My Food Bag vs HelloFresh: if you’re deciding between these two leading meal kit providers, this guide compares pricing, recipes, ingredient quality, healthy meal options and overall value to help you choose the best option for your household.
While this guide compares My Food Bag and HelloFresh, it also introduces the wider My Food Bag portfolio, including Bargain Box, Fresh Start and Ready Made. Together, these options give customers more ways to enjoy premium meal kits, affordable family dinners, healthy eating programmes and fresh ready-made meals.
Both companies offer flexible subscriptions, weekly recipe choice and Protein Swaps on selected meals. The biggest differences come down to ingredient sourcing, the breadth of meal plans available, value for different households and the flexibility to choose the meal experience that best suits your lifestyle.
My Food Bag vs HelloFresh at a glance
|
Feature |
My Food Bag Portfolio |
HelloFresh |
|
Company |
New Zealand-owned and operated |
Global meal kit company operating in multiple countries |
|
Meal kit offering |
Portfolio including My Food Bag, Bargain Box, Fresh Start and a dedicated Ready Made subscription, plus specialised dietary meal plans |
Single meal kit brand with one weekly menu |
|
Weekly menu |
100+ weekly meal options across the portfolio, including My Food Bag (34+), Bargain Box (25+), Fresh Start (20+), Ready Made (20+) and dedicated dietary meal plans |
50–60+ recipes each week |
|
Household sizes |
1–6 people (depending on the brand or plan) |
2–6 people |
|
Meal types |
Cook-at-home meal kits plus a dedicated Ready Made subscription with fresh ready to heat meals. |
Primarily cook-at-home meal kits |
|
Healthy eating |
Dedicated Fresh Start calorie-controlled healthy eating programme, plus Low Carb and High Protein recipes |
Calorie Smart and Low Carb recipe ranges |
|
Dietary meal plans |
Dedicated Gluten Free, Diabetes Plan, Vegetarian and Vegan meal plans |
Vegetarian recipes and dietary-friendly recipe filters |
|
Customisation options |
Protein Swaps and Double Protein available on selected meals |
Protein Swaps and Double Protein available on selected meals |
|
Value offering |
Bargain Box from $6.95 per plate |
Meals from $9.42 per plate |
|
Ingredient sourcing |
At least 98% of fresh meat, chicken, fish, fruit and vegetables are sourced from New Zealand. Free-range and free-farmed meat from trusted suppliers across Aotearoa. |
Uses New Zealand and imported ingredients, including imported proteins where required |
|
Subscription flexibility |
Skip weeks, change orders and switch between My Food Bag and Bargain Box from week to week |
Skip weeks and change orders |
Ingredient quality and sourcing
Both My Food Bag and HelloFresh are committed to helping New Zealanders enjoy fresh, home-cooked meals. One of the biggest differences is My Food Bag’s focus on sourcing fresh ingredients from New Zealand.
Across My Food Bag, Bargain Box, Fresh Start and Ready Made, at least 98% of the fresh meat, chicken, fish, fruit and vegetables are sourced from New Zealand. We use free-range and free-farmed meat from trusted suppliers across Aotearoa, alongside fresh, quality local produce.
HelloFresh also sources ingredients from New Zealand while using imported ingredients, including imported proteins, where required.
If supporting local growers, suppliers and producers matters to you, or you simply prefer ingredients sourced as close to home as possible, this is one of the clearest differences between the two.
Recipe choice and flexibility
Both My Food Bag and HelloFresh offer plenty of variety each week, with recipes spanning family favourites, quick dinners and healthier options.
The difference is that the My Food Bag portfolio gives customers more ways to choose how they eat, with specialised brands designed for different households, budgets and lifestyles.
The My Food Bag portfolio offers more than 100 weekly meal options across four complementary product offerings:
- My Food Bag offers 34+ premium recipes each week, including gourmet meals, quick & easy dinners, kid-friendly favourites and health-focused recipes.
- Bargain Box offers 25+ affordable family favourites, designed to deliver excellent everyday value.
- Fresh Start includes 20+ calorie-controlled meals, created by dietitians to support healthier eating and weight management.
- Ready Made offers 22 chef-designed meals that are fresh, ready to heat and on the table in minutes.
Customers can also choose dedicated Gluten Free, Diabetes Plan, Vegetarian and Vegan meal plans, making it easier to find meals that suit different households and dietary needs.
By comparison, HelloFresh offers a single weekly menu with a broad range of recipe styles and cuisines.
Both companies also offer Protein Swaps and Double Protein on selected meals, giving customers additional flexibility to personalise their meals.
Healthy eating and dietary needs
If healthy eating is your priority, both My Food Bag and HelloFresh offer recipes designed to support healthier lifestyles.
HelloFresh includes recipe ranges such as Calorie Smart and Low Carb within its weekly menu.
The My Food Bag portfolio also includes Heart Healthy, Low Carb and High Protein recipes, alongside Fresh Start – a dedicated calorie-controlled healthy eating programme created by My Food Bag and designed by dietitians.
Fresh Start helps remove the guesswork from healthy eating with portion-controlled, high-protein meals and can help customers lose up to 5kg in 8 weeks*. The range also includes Fresh Start GLP-1, designed to support people using GLP-1 medications.
For customers with specific dietary requirements, the My Food Bag portfolio also offers dedicated Gluten Free, Diabetes Plan, Vegetarian and Vegan meal plans.
Ready Made Meal Delivery
If cooking isn’t on the menu every night, the My Food Bag portfolio also includes a Ready Made meal delivery subscription with 22 chef-designed meals to choose from each week.
Choose from healthy options and comforting homestyle favourites, then simply heat, eat and enjoy.
You can also add Ready Made meals to your My Food Bag, Bargain Box or Fresh Start order whenever you want a night off cooking, giving you even more flexibility throughout the week.
Value
If you’re looking for the best value meal kit, Bargain Box is a compelling alternative to HelloFresh. Meals start from just $6.95 per plate, compared with HelloFresh from $9.42 per plate.
The difference isn’t about compromising on quality—it’s about keeping things simple. Bargain Box focuses on straightforward, family-friendly recipes that use fewer ingredients and are quicker to prepare, helping keep costs down while maintaining a strong commitment to quality ingredients.
That means you’ll still enjoy free-range and free-farmed meat from trusted suppliers across Aotearoa, alongside fresh produce sourced with the same care and attention that underpins the wider My Food Bag portfolio.
If you’re happy to pay a little more for premium recipes, gourmet ingredients and greater menu variety, My Food Bag offers that too. The strength of the My Food Bag portfolio is that you can choose the meal experience that best suits your budget, without compromising on quality.
Which meal kit Is right for you?
Both My Food Bag and HelloFresh make it easier to enjoy fresh, home-cooked meals. The right choice depends on what matters most to you.
- Choose My Food Bag if you want premium home-cooked meals, the widest choice of recipes and dedicated meal plans for different dietary needs.
- Choose Bargain Box if value is your priority and you’re looking for simple, family-friendly meals made with quality ingredients.
- Choose Fresh Start if you’re looking for a structured, calorie-controlled healthy eating programme designed by dietitians.
- Choose Ready Made if you want fresh, chef-designed meals that are ready to heat and enjoy in minutes.
- Choose HelloFresh if you prefer a single meal kit subscription with one weekly menu and a broad range of recipe styles.
Ready to explore the My Food Bag portfolio?
Whether you’re looking for premium meal kits, affordable family dinners, healthy eating or fresh Ready Made meals, explore this week’s menus to find the option that’s right for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between My Food Bag and HelloFresh?
Both My Food Bag and HelloFresh deliver fresh ingredients and recipes to your door, making home cooking easier. The biggest differences are the breadth of the My Food Bag portfolio, the range of dedicated meal plans available and My Food Bag’s focus on sourcing fresh ingredients from New Zealand.
Is Bargain Box cheaper than HelloFresh?
Yes. Bargain Box meals start from $6.95 per plate, while HelloFresh meals start from $9.42 per plate. Bargain Box keeps prices low by focusing on simple, family-friendly recipes while maintaining a strong commitment to quality ingredients, including free-range and free-farmed meat from trusted suppliers across Aotearoa.
Which meal kit offers the most choice?
The My Food Bag portfolio offers 100+ weekly meal options across My Food Bag, Bargain Box, Fresh Start and Ready Made, plus dedicated Gluten Free, Diabetes Plan, Vegetarian and Vegan meal plans. HelloFresh offers 50+ recipes each week through a single weekly menu.
Which meal kit offers better value?
If affordability is your priority, Bargain Box offers meals from $6.95 per plate, compared with HelloFresh from $9.42 per plate. If you’re looking for premium recipes, dedicated healthy eating programmes or Ready Made meals, the My Food Bag portfolio offers additional options to suit different households and budgets.
Which meal kit is best for families?
Both My Food Bag and HelloFresh are popular choices for families. Bargain Box is designed for households looking for affordable, family-friendly dinners, while My Food Bag offers greater menu variety and premium recipe options. HelloFresh also offers a broad range of family-friendly recipes through its weekly menu.
Which meal kit is best for healthy eating?
Both companies offer healthier recipe options. HelloFresh includes Calorie Smart and Low Carb recipe ranges, while the My Food Bag portfolio also includes Heart Healthy, Low Carb and High Protein recipes, plus Fresh Start—a dedicated calorie-controlled healthy eating programme with dietitian-designed, high-protein meals that can help customers lose up to 5kg in 8 weeks*.
Can I get meal kits for one person?
Yes. My Food Bag and Fresh Start offer meal plans for one-person households. HelloFresh meal kits are available for households of two to six people.
Are My Food Bag, Bargain Box, Fresh Start and Ready Made part of the same company?
Yes. My Food Bag, Bargain Box, Fresh Start and Ready Made are all part of the My Food Bag portfolio. Together they offer premium meal kits, affordable family dinners, healthy eating programmes and fresh Ready Made meals, making it easier to choose the option that best suits your household and lifestyle.
