Price is a splitter. Some Yelp folks called it “pricey but worth it” for organic quality, while a Redditor balked at $15 salads when takeout’s cheaper—mirroring my own sticker shock at $14.49-$18.77 for meat meals.

A Trustpilot fan said they’re “filling,” but I’d side with the Reddit guy who wanted more protein heft—20-25g didn’t cut it for my needs.

Thistle Alternatives

Trifecta Nutrition

Its offerings are aligned with pre-set dietary plans such as paleo, keto, vegan, vegetarian, and low-carb, making it a go-to choice for those following structured diets.

One of the standout features of Trifecta is its meticulous approach to portion control and macro tracking. Each meal is portioned to precision, ensuring you hit your nutritional goals.

Since I often track macros for workouts, I appreciate how clear their labeling is, including proteins, fats, carbs, and calorie counts.

The service also caters to high-calorie needs, so it works well for athletes or individuals with higher energy expenditure like me.

The meals are fully cooked, requiring minimal effort. But, unlike Thistle, Trifecta often goes the extra mile with flavor profiles. For instance, their seasoning and spices are more generous and make the dishes feel more authentic.

The ingredients are sustainably sourced and often organic, mirroring Thistle’s commitment to quality, though some users have noted inconsistencies in the freshness of greens in a few deliveries.

Pricing is on the higher side. Trifecta meals are around $15.99 each, which may feel steep for some. The shipping fees are separate, further driving up the final cost. If budget is a deciding factor, this is something to consider.

Trifecta’s national coverage is a major advantage since Thistle is largely limited to the East and West Coasts.

Besides, the flexible meal plans allow for slight customization, though not to the extent that someone with highly specific dietary restrictions might need.

My Trifecta review goes into detail about my experience with this meal delivery service.

Hello Fresh

Unlike Thistle, which is primarily plant-based, Hello Fresh focuses on delivering meal kits rather than fully prepared meals. This adds an element of cooking, which some might enjoy as a chance to relax or hone their skills.

Where Hello Fresh excels is in its variety. There are countless recipes across cuisines, accommodating various dietary preferences, including vegetarian and low-calorie meal options.

However, serious fitness enthusiasts may find the absence of macro-focused plans or well-delineated nutritional profiles less suitable for their needs, especially when calorie precision is key.

That said, it’s enjoyable for anyone looking to maintain a balanced diet with fresh, high-quality ingredients.

The affordability of Hello Fresh is a major plus. Meals start at $8.99 per serving, significantly undercutting the price of Thistle.

While you do need to put in some time to prepare the meals, the recipes come with easy-to-follow instructions, and all necessary ingredients are included.

This raises the question of whether convenience or cost-effective quality matters more to you personally.

For cardio lovers or gym-goers, the lack of meal prep guidance tailored to fitness goals makes Hello Fresh feel more like a general meal service than a fitness-focused option. Still, its inclusion here is valuable if simplicity and variety are what you’re after.

Sunbasket

Sunbasket shines in accommodating specialized diets. It has plans for paleo, keto, gluten-free, dairy-free, and Mediterranean diets, among numerous others.

While Thistle sticks primarily to plant-based meals, Sunbasket lets you choose non-plant-based proteins in a more customizable way without an extra fee.

This flexibility is a game changer for me whenever I want to mix up my meal plans without having to pay additional pricing per serving.

Flavor is another area where Sunbasket impresses. Many meals are inspired by unique global cuisines, offering robust and diverse taste profiles.

While Thistle occasionally lacks bold seasoning, Sunbasket uses spices and herbs generously. Their lemon-basil chicken or curried lentil bowls rival any restaurant-quality meal I’ve tried.

Pricing for Sunbasket falls between Thistle and Hello Fresh, with meals starting at $11.99. However, fully prepared options can go up to $14.99 per serving.

Shipping is similar to Trifecta, which adds to the cost. For those on a budget, this mid-range pricing might strike a balance, though it’s worth factoring in any additional customization fees for niche diets.

Sunbasket delivers to almost all U.S. states, making it a more inclusive option geographically compared to Thistle’s restricted zones.

If you live outside the covered areas for Thistle or want a service with broader dietary flexibility, Sunbasket might be worth exploring.

Frequently Asked Thistle Questions

How much does Thistle cost?

Pricing depends on your plan. Vegan meals range from $11.50-$16.32 each—breakfasts lean toward $10.65-$14.14, while lunches and dinners hit $12.83-$16.32. Adding meat tacks on $3 per meal, so you’re looking at $14.49-$18.77 for those.

Local delivery has a $4.95 fee, and shipped boxes (like the Essentials Box) run $84-$96. Ordering more meals (16+) slightly drops the per-meal cost, and new users can snag promo discounts.

Can I customize my meals?

Yes, customization is pretty flexible. You choose between plant-based, meat-inclusive, or a mix of both, and decide how many breakfasts, lunches, or dinners you want weekly.

Local delivery lets you pick specific meals from the weekly menu, while the shipped boxes have pre-selected options—less control there. You can also flag allergies like nuts or soy, and they’ll adjust accordingly.

Where does Thistle deliver?

Delivery is limited by region. Local drop-offs cover select cities like San Francisco, LA, Seattle, NYC, and Philly—the full list is on their site, so check your zip. Shipping expands to parts of California, Nevada, Arizona, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, but that’s it.

How do I cancel my subscription?

Canceling’s straightforward—no hassle. Log into the online dashboard, head to subscription settings, and hit cancel or pause before Thursday 11:59 PM PST for the next week’s delivery. No phone calls or pushback. Just don’t miss the cutoff, or you’ll be locked in for another round.

Final Thoughts on Thistle

Thistle delivers fresh, tasty, ready-to-eat meals that save time—perfect for busy folks like me juggling lifting and wrestling. The organic, plant-forward options.

The organic, plant-forward options cater well to health-conscious eaters, and the sustainable packaging is a nice touch.

Customization’s decent, and canceling’s a breeze. However, it’s pricey—$14.49-$18.77 per meat meal adds up—and the protein portions don’t fully satisfy my 30-40g needs. Variety is limited to bowls and salads, and delivery is restricted to certain regions.

For someone like me or anyone prioritizing high-protein, meat-heavy meals without breaking the bank, Thistle falls short.

That’s why I’d recommend Trifecta Nutrition instead. Trifecta offers a broader range of protein-packed options (30-40g+ per meal), with plans tailored for athletes—think grass-fed beef, wild-caught salmon, and bigger portions.

It’s still pre-made and convenient, but the pricing (around $16 per meal, so the same as Thistle) feels more reasonable for the macros you get, and shipping nationwide. If you’re serious about gains and value, Trifecta’s the smarter play over Thistle’s premium, lighter vibe.