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Meal Delivery Review: Balance your budget in the new year while starting afresh with nutrition.
Meal delivery services are popping up all over the place at the moment. Whether it’s taste kits, veg boxes, or full-blown planned meal services. These meal delivery services vary wildly in quality, taste, service and cost. Therefore, establishing the value for money can be hard to judge.
A recent addition to the gourmet meal delivery niche is the company, Eat Zest. They offer freshly prepared gourmet meals designed to support three different diet plans for the end user.
Meal Delivery Review: What are the pros of Eat Zest?
Eat Zest sent us over a box of meals to review in order to allow us to see if they delivered on tasty, nutritional budget-friendly meals. Their website claims that the meals are all nutritionally balanced, high protein, calorie controlled, and free of added oils, sugars and preservatives. They are also cooked in rapeseed oil to reduce the saturated fat levels.
The three different meal plan options are great for tailoring food and meals to your New Year’s resolutions…
The low carb, low fat “Burn” package is perfect for those wishing to shed a few pounds carefully with a New Year Diet. The “Balance” plan from Eat Zest, however, aims to maintain weight while providing high-quality carbs and protein to fuel training or a busy lifestyle. The final package offering comes in the form of the “Bulk” option, jam-packed full of high protein and high carb ingredients.
Whichever option you go for you’ll get the same recipe options to pick from, but the ingredients are adjusted and tailored to your chosen package.
Meal Delivery Review: How do Eat Zest meals taste and how much do they cost?
We opted to trial the mid-package, the “Balance” option. With 10 meals costing an increasing amount from the Burn package at £43.99 through to £51.99 for the 10 meal “Bulk” option, you’re looking at £4-£5 per meal. You can decrease the cost per meal further by choosing the 15 meal option, or trial the service on their 7 meal package, which works out slightly more expensive (per meal). Read on below for your chance to win a 7 meal bundle from Eat Zest to try yourself!
Eat Zest use at present DPD for delivery, not my preferred delivery company from past experiences, but nevertheless, the items arrived quickly on this occasion. The packaging the meals arrived in looked suitably professional and practical with easy to remove labelled sleeves that contained all the nutritional information needed. All meals had a few days date on them but can be frozen to use at your own pace.
We used a few meals from fresh and a few after freezing to see if the freezing process had an impact on the taste and appeal of the meals. The 10 meals we tried from the “Balance” package were:
- 2 x Chicken Katsu with Sticky Rice & Pickled Carrot (Balance)
- Thai Green Chicken Curry with Brown Rice (Balance)
- Handmade Sicilian Meatballs with Corn Penne Pasta & Grated Cheddar (Balance)
- Beef & Black Bean Stir-fry (Balance)
- Jamaican Jerk Chicken with Rice & Peas (Balance)
- 2 x Tennessee BBQ Pulled Pork with Sweet Potato Wedges and Rainbow Slaw (Balance)
- Tandoori White Fish with Spicy Sweet Potato Mash & Chunky Fresh Tomato Salsa (Balance)
- Chargrilled Peppers & Goats Cheese with Couscous & Butternut Squash (Balance)
We froze one of the Pulled Pork meals and one of the Chicken Katsu meals to compare to the “same” non-frozen version.
We were able to sample the meals over a week or so and found that the particular highlights were the Pulled Pork and Jerk Chicken meals. These two meals in particular not only looked appealing before and after heating but also packed good levels of flavour alongside the healthy nutrients they included. Achieving flavoursome meals whilst monitoring the levels of less preferred additions is never going to be easy, but on the whole Eat Zest have managed the feat.
That being said, the Meatball dish and Thai Green Curry could have had more flavour for our personal liking, but the meals were still perfectly palatable. For the price, I would suggest these meals would be of most use to those with busy lifestyles looking to have meals ready to go at a reasonable price. Whether enjoyed as a quick lunch in a city commute lifestyle or even as a stable means to healthy meals for run-ragged parents, Eat Zest is definitely worth a try. Oh, and factor in that they have a “refer a friend” style scheme too so you can get credit for introducing others to the service, again adding value.
You can try the meals yourself in two ways… Via our exclusive 10% off code “SAVVYDAD10” which you can redeem on the Eat Zest gourmet meal website. Alternatively, why not enter our competition below to win your very own 7 meal supply from Eat Zest.
Meal Delivery Review: Win your very own 7 Meal Gourmet Hamper
Eat Zest are giving one of our lucky readers the chance to win their very own week’s worth of meals by giving away one of their 7 Meal hampers. To be in the running just use the form below and don’t forget to let us know your experiences good or bad for this and other meal delivery services in the comments section below.
COMPETITION NOW CLOSED.
NOTE: This is a collaborative post and winners’ details will be passed on to Eat Zest to arrange the prize directly with the winner.
105 Comments
Rich Tyler
January 2, 2018 at 3:58 amGreat 2018 comp, new start!
Solange
January 2, 2018 at 4:39 amI like the sound of the Thai Green Chicken Curry.
Tracy Nixon
January 2, 2018 at 5:08 amSounds a great company that I would love to try! Thanks
EMMA j WALTERS
January 2, 2018 at 7:15 amgreat way to try new flavours
claire woods
January 2, 2018 at 8:21 amFab prize. Thanks.
Ren Taylor
January 2, 2018 at 9:59 amSounds great…..thanks for the chance
Fiona K
January 2, 2018 at 10:40 amThese are a good idea
Sarah Carter
January 2, 2018 at 10:48 amSuch a great giveaway thank you for the chance x
Joanne Beale
January 2, 2018 at 11:21 amLooks yummy would love to win and try
Sarah Corbett
January 2, 2018 at 11:36 amA great, inspiring start for 2018. I’d love to try out Eat Zest’s new recipes.
Hayley Atkins
January 2, 2018 at 11:44 amThey all look and sound delicious meals…anything with sweet potato or butternut squash will be a winner for me ,as well as one of my favourites,Thai Green Chicken Curry. Fabulous giveaway to start the New Year!
Nicola Andrijauskas
January 2, 2018 at 12:29 pmThese foods look delicious!
Katherine Lucas
January 2, 2018 at 12:49 pmThese look so delicious
Charlotte Pashley-Foy
January 2, 2018 at 1:06 pmAmazing giveaway, these look fantastic for lunch or dinner!
ADEINNE TONNER
January 2, 2018 at 1:39 pmThis looks great especially as i’m trying to become more healthy this year.
Kim Carberry
January 2, 2018 at 1:55 pmThese meals sound fantastic. A great way to eat a little bit healthier x
clara b
January 2, 2018 at 2:47 pmWould love to try
ashleigh allan
January 2, 2018 at 3:14 pmSounds really good!
Kerry Locke
January 2, 2018 at 3:32 pmCould be a real time saver option
Debbie Bird
January 2, 2018 at 3:32 pmfabulous they look amazing
christine shelley
January 2, 2018 at 4:06 pmNot my cup of tea but my husband and girls would love the selection
Annabel Greaves
January 2, 2018 at 4:25 pmThis sounds fab
Andrea Smith
January 2, 2018 at 4:33 pmVery handy for work. No thinking about what to do for lunches, just grab a tub and go!
Rachel Craig
January 2, 2018 at 4:39 pmGreat prize. We love food, we need food. Also ” Variety is the Spice of Life”.
Marion Payne
January 2, 2018 at 4:45 pmThe meals look good and nutritious, also time saving
Amelia Kennedy
January 2, 2018 at 5:02 pmWhat a lovely selection of meals! My family would love these … x
Alica
January 2, 2018 at 5:17 pmWhat a great giveaway! Thank you for the chance!
mari sutherland
January 2, 2018 at 5:19 pmLovely prize thank you
Tracey Belcher
January 2, 2018 at 5:21 pmwould love to try these – Love Thai too
Rachel Craig
January 2, 2018 at 5:26 pm? Error, as unable to record name in rafflecopter for putting comment on blog. Please Assist!
savvydad
January 2, 2018 at 7:56 pmHave you re-tried? Sometimes clearing cookies helps with plugin competitions if you clear the last 30 mins?
laura stewart
January 2, 2018 at 6:09 pmfingers crossed, fab giveaway x
Julia Linsley
January 2, 2018 at 7:20 pmWonderful ! Thank you for the opportunity !
Chris Andrews
January 2, 2018 at 7:27 pmbrilliant way to kick start the year
Vivien Baird
January 2, 2018 at 7:47 pmThey sound delicious
Darren Freeman
January 2, 2018 at 8:10 pmGreat start to 2018!!! Yummmm
olivia Kirby
January 2, 2018 at 8:16 pmOhhh these look very good! Please count me in!
Leila Benhamida
January 2, 2018 at 8:17 pmSuch a wonderful prize. The meals looks so delicious.
rebecca h
January 2, 2018 at 8:26 pmoo I’d love to try these they sound delicious and such a great idea! we work shifts so eating healthily is sometimes hard!
Victoria N
January 2, 2018 at 8:43 pmWould love to try these!
Alan Burrows
January 2, 2018 at 8:47 pmnice prize
andrea tinkler
January 2, 2018 at 8:53 pmI have tried similar meals from a different firm and i must say i was surprised how nice they were. Lovely giveaway xx
T Brailey
January 2, 2018 at 8:57 pmThese look really tasty and all done for you. Lovely
Ruth Wollerton
January 2, 2018 at 9:02 pmThis would give my life ZEST and healthiness. Trying to be fitter and healthier this year, so I would love to win. Thanks for the chance & HAPPY NEW YEAR xxx
savvydad
January 3, 2018 at 9:11 pmI love a good pun 😉
Lucy Barlow
January 2, 2018 at 10:32 pmJerk chicken! Droooool! Nice to take the faff out of healthy eating. Keeps it easy enough to get you over the hump of giving up the chrimbo calories!
Kathleen marsden
January 2, 2018 at 11:18 pmI like the look of the Pulled Pork. Although I wouldn’t turn my nose up at any of the other suggestions either ?
Lynda Graham
January 2, 2018 at 11:57 pmGood variety to choose from
Love to try.
Christine Dent
January 3, 2018 at 12:19 amAll looks very yummy!
Chris Dent
January 3, 2018 at 12:22 amVery tasty looking dishes.
Debbie Bird
January 3, 2018 at 1:31 amThe meals looks delicious
christine szlobodnik
January 3, 2018 at 1:50 amamazing giveaway! would love to be the lucky winner. thankyou so much for the chance x
john prendergast
January 3, 2018 at 3:06 ammeals look nice
Graham Ross
January 3, 2018 at 6:33 amWhat a fab prize to hopefully win
jo liddement
January 3, 2018 at 8:31 amReally nice to come home to some healthy and ready made cooked meals when you have had a busy day at work.
Adeline Sheradelia
January 3, 2018 at 9:07 amThe 7-day package is an ideal way to trial this out!
Lorna Ledger
January 3, 2018 at 9:10 amI have tried Hello Fresh! and they were lovely, although I find it a bit expensive, I love the idea of it all though and we ate really healthily – thanks for the chance 0- Happy New Year
savvydad
January 3, 2018 at 9:10 pmAgreed, we’ve tried Hello Fresh and we found 50% we liked 50% we didn’t. Handy things the recipe cards though, as you can source the ingredients much cheaper yourself if you like the Hello Fresh meals 😉
Sheena Batey
January 3, 2018 at 10:22 amJust the job for jaded January
donna l jones
January 3, 2018 at 10:32 amlooks good lovely giveaway
Margaret Clarkson
January 3, 2018 at 1:24 pmThe meals sound delicious.
Richard Eldred Hawes
January 3, 2018 at 2:07 pmThese look interesting and might be worth a try
pete c
January 3, 2018 at 5:01 pmall of these sound very tempting!
Carole Nott
January 3, 2018 at 5:15 pmgreat giveaway – thanks for the chance
Hayley Atkins
January 3, 2018 at 5:38 pmI commented on January 2nd at 11.44 but Rafflecopter seems to be having a senior moment and wont let me write in box to confirm my entry.
Margaret Gallagher
January 3, 2018 at 7:13 pmSounds delicious would love to try
Judith Allen
January 3, 2018 at 7:16 pmThese look tasty and so convenient.
Faye Reed
January 3, 2018 at 8:29 pmThese look delicious, I’ve tried something like this before but these ones are much better x
Sarah Austin
January 3, 2018 at 8:35 pmGreat competition! Fingers crossed!
kate kathurima
January 3, 2018 at 8:58 pmwhat a great prize
Carole E
January 3, 2018 at 9:05 pmThese look delicious
clair downham
January 4, 2018 at 10:42 amfabulous prize thankyou very much
Lauren Jeffs
January 4, 2018 at 10:47 amThese meals look and sound delicious. I would love to try. I am such a big foody and this is such a good alternative to going out.
Ella Langford
January 4, 2018 at 12:00 pmThey all sound delicious
Ailsa
January 4, 2018 at 2:22 pmLooks like a great way to start the new year
GEOFF WICKENS
January 4, 2018 at 3:29 pmALL LOOKS GREAT
June Lord
January 4, 2018 at 3:40 pmAll sounds nice. Love the sound of the Jerk Chicken especially because I struggle to find a good recipe for it.
Jane Davies
January 4, 2018 at 4:21 pmYUM ! Would love to give this a go, fingers crossed 🙂 Thanks
Caroline Hunter
January 4, 2018 at 7:37 pmThese look really tasty, I’d love to try them!
sheri Darby
January 4, 2018 at 7:46 pmThis looks a really good idea
Lyla
January 4, 2018 at 10:46 pmI’ve never tried anything like this before
Ann Skamarauskas
January 4, 2018 at 11:39 pmlooks good
Emma Walton
January 5, 2018 at 7:39 amThese meals look very appetising!
Ursula Hunt
January 5, 2018 at 10:23 amThese meals sound delicious would love to give this a try
Lindsey Martin
January 5, 2018 at 12:15 pmI could really do with these, tasty nutritious meals all ready to be heated up. Fantastic. I work full time and have a 3 year old, so when I’ve put her to bed, its hard for me to motivate myself to cook something tasty/healthy.
savvydad
January 5, 2018 at 8:18 pmThe slow cooker is your friend 😉 https://savvydad.co.uk/?s=slow+cooker We feel your child-related lack of time pain!
Alison MacDonald
January 5, 2018 at 12:47 pmLovely prize and very tasty sounding too xx
Alison MacDonald
January 5, 2018 at 12:53 pmI commented today 12.47pm but the gleam won’t let me enter my name 🙁
savvydad
January 5, 2018 at 8:17 pmThanks for letting me know; I think I can add it manually for you.
Edward Guerreiro
January 5, 2018 at 1:59 pmI have never tried a meal delivery service. The closest I have used is graze. It was delicious, but ultimately too expensive/poor value for money.
A.E. ADKINS
January 5, 2018 at 2:41 pmSounds a great way to sample different flavours but the price would need to be sensible to tempt us
Anthea Holloway
January 5, 2018 at 4:32 pmThese sound like lovely meals and would certainly save time cooking from scratch.
Victoria Prince
January 5, 2018 at 4:41 pmI’ve never used a meal delivery service! But these look and sound delicious so I’d love to try them
Diana
January 5, 2018 at 11:12 pmSounds lovely 🙂
Stevie
January 6, 2018 at 6:44 amI fancy jerk chicken now.
Kev Cannon
January 6, 2018 at 10:23 amThese look really nice – thanks for the chance to win and try
Paul Nichol
January 6, 2018 at 12:47 pmGreat prize
Liz T
January 6, 2018 at 12:55 pmThe vegetarian ones are great.
Derek Wilson
January 6, 2018 at 1:26 pmI love the convenience of these. Time is a rare commodity nowadays, so anything that lets me do the things I enjoy (instead of cooking from scratch!) is a great idea in my book. Thank you!
AnnaS
January 6, 2018 at 5:12 pmGreat Prize! Thanx.xxx
Victoria N
January 6, 2018 at 9:53 pmThese meals look super tasty
Em S
January 6, 2018 at 10:47 pmThose disheslook very tasty adn colourful, a nice way to bring some variety to our diet
Danielle Graves
January 6, 2018 at 11:11 pmThey all sound really appealing.
Amy Jo McLellan
January 7, 2018 at 4:13 pmI really like the sounds of this. I do really enjoy a chicken katsu curry but don’t cook them for myself at home, so I’d particularly enjoy that in the plan.
Jodie W
January 7, 2018 at 9:01 pmIve been keeping my eyes peeled for something like this to recommend to my incredibly busy friend. She doesnt have much time to cook from scratch so healthy tasty meals to go would be fab