MORE than half the calories in an average person’s diet come from ultra-processed foods – and ready meals are a big offender as one in five exceed the recommended daily limits for salt, sugar, and fat.
We eat more than FOUR BILLION of them a year in the UK, but meal delivery services can be a great, convenient alternative.
Here I put some of them to the test . . .
READY MEALS
FRIVE delivers fresh, fully prepared meals made with 100 per cent natural ingredients.
You can choose between low-carb or balanced dishes, meat-only, seafood-only, a combination of both, vegan or veggie.
And you can choose how many meals you want to order, as well as breakfasts, snacks and high-protein smoothies.
Microwaved in minutes, the meals were really tasty and vibrant.
You’re not meant to freeze them but I did, and they still tasted great.
From £35 for a three-day meal plan, up to £60 for a six-day. See frive.co.uk .
GUT FRIENDLY
MINDFUL Chef is a long running premium service and has cornered the market in top quality, feel- good meals.
Now it has branched out into gut-friendly grub having teamed up with world-renowned health expert Dr Megan Rossi, adding Bio&Me’s kefir to their nutritious boxes.
Kefir is a delicious and easy way to pack in extra protein as well as live and active cultures, which support a healthy gut biome.
All the meals are plant-packed, fibre-fuelled and seriously tasty but since it’s a box of ingredients rather than ready meals, there is a bit more to do.
I loved the creamy coconut butter beans and the baked cod and sunshine pasta.
Two-person meals start from £6.50 per portion, family meals start from £5.00 per portion. See mindfulchef.com .
DIET
PRESS do various meal- delivery schemes including their Three Day Nutrition Reset and Power Week.
I did the Transform In Two Weeks. Each day on the plan is programmed to 1,271 calories, 56g protein, 35g sugar and 100 per cent natural.
This is a great way to reset. I loved it all – especially the chilli sin carne and mushroom risotto plus the almond butter bars.
You don’t notice it’s meat free so if you are thinking about making the change it’s a great way to introduce yourself to a veggie diet.
The dishes have a clever, steam fresh valve, which makes a high-pitched whistling sound when it is cooked so the dishes don’t dry out.
You don’t pick the dishes on this one – it’s all chosen for you.
From £117.75 a week. press-london.com/ .
