Healthful meals make house calls

Resolutioners, let's get real: Convenience is key. If the gym is too far away, the supermarket too busy, the salad spot a block past the hoagie hut, you might as well put your good intentions out with the Christmas tree.

But meal-delivery companies, which bring prepared food right to your door, have become increasingly affordable and flexible - and have made their food tastier - over the last few years. Some are even local.

As our definition of "healthy eating" shifts, so do the offerings from these companies. All aid in weight loss, but there are also meals for gluten-avoiders, nutrient-seekers, picky eaters, meat-refusers, diabetics, allergy sufferers, new moms, soon-to-be-moms, cleanse fans, and even those with the humble goals of eating organic and natural.

All of the companies we taste-tested offer versatility and ease of use. Clients can stock up for as many days and meal periods as they like, and the websites and ordering processes are seamless. Here is a look at the delivery services we tried.  

Healthy Bites is a Graduate Hospital-area eatery and local delivery service owned by Katie Cavuto Boyle. She's seen her client base increase over the last five years.

"People are really busy," says Boyle. "Our clients don't have time to grocery shop and are really sick of getting takeout all the time."

Boyle has the background to back up her meals. She's a registered dietitian, culinary school grad, and nutritionist for the Phillies, providing the team with pregame meals.

Her program is very accommodating: Deliveries (in the city and suburbs) are on Wednesday and Sunday evenings. Some clients hand over their house keys so drivers can stock the fridge. Meals are ordered week-to-week and are customizable. Before your first order, a Healthy Bites staffer will record your goals, restrictions (soy, wheat, dairy), and dislikes. Specials are e-mailed weekly, and clients can order via e-mail or let the chefs choose. All meals, and larger family-style options, are available.

In terms of taste, this was one of the better ones I sampled. Meals are creative, seasonal, local, and portions are large.

The frittata had large chunks of tangy goat cheese and came with a hefty portion of roasted sweet potatoes and broccoli. I was stuffed. I wolfed down the curry chicken salad lunch at my desk (always on deadline), and the accompanying arugula, white beans, and cashews kept me full. The chicken meatballs for dinner were a touch dry, but I loved that the couscous was spiked with cranberries.

Boyle says pricing is flexible, but as a guideline, a full day of eating for one (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) is about $58. Lunch and dinner only are $45, and single-serve meals range from $18 to $25.

Another local company, Catalyst Cleanse, follows the celeb-adored cleanse model. If you've never done a cleanse, the name can be a bit misleading - it doesn't mean you need to be three feet from a bathroom at all times. Rather, it's a fruit- and veggie-based juice program meant to help you reset. Reach for it to kick-start healthy eating, to detox after holiday gorgefests, or slim down for a swimsuit-required vacation.

Personally, I feel that the biggest benefit of the occasional (and healthy) cleanse is that it's a portion-size reminder; you won't need to eat the entire steak again.

You will most likely lose weight (I lost eight pounds the first time I did a three-day cleanse), and expect a few days of detox hell - no caffeine being a big hurdle for many.

Catalyst will deliver the system for a fee, or there are pickup locations in the city, Huntingdon Valley, and Bryn Mawr. You'll get a set of rainbow-hued, 16-ounce juices, six per day, that are to be ingested in sequential order. They are fresh-pressed and unpasteurized, and while you shouldn't expect a smoothie, are not offensive. I liked the creamy cashew with agave and cinnamon and carrot-ginger the best.

It costs $60 a day (a three-day cleanse is $180) and you can order as many days as you want.

First-timers might want to ease into the process with the "Juicy and Raw" option. With it, you'll drink four juices a day, and then get your jaw moving again with a raw-food meal and snack. The Mexican lasagna has layers of raw zucchini instead of noodles and a piquant tomato sauce. I ate it at room temperature (heating is also OK) and found it fresh and satisfying.

"Juicy and Raw" costs the same as the all-juice cleanse, but raw plates can also be purchased a la carte for $8 to $15 a pop. There is also a seven-day, $245 option combining the company's juices with salads that you make yourself.

Nationally, meal delivery services abound.  

Paleta, based in Los Angeles, had the best-tasting food of the services I tried - it was actually very good. Like Catalyst, this is a combination of a liquid cleanse and a meal plan, meant to kick-start healthy habits.

Paleta makes following the five- or 10-day plan idiot-proof, thanks to clear instructions and well-designed packaging. Clients will have three purifying rice-protein shakes a day, flavored with dabs of the included strawberry puree, cinnamon, and cocoa.

The meals - organic, seasonal, and vegetarian or vegan - are delicious. A quinoa salad had a nice amount of salt and moisture, two things most often lacking in these healthy meals. There was a spicy kick from a fresh pico de gallo and charred orange pepper. The mango and jicama salad snack had toasted pumpkin seeds and a sprig of lavender for garnish.

The five-day cleanse is $385 ($77 a day), and the 10-day is $645 ($64.50 a day), which includes shipping and tax.

For a longer-term plan, Healthy Chef Creations, operating out of Winter Park, Fla., has a variety of prepared meals, made with organic ingredients, free-range proteins, line-caught seafood, and whole grains.

There are many options, including healthy meals to feed entire families and weight-loss plans.

Ensure that dinner hits the table nightly with the purchase of a week's supply of family-sized meals. Portion sizes and any dietary restrictions are accounted for.

Expectant and new moms have a separate plan that ensures everyone is getting the right nutrients.

The weight-loss plan includes one detox shake a day. The meals were creative, but some were better than others. The fish in the Key West wild salmon salad was moist and well-seasoned, and the black beans were a nice touch. The smoked salmon frittata was creamy and light, but a little rubbery. The poached pear that came with it was a nice sweet at the end, although I was left wanting more.

Prices vary, but this company is pretty affordable. A five-day plans works out to about $60 a day, including shipping and tax. You'll get breakfast, a shake, lunch, snack, dinner, and dessert. Prices drop from there, so the more you order, the cheaper it gets.

The Fresh Diet, based in Surfside, Fla., also delivers a full day of eating, (snack and sweet included), does not have a shake, and best of all, lets you pick dishes through an easy-to-use website. For lunch, the Asian steak sandwich has nice slices of beef, and the egg-roll snack tasted good, although it was gone in two bites. The Key lime pie dessert was sweet and creamy with a thick graham crust.

With this premium plan, the more you commit to, the more you save. Seven days of food is about $60 a day; sign up for 31 days and the price drops to about $45 a day. With 72 hours' notice, you can start and stop delivery days without a penalty, which makes taking the weekend off almost too easy.

A quick reference to the meal delivery programs we tried.

 Healthy Bites Meal

Delivery

215-259-8646, healthybitesdelivery.com.

The skinny: Meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack) prepared by a local company, delivered twice weekly. Dietary restrictions and/or weight-loss goals taken into consideration. Local, seasonal, all-natural foods used when available. Order on a week-to-week basis.

Cost: Pricing is flexible, but as a general guideline, single-serve dinners range from $18 to $25. Family-style dinners are $20 per serving. Single-serve lunch and dinner are $45 a day; breakfast, lunch, and dinner are $58 a day. No delivery fee in Center City. Will deliver up to 30 miles outside of Philadelphia.

Catalyst Cleanse

877-566-2988, catalystcleanse.com.

The skinny: A juice cleanse (or juice and raw-food cleanse) created by a local company, meant to detox, slim down, and kick-start healthy eating habits. Programs come in one-day increments, but a three-, four-, or five-day cleanse is suggested.

Cost: $60 per day, for all juice or juice and raw-food diet. Pick up in Center City, Huntingdon Valley, or Bryn Mawr for free; there is a fee for delivery. Raw meals can also be purchased for $8-$15 each. If you are willing to do some food shopping and prep, there is a seven-day $245 option.

Paleta

855-328-7253, paleta.com.

The skinny: A cleansing program that combines shakes with tasty meat-free, organic, seasonal, prepared meals.

Cost: The five-day cleanse is $385 ($77 a day) and the 10-day is $645 ($64.50 a day), which includes shipping and tax.

Healthy Chef Creations

866-575-2433, healthychefcreations.com.

The skinny: Options abound. Get meals prepared with organic ingredients for the family, for weight loss, or for expecting and new moms.

Cost: Prices vary, but for weight loss, five days of food (breakfast, lunch, dinner, a shake, and snack) works out to about $60 per day, including shipping. The more days you order, the cheaper it gets.

The Fresh Diet

866-373-7450, thefreshdiet.com.

The skinny: Calorie-restricted meals (including a snack and dessert) delivered to you daily. Pick your meals on an easy-to-use website.

Cost: The premium plan (which offers the most flexibility) costs about $60 a day for a seven-day commitment. Sign up for 31 days, and the price drops to $45 a day. With 72 hours' notice you can pause the deliveries.

- Ashley PrimisEndText