Wednesday, March 22nd
2023 Prepared Meal Reviews
Fresh N Lean
- Menu options include Protein +, Keto, Paleo, Standard Vegan, Whole30-Approved, Low-Carb Vegan, Mediterranean Diet, and Bulk
- Over 100 meals to choose from every week
- Subscribe to a weekly meal plan or order a la carte
- Priced at $7.93+ per serving
- Free shipping
- Available for delivery in all 50 states
- Customer service available via toll-free number and email 7 days a week
- "A+" rated and accredited by the BBB
- In business since 2010
It should be easy to eat well, and Fresh N' Lean's prepared meals can help you do that. Everything they deliver comes fresh (not surprising, given the company's name), made with free-range, certified-humane animal proteins and organic, non-GMO ingredients. You should refrigerate all of your deliveries within 24 hours of arrival: eat them by the best-by date (usually up to 10 days later) or freeze for use within six weeks.
Expanded menu selections
We were really pleased to see how much Fresh N' Lean has added to the menu since our last evaluation. Plan selections now include Bulk, Mediterranean, Keto, Paleo, Protein +, Whole30-Approved, Standard Vegan, and Low-Carb Vegan. You can choose between a weekly meal plan subscription or placing a la carte orders; you'll save money when using a preselected plan, but that also means your meals will be chosen for you.
Tell them what you want
If you're opting for one of the meal plans, you'll specify if you'd like breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner. You can also indicate up to three ingredients you'd prefer to avoid in your prepared meals, along with any food allergies. Finally, Fresh N' Lean lets you add snacks or a la carte meals on any order. You don't have to worry about gluten here, because every prepared meal is gluten-free, and everything but the Keto menu is also dairy-free.
See what's coming for the week ahead
When you click on the Menu option, you can select a plan that interests you (like vegan or Whole30) and preview the week's meals. Satisfy your curiosity about the ingredients list, double-check the nutrition facts, or see the heating instructions while you're at it.
Not just the continental US
We were surprised to see that Fresh N' Lean is available in all 50 states, not just the lower 48. As you complete all of the information for your order, your cart will update with a guaranteed deliver-by date: you don't get to choose it. We went to make our purchase on a Friday and our given delivery day was a little over a week later on Saturday. However, right below that, it said that we could reach out via phone or email to request an earlier delivery date if needed, and that the company would do its best to accommodate us.
You could save a little
Fresh N' Lean popped up an offer of a $20 discount if we gave them our email address. Compared with some rivals who gave us savings offers of $100 or more, we weren't very impressed here. But, a little bit of a discount is better than none at all, right?
Customers love this service
Starting with an "A+" rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau, this company has no problems demonstrating that it's one you can count on. More than 2,000 customers have also given Fresh N' Lean a perfect five-star rating, complimenting the consistent flavor and quality of the prepared meals. Another big plus is that the customer service team here is really on the ball: we could see by their responses across a handful of complaints that they were professional, friendly and apologetic when the occasional issues occurred. Unlike some companies we reviewed that try to avoid taking responsibility, everything we saw from FNL's reps was an enthusiastic "we'll make this right" even if it was a full refund or replacement. Also, their team is available seven days a week (7a-7p PST) with "support gurus and dietitians" at the ready if you've got a question or concern.
A well-deserved bump in the rankings
We're so pleased with the ways Fresh N' Lean has improved its prepared meal service. More customers than ever will find what they need here, and there's never a concern about getting the support that they need. The only thing keeping this company from moving higher is the inability for customers to choose specific entrees while subscribed to a meal plan. But, if you tend to have a pretty well-rounded appetite, that may not even be an issue for you. In that case, we'd definitely say to give Fresh N' Lean a try.
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We've all got so many tools at our disposal these days when it comes to mealtime: the traditional drive-thru run on our way home, getting our groceries delivered by Instacart, or even having our favorite take-out brought right to our house by DoorDash or UberEats. But, let's face it: many of those options are unhealthy, expensive, or both. And even with getting our shopping done online and our supermarket hauls delivered, we still have to do the cooking. Ugh!
Fortunately, prepared meal companies can help you eat healthy at the end of a hectic day (or even on the job). These aren't your average grocery store TV dinners, either. Sure, you can opt for frozen meals if you prefer, particularly for longer-term storage, but you've also got the option of having freshly-made, refrigerated meals that only need to be heated for a few minutes in the microwave.
Prepared Meal FAQ
Continued from above...
Prepared meals are especially useful if you're trying to follow a special diet. Getting used to "going keto" , managing diabetes-friendly foods, or knowing what to eat on a renal diet can be frustrating and time-consuming. When you choose a prepared meal company, it relieves some of that burden from your shoulders - until you feel confident doing it on your own, or for as long as you like.
Some customers order prepared meals to help out in a time of need. For families of seniors who are struggling to get adequate nutrition - because they can't get to the store, their mobility or cognition is impaired, or they've got other challenges - these services offer them the peace of mind that their loved ones are consistently getting meals that are well-balanced and easy to prepare.
How does it work? Many companies require you to sign up for a recurring subscription: you choose the number of meals per week and the servings per meal, and they'll be delivered regularly unless you pause the plan, skip a particular delivery, or cancel the service. Others allow you to place orders as needed, but you'll often pay a higher per-serving cost for a la carte prepared meals.
Not sure which provider to pick? Don't worry. Here are a several criteria you can use to narrow down the options for prepared meals:
- Fresh or Frozen. Do you have a preference? Keep in mind that most meals that are delivered fresh can still be put in the freezer for at least a few weeks.
- Preferred Menu. Are you trying to follow a particular eating plan, like a weight loss diet or a strictly vegan lifestyle? Choose the prepared meal company that has recipes you'll actually want to eat.
- Flexibility. Will you need to commit to a delivery schedule? If so, how easy is it to change days or skip a shipment? Can the meals be modified to be more to your liking, such as changing fish for chicken or adding more protein? Are there any extras you can add to your box, to save you a trip to the store?
- Value. How much will you pay per meal, and how does that compare with what you'd normally spend at the store? Is it worth the cost for the convenience you'll get? Are there any discounts or other ways to save money?
- Customer feedback. What do people say about the prepared meals and the company providing them? Does everything arrive well-chilled or still-frozen, or are there problems with thawed ice packs and other delivery issues? How's the taste? Does the company's customer service team handle problems poorly or professionally?
TopConsumerReviews.com has made it easier for you to find the right prepared meal company for your needs, by evaluating and ranking today's most popular services. We hope that this information will help you spot the perfect menu and take advantage of this fantastic time-saver. Let's eat!
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