Splendid Spoon 2023 Review: See Which Items We’d Order Again

Splendid Spoon provided us press boxes for free, but our opinions are ours alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by Splendid Spoon.

Splendid Spoon is a plant-based meal delivery service offering a wide selection of ready-to-eat smoothies, soups, grain bowls, noodle dishes, and entrees.

With a multitude of meals and subscription plans available, Splendid Spoon aims to make plant-based eating easier than ever.

Healthline editor Kelli McGrane, MS, RD, tried several meals from Splendid Spoon — including the latest addition to the company’s product lineup — to help you decide whether this plant-based meal delivery service is worth trying.

Splendid Spoon is a meal delivery service that provides fully prepared plant-based meals.

The company offers a rotating menu with more than 60 meals and smoothies, which you can mix and match to make a customized weekly menu.

Splendid Spoon also recently introduced a lineup of Dishes, ready-made entrees that are higher in protein and more filling than some other items on the company’s menu.

Multiple plans are available, depending on how many meals you’d like to receive.

Additionally, all Splendid Spoon meals are vegan, low sodium, and free of gluten, soy, and added sugars.

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Editor here! As a registered dietitian, nutrition editor, mom, and foodie, I have pretty high standards when it comes to meal delivery services.

I tried more than 25 Splendid Spoon meals, along with a few wellness shots, to help you decide whether this plant-based service is worth the cost.

Products and services

When signing up for Splendid Spoon, you can choose from a variety of subscription-based and on-demand boxes that vary in the type and number of products included.

The items currently available are:

• smoothies
• soups
• grain bowls
• noodle bowls
• Dishes
• cold-pressed juices
• wellness shots

While the selection can vary, here are the on-demand boxes available at the time of publishing:

• Mix & Match Bundle: allows you to choose 10 items from among Splendid Spoon’s bestselling meals and smoothies
• Healthy Habits Bundle: includes five smoothies; five soups, bowls, or Dishes; and five shots (Selections are prefilled, but you have the option to swap out any that you dislike.)
• Splendid Sips Bundle: allows you to select five smoothies, three cold-pressed juices, and two shots
• Holiday Flavors Bundle: includes eight soups, bowls, or Dishes and two shots
• The Reset +: 1-day reset meal plan consisting of six meals and one wellness shot
• The Reset + (x3): 3-day reset meal plan consisting of 18 meals and 3 wellness shots

You can also order 10- or 15-pack on-demand boxes of smoothies, noodle bowls, Dishes, cold-pressed juices, or soups and grain bowls. Additionally, the company offers 25-packs of shots, including wellness, digestion, immunity, recovery, or detox shots.

Meal selection

Splendid Spoon offers a variety of dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, which you can use to build your own personalized menu.

In addition to choosing from more than 60 entrees and smoothies each week, you can modify your profile to note ingredients or flavors you’d like to avoid in future orders.

Moreover, several types of cold-pressed juices and wellness shots are available for an additional cost.

All foods are gluten-free, vegan, and made without the use of GMOs.

I received four prefilled boxes, so I didn’t have a chance to pick and choose my meals.

However, after spending considerable time browsing the website, I imagine that selecting your items would be a painless process.

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In addition to browsing by meal type, the website allows you to filter by dietary need, ingredients you want to avoid, and nutritional benefits, such as higher protein or lower sugar, making it easy to find the meals that best fit your needs and preferences.

All Splendid Spoon meals are compatible with a healthy, well-balanced diet and are specifically suitable for the following diets:

• plant-based
• gluten-free
• vegan

Also, several Whole30-compatible options are listed on the company’s website.

Although the meals are not designed to be low carb or low fat, nutritional information is available for each item. This can help you select suitable options if you’re following a specific diet.

You can also filter out ingredients to accommodate specific food preferences and allergies. However, keep in mind that the meals are produced in a facility that also handles several common allergens.

Splendid Spoon is not a great fit for the following diets and dietary needs:

• ketogenic
• paleo
• severe food allergies or intolerances

Splendid Spoon offers five plans based on the specific meals you’d like to receive each week.

You also have the option to build a custom box with 7, 14, or 21 items. The cost for this type of box depends on the specific items you order.

Here are the current prices for each item:

• Smoothies: $9.99 each
• Soups and grain bowls: $12.49 each
• Noodles: $13.49 each
• Dishes: $13.49 each

Shipping is $12.99 for orders that contain 7 items and free for orders with 14 or 21 items. You can easily update your delivery schedule online to receive meals weekly, biweekly, or monthly.

If you’d prefer to occasionally stock up on your favorites rather than receive weekly deliveries, the company offers a variety of on-demand boxes.

On-demand boxes cost $77–$207, depending on the box you select, and shipping is free for boxes that contain at least 14 items.

Splendid Spoon is available in all 48 contiguous United States.

Note that all prices above are current as of publication but are subject to change.

Splendid Spoon prides itself on being an eco-conscious company.

In addition to being 100% plant-based, the company aims to be more sustainable by using 100% recyclable packaging materials, including BPA-free plastics.

According to Splendid Spoon’s website, the brand switched from gel packs to dry ice to further reduce its carbon footprint.

All of my press boxes arrived on time and in the middle of the day. I work from home, so I was able to promptly bring the boxes inside.

However, the items are shipped with a block of dry ice, so your meals should stay cold even if you’re not home when they’re delivered.

My items arrived in good condition, with the noodle bowls, grain bowls, and soups still frozen. The smoothies, which are refrigerated before shipping, were also slightly frozen because they were packed down by the dry ice.

The smoothies come in narrow bottles that are easy to store in the fridge, and the Dishes are rectangular and stackable. However, I found the noodle bowls, soups, and grain bowls to be a bit bulkier and more awkward to store.

Splendid Spoon prioritizes the use of fresh, high quality ingredients in all of its products.

In addition to containing only non-GMO ingredients, 95% of the smoothies are organic.

For the Dishes, grain bowls, soups, and noodle bowls, organic ingredients are sourced whenever possible, especially for foods on the “Dirty Dozen” list, which includes the fruits and vegetables that are most likely to contain pesticide residue.

As a plus for those who prefer to eat mostly organic, a full list of ingredients is available for each meal and mentions whether it contains conventional or organic produce.

All meals are also plant-based, low sodium, and free of gluten, soy, and added sugars.

Freshness

All meals are produced in New York and distributed to four fulfillment centers across the United States.

Soups, noodle bowls, and grain bowls are flash-frozen, which helps maximize their shelf life. Smoothies and Dishes are refrigerated and shipped in recyclable insulation to ensure that they arrive fresh.

Splendid Spoon works with both a registered dietitian and a chef to design a menu that’s equally nutritious and delicious.

Numerous weekly meal options — all of which feature a diverse array of fruits, vegetables, herbs, seasonings, and sauces — are available.

Splendid Spoon rotates its menu every week and releases 3–5 new flavors each season to add plenty of variety to your meal plan.

Here are my general thoughts on the overall taste and texture of Splendid Spoon’s main product types.

Dishes

Dishes are the latest addition to Splendid Spoon’s lineup.

Unlike the soups, grain bowls, and noodle bowls, which typically provide fewer than 300 calories per container, Dishes are designed to be slightly more filling. Depending on the flavor, Dishes provide 337–448 calories and 12–22 grams of protein per container.

I tried all six currently available flavors:

• Creamy Korma
• Roasted Cauliflower & Falafel
• Falafel
• Roasted Tomato Risotto (my favorite)
• Vegan Chick’n Parm
• Vegan Shepherd’s Pie

Dishes can be either reheated in the oven/toaster oven for 10 minutes or microwaved for 3–5 minutes. I went with the latter option.

All the meals were fully heated within 5 minutes or less, and none of the ingredients became soggy or mushy — a win for any prepared meal.

My favorites out of the six were the Creamy Korma, Roasted Tomato Risotto, and Vegan Chick’n Parm. I found these three to offer the best flavors and textures. I especially loved the risotto with its creamy yet chewy texture.

If you like shepherd’s pie, then you’ll like this vegan variation. I’m personally not a huge fan of shepherd’s pie, so it wasn’t a surprise that the entree wasn’t my favorite. But the sweet potato mash on top was a nice healthy twist, and I enjoyed the roasted Brussels sprouts on the side.

The falafel Dishes were the only ones that fell short when it came to the texture. After microwaving them, I found the falafel to be unpleasantly dry.

With that said, the other components of these meals were great. The hummus in the standard Falafel entree was wonderfully smooth and creamy, and the Za’atar & Lemon Tahini Sauce that came with the Roasted Cauliflower meal was very tasty.

Soups, grain bowls, and noodle bowls

Splendid Spoon’s soups, grain bowls, and noodle bowls are conveniently packaged in microwave-safe containers, though you’ll need to remove the lid and plastic film first.

According to the package, these entrees take 2–5 minutes to reheat. Because I kept my meals in the freezer, I found that they took closer to 5–6 minutes to fully reheat and needed to be stirred halfway through for even cooking.

By far my favorite items were the noodle bowls, as they included generous amounts of vegetables and featured flavor-filled sauces that aligned with my food preferences.

The noodles retained a nice chewy texture even after being frozen and microwaved — a big win compared to other prepared meal delivery services I’ve tried.

The grain bowls were also tasty and packed with a variety of textures and seasonings, though I didn’t find them as filling as the noodle bowls.

I have to admit that I’m not a huge soup fan and got bored of the soups after a few spoonfuls. But if you like soups, I think you’ll be happy with Splendid Spoon’s creative flavor combinations.

Smoothies

I have mixed feelings about Splendid Spoon’s smoothies. On one hand, I appreciated the unique combinations of fruits, vegetables, and extras, like cacao powder and almond butter. I also found the smoothies to be filling and not overly sweet.

However, the consistency wasn’t always the best and varied by flavor.

For example, the Coffee Frappe and Raspberry Cacao smoothies had a pleasant creamy texture, whereas the Mint Chip smoothie had a strange thick texture that I wouldn’t describe as creamy.

Extras

I didn’t get a chance to try Splendid Spoon’s cold-pressed juices. However, I did receive a variety of wellness shots.

While the wellness shots do contain nutrient-rich ingredients, professionally, I’m not a huge fan of some of the health claims the company makes about them.

For example, the company claims the Detox Shot can “flush toxins away,” yet there’s no evidence that this shot or similar products have any effect on ridding your body of toxins. Plus, your body already has an efficient detoxification system.

Science aside, I also didn’t find these shots enjoyable to drink.

Yes, though not as a subscription.

With the exception of the wellness shots, I found Splendid Spoon to be a more nutritious and flavorful alternative to buying frozen meals from the grocery store.

As mentioned above, I have a busy lifestyle, so having balanced meals in the freezer that require just 5 minutes in the microwave is a major win in my book.

However, there are some potential downsides to consider. For starters, most of the meals provide fewer than 400 calories, which may leave some adults still feeling hungry afterward.

This isn’t a big deal-breaker for me, as I typically prefer to eat small, frequent meals throughout the day.

The main reason that I don’t see myself subscribing is the cost — especially considering that I’d still need to purchase groceries for my family’s meals and snacks throughout the week.

With that said, I do see myself occasionally ordering an on-demand box to stock up on my favorites, including the Raspberry Cacao Smoothie, Coffee Frappe Smoothie, Vegan Meatballs & Marinara Noodles, Dan Dan Noodles, and Roasted Tomato Risotto.

Splendid Spoon was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in New York City.

It currently has an A rating on the Better Business Bureau website and has a valid privacy certificate.

Splendid Spoon has been named in a disability discrimination lawsuit against the company. However, the case status is still pending (1).

Most reviews of Splendid Spoon are positive, with customers noting that the meals make it easy and convenient to eat healthier.

Reviewers also share that while the meals are designed to be lower in sugar and sodium, they are still plenty flavorful and satisfying.

The most common complaint is about the price, though some people also dislike the texture of the smoothies.

Several similar services offer quick and convenient plant-based meals and smoothies as well.

Daily Harvest is the closest competitor to Splendid Spoon, as it also offers 100% plant-based items that are geared more toward breakfast, lunch, and light dinners.

However, for people interested in heartier plant-based meals, Purple Carrot is worth considering.

Here’s a quick look at how these plant-based meal delivery services compare:

Note: Daily Harvest offers some less expensive menu items, such as lattes, which start at $5.99 for 2 servings. The price range above reflects the price per serving for smoothies and entrees.

Splendid Spoon may be a good option for:

• people seeking a quick and convenient way to enjoy fresh plant-based meals at home, with little to no effort required
• those looking to transition to a plant-based eating pattern or include more fruits and vegetables in their diet
• individuals interested in a meal plan to support weight loss when paired with a healthy lifestyle and regular physical activity
• people looking to occasionally stock up on smoothies or frozen entrees

On the other hand, some people may want to skip Splendid Spoon, including those who:

• are on a tight budget
• follow diet plans that typically include animal proteins, such as paleo or keto
• are interested in improving their cooking skills or learning to make fresh and healthy meals at home
• prefer eating only organic, as many Splendid Spoon meals contain some conventional produce
• need or want higher calorie entrees

Can Splendid Spoon help you lose weight?

Splendid Spoon focuses on promoting healthier eating habits by making it easy and convenient to enjoy plant-based meals right at home.

Although it doesn’t specifically claim to promote weight loss, some people may lose weight while using Splendid Spoon.

In fact, some research suggests that following a plant-based diet may be associated with increased weight loss and fat loss (2, 3, 4).

Studies also show that vegetarians are less likely to have overweight or obesity than nonvegetarians (5).

Furthermore, most Splendid Spoon meals are rich in high fiber foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes.

Research suggests that increasing fiber consumption may enhance feelings of fullness and support weight loss (6, 7, 8).

Finally, because many Splendid Spoon meals provide 400 calories or fewer, they may help reduce your calorie intake for the day, which could lead to weight loss.

However, whether you lose weight while using Splendid Spoon depends on several factors, including your current diet and lifestyle and what other foods you’re consuming.

Are Splendid Spoon smoothies healthy?

Splendid Spoon smoothies make for a healthy breakfast or snack because they’re relatively low in total and added sugar and made with nutrient-rich ingredients such as leafy greens, fruits, avocado, seeds, and nut butter.

Some flavors also contain organic pea protein powder to help keep you full longer.