Veestro is a plant-based meal kit with a goal of making healthy eating stress-free and delicious. We tested the meals and service to see how it stacks up to competitors.
Veestro is among a second wave of meal kit companies offering entirely plant-based options. While big players like Sun Basket and Blue Apron give customers a choice between animal proteins and vegetarian, Veestro is all-in on vegan meals.
And unlike the other major plant-based option Purple Carrot, Veestro’s meals are all delivered to you fully cooked and frozen. All you need to do is heat and eat.
We wanted to put this self-proclaimed healthy, easy and delicious meal kit to the test. We ordered a week’s worth of meals to see how Veestro works and tastes.
QUICK SUMMARY: VEESTRO
- Taste: 4/5
- Packaging: 5/5
- Price: 3/5
- Ease to prepare: 5/5
- Diversity of options: 5/5
Veestro is a premium vegan meal kit that specializes in healthy, nutritious and low-calorie meals designed for convenience. The dishes are easy to prepare and taste great, though the portion sizes may be smaller than some people are used to. The subscription plans aren’t cheap, but the ingredients are high-quality and there are dozens of great options to choose from each week.
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In this Veestro meal kit review, we’ll cover:
- How Veestro is different from other meal kit options
- How the prepared meals taste
- Who will love a subscription to Veestro (and who might not)
Here’s what you need to know about Veestro meal kits.
How is Veestro Different from Other Meal Kits?
To accomplish its mission of making healthy food flavorful, easy and fast, Veestro offers only fully cooked and frozen meals. The only “recipes” you’ll receive in your delivery are the clear heating instructions printed on the packaging of each meal.
Customers can select a la carte meals or subscribe to the “Weight Loss” plan. On the plan, you’ll select either a 5- or 7-day subscription, which includes 3 meals per day. Total, these meals add up to about 1,200 calories per day, which is meant to help keep you on a weight loss diet that doesn’t feel like deprivation.
If you select a la carte, you can place an order for 10, 20 or 30 meals at a time. A 10-meal minimum is quite a lot of food, and this commitment may be off-putting to someone who just wants to try the meal kit or who isn’t a fully committed plant-based eater.
Price
Maybe because the meals are fully prepared or because it caters to a health-conscious plant-based audience, but Veestro tends to be on the pricier end of the meal kit spectrum. The 30-meal a la carte package breaks down to $9.90 per meal, while a 10-meal order costs $11.70 per meal
Shipping is free for customers who subscribe to auto deliveries. But for one-time orders, be prepared to pay $9.99 for shipping.
We Tried Veestro for a Week...Here’s How it Went
We gave the Veestro a la carte meal plan a try, and here’s what we thought.
First, we were impressed by the long list of meal options to choose from. I suppose it’s a good thing there’s so much variety, as you’re committed to 10 meals minimum. You can add more than one of any item if you’re a big fan.
And Veestro offers a mix of both new seasonal recipes and old favorites at any given time.
When our delivery arrived, we found our food packaged in a light, manageable box with dry ice to keep the meals frozen. The packaging is fully recyclable or compostable.
Everything was still nice and chilled, even though the dry ice had dissipated. All of the meals come packaged in neat compostable containers or shrink-wrapped and clearly labeled.
Some of the meals are recommended to be defrosted overnight in the fridge. But most can be heated straight from frozen.
Meal #1: Chick’n Shawarma
The first meal on our Veestro menu was vegan “chick’n” shawarma with rice and lentil pilaf. We heated the meal in the microwave as described, then transferred it to a bowl with the creamy tzatziki sauce on top to serve.
We found that the microwave instructions fell a little short on time, as the meal was still partially frozen. Of course, this may be the fault of our microwave. We heated up a bit more and dug in.
This dish was very flavorful and we really enjoyed the texture of the plant-based protein. Normally, we wouldn’t jump for imitation chicken. But this dish surprised us, as the “meat” was both full of shawarma flavor and had a nice satisfying texture to it, not unlike real chicken.
The rice pilaf also added a lot of volume to the meal, which made it nice and satisfying. And we especially loved the creamy tzatziki sauce on top. All in all, this was a filling and warming meal and a great introduction to Veestro.
Meal #2: Veggie Pesto Pizza
For our second meal, we heated up one of the pizzas in our box. This took about 20 minutes in a hot oven. And though the cheese doesn’t look melted in the photo, it was in fact hot and soft.
The cheese is made from coconut oil, which doesn’t melt quite like real cheese. It does, however, taste pretty good (though not exactly like cheese).
We found this pizza to be ok. It definitely had a plant-based flavor that wasn’t exactly what you think of when you hear “pizza”. We liked that the thin crust got nice and crispy. This was also a fairly large single-serving pizza.
Meal #3: Jackfruit Pozole
Next, we heated up some soup. This Mexican pozole gets a texture like pulled pork from jackfruit. It included hominy, pinto beans and plenty of Mexican flavor from ancho and guajillo peppers.
What was especially surprising in this meal was that the tortilla strips on top of the soup actually crisped up in the microwave, despite being fully frozen beforehand. Of course, as soon as we mixed them into the hot soup they lost their crunch. Still, we appreciated the texture.
This was definitely more of a lunch than a satisfying dinner, with just 240 calories in the bowl. It was still pretty filling, thanks to the beans, but would not be a full meal for someone with a big appetite.
Meal #4: Red Curry
This curry dish looked fresh and appealing. It was vibrant and colorful fresh out of the package, with plenty of vegetables and a nice thick and fragrant sauce.
And while it tasted pretty good, the veggies ended up being quite soggy and soft after thawing and reheating. Overall, the texture really fell flat in this dish, and even the creamy coconut curry sauce couldn’t make up for it. This was also a very light meal that makes sense more for lunch than dinner.
The Good
Here are some of the advantages of a Veestro meal kit subscription:
The Bad
And here are a few cons of Veestro to consider:
The Verdict: Is Veestro Worth It?
Ultimately, Veestro makes healthy and very convenient plant-based meals. They also taste great and have impressively healthy nutritional facts.
This is a great meal kit option for anyone looking to eat lighter, lose weight or stick to a plant-based diet. It’s especially helpful for anyone too busy to prepare nutritious meals who doesn’t want to rely on take-out. Or if you’re looking for a healthier prepared meal to pack and heat for lunch at work, the microwave-friendly meals are a great option.
Folks who might not fully appreciate a Veestro subscription include meat lovers, people who love the act of cooking regularly, and people with a big appetite not looking to lose weight.
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FAQ’s
1. Where does Veestro ship?
Veestro ships throughout the continental US. You cannot choose your delivery date, however their website tells you when you can expect your delivery according to your region.
2. Does Veestro Accommodate Dietary Needs and Allergies?
Yes, Veestro offers gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free and kosher options every week.
3. Are There Meals Other Than Dinner?
Yes, Veestro offers a range of breakfasts in addition to the entrees, which can be served for lunch or dinner.
Veestro Alternatives
If you’re looking for a more hands-on or less expensive meal kit, try these other popular options:
Purple Carrot
Purple Carrot is another fully plant-based meal kit. Their model is more traditional, with pre-packaged ingredients and recipes to prepare the meals in your own kitchen.
Hello Fresh
Hello Fresh is a more affordable meal kit option that accommodates vegetarians, pescatarians and other specialty diets.
Green Chef
Green Chef is a certified organic meal kit that offers plans that comply with many diets, including keto and paleo.
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Lizzy is a trained chef, freelance food writer and always-curious home cook. She’s passionate about making home cooking fun and accessible and is on a mission to help everyone eat delicious food that makes them feel their best, however it fits into their schedule.