Veestro is a plant-based meal delivery service established by Mark Fahler and his sister Monica.
The siblings grew up in Costa Rica, where eating fresh produce on a daily basis was a way of life.
Veestro is encompasses their vision to bring this healthy lifestyle to the masses, by making plant-based options easily accessible to people who don't have time to prepare meals.
Since its inception, Veestro has become extremely popular and is regarded as one of, if not the, best plant-based / vegan meal service. The company won best delivery service at the 2018 Veggie Awards.
In this review, I'll dig deeper into the service and give you all the information you need to decide whether it's a fit for you, as well as providing an overview on some of the meals I've ordered so far.
How Does Veestro Work?
Veestro presents you with three options:
1. A-La-Carte:
Choose from an extensive range of dishes crafted by professional chefs.
2. Chef's Choice:
Choose from a menu of pre-selected popular dishes based on user preferences. Ideal for new starters.
3. Weight Loss:
Choose from meals under 1,200 Calories per day, to keep your waistline in check.
Meal Plans
You can choose from a 10, 20, or 30-meal plan, and filter using categories such as high protein, gluten-free, or customer favorites.
You can add your choices to your cart one by one, and choose to receive your meals one time or on a regular (automatically billed) basis.
The 44 entrees and 7 breakfast add-ons on offer are weekly staples, so the collection never changes. Additional menu items are added from time to time.
The menu options include dishes like Pad Thai and Moroccan melange, salads with Asian noodles, or family favorites like croquettes and mac and cheese.
And then there's kid-friendly options like pepperoni pizzas and chick'n nuggets – all plant-based.
All Veestro food is vegan. They use only plant based ingredients. The meals are free from meat, chicken, fish, dairy, eggs and honey.
Meal Preparation
The meals are designed by professional chefs and, to ensure a fresh and flavorful taste, they are prepared and frozen before being sent out for delivery.
This is what makes Veestro meals a tad pricier than competitors, because they are pre-prepared and frozen and the goodness locked in.
Preparation time is guaranteed to be quick or none at all, as you simply pop the food into the microwave and defrost and heat accordingly.
The food is pre-cooked, so there’s no need for instruction videos or recipe cards.
The only cooking instructions provided are in the form of paperboard labels that indicate whether the meals should be heated in a microwave or on a stovetop.
Veestro is also unique because food preparation is done to meet weekly orders, meaning that you’ll be getting freshly made food.
No preparation time. Meals are frozen then packed. Just defrost and warm up your meal in the microwave or on a stovetop.
Is Veestro Healthy?
Yes. The meals are generally nutritious and the company is committed to healthy eating.
Some of the fried items might not be considered totally healthy because of the oil, but it's way healthier than takeaway, that's for sure.
A plant-based diet is renowned for its healthy properties and ability to reverse Type 2 diabetes and lower risk of Cancer and Heart Disease. Additionally, Veestro doesn't use any preservatives in its meals.
Is Veestro Organic?
Veestro uses organic ingredients in all of their meals, and 96% of the overall ingredients across all meals are organic.
This means lower levels of pesticides in your foods, making the dishes even healthier.
How Much Does Veestro Cost?
Meals are priced according to the number per plan.
Best value works out to $9.90 a dish. Discounts are given for opting into the weekly or frequent delivery instead of a one-time delivery.
For one-time deliveries, here are the Veestro prices:
- 10 meals – $130 plus a 10-dollar shipping fee
- 20 meals – $240 plus the shipping fee
- 30 meals – $330 plus the shipping fee
The following are the prices for a subscription service:
- 10 meals – $117
- 20 meals – $216
- 30 meals – $297
Are Veestro Portions Big?
The portions are generally pretty big and satiating. Some meals appear smaller than others but are generally filling.
Remember that the menu is designed by chefs, so by design they ensure the meal will be filling and nutritious enough for the average person; it's not like they just threw a meal together and guessed the portion sizes.
How Long Does it Take to Prepare?
As mentioned previously, you just pop the meals into the microwave or warm on a stovetop, depending on the instruction.
Aside from this, you may also have the option to bake or air-fry some of the meals, depending on your preference.
If you order a multiple meal plan, to ensure freshness, keep 1-2 day's meals in your fridge and put the rest in your freezer to take out as and when you need to.
Are There Any Add-ons?
Many other meal delivery services offer add-ons like snacks or desserts. Instead, Veestro offers 8 breakfast options, which are always available.
I quite like that there aren't any dessert options, as I do have a sweet tooth and I'd be tempted to order and that would considerably increase the cost!
My Personal Meal Experience
Country Fried Chick'n
Don't worry, it's not real chicken!
This popular entrée comes with veggies, mashed potato, and gravy.
The Chick'n is made from grain flour, vital wheat gluten, and plant-based flavorings.
It's very good; crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The gravy tops it off nicely, too. It's a good thickness and not too runny.
While not particularly adventurous, this is a filling meal and undoubtedly one of Veestro's most popular.
Super-easy to prepare too. Just pop it in the microwave.
Enchilada Casserole
This Mexican dish is made from seasoned tofu and vegetables layered with gluten-free tortilla.
It's a low calorie but filling dish, though I added a side of salad with a guacamole sauce, which paired nicely.
It's bursting with flavor due to the mix of tomatoes, peppers, garlic, onions, and olive oil. This blend ensures it isn't dry, too.
Plant-based, dairy-free, and packed with flavor, this is a healthy, delicious dish.
It's a popular dish too, with over 250 reviews and a 4.4 star rating.
Again, just warm it up in the microwave.
Red Curry with Tofu
If you like a curry, this mouth-watering meal will become a dinnertime favorite.
It's a wonderful combination of savory and sweet, served with brown rice and topped with vegetables (broccoli, carrot, cauliflower).
The curry sauce is made from coconut milk, Thai ginger, shallots, kaffir lime, coriander, garlic and cayenne pepper. It got my wife's approval too.
The standout feature for me is the creamy sauce, and the fact that there is enough sauce to cover the rice and ensure you don't end up eating dry rice at the end of the dish, as happens all too often.
A good size serving makes this a great evening meal.
Veestro offers 44 meal options and 7 breakfast options as standard, meaning you can have a different meal every day for a month and a half!
Veestro Shipping
Veestro provides free shipping on all auto-delivery orders. It costs $9.99 for shipping on one-time orders.
Delivery dates are predetermined depending on the day you place your order.
The delivery times page on the website shows the various time zones, which are classified into one to four-day categories.
Veestro operates in a number of locations, so the delivery schedules vary depending on your area.
For orders placed on a Sunday, delivery is completed the following Monday or Tuesday.
FedEx delivers the orders, so you can track your delivery using a tracking number. You can also receive them at home with no signature required.
You can subscribe to the service bi-weekly, weekly, or every four weeks.
Where Does Veestro Deliver?
Veestro delivers anywhere in the US except for Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico.
Since the deliveries go through FedEx, a physical address is required and P.O. boxes aren’t accepted.
Made with sweet potatoes, apples, and a touch of brown sugar, this oatmeal bake is a delicious way to start your day.
Change, Pause, & Cancel Veestro
Changing preferences is a breeze. You can pause your subscription to the service or change meal preferences.
Simply log in and head to the ‘My Account” page. Here you will find a section called “Manage Subscriptions” where you can change your details.
Note that you will need to make changes before your payment date for them to take effect and adjust your order.
Refunds
Your subscription will renew automatically, but you have the option to pause or cancel it completely, so long as the payment for the upcoming order hasn’t been processed yet.
You’ll receive an email notification before the processing of payment, and you’re given three days to make any changes. Once your payment has been processed, changes can no longer be made and no refund can be given.
Customer Service
Customer service is available on weekdays only. Business hours are 8 AM to 5 PM Pacific Time.
The website contains an online form that you can fill out for any concerns, and you can expect a response within 24 hours, except during weekends of course.
There's an extensive FAQ page, where your question can probably be answered without the help of a representative.
If there are any items or ingredients in the meals that you are concerned about, you can send an email to info @veestro. com for any substitutions or omissions.
Veestro Packaging
Quite rightly, people are concerned about the packaging used by meal delivery services and whether it is environmentally friendly.
Veestro meals are frozen and sealed with a vacuum in a box filled with dry ice. Dry ice is environmentally friendly.
While it is made from solid carbon dioxide, when it turns into a gaseous form it doesn't release carbon dioxide into the environment and therefore doesn't contribute to the greenhouse effect.
Each shipment is packed with just enough dry ice to disappear before you open your package; but if you open your package to find pieces of dry ice still remaining, don't touch the dry ice. Leave it in the box and put the box outside or in a garage so that the dry ice can naturally dissipate.
The meals are packed in carton trays that are 100% compostable, and plastic pouches that are 100% recyclable and free from BPA.
Recycled paper is used for insulation, which can be recycled locally.
A breakfast blend of beans, tofu, veggies, and potatoes wrapped up in a warm tortilla, served with a side of tasty potatoes.
Is Veestro Worth It? Pros & Cons
Pros:
- 100% vegan meals
- Organic and non-GMO ingredients
- Free from preservatives
- Little to no time preparation
- Hand-picked dishes made by chefs
- Easy meal options (High-Protein, Gluten-Free, Customer Favorites)
- 44 entrees and 7 add-on breakfast options – always available
- Recyclable packaging
- Can be kept for 8 to 10 weeks in the freezer
- Large servings
- Good value. Under $10 a meal
Cons:
- No preference for days of delivery (determined by location)
- No return policy for food items
In Summary
Veestro is an excellent plant-based meal delivery service with superb variety.
If you have very limited time available to cook meals, or don't have the facilities in your home, or perhaps you have a disability or struggle due to your age, Veestro provides healthy, delicious meals that you can pop in the microwave.
Best of all, you can order 10, 20, or 30 meals at a time and store them in your freezer. Meals are pre-frozen and delivered in dry ice packs that help lock in the freshness and taste of the meals.
At $9.99 per meal, or less if you order in bulk, it is good value for money. If you consider how much you would spend on a takeaway, or an unhealthy, processed quick meal from a store, Veestro is a no brainer.
If you're single or a couple, Veestro is probably affordable, but for a family of four this would no doubt get too expensive for most people. However, the marketing positioning of the company is targeting busy professionals and not big families.
If you prefer to get hands-on and involved in the cooking process, then Purple Carrot might be the option for you. But in terms of efficiency and fitting a healthy meal into a busy life, Veestro is perfect.
There's plenty of variety too. With the 44 options, you are unlikely to get bored of the selection. You can easily have a different meal for dinner every single night of the week for over a month.
A last point I'd like to add is that you might like to prepare a salad to go along with your meal. Pretty much all of the meals contain vegetables, but I feel that a salad is necessary with some meals to add that extra fiber and raw element to your diet.
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