Category: Food & Drink

Are you one of those people who absolutely cannot keep up with healthy diets?

But, do you crave all those nutrients for an energy-packed body?

Then the Soylent or Huel drinks will be your best friend once you get a hold of them!

Theoretically, these drinks can replace your meals and provide you with all the nutrients your body needs. However, I would not completely rely on drinks only!

That being said, both Huel and Soylent have drinks that do cover much of your nutritional needs. Ergo, having them in your meal plan is the best thing that you could do! After all, they do not need heaps of preparation and only need to be gulped down!

Without further ado, let us get started with their best features and comparison!

A Quick Checklist

Here a few nutritional facts about the drinks from Huel and Soylent:

Who are They for?

Known to replace meals for a day, Huel and Solvent are targeted towards all the busy people who hardly have time for themselves. We often forget about the nutrients in food and to bring all the essential fats, carbs, protein, vitamins, and nutrients in one is a brilliant idea!

Looking at their ingredients it might seem like they are only for athletes, gym-goers, or people who want to lose weight. However, I think these go beyond it and can be consumed by anyone!

Being plant-based, both Huel and Soylent are great for people with certain skin conditions, acne, whey allergic, and anyone who wants a boost of nutrients!

Want at least one meal a day that has ALL the healthy ingredients your body needs? Grab a Huel or Solvent drink!

A Snippet

Before jumping on to the details, here is a quick overview of what both the companies have to offer.

Soylent: The First Brand That Strikes Your Head:

The idea of Soylent came in when entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley did not find chewing on food very appealing. 2013 was the first time the world heard of a drink that claimed to replace ALL your meals. Meal replacement drinks before that replaced only one or two.

While it did not completely eliminate eating habits, it went viral as an addition to the daily meals. Along with soy, Soylent beverages have all the essential nutrients for your body.

Huel: Fuel for the Human Body:

Brand names come with a lot of thought and Huel blends the two words “human” and “fuel” to get its name. If the name itself has so much thought, imagine what the drinks bring to the table!

Balanced with  27 essential vitamins and minerals, protein, essential fats, carbs, fiber, and phytonutrients, Huel aims to target those who do not always have time to devour a full course meal. Take their ready-to-go shakes on-the-go and get energized throughout the day!

Which Has the Better Taste?

Health drinks do not have to taste all yucky and Huel and Soylent are a perfect example of that. Let us take a look at their flavors and taste!

Huel: A Wide Range of Flavors:

Before I get started on the fantastic flavors, know that Huel has something for everyone. If you are someone who would rather just gulp down their drink than taste it, then the Huel original powder is perfect for you. It is practically flavorless and very easy to chug in one go!

However, if you want a little flavor to go with your drinks, then I suggest grabbing one of the flavor boosts. Remember that these flavor enhancers add a bit of sugar to the drinks that they initially come with.

Below is a list of some of Huel’s flavors:

• Vanilla
• Chocolate
• Banana
• Strawberry
• Pineapple and Coconut
• Cacao
• Mocha
• Matcha
• Toffee
• Apple cinnamon
• Pumpkin spice
• Salted caramel
• Peanut butter

Apart from these powdered flavors, Huel also has ready-to-go drinks for their super busy customers. These come in three flavors: Vanilla, Coffee, and Nuts and Seeds flavors, and taste amazing!

Before drinking the beverages, be sure to shake them up well to get a smooth consistency without chunks of oats and flax seeds.

Soylent: The Very Basics at Your Hand:

For a protein shake, I would say that Soylent has a good punch of flavors. They are slightly sweet in taste yet not too overpowering.

Soylent Original Powder almost tastes like unsweetened milk and is more on the milder side. The rest of them are pretty self-explanatory!

Here is a list of their other flavors:

• Cacao
• Chai
• Cafe vanilla
• Cafe mocha
• Mint chocolate

Their ready-to drinks come in four flavors: Cacao, Original, Vanilla & Mint Chocolate. Each one has its distinct taste and is a delight to have!

Which is Better for Weight Loss?

Both Soylent and Huel give you 400 grams of calories per sachet, giving your body almost the same effect. Even then, none of these companies claim to help with weight loss. They only guarantee the intake of all vital body nutrients.

I like to maintain my diet with healthy food and when I replace the drinks for one meal, I take note of all the nutrients and drink accordingly. It is best to check out how these drinks can fit into your diet by yourself since we all work in different ways.

Huel has a very informative site that gives you a detailed fat loss guide to follow!

How Much Should I Consume?

Huel suggests you take 3 servings per day. However, I would recommend trying them out first to see what works best for you.

If you like a thick drink then following step by step instructions on the sachet should do. Although, if you prefer something more easily drinkable, use three to five parts of water with the powder. When having ready-made drinks, there are not many adjustments you can make.

On the other hand, Soylent recommends only ¾ scoops or ⅓ cups a day. If you want to replace a snack, then ½ scoop should do the trick!

Where Should I Buy Them from?

Now that you know everything, it is time to purchase them and get on board with the easy way to a healthy lifestyle!

The first place that you would look for these drinks is, of course, their websites. I have linked them down below.

• HUEL
• SOYLENT

I usually purchase mine from Amazon and it is a pretty good deal. The Soylent Variety pack is the one I usually reach out to.

For Huel, the starter kit is what I initially grabbed. Once I had my shaker with me, the vanilla food powder became my go-to drink.

Note: Amazon does not provide you with all the flavors. Ergo, if you need more variations, it is best to head on to their official websites.

Huel vs. Soylent: The Pros and Cons

Here is somewhat of a summary of what I liked and disliked about Huel and Soylent. In case all the previous talk confused you, this should give a clear picture!

What I Love:

What Could Be Improved:

Settling the Battle

For me, Huel is an all-time favorite. I love trying my luck out with different flavors and Huel brings just that to me. Besides, their heap loads of nutrients make me feel all energized without intaking much sugar!

Soylent is also a pretty good option for people who want just the basic flavors for their meal replacement drinks. They are inexpensive and have a good amount of vitamins and minerals. However, soy might not always be favorable to everyone and the sugar intake in Soylent drinks is higher than that of Huel.

Extra Tips

Healthy drinks are a good way to cleanse your body from inside that eventually brings a glow on your face.

For even better results on a glowy skin, be sure to stick to a skincare routine as well. The Cellex C range has been doing an excellent job on my skin!

To boost up your goal of having a fit body, Nubody devices are a great addition to your exercise regimen! Be sure to check out this Nubody review to find out all about them.

More Related Topic:

• sun basket vs purple carrot

Today, I’m going to give you an update on the battle of Sun Basket vs Purple Carrot.

These two meal delivery services have rapidly taken their places in the hearts of healthy eaters. With their fantastic meal plans, they cater to everyone but in a healthy way.

I do not touch up on any deeper insights here. Rather, I stuck to my experience with them and how each one left me impressed.

Trying both of them, I’ve picked out the different plans of them both and jotted them down for you. What you can do is go through each and figure out what works best for you!

Enough of blabbering, let’s get started!

Sun Basket vs. Purple Carrot: A Brief Introduction

Sun Basket lets you work on your own preferences and mix and match the ingredients. With their immense number of recipes, you can choose any amount to match the number of people to feed. Their priority with this type of service is to bring a diverse organic menu at your doorstep!

Purple Carrot also works to bring healthy food to you, but they are only plant-based. They have specialized meal kits for both vegans and non-vegans. After taking a look at their meal plans, anyone would start having a liking for plant-based food!

Which Meal Plan to Choose?

There’s really no right way to go when choosing either meal plan because they are made for different audiences. Let’s kickstart with Sun Basket that offers a variety in their meal plans for both vegans and non-vegans.

Coming with two menus, namely the Classic and Family, Sun Basket has options for everyone. The Classic menu presents you with two or three recipes per week to feed two to four people at max. While the Family menu features three to four recipes per week, for four people at one go.

Purple Carrot did not slack off with their meal plans as well and comes with three varieties of it. The first two are known as High Protein and Quick-and-easy, which are exactly what the names state. While the Chef’s Choice is for people who want a more elite dining experience with the best gourmet plant recipes!

For the more active individuals or athletes, Purple Carrot offers its special TB12 Performance Plan. With high-protein meals that are both soy and gluten-free, this meal increases the metabolism rate!

Is There Only One Kind of Cuisine?

Most people tend to think that healthy foods do not have many varieties or flavor distinctions, but you’ll not go towards that thinking once you see what these two have to offer!

Be it soy-free, dairy-free, or lean and clean meal, Sun Basket has got you covered in every basket. All you have to do is search for your favorite plans and get to satisfy your stomach!

Sun Basket claims to take their inspiration from the Thai, Italian, Vietnamese, Mediterranean, American, and Mexican cuisines, so you already know you’re in for a treat!

Within half an hour of placing an order, the meal will be ready to serve. If you want to cook them by yourselves without the hassle you can choose from their easy-prep or one-pot recipes. Along with the dinner meal, they give you the option of getting 5-minute salads, signature sauces and dips, and veggie snacks available as add-ons.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Purple Carrot doesn’t only keep you full only during dinner but also in breakfast and lunch. Although it comes with three meal plans, the company offers you with Moroccan, Chinese, Italian, and Spanish cuisines within those.

Here’s the best part…

They don’t only contain leafy greens! These meals come with veggie stews, grain bowls, quesadillas, pastas, and even risottos. Talk about switching to a vegan lifestyle!

A Snippet of the Nutritional Value in the Meals

I didn’t go on a full research of the nutritional value of both, but I do have a rough estimate for you. Sun Basket should, on average, have a calorie 550 to 800 per meal, making it a good deal for most adults. All of these are tested by their in-house nutritionist and consumers have loved them!

Balanced with just the right amount of healthy fats, lean proteins, and complex carbohydrates, Purple Carrot has the same number of average calories per meal. They don’t mention anything about getting these tested professionally but so far, I’m satisfied with them!

What about Quality?

The ingredients I received from both the companies were topnotch. Nevertheless, only one amongst them was transparent about the source of their ingredients.

And that one is…

Sun Basket!

According to their claim, all their items are sourced from sustainable farming lands. The network of fishermen, farmers, and fresh produce growers are all trusted by them and tick to responsible and eco-friendly methods of farming.

On the other hand, Purple Carrot is yet to reveal the sources of their ingredients. Even then, almost all the food I received from them was in excellent condition. However, you can occasionally find one or two vegetables that rot within two days even after being kept in the refrigerator.

Where Do I Sign Up?!

If all the healthy talk so far has inspired you to try out the websites, then here are some quick steps on how to sign up for each.

Signing Up for Sun Basket:

1. Select the type of plan: Classic or Family.
2. Click on get started and you will be redirected to the signup page.
3. Enter the necessary information to create your account.
4. And you’re ready to start ordering and making payments.

To Cancel:

Customer Service: The first method we recommend to cancel your order is to contact the customer service and get familiarized with the process. They will direct you on how to do that and trust me, they are patient!

Online: If you’re not too keen on contacting customer service, hover to the FAQ section on their website. Once there, click on the link under “manage weekly deliveries”, and fill out the wanted information to get started with the cancellation process.

Signing Up for Purple Carrot:

1. Go to the website and look out for the signup option at the top right corner.
2. Enter email and password or simply sign in with Facebook to create your account.
3. That’s all you have to do to start ordering.

To Cancel:

1. Go to your account settings.
2. Click on the change link option.
3. Over there you can either cancel your current delivery or the subscription.

Quick Look at the Pros and Cons

Before making your final choice, here are some more pointers than I thought will be helpful.

What I like about Them:

What Could be Improved:

Final Winner

For me, Sun Basket takes away the trophy in this battle. I’m someone who cannot eat plant-based meals every day, and Sun Basket keeps my request along with making them healthy as well.

I can choose from a variety of meal plans and get fast delivery from them! Above all, I know that my ingredients are fresh and come from eco-friendly sources.

However, if you are a vegan, then Purple Carrot might just be your new favorite! With their innovative leafy pasta inspired by multiple cuisines, they are bound to sway a vegetarian off his/her feet!

What Now?

Head to their websites:

• Sun Basket
• Purple Carrot

And get signed up to have healthy recipes and meals delivered at your doorstep! Both of them deliver the food inside recyclable cardboard boxes and take proper care of the items inside.

With Sun Basket, you only have to pay a fee of $6.99 for shipping. Nevertheless, as a gift to you, the delivery charge is excluded from the first box! Unfortunately, they don’t deliver to Hawaii, Alaska, Montana, and some parts of New Mexico.

When it comes to a delivery charge, Purple Carrot takes the edge because they have absolutely zero shipping costs for you. Unlike Sun Basket, Purple Carrot provides their service all across the continental United States.

Did I Miss Anything?

Now let’s hear from you:

Which one of the two are you going to try?

Or maybe you have some better alternatives?

Either way, let me know with a comment below!

More Related Meal Delivery Service Review:

• Fresh N Lean 
• Top Chef Meals
• Factor 75

When was the last time you cooked a full meal and actually enjoyed it? I for one prefer watching YouTube videos of people cooking rather than doing it myself. And most of the time I end up creating a catastrophe and need to order some fast food so I can make myself feel better.

And while pizzas, burgers, and wings feel like happiness, they don’t nourish your body. So how can one get healthy, homely meals that they don’t have to cook from scratch?

Well, Fresh N Lean gives you an easy way out. And in this Fresh N Lean review, we’ll see if they deliver on their promises.

What Does Fresh N Lean Want to Do?

Fresh N Lean is a meal delivery service that factors inconvenience and cost to provide you with weekly meals that are low-calorie and ready to eat.

If you’re trying to eat healthier; for instance, starting a low-carb or paleo diet, making meals from scratch is difficult. Shopping around for ingredients, storing them correctly, making sure they don’t spoil, and then cooking and meal prepping can take a toll on busy people. And this can convince you to go back to ordering takeout and sliding back into unhealthy food habits.

So how does Fresh N Lean help you out in this area?

Provides You with Healthy Pre-cooked Meals:

This service will deliver meals that can last you for a week straight to your doorstep. On top of that, these aren’t anything like your conventional frozen supermarket meals. Instead, they are low in calories, dense in nutrients, and made from the freshest ingredients possible.

These meals support gut health and reduce digestive issues. They are rich in vitamins and chock-full of antioxidants. Moreover, all the meals from Fresh N Lean are gluten-free and can accommodate people with celiac disease or gluten allergies.

Also, all the ingredients are organic and GMO-free. This ensures you are consuming the freshest and best foods.

Gives You Tasty and Ready-Made Meals:

Fresh N Lean’s meals are pre-cooked and ready to eat. All you have to do is heat them up in your microwave for 2-3 minutes and that’s it! Your meals are ready to eat.

This is especially convenient for people working double shifts, tired students, and new parents. You can use the time saved to keep working, catch up on chores, or to get some badly needed sleep. Not only is there no preparation involved, clean up afterward is minimal and almost nonexistent!

Chooses Your Meals for You:

Are you one of those people who have trouble choosing dishes from a menu? Well, in that case, you will definitely like Fresh N Lean because they set up their menus randomly and change them around every week. This means they have new menus every week, so your palate won’t get bored either.

Customizes According to Your Taste:

Although the items on the menu are selected at random, you can still choose to omit allergens like nuts and cilantro from your meals. Besides this, you can choose what kind of meal you want, whether it is keto, paleo, or low carb. Moreover, you have the option of completely removing certain entrees if you don’t like them-like choosing to avoid all sorts of seafood entrees.

Along with customization, you can also pick lots of sides and snacks to go with your meals.

Healthy and Nutritious Food:

At the bottom line, Fresh N Lean just wants to give you easy access to good and wholesome food. Besides using fresh and organic ingredients, they also keep their meals healthy. This means most of the meals are low carb and keto/paleo-friendly.

Also, the meals have lower sodium content and use fewer trans fats. Each meal has a 300-500 calorie range, so they are ideal for people who want to cut down on their calories and/or lose weight. They are also great if you are into sports and athletics and need a diet high in proteins.

Fresh N Lean: What Meal Plans Do They Have to Offer?

This meal-delivery service has a wide range of meal plans that accommodate different diets.

One thing that all these different plans have in common is that the meals are all made from scratch using fresh and organic ingredients. Also, they are all nutrient-dense, and gluten-free are never frozen.  This makes sure they are fresh and taste like home-cooked meals.

Here are the different meal plans and who they are meant for:

Protein+ Meals:

This meal plan is perfect for athletes, trekkers, and anyone who likes to hit the gym on the regular. It delivers macro meals where each serving has a whopping 177% premium protein content from grass-fed sources.

These meals have just 39% carbs and 60% fat and 3 meals on this plan will give you 1500 calories a day which is the average macro intake recommended by the FDA.

These meals are healthy and packed with nutrients without being bland or boring. You can easily enjoy succulent steaks, fresh fish, and veggies while indulging in yummy chocolate almond butter treats for a dessert.

Keto Meals:

Want to cut the carbs and eat cleaner? The Fresh N Lean Keto meal plans will provide you with premium protein from sources that were well fed and healthy with no hormones or antibiotics added to their diets.

The meals also have clean fats only and just 15% carbohydrates. They contain sustainably sourced meat, fresh seafood, and organic dairy. Whether you like your meat roasted, baked, sautéed, or braised, it will find its way to your plate fresh and delicious!

There are both entrees for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as snacks you can nibble on when you get hungry throughout the day.

Paleo Meals:

Want to keep things natural and stick to an old school sort of diet? These Paleo-friendly meals are focused on providing you with whole foods and grains including grass feed and premium proteins. It is still a relatively low-carb diet with just 21% carbs in the plan.

These meals keep everything authentic, just the way nature intended. Besides being gluten-free, the paleo meals are also free soy and grains. It uses natural sugars like honey to sweeten your meals, as well as natural spices to season them.

You will wholesome meals like juicy red and white meat, ocean-fresh fish, and vibrant colorful veggies. Fancy dessert? Their light cranberry oatmeal will indulge your sweet tooth while keeping you rooted in nature.

Standard Vegan Meals:

So you’ve decided to completely cut out meat and animal by-products. Fresh N Lean supports your dietary choices and gives you a seasonal menu full of organic vegetables, grains, and legumes.

Because they are picked and prepared at their freshest, the fruits and vegetables are just crammed with antioxidants and vitamins that give your immune system a boost. These meals are filling and hearty, such as apple cinnamon oatmeal for breakfast and herb roasted vegetables for lunch or dinner.

There is also an assortment of snacks like nuts and vegan muffins on the menu as well.

Low-Carb Vegan Meals:

Some people find ordinary vegan meals to be heavy on the carbs. If you feel stuffed after having too many grains, these low carb options will make you feel light and energetic. And these meals cut both the meat and the carbs without making a dent in the flavor profile of their dishes.

The meals are also dietician-approved so they make sure you get all the nutrients you need. However, they do recommend getting additional Vitamin B12 supplements, as well as supplements for Vitamin D.

The dishes in these menus lean towards vegetables. You can expect to find things like mixed veggie curries, roasted sweet potatoes, sautéed or steamed greens, and salads with different dressings.

How to Fix Up a Plate of Fresh N Lean

Once your food is delivered the rest is easier than you can imagine. Your meals arrive fresh in an insulated box. Just unpack the food and refrigerate them. For the freshest results, keep the meals you plan on eating later in the freezer.

When it’s time to eat, take your food out of the fridge and heat it up for 2-3 minutes in the microwave.

That’s basically it. Repeat the process for snacks when you want something for your elevenses. Your subscription will make sure the meals are delivered to your door regularly.

How Does the Fresh N Lean Subscription Work?

Confused about your meal plan and how the whole subscription thing works? I’ll walk you through it. It won’t take long before you get the hang of it.

• Choose the meal that suits your lifestyle and dietary choices.
• Then, subscribe to the weekly plan of your choice. You can easily modify these plans. Just let Fresh N Lean know how many meals you want and for how many days per week.
• Customize your meals. Let them know what you are allergic to and which dish or ingredient you dislike. You can exclude up to 3 ingredients this way.
• There is also an a la carte menu from which you can order specific dishes.
• You can add a single meal plan or even two plans for families.
• Meals are delivered every Friday. Heat and enjoy your meal!

You can pause, change, or cancel your meal plans any time you need to. But that’s not all. Fresh N Lean offers free shipping and you can even have your meals delivered to your office or gym. This kind of convenience and flexibility is seriously impressive.

What Makes Fresh N Lean So Great?

I found Fresh N Lean pretty intriguing and was impressed by all the different diets they catered to. Besides that, this meal delivery service is great for athletes and anyone looking to lose weight and get in shape.

These are the features that make them worth trying out.

• Easy to sign up for a meal plan.
• Lots of different types of meal plans.
• Meals are low calorie while remaining nutrient-dense.
• Ingredients are fresh, clean, and locally sourced.
• The meal plans are pretty affordable.
• It is very convenient and meals take only 3 minutes to prepare.
• You can cancel your meal plans whenever you want.
• There is an a la carte menu for ordering individual dishes.
• There’s a lot of variety among the dishes and you don’t have to choose the meals.
• Menus are updated every week.

Final Thoughts

It isn’t every day that we find meal services that cater to healthy diets like paleo or keto. And when they do, the meal portions are often very small and nutritionally lacking.

This can lead to feelings of hunger throughout the day which in turn makes you more irritable and prone to snacking. In the long run, you can even end up with symptoms of malnutrition. But as this Fresh N Lean review shows us, it is possible to balance necessary nutrients with a low-calorie diet.

Fresh N Lean was fascinating to me because they are keen to make healthy eating a convenient choice for everyone, instead of a privilege for a few. Their meals and philosophy have this great sense of balance: between healthy, tasty, convenient, and affordable. And when all is said and done, they make it much easier to forget about groceries and just eat healthier.

More Related Meal Delivery Service:

• Sakara Life Review
• Factor 75 Review
• Top Chef Meals Review

Sick of slaving away in the kitchen after a long day of work, chores, and running errands? Perhaps you’re tired of Chinese takeout and ready-to-eat meal options don’t have anything you can eat. What’s a person supposed to do?

Top Chef Meals is the reliable meal delivery service that saves you from fretting about getting your dinner. What sets them apart is that their meals can accommodate many different types of diets.

In today’s Top Chef Meals review, I’m going to take a closer look at this meal delivery service and what it has to offer. We’re going to check out the company’s goals, what the meals they have to offer, and how you can order from them.

Let’s find out if this meal delivery service is as good as it sounds!

Top Chef Meals Review: What Do They Do?

Top Chef Meals promises to deliver tasty and nutritious cooked meals right to your doorstep. You get to select the meal or meals of your choice from a list of more than 75 entrees and rotating specials, all of which just need to be heated and are ready to eat in just 3 minutes.

Choosing your meals lets you customize your order to a certain extent, and this ensures that your food is cooked from scratch using the freshest ingredients.

Here’s what Top Chef’s Meals will bring to your table:

Clean Ingredients:

The meals are made using the freshest ingredients. Since Top Chef Meals prioritize healthy and nutritious meals, their ingredients are all fresh and organic. Best of all they are locally sourced and help other community businesses.

Also, their meat-based dishes are free from antibiotics and poor feeding practices. Instead, all their ingredients are clean and free from trans fats, chemicals, and preservatives. This will make sure what you put into your body is safe, healthy, wholesome, and good for you.

Carefully Prepared Dishes:

All of the Top Chef Meals are made to order, which ensures that everything stays nice and fresh. These made to order meals are prepared by professional chefs so they taste great as well. These dishes also have no artificial ingredients or high-fructose corn syrup and are crafted with your health and nutrition in mind.

Nutritious Meals:

You don’t have to worry about carbo-loading with the meals you get from this service. And there aren’t any empty calories that you have to look out for either. Besides being made with fresh and clean ingredients, they are low in carbs and unhealthy fats and high in proteins.

The meals are well balanced and designed to give you the macronutrients and vitamins/minerals/fiber your body needs.

Comfort and Convenience:

Cooking at home takes time and energy. Tracking down ingredients, shopping, preparing them, and finally cooking them takes a lot of planning and can take hours every week. Most people don’t have that kind of time to spare. On the other hand, frozen supermarket meals are all but soaked in salt, fats, and nasty preservatives.

Top Chef Meals offers you a blissful alternative. Their pre-cooked meals let you pull out the dish you want out of your fridge, heat it up, and have it ready to eat in just 3 minutes. And you can use the time spent on cooking on more important things.

Furthermore, creating an account and ordering meals is pretty easy so you won’t have to step out of your comfort zone!

Ordering from Top Chef Meals

Many people shy away from online meal delivery services because they find that setting up and canceling subscriptions to be too troublesome. This couldn’t be further from the truth at Top Chef Meals. Here’s how it all works:

Create an Account:

To start off, you must create an account with Top Chef Meals. This will also let you review and change your order. Best of all, you can also get special discounts from time to time when you sign up!

Ordering:

The process of ordering your meals from here is pretty straightforward. Simply browse through the menu and select the dishes that you like. You can also customize them for your dietary preferences. Then, choose and customize the side dishes that you want.

Cooking and Delivery:

The dishes in your cart are then lovingly prepared by skilled and experienced chefs using the best ingredients out there. The food is then flash-frozen to preserve the taste and nutrients. A courier service then delivers the meals to your home.

See? It really is that simple!

What are These Meals Like?

It’s perfectly understandable if you’re wary about ready to eat meals. On top of that pre-cooked meals that are marketed as ‘healthy’ are often horrendous. Top Chef Meals veers away from the hippy vegan meals that take time getting used to and prepares hearty and wholesome dishes that you will love.

Moreover, the portions are well-sized. They aren’t so small that you will feel hungry afterward, but they aren’t overly large either. You won’t feel stuffed or sluggish after your meals as the portions are just right.

Low Carb Menu:

Trying to stay away from carbs? Top Chef Meals will have you covered with their almost endless menu of low-carb dishes.

You can either order an entrée and choose two sides or choose something from their a la carte menu. There are also weekly packages that have different meals on rotation, so you can have your lunches and dinners ready to go.

These low carb meals mainly cater to those who are on a keto or paleo diet. The Paleo meals contain 6oz of protein and a side. The keto meals come with 6oz of protein, a sauce, and a side.

Here’s a little snippet of the kinds of dishes they have:

• Chicken Entrees: The Cacciatore, Teriyaki, and grilled Buffalo Chicken looked amazing.
• Beef Entrees: Steaks, Meatballs, and the Homestyle Brisket are perfect for any meat lover.
• Pork Entrees: Stuffed pork tenderloins or BBQ pulled pork? The choice is yours!
• Seafood Entrees: The Seared Ahi Tuna and Shrimp Scampi are mouthwatering.
• Turkey Entrees: Lemon Ginger Turkey Meatballs anyone?

There are also countless vegetarian entrees if your diet doesn’t include meat. These dishes use ingredients like mushrooms, beans, and tofu to make sure you’re getting enough protein in your diet.

I was looking forward to a vegan option, but couldn’t find one. Perhaps somewhere down the road, they’ll introduce one?

Breakfasts:

You can also choose from a huge list of breakfasts that caters to your preferred diet. Paleo breakfasts usually feature egg-heavy dishes with mushrooms and sausages.

Their other breakfasts have healthy options like gluten-free pancakes, frittatas, and scrambled eggs with spinach.

Desserts:

Low carb doesn’t have to mean that you can’t indulge yourself. That’s why Top Chef Meals have included an impressive array of desserts to their low carb menu.

They’re absolutely scrumptious looking desserts like the Chocolate Molten Saucy Cake topped with a decadent ganache. This can be taken right out of the freezer and microwaved to keep the center gooey.

But that’s not all! There are also gluten-free cheesecakes, fruit cobblers, and a lovely gluten-free double chocolate brownie. But if you want to keep things on the healthier side, they even have organic granola and low-calorie oatmeal cookies you can snack on.

Food Therapy:

Besides low carb, paleo, and keto menus, Top Chef Meals also has specific menus for people with several dietary restrictions. They have the same food as the regular menu but modified to meet certain dietary necessities.

• Low Sodium Meals: These meals contain 500mg or less sodium and meet the American Heart Association’s recommendation of consuming no more than 1500mg of sodium per day.
• Diabetic Meals: Meant for diabetics, these meals have restricted carbohydrates to maintain steady glucose levels. They are also low in sodium. Designed by dietician’s these meals will keep you healthy and energetic.
• Low-Fat Meals: On a strict diet? Top Chef Meals provides meals with 3g or less of fat per 100g of food. You can feel full and keep track of the fat you consume!
• Renal-Friendly Meals: Meant for people with kidney issues, these meals were designed by a dietician for stages 3 and 4 of CKD. They have very limited amounts of sodium, potassium, and phosphorus. These meal plans help you focus on your health and keeping up your strength without worrying about cooking.
• Gluten-Free Meals: Got a gluten allergy? No problem! All the meals in this program are free from wheat, barley, rye, soy, or any other ingredients that contain gluten. In fact, they specially segregate all wheat products in a separate part of their facility.
• Dairy-Free Meals: These meals are for people with lactose intolerance, or even for people who prefer avoiding all forms of dairy for health reasons. They have no milk, cream, butter, cheese, or whey in them.

Extras:

Besides their regular rotation of meals, Top Chef Meals have a little extra something to offer their customers.

Seasonal Specials:

Chicken kabobs with Jasmine rice and zucchinis and herb Dijon marinade. Sounds fancy right? There are lots of dishes with exciting ingredients that show up once in a while.

Soups and Shakes:

Want a quick breakfast smoothie or a hearty soup to warm you up on chilly days? The dairy-free protein smoothies will give you a great boost of energy and hydration.

And if you want something warm and comforting, their chicken noodle soup or tomato cheddar soup is hearty, cozy, and filling.

Senior Meals:

This service also caters to seniors who can’t cook and have special dietary requirements. You can order online, or through email or telephone–whichever is more convenient. There is also a 15% discount for all customers over 60.

Senior meals contain an entrée of your choice, starch, and vegetable. They are handcrafted to be healthy and suit your dietary restrictions and remove the need for getting groceries or getting multiple dishes messy.

Kids Meals:

Swamped with work and chores? This problem is often compounded if you have young children. The meals for children contain an entrée, along with one side of vegetables and smoothie. The portions are enough to keep your child full and healthy and you can rest easy knowing they are well fed.

Their children’s menu has a variety of entrees to keep your child interested in the food; mini pizzas, chicken-and-waffles, turkey meatballs, and cheese pockets with steamed beans and other vegetables, along with a fresh fruit smoothie.

Why Give Top Chef Meals a Chance?

Now that you know all the ins and outs of this meal delivery service; the question remains: is this meal delivery any different from the other ones focused on healthy eating? The answer is yes and here’s why:

• Huge variety of entrees and sides.
• Relatively affordable.
• Customizable meal options.
• No need for a subscription.
• Has low-carb, paleo, and keto-friendly options.
• Has meals for health issues and restricted diets.
• Senior and kids’ meals are available as well.
• Ordering is pretty straightforward and easy.
• Food is frozen and just needs to be reheated.
• Meals are tasty, fresh, and healthy.

Summing Up

Top Chef Meals is certainly a refreshing change because of all the options they have. You can customize your meals much more than similar services. They also accommodate lots of different dietary preferences and restrictions, and this Top Chef Meals review explored some of these meals.

I was super impressed by how simple they made things. No need for a subscription and there were no random meals that you may or may not like. With all their awesome options, your Top Chef Meals experience is bound to be a hit!

More Related Topics:

• This Sakara Life review
• Let’s go see what Factor 75 is all about it!

Want to eat a little healthier, but your busy lifestyle keeps getting in the way? Most of us don’t have the time to prep fresh ingredients, so we forego cooking and opt for takeout instead.

And while this is pretty convenient (and tasty), over time it can wreak havoc on your health. Eating loads of carbs, salts, and oily food can make you gain weight, look bloated, and feel sluggish. On top of that, it can mess with your gut health and blood cholesterol.

But Factor 75 can change all of that. And in my Factor 75 review, I will check out this food delivery service and what it does.

So, let’s go see what Factor 75 is all about it!

Factor 75: What Does It Aim to Do?

Factor 75, also known as F_ delivers ready to eat meals right to your doorstep. They create hand-crafted meals, lovingly prepared chefs that taste great, and stay fresh for days.

Moreover, all their ingredients are top-notch quality. The fresh produce is organic and GMO-free, without pesticides or any of the artificial stuff. Similarly, their meat is grass-fed and well cared for, giving you the best and healthiest proteins.

This meal service targets three types of diets: keto, paleo, and dairy-free. You can also customize your meals based on food allergies.

Factor 75 isn’t a diet plan, but it is a support system for people who follow certain diets like gluten-free, dairy-free, and low-fat meals. They are pretty heavily reliant on dishes with meat, so it isn’t an option for vegans.

Furthermore, it doesn’t focus on strict calorie counting. Instead, it aims to give you filling meals that contain all the nutritional food groups your body needs. There are no empty calories, gluten, unhealthy sugars, or fats, just wholesome and nourishing meals that make you feel your best.

Why You’ll Love Factor 75

Factor 75 is pretty popular and for good reason. These are just a few of the reasons why many people keep returning to their subscriptions.

You Can Choose Your Favorite Meals:

Find yourself fancying a particular recipe from Factor 75? Although their menu changes every week, you can hit the heart icon and favorite the dish that you especially enjoyed. This will make sure that whenever that particular meal is available, it will be automatically added to your cart.

Also, you can let Factor 75 choose your meals for you. It will do this based on your dietary and taste preferences and order history.

Every Meal is Fresh:

Tired of frozen meals that taste like pure disappointment? Factor 75 rises to the occasion and brings you fresh food that stays that way for days. Nothing is frozen and this is reflected in the taste of the food. Also, every meal is completely made from scratch by professional chefs using completely fresh ingredients.

Meals are Ready Made:

Their meals aim to make your life as easy as possible. Because of this, every meal takes just a minute or two before it is ready to eat. All you need to do is reheat them. This can be done in a microwave or even on the stovetop. But to get the best and freshest taste, take a little extra time to heat up your meals in an oven.

Extremely Convenient:

Factor 75 wants to simplify your life as much as possible. As a result, you don’t even have to be at home when your food is delivered. If you’re at work when the food shows up, don’t fret. The food boxes are packed with coolants that keep the food cold and fresh for hours.

Also, they deliver a week’s worth of food at a time. You might think that it won’t stay fresh, but every meal tastes great throughout the week.

The food being delivered all at once is great because it makes sure you have a steady supply of food for the week and all you need to do is take them out and heat them out.

Ordering from Factor 75

Ordering from Factor 75 is easy and pretty straightforward. All you need to do is sign up with your email and zip code and you can shop around for your meal plan.

Meal Plans:

There are 5 different meal plans you can choose from.

• 4 meals per week: This costs the most for every meal.
• 6 meals per week
• 8 meals per week
• 12 meals per week
• 18 meals per week: This costs the least for every meal.

You can cancel or end your subscription at any time or date you want. Also, if you’re going out of town, you can easily pause your subscription. The meal plans are also very easy to change if necessary.

When Do They Deliver?

Factor 75 delivers every week from Monday through Wednesday. The exact time of delivery depends on your zip code and area.

Factor 75: More Than Just a Meal Delivery Service

If you’ve been on the lookout for an affordable service that also lets you keep track of your general health and teaches you more about nutrition, F_ is a one-stop solution. It provides support for people who want to eat healthier and take better care of their bodies.

Nutrition Consultations:

If you’re confused about your nutritional needs, Factor 75 gives you access to a nutrition consultation program. This can help you learn how to choose healthier options when eating and will teach you to pick up healthier habits around food.

When you first sign up with Factor 75, the service will give you a free 20-minute consultation with a nutritionist or professional health coach. There are also payment options for a longer and in-depth hour-long session.

You can also choose to get either a one-month or three-month of nutritional advice and consultations. They also offer nutrition coaching and food logins so you can keep track of what your food and nutritional intake is.

AGS Genetic Testing:

Factor 75 has also partnered with AGS genetic testing. You can get your DNA tested through AGS and it will create a genetic profile for you. This profile is then used by dietitians and expert nutritionists to create a customized meal plan that is especially suited to your needs. As a result, you will get the perfect amounts of macronutrients, vitamins, and minerals your body needs.

What are Their Meals Like?

Many people are pretty suspicious about ready to eat meals. And after years of eating sad-looking TV dinners, they have every right to be.

Will they smell okay? Will they taste good? Is the texture going to be alright? Are they going to taste fine after being stored for a week and then reheated? These might be some of the misgivings you might be having.  

Taste and Texture:

But I’m super relieved and excited to announce that yes, your food will taste just fine after it has been stored. Even dishes like roasted chicken and seared fish hold up just fine and don’t taste stale.

The food comes in boxes instead of bags, making them easier to store in your fridge or freezer. The only drawback is that sometimes the food gets thrown around the inside of the box during transport and delivery. Because of this, your meal won’t be Instagram-worthy, but will still taste great.

However, it is important to remember that your Factor 75 meals are meant to be microwaved for 2-3 minutes before consuming. And as you might know, microwaving tends to make the food a little on the soggy side. Although the food will taste the way it should, the texture will be a little different.

If you’re picky about food, then you can swap out microwaving and heat your food in the oven instead. This will take a little longer but it will prevent sogginess and make your food look and taste like it was just made.

Factor 75 Menu:

I was pretty curious about what kind of stuff they made so I did a bit of digging. Healthy meals always conjured up images of boiled chicken and an uninspiring green salad for me, so I wasn’t expecting much.

Instead, I was pleasantly surprised. There was an interesting variety of meals and a lot of unique and imaginative versions of ordinary food that they turned keto or paleo-friendly.

Also, they didn’t seem to shy away from fats or grains which was not what I was expecting. Factor 75 seems to believe that portions and moderation are better than complete restriction.

Their menu has a couple of interesting, colorful meals that are on rotations. These are just a handful that caught my eye and made my mouth water.

Chicken Tikka Masala:

This is one of my all-time favorite dishes in the world, but I must admit, it is loaded with dairy and isn’t the healthiest. The Factor 75 version looks vibrant and succulent and is suitable for keto diets. It is low-carb and dairy-free.

Shrimp Alfredo:

Ready-to-eat meal shrimp usually has this unappealing fishy taste and a rubbery texture. This one is supposed to taste perfect, just like fresh shrimps cooked at home! It was low carb and looked surprisingly light.

Peanut Buddha Bowl:

Buddha bowls are a great breakfast and give you a boost of energy to start the day. This peanut version looked promising because it was colorful and will fill you up. It is dairy-free (and vegetarian) and is a great option if you like plant-based breakfasts.

Argentinian Steak with Chimichurri:

This delicious looking steak is great for people who crave high protein meals. The steak doesn’t have an overly large portion and is complemented perfectly by the chimichurri sauce. It aligns well with both keto and paleo diets and is low-carb, high-protein, and dairy-free.

Why Should You Give Factor 75 a Shot?

Still not sure whether you should sign up for a subscription? Let me sum up the reasons why this meal delivery service deserves a chance.

• Has a variety of healthy and interesting meals.
• Food is made with fresh and organic ingredients.
• No extra shipping charge.
• The meals taste fine after a week.
• The packaging makes it easier to store.
• Food is ready to eat and just needs to be heated up.
• The meals are dairy-free and low-carb and cater to paleo and keto diets.
• The service is more affordable than similar ones.
• Subscriptions are easy to change or cancel.
• You can customize your meals to some extent.
• It also includes access to genetic testing and dietary advice.

Wrapping Up

Eating healthy can seem like a hassle in a world where you’re always on the go. Factor 75 understands that and takes over the task of keeping you well-fed and healthy while you go out there and deal with everything else.

This Factor 75 review took a long look at their service and what it has to offer. And I must say, they are nothing short of impressive. Their meals keep you fed and full for the week, and they don’t compromise on the taste or quality of their meals. And best of all, they change the perception that eating healthy is extremely expensive, which couldn’t be further from the truth.

In my opinion, experimenting with a few meals a week with Factor 75 is worth it since you have nothing to lose and a lot to gain! Giving them a try will make life much simpler and you won’t regret it.

What’s stopping you from eating healthy? For many people, it is the lack of time. Getting fresh, organic groceries and prepping meals takes a good chunk of time, energy, and imagination.

And if you’re vegan or vegetarian, meal prep becomes even harder. That’s where Sakara Life comes in. This plant-based meal delivery service brings healthy, interesting, and delicious food right to your doorstep. And in my Sakara Life review, I’m going to take a close at this all-natural food, 100% vegan delivery service, and see what it’s all about.

Most diets are all about restriction and dare I say, deprivation. But the owners of Sakara believe in nourishing the body with fresh, unprocessed food. Unlike a juice cleanse, or a paleo diet you don’t have to give up certain foods or skip meals.

I was super intrigued when I found out many Victoria’s Secret Angels used and loved this meal delivery service. So, without further ado, here’s what Sakara Life is all about.

What Does Sakara Have to Offer?

Here are just a few of the things Sakara promises to bring to your table.

Excellent Nutrition:

Sakara Life crafts menus with a variety of grains and greens that fulfill all your nutritional requirements, giving you all the vitamins, minerals, and proteins your body needs. It combines the latest in the science of nutrition along with traditional healing and nourishing wisdom to nurture the body and the spirit.

Variety:

One of the most common complaints about vegan dishes is that everything tastes the same. Eating salads and oatmeal every day gets boring real fast and not everyone has hours that they can spend cooking elaborate vegan-friendly meals.

But Sakara uses classically trained chefs to create a variety of meals that are a pleasure to the senses. The meals are colorful and stimulate the taste buds and are, well…interesting.

Also, their menu changes from week to week so you won’t get bored. Also, their meals are inspired by ‘global flavors’ so you can indulge in dishes from all over the world!

The Freshest Ingredients Out There:

If you’re put off by the astronomically high prices, this is your explanation. To ensure the ideal nutrition, Sakara gets the freshest and tastiest produce on the regular. They get their supplies from organic and trusted farms.

Moreover, Sakara believes in sustainable and environment-friendly farming. This is why they source all their produce from suppliers with organic and sustainable agricultural practices. Because of this, their meals are pricier, but look at it this way: it’s better for your health and the planet!

Snacks and Extras:

Like I said earlier, the Sakara Life isn’t about depriving yourself of the little things like snacks and munchies throughout the day. They have a Clean Boutique that offers a variety of snacks and supplements that taste yummy and help you feel your best.

For example, they have a Popcorn Trio with three flavors (Sweet, Salty, and Cheezy) that you can nibble on during your movie night without feeling like you’re indulging because it is completely clean and nutrient-packed! They also have Energy Bars, healthy chips, and Beauty Chocolates, as well as different types of granola.

Besides these, there are also specific products for detoxing or beauty. These include detox teas, metabolism powders, probiotic formula, and even ‘beauty drops’ you can add to your water that helps your skin and body thrive!

Some of these snacks are included if you subscribe to full meal packages, but you can order them separately as well.

A Closer Look at Sakara Life

Now that you know what Sakara brings to your table, let’s take a closer look at their services.

Meal Programs:

At the moment, Sakara Life has 3 meal programs, a Signature Program (Level I), a Detox Program (Level II), and a bridal program.

All three feature meals that have optional heating, are spicy and flavorful and contain nuts and soy. However, you can customize your meal plans based on allergies and food sensitivity.

Signature Program:

This program is aimed at people who want a cleaner and healthier diet. It focuses on the power of food as medicine and will heal you within.

The plan can transform your body within a week and does so by reducing bloat, giving you an energy boost, and increasing your focus. Furthermore, it improves digestion, helps you lose weight, and gives you clearer skin.

If you subscribe to the program, you will get the following:

• Ready-to-eat meals at a customized frequency (3 or 5 meals a week)
• Daily tea and additional supplements
• 1, 2, or 3 meals a day–you get to choose!
• Materials and access to holistic health coaching

Detox Program:

Want to purify aka detox your body inside out, but hate the idea of a juice cleanse? This meal plan gives you whole, healthy foods that give you enough nutrients to thrive without leaving you feeling full.

This Level II program is wonderful for your body because it is all about consuming the healthiest, most nutritious foods out there. The meals on this program are all plant-based and gluten-free and contain no refined sugar or dairy by-products.

You can get rid of years’ worth of toxic build-up, reduce inflammation, and reset your metabolism by using this powerful plant-based diet that is crammed with nature’s goodness. With this diet, you will lose extra weight, banish the bloat, improve skin clarity, and have more energy.

It will cleanse your body and give your digestive system a break. You will also burn stored fats thanks to the broths in this meal plan and restore your gut bacteria because of the probiotic-rich foods.

Here’s what this program will give you:

• 5-day whole-food organic cleanse
• 3 meals a day
• Detox water drops, Digestive tea, coconut kefir, and extra supplements every day
• Regular check-ins from a health coach

Bridal Meal Program:

Tying the knot? If you want to look and feel your best for your special day, this program is meant for you. It helps you lose weight, get rid of any bloat, and pamper yourself before your big day. You don’t need to suffer through crash diets or intermittent fasting to look fabulous!

Here’s what the bridal meal program involves:

• 4 weeks of clean, healthy, and ready-made meals
• 3 meals a day, 5 days a week
• Daily tea, snacks, and supplements
• Health coaching
• Beautifying gifts and goodies from Dr. Barbara Sturm and others
• Exclusive gifts for you and your party

Sakara’s 9 Pillars of Nutrition:

Sakara Life ascribes to 9 tenets of nutrition which is what drives their meal programs and inspires their colorful and healthy menu. What are they?

No Calorie Counting:

For Sakara, food is about nutrition and energy, not calories. Restricting yourself from calories can mean depriving yourself of nutrient-rich foods that are better for your body in the long run. On top of that, counting calories is stressful and makes your body miserable and crave more.

Water-Based Foods are Awesome:

Sakara is a strong believer in the idea that we should eat our water, besides drinking it. Hydration is the best thing you can do for water, and a lot of times when we think we’re hungry, our body craves water.

Because of this, their menu is laden with fruits and veggies that have lots of water in them. Love things like watermelon, cucumbers, lettuce, and fresh berries? Sakara has them in loads of their meals. They contain lots of water, vitamins, and minerals.

These foods will keep your digestive system in good shape, help issues like cystic acne, and strengthen your immune system. And best of all, this will curb hunger and stop you from snacking on sugary or salty junk.

Healthy Fats:

While many diets will have you run from the word ‘fat’, this one embraces the right kinds of fat. Good fatty acids are needed to stay healthy. I’m talking about the fats found in olive oil, nuts, and things like avocado.

Remember our brains are made of fat, and eating the right sort of fat means you’re feeding your brain!

Plant-Based Proteins:

Lots of vegan diets fail because they fail to give you the protein your body requires. Ditching proteins makes you tired and lethargic and proteins are needed for healthy muscles, skin, nails, hair, and muscles.

And for that, Sakara includes plenty of protein-rich sources in their meals. Plant proteins in foods like chickpeas, lentils, nuts, and beans are necessary for a healthy and balanced diet.

Green is Good:

Although we grew up hating the idea of eating our greens, they are awesome for our health because they are chock full of vitamins and fiber. Also, there are countless more ways to consume greens than just salads and Sakara takes full advantage of that.

Color Your Meals:

Nutritionists everywhere recommend a colorful plate, full of vibrant greens, reds, yellows, and everything in between. Eating a colorful meal thrice a day ensures you are getting all the nutrients, antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins your body needs.

Nutrient Density:

Eat foods that are packed with nutrients, especially foods where smaller portions have loads of nutrients. These foods are known as superfoods; for instance, chia seeds, spirulina, and goji berries. They also give you a huge boost in vitamins and minerals that are great for your body.

Sulfur Rich Plants:

You may have laughed at or wrinkled your nose at cruciferous vegetables like daikon radishes or cauliflower, but these vegetables are amazing for you. Although these sulfur-rich veggies stink, they help create glutathione, a powerful antioxidant, and detoxifier.

And for this reason, your meals from Sakara will contain 2-4 cups of sulfurous veggies a day. They will give you supple skin, great hair, and strong nails, so I’d say they are worth it.

Body Intelligence:

Sakara believes in listening to your body and giving it what it wants. And to listen to your body’s intuition, we must nourish it well. According to them, ‘food is information’ and what we feed ourselves can either heal us or create imbalances.

Because of this, Sakara pays attention to the quality of food you put: healthy, nutrient-rich, clean, and organic meals that help your body function better.

So Why Give Sakara a Try?

If you’re on the fence about giving this kind of lifestyle a try, here’s why you should give it a try.

• It is very convenient thanks to the ready made meals.
• The food is sustainably farmed, healthy, and organic.
• The packaging is recycled.
• You can customize your meal plans based on your location.
• There are lots of people who found it made them healthier.
• There is a one-time program for people who want to try it out.
• You will learn a lot about your body and a healthier lifestyle.

In a Nutshell

While the Sakara Life is no doubt expensive, I think it is an amazing idea that encourages us to focus on good, clean eating and focusing on what we put into our bodies instead of obsessing over calories and starving ourselves.

The meal programs are flexible and come in a stunning variety that will please all your senses and make sure you don’t get bored. Best of all, they include snacks and chocolates that let you treat yourself without overindulging.

You can easily customize your meal plan to your preferred frequency and number of meals. You can also choose to exclude dishes with ingredients that contain allergens.

This Sakara Life review was meant to go into this meal delivery service and what it did. Finding out more about them was a fascinating look at food and changed the way I looked at food and diets. I’m not sure about you, but I am dying to try out their Bliss Bowl and pink Summer Granola!

More Related Topic:

• Home Bistro Review
• Best meal kit delivery services out there is Sun Basket 

The drastic change in our lifestyle in the past few days made us rule out certain things that we took for granted previously.

For instance, during the recent times of social distancing, things like grocery shopping or frequent take-outs aren’t that frequent anymore. Comparatively newer options, such as meal kit subscription services have taken over and are booming more than ever.

Reaching the decision of getting aboard one of these weekly food subscription services is easy. The tricky part is choosing the right one from the myriad of choices out there.

With so many attractive websites offering delicious yet easy to prepare meals, how do you know which one is the best food subscription box for you?

You do your homework.

Right?

After doing much digging, if you landed with two names, one with the color blue and the other with the color green, chances are, you are having a hard time picking one.

Let us do the ‘i’s and cross the ‘t’s for you with this head to head comparison of Blue Apron and Green Chef, two giants taking long strides in the world of meal delivery service.

A Short History of Our Contenders

Blue Apron and Green Chef are both meal-kit delivery services operating across the US.

A meal kit generally comprises pre-portioned ingredients and stepwise recipes with all the instructions you need to turn those ingredients into complete meals.  

This concept was popularized by Blue Apron when it launched its business in 2012. Based in New York, the company has been serving ever since and the customer base continues to grow.

Green Chef came into the picture much later but quickly achieved groundbreaking success in delivering all-organic meals. The Denver based company was later acquired by Hello Fresh, but the menus and services of Green Chef remain unaltered.

Now that we have introduced our contenders in the shortest possible way, it’s time to weigh them on some basic scales and see what they have to offer.

So, What’s on the Plate?

Inside a weekly box, Blue Apron provides two to four appropriately portioned healthy meal kits along with their recipes.

There are three meal plans to choose from. The Signature and Vegetarian plans are for two people while the Vegetarian for Four is for a four-member family. You can add a wine pairing to your box.

They don’t accommodate specific dietary preferences such as keto and paleo, but their meals are always healthy. Most of their recipes are low calorie and Weight Watchers approved.

The ingredients supplied by Blue Apron are non-GMO and come from sustainable sources. They are of premium quality and have a reputation for arriving fresh.

The recipes are designed by Blue Apron’s very own culinary team. Occasionally, they invite guest chefs over to produce some specialty dishes. The cooking directions are concise and easy to follow.

Green Chef, on the other hand, is more versatile when it comes to accommodating specific dietary needs. Keto, Paleo, Plant-Powered, Balanced Living, and Family Plan are the five diverse meal plans offered by Green Chef.

Once you get on board they will send you weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly home delivery of meals, depending on what you prefer. Every week you can take a minimum of two and a maximum of four meal kits.

The pre-measured ingredients are all-organic, non-GMO, pesticide-free, hormones, and steroid free. The recipes are quick and easy.

Verdict: 

When it comes to accommodating various dietary preferences, Green Chef is a clear winner.

Even then it goes without saying that the recipes and ingredients provided by both the services are premium quality, and there isn’t a winning or a losing party here.

How does it Work?

Subscribing to both these meal kit services is easy.

Both Blue Apron and Green Chef have user-friendly websites. All you gotta do is follow some simple instructions on their webpage, and your at-home meal delivery will be on its way.

Once you are a Blue Apron subscriber, you will get to view the Blue Apron menu a week beforehand so that you can choose your meals for the following week.

Do the choosing and your box arrives at your doorstep soon afterward. Unpack your box of Blue Apron goodies, follow the cooking instructions, and enjoy premium quality gourmet meals.

If you decide to give Green Chef a try, you’ll have to set up an account first. Next, they will ask you to pick a preferred delivery day. Once you have got these trifles sorted out, you get to pick a plan.

However, Green Chef provides limited flexibility here. You can only choose meals in your subscribed diet plan.

If you like something on any of the other Green Chef menus, you’ll need to change your plan altogether in order to taste it. There is absolutely no gliding among meal plans and that can prove bothersome.

Verdict:

Blue Apron is the winner here.

Who Tops in Convenience?

Let’s start with the recipes.

Green Chef recipes are easier to cook. Ingredients are accurately proportioned and prepped. The sauces are pre-made so you don’t need to prepare them. Cooking time rarely crosses 30 minutes.

Moreover, the ingredients are color-coded. This means you can store them in the refrigerator and completely forget about them.

When it’s time to cook, all you have to do is match the color of the ingredients with the color of your recipe card, and start cooking right away.

Most Green Chef reviews agree on the point that Green Chef is one of the most convenient meal delivery services currently in the business.

Blue Apron recipes, however, are more creative and require more prep work. They are designed to bring out the chef in you. You are going to enjoy cooking with Blue Apron if you like being in the kitchen.

Cooking a Blue Apron meal kit requires a bit more dedication and a lot more pots and pans.

In contrast, if you need fast cooking with a minimum effort from your end, Green Chef is more suited to your taste.

It’s worth mentioning that Blue Apron seems to have taken notice of this and are coming up with simpler, one-pan dishes recently. Kudos to their goodwill, but even then, Green Chef wins our hearts, at least for now.

Navigating through both websites is uncomplicated. A quick look at the menu will give you a good idea of how it works.

Infographics on the Blue Apron menu tell you which one is diabetes-friendly, health-conscious, Weight Watchers (WW) approved, and so on. Whereas, the ones on the Green Chef menu tell you which one is ‘heart smart’, ‘gluten-free’, and ‘Chef’s Favorite.’

Now let’s talk about the service.

Both services are known for their fast and efficient delivery and reports of misdeliveries are rare.

On the occasions when you will need to approach the Customer Service, expect more from Blue Apron, though. Green Chef has good Customer Care, but it isn’t even close to what the Blue Apron team is doing.  

Verdict:

Even then, Green Chef takes the trophy here.

Who Tops in Taste?

Blue Apron’s culinary team will slip one or two off-beat, rather unusual ingredients to even the most usual recipes. This is the precise feature that sets the taste and flavor profile of Blue Apron meals apart.

Although we noticed that they are a bit starch heavy and veggie deficient, Blue Apron meals still are quite healthful. Inspired by the Mediterranean diet, these meals taste incredible.

Who says health and taste cannot go hand in hand?

Green Chef meals, on the other hand, taste okay. Packed with a generous portion of vegetables, lean meat and whole grains, the flavor profile of these meals is similar to Middle Eastern cuisine.

These are healthful, no-fuss meals, but not necessarily the best treats for your taste buds.

Verdict:

Blue Apron wins this round, obviously.

Where do they Serve?

Blue Apron’s meal kit delivery is available across the US. Delivery options may slightly differ from one area to another.

Green Chef serves across the continental US except for Alaska, Hawaii, and certain parts of Louisiana.

Verdict:

Winner?

That depends on where you live!

Affordability

The price range of Blue Apron starts from around $7.49 per serving. Shipping is free. The cost adds up to the contents of the weekly boxes and we think Blue Apron is reasonably priced.

Green Chef is closer to the expensive side of the spectrum. The price range per serving differs according to your chosen plan. The minimum is $10.99 excluding shipping, handling, and sales taxes.

Yes, you’ve read it right. They charge for shipping.

Verdict:

Blue Apron is friendlier to your wallet than many Blue Apron competitors including Green Chef.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Any service is bound to have a set of strengths and a set of weaknesses. Our contenders aren’t different.

We have jotted down the pros and cons of both the Blue team and the Green team so that you get a clear perception of what you are looking at.

Blue Apron:

Yay!

• Reasonably priced.
• Food tastes great
• All meals are healthy.
• Diabetes-friendly meals are available.
• Most meals are Weight Watchers approved.
• Appropriate serving sizes.
• Ingredients are responsibly sourced.
• non-GMO ingredients.
• Pre-measured specialty ingredients.
• Quick one-pan dishes are available.
• Great protein portions.
• A long menu for fish lovers.
• Meat is preserved with recyclable ice packs.
• You can add a wine pairing to your chosen meals.
• You can skip weeks, change your plan, or unsubscribe without any difficulty.
• Extremely helpful Customer Service.

Nay…

• Lots of prep work involved.
• Sauces don’t come pre-made.
• Some recipes take longer to cook than that stated.
• The meals are slightly veggie deficient.

Green Chef:

Yay!

• All-organic meals.
• High on vegetables.
• Low on saturated fats.
• Caters to a wide variety of dietary preferences.
• Easy, no-fuss recipes.
• Cooking time is usually below 30 minutes.
• Eco-friendly packaging and color-coded ingredients.
• Non-GMO, hormone, steroid, and pesticide-free ingredients.
• Certified gluten-free by Gluten Intolerance Group’s Gluten-Free Food Service Program.

Nay…

• Expensive.
• Shipping isn’t free.
• The taste profile is good but not awesome.
• Little to no room for customization.

Who is Blue Apron Best for?

Blue Apron is best for the health-conscious souls who love doing some creative cooking and don’t mind some extra efforts in the kitchen and some extra pots and pans on the sink.

If you are looking for some Ratatouille moments during these homebound days, Blue Apron may be the best food delivery service for you.

It is also cheaper than its contender, so more suitable for those on a budget.

Who is Green Chef Best For?

Green Chef is best for anyone who is on a specific diet but doesn’t have the time to plan and prepare the meals.

If effortlessly healthful eating is what you are looking for, look no further.

EndNote

“To eat is a necessity but to eat intelligently is an art.”

-Francois La Rochefoucauld 

There is no doubt that both the meal delivery services we compared here agree with Mr. La Rochefoucauld wholeheartedly.

After all, both  Blue Apron and Green Chef are committed to ensuring that the healthiest and most innovative food boxes reach our doorsteps every single week.

But no matter how similar they are in their promise, their modus operandi are polar opposites, so are their fan base.

If you still find yourself torn between Blue Apron or Green Chef, let us offer a sorting hat.

Ask yourself, which popular food quote do you relate to the most, and you’ll get your house!

Quote for the Green House:

“ Eat Clean,

  Drink Water,

  Stay Active,

  Be Healthy.”

Quote for the Blue House:

“A recipe has no soul. You as the cook must bring soul to the recipe.”

Found your match?

Great!

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