From YouFoodz to HelloFresh: Dietitian reviews the leading meal delivery services – and the winning company might surprise you

SOPHIE HASLETT
20 August 2018
DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA
Dietitian Lyndi Cohen reviewed Australia’s leading meal delivery services
She pitted Hello Fresh, Dinnerly, YouFoodz and more in competition
Lyndi found Marley Spoon to be the best option, followed by Hello Fresh
She recommended adding extra vegetables and side salads to every meal kit
 
Now that we are busier than ever, convenience is a top priority for many Australians.
But if you find you’re constantly getting takeaway, then a meal delivery service might be a good way for you to save money, reduce food waste and eat a little healthier.
Dietitian Lyndi Cohen recently reviewed Australia’s leading meal delivery services – with surprising results.
Here, FEMAIL takes a look at what she found.
DINNERLY
The sister company to Marley Spoon, Dinnerly launched in March 2018 and quickly picked up many devotees.
Lyndi explained that ‘Dinnerly is the cheapest meal delivery service by far because they don’t spend big on marketing, printing and high-cost ingredients, instead opting for carrots, corn and peas’.
If you’re budget-conscious, the dietitian said this could be the best choice for you, as meals work out to be roughly $6.50 per meal – or half the price of the others.
The catch is that you have to commit to three meals a week, you don’t get to choose what you eat and the meals are between 500 and 800 calories per serve.
Dinnerly review rating: 6.5/10
HELLOFRESH
As with Dinnerly, HelloFresh will send you all of the ingredients you need to make a meal from scratch, except from condiments,and things you might have in your kitchen.
Meals will set you back around $11-$12 per meal, when you’re a couple getting three of them per week. It will be cheaper if you’re a family.
‘Compared with Dinnerly, you get more options including a vegetarian choice. Meals are generally around 500-800 calories serving, and I’d also be adding a serve of leafy greens to up the nutrition,’ Lyndi said.
HelloFresh review rating: 7/10
MARLEY SPOON
Of all the meal delivery kits she reviewed, Lyndi said she found it ‘easiest’ to make a healthy choice with Marley Spoon.
‘With this meal delivery service, you also get more flexibility, customisation, so you get to choose what you want to eat each week,’ she explained.
Lyndi added that another benefit of Marley spoon is that you can do a minimum of two nights worth of meals, whereas Dinnerly and HelloFresh make you commit to three nights a week.
Again, calorie count is between 500 and 800, and Lyndi recommends you add your own leafy green veg.
Marley Spoon review rating: 8/10
YOUFOODZ
Unlike the other meal delivery kits Lyndi reviewed on this list, YouFoodz is pre-cooked so that all the busy user needs to do is warm it up.
‘Compared to the others, it’s much lower in calories though that doesn’t automatically make it healthier for you,’ Lyndi said.
You can buy YouFoodz either online or at supermarkets and convenience stores, and Lyndi said it might be a good option for either students, new mothers or those cooking for one.
YouFoodz review rating: 7/10
LITE’N’EASY
As a diet meal delivery kit, Lyndi said you can expect to eat lots of diet food on Lite’n’Easy.
She admitted that she followed the program for a period, but didn’t keep it off because the program didn’t teach her to cook.
Lite’n’Easy meals come pre-cooked, but Lyndi said they are ‘not very inspiring’.
Lite’n’Easy review rating: 3/10
MUSCLE MEALS
Last but not least, Muscle Meals comes pre-cooked and is aimed at regular gym goers.
‘Muscle Meals provide you with high protein, calorie-controlled meals that hit your macronutrient target but bore your taste buds,’ Lyndi said.
Muscle Meals Review Rating: 5/10
CONCLUSION
Lyndi recommends Marley Spoon as the best meal delivery option, because of the ‘variety and flexibility’ it offers.
In second place for the dietitian is HelloFresh, which is on a par with YouFoodz, which is a great ‘last minute back-up’.
With all of the options, the Sydney-based health professional recommends you add your own extra vegetables or side salad.