Hungryroot Review: Grocery Delivery Just Got Easier

What to know about the service that promises high-quality groceries delivered to your door in just a few clicks.

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During the pandemic, grocery delivery services have flourished, with many continuing to grow thanks to a wealth of new customers who’ve recognized them as a welcome convenience for the long term. Most of these services don’t, however, usually account for the variable quality of food you might receive with each use. Hungryroot understands, and the company has doubled down to elevate the experience with sustainable grocery shopping for allergen-friendly, high-quality groceries that can be delivered right to your doorstep with a few simple clicks. Hungryroot also ranks #1 in our Best Meal Delivery Service for Weight Loss.

How we tested Hungryroot’s delivery service

We wanted to try this service for ourselves, first-hand. We have a ton of food allergies that make mealtimes frustrating, so we were excited to see such a healthy alternative available in the area. We judged Hungryroot on a variety of different factors, including:

  • Taste: This is a given—we all want delicious, mouthwatering meals to sit down to after a long day at the (home) office.
  • Price: We are frugal, so we also evaluated the service on price to help you get the most bang for your buck.
  • Difficulty: We want easy and flavorful meals, which is why we also judged the service on the difficulty of assembly.
  • Packaging: We wanted to be sure Hungryroot adequately packaged and sent the food, as we’ve had differing experiences with other services in the past.
  • Health Value: We’re health conscious, like many of our readers are. We judged Hungryroot honestly based on the overall health value and balance of every meal.

Alongside all of these different scoring factors, we also evaluated Hungryroot with what we could actually commit to doing in the long-term. Food delivery services are designed for convenience, but we also wanted to evaluate if we could weave their service and meals into our already hectic daily routine. We were happily surprised—and we want to share our findings. Let’s get into the ins and outs of the Hungryroot service and ask the burning question: Is Hungryroot worth the cost?

How does Hungryroot work?

hungryroot box
Facebook/Hungryroot

Unlike conventional meal delivery apps, Hungryroot puts in the hours to learn your exact preferences and offers you more than just a (wide) assortment of groceries. The company revolutionized the grocery game and tailors recommendations and orders to your liking by having you complete an interactive quiz before placing your first order.

Using your responses to the quiz as guidance, Hungryroot intuitively fills your cart based on the preferences—sparing you precious time spent scrolling endlessly through grocery offerings—and even gives you recipe suggestions for the chosen groceries. We actually enjoyed swiping left and right, choosing our favorites and nixing our “distasteful alternatives.” It was like Tinder but for food, which we found to be really fun and inclusive of all of our allergies and nutritional needs.

After taking the quiz, we noticed that all of the cart suggestions were from reputable brands that were clearly marked for those who struggle with allergens. There were indicators showing dairy-free and gluten-free foods, and every suggestion was based on foods made with whole, nutritious ingredients that are free of preservatives and artificial additions.

Hungryroot also offered a ton of organic and locally-sourced options, as well as plant-based alternatives for those who stick to vegan and vegetarian eating habits.

Needless to say, we were very excited for these true food options that we could eat and rely on, with no hidden forms of allergens or obscure packaging that made us feel less-than-confident in our ability to indulge.

How much does a Hungryroot subscription box cost?

hungryroot box
Hungryroot

When you start out with Hungryroot, you’ll be excited to learn that there is no fee to join the service. Whereas other delivery services charge you upfront for recurring subscriptions or delivery fees, you won’t be charged a cent when you first sign up for Hungryroot.

The pricing structure is entirely customizable since it’s more of a ‘grocery service’ than a ‘meal kit service’. The recipe servings (these are your lunch and dinner suggestions) cost between $8.49-$9.99 each, ready-to-eat breakfasts and desserts are around $3.00-$5.00 per serving, and snacks are anywhere from $2.50-$5.00 per serving.

For the quality of the food, we found this to make sense, as their offerings are all centered on organic, locally sourced, sustainable solutions. They also offer quality name brand items from brands such as Hu, Mary’s Gone Crackers, and more.

Plus, you can plan ahead with the option to shop for two or four serving sizes—which will determine the exact quantity of groceries you’ll receive for your chosen suggested recipes. The company is transparent as you go through the process, tabulating the total in real-time so you know exactly what you’ll be paying. You’ll then see your total at the bottom of the screen, along with any discounts that can be applied to your order.

Does Hungryroot offer discounts?

Hungryroot also has frequent discounts and sales for new members, such as 30% off your first delivery of $99+ or 15% off two boxes with the code: HR15, so be sure to check the site and see how you can save. When you complete the quiz, you’ll be prompted to make your grocery preference selections for the first week. Hungryroot delivers groceries on a weekly basis, which you can stop at any point if needed.

Is Hungryroot worth the price?

If you’re someone who struggles with dietary restrictions, limited budgets, or lack of time in your life to dive deep into meal planning and budgeting, then Hungryroot will be a great service for you to invest in. The automation is powerfully accurate and can be tailored to your taste preferences and dietary needs. The food is delicious, and the recipes are extremely convenient…but more on that later.

You can also go back after you determine your servings for the week and see everything that the company plans to send you, and replace or edit the cart until you have what you want days ahead of time—avoiding wasted groceries or meals that you just don’t like. We loved the fact that there were zero surprises for us when the delivery came.

Between all of those benefits AND the added “lifetime dessert or premium protein” option the service rolled out a few months back, we fell instantly in love. Plus, there are no tips or additional delivery fees to worry about when you order unlike other grocery delivery options.

Does Hungryroot offer healthy meals?

hungryroot steak
Facebook/Hungryroot

Hungryroot prides itself on providing one of the most health-minded grocery delivery experiences that can be tailored to users’ individual needs. They offer a variety of dietary accommodations and are able to provide recipe suggestions and groceries for those who need meals for diets such as:

  • Low carb
  • Low-calorie
  • Vegetable-based
  • Gluten-free

Beyond the list above, they also provide soy-free, peanut-free, shellfish-free, and tree nut-free options and designations so that you can buy in absolute confidence. The service has filters available on the site as you build your box, and is extremely transparent with the ingredients available in its select variety of sauces and dishes. Hungryroot’s commitment to health shines through at virtually every point in the process, offering organic, whole food options wherever possible.

Dietary preference options

hungryroot tofu noodles
Facebook/Hungryroot

Dairy-free? No problem. Vegetarian? Awesome! Gluten-free? Hungryroot’s got you. No more minutes wasted trying to figure out if that food will make you sick later. You can eat freely—as you’ve always wanted to do.

If you aren’t sure you want to order yet, Hungryroot has posted all of its recipe recommendations on the site, allowing you to filter by dietary preference. Jump online and browse away, but prepare for some serious mouth-watering cravings.

Paleo meals

With Hungryroot, you can finally enjoy a grocery service that is aware of dietary preferences and automates your shopping experience. We know that the Paleo diet is a notoriously difficult diet to shop for with meal kit services.

Hungryroot has confirmed that they carry a variety of paleo-friendly baked goods, such as Base Culture’s delicious treats. Alternatively, you can enjoy whole, clean meats and low-carb veggie options. Or do both — we won’t tell! For all other inquiries for the paleo diet, you can learn more about each product by clicking on the Foods tab on the site, which will lead you to a comprehensive ingredient list.

Keto meals

If you’re on the keto train and are craving that delicious taste of buttery, flakey, keto-friendly baked goods, you aren’t alone—the market is slim!

Well, not with Hungryroot. The service has partnered with experts to source the most amazing and mouth-watering options for your keto dietary needs, including flax and tapioca-based bread options that you can enjoy around a burger of your choice. Between this and the other keto-friendly purchase options, your fridge can stay full for weeks with delicious food designed to make your meal planning easier.

You can thank us later while you enjoy organically sourced and whole vegetable options (hello, flavor-packed stir-frys and salads) for every meal of the week.

Vegan and vegetarian options

Vegan and vegetarian diet followers can eat with confidence thanks to Hungryroot’s recipe and food recommendations.

You can indulge in delicious plant-based protein sources featuring some of the top names in the industry—such as Beyond Meat and other innovative vegan meat options sure to make your tastebuds sing. Enjoy meals ranging from Spicy-Sweet Vegan Chorizo Tacos to delectable Brussel Bowls that will keep you full for hours.

Different meals for every day of the week

hungryroot pasta
Facebook/Hungryroot

All you have to do to perfect your cooking cadence is to let the Hungryroot app know how many servings per meal you want per week. Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner. Snacks. You name it, the app has a way to customize it. (Which is great because who likes eating the same five things every week?)

After you complete the quiz, you’ll then be prompted to let them know how many fresh meals you want to experience and how many weekdays you want to be covered per week. Click submit and celebrate because you just meal planned your food for the week.

If you aren’t sure and simply want to try Hungryroot on a trial basis, you don’t have to go all in. You can choose to only have two full days of meals this week and maybe go full throttle the following week. And if you want to order now but start next week, you are in complete control of your delivery options. Simply choose your delivery preferences at check out and wait for your box of delicious food to arrive right when you want it.

What makes Hungryroot different from other meal kits?

Hungryroot differentiates itself by providing higher quality groceries than many traditional grocery services at a fraction of the price. This only gets better thanks to the frequent sales and specials that are offered, including the single item for life deal that’s been ongoing for the past few months.

Traditional meal kits do offer recipe suggestions, but very few services have the same allergy accommodation and level of personalization that Hungryroot does. Whether you’re trying to lose weight or abide by strict dietary restrictions, Hungryroot has a variety of food options for almost everyone.

Need to change or cancel your order?

hungryroot box
Hungryroot

Hungryroot’s customer service team and client-forward policies allow you to purchase without worry. If at any point you aren’t liking the quality of your order, you have up to 30 days to request a refund. (Alternatively, your order can be canceled at any time before the status is changed to ‘Processed’.)

Hungryroot has a customer service team that is committed to making your experience a success. For any additional return inquiries or change requests, you can reach the customer service team directly at help@hungryroot.com, or access it directly in the app.

How can Hungryroot change your kitchen experience?

Hungryroot has provided an inclusive grocery shopping solution that saves you the hassle of leaving the house. They’ve gone the extra mile beyond a simple grocery delivery solution and have put together a library of thousands—yes, thousands—of delicious and healthful recipes for nearly any dietary preference you can think of. Save money on takeout and enjoy countless sustainable food options delivered right to your doorstep.

This service is excellent for college students, young families, couples, or individuals who just don’t have the time to shop. If you’re looking for a time-saver and some fresh new meals and snacks for your weekdays, it may be time to give Hungryroot a try.

Is Hungryroot worth trying?

hungryroot box
Hungryroot

Overall, the taste and the ease of the meals is unmatched with any other kit service we’ve tried. We are pretty picky, but this service helped us to expand our palate with simple, delicious meals and one-of-a-kind, allergy-friendly sauces. We weren’t expecting to like it as much as we did—and we actually ended up keeping the service as a permanent solution to the dreaded “what’s for dinner” question.

We recommend trying Hungryroot if you’re looking for faster and easier alternatives, and don’t mind investing a little time tailoring it to your preferences. You’ll get higher-quality food for a fraction of what it would otherwise cost in the store, and you won’t regret the delicious and unique tastes you’ll be introduced to in the process.

(To be honest, the brownie batter mix was enough to make us sign on for a more permanent Hungryroot package…and the delectable dinners were just icing on the cake.)

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