If your fitness plan is spot on and you've got your cardio versus strength training in sync, maybe it's now time to do the same with your diet.
We get, life is hectic, and if you're like us, running from work to the gym, and have social plans in between, you probably don't have time to perfect your diet or even meal prep. So a healthy food delivery service is an easy way to stay on track - whether you are looking to lose weight, you're training for a race, like a marathon, or you want to build muscle.
Many of them are now available all over the UK, meaning if you're the kind of person who orders a library of healthy cookbooks but never even opens them - then these delivery services could give your diet the boost it needs.
What is the best meal delivery service?
Of course, this is completely dependent on what you're looking for, we all have different tastes and budgets so, we've collated the best meal delivery services for those of you who don't want to spend a fortune, plus anyone who is also calorie counting. We've also got food delivery options for those who want some inspiration in the kitchen, but don't have time to plan their food shops.
Are food delivery services only for dieting?
Years ago, this sort of service simply meant diet food delivery, but that's not the only option any more. Yes, there are some fitness-friendly offerings, but rather than simply calorie slashing, these focus on fuelling and counting macros.
How sustainable are food delivery services?
Worried about the planet? Personal meals can cut down on food waste because you're delivered the perfect portion size. But do check each service's sustainability policies and options. Most will offer you the option of forgoing plastic cutlery and brands such as Fresh Fitness Food deliver in eco-friendly and compostable containers.
Simply put, healthy food delivery used to be a luxury but thanks to the healthy competition you have to fork out less and less.
Meal delivery services – read before you order
Check delivery options
Most services deliver while you sleep. This means, if you live on a street with no safe hiding you risk your food parcel going walkies. Do think about this before you order and strategically place empty recycling bins or bags that could conceal your healthy food delivery.
Double check new customer policy
Not all meal delivery services are taking on new customers. You'd do well to check the policy before perusing their menus.
Personalise your plan
Consider cucumbers the enemy? Can’t stand coriander? Ask your chosen health meal delivery service if they omit ingredients. Most will remove up to two foods at no extra cost.
Clear your fridge out
If you choose a meal plan that delivers once for the week make sure you have enough space in the fridge to store it. Ready-made meals can be boxy and take up a lot of space – ditch those old condiments that have been lingering around like a bad ex.
Ask about packaging
There's no getting away from the abundance of packaging when ordering a week's worth of meals in individual portions. However, some companies are better than others where the planet is concerned. We say, inquire about their eco-initiatives before you find yourself with more plastic boxes that Poundland.
13 Best healthy meal delivery services
1 - Healthy meals delivered for flexible goals: Natural Fitness Food
Natural Fitness Food was once only available in boutique gym chain Third Space, as such you know all the meals have been created with fitness and fuelling in mind. With 'Lean', 'Fuel' and 'Clean' options, you can order based very specifically on your training schedule. (And don't let the names put you off, none of them are silly low-calorie or nutrient-lite.)
Pros
As mentioned, these healthy meals delivered are designed with fitness in mind. You can opt for the Build Your Own Day Pack where you choose the meals and products you want, with an automated calculator in the cart tracking your calories & macros to build it around your goals. Even if you're not counting anything religiously, you can make choices easily based on whether you're on a workout or rest day.
The other option is to let them do the thinking for you based on a dietary goal.
One other very big pro is the taste. It can be tricky to find healthy food delivery that genuinely tastes good, especially with meals that focus on 'diet'. Well, somehow Natural Fitness Food manages to make chicken satay delicious and lean... maybe the serving suggestions on peanut butter were right all along?
Cons
As it's fairly new, the veggie and especially vegan options are a bit limited. While delicious you may struggle for variety after a few orders. It's also sadly only available in London and within the M25... at the moment.
Cost
From £20 per day. Natural Fitness Food
2 - Gluten-free food that's restaurant quality: Après Food
If you need gluten-free meals, which actually taste good, Apres Food has it spot on with their healthy ready meals, delivered weekly to your door - nationwide. Fancy a gluten-free chicken casserole or a chocolate brownie? Well, you're in luck as they have them all, as well as a range of various other meat and veggie options.
Pros
Founded by Catherine Sharman, a chef, who is also a qualified Functional Nutritionist it means you can't go wrong with the ready meals, as she's designed them to support not only brain health, cardiovascular and heart health, but also immune function, healthy and glowing skin, gut health and sustained energy production. So, you should be firing on all cylinders at work and at the gym.
Cons
There isn't a wide variety of meals on offer, so you may get bored after a few months of eating their meals on rotation - but they're great to have on hand when you've had a busy day and don't have the energy to cook.
Meals range from ££4.95 - £6.90 Après Food
3 - Healthy frozen meal delivery service: Mindful Chef
The latest addition to the Mindful Chef offering is frozen meals. Nothing like frozen fish in parsley sauce from your childhood, these are delicious portions of healthy dinners that take 8 minutes or less to cook.
Pros
If you loved the Mindful Chef recipe boxes but you CBA to cook after you've homeschooled the kids, then you'll love these meals. Take your pick from a wide selection of yummy recipes containing meat and fish (MC only ever use 100% British grass-fed beef, free-range chicken and fresh fish that are landed sustainably on British shores). If you order before 2pm you can receive delivery the next day.
Cons
If you're buying meals for one it's likely that you won't have a chest freezer to store meals upon meals in. However, you can get around bulk ordering by individual meals at £7 each - spend over £24 to receive free delivery.
Cost
Meals from £7. Mindful Chef
4 - Detox meals and reset plans: Foodhak
Founded by Sakshi Chhabra Mittal, after being diagnosed with a rare liver disease during her first pregnancy, she switched to a plant-based ayurvedic diet as a form of medicine. This gave her the idea of a meal delivery service that made 'food as medicine' delicious and accessible for all.
Pros
Full of tasty meals and soups, made from the freshest of ingredients, their mushroom risotto and Ayurvedic Rasam were the most nutritious meals we'd tatsed in ages. If you're looking to detox or do a reset they offer heart, hormonal and post-natal plans, amoung others. If weight loss is on your agenda they also have a 4 day or 1 month weight loss plan - giving you a boost in the right direction.
Cons
In sustainability terms, their packaging is spot on, sent in resealable bags, which are easy to recycle. However, we found them quite hard to store in the fridge, and would have preffered flatter packaging - which can be easier to transport if you're taking them for to work for lunch.
Cost: From £61.20 per week FoodHak
5 - Personalised daily fresh meals: OMNI Nutrition
Co-founded by personal trainer to the stars Aimee Victoria Long, the team will make sure all your daily meals and snacks are personalised to your needs. Their ready-to-eat meals save you hours of shopping, prepping, and cooking - simply sit back and enjoy their hand-delivered meals.
Pros
Not sure what your nutrition goals should be? Their team of dietitians and nutritionists, whether you are gluten-free, dairy-free or vegan, will make sure you get the right fresh meals delivered to you daily.
Cons
Only available for delivery in London, they've yet to expand to the rest of the country.
Prices start from £30 per day Omni Nutrition
6 - Nutritionist-backed keto recipes: Green Chef
If you're on the keto diet - and need to stay on track, without having to shop for all your favourite ingredients, Green Chef is the box to subscribe to - in fact, they are the only recipe box service in the UK to offer Keto meals. They also offer specific boxes for those on vegan, veggie, lower carb, flexitarian and pescatarian diets.
Pros
The meals, which include delights such as chickpea and spinach tikka masala and BBQ pulled king oyster burger, are curated by their in-house nutritionist Anna Tebbs - meaning they've done the research about what should and shouldn't be in your meal, and all you have to do is worry about enjoying them.
Cons
The deliveries don't come prepared, so you'll have to have around 20-30 minutes spare to prep every meal.
Cost:
Prices start from £47.50 for two people eating three meals a day Green Chef
7- Best macro-counting food delivery: Fresh Fitness Food
Fresh Fitness Food is the master of macro-based eating. Their plant-based programme (add dairy and eggs as you please) is perfect for tofu lovers. This means you can choose a specific goal (Lean Gains, Fat Loss, General Health and Build Muscle) and the chefs will prep you up to 6 meals a day.
Not veggie? No problem. FFF is the stalwart of meal delivery and there are few diets that they haven't catered for. Paleo, pescatarian or low-carb – they meal prep for all.
Pros
If you want to lose weight well – and keep it off – a couple of weeks of FFF can coach you in what a healthy day of food looks like. Highly tailored to each individual, you can even link the app to your smartwatch so it can adjust your meals based on your output and the macros/goals you set. Plus the packaging is now biodegradable, recyclable and fully sustainable.
Cost:
Delivered daily from £26 per day, Fresh Fitness Food
8 - No-nonsense fitness food delivery: The Good Prep
Thinking of jumping on a new fitness routine? This Manchester-based premium meal delivery service delivers nationwide. If you choose this food delivery service you'll be in good company, as they feed athletes, sports teams, entrepreneurs, and anyone with a love for wellness, but who might not have time to prepare healthy meals.
Pros
Choose from a 3, 5 or 6-day plan, depending on how busy you are - while you can also include snacks and breakfasts. All meals show calorie, carbs, protein and fat content, to help you achieve your health goals.
Meals include Teriyaki Udon Noodles and veggie meals such as Sweet chilli Tempeh with Mexican rice. Their fresh meals also come in 100% recyclable packaging.
Cons
Juices and snacks aren't included but with green juices power shots starting from just £3.95 they are a great add-on to boost your week.
From £7.80 per meal, deliveries are made twice a week The Good Prep
9 - Nutritious weight loss meal delivery: Detox Kitchen
Often when weight loss comes into the equation, nutrition goes out as calorie count becomes the main concern. Not on Detox Kitchen's watch. The protein cleanse is designed to kick-start healthy eating with plant-based foods with added lean protein.
Pros
You get everything you need in one drop. Each (1,500 calories) box includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus 1 juice, 1 ginger shot, 1 snack and 1 teabag. All meat is free-range and fish is sustainably sourced. Lactose-free? No problem. All Detox Kitchen food is dairy, refined sugar and wheat-free. Their new fridge fills are available nationwide - allowing you to choose 6 healthy meals to be delivered each week, while their 3-day resets can also be delivered nationwide and are perfect to help restore gut balance.
Cons
Currently, their meal plans can only be delivered in the M25 area. However, if your postcode is not included in their delivery area, get in touch and DK will do their very best to work out a solution for you.
Costs:
From £31.45 per day (minimum 3-day order) Detox Kitchen
10 - Best food delivery for plant-based athletes: Grubby
Was your New Year's resolution to eat more veggies and less dairy? The UK’s first 100% plant-based recipe kit can educate you on how to cook and eat vegan, with very little hassle.
They've also recently partnered with vegan chef duo BOSH! to develop a range of delicious recipes. While each recipe includes, on average, a variety of six or more fresh vegetables so you'll be getting more than your five a day.
Pros
If the environment is on your mind, when it comes to your diet, then you'll be happy to know that Grubby's packaging is 100% recyclable, plus for every box sold Grubby donate a meal to a child living in poverty in Uganda, through a partnership with charity 1morechild. They also have new recipes every week - so you'll never get bored.
Cons
Many of the meals are quite calorific, so if you're looking to shed some pounds it's not a great option, but if you're training for a big race and need the energy then these meals are spot on.
Cost:
From £27 for two recipes (for 2-3 people) Grubby
11 - Best all-round recipe box kit: Hello Fresh
One of the most well-known recipe subscription boxes, you'll get everything you need to prepare a meal for you and a plus one. Their step-by-step recipe cards mean you'll learn what it takes to make some of your favourite meals and know every ingredient which goes into it. Also, if you'd like a little treat at the end of your meal they've also partnered with Tony’s Chocoloney, for gorgeous desserts such as salted caramel brownie and chocolate orange tart.
Pros
If you want to opt for a healthy option choose their calorie smart boxes, which are around 650 calories per meal. Healthy meals include their Balanced Thai Veggie Curry, Mango Chicken Wraps with Green Pepper or their Miso Baked Aubergine with Pickled Cucumber and Brown Rice. Yum. We were also in chocolate heaven when we made (and ate) their Tony’s Chocoloney chocolate orange tart - worth the choccy mess me created.
Cons
If you don't have time to prepare and cook the meals, which take around 30 minutes, then you may find this a bit of a faff.
Cost: From £28.99 a week for 3 meals for 2 people.
12 - Best general vegan meal delivery service: Spring Green London
If you want to go vegan in 2023 try Spring Green. This healthy food delivery service makes light work of a 100% plant-based menu. The kitchen is headed up by Michelin-trained chef Bonnie Stowell, who knows just what busy, health and wellness-curious women want.
Pros
Perhaps the prettiest of food delivery options - lunches of Rainbow Rolls with Chia Crackers and a Grapefruit Ginger Dip are as Instagrammable as they are healthy and tasty.
Cons
If you train hard then you might find this plan too calorie-light. Plus, they only deliver to London customers.
Cost: Starting from £36 per-day, plans start at 3 days Spring Green London
13 - Meal delivery for easy weight management: No1 Food Prep
No1 Food Prep is a great option for those looking to tidy up their nutrition without sacrificing taste. These guys guarantee tasty meals to suit any goals, whether that's building lean muscle or losing fat - all their macros are calculated to a tee, no need for weighing anything up by hand. The various probiotic and fermented dishes on the menu are also #gutgains. Buy individual meals, or sign up now to book a 7-day or 14-day plan.
Pros
All meals with a generous serving of veg, but double veg options are available to pack in even more of a nutritional punch and give your immune system a welcome boost. Plus, this is one of the most purse-friendly picks on the table.
Cons
The website can be a little confusing to navigate, but don't let that stop you - the team are available via live chat, should you have trouble putting together your plan.
Cost:
From £16 per day, deliveries are made twice a day No1 Food Prep
Like this article? SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER to receive your weekly dose of features.
Nutrition news worth knowing
Read this book to shift into a healthier way of thinking about food – and diet.
We asked leading nutritionists to reveal the one diet myth they wish would go away. Here are 6 diet myths debunked .
The coolest alt-milk has come under criticism for spiking blood sugar levels – but is oat milk actually bad for you?
There is a scary amount of contradictory health information online. We caught up with Dr Idz to find out the motivation behind becoming a ‘social media doctor’ – and how he plans to debunk the common wellness claims we see circulating online time and time again.
You Might Also Like
