Have you been thinking about trying a diet delivery service? It's a smart choice these days when we're all too busy to eat healthy - never mind count calories.
With a diet delivery service, everything is done for you. You don't have to shop for special food, prepare meals or count carbs or fat. Plus many of these services have proven weight loss results.
Sounds like an easy decision right?
But then you start to research and you get overwhelmed - so many options! So many decisions to make.
Not to fear, this article will help make things simpler for you so you can make the best choice for your needs.
First of all, you should know that diet delivery services really fall into 2 main categories - fresh food meal delivery and meal replacement plans.
Fresh meal services prepare fresh meals with whole, natural foods and ship them to you. You basically are eating restaurant quality meals while you slim down (yes, your ENTIRE plate is full at each meal!)
So you can get gourmet meals like Roasted Norwegian Salmon With Young Leaf Spinach and Wild Rice with Cranberries or Slow-Roasted Pork Tenderloin With Olive Tapenade and Orzo Pasta. And meals change daily so you never get bored.
Meal replacement plans offer meals (much simpler than the meals above) like bars, shakes, oatmeals, soups, chilis, etc that you eat several times a day (up to 6 times) as you lose weight. All your meals are sent to your home along with detailed instructions and support documents you'll need.
So which is the better option for you? And what are some of the real differences between them?
Well, it really depends on what you're looking for. Here are the main things you need to know:
Pros of the Fresh Meal Diet Delivery Services
These services tend to use whole foods with no or low preservatives. Since there is an emphasis on whole, natural foods - with new meals every day - you're getting an overall healthier diet.
These services also focus on making the meals taste amazing - there is more of a focus on food pampering, so to speak. So you cut down on that feeling of deprivation we often get when dieting.
And deprivation can lead to breaking your diet. So overall, these services can help you ENJOY losing weight instead of dreading the process.
These services are also a great way to just make sure you eat healthy food. Maybe you don't really care too much about losing a lot of weight - but you're too busy to make healthy meals.
So you may find a fresh meal delivery service can help you stay slim and healthy as well.
Pros of a Meal Replacement Diet
These diets do have their benefits as well. For example, you will often see faster weight loss (since they tend to be lower in calories than the fresh meal plans above).
For example, I know of 2 popular meal replacement plans that help people lose up to 5 pounds on their first week. So this can be really inspiring if you need to lose weight quickly - but safely.
Second of all, these plans tend to be more affordable than the fresh meal plans (because their "meals" are really more like snacks and very often do include preservatives).
So if you're on a budget, then these might be the right choice for you.
One thing to keep in mind is that with fresh meal delivery services, you usually order and receive your food weekly. Many meal replacement diets require you to order from 2 weeks up to a months woth of food.
The good news?
Both kinds of diet delivery services are offering more flexibility than ever - very often giving you the option to swap out meals online at no charge. You also have some fantastic online support options with both types of plans including dietitians, message boards, counsellors and more.
So really the best option for you depends on your food preferences, weight loss goals and your budget. But rest assured you have some great options out there!
Choosing between a fresh meal diet delivery service and meal replacement diets depends on your lifestyle, health goals, and personal preferences. Here’s a breakdown of both to help you decide which is best for you:
1. Fresh Meal Diet Delivery
What It Is: Services that deliver freshly prepared, nutritionally balanced meals to your door. Meals are designed by nutritionists or chefs, often catering to specific dietary needs like keto, vegan, or low-carb.
Pros:
Cons:
Best For:
2. Meal Replacement Diets
What It Is: These include shakes, bars, or other products that are designed to replace meals, often marketed for weight loss, muscle gain, or specific health benefits.
Pros:
Convenience: Meal replacements are extremely easy to use. You just mix a shake or grab a bar, making them ideal for on-the-go situations.
Cons:
Highly Processed: Many meal replacements contain artificial ingredients, preservatives, and added sugars, which may not appeal to those seeking whole-food diets.
Best For :
Conclusion:
Fresh Meal Diet Delivery is likely better for those who prioritize whole foods, fresh ingredients, and balanced meals that offer variety and satisfaction.
Meal Replacement Diets work best for people who need extreme convenience, are on a tighter budget, or have specific fitness or weight loss goals.
If you have the budget and want long-term lifestyle changes with real, whole foods, fresh meal delivery is often the healthier choice. However, for short-term goals or busy schedules, meal replacements can be a quick and effective solution.