Meal delivery services are a dime a dozen these days, so how do you choose the best option? Some shop by price and others by recipe variety but, for some, dietary restrictions create limitations that can make the choice even more difficult.
If you’ve poked around our site, you know we’re big fans of Freshly. Why? They deliver delicious, pre-made, gluten-free meals right to your door with no preparation needed other than heating up (oven or microwave). In our initial review we were pleasantly surprised at not just the variety of meals but the care that went into making each one. They homemade quality meals that can be ready to eat as quickly as a TV dinner.
If you’re looking for a meal delivery service that requires zero prep and tastes great, Freshly is the way to go. Before you place your first order, however, there are a few things you should know to ensure that you get the most out of your subscription.
Keep reading to learn more…
What Makes Freshly So Unique?
Many meal subscription services like Blue Apron and Hello Fresh send their customers weekly packages of fresh ingredients with recipes and instructions to prepare the meals themselves. This is a great option for people who love to cook but who also want to take some of the hassle out of buying groceries, prep work, and the stress out of planning an entire week’s worth of meals.
Freshly is a bit different than your usual “meal kit” because you receive nutritionally balanced, chef-cooked meals delivered right to your door (cooled, not frozen) and all you have to do is heat them up.
Now let’s explore some important things you should know before you start your Freshly subscription:
1. Every meal is prepared by a team of professional chefs.
Many people assume Freshly is just another microwavable “TV” style dinner. After one bite, you’ll realize that’s not the case at all. This all comes down to the fact that their meals are handmade by a team of professional chefs. You’re not dealing with something slopped together and frozen for weeks or months on end. They follow in the footsteps of their name — freshly made.
2. Freshly follows strict recipe standards according to their nutritional philosophy.
One of the coolest things about Freshly is they publicize all of the ingredients that they personally ban from their foods. They have an ever-growing list of 85 banned ingredients that include: no artificial ingredients, no hydrogenated oils, no refined sugars, and much more. While many food companies like to keep customers in the dark regarding the ingredients they use, we can appreciate how open and honest Freshly is about theirs.
3. Every meal is certified gluten-free and prepared in gluten free food facilities.
If you have Celiac Disease or you follow the gluten-free diet, you probably already know how tough it can be to find meals that don’t have gluten in them. And eating strictly gluten-free foods is incredibly important when you have Celiac because one slip-up and it could a host of autoimmune reactions to occur. Freshly not only offers gluten-free meals, their entire service is gluten-free and all of the meals are prepared in gluten-free facilities. This means there is zero chance of cross-contamination.
4. You’ll enjoy a variety of meal options including high-protein, low-carb, and low-calorie.
Meal delivery services are meant to be used long-term. So you don’t necessarily want to continually get the same meals or same type of meals over and over — that could get boring. Freshly knows this and offers a variety of meal options week-to-week and different diet options too. You’ll have the option to choose from high-protein, low-carb, low-calorie, and more.
5. Meals are delivered pre-made but never frozen – they are ready to heat immediately.
One misconception about Freshly is that the meals are frozen. We’ve heard this one over and over in comments, other blogs, and even people just asking us questions about Freshly. Their meals are never frozen and are not comparable to those other sodium-packed TV dinners we’re all familiar with. Each meal is made by their chefs, immediately packed into a cooled container, and shipped to your door. They work quick to make sure that their meals stay fresh, avoiding ever needing to be frozen. If you want to extend the life of your meals (for example, if you went away for the weekend) you could technically freeze them after you got them and reheat.
6. Meal deliveries are sent in recycled/biodegradable packaging.
Waste is a real issue in the world of meal kits. If you’re receiving boxes each week, it’s important to know that the packaging can be recycled and/or reused. Freshly sends their meals in recyclable cardboard boxes that are insulated with recycled denim insulation that is almost fully biodegradable. Plus, the gel ice packs are non-toxic so they can be thrown away.
Every Freshly meal comes in a Go-Green plastic container that is BPA-free and microwave-safe. These containers are made with a process that is 30% cleaner than other plastic manufacturing processes, and they are sealed with a light plastic coating to maximize freshness.
To learn more about Freshly, check out our video unboxing, taste test, and review below!
