I’ve tried 7 popular food-delivery boxes. From HelloFresh to Purple Carrot, here’s how to choose the best one for you.

• Food-delivery boxes are a great way for me to save time on grocery shopping.
• I’ve tried seven of the popular services on the market, and HelloFresh and Blue Apron feel gourmet.
• Other food boxes required too much time and effort or weren’t really cost-effective.

If I’m not at my desk writing, out for a jog or bike ride, or in active dad mode, you can usually find me in the kitchen.

I cook at least 15 meals a week for my family of two vegetarians, one person who loathes mushrooms (disclosure: that’s me), and one kid who’d eat sushi for breakfast, lunch, and dinner were that feasible.

The kitchen is my happy place, but far too often, I find myself rushing to get a decent meal on the table on weeknights — let alone go to the store to find all the ingredients.

My favorite solution to the age-old problem is meal-delivery boxes. I’ve tried seven popular brands on the market, and they’re all a little different.

Here’s how the boxes stack up — and how to decide which is best for you.