I tried MuscleFood's meal prep food delivery service and this is what I thought
Pizza, pasta and pancakes are not always what you think of when it comes to eating healthy food, but the MuscleFood Goal Getter plan helps to make that a reality. Express.co.uk tried out the subscription service for three weeks and this is what I thought.
I couldn't wait for the first package to arrive. I had been tracking the delivery all day and hopped to the door when it arrived. The food came secured in a large MuscleFood branded box that was much heavier than expected. Inside, I found a week's worth of food that I had pre-picked, including three meals and three snacks each day.
Related articles
Whether you are trying to reach a specific weight loss/muscle-building goal, or are simply looking after your health, eating well is not always easy. Busy lifestyles often get in the way, but the meal prep boxes are here to help.
So, what is the Goal Getter Hamper?
Put simply, MuscleFood delivers prep-prepped meals that aim to be both filling and healthy. You can choose from either the 'Super Slimmer' or 'Lean Machine' plan.
It is fully flexible and allows you to specify your goals as well as daily calories and how many days you want food for each week - not to mention being able to select exactly what you will be sent each day from an extensive and growing selection of food.
Over the course of my plan, I picked up curries, pastas, noodles, puddings, popcorn and crisps. I was pleasantly surprised with how satiating each meal was, but if I did get hungry between meals, there were always snacks to hand.
The personal highlights were the Posh Lentil Dahl, Mushroom Pasta and Bean and Potato Pots. If you are a meat eater, you can also indulge in steak, chicken dishes and plenty of fish options.
A typical day for me (around 1500-1800 calories) included...
The plan allows you to pair the meals with a workout routine and there is a selection of FIIT videos that are unlocked when on the plan.
This includes ones that focus on strength, cardio and stretching, and it is recommended to do one of each every week.
I tried a few of these out and found the short 10-45 minute workouts perfect to fit in in the mornings or on a lunch break.
Each video tells you its intensity, however most can be amended to suit any fitness level.
Pros
The meals were quick to make, with many taking just a few minutes in the microwave. Some arrived as recipe kits with all the ingredients and simple step-by-step instructions. The pre-made meals were great when wanting a meal on the go, while cooking gave a sense of normality and satisfaction of making a home cooked meal.
The calories and macros were clearly stated on the packaging of each meal which meant it was easy to track, if that's what you want to do. For me, knowing each day was roughly calculated for me meant I didn't look at this too closely, but it was good to see what was in my food.
There was lots of variety and what comes in the box can be picked weekly. If you have a favourite snack or meal - stock up for the following week!
My food tasted great. I genuinely looked forward to each meal and snack and nothing was lacking in flavour.
There was also great value for money - each meal was filling, nutrition and worked out at around as little as £2.07.
The flexibility of the plan was another highlight. Choose whether you want food for three, five, six or seven days a week and pick a delivery time that is convenient for you.
Related articles
Cons
There were substitutions on a couple of items each week for me where the stock was low, which meant you may miss out on something you wanted to try that week. Not a big deal, however, as it allows you to try different products, and you will receive an email to let you know ahead of time.
Some more delicate items - such as yoghurt pots - arrived burst on a few occasions for me. This is undoubtedly going to happen when transporting such products and I'm sure it could be easily sorted if raised.
The price of the plan is also both a pro and a con. The value for money is great when considering the quality and price of the ingredients and snacks sent. There are options for every budget - the three-day no snack plan vegetarian plan starts at just £31.49 a week - however a full seven-day plan with snacks can set you back from £86.99 a week, which is not going to be a viable option for everyone.
MuscleFood Goal Getter plans can be ordered from MuscleFood.com. The plan encourages people to eat little and often - three main meals and three snacks a day - to maintain a healthy diet and reach fitness goals. Goal Getters also includes access to FiiT workouts to help customers supercharge their results.