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You may be familiar with Garage Gym Reviews for all things strength and conditioning—like our curated list of best home gym equipment or our roundup of the best home treadmills—but we also test supplements, nutrition programs, and meal deliveries.
In this Fresh N Lean meal delivery service review, I’m going to outline our taste-testing experience and give you insights on the ordering process. Plus, we named Fresh N Lean as our top pick for best prepared meals in our best meal delivery service roundup review. Let’s dive into the details.
Medical disclaimer: This article is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. For health advice, contact a licensed healthcare provider. GGR also recommends choosing a product that has been third-party tested for quality.
Our Experts Taste-Tested Over 40 Meal Deliveries
Garage Gym Reviews staffs a team of experts ranging from certified nutrition coaches to Olympic athletes. Collectively our experts have tested more than 40 different meal delivery services so you don’t have to.
For this Fresh N Lean review, GGR Senior Director of Content Kate Meier used the meal delivery service for several weeks to get a gauge on ordering, shipping, meal selection, and overall taste. We also spoke with Perry Nix, GGR panelist and registered dietitian, to get an expert opinion on nutritional value.
Kate is not only an expert product tester, she’s also a NASM-certified personal trainer, competitive weightlifter, and CrossFit Level 1 Trainer. She was tasked with taste-testing Fresh N Lean and using our in-depth testing methodology to score 10 categories on a scale of 1 to 5. Some of these categories include:
- Price per meal
- Portion size
- Ingredient quality
- Meal plan options and customization
Fresh N Lean
Fresh N Lean
Product Highlights
- Meal delivery featuring 7 different meal plans
- Gluten-free options
- Non-GMO, no artificial ingredients
- Paleo, Keto, high protein, and vegan plans
- A la carte options with a $85 minimum
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Free shipping in the Contiguous U.S.
- Low minimum of meals
- Over 100 meals to choose from
Cons
- Very little customization when choosing meal plans
- Meals can be pricey
Bottom Line
Fresh N Lean is a prepared meal delivery service that has a variety of meal plans to choose from. From those plans, you can choose how many meals you’d like weekly, and notify anyone of food preferences. In addition, you can select exact meals from their A la carte section.
A Quick Look at Fresh N Lean Meal Delivery
Fresh N Lean was founded by California-based Laureen Asseo after seeing how implementing a diet of whole and nutritious foods shifted her father’s health from sickly to healthy. Since the humble beginnings of cooking and packing meals herself in 2010, the business has grown to over 400 employees and $80 million in sales.
Fresh N Lean is committed to using fresh ingredients, organic when possible, and supporting local farmers. The company aims to make healthy eating accessible to everyone.
RELATED: Best Organic Meal Delivery
Before You Buy
- If you decide to use the a la carte option, you’ll have a minimum of $85 per order.
- Delivery cadence can be customized to every 1, 2, 3, or 4 weeks if you call or email customer service and request an adjustment to your plan.
- Fresh N Lean follows food safety programs and allergen controls to limit cross-contamination.
Is Fresh N Lean Worth It?
Fresh N Lean is an investment worth making for many busy people. It’s not the most expensive or least expensive meal delivery service we’ve tried, but it’s in the middle and comparable to many popular choices on the market. I’ll break down the price per meal in a bit, so stay tuned.
If you have dietary preferences—especially common ones like gluten-free, plant-based, or high protein—Fresh N Lean has tons of options. There are even meal plans that cater to diets like keto, paleo, low-carb, and the Mediterranean diet.
RELATED: Best Gluten-Free Meal Delivery
Fresh N Lean also has the option to purchase bulk protein and carbs from the a la carte menu for family meal planning. The downside to this option is the fact it’s limited in selection and it may not be worth it because you have to purchase at least $85 on a la carte deliveries.
Great for:
- Menu variety
- Folks looking for just a few meals per week
- Anyone focusing on protein consumption
Not recommended for:
- Folks who prefer to cook
- Family meal planning
- People wary of subscription services
Fresh N Lean Specs
| Price per meal | Meals start at $8.49 |
| Meals per week | 1-3 meals per day, 5 or 7 days per week |
| Meal kit or prepared | Prepared |
| Diet options | Keto, Vegan, Paleo, Protein+, Whole30, Low-Carb Vegan, Mediterranean |
| Fresh or frozen | Fresh |
| Delivery area | Nationwide U.S. |
Using Fresh N Lean Prepared Meal Delivery Service
Our tester Kate was impressed with Fresh N Lean from the variety of meal plans and high quality ingredients to the taste and convenience. To reheat her pre-made meals Kate experimented with the microwave, oven, and stovetop. She reports all methods work well, it’s just a matter of what you have access to and have time for.
Kate also notes that while the meals arrive fresh, she popped some in her freezer to eat at a later date. The brand notes that meals stay fresh for up to 10 days after delivery and up to eight weeks in the freezer.
Fresh N Lean Cost
The price per meal with Fresh N Lean ranges from $8.49 to $15.49. We know this is quite the range, but it’s pretty comparable to other similar options with fresh and organic ingredients. Kate gives Fresh N Lean 4 out of 5 stars when it comes to price per meal.
If you’re wondering why meals range from $8.49 to $15.49, it’s because the pricing structure is based on two factors:
- The type of meal plan you choose (vegetarian, vegan standard, Mediterranean, low-carb, low-carb plant-based, keto, Whole30, Protein+, or paleo)
- How many meals are in each order (you get a price break if you order more meals)
To make things even more confusing, you have to choose a meal frequency based on how many breakfast options, lunches, and dinner entrees you want. Plus, you have to choose between receiving ready-to-eat meals either five or seven days per week. Essentially, this is how it works out:
- 5 or 7 meals: One meal per day for either five or seven days per week
- 10 or 14 meals: Two meals per day for either five or seven days
- 15 or 21 meals: Three meals per day for five or seven days per week
Keep in mind that Fresh N Lean is a subscription service and when you sign up, you’re agreeing to weekly meal deliveries. However, we combed through the FAQ section on the brand’s website and found that if customers contact Fresh N Lean via email or the contact page, they can request their delivery to be bi-weekly, tri-weekly, or even quad-weekly.
And lastly, it’s worth mentioning if you order from the a la carte menu, there is an $85 minimum in order to check out.
Taste, Ingredient Quality, and Portion Size
Our tester Kate cooks and meal preps for herself often. Needless to say, she was skeptical if Fresh N Lean could offer healthy meals she’d actually enjoy. She was pleasantly surprised with the mostly organic meal delivery service and gave the brand a 5-out-of-5-star rating for taste, ingredient quality, and portion size.
RELATED: Best Healthy Meal Delivery Service
We know taste is subjective, but it’s worth noting that Kate was shocked by how much she liked Fresh N Lean. She taste-tested a meal with fish for protein, a paleo meal featuring red pepper chicken breast with sweet potatoes, a grass-fed steak meal, a plant-based meal, and a breakfast meal.
“The steak was cooked medium and was perfect,” says Kate. “The veggies were also cooked to perfection. Even the Brussels sprouts, which looked a little mushy after microwaving, were still a little crispy.”
Perry Nix, registered dietitian, says she likes the fact Fresh n Lean offers a Protein+ plan for individuals wanting to optimize muscle building. “All of the Protein+ meals average a whopping 36 grams of protein, which falls well within the recommended 20-40 grams of protein per meal needed to maximize muscle protein synthesis,” says Perry.
Perry also notes that the standard vegan plan provides vegan meals packed with lentils, quinoa, beans, nuts, seeds, and tofu. “This ensures you’ll get plenty of protein and fiber,” says Perry.
RELATED: Best Plant-Based Meal Delivery
Not only do the meals taste good, you can feel good about eating nutritious, whole-food ingredients. “There are a number of non-GMO and organic ingredients, the steak is grass-fed, poultry is free-range, and seafood is sustainably sourced,” adds Kate.
Lastly, Kate appreciates the portion size for each meal. “The meals I tried were about 450 to 520 calories per meal. This range will work well for a lot of people,” says Kate. “I couldn’t finish mine in one sitting, but my partner finished his no problem.”
Meal Plans and Customization
Fresh N Lean offers tons of variety—from plant-based and gluten-free meals to high protein and keto meals—there is something for everyone. For this reason, Fresh N Lean earns a 5-star rating for customization and variety.
RELATED: Best Keto Meal Delivery Service
Kate says there are over 100 meals to pick from on the weekly meal plan and seven staple meal plans to choose from including keto, vegan, paleo, Protein+, Whole30, low-carb, and Mediterranean.
Plus you can choose “FNL Unlimited” which allows you as the subscriber to completely customize your meal options and choose individual meals across all seven diet plans.
You may also like knowing that the labels are transparent and provide ingredient lists, nutrition information, and macros for each meal. “The website is easy to navigate to find nutritional information, too,” says Kate.
Ordering, Packaging, and Shipping
To order from Fresh N Lean, you’ll have to choose your meal plan (or FNL Unlimited) and complete a questionnaire to determine any allergies (like dairy, soy, or wheat) and foods you’d prefer to avoid (like cilantro, olives, or beans).
Then you’ll select how many meals you want. It’s worth noting again that you’ll have to select at least one of the following: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And then choose either five or seven days’ worth of meals. Next, you’ll be asked if you want any additional meals or snacks. And after that, it’s time to enter your credit card information.
RELATED: Best Meal Deliveries for Families
Once you sign up with your credit card, you’ll then have subscriber access to the menu and make your selection of individual meals. “On your dashboard you’ll be able to schedule deliveries, choose meals, skip deliveries, or process cancellations,” says Kate.
This process is pretty similar to other meal delivery services, and earns a 5-out-of-5-star rating for ordering and getting started. “It’s super easy,” says Kate. “I loved having the options and picking exactly what I wanted.”
When the meals arrived at Kate’s door, it was a hot summer day in the Carolinas. She reports the food was in good condition and still cool to the touch, even though the ice packs had melted. She appreciates the fact Fresh N Lean comes vacuum-sealed in BPA-free, recyclable trays that make reheating easy in the tray itself or on a plate. She gives the company 4 stars for sustainability efforts since everything was recyclable.
Fresh N Lean vs Diet-To-Go
Diet-To-Go
Diet-To-Go
Product Highlights
- Meal delivery service with 5 diet plans
- Ready to heat chef-prepared meals
- Mediterranean diet and low-carb options
- Choose up to 21 meals per week
- Customized meal plans available
- New meals every 5 weeks
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Appeals to a variety of diets
- Meals are ready to eat in 3 minutes
- Can order all 21 meals for the week
- Meal plans are curated for you, but you have the option to customize it
Cons
- Very limited customization
- Doesn’t offer any organic options
- Calories are very low on the standard plan
Bottom Line
Diet-To-Go accommodates a number of dietary preferences and restrictions, but the menu doesn’t have as much variety as some of the other programs. These are heat-and-eat meals, so they’re ready to eat in three minutes.
Fresh N Lean is similar to many other subscription-based prepared meal delivery companies. The one we thought compared most closely in price range and types of meal plans offered is Diet-To-Go.
However, one of the biggest differences we found during our testing process is the fact that Diet-To-Go ranges from 300-500 calories per meal, making some meal portion sizes considerably different from others. We noticed Fresh N Lean offers larger portion sizes in a more consistent range of about 450-520 calories per meal.
To read more details about Diet-To-Go, it’s featured as one of our top picks for our cheapest meal delivery services roundup.
| Diet-To-Go | Fresh N Lean | |
| Price per serving | $9.19-$14.80 | $8.49-$15.49 |
| Type (meal kit or prepared) | Prepared, fresh | Prepared, fresh |
| Meals per week | Up to 21 | 5-21 meals |
| Delivery area | Contiguous U.S. | Nationwide U.S. |
| Diets/dietary restrictions | Diabetes-friendly, Keto, Atkins, Vegetarian, Mediterranean | Keto, Vegan, Paleo, Protein+, Whole30, Low-Carb Vegan, Mediterranean |
Customer Experience
Fresh N Lean has an expansive FAQ section on the website to assist you on commonly asked questions. However, if you run into a problem beyond the FAQ section, you can email hello@freshnlean.com or call 888-420-4080 to contact customer service.
Fresh N Lean earns a 4-out-of-5-star rating for customer experience. Kate docks a point because it wasn’t easy to cancel her subscription. “The website states you can cancel online, but there was nowhere for me to do this,” says Kate. “I had to directly contact customer support, which is annoying. You can skip meal deliveries easily, but I’m not loving that there is no easy way to cancel this subscription.”
Customer Reviews
Fresh N Lean has an average 3.9-out-of-5-star rating on Trustpilot with over 5,000 customer reviews. There are tons of positive reviews raving about the variety and quality of ingredients. Most negative reviews were less about the food and more about customer service.
Final Verdict of Our Fresh N Lean Meal Delivery Service Review
Fresh N Lean is an excellent option for folks who want to adhere to a specific diet, but need help with the meal preparation in order to do so. With over 100 meals to choose from every week and meal plans ranging from vegan to paleo, we think it’s highly likely Fresh N Lean has an option that suits your needs.
Fresh N Lean Meal Delivery Service Rating
Fresh N Lean Meal Delivery
Our experts tested this fresh, healthy, and affordable meal delivery. We dish out the details in our Fresh N Lean Meal Delivery Service review.
Product Brand: Fresh N Lean
Product Currency: $
Product Price: 8.49
Product In-Stock: InStock
4.1
Fresh N Lean Meal Delivery Service: FAQs
Is Fresh N Lean good for weight loss?
Fresh N Lean caters to seven popular diets and modalities of eating for weight loss. While the meals are specifically designed for weight loss, each meal is made from whole food ingredients with the intention of being nutritionally balanced and filling. Check out our roundup of best weight loss programs to read about our top recommendations.
How does Fresh N Lean work?
Fresh N Lean is a subscription-based meal delivery service. You’ll have to sign up by answering several questions, make a meal plan selection, and then select meal frequency before you can choose your individual meals from the menu. Once you’re a subscriber you can use your dashboard to choose meals, skip deliveries, or change meal plans.
Is Fresh N Lean easy to cancel?
You will have to contact customer support to cancel your Fresh N Lean subscription.
Who owns Fresh N Lean?
Laureen Asseo is the founder and CEO of Fresh N Lean. She started the company in 2010 when she was just 18 years old.
How long do Fresh N Lean meals last?
Fresh N Lean meals keep up to 10 days after the delivery date when stored in the refrigerator and up to eight weeks when stored in the freezer.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.
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