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Meal delivery services offer a convenient way to enjoy healthy meals every day of the week, even if you don’t enjoy shopping and cooking. The best meal delivery services offer a variety of choices that fit any goals and dietary preferences, and most meals can be heated up and ready to enjoy in a matter of minutes.
While having a stash of healthy meals on hand that you can enjoy in minutes sounds like a game-changer for your health and fitness goals, are these meal prep services really as good as they seem? In this Freshology meal delivery service review, I’m going to share my honest thoughts after eating these pre-made meals for a week.
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.
Hands-On Testing from Certified Testers
The Garage Gym Reviews testing team is made up of certified personal trainers, nutrition coaches, Olympians, home workout enthusiasts, and more. As a team, we’ve tested nearly 50 meal delivery services at the time of writing, carefully weighing the pros and cons of each service.
When it comes to meal delivery services, we know that taste is subjective. That’s why we score each product against our specific testing criteria, which test a variety of factors including:
- Price per serving
- Taste
- Ease of preparation
- Portion size
- Meal plans and customization
- Customer service
I tried Freshology for a week, eating the meals for lunch and dinner every day, and I’m ready to share my unbiased feedback.
Freshology
Freshology
Product Highlights
- Five dietary plans to choose from
- Five-week menu rotation
- Meals arrive cooked and ready to heat
- Can choose up to 21 meals per week
- Customizable meal plan
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Appeals to a wide variety of diets
- Meals plans can be curated for you (or you can customize if you prefer)
- Meals are ready in less than three minutes
- Can order all 21 meals for the week
Cons
- Expensive ($20) delivery fee
- Calories are low on some of the plans
- Not a lot of customization options
Bottom Line
Freshology can accommodate a number of dietary preferences, but it doesn’t offer a lot of customization within each meal plan. All meals arrive cooked and ready to eat, so it’s a good option for those on a specific diet with limited time.
A Quick Look at Freshology Meal Delivery Service
Freshology was created by Diet-to-Go, a meal delivery company focused on making healthy food convenient and affordable. From what I can tell, Diet-to-Go and Freshology are the same company, as both websites and menus are identical. Even though I purchased my meals from the Freshology website, my receipt and emails came from Diet-to-Go, so I think it’s two names for the same business for some reason.
RELATED: Best Healthy Meal Delivery Service
Anyway, Freshology offers a variety of meal plans for different goals which they categorize into menus, including a calorie-controlled male or female weight menu, a keto-friendly menu, a diabetes menu (or for those with pre-diabetes), a plant-based vegetarian menu, and a Mediterranean menu developed by chefs and nutritionists.
When you choose a plan, you’ll automatically be assigned a menu for the week, although you can substitute meals if you’d like. I received 10 meals, and all were different, with no repeating meals, and the food choices rotate weekly, so you’ll have plenty of variety. Each meal had fruits or veggies, protein, fats, and a label that clearly indicated the nutrients inside.
Similar to a program like Nutrisystem, Freshology seems geared toward weight loss, as even the Balance plan, which is the most popular option, is very low in calories for both men and women.
Unlike meal kits, which send you individual ingredients to cook yourself, Freshology ships pre-made meals that are ready to heat and eat. The meals are portion-controlled to fit the daily calories set by your plan.
Not everyone needs a meal delivery service, but if you’re new to healthy eating, or simply don’t have time to prepare your food, Freshology may be very helpful.
Lauren Strong, CPT, said, “Freshology may be worth it for the right eater. Folks at home should know that these meals are rather low-calorie, which may not be suitable if you’re an especially active person. But even if you are, if you’re willing to plan on a snack between meals, Freshology can allow you to have a completely hands-off approach to meal prepping and planning. It seems like an ideal option for people who are new to prepared meal delivery services.”
Before You Buy
- Freshology meals are pretty low in calories on the weight loss plans, so you may need to add snacks throughout the day to reach your calorie goals.
- Some of the meals were delicious, and some were pretty bad, so the quality may be hit-or-miss depending on the meals you choose.
- The menu rotates weekly and is pre-selected for you, which saves time if you don’t want to choose your own individual meals every week.
Is Freshology Meal Delivery Service Worth It?
Freshology is more affordable than some of the expensive gourmet meal delivery services, but it’s still an investment, with the price per meal ranging from $9.71 to $14.76. While the convenience may be worth the cost, it’s not a perfect service, so you need to make sure that Freshology fits your goals before you sign up.
Great for:
- Those following a low-calorie diet
- Anyone who wants a home-delivery meal service to save time on cooking
- Those who want fresh meals that can be reheated in a matter of minutes
Not recommended for:
- Those who have a higher calorie intake and want to get all of their calories from pre-made meals
- Anyone following a high-protein diet who needs significant protein in each meal
Freshology Meal Delivery Service Specs
| Price per meal | $9.71-$14.76 |
| Meals per week | Up to 21 |
| Meal kit or prepared | Prepared |
| Diet options | Balance, Balance-D, Keto-Carb30, Mediterranean, Vegetarian |
| Fresh or frozen | Fresh |
| Delivery area | Contiguous United States |
Experience Using Freshology Meal Delivery Service
Alright, time to get into the details of my experience with Freshology. While I’ve used several meal prep services in the past, I’d never heard of this company before starting this Freshology review, so I went in with no expectations or previous knowledge about the brand.
We’ll start with the pros. I loved how there was variety built in to the default menu. I signed up for the Balance plan for men and chose the 10-meal option. The menu was pre-made for me, with two meals a day for five days, all of them different. There were a couple that didn’t look good to me, and I was able to easily swap them for something else.
However, since the meals ship in an insulated package with freezer bags, some of the meals were a bit frozen, and pretty tough and dry, though this could be because of the preparation, not the shipping.
Overall, I thought the meals were pretty good. The portion sizes were a little small for me, and I had to use protein shakes to get more calories, but I enjoyed most of the meals, and the convenience of not having to cook for a week.
Price Per Meal
Let’s talk about the pricing, which scores a 3 out of 5. Freshology claims that their meals start under $9, but when you go to create your weekly order, the most affordable meal is the Vegetarian menu when you order 21 meals, which costs $9.71 per meal. The other meal prices range as high as $14.76 per meal.
You can save 20% on your first order at the time of writing, and the discount will be automatically applied at checkout, but the ongoing cost will be a bit higher after your first week.
For my weekly plan, the 10 meals cost $137.91 even with the discount, for a per-meal cost of $13.97. This includes shipping fees, but even without shipping the meals were $12 per meal, not $9.
Freshology Meal Delivery Service Meal Preparation
For the preparation, Freshology scores a 5 out of 5. All of the meals are pre-made and ready to eat, so you don’t have to do any cooking yourself. Two of my meals had individual meal components wrapped in saran wrap, but it was enough to rip that off and heat them, so I won’t dock any points for that.
It was nice that the meals were already made, and I didn’t have to do any cooking myself. Some meal delivery services like HelloFresh send you individual ingredients that you still need to cook yourself, and I’m glad I didn’t have to do that with Freshology.
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Taste, Ingredient Quality, and Portion Size
This is the most subjective category, as we all have different tastebuds, but I give Freshology a 3-out-of-5-star rating when it comes to taste.
Some of the meals were very good, better than expected, but some were very tough to eat. In particular, a grilled cheese sandwich came pre-cooked, but the bread was extremely tough, and the cheese in the middle was nearly frozen.
As for portion size, the calories are quite low. The meal plan for men is designed to get you 1,600 calories per day, while the women’s plan is designed for 1,200 per day. While these numbers may be appropriate for very small individuals, they’re pretty low overall in calories.
The protein content also varies, ranging from 15 grams to 30 grams in the meals I received, which isn’t great if you’re concerned about maintaining a high protein intake.
RELATED: High-Protein Meals
Some of the portions also felt very small. I know Freshology wants to keep the calories low, which is likely why the portions are small, but I’d rather have lower-calorie foods in the meal and more of them versus a high-calorie meal in a small serving.
Meal Plans and Customization
For meal plans and customization, Freshology scores a 5 out of 5. They have five different menus to choose from for a variety of dietary needs: Balance, Balance-diabetes, Keto-Carb30, Mediterranean, and Vegetarian. You can take a free diet analysis to help choose the right plan for your goals.
At the time of writing, there is no vegan or gluten-free plan available. The Keto-Carb30 plan is meant for those following a low-carb or ketogenic diet, and each full day of eating includes fewer than 30 net carbs.
RELATED: Best Keto Meal Delivery Service
The menu rotates weekly and you’ll receive 10 different meals each week, though you can easily change the meals before they ship if you’d like. I saw a few meals that didn’t look very tasty and I could easily substitute them for meals of my choosing.
The variety is great, but with a changing menu, your favorite meals may not be available every single week.
Ordering, Packaging, and Shipping
For ordering, packaging, and shipping, Freshology scores a 4 out of 5.
Ordering was easy enough, and the meals came well-packed in an insulated package. However, some of the meals were completely frozen, even though they were meant to be stored in the refrigerator, which may be a part of why they felt tough and overcooked.
RELATED: Best Frozen Meal Delivery
Paying for shipping is common with food delivery services, although Freshology costs nearly $20 to ship, while other meal plans like Factor offer flat-rate shipping of $9.99 per order.
Orders are shipped weekly on Mondays, and you have until the previous Thursday to finalize your menu selection. My shipment arrived the following day, though your shipping time may vary.
Freshology Meal Delivery Service vs Factor75
One of the most popular meal delivery services out there right now is Factor75, which I’ve also tried and used recently.
Both offer a variety of meal plans and a large menu variety, so you’ll never have to eat the same meal twice. Freshology seems to have fewer calories per meal on average, although this also meant lower protein in many of the meals.
Factor meals had more protein, although calories were often higher. Both are good options, though I would say Factor75 is better for those concerned about protein intake who are OK with higher calories, and Freshology is better for anyone looking for a low-calorie option.
To read more about Factor75, head on over to our Factor Meals review.
Factor75
Factor75
Product Highlights
- Heat-and-eat meals that are delivered weekly
- Five menu plans, including calorie-controlled and keto
- Can mix and match from different menu plans for more variety
- New menus drop weekly
- Can order up to 18 meals per week
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Not restricted to one specific diet plan
- Meals arrive fresh and ready to heat
- Offers options for different dietary preferences
- Can cancel or skip a delivery anytime
Cons
- No options for customization
- No personalized plans for weight loss
Bottom Line
Factor75 is a heat-and-eat delivery service that works well for those on specialized diets. Boxes are delivered weekly, and you can mix and match from different menu plans to maximize your menu variety.
Customer Experience
For the customer experience, I’ll give Freshology a 4-out-of-5 score. The website says they’ll refund your order if you’re not happy, though there aren’t any details about how long you have to claim your refund. You can contact the company through a contact form on the website, or at the phone number provided.
One small complaint I have is that you need to reach out to customer service to cancel your subscription, as there’s no way to manage your account yourself. However, I was pleasantly surprised that they responded to my cancellation email within a couple of hours.
Customer Reviews
This is a hard category to score, as the Freshology website doesn’t include any real user reviews, only quotes from other publications that have talked about them.
However, Google has five reviews for Freshology with an average rating of 3.4—this isn’t quite as good as seeing real user reviews, but this is the best I can find. The positive reviews don’t say anything at all about the food quality, and the negative reviews were one-star reviews that said the food wasn’t very good at all.
Final Verdict of Our Freshology Meal Delivery Service Review
Freshology provides a wide variety of low-calorie meals that are easy to prepare and rotate weekly for plenty of variety. The total daily calories are pretty low, so some users may need to supplement the meal plan with extra snacks or protein shakes, but overall, the variety is nice to see.
I found the taste of the meals to be hit-or-miss, ranging from delicious to downright bad and hard to eat. The limited user reviews I found shared the same opinion. They may not be the most delicious meals, but it’s still a handy meal service that can save you time if you’re busy.
If you’re looking for a meal delivery service that’s very low in calories with plenty of variety, Freshology is a great option. But if you prefer more protein in your meals and larger portion sizes, you may want to look elsewhere.
- Freshology meals have plenty of variety, but they’re a bit small, especially for the price.
- Some of the meals are very low in protein, with only 15 grams in a meal.
- The taste and quality range all over the place, so you may not enjoy every single meal.
Full Rating
Freshology Meal Delivery Service
Freshology can accommodate a number of dietary preferences, but it doesn’t offer a lot of customization within each meal plan. All meals arrive cooked and ready to eat, so it’s a good option for those on a specific diet with limited time.
Product Brand: Freshology
Product Currency: $
Product Price: 9.71
Product In-Stock: InStock
3.88
Freshology Meal Delivery Service: FAQs
How does Freshology work?
Freshology offers freshly made, healthy, low-calorie meal plans that fit a variety of dietary needs and preferences. Meals are shipped to your door on a weekly basis, and each week has a different menu with a wide variety of foods.
How much is Freshology?
Freshology plans vary in price, and the more meals you order at once, the lower the cost of each meal. After shipping fees, the meals range from $9.71 to $14.76 per week.
How does a meal subscription work?
Meal subscriptions work by sending you pre-prepared meals on a recurring basis, which can be weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. Freshology is a weekly plan, and you can choose a five-day or seven-day option, with two or three meals for each day.
What is the downside to meal delivery services?
Meal delivery services can be more expensive than grocery shopping, as you’re buying pre-made food and paying for shipping. Meals don’t always taste fresh, and you may not be able to customize the exact meals to add or remove ingredients as you see fit.
The Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated these statements. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.
Further reading
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Meal delivery services offer a convenient way to enjoy healthy meals every day of the week, even if you don’t enjoy shopping and cooking. The best meal delivery services offer a variety of choices that fit any goals and dietary preferences, and most meals can be heated up and ready to enjoy in a matter of minutes. While having a stash of healthy meals on hand that you can enjoy in minutes sounds like a game-changer for your health and fitness goals, » Read more about: Freshology Meal Delivery Service Review (2024): Low-Calorie Meals at Your Doorstep » Read more