I’ve tried to like cooking. I really have. I’ve perused healthy food blogs. I’ve bought fancy cookbooks. I’ve even made several Pinterest boards declaring that I’m going to make these “Healthy Eats,” “Paleo Recipes,” or “Cast-Iron Creations.” What usually ends up happening is I wait until it’s 8 p.m. after a long work day, and I’m so famished, I just grab what’s ever in the fridge: a handful of turkey pepperoni and baby carrots with hummus? Sure. Roasted almonds and a protein smoothie? I guess that counts as dinner.
Or worse, I’ll end up ordering takeout, which is not only expensive, but usually packed with extra calories and sodium. Since I’m trying to eat healthier in the new year and lose the 20 pounds I gained during the pandemic, I knew I needed pre-made meals that were healthy and I could just pop in the microwave. Not the tiny frozen TV dinners from the ’90s, but actually home-cooked meals I could store in the fridge. Enter FreshlyFit to the rescue (the company sent me six meals at no cost to try out for editorial review but all opinions are my own).
What Is FreshlyFit?
Freshly is a weekly subscription service that makes pre-made gluten-free, whole-foods-based meals to be delivered right to your doorstep. Earlier this month, the company launched FreshlyFit, a line of meals more geared towards performance and healthy-eating goals. There are meals tailored for people who eat keto, high-protein, low-sugar, low-carb, or plant-based. FreshlyFit meals have an average of 14 grams of net carbs, more than 30 grams of protein, and 550 calories or fewer. The meals are developed by chefs and nutritionists, so you know what you’re getting is good.
And unlike the “healthy” meals you find in the freezer section at the grocery store, FreshlyFit actually has filling portion sizes. Plus, they are stored in the refrigerator instead of the freezer, so they are much fresher — they take just three minutes in the microwave to heat up and are ready to eat. The menu also changes each week so you never get sick of the same meals over and over. Although Freshly is based in New York, there are operations in Phoenix, AZ; Linden, NJ; Savage, MD; and Commerce, CA.
How Do FreshlyFit Meals Taste?
I don’t have any strict dietary restrictions, but since I have PCOS, which can lead to insulin resistanceinsulin resistance if not monitored with a proper low-carb diet, I try to eat mostly dairy- and gluten-free, and watch my intake of simple carbs and sugar. I knew the keto and high-protein meals would be a good option for me. For my delivery, I ordered the Sesame-Ginger Bliss Bowl With Noodle-Cut Hearts of Palm, Buffalo Chicken With Loaded Cauliflower, Sicilian Style Chicken Parm With Broccoli, Wholesome Chicken Sauté Bowl With Pad Kee Mao Sauce, Keto-Friendly Chicken Bowl With Super Greens Pesto & Cauli Rice, and Baked Turkey Meatballs With Butternut Spirals & Eight-Veggie Ragù
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I was pleasantly surprised with how tasty the FreshlyFit meals were. For the lunch, I liked the keto-friendly pesto chicken bowl — it was filling and convenient to eat at my desk during a busy workday. My only complaint is I just wish there were more veggies in the bowl. I also really enjoyed the sesame ginger bliss bowl, because the noddle-cut hearts of palm tasted just like pasta. However, that meal was a little too sweet and had more carbs and sugar (from coconut sap) than I would have liked and not enough protein since it was plant-based. But my favorite was the baked turkey meatballs I had for dinner since the meatballs were protein-packed and a good size to be filling. For a quick, satisfying meal, these all did the trick.
Are FreshlyFit Meals Worth It?
Although Freshly sent me the FreshlyFit meals for review, this is something I would absolutely purchase on my own. Ranging from $8.50-$11.50 per meal, that ends up being way cheaper than ordering takeout and delivery in NYC. And since I typically buy fresh groceries with the best of intentions for cooking and meal prep, but never end up using them, this also saves me money (and waste!) in wasted food. You can order FreshlyFit in four, six, 10, or 12 meals at a time.
For a reasonable price, good macros, and tasty options, FreshlyFit meals are the perfect option for people who want to eat healthier in the new year but don’t have the time or motivation to cook (hi, it me). Plus the variety of meals and options each week means you’ll never have to sit down to yet another week of boring grilled chicken and steamed broccoli. And while I’m still early in my weight-loss journey and have only lost a couple pounds in the last couple weeks, I’m sure I’ll be relying on more FreshlyFit meals to meet my 2021 weight-loss goals.
Image Source: Freshly