Whether you’re new to bodybuilding or a seasoned veteran, you need to eat. Food is fuel and when it comes to building up your body, results are made in the kitchen.
If you’re looking for a simple way to feed your muscles what they need to grow, consider a meal delivery service.
Why?
Meal delivery services take the hassle out of healthy eating by sending fully prepared meals or fresh ingredients right to your door. Whether you’re eating Paleo, following the Keto diet, or simply tracking your macros, a meal delivery service could make your bodybuilding journey much easier. Having tried every single popular meal delivery service out there over the years, I know firsthand that there’s a service for every diet and dietary preference, plus you can choose your level of commitment and customize your plan for the number of meals and servings you want to receive each week.
The trouble with meal delivery services is there are so many to choose from. Fortunately for you, we’ve done the work to compile a list of the best meal delivery services for bodybuilders. Check them out below!
Best For Taste, Low-Carb Options, & Add Ons
Factor Meals
What It Is: If you want to enjoy delicious, dietician-designed meals without the hassle of prep-work, Factor Meals is the meal delivery service for you. Each meal is prepared by gourmet chefs and delivered fresh (never frozen) right to your door. Simply heat and eat—your macros are taken care of.
The Details: You’ll have the option to choose from over 20 dietician-designed meals each. All of the meals we’ve had from Factor have been impressive. These aren’t your stereotypical frozen TV dinners, they’re gourmet level flavors and ingredients. Factor Meals uses ingredients free from gluten, GMOs, hormones, antibiotics, and refined sugars.
Some of my personal favorites include Grilled Chicken Caesar Bowl (40g protein, 12g carbs) and Grilled Chicken Piccata (41g protein, 14g carbs). The best part, and one of the main reasons it made this list, is you can add on extra foods to help you hit your bodybuilding goals. For example, you can add on additional meat-only proteins such as herb-roasted chicken breast, roasted chicken wings, and pan-seared salmon. They also have additional vegetables you can add on such as roasted brussels sprouts and green beans. My personal favorite though is their low-carb snacks and desserts such as paleo granola and keto truffles.
Pricing starts at $15.00 per meal for 4 meals per week and goes as low as $11.50 per meal for 12 meals per week.
Why It Made This List:
- Chef-crafted recipes delivered fresh and fully prepared.
- Choose up to 12 meals per week and add on extra meals, low-carb snacks, and even extra meat-only proteins such as chicken breasts and salmon.
- Meals designed by dieticians, made with quality ingredients with many high-protein and low-carb options.
Best Gluten-Free Option
Snap Kitchen
What It Is: Delivering healthy food for busy people, Snap Kitchen sends made-to-order meals right to your door. Choose from a variety of dietitian-curated plans including high-protein, keto, paleo, then select the number of meals you want each week. All of their meals are gluten-free.
The Details: Snap Kitchen is similar to Factor Meals in a lot of ways but they differ in one way. With Factor, you don’t choose a specific meal plan, you’ll have to look at each meal to ensure it hits your macros. With Snap Kitchen, you can select their “High Protein” meal plan option and all of those meals should meet your dietary needs (do double check for your specific diet).
All meals are prepared by expert chefs using fresh, high-quality ingredients. One of my personal favorites is their “Naked Beef” made with green beans and cauliflower (43g protein, 15g carbohydrates). You’ll get the best per-meal price with a 12-meal box, averaging about $9.60 per meal or $115 per week. For $69.99 you can get 6 meals a week priced at $11.67 per meal.
Why It Made This List:
- Variety of dietitian-curated plans (including high-protein, keto, and paleo plans).
- Delicious meals made-to-order and delivered to your door.
- They offer the most breakfast options.
Best For Bulking
Trifecta Nutrition
What It Is: Get the nutrition your body craves without straying from your goals with Trifecta Nutrition. This service offers chef-curated recipes made with organic ingredients, fully prepped and sent to your door on a weekly basis. They offer up to 4 meals per day (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a 3rd entrée) for those looking for the most calories.
The Details: Top athletes and bodybuilders need real food made with real ingredients. Trifecta Nutrition delivers fresh, fully-prepared meals made with organic ingredients right to your doorstep. This meal delivery service allows you to choose from four plans (clean, keto, paleo, or vegan) and you can customize your plan with the number of meals you want and the number of days per week.
If you’re looking for the cleanest meals around that are still flavorful, it’s hard to beat Trifecta. They have breakfast options such as eggs, turkey sausage, and organic sweet potatoes. There are lunch options such as grass-fed flat iron steak, sweet potato, and mixed vegetables. You’ll find dinner options such as ginger vegetable glazed salmon with bok choy. But that’s really just the tip of the iceberg. They have a huge amount of proteins that you can add on to your box each week. This includes basics such as chicken breasts and steak but also rarer foods such as elk and venison.
Price varies by plan, but for two meals a day seven days a week you’ll be charged about $210. For just five days a week, the price is about $150.
Why It Made This List:
- The cleanest, high protein, high calorie, and low carb meals out of any premade meal delivery service.
- Meals are prepared fresh, never frozen, and taste delicious.
- Personalize your menu with a ton of add-ons including extra proteins, extra vegetables, snacks, and more.
Best Paleo Option
Paleo On the Go
What It Is: Get chef-prepared meals sent right to your door with Paleo on the Go. This meal delivery service is Whole30 approved and everything is paleo and AIP-friendly. Simply choose your meals, customize your delivery schedule, and start receiving delicious meals.
The Details: If you’re following the Paleo diet as a bodybuilder, Paleo On the Go is the meal delivery service for you. This company sends fresh, fully prepared meals right to your door and everything is 100% Paleo and AIP-friendly. Choose from individual meals, meal bundles, or subscribe and save. POTG Choice Shipping gets your order to your doorstep in 2 days or less and everything is ready to reheat and enjoy.
With Paleo On the Go, you’ll enjoy tasty meals like Homemade Chicken Pot Pie, Tuscan Pork and Kale Soup, and POTG Chicken Wings. Whether you want to sample new dishes or create a weekly meal plan, the options are there for you. Try the AIP Starter Pack for just $99 or go with the Whole30 Approved Meal Bundle for $295. All meals are made with humanely raised and responsibly sourced ingredients including grass-fed meat and wild-caught and organic fish.
Why It Made This List:
- Great option for paleo dieters and bodybuilders looking for clean, high-protein meals.
- They give you the option to subscribe or just order one time (many other meal delivery services require you to subscribe).
- Choose from individual meals or meal bundles.
Best Overall For Variety, Clean Eating, & Bulking
Fresh ‘n Lean
What It Is: Enjoy fresh, chef-prepared meals without lifting a finger with Fresh ‘n Lean. This meal delivery services uses only organic ingredients, and everything is fully cooked and ready to eat.
The Details: Every recipe is prepared by expert chefs using certified organic, locally sourced ingredients (including seasonal vegetables) free from gluten, GMO, and artificial preservatives. Each meal is fully prepared and ready to reheat – in just 3 minutes you’ll be chowing down on a tasty meal.
For bodybuilders, you’ll want to check out their Protein+ plan, which is designed specifically to deliver high protein, low carb, and vegetable packed meals. You can also indicate your allergies and preferences, making it the best option for those with specific food allergies.
Their meals are perfect for when you’re on the go. They vacuum seal everything so it stays fresh and it makes it super easy to throw in your gym bag to eat before, after, or even during a workout. They also have a ton of great grab-and-go snacks such as beef jerky, salmon jerky, nut mixes and more.
If you’re looking for even more food, they have a whole “bulk” section where you can add on meat-only dishes such as beef, salmon, and even plant-based meat burgers. They also have sides such as mixed vegetables, brown rice, and even quinoa.
Meals average $11 to $11.50 for the Protein+, Keto, and Paleo meal plans. You can choose up to 3 meals per day and select from 5 or 7 days per week.
Why It Made This List:
- High-protein, paleo, and keto meal plan options.
- Made with fresh, seasonal, organic ingredients.
- You can add on high-protein snacks and meat-only dishes.
Best Meal Kit Option
Sunbasket
What It Is: Choose from a wide variety of healthy recipes and receive fresh ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes sent right to your door. Sunbasket has meals for nearly every diet under the sun, including many high-protein and low-carb options. Plus, you can easily customize your box and your delivery schedule.
The Details: Sunbasket offers healthy meal options for any lifestyle. Simply select two or more dinners from the weekly meal planner menu to get started and indicate whether you want two or four servings for each meal. Pricing is simple and straightforward, starting at just $8.99 per serving. Enjoy tasty recipes like my favorites—spicy southwestern turkey and sweet potato skillet, black angus rib-eyes with horseradish mayo and Lyonnaise potatoes, and thai chicken larb lettuce cups with scallions, cashews, and fresh mint.
Not only does Sunbasket offer a wide variety of recipe options, but you also have the ability to add extras like cooked and pre-cooked proteins. Following a super-high protein diet? Add an extra chicken breast or salmon fillet to help you meet your nutritional goals. Sunbasket has meals for a ton of diets including paleo, carb-conscious, gluten-free, lean and clean, vegetarian, and more. You can even browse recipes by calorie content or prep time.
Why It Made This List:
- Wide variety of recipe options (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) and very easy to customize.
- They offer some of the most delicious and interesting variety of meals on this list.
- Can easily add on extras such as meat-only dishes and high-protein snacks to hit your macro goals.
Best Meat-Only Option
Rastelli’s Meat Delivery
What It Is: Meat, poultry, and seafood are the foundation of many a bodybuilder’s diet and Rastelli’s has it all. They’re one of our favorite meat delivery services currently available. You can shop for classics “a la carte” or choose from one of their many curated boxes.
The Details: If you read all of the above meal delivery services and you’re looking for more protein or calories, Rastelli’s meat delivery service might be exactly what you’re looking for. Rastelli’s offers a wide range of meats, both cooked and pre-cooked, as well as curated boxes sent right to your door.
They have a wide selection of beef, pork, seafood, and poultry or choose one of their curated boxes. You’ll find all the best cuts including ribeye steaks, Maine lobster tails, and organic chicken breasts. You can shop by type to build your own box or check out their oven-ready items including Shrimp Cakes, Beef Wellington, and Beef Meatballs. They’re one of the only meat delivery services that offers a variety of plant-based meats – perfect for vegan bodybuilders.
Why It Made This List:
- Custom “a la carte” orders and curated boxes available (no subscription necessary).
- Wide variety of meats—beef, turkey, pork, chicken, seafood, shellfish, and even plant-based meats.
- Free shipping on orders over $200.
What to Look for in a Bodybuilding Meal Delivery Service
Whether you’re trying to bulk up, shed fat, or maintain your results, diet is important. As a bodybuilder, you spend a lot of time in the gym working to sculpt your body but 50% of the work (or more) is done in the kitchen. What you eat makes a huge difference and meal planning is essential to grow or even maintain your figure. If you’re not interested in doing the planning yourself, a meal delivery service might be the ideal choice.
Before you go and pick a meal delivery service, however, it’s important to shop around. From personal experience, I know that all services are not created equal and some are more bodybuilder-friendly than others.
Here are some things to look for when shopping for meal delivery services:
- Nutritional balance. Look for a meal delivery service that offers balanced meals. Most bodybuilders follow a diet that is high in protein and low in carbs with plenty of vegetables in the mix.
- High in protein. Protein is essential for bodybuilders, but you don’t want to get stuck eating chicken breast 5 meals a week. Look for a service that offers a wide variety of protein choices.
- Easy to customize. Meal delivery services come in all shapes and sizes, so look for an option that fits your budget and your meal plan.
- Macronutrient information. As a bodybuilder, you probably like to track your macros. Look for a meal delivery service that gives you that information upfront.
- Shop by diet. Many meal delivery services allow you to select meals that adhere to a specific diet such as the paleo diet or the keto diet. Look for one that fits your diet plan. Be wary of other meal delivery services not on this list that say they’re high protein or low carbohydrate but really aren’t. Many use these terms as marketing “tricks”.
In addition to the bullets listed above, you’ll also want to compare prices to find a plan that fits your budget. The price on the website may not be the actual price you pay if you’re adding on extra meats or snacks each week to hit your macro goals. Those additional foods are additional fees.
Meal Delivery Service vs. Meal Planning
Before you settle on a meal delivery service, you should ask yourself one final question: is it really better than doing it yourself? Meal planning is essential for success in bodybuilding and there are tools available online (many for free) that can help you do it. Think about whether you have the time and energy to research recipes and put together weekly meal plans and consider whether it might save you money. In the end, however, you may decide that it’s worth spending a little more to save yourself the time and hassle of planning a weekly menu and doing all the shopping and prep work yourself.
Your body is your temple and it is built on hard work and quality nutrition. If you’re looking for a way to take some of the weight off your shoulders when it comes to meal planning, consider a meal delivery service like one of the seven options reviewed above.
How We Selected These Meals
We have reviewed hundreds of different food boxes over the years. This review process includes researching the meal delivery company, purchasing their product, unboxing and taste testing (which we film for our YouTube channel), and then performing a long-term test to assess the quality of the service on a whole. I always try to point this out in any of these types of articles because many other list articles out there are created by people who have never even tried the meals.
For the purposes of this article, we started by narrowing down all of the fitness-specific and health-oriented meal delivery services we’ve reviewed previously. We then began researching their meal plans and the individual meals they offer to see if they align with most bodybuilding diets. The meal delivery services had to fit into these categories to even be eligible to be considered:
- Clean ingredients, organic, and seasonal when possible.
- Meals that are high in protein and low in carbs without added sugar.
- There should be a good balance between meats and vegetables without too many “extras” (such as sauces, which sometimes add unnecessary carbs).
- Customizable so that it can fit into any type of bodybuilders diet, whether bulking or cutting.
We also tried to favor meal delivery services that offer add ons such as meats and high-protein snacks.
After we had this initial list, we narrowed down further by removing services that had over 100 verified public negative customer reviews (for example, on Trustpilot), had poor packaging (for example, heavy styrofoam usage), or didn’t offer meals up to our quality standards.
Have a question about any of the meal delivery services above? Have you tried one and want to share your review? Leave your comment below!
Which is going to let me bulk order meals?
Fresh n Lean has a bulk plan.