We Tried Splendid Spoon. Here's What We Thought of the Vegan, Gluten-Free Meal Service

Carving out extra time during a hectic week doesn’t have to be a major overhaul — it’s all about stacking small time-saving wins. The more shortcuts you find, the more space you free up for movies, exercise or just catching your breath. One of my favorite tricks? A solid meal cheat code. Splendid Spoon, a popular plant-based meal delivery service, is exactly that. It stocks your fridge with ready-to-eat, superfood-packed meals and snacks, perfect for those days when cooking just isn’t in the cards.

While some meal delivery is suited for dinner, this meal delivery subscription feels more tailored to breakfast and lunch. To see how Splendid Spoon stacks up in a crowded field with dozens of healthy prepared meal delivery operations, I tried two weeks’ worth of Splendid meals, including the brand’s signature superfood smoothies, juices, grain and noodle bowls, soups and snacks. I also had our wellness editor, Anna Gragert, a vegetarian of 20 years who often eats plant-based, try the brand’s 5-Day Detox, which includes soups, smoothies, shots and dishes along with intermittent fasting. She didn’t follow the exact plan but instead sought to try all the offerings.

While Splendid Spoon proves a little pricey for what you get and isn’t my top pick in the healthy meal delivery category, I found most of the food good or better. I can see why many have come to rely on this subscription service as a no-fuss way to keep nourished and think Splendid Spoon is worth a try, especially if you take advantage of the deep discount for new customers. 

Here’s how Splendid Spoon works and what we thought of the healthy, vegan meal delivery service. 

How does Splendid Spoon work?

As with most meal delivery services, Splendid Spoon is a subscription service so deliveries will keep coming every week unless you pause or cancel, which you can do at any time. To get started, you’ll pick a meal plan menu of either seven, 14 or 21 meals per week. The more meals you choose per week, the cheaper they’ll be, with the 21-meal plan costing about $10.80 a meal (not including the introductory discount) and the seven-meal plan costing more like $14 per meal, plus $13 for shipping. The two larger plans include free shipping. 

After you select your plan you’ll pick your meals, choosing smoothies, grain bowls, soups and noodle dishes depending on what your subscription includes. Meals are delivered to you chilled — not frozen — on Wednesday or Friday of each week. For Wednesday deliveries, you must place your order by 1 p.m. PT on Thursday. For Friday deliveries, the cutoff is 1 p.m. PT on Sunday. As of now, Splendid Spoon delivers only to the lower 48 states.

On any given week’s menu, you’ll have about 65 meals to choose from, including more than 20 smoothies, with sweeter options like blueberry coconut and more savory blends like carrot ginger and power greens. There are also a dozen or so grain and rice bowls and about 20 soups, along with heartier rice and noodle bowls.

What are Splendid Spoon meals like? 

All the food is 100% vegan (no meat, dairy or animal byproducts) and gluten-free. The recipes are made with lots of healthy fruits, vegetables and superfoods like kale, spinach, beans and whole grains. The website says about 95% of the food is organic and that it’s 100% GMO-free.

Much of the food is what I’d categorize as healthy food with a good deal of global culinary influence. Think brown rice taco bowl with beans and tomato salsa, or cauliflower tikka masala soup. You won’t find many soy-based meat substitutes; these are mostly whole ingredients. Portions aren’t huge but they aren’t skimpy either, in keeping with the idea of healthy, balanced eating.

Before choosing any item, you can see the full ingredient list and nutritional information. You can also filter for more specific dietary needs, such as high-fiber, low-carb and high-protein foods.

What we tried and how we liked it 

I’ll preface my critique of Splendid Spoon’s smoothies by saying I make a lot of smoothies at home and so I can be particular. Because Splendid Spoon smoothies are preblended, they’re a bit more like juices to drink and don’t have that creamy, frozen texture I’m used to. Beyond the main ingredients, each one is fortified with healthy superfoods like chia seeds, hemp seeds and pea protein. These additions don’t alter the flavor dramatically but deliver dense nutrients and antioxidants.

Smoothies

Strawberry and goji berry with cashew butter: This was just OK. A bit sour for my taste.

Carrot and ginger with mango and dates: An excellent smoothie, with savory and sweet elements in perfect harmony. Anna agrees and especially enjoyed the zing offered by the ginger.

Power greens: This green juice smoothie is loaded with good stuff, including organic hemp seeds, chia seeds, spirulina, pea protein and kale. The banana and coconut balanced all the vegetable components with just enough sweetness. Anna, on the other hand, found the addition of lemon to give the smoothie a salad dressing-like taste, but still appreciated all the ingredients individually.

Banana, flax and almonds: I make a nut butter and banana smoothie most mornings. This was different, and the lemon gave it a bright zing, but I still prefer my freshly blended version. This also wasn’t Anna’s favorite smoothie, as it was a bit tart with a texture that she didn’t love.

Blueberry and coconut with acai and cinnamon: Another very good smoothie. The cinnamon and vanilla made it sing.

Blue Majik smoothie with banana, dates, vanilla and cinnamon: A bit sweeter than the smoothies I’m used to, but still extremely tasty and satisfying. Anna also enjoyed this one.

Dragon fruit berry with pineapple juice, raspberries and avocado: Anna enjoyed the combination of pineapple, dragonfruit and raspberry, especially in smoothie form, as it was an easy way to get in some fruit.

Mint chip with Swiss chard, banana and almond butter: This was one of Anna’s favorite smoothies, as it tasted like a chocolate-mint dessert. She especially appreciated the extra iron and fiber.

Hidden greens smoothie with kale, almond butter and banana: Anna preferred this greens smoothie over the Power Greens one, as the vanilla and cinnamon gave it a sweeter, less savory flavor.

Cacao almond smoothie with almond butter, vanilla and cacao: This was another smoothie Anna enjoyed with its simple ingredients and sweeter flavor profile.

Noodle and rice bowls

Fried tofu korma with peas: Reheated cooked tofu is often chewy and tough. Unfortunately, Splendid Spoon hasn’t solved the puzzle.

Kale-pesto noodles with roasted tomatoes and vegan meatballs: A flavorful vegan pesto over al dente noodles. One of the better noodle bowls I tried. 

Dan dan noodles with bok choy and peppercorn: This noodle dish was packed with Sichuan flavors and had nice heat. The noodles were chewy and not mushy, just the way I like them.

Creamy mushroom and spinach noodles: This rich noodle dish was 100% dairy-free but still satisfied my craving for a creamy alfredo.

Coconut curry rice: This was really tasty. Anna found that the rice was nicely cooked, chickpeas and greens were a great addition, and the curry sauce was delicious. This was also a good source of fiber and iron.

Kimchi fried quinoa: This dish was a good source of fiber and protein but it was Anna’s least favorite out of the three. It was just a bit too spicy for her personal taste.

Wild rice ragout: Anna liked the mix of grains (wild rice and quinoa), which paired nicely with the veggies and tomato sauce. It was also low in calories, fat and carbs.

Soups

Cauliflower tikka soup: I really liked this one. Light but full of warm Indian spice. Anna agrees.

Spiced lentil and chickpea soup: Solid but not terribly flavorful for a soup that is billed as “spiced.”

Fennel consommé with dill: The bright fennel was overpowering and the only thing I could taste. I didn’t enjoy this one very much.

Lentil kale soup: A delicious mix of lentils, kale and spices, this soup packed a flavorful punch.

Garden minestrone soup: Filled with tomatoes, zucchini and kale, this soup tasted fresh and offered a nice mix of ingredients.

Red lentil dal soup: This 350-calorie soup was a good source of fiber (10g) and protein (17g) while offering a comforting flavor.

Tomato quinoa chili: Tasty and satisfying, this was low-calorie at 290 calories and not as salty as some chili can be,

Green split pea soup: Tarragon and mint gave this soup a unique flavor different from other pea soups Anna has tried. It was also a good source of potassium and iron.

Cauliflower potato soup: Anna was expecting this soup to be bland, but was pleasantly surprised by the addition of great northern beans, which added flavor and made the soup more filling.

Kabocha congee soup: While this soup was tasty, it was high in saturated fat (75% of the daily value) likely caused by the addition of coconut milk. However, if you’re following the 5-Day Detox exactly, this shouldn’t be a problem.

Beans and greens soup: As promised in the title, this was a great mix of beans and greens. Another hearty soup.

Black eye pea stew: A good source of iron, the black eyed peas in this stew were especially tasty.

Butternut turmeric soup: While the flavor was good (the orange zest was especially fun), Anna does wish this soup had more ingredients to make it heartier and more filling.

Masala khichri soup: Anna loved this soup with the addition of okra. The rice made it feel hearty and wholesome.

Butternut ratatouille soup: The tomato broth paired nicely with the butternut squash and kale.

Golden milk oats: This was the only oat-based dish in the detox and Anna thought it was tasty, especially with the addition of blackberries, almonds and cardamom.

Wellness shots, various: My order came with five free wellness shots. I especially liked the watermelon, beet and ginger “recovery” shot, but all of them were tasty and went down smoothly. Anna also enjoyed her five wellness shots as part of the 5-Day Detox plan. She especially liked the blackberry-elderberry Immunity Shot and ginger-orange-lemon Wellness Shot.

How to prepare Splendid Spoon meals

The drinks come completely ready to drink. They’re also good to pop into the freezer if you need more time to get through them. The soups and bowls can be microwaved but I suggest reheating them gently in a saucepan or nonstick skillet. This method always produces more even heating and reduces the chance that you’ll overcook the food.

Anna’s soups instructed her to rinse the package under warm water for about 30 seconds but sometimes it took more than that. After, she popped the soup in a microwave-safe dish and microwaved while covering for the recommended amount of time.

Is Splendid Spoon healthy?

Our wellness editor found her meals to be healthy with no surprising nutrition facts. However, she emphasizes that anyone who is changing their diet in any way or planning to detox should speak with their doctor beforehand.

Who is Splendid Spoon good for?

Because the food is truly ready to eat, Splendid Spoon is perfect for anyone looking to cut cooking — or even blending — completely out of the equation for a few meals per week. 

The food is all gluten-free and vegan, so it’s a good choice for anyone adhering to those diets. The portions aren’t huge so if you’re trying to cut total calories per week, this meal delivery service might help. Splendid Spoon is also very Whole30-friendly if you’re looking to eat less processed food and meals with more natural ingredients.

This is also a good option for habitual smoothie and juice drinkers looking to mix up their recipes and flavors but who don’t feel like shopping for all the ingredients needed to make them.

Anna agrees. For those looking for a detox program, the 5-Day Detox could potentially be a good option, as long as you speak with your doctor about it beforehand to make sure you’re getting what you need from this plan. For instance, some may not get enough calories, as these plans are not one-size-fits-all.

Who is Splendid Spoon not as good for?

If you have a smoothie routine that you have down to a science, the Splendid Spoon smoothies might feel like a slight downgrade. Yes, you’ll taste new recipes and interesting flavor combinations but they’re more like juices in texture.

Because the food is all vegan, this isn’t a good pick for anyone who craves meat for breakfast and lunch or other protein-dense foods such as eggs. Because a lot of the smoothies contain fruit (sugar) and the bowls have grains, beans and noodles, this isn’t the ideal meal delivery for someone keeping to a low-carb or keto plan, either.

How much does Splendid Spoon cost?

For plans with 14 or 21 meals per week, the price per meal nets out to about $11 or $12 per serving. That seems like an OK deal for the rice and noodle bowls, but a bit steep for a smoothie or one serving of soup. If you choose just seven meals per week, you’ll pay a whopping $14 per meal and an additional $13 for shipping — definitely not a good value.

Splendid Spoon pricing is on par with plant-based competitors like Daily Harvest. My favorite plant-based meal delivery service, Mosaic Foods, is a few bucks cheaper at about $9 per meal.

Packaging and eco-friendliness

The drinks, soups and bowls are all packaged in recyclable plastic. Splendid Spoon also uses dry ice instead of ice packs, which are rarely fully recyclable. The cooler box is also made from recyclable materials. Pound for pound this is one of the most eco-friendly meal delivery services I’ve tested. The bowl containers are also reusable, with tight-fitting lids and sturdy plastic. They might not survive a hot dishwasher but they’re certainly good for a few hand washes.

For Anna’s meal trays, she was instructed to peel the plastic away from the cardboard base, wash the plastic off and recycle both. However, all curbside recycling depends on what your local recycling facility accepts.

Should you try Splendid Spoon? Our final verdict

In my second go-round with Splendid Spoon, my feelings about the healthy subscription service remain largely unchanged (hey, there’s something to be said for consistency). Splendid Spoon smoothies, soups and meals are solid and mostly good but rarely great, made from healthy ingredients and largely free of allergens. There are enough recipe options to keep things interesting, with plenty of flavor combos for adventurous and safe eaters alike. At $11 to $14 per meal, Splendid Spoon feels pricey for a single smoothie or soup and the better value can be had by ordering more full meals such as the vegan, gluten-free noodles and rice bowls.

Anna agrees. Although she didn’t follow the 5-Day Detox program she received, she did try all the meals and smoothies and found them to be tasty. However, anyone looking to follow any sort of detox program should consult their doctor first.

Splendid Spoon vs. the competition

Daily Harvest vs. Splendid Spoon

If you don’t mind a few minutes of smoothie prep, I might recommend Daily Harvest, which sends all the ingredients diced, frozen and ready to be blended with milk. If it’s just the soups and bowls you’re after, Splendid Spoon has a host of pleasant lunches or light dinners to choose from each week. They arrive fresh and ready to be eaten or popped in the freezer, saving you precious time during the morning and afternoon.

Mosiac Foods vs. Splendid Spoon

For bigger eaters looking for full meals that are more dinner-friendly, there are better plant-based services out there. Mosaic Foods is my No. 1 pick, featuring more interesting food for a slightly lower price per meal (and even cheaper if you choose family meals). Mosaic Foods recipes were more interesting and the food was very filling and well-prepared.