My Review: Sunbasket (Menu, Meals & Price) – Are Its Recipes Any Good? (2023)

Time to review Sunbasket – a popular meal delivery service that seemingly has it all:

• organic ingredients
• eco-friendly packaging
• large array of meals

At first glance, it seems promising enough.

However, is this service of any help when it comes to weight loss?

Also – are its recipes any good? Which meal plan is best for you?

Let's find out everything together in this article!

Note: This review is based on my own research + analysis of Sunbasket.

Review Summary

Full Name: Sunbasket by Sunbasket

Product Type: Weight Loss Food

Best Actual Price: Starts at $11.49 for meal kits.

Ready-made dishes start at $9.99.

Cheapest Place To Buy: Its official website

Designed For: Supporting a healthy diet and aiding your weight-loss journey.

My Rating: 6 out of 10

Recommended?: Not that much – it's not the best option, all things considered:

• mainly delivers dinner
• doesn't ensure you get meals for the whole week
• risky delivery service

That being said, I wouldn't jump the gun and subscribe.

However, I know a much better alternative that costs less and also offers higher quality meals.

What I Liked About It

• Good for weight loss
• Focuses on organic food
• Offers both meal kits as well as ready-made options
• You can make changes to your menu at any time (once subscribed)
• Pretty good array of diets

What I Didn't Like About It

• Dinner is the only meal part of their standard plan
• Additional meals available for an extra fee
• Not suitable for people with severe allergies
• You have to pay for delivery after the first box ($9.99)
• Lots of complaints regarding unpredictable deliveries
• Customer service is not the best
• People also complained that some food arrived spoiled
• Too expensive for what it offers

#1 – What Is Sunbasket?

In essence, you're looking at a meal delivery program that provides organic meals for a healthy diet.

If you're considering losing weight, Sunbasket definitely caters to that:

• relatively low in carbohydrates
• lots of organic vegetables
• calorie-conscious

In terms of how this service operates, you should know that it's quite versatile.

That's because the customer can choose between meal kits or ready-made meals.

Regardless of whether you're looking for something that only needs heating in order to be enjoyed…

Or if you're in the mood for some cooking, then Sunbasket has something to offer.

In that sense, this program accommodates many lifestyles.

If you pay attention to their offer, you will notice that they mainly deliver up to 5 dinners per week.

However, once you get to their add-ons section, you are also given options for breakfast and lunch.

Plus, there are also some snack options, so you can get all of those if you want more.

Of course, be mindful that these are only available for an additional fee.

In short, here are the meal plans they offer:

• Paleo – foods concentrated in protein that are soy, gluten, corn, grains, and dairy-free.
• Carb-conscious – meals that consist of up to 25-35 net carbs per serving.
• Gluten-free – actually unsuitable if you have a particularly severe gluten allergy.
• Keto-friendly – whole foods low in carbs, lots of meat, vegetables, nuts, and seafood.
• Lean & clean – unprocessed foods that don't go over 600 calories per serving.
• Diabetes-friendly – meal plan organized to manage healthy blood sugar levels.
• Vegetarian – free of any meat, poultry, or fish.
• Pescatarian – the vegetarian plan, but includes fish.
• Mediterranean – based on ethically sourced meat and seafood.

Additionally, you also have the option of Fresh & Ready, which is for ready-made meals.

Of course, that is only for those times when you're not feeling like cooking.

Once your subscription is created, you can make changes to your plan at any time.

Your box will also come with a booklet that contains nutritional facts and the recipe.

Now that we have laid down the basics, let's get into more details about Sunbasket.

#2 – How It Works & History

Let's see what exactly Sunbasket is all about:

• how it plans to work
• why it would be good for you
• its history

1. How It Works

Sunbasket's website claims that all of their meal plans are “created with healthy eating in mind”.

Moreover, they say their menu offers many calorie options to cater to as many people as possible.

In short, this more or less means that you could lose weight with any of their plans.

You only have to choose the ones that best suit your lifestyle.

However, some of them seem more inclined towards weight loss than others:

• Paleo
• Carb-conscious
• Keto-friendly
• Lean & clean
• Diabetes-friendly
• Vegetarian

On top of that, Sunbasket is also good for managing the weight you already have, provided it's healthy [1].

To add to this, it's a pretty versatile program.

As I already mentioned, it offers ready-made meals and meal kits.

As such, it doesn't matter whether you're always short on time or looking to improve in the kitchen.

Sunbasket caters to both ends of the spectrum.

Try to keep in mind that this program's main offer focuses on dinner.

Therefore, if you want to also add meals for breakfast and lunch, take care:

• you have to manually add them to your plan
• they make your subscription more costly

Keeping this in mind, it's probably better to go for a meal delivery program that offers these options from the start.

That way – you don't have to research which meals best suit your plan…

Because the program should do that for you, ideally.

In this sense, Sunbasket is not the most convenient option when it comes to weight loss.

2. History

When it comes to the history of this company, there isn't much to be said.

Other than the fact that it was founded in 2014 in San Francisco…

There isn't much info that has a lot of relevance.

One of the founders is a chef that has been active for about 25 years.

This obviously tells us that this business stems from passion and comes from someone with experience.

However, beyond that, there isn't much that needs to be said.

#3 – Weight Loss Plans (6 out of 10)

I previously mentioned that all of Sunbasket's meal plans are appropriate for losing weight.

However, since they are quite many, I thought it would be a good idea to narrow them down.

As such, this article will be focusing on the straightforward options.

1. Paleo Meal Plan

This plan focuses on providing your body will all sorts of nutrients to keep you satiated and healthy:

• expect lots of meat, seafood, nuts, fruits, and vegetables
• one serving contains between 400 and 800 calories
• high in protein & fiber

In terms of how this plan helps you lose weight, it's a known fact that paleo diets reduce appetite.

Since it's high in protein, it keeps you full without being high in carbs.

Also, be aware that the paleo diet also encourages a shift in lifestyle.

This refers to incorporating some exercise in your daily routine as well as mindfulness [2].

Additionally, this diet eliminates processed foods from your diet, effectively improving your health.

All of this while also helping you lose weight.

2. Carb-Conscious Plan

Predictably enough, this plan is all about lowering your carb intake:

• between 400 and 800 calories per serving
• 35g net carbs per meal (at most)
• high in protein

This is based on more or less the same principle as the Paleo diet.

Reducing carbs helps to reduce appetite, which means you will start losing weight easily [3].

All of this without feeling like you're starving, since the protein should keep you full.

Of course, you should take some time to allow your body to get used to such dietary changes.

3. Keto-Friendly Plan

Much like the Paleo diet, this one also focuses on meats, nuts, seafood, and vegetables:

• up to 550 calories per serving
• high in protein
• 15g of net carbs per meal (at most)

Although it's somewhat similar to the Paleo diet, they are not the same thing.

For instance, Keto does not entail a lifestyle change, as Paleo does.

Keto is mainly about managing your nutrient intake.

It would be a good idea to look into more details in order to decide which one suits you best.

4. Lean & Clean Plan

This plan promises organic food that keeps you full while also helping with weight loss:

• no more than 600 calories per serving
• at least 10 grams of protein per meal
• high in fiber

The website describes this meal plan as “the perfect balance of healthy and delicious”.

It follows the same idea as other plans, namely to keep you nourished with tons of lean proteins.

That way, you won't get hungry as easily, which will make it easier for you to lose weight.

The emphasis on fiber helps your body regulate its health, so that it can preserve its well-being.

5. Diabetes-Friendly Plan

To keep it simple, this plan is specifically tailored for people suffering from diabetes:

• between 400 and 700 calories per serving
• lots of protein & fiber
• sugar-free

This meal plan is designed to ensure you get all the right nutrients…

As well as the right amount of calories so as not to overwhelm your body.

Also, you may already know that it's best to avoid carbohydrates if you have diabetes.

In this way, this meal plan does a good job of providing you with the right nutrients…

While helping you steer clear of excess.

6. Vegetarian Plan

Naturally, this is the option you would go for if you want to exclude meat from your diet:

• between 400 and 800 calories per portion
• free of meat, poultry, and seafood
• lots of protein, fiber, and good fats

Of course, keep in mind that giving up meat forces you to seek protein from other sources.

As such, your diet should be rich in nuts, seeds, legumes, tofu, and so on.

That being said, Sunbasket does a pretty good job at providing a balanced diet in these circumstances.

Just make sure to choose suitable meals for the rest of the day…

Since they mainly provide dinners.

Conclusion

All in all, Sunbasket does a pretty good job at presenting its meal plans.

However, it is pretty inconvenient that their main focus is dinners…

Which leaves you with the decision of what you should be eating for the rest of the day.

It also provides essential information that is enough for you to decide what is or is not for you.

They give all sorts of info regarding nutritional facts as well, so you know what you're getting into.

Plus, their menu is pretty inclusive, except for severe allergies.

They state that their facility works with allergens.

This makes it difficult to be completely sure that they don't slip into their meals…

Including their Gluten-Free Meal Plan, so be mindful of that.

So if you have dietary restrictions, it would be safer to search for an alternative.

#4 – Meals & Menu (7 out of 10)

Here we are at the tastiest part of this review.

Let's talk about what meals you can get from Sunbasket!

1. The Menu

The first thing to know about Sunbasket's menu is that it doesn't offer dinner options for the whole week.

This is to say that you can choose between 2 and 5 meals per week.

Still, it seems like you can order up to 16 servings of the same dish, so that makes up for it.

Of course, this is assuming you don't mind repeating dishes.

The meal selection changes every week, so that you don't get bored.

Plus, you can also order snacks as well as lunches or breakfasts…

Albeit for an additional fee.

Also, let me remind you that you can choose freely between meal kits and ready-made meals.

However, keep in mind that you can only order between 4 and 10 Fresh & Ready meals every week.

That being said, the meal kits offer a lot more versatility.

To add to this, you can choose between:

• normal meal kits
• speedy meal kits

As the name implies, speedy meal kits are recipes that take less time to prepare.

However, this also makes them more expensive, so be careful when choosing.

Don't forget that you can always customize your menu.

So you're not tied to what you choose upon creating your subscription, which is nice.

It's time to get to the actual dishes now.

2. The Meals

For reference, since dinners are part of the core offer of Sunbasket…

We're mainly going to look at them in this article.

Also, we're going to take a few options from each of the weight-loss meal plans we looked at earlier.

That being said, here's what the Paleo Meal Plan offers in terms of dinner:

1. Roasted Paprika Chicken with Parsnip and Pear Salad
2. Chicken Breasts with Olive-Leek Sauce and Sautéed Kale
3. Seared Steaks with Roasted Red Pepper Ajvar and Cauliflower

Let's move on to some Carb-conscious dinners:

1. Spaghetti Alla Beef Bolognese
2. Steak-Stuffed Peppers with Pinto Beans and Guacamole
3. Butter Chicken

It's time to look at some Keto dinners:

1. Top Sirloin Steak Strips with Zucchini, Romesco, and Pumpkin Seed Dukkah 
2. Seared Tuna with Snap Pea Salad, Lemony Yogurt, and Spicy Chile Oil
3. Pan-Cooked Sole with Braised Chard, Artichokes, and Tomatoes

Next up, how about some Lean & Clean dinners?:

1. Turkey Bolognese over Zucchini and Carrot Ribbons
2. Ancho Chicken with Cabbage, Pumpkin Seeds, and Cuban Mojo
3. Fennel-Spiced Pork Over Snap Pea and Radish Salad

Moving on, here are some Diabetes-Friendly dinners:

1. Chicken Breasts and Greek Orzo Salad with Tomatoes, Olives, and Feta
2. Fresh Ricotta Cavatelli with Italian Sausage, Mushrooms, and Walnuts
3. Saigon Beef Sliders with Lemongrass and Carrot-Cabbage Slaw

Lastly, if you're looking for some Vegetarian dinners, here they are:

1. Sweet and Sour Tofu with Water Chestnuts, Snap Peas, and Steamed Rice
2. Zesty Black Bean-Quinoa Bowl
3. Turkish Vegetable Soup with Chickpeas, Red Rice, and Toasted Ciabatta

These options sound quite good.

Naturally, each meal has a page where you can check nutritional facts, as well as the actual recipe.

Also, you can access this information without having to subscribe, which is great.

All of this allows you to take time to think about the decision you're going to stick to.

Namely, which of these meal plans best suits your lifestyle in order to reach your goal weight?

It's also pretty great that you can choose between ready-made meals and meal kits.

That way, you choose whether or not you prioritize comfort over a fresh meal.

Don't forget to get meals for the rest of the day, if you think that would be better for you.

But only do that if you're alright with paying extra since it can get quite expensive.

#5 – Results (7 out of 10)

Sunbasket is definitely not the oldest meal kit delivery service…

But it's also not the newest, so that explains why it garnered quite a few reviews.

In fact, it's pretty popular, so there's plenty to read.

Let's see what people think of Sunbasket's services!

Note: I only considered authentic reviews, not promotional/fake ones.

1. Positive Reviews

I normally steer clear of the official website when it comes to user reviews.

This is because I want to avoid biased reviews.

For an article, the user's perspective should be as objective as possible.

That being said, let's look at what TrustPilot has to offer in terms of customers' experiences.

1. People praise the quality offered by Sunbasket.
2. Customers also appreciate the varied menu that is available.
3. Lots of people say that following the recipes is very easy.
4. Some also said they successfully lost weight using this program.
5. They also like the taste of the food they receive.
6. People also said they became better cooks thanks to this service.

Someone is so happy with Sunbasket that they've been a customer for over 5 years now:

These reviews are pretty reassuring, showing that Sunbasket is working as intended.

Also, apparently, they are also alright for weight loss, which is the main focus of this article.

So that confirms that this meal kit delivery service is relevant from this perspective.

Considering the not-so-modest price tag, that's quite nice.

2. Negative Reviews

With its popularity, it makes sense that Sunbasket also encountered less favorable reviews.

In all honesty, these might even be more helpful than the positive ones.

That's because they warn us about unexpected disadvantages a product might have.

That way, we are better prepared to make a sound decision.

So – let's see what people were unhappy with when it comes to Sunbasket:

1. Most people complained about the high price.
2. Some also complained about the quality of customer service.
3. A few customers even said they were delivered meals they didn't order.
4. Quite a few people were unhappy with their delivery service.
5. Some people also claim that the packaging is not eco-friendly.

Someone even said they were sent rotten food:

If the food is not up to people's standards, you know something is fishy.

Some of the criticism was to be expected, like the pricing.

But if the ingredients are also delivered in a bad state…

Then you could argue that you lost your money's worth.

Conclusion

While some people seem to be happy with this meal (kit) delivery program…

The fact that their actual delivery service can be faulty at times implies a huge risk.

This means that your food is not guaranteed to be in the best state.

Since that is pretty much the most important part of Sunbasket, I would argue it's not the best look.

Especially considering the fact that it's also rather pricy.

There are definitely better options out there that allow for better safety.

#6 – Side Effects (6 out of 10)

Not a lot of customer reviews had something to say about potential health risks.

Because of this, it's not easy to gauge how dangerous Sunbasket is for its customers.

Despite this, there are some issues you should keep an eye out for in general:

• exhaustion
• bloating
• little to no energy

These are some side effects your body can experience any time you make significant changes to your diet.

If the circumstances are particularly bad, you may also run into problems like diarrhea and/or abdominal cramping.

Since quite a few customers complained about receiving spoiled food/ingredients…

Please know that consuming something that has gone bad can lead to food poisoning.

That being said, you should really stay away from such cases.

#7 – Price (5 out of 10)

As a general fact, meal (kit) delivery services are not exactly affordable.

Is this also true for Sunbasket?

Let's look into the price details.

1. The Exact Price

In order to properly analyze the pricing, we have to keep in mind that Sunbasket is mainly specialized in dinners.

If you want meals for the rest of the day + snacks, you have to pay extra.

That is because these count as add-ons, so they are not part of the standard offer.

Taking this into account, here's what the cost of this service looks like:

• Meal Kits – start at $11.49 and goes up to $17.99 for 2-4 servings
• Fresh & Ready – starts at $9.99 and goes up to $13.69 for 1 serving

As you can tell, Sunbasket is definitely not modest in its pricing.

In fact, it falls in the higher-end spectrum of this category.

Not to mention that the price only goes up from there if you also want extras.

Plus, keep in mind that after your first order, you are expected to pay $9.99 for every box.

So it gets even more expensive.

2. Competitor's Price

If you are really considering signing up for a meal delivery service…

Allow me to recommend to you my top recommendation for a weight-loss meal plan:

1. In terms of weight-loss efficiency, my recommendation wins out.
2. Besides, it offers a lot more customization options.
3. If you're looking for very diverse menus, Nutrisystem is definitely your best shot.
4. When it comes to snacks, they are actually a part of my recommendation's diet instead of an add-on.
5. Similarly, if you want meals for your entire day, Nutrisystem doesn't treat them as extras.
6. On top of all this, my recommendation also saves you money since it starts at $9.99 per day.

That being said, I truly believe that going for Nutrisystem is way better in the long run.

It's just better on all fronts, so there's no reason you shouldn't give it a shot.

You get food for the entire day without having to pay extra for that, which is amazing.

Plus, I bet you love snacking. Nutrisystem actually encourages that, so you'll have a great time!

Conclusion

The people complaining about Sunbasket's high pricing were definitely in the right.

For the amount of money it costs, this program is really not that special.

Honestly, the fact that you have to pay extra for more meals throughout the day is a bummer.

Some services don't work like this, so you definitely have more affordable options.

Plus, other alternatives may also offer more than Sunbasket does.

It's always good to explore your options before you go through with a subscription.

#8 – Final Conclusions

Now that it's almost time to wrap things up, let's go through the main characteristics of Sunbasket.

1. Dinner-Focused

The main offer from this program is centered around dinners.

If you want any other meals during the day, you have to dish out extra money.

Even then, you don't get dinners for the entire week – you can only order up to 5 weekly.

So not only are you expected to fend for yourself 2 days a week…

But you also have to pay more if you want Sunbasket to deliver your food for the whole day.

Of course, this is assuming you don't want to repeat meals.

2. Potentially Faulty Delivery Service

Quite a few customers complained about the fact that delivery doesn't work as intended.

Some received their orders on days they were not expecting anything…

While others were sent meals they never asked for.

However, some people said they found spoiled ingredients upon opening their boxes.

That is truly concerning, bringing into question if the problem lies in the delivery department…

Or elsewhere.

3. Too Expensive

This is all too apparent, but Sunbasket doesn't really live up to the standard it's trying to set.

Not only are the servings quite pricy from the start, but if you want more than just dinner…

You have to be ready for more expenses.

Keep in mind that once your first box is delivered, each one after that will cost you $9.99 for delivery alone.

That puts this program pretty high in terms of pricing.

This means it's not going to be affordable for everybody.

My Verdict – Worth It Or Not?

Short answer: You can do better.

Overall, Sunbasket isn't really the best option in its category:

1. Doesn't send out meals for the entire week.
2. Breakfast & lunch cost extra.
3. Snacks are also considered add-ons.
4. Sketchy customer service.
5. Delivery is quite unpredictable.
6. Risk of receiving spoiled food.
7. Unreasonably expensive.

Keeping these aspects in mind, I wouldn't advise you to go for Sunbasket.

If you're really willing to pay that kind of money, you should expect more from your subscription.

I assure you that there are better options out there that might even cost you less money.

On that note – do you remember Nutrisystem? 

It's no coincidence that I mention it since it's truly my top recommendation for a weight-loss meal plan:

• highly customizable
• quite affordable for the high quality it comes with
• delivers meals for each day of the week
• encourages snacking
• extremely helpful in terms of weight loss

All in all, I assure you that Nutrisystem is the best alternative there is.

So, if you are looking for a meal (kit) delivery program to subscribe to…

I believe this one won't let you down.

References:

1 – https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/healthy_eating

2 – https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/paleo-diet

3 – https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/carbs-calories-weight-loss