Splendid Spoon Review with Pros & Cons

If you want to try Splendid Spoon for yourself, use this link for $60 OFF your first 3 boxes.

I got a shipment from Splendid Spoon a few weeks ago and wanted to make sure I gave myself ample time to try everything before letting you know my thoughts. Short story: I’ve been loving it (well, for the most part). Today, I’m sharing what Splendid Spoon is, how it’s different from other meal delivery services and pros and cons of the service. I’ll also share my favorite products.

So, what is Splendid Spoon? 

Splendid Spoon is a plant-based meal delivery service that provides ready-to-eat smoothies, wellness shots, light soups, grain bowls and noodles bowls. The company was founded by Nicole Centeno, a former biochemist and graduate of the International Culinary Center, whose goal was to create nutrient-dense and convenient foods. All of the Splendid Spoon meals come pre-made so they’re convenient for people who are short on time or often have their hands full, quite literally in my case as a new mom! It’s not a meal kit, but rather pre-made meals.

Splendid Spoon has 50+ menu options, all of which are all vegan, gluten-free and low in sugar and sodium. You can choose whatever delivery schedule — weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly — fits your life best. You can also skip any shipment or cancel your subscription any time you want. And you can also choose if you want breakfast, breakfast + lunch, or breakfast + lunch + dinner. Honestly, the Splendid Spoon offerings are pretty extensive.

Splendid Spoon Review

Overall, what I like the most about Splendid Spoon is the convenience. I eat a salad for lunch almost every day and I’ve also trusted my Vitamix to make smoothies in just a few minutes. But, since becoming a mom, sometimes even those simple meals are hard to make when I’m trying to feed Thomas, Charles, AND myself.

What I love about Splendid Spoon is that I can pull a smoothie out of the freezer, twist it open and get a healthy breakfast, lunch or snack without needing to pull the Vitamix out. It sounds so silly and borderline lazy, but if you know (a) how heavy the Vitamix is and (b) how time consuming a young baby and toddler is, you get it! It also prevents me from eating endless amounts of toast all day! And don’t get me started on trips to the grocery store. I’ve loved knowing I have Splendid Spoon in the freezer and fridge.

My husband also loves the Splendid Spoon smoothies because his work day is go-go-go, so I hand him one of these as he’s headed out the door for a quick, healthy meal. He often doesn’t eat lunch until about 2 each day and is starving by then, so this helps bridge the gap between his breakfast and lunch. He also likes one after work before dinner is ready!

And on evenings when I just don’t feel like cooking or it’s getting late, given Thomas and Charles’ bedtime (it varies depending on their naps throughout the day), I really like their soups and bowls for a super quick dinner, i.e. ready in 5 minutes.

I’m sharing pros & cons of the ones I’ve tried so far!

Splendid Spoon Smoothies

Pros

Convenient and FAST

I’ve typically never liked pre-made smoothies because they don’t taste fresh to me, but I’m actually finding that these are VERY handy now that I’m a mom. It’s super nice to be able to grab something and open it right up instead of needing to pull out the Vitamix, especially when the boys are napping. The blender often wakes Thomas up, so I’m appreciating the smoothies in this stage of life. I also appreciate that I can throw one straight into my diaper bag or take it with me on a stroller walk.

And like I mentioned above, my husband loves the smoothies for his very on-the-go non-stop work life (he does commercial real estate)! I don’t think of Splendid Spoon as a meal plan per se, but it’s a perfect option when I don’t have something else prepped.

Lots of fruits and veggies without noticing

Another thing I love about the smoothies is that sometimes it’s easy to end up eating toast or handfuls of nuts all day long. Nothing wrong with those, but fruits and veggies are important. This ensures I’m getting fresh produce (in addition to my favorite fruit & veggie supplements). Plus, my husband definitely gets more fruit and veggies in his life with the smoothies since it’s not as easy for him as it is for me to grab fruits and veggies for an on the go snack (I work from home – he doesn’t).

Plant-based protein

The smoothies already have pea protein added, which is plant-based and non-soy. I don’t tolerate soy or dairy well (and neither does Charles, and I’m breastfeeding), so I appreciate that the smoothies don’t use that. Knowing they use high quality ingredients makes a difference to me.

I really appreciate the nutritional information being clearly spelled out, as well.

Long shelf life

They need to be refrigerated but they can stay in the fridge for a few weeks (and they arrive on dry ice)! The Splendid Spoon website says the smoothies (and wellness shots) taste best if eaten by the “Enjoy By” date printed on the bottles, but they are still safe to consume after that date…they just may not taste as fresh.

The smoothies are High-Pressure Processed, meaning the bottles are pressurized at cold temperatures to kill potentially harmful pathogens while still maintaining the nutritional profile of the raw ingredients.

Cons

Texture

I prefer the texture of a freshly made icy smoothie, but that’s okay given the convenience factor these offer. And some of the smoothies have a weird chunky texture, which you can see in the pictures. I’m not entirely sure why that is. They taste fine, but the texture is just a little weird on some of them (it doesn’t bother my husband, but I notice it).

All plastic 

I wish it wasn’t all in plastic, but I don’t know a way around it given the convenient nature of the product. But it’s also all recyclable, which makes me feel better!

Flavors

I don’t like the carrot smoothie but I’ve liked the others. And that’s just personal preference. I wish they had more that were heavy on greens and not as heavy on fruit, but my husband LOVES the fruity ones so again, that’s personal preference.

Splendid Spoon Wellness Shots 

I also LOVE their wellness shots. I love the spicy kick they all have and they actually are pretty darn effective at taming my sweet tooth (not that I mind having treats daily, but sometimes my sweet tooth will not be tamed)!

Splendid Spoon Bowls & Soups 

Not the best photo ever, but I wanted to give you an idea of the texture.

I’ve only tried one of their bowls so far – a roasted cauliflower bowl that was pretty good, albiet a little mushy. I’ve tried three soups – two were absolutely delicious – a lentil kale soup and a white bean soup. I seriously LOVED them.

I didn’t, however, love the pumpkin soup. Their soups also say they serve two, but I eat an entire container myself so keep that in mind.

I can’t WAIT to try some of their noodle bowls. Creamy butternut squash noodles and curry sound right up my alley.

The bowls and soups should go into the freezer, where they can stay for 1-3 months. If you plan to eat them soon after getting them, you can store in the fridge for 1-2 weeks.

Bottom Line: Is Splendid Spoon worth it?

I really like Splendid Spoon and would spend my own money on it if I was really in a pinch with eating healthy and wanted no prep. However, I still prefer Daily Harvest smoothies, which I reviewed here.

Be sure to use this link for $60 OFF your first 3 boxes!

FAQ

Is Splendid Spoon fresh or frozen?

Their soups, dishes, grain bowls, and noodle bowls are flash-frozen, which allows them to stay fresh for a longer time and protect the nutrients. You just have to re-heat them before diving in! The smoothies and wellness shots are pressurized at a really cold temp to insure the raw ingredients continue to be nutrient-rich.

How does Splendid Spoon work?

You can customize your order to make it work for your lifestyle. Hop on the Splendid Spoon website to choose what works best for you. You have three options: a box that provides 7, 14, or 21 meals for the week (meals begin at $9.99). Once you know how many meals you want, you can choose the specific dishes you want to try (they have over 60 items). The best part is that it arrives with no prep involved (except, perhaps, a microwave).

Who owns Splendid Spoon?

Co-CEO’s Nicole Centeno and Elise Densborn. Both women had a desire to create nutritious meals for a busy lifestyle.

Is Splendid Spoon filling?

This really just depends on your individual preference, what you order, and if you’re using it as a meal or snack. They have such a huge variety! For an on-the-go option, I find it equally as filling as Daily Harvest.