Veestro Review

Fresh meal delivery service Veestro was created by brother and sister Mark Fachler and Monica Klausner. The two are originally from Costa Rica, where they grew up eating healthy meals with loads of vegetables and fruits. When they moved to the United States, they noticed a gap in the accessibility of those fresh meals, not to mention the lack of time that the average person has to cook, so they started Veestro to provide ready-made, plant-focused meals via delivery.

All of Veestro's offerings are plant-based, vegan, and nutritious, plus the creative recipes have interesting and unique flavors. If you associate vegan food with bland flavors, let this brand widen your horizons. The meals are delivered fresh to your door, and they don't require cooking at all but can be heated up via stovetop, oven, or microwave. We tested several Veestro meals to see what this service is all about.

How It Works: Easy, Low-Stress Ordering

We found ordering from Veestro to be straightforward. The site offers à la carte ordering for meals so there isn’t a worry about a recurring subscription charge. That said, Veestro does offer a 5 percent discount if you subscribe and would like to receive ongoing meal deliveries.

There are no set plan sizes at Veestro, and each order can contain anywhere from eight to 15 meals, depending on your preference. If you'd like to receive more than that, you'll have to place a separate order or set up another subscription.

The à la carte option from Veestro is definitely unique in the meal plan universe, as many companies want to get you onboarded into a meal subscription right away. Veestro's no-commitment model is refreshing.

Choosing Meals: Interesting Vegan Options

Veestro allows you to choose whichever meals you like from a changing and ever-updating list of offerings. While the meals are all vegan, the flavors are unique and there are many meals with interesting flavor profiles.

What We Made

• Miso udon: It should be noted that we tried this noodle soup in the peak hot days of summer, but it delivered wonderful flavor. The veggies were excellent—the bok choy even had a little bite to it, which was nice. The broth and noodles cooked quickly in the microwave and the flavors were deep and delicious.
• Chinese eggplant stir-fry: This was our least favorite meal, but it was still good. The eggplant and noodles were both rather soggy, and even with the included peanut sauce, it was just okay on our plate. Something crunchy would have really improved the dish.
• Farro ragout: Normally, a ragout is a rich meat sauce, but this farro ragout is a nice vegan twist on the classic. Farro is a rich, nutty pairing with the sauce and it works surprisingly well. While the Veestro team might disapprove, a sprinkle of parmesan on top doesn’t hurt.

Support Materials: Printed and Web

There are plenty of supporting materials for Veestro's recipes, which appear both in print (in the box) and on the Veestro website. When you're selecting the meals you'd like to receive in your box, you'll be able to reference the nutrition information, ingredient list, and any allergens contained in the meal.

Veestro is very transparent regarding its recipes and nutrition information, as you can view all of this information before you subscribe or order any meals. The company also runs a blog called “Food for Thought” that provides lists and recipe basics.

Packaging: Smart Boxes

Veestro appears to have put a lot of thought, planning, and testing into its packaging. The meals themselves are stored in recyclable trays that are microwave- and freezer-safe, so you can move the meals from the freezer to the microwave with no worries—and then recycle the tray when you are done. The meals are also sealed with a recyclable, BPA-free plastic coating.

The trays stack nicely in a fridge or freezer and don’t take up as much space as you might think. All in all, we were very impressed with the packaging from Veestro.

The Cooking Process: Microwave Works Great

Of the three meals we tested, we cooked them all in the microwave as that seems the most likely method for home cooks in a time crunch. We also tested them by heating them on the stovetop, but the difference in taste and texture was negligible. It seems that these meals are made to be microwaved and they hold up well to it, as long as you don’t overcook them.

The farro ragout and miso udon meals we received worked especially well in the microwave and didn’t really gain much from heating on the stovetop. The eggplant stir fry was a little better on the stovetop because you could separate the ingredients a bit.

It should be noted that there are clearly some meals in the Veestro lineup that would benefit more from heating in the oven or stovetop. For example, the plant-based chicken nuggets might be best heated in the oven so that they can get crispy.

Flavor, Freshness, and Quality: Great Fresh Quality

Since Veestro meals are delivered fresh to your doorstep, there's no need to worry that they'll become soggy when reheated, as can be the case when meals come frozen. The flavors and quality of the meals are good as well, although sometimes sauces were separated slightly. The miso udon, for example, has a sauce at the bottom and it helps to stir it after removing from the microwave to combine all the flavors.

Overall, we found Veestro to be of excellent quality.

Nutritional Value: Good Balance

Plant-based foods can sometimes be hit or miss, but since Veestro puts all of its focus on plant-based recipes, the results are delicious. The nutritional value of the recipes is generally excellent and all of them have a good balance of fats, carbohydrates, and protein. Protein in particular can be a tricky thing when it comes to plant-based foods, but Veestro manages to fit some protein into each meal.

Veestro Is Good For

Vegan or vegetarian eaters who don’t have time for constant meal prep or just anybody who is looking for fast ways to have healthy meals might enjoy Veestro.

Veestro Is Not Good For

Carnivores or families that are on a tight food budget may not find Veestro to be a good fit.

Add-ons: Breakfast Options

The list of add-ons Veestro offers isn't numerous, but it does have a few breakfast options. All of the meals, however, could be eaten for either dinner or lunch—we actually found them to be excellent for fast weekday lunches. The breakfast add-on options include options such as banana bread protein oatmeal, among others.

Customer Service: Email Is Fast

While a robust FAQ section aims to answer a lot of questions you may have, Veestro has several avenues in which to reach customer service: email, website form, and phone number. We emailed to ask about a sauce that was included in the Chinese eggplant stir-fry recipe. The sauce came in a packet on top of the recipe but without clear instructions on what to do with it. Was it supposed to be microwaved?

We received a reply within a few hours, which explained how the sauce should be heated and added to the meal.

Making Changes and Canceling: Online Portal

If you ordered à la carte, there's no need to cancel because you wouldn't have subscribed to anything. If you opt for a subscription and would like to cancel, you can do so easily on your account. If you want to make changes to your order, such as lowering the number of meals in your weekly subscription or altering the individual meals received, you can do so at any point up until the deadline for that week’s deliveries, which is Thursdays at 11:59 p.m.

The Competition: Veestro vs. Fresh N Lean

We tested Veestro and Fresh N Lean, which both offer meals that can be easily reheated in the microwave. The major difference between the two companies is that Veestro offers vegan, plant-based meals and Fresh N Lean offers paleo, meat-focused meals. Also, Veestro's meals are delivered fresh, while Fresh N Lean's offerings come frozen. While the pricing is similar, we found the flavors and meals that Veestro offered to be more interesting if you are fine with skipping the meat.

That said, if you are looking for high-protein meals, Veestro would not be an ideal service. While these meals have some level of protein, Fresh N Lean's menu would be a better fit.

Final Verdict

If you have the budget for the service and are looking for some high-quality delivered meals that are quick to reheat, Veestro is a great option. That said, the meals are on the pricier side, so you do pay for the convenience and quality.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Expensive Is Veestro?

Veestro meals are priced individually at about $14 per meal, meaning that a box of 10 meals will ring in at around $140. Shipping adds an additional $8-$13 to that cost. If you're on a subscription plan, you will receive 5% off each order, but this service is still one of the costlier options out there.

Do Veestro Meals Come Frozen?

Prepackaged Veestro meals are delivered fresh, and the brand recommends that you dig in as soon as you can to ensure your food is eaten at its prime. If you'd like to extend the shelf life of the meals or won't be able to eat them before the "eat by" date on the package, you can always freeze the meals so that they last a bit longer.

Is Veestro Processed?

Veestro meals are prepared by chefs using fresh ingredients and are not processed.

Is Veestro Organic?

While Veestro's meals are not completely organic, the brand states that it does use organic ingredients when possible. So, if organic meals are a must for you, you might want to consider another meal delivery service.

Is Veestro Easy to Cancel?

Since you can make individual orders with Veestro and do not need to subscribe, you don't have to worry about being charged automatically each week. That said, if you do choose to go with the subscription model and decide it's not for you, it's a breeze to pause or cancel your subscription. Per the company website, all you need to do is log in to your account and click on the order you'd like to pause or cancel. Click "Manage Weekly Deliveries," then, if you'd like to cancel your subscription, just press "Cancel Order."

Methodology

Our testers ordered from, cooked, and rated 40 different meal delivery services. We carefully scored each one based on meal selection, nutritional information, sustainability, and customer service, as well as the flavor, freshness, and quality of each meal and ingredient. Our Spruce Eats tester panel includes dietitians, chefs, and longtime food writers.

Learn More: Read Our Full Methodology