7 of the best organic food delivery services

Living in the big smoke is an amazing opportunity for students. Not only are you right next door to some of the biggest cultural events in the country but you’re also in the best location for job opportunities. However, London can come with its downfalls, and one of the biggest of these is the lack of affordable supermarkets in the centre as well as high levels of pollution. Because of this, focusing on your health is incredibly important, and this includes putting the right fuel in your body. We’ve decided to take a look at the best organic food delivery services in London so you can decide for yourself whether you’d favour this over your local takeaways.

What are organic food delivery services?

Organic food delivery services are exactly what they say on the tin; companies that aim to deliver you fresh, organic produce as regularly as you choose. They do this by sourcing the produce from local farms, then boxing it up and delivering it directly to you. There’s no in-between man and there’s definitely nothing artificial. The whole aim of companies like these is to provide the healthiest food, free from chemicals and great for your body.

The downfall with these boxes is that they can be quite expensive. However, if you were planning on buying organic produce from your local supermarket they still work out much cheaper. In fact, you’ll save about 20% more if you get organic food in London from a supplier rather than from the supermarket. Since everything comes pre measured, you also avoid any extra waste. Another great benefit of organic food delivery services is that it’s convenient and means you support your local farmers without going out of your way to do so.

Local Greens

Local Greens is a company perfectly made for Londoners. A not-for-profit organisation, this company is run by some veg enthusiasts based in Herne Hill and East Dulwich. It’s a weekly scheme and the workers source and deliver fresh produce only to local areas in South East London, meaning your food is locally grown and often delivered on the same day that it’s been picked.

The company only use seasonal veg from small organic or entirely spray-free farms, with sustainability being the aim of the game. The delivery days are on a Thursday and you can choose from four types of veg bags. Prices start at £8.25 and the fruit and veg that you receive is dependent on what’s available at the time, though you will have a general idea of what you’re going to receive.

Riverford

This delivery scheme began when a man called Guy Watson began shipping vegetables to 30 of his friends in Devon. It’s now an award winning business, delivering around 47,000 boxes per week to homes across the country from a selection of UK farms. With a strong belief in good food, farming and taste, Riverford supply a range of different subscription types depending on what type of food it is that you require.

They have five regional farms throughout the UK, and are able to deliver widely across the country, so perfect if you’re after organic food in London. As well as great fresh ingredients they also have an online deli that stocks such treats as chocolates, cheese and wine. All of these products are home grown and can also be delivered directly to your door. A small organic veg box begins at £12.65 and there are additional varying types of fruit and veg boxes to choose from.

Abel and Cole

Abel and Cole started delivering great organic produce over 25 years ago, able to tell a Granny Smith from a Golden Delicious with merely a glance. They’re proud to work with only the best organic and ethically sourced products from across the country, delivering boxes to a place of convenience at least once a week. To keep emissions down they may only deliver in your area once per week on a certain day; it’s worth checking to see if the day is suitable for you before you get too invested.

As well as fruit and organic veg they also supply fish and meat, so if you want to be able to fill your fridge for the whole week you should have no trouble at all with this service. Another bonus is that if you’re particular about your food you can customise your box, getting rid of any option you don’t like. A small organic veggie box starts at £13.25 and there are a range of different box types and sizes to choose from.

Mindful Chef

Mindful chef was set up by school friends Giles, Myles and Rob back in 2015. Their approach since the beginning was helping people achieve a healthier lifestyle. Since launching, they’ve shipped over 10,000,000 ingredients from small farms across the UK. All their suppliers provide 100% grass fed meat, free range eggs, fresh fish and naturally cultivated vegetables. On top of that, for every meal they sell, they donate a school meal to a child living in poverty.

While providing a range of recipe boxes, they also provide the option of frozen meals and smoothies, giving you full flexibility each week. They have a full range of recipes to choose from, from vegan, pescatarian or meat meals, there are meals for everyone.

All Plants

All Plants is a brand obsessed with eating plants and it’s huge impact this has on us and our planet. Founded by Alex and JP with a belief that the world would be better off if we ate more plants. Despite the name, all plants is not just for vegans, they are for anyone that simply want to try being more sustainable. Whether you simply want to give the plant based life a go or are ready to become completely plant based, the choice is entirely up to you.

For those who aren’t quite sure what to choose, they have a quiz you can take to be able to provide you with personalised recommendations in minutes. Giving you a completely tailored box of delicious vegan meals for you to enjoy. In a box, you can choose 6 different, healthy, pre made meals for a starting price of £40.50 (meaning 6.75 per meal!) All meals are perfect for freezing, so there is no worry about things going bad before you can eat them.

Tastily

Will McDowell, founder and CEO of tastily, created tastily after recognising there was a need for the company in the UK. Especially in times like these, Will realised that food lovers needed a ready meal subscription service that kept people’s love and taste buds alive, all while keeping things healthy. He also pushes to offer the best customer service, affordable meals and sustainability.

The process is easy, choose between 4-12 meals from their menu, checkout before 12pm on Fridays and get it by the following Wednesday, or any later date of your choosing. All of their meals are between 400-500 calories and have at least 3 servings of vegetables, perfect for those wanting a balanced diet. Plus if you have a busy week with very little time, all meals are ready in just 3 minutes. Perfect for food lovers on short time.

Hello Fresh

Hello Fresh is probably one of the most well-known food delivery services to date. Founded back in 2011 in Berlin, Germany, which has expanded greatly over the years and has been implemented in numerous countries. They are a meal prep subscription made easy. All ingredients come pre-measured, all you have to do is put them all together.

You start by choosing the recipes you want every week, including the choice of extras such as desserts, wines and sides. All ingredients are then delivered weekly straight to your door. Because everything is already measured out for you, there’s no worry about wasting any food. They even offer a “Rapid Box” meal which takes only 20 minutes to prepare. You cut down on time, cost and waste all in one box. Boxes start at £30 which will get you 3 recipes for 2 people, meaning 6 servings total.

So, do you think you’ll be tempted by organic food delivery services right to your student accommodation? You won’t know until you try!