The term ‘diet’ has become almost a dirty word.
Say it, and thoughts of starvation, limp salad leaves and meal-time misery instantly spring to mind. It feels almost antifeminist in its whole idea. We are told we should love our bodies and not compare ourselves to others, but that's impossible with 'perfect' models splashed across social media and the pages of magazines.
Yet, the idea of dieting need not be so restrictive. Brands like personalised nutrition plan Zoe are changing it for the better. Dieting 2.0 is about being healthier, feeling better and forming better eating habits to combat the toxic starve-binge cycle that comes with extreme fasting.
Losing weight is not easy, nor is keeping the pounds off once you have reached your target. According to research on the ‘Maintenance of lost weight and long-term management of obesity’, which analysed 29 long-term weight loss studies, 'more than half of the lost weight was regained within two years, and by five years more than 80 per cent of lost weight was regained'. Frustrating and discouraging. There has to be a more successful way.
Kickstart good practices by switching up what's on your plate. To encourage healthy weight loss, it is important to feel like you are not depriving yourself. The rise in recipe box services means you can learn to create nutritionally rich, low-calorie dishes that are flavourful and satisfying. These will add to your repertoire and equip you with new skills that you can continue past the initial delivery. Best of all, you need not slave away endlessly in the kitchen. The recipes tend to be quick and easy when you don’t have the time or the inclination. Or you can batch cook and freeze, ready to whip out after a long day.
But where do you start? When discussing the best foods for weight loss, diet advocate and co-founder of The Fast 800, Dr Michael Mosley says, “You don’t need to break the bank trying obscure or expensive health foods to lose weight. Protein is key: aim to eat at least 60g of healthy protein every day like chicken, eggs, tofu, or oily fish. Eating more protein will help reduce hunger and, along with exercise, preserve your muscles when you lose weight”.
Dr Mosley continues “Piling your plate with non-starchy veggies like broccoli, spinach and kale means you get plenty of beneficial vitamins and fibre, which is good for your gut microbiome. If you are going to snack, then go for full-fat Greek yoghurt with berries. Eating a small handful of nuts or seeds has also been shown to aid weight loss, thanks to all that fibre and healthy fats. And do try to have a large glass of water with every meal; when you lose weight, along with fat you also lose water, so it is vital you stay well hydrated”.
For weight loss success, the diet expert reveals “You are going to have to calorie restrict. There is now plenty of evidence that, if you do it properly, it is the most effective way to lose weight and keep it off”.
If you're considering changing the way you eat for the better, give yourself a helping hand by consulting the brands below. Our selection of the best diet meals comes from a combination of recipe box services that can be purchased as a regular subscription, or one-off, or as simple plans to follow for a fuss-free way to eat healthier and reach your weight loss goals at the same time.
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Mindful Chef Recipe Box
Best for: the health nut
Mindful Chef’s meals are aimed at the health conscious. As such, they are free from dairy, gluten, refined carbs and refined sugars.
The recipes read like the menu of a great restaurant with an emphasis on high-quality protein. We're talking plates like Goan-inspired King Prawn Curry, Sri Lankan Beef Keema with Coriander Yoghurt and Spicy Ethiopian Chickpeas with Mangetout. Order from three to five recipes at a time for one or two diners, or enough to feed a family. Calorie counts for each dish are listed under the meal choices online so you can see exactly what’s on your plate before you place your order.
Mindful Chef is a great option for those who want to lose weight but still enjoy the odd dinner out or mid-week treat.
Delivery days are on either Monday or Sunday so you can start the week on the right foot with a good balanced meal, making it a positive choice you’re more likely to continue.
Buy now, Mindful Chef
Gousto
Best for: foolproof, wasteless cooking
If nothing turns you off like eating the same meal, day in and day out, Gousto is here to rescue you from the monotony. The company sends all the ingredients and seasonings you’ll need to cook a hearty yet wholesome meal in as little as ten minutes. The only things they won’t send are store cupboard essentials you’ll likely already have, like salt and pepper, milk and vegetable oil.
The selection of DIY meals is deliciously large and dieters can choose from Calorie Controlled or Healthy Choices for their main meals, giving them the freedom and flexibility over the rest of their daily menu.
The best thing about Gousto is that once delivered, you’ll have everything you need - so there’s no excuse to order a takeaway or drag yourself around a supermarket hoping for inspiration to strike. The recipe cards are designed to be kept on file (and you can even order a free binder to keep your favourites safe) so that you can whip them out to make again if you find yourself daydreaming over a previously devoured dish.
As you’re making everything from scratch there’s nothing to stop you from modifying a recipe; say less chilli, using spray oil instead of bottled or skipping the chips to accompany your burgers and using them for another meal instead.
If you’re not sure about your plans for the week, ordering one-off boxes when you need them through the app is a better option than a subscription. New customers can score 50 per cent off their first box right now too.
From £22.99 per box.
Buy now, Gousto
Planty
There are no prizes for guessing the star ingredients in this brand’s offering. The meals are created with the power of plants and specialise in bringing Michelin-star cuisine to the comfort of your home.
But not your typical takeaway, the dishes prioritise health by including solely fresh and natural ingredients that are flavour packed. Before selecting your food, you can determine your preferred amount of spice, whether you want to cook it in the oven, microwave or eat chilled and your goals – be it to up your protein and fibre or minimise fat or sugar.
With a selection that includes Yaki-Miso Udon Noodles, Cauli Korma and BBQ Beef Enchilada, Planty provides nutritionally balance pre-portioned lunches and dinners to save cooking time, waste and give you balanced diet.
To ensure the sustainability credentials, all the packaging is recyclable, compostable or reusable, the deliveries are of carbon-neutral service DPD and all the ingredients are locally sourced where possible.
Price per meal for 12 meals.
Buy now £5.65, Planty
Nosh Detox
Best for: science-backed weight loss.
With an almost medical-looking website, Nosh takes weight loss seriously right from the get-go.
Applying a nutritionist approach to shedding pounds, Nosh offers plans that are sugar-free, alkaline-friendly, a four-day liver cleanse and even a vegan keto option, notoriously difficult to prep if you’re doing it on your own. There are also juice fasts, cleansing and IV drips to help you reach your health targets in a safe, considered way.
Everything is freshly made using seasonal produce, so you’re eating in sync with the time of year. Dairy and gluten-free, Nosh’s food programmes are ideal for giving your digestive system the break it deserves – particularly helpful after a period of over-indulgence like Christmas.
It’s expensive, but if you’ve tried everything else under the sun to shift the pounds and failed, Nosh is certainly worth a try.
Buy now £79.00, Nosh Detox
Muscle Food
Muscle Food is a flexible food subscription service that you can adapt to suit your goals. If loosing weight is your desire, you can select a plan with a determined number of calories to put you in a deficit and if you’re not sure what this should be, the brand explains it based on whether you are exercising alongside your diet.
Contained within the boxes are either pre-prepared meals that you pop into the microwave or stash in the freezer for a later date or recipe kits with over 100 different recipes to follow along. It’s a subscription-free service and the weight loss plans comes with free FiiT workout videos to encourage you to get active. Dishes range from Butter Chicken to Beef Ragu.
From just £2.07 per meal.
Buy now, Muscle Food
Green Chef
Best for: hearty fare for all nutritional needs
With all the food subscription services now available on the market, it’s tough to stand out from the crowd but Green Chef certainly manages it. What it comes down to first and foremost is pure choice. No matter your dietary requirements, you’ll be able to find delicious and nutritious meals to liven up the mid-week slog.
Keto, low carbs, balanced, vegan or vegetarian - this recipe kit delivery has them all. You don’t have to stick to just one either; mix and match to your heart’s content.
Next, the quality of the ingredients really is worth noting. We had a steak one night and the result was truly restaurant-worthy. Most meals can be whipped up in around 30 minutes or less, which is a godsend for those looking for great-tasting meals after a long day of work (whether that’s at home or otherwise).
From £31.50 per box.
Buy now, Green Chef
allplants
Pre-made meals delivered to your door, Allplants is making going vegan easier than ever before. With a line-up that includes tastebud tingling Smoked Aubergine and Walnut Ragu, Double Green Orecchiette and Black Bean Power Bowl, you won’t be longing for your carnivore tendencies anytime soon.
Here’s how it works. You simply select the dishes that look the most appetising to you – they have all been created by professional chefs in tandem with nutritionists to be nutritionally balanced, aesthetically pleasing and with dynamic flavours. You can choose them as a one off or subscribe, the latter of which gives you free delivery. The meals are frozen so all you need to do is reheat.
The brand is B Corp certified.
Buy now £6.75, allplants
Field Doctor
Curated by a dietitian, Field Doctor offers comforting yet calorie-controlled dishes in line with low FODMAP meal plans and peer-reviewed nutrition research. To boost your health, they are free from gluten, onion, garlic and other ingredients that may otherwise trigger a reaction. The meals come frozen and include the likes of satisfying and hearty cottage pie, red pesto and roasted vegetable penne and chicken korma that are made up of locally sourced, seasonal produce.
Buy now, Field Doctor
Cambridge Weight Plan The 1:1 Diet
When curating the 1:1 Diet, Cambridge Weight Plan placed just as much importance on keeping the weight off as it has on losing it in the first place. This is made possible by offering meals that can be continually consumed over a long period of time. Start by replacing your three-a-day in its entirety with the drins, before gradually weaning off to drink only once or twice. With the likes of Golden Syrup Flavour Porridge, Chicken Flavour Noodle Soup and Cherry & Strawberry Flavour Smoothie, the products are surprisingly satisfying. The taster pack containing six of the dieters’ favourites are £9.99.
Buy now £9.99, Cambridge Weight Plan
Fresh Fitness Food
Best for: aiding personal fitness goals.
After hearing rave reviews from the fitness community, we knew we had to try Fresh Fitness Food for ourselves. From the outset, it’s clear that this is not your ordinary meal delivery service. You start by filling out a comprehensive questionnaire detailing your goals e.g. losing weight or building muscle. Then you detail the ingredients that you’d like to remove from the equation and based on your aim, height, weight and calorie intake, it creates a bespoke meal plan for the number of days that you specify. Each comes detailed with its nutritional information.
The service delivers your food overnight to your door. Deliveries begin at 11pm and end at 6am to provide you with that day’s dishes as each is made fresh. This is slightly challenging if you don’t have a ‘safe place’ and it doesn’t feel like much freshness would be sacrificed if you did the week’s deliveries at once.
The food is ready to go on arrival and most can be enjoyed hot or cold. While the breakfast is not the most inspired and can be easily put together yourself (yoghurt and granola), the lunch and dinner options are tasty, especially the chicken salad and lamb meatballs. Word of warning, they don’t appear as appetising as they look on Instagram but don’t judge a book by its cover.
From £26 a day.
Buy now, Fresh Fitness Food
