# New Dietary Trends—Meal Kit Delivery Services as a Source of Nutrients: A Scoping Review

## TL;DR

This review explores whether meal kit delivery services provide nutritious, safe, and acceptable meals as claimed by companies.

## Contribution

This is the first scoping review focusing specifically on the nutritional and safety aspects of meal kit delivery services.

## Key findings

- Current research on meal kits is limited and primarily based on calculation methods.
- More analytical and intervention studies are needed to understand their role in nutrition.
- Meal kits show potential but require further quality improvement efforts.

## Abstract

Producers and distributors of meal kits promote their products by emphasising customisation and a health-conscious approach to eating. Consumers of these services expect that, for an appropriate fee, they will receive a nutritious and flavourful meal, tailored to their individual needs and conveniently delivered to their homes. This raises the question of whether meal kit companies meet these expectations and whether their products are prepared with the level of care claimed in their advertisements. This scoping review aims to present available evidence that offers insight into the nutritional content, safety, and acceptability of meal kit delivery services. In this context, we have identified 15 publications. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first scoping review to focus specifically on meal kits. The findings highlight the significant potential of meal kits and may contribute to efforts to enhance their quality. Available research on meal kit delivery services was conducted using calculation methods. Nutritional value studies involving analytical methods and intervention studies are necessary in order to expand the understanding of the potential of meal kits role in whole-food nutrition.