Pricing
$10-13 per serving
Type
Prepared; frozen
Meal options per week
30
Good for
Vegans, lower calorie, lower fat, lower sugar
Score Breakdown
Freshness 8/10Taste/results 8/10Value 6/10Recipe variety 9/10Healthiness 8/10
Pros
- All meals are vegan and gluten-free
- Food is fully prepared with no prep required
- Most meals tasted good and fresh
- Tons of options for healthy smoothies, soups and bowls
- Ordering is easy and intuitive
Cons
- Some of the meals I tried were bland and boring
- Expensive, especially for smoothies and soup
- Some portions are on the small side
- Fruit smoothies were often too sweet for me
If you have both vegan and gluten-free dietary restrictions, you know how challenging it is to find easy, premade, healthy meals for those days when you’re short on time or don’t want to cook an entire meal. That’s a gap Splendid Spoon aims to fill with its plant-based, gluten-free smoothies, soups, noodle and grain bowls, wellness shots and oats, which come frozen and ready to defrost in the fridge or heat in the microwave in just a few minutes.
To see how Splendid Spoon fares in the prepared meal delivery category, I spent two weeks trying the brand’s dishes. I also had CNET’s wellness editor, Anna Gragert, a vegetarian of 21 years who often eats plant-based, try all the offerings in its Five-Day Detox. It includes a set menu of oats, soups, smoothies, grain bowls and wellness shots, along with intermittent fasting. In early 2026, Splendid Spoon added four new oat bowls and two new grain bowls, which Anna tried and added to this review.
Based on our testing, this is what we think of all the gluten-free, vegan dishes that Splendid Spoon has to offer.
Splendid Spoon’s Five-Day Detox includes oats, soups, smoothies, wellness shots and frozen grain bowls.
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 with either six, 12 or 18 meals per week. The more meals you choose per week, the cheaper they’ll be. Depending on what you order, you can pay anywhere from $4.25 to $13.49 per serving, plus $10 shipping. With the 12-meal plan, you get $10 off for free shipping. The 18-meal plan has $20 off, so you get free shipping and an extra $10 off your order.
Splendid Spoon’s three plans, plus savings.
After you select your plan, you’ll pick your meals, choosing smoothies, grain bowls, soups, noodle dishes, oats or shots. Meals are delivered to you frozen with dry ice and recyclable Climacell insulation. Your delivery day will depend on your zip code, and you can see all available options during checkout. As of now, Splendid Spoon delivers only to the lower 48 states.
On any given week’s menu, you’ll have over 50 meals to choose from, including around 17 smoothies, with sweeter options like mint-chip and more savory blends like carrot ginger and power greens. There are 10 grain bowls and about 20 soups, along with heartier rice and noodle bowls.
Splendid Spoon has some interesting smoothie recipes. Some flavor combos worked better than others.
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 smoothies and wellness shots are organic and that it’s all 100% GMO-free.
There’s no shortage of interesting smoothie flavors to choose from, many of them packed with superfoods such as almond butter, kale and goji berries.
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’s on the menu for the Five-Day Detox.
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.
The carrot-ginger smoothie was tangy, tasty and not too sweet.
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.
The green smoothies taste more like cold-pressed juices.
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.
Tasty and a fun color to boot.
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.
This one tasted like a chocolate-mint dessert.
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 grain bowls
Kimchi fried quinoa: This dish was a good source of fiber and protein, but it was Anna’s least favorite out of the three she tried. It was just a bit too spicy for her personal taste.
The kimchi fried quinoa was a bit too spicy for Anna’s taste.
Fried tofu korma with peas: Reheated cooked tofu is often chewy and tough. Unfortunately, Splendid Spoon hasn’t solved the puzzle.
Creamy mushroom and spinach noodles: This rich noodle dish was 100% dairy-free but still satisfied my craving for a creamy alfredo.
I reheated most of Splendid Spoon’s rice and noodle bowls in a nonstick skillet, which I find gets better results than the microwave.
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.
Purple grain bowl: In addition to loving this dish’s punny name, I enjoyed its ingredients: chickpeas, cauliflower, red cabbage and tricolor quinoa.
The purple grain bowl, which is as tasty as it is punny.
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.
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.
Splendid Spoon’s wild rice and veggie ragout.
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.
Tofu teriyaki grain bowl: This tofu, brown rice and broccoli meal has a very light coating of teriyaki sauce, which makes it taste a lot healthier than other teriyaki meals I’ve had.
The tofu teriyaki veggie bowl had a light coating of sauce, giving it a fresher, less heavy flavor.
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.”
Garden minestrone soup: Filled with tomatoes, zucchini and kale, this soup tasted fresh and offered a nice mix of ingredients.
The garden minestrone soup is packed with veggies and greens.
Fennel consommé with dill: The bright fennel was overpowering and the only thing I could taste. I didn’t enjoy this one very much.
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.
Splendid Spoon’s butternut turmeric soup is made even better with the orange zest.
Lentil kale soup: A delicious mix of lentils, kale and spices, this soup packed a flavorful punch.
Red lentil dal soup: This 350-calorie soup was a good source of fiber (10g) and protein (17g) while offering a comforting flavor.
A comforting, hearty dal.
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.
The tarragon and mint were nice additions.
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 Five-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.
Splendid Spoon’s beans and greens soup is a great way to get in your greens.
Black eye pea stew: A good source of iron, the black eyed peas in this stew were especially tasty.
Masala khichri soup: Anna loved this soup with the addition of okra. The rice made it feel hearty and wholesome.
The okra was perfection.
Butternut ratatouille soup: The tomato broth paired nicely with the butternut squash and kale.
Oats
Golden milk oats: This was previously the only oat-based dish in the ,detox and Anna thought it was tasty, especially with the addition of blackberries, almonds and cardamom.
Strawberry milkshake oats: Made with coconut milk, strawberries and monk fruit extract, this oat dish tasted like a heartier version of a strawberry milkshake.
The strawberry milkshake oats actually tasted like a strawberry milkshake.
Carrot cake oats: Along with carrots, these oats contain applesauce, pineapples, golden raisins and walnuts to create a filling and delicious morning meal.
Blueberry almond oats: Anna loved the addition of lemon and almond butter in these oats. The lemon, in particular, brought a brightness to the dish.
The lemon perfectly complemented the blueberry in the blueberry almond oats.
Cherry berry oats: This was another tasty oat meal made even more fruity by the addition of strawberries and raspberries.
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 Five-Day Detox plan. She especially liked the blackberry-elderberry Immunity Shot and ginger-orange-lemon Wellness Shot.
The ginger paired nicely with the orange and lemon.
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.
What the Splendid Spoon soup packaging looks like.
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, making it a good choice for anyone following 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.
The wild rice and veggie ragout nutrition facts
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 Five-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?
Smoothies are $9.99 per serving; soups are $12.49; noodles and other dishes are $13.49; oats are $5.49; and each shot is $4.25. Shipping is an extra $10. With the 12-meal plan, you get $10 off to cover shipping, while the 18-meal plan offers $20 off, so you get free shipping and an extra $10 off.
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 $12 per meal.
What Splendid Spoon looks like when it arrives.
Packaging and eco-friendliness
The smoothies and wellness shots are all packaged in recyclable plastic. The soup bowls are made of post-consumer recycled plastic that can be rinsed and put in the recycling bin. As for the grain and noodle bowl trays, you can peel the plastic away from the cardboard and recycle the cardboard. The liner can be rinsed and may be accepted for recycling at your local recycling center (call to confirm).
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 Splendid Spoon Five-Day Detox frozen meals in Anna’s freezer.
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 $4 to $13 per serving, 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 Five-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.