Recommended by Abigail Buchanan

This is more of a total lifestyle overhaul than a meal delivery service. It pitches itself as healthy meals for busy people, and it really is as easy as it gets. 

You start by filling out your height, weight and fitness goals. Along with a meal plan, you get a workout schedule from a personal trainer that you can download as a PDF. Three meals a day (plus juices and snacks, if you choose them) are delivered to your door in a cool bag, if you’re in London, or an insulated cardboard box if elsewhere in the UK. Everything is zero-cook and zero-prep. All you need to do, at most, is peel off the film and put a container in the microwave – no saucepans required. 

I’m pleasantly surprised by how great my meals taste (as other healthy/fitness-focused meal deliveries have been a little bland). Breakfasts are mostly cold – I have coconut yoghurt with peaches, granola and flaked almonds one day, and summer fruits yoghurt with berry compote and granola another. 

Lunches are varied, and far more delicious than my usual tupperware fare – my favourite is chicken with honey and mustard, glazed root vegetables, spring greens and lemon aioli. Dinner is a similar combination of protein (chicken or fish for me, although you can opt for a vegetarian menu), grains or potatoes and a generous portion of veg. My favourite is ​​spiced salmon with puy lentils, curry sauce, cavolo nero, rice and coconut yoghurt.

As is unavoidable, this process results in a fair amount of excess packaging. However, the courier collects the used cooler bags afterwards, and the containers are biodegradable. You can opt for overnight delivery or timed delivery for a fee, and the communication is excellent – the courier gives you an estimated delivery time by text down to the minute. 

I expect to feel hungry on this plan, as I’m constantly being reminded of how many calories each item contains (even the mini pots of salad dressing) and I estimate it’s less than I usually eat. But I finish each day feeling satisfied and not in need of an emergency packet of crisps, which is a plus. 

There’s a pretty big downside, which is that Fresh Fitness Food is justifiably expensive – it starts from £23 per day for three meals. Would I do it again? Yes, if money were no object. The food was fresh and delicious, and you save seven hours of prep time a week. But in reality? It’s too big an outlay.

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Cost per day from £23 for three meals

Subscription required

Delivers to: UK-wide, except select postcodes that are too remote for courier coverage 

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2. Allplants

Best for: vegan-friendly freezer food

We liked: Their plant-based take on comfort food

£40.50 for six one-person meals, allplants.com