Clean Eatz Kitchen Review 2023: Is It Any Good?

Overview

Clean Eatz promises tasty diet food that will help you lose/gain weight. It caters to specific dietary needs, such as keto, weight loss, high protein, or gluten-free, and it gives you access to ready-made meals designed by a dietitian. 

However, services like Factor have a more diverse offer of meals and add-ons, so what is it that makes Clean Eatz special? I got curious, and with the help of our culinary experts, I took a deeper dive into this company’s offer.

After a thorough review, I think Clean Eatz is a good option for dieters who count calories and keep track of their macronutrient intake. That’s because the nutrition info is readily available for each recipe. So, if you’re currently on a restrictive diet, Clean Eatz meal plans may be a good option for you. 

Pros

• Meals are cooked and ready to eat

• Diet-based meal plans

• All the meals are under 600 calories

• Affordable price per serving

• No subscription

Cons

• Meals arrive frozen

• No vegetarian or vegan options

• Low culinary diversity

What’s on the Clean Eatz Kitchen Menu

Meal Options

The Clean Eatz Kitchen menu caters to several fitness needs, such as keto, weight loss, high protein, and low carbs. Plus, you’ll find single-serving options for breakfasts, mains, desserts, and supplements, such as Clean Eatz’s blend of Superfoodz and Protein Powder.

I didn’t find much culinary diversity on the menu – most meals are inspired by American and Mexican cuisine, with some Asian influences. Also, to keep the meals’ caloric intake under 600 calories per serving, half of the recipes include chicken, while the other half is mostly made with ground beef. Still, this is to be expected from a brand that focuses on diet-specific meals.

If you’re interested in gourmet meals and adventurous recipes, you may be better off with Blue Apron. On the same note, if you want vegetarian or vegan meals (no such thing on Clean Eatz’s menu), have a look at Purple Carrot’s menu.

I like that the Clean Eatz meal plans are designed to fit the main diets it caters to. As such, the main meal plans are High Protein Meals, Keto Diet Meals, Weight Loss Meal Plan, and Gluten Free Meals.

The High Protein Meal Plan is great if you want to gain weight or build muscle because the meals are beefed-up recipes (each includes 2 extra ounces of protein) of what’s usually available on the menu. This increases the protein content and caloric intake.

The Keto Diet Meals plan works in a similar way (bundles of 6, with the possibility to choose your meals), and the offer includes only meals rich in healthy fats, low in carbs, and with moderate amounts of protein. The meals are just right for you if you want something that’ll help maintain the ketosis phase. Plus, you can see a detailed list of the macronutrients available in each meal.

Speaking of weight loss, if this is your goal, but without following the keto diet, which can be restrictive, you should try the Weight Loss Meal Plan. This plan includes portioned-controlled meals that are rich in nutrients and low in calories.

Unlike the other meal plans, you can’t choose your meals with the Weight Loss Plan – the Clean Eatz staff will decide which recipes get into your box. That’s because its purpose is to help you learn how to eat for weight loss without feeling hungry or depriving yourself of nutrients.

You can choose the quantity in bundles of 6, 12, 18, 24, and 30 meals. Also, every bundle of 6 meals includes 5 lunches/dinners and one breakfast, and each recipe has a healthy balance of fat, carbohydrates, and protein.

Lastly, the Gluten-Free Meal Plan offers a good selection of recipes that don’t contain ingredients with gluten. However, Clean Eatz can’t guarantee these meals are 100% gluten-free (due to cross-contamination), so if you have a severe sensitivity or allergy to gluten, it’s best to avoid it.

The Gluten-Free Meal Plan also works in boxes of 6 meals, and you can choose which meals go into a box. Also, you can order as many boxes of 6 meals as you want. 

If you don’t follow a specific diet, you have the option to Build Your Own Meal Plan. This option gives you access to the entire menu, including keto, gluten-free, and weight loss recipes (no high-protein meals, though). Plus, you have access to the Specials section (only available here), where you’ll find various recipes with limited availability.

The entire menu rotates monthly and includes 39+ meal choices in each rotation. There are also 5 dessert bars (Clean Eatz’s Dessert Barz) and 2 types of supplements (Superfoodz and Protein Powder).

The Dessert Barz is Clean Eatz’s way of helping you fight cravings with a healthy and well-balanced snack. They come in several flavors, such as chocolate, milk and cookies, or PB&J. Superfoodz supports whole-body wellness and includes a blend of probiotics, enzymes, antioxidants, and electrolytes.

On the other hand, the Clean Eatz Protein Powder is great for protein shakes as it combines whey, casein protein, BCAAs, digestive enzymes, and MCT Oil. Lastly, if you’re craving some fast food, the menu includes several types of protein pizza made with cauliflower crust.

Customization

With Clean Eatz, you have the option to choose the meals that fit your current diet or mix and match between plans if you’re not big on pre-defined meal plans. If you’re adventurous, you can choose the Build Your Meal Plan for this.

However, the customization of individual meals isn’t possible since all the meals come ready-made. If meal customization is an important feature for you, check out Home Chef’s menu and its “Customize It” feature.

With CleanEatz, you can see the ingredients and nutritional info for each meal before purchase, which makes it easier to choose the meals you want from the available selection. Also, there’s no menu filter for excluding meals containing specific ingredients.

Allergy sufferers may struggle with Clean Eatz meal plans as all meals are made in the same kitchen, so cross-contamination may occur. If your allergy is mild, then you can take a look at the ingredients list before purchasing. This may be sufficient, but always seek medical advice before ordering. A meal delivery service such as Fresh N Lean is certified gluten-free, and all but 2 of its plans are dairy free. It also offers a keto plan just like Clean Eatz but has offerings for Paleo and plant-based dieters too.

Unboxing

Clean Eatz delivers prepared, flash-frozen meals right to your doorstep, so the box is insulated with recyclable liners on the sides and bottom. A layer of dry ice is at the top to keep the food from thawing.

Each meal is packed in a microwave-safe plastic container and sealed with a plastic film. Also, each food container has a cardboard sleeve printed with information such as heating instructions, macronutrients, and ingredients.

Ideally, the meals will arrive completely frozen, and you should transfer them into the freezer as soon as possible (even if you see some signs of thawing). Once in the freezer, the meals will last for 6 months. If you want the food to thaw before heating, place the container in the refrigerator up to 36 hours in advance.

Now, while the trays can be stacked, they’ll still occupy a lot of space in your freezer, so take this into account when placing an order. As for the packaging materials, Clean Eatz does use plastic containers, but you can wash and reuse them or recycle them.

The cardboard box is made using recycled cardboard, and the liners are made with recycled cotton scraps wrapped in a moisture-proof, oxo-biodegradable, curbside recycling coating. Also, the sleeves include recycled paper and are recyclable. Overall, Clean Eatz makes it easy to dispose of packaging safely and in an environmentally-friendly way.

Cooking with Clean Eatz Kitchen

All the Clean Eatz meals are cooked and flash-frozen to make sure the food retains the maximum nutrients and taste. However, this method also means that the texture may suffer a bit during the heating process. So if you’re not comfortable with frozen meals, there are lots of other high-quality meal delivery services, like Factor, that deliver the meals fresh.

CleanEatz gives you 3 heating options: in the microwave, in the oven, or on the stove. If you choose the microwave, there’s no need to let the food thaw (unless you want to) – just vent the film, place it in the microwave, and follow the instructions on the sleeve.

If you choose the oven or the skillet, you have to remove the food from the plastic container and transfer it to an oven-proof tray or a skillet. In the oven, it’ll take around 15 to 20 minutes, while on the stovetop, it’ll take about 5 to 10 minutes.

Shortlist of My Favorite Meals

To be honest, Clean Eatz food won’t win any culinary awards, and I don’t think many people will appreciate these meals in the long term. However, if you’re looking to lose or gain weight without feeling hungry all the time, these recipes will do.

The portions are carefully controlled, and the macronutrients are well-balanced to fit a specific diet. Plus, the meals are tasty, and there’s some variety. The simple fact that you don’t have to think about what you’ll eat or worry about cooking makes it a lot easier to stick with your diet until you reach your goals.

Clean Eatz doesn’t have many options for breakfast (only 1 in 6 meals is a breakfast option), but I found the Pepperjack Breakfast Bowl the best suited for the job. As the first meal of the day, it’s packed with nutrients yet light (only 320 calories per serving), and it has a nice mixture of veggies, shredded beef, and eggs in it.

The texture is nice, which makes it easy to eat even if you’re not a breakfast person. Plus, the meal is filling due to the potatoes and pepper jack cheese.

Even though it’s still chicken and veggies, I was quite pleased to see a dish that doesn’t fit the standard American or Mexican cuisine, which is the norm on the Clean Eatz menu. However, I don’t recommend leaving it to thaw before heating since the veggies will lose their crunchiness.

The chicken and veggies blend nicely with the peanut sauce, which enhances the flavors. Also, the peanuts add healthy fats to your diet (20 g of fats per serving), while the veggies bring fiber and 15 g of carbs. Lastly, the chicken completes the macronutrient balance with 41 g of protein.

Who would’ve thought that a meal designed for weight loss would include bacon, cheese, and potatoes? Not me, for sure!

And yet, at only 410 calories per serving, you get delicious chicken covered in honey mustard with broccoli, bacon bits, and cheese over mashed potatoes. This is definitely a weight-loss diet I can get behind!

Clean Eatz solves this problem of craving sweets with an assortment of protein dessert bars. Just because you’re on a diet doesn’t mean you have to forgo sweets for good. Doing this out of the blue, especially for someone with quite a strong sweet tooth, can jeopardize the entire diet.

Each bar is formulated with fat, carbs, and protein to provide a balanced amount of energy without any spikes. Plus, you can order as many bars as you want from the available selection (no bundling up here).

Prices

The cost of Clean Eatz meals is quite affordable, especially given that they’re fully cooked and carefully designed to meet the macronutrient requirements for specific diets. The minimum order, regardless of the meal plan you choose, is 6 meals per box.

However, if you don’t mind a little cooking, you may want to look at HelloFresh’s ample menu. The offer is more diverse, and the price per order starts at $3.32 per serving. Plus, the minimum order is 2 meals for 2 people, and you can go as high as 6 meals for 4 people each week. 

With CleanEatz, the High Protein Meals plan is a bit more expensive (due to the extra 2oz of meat per serving), but the other meal plans are $47.99 per bundle of 6 meals. So, if you want to try the Weight Loss Meal Plan and the Keto Diet Meals, you’ll have to order 1 bundle of 6 meals from each. The total will be $95.98 since shipping is free for orders over $85 (otherwise, you have to pay a flat fee of $5 per order).

You can also add (or buy separately, as individual items) dessert bars ($2.59 per piece), Clean Eatz Protein Powder ($52 per piece), the Superfoodz blend ($55 per bottle), protein pizza ($6.59 per piece), or order in bulk.

All Bulk Boxes have 30 meals per box and come at a discounted price, so if you know this is the right service for you and you have enough space in the freezer, this is a great way to get a lower price per serving.

If you choose the Build Your Meal Plan, you also have access to Premium meals (only available with this plan), and these will have an added fee of $0.75 per meal. These are clearly marked, so you’ll know when you have to pay extra.

Clean Eatz doesn’t have a money-back guarantee, but this doesn’t mean you’ll be left stranded if the order is incorrect or gets damaged during transport. In this scenario, Clean Eatz will first attempt to replace the order; if this isn’t possible, you’ll receive a refund.

Shipping & Delivery

Clean Eatz delivers all over the contiguous US and uses UPS Ground to ship your order. Your box will be ready for delivery in a maximum of 24 hours and will reach your doorstep in 2 to 4 business days, depending on your location.

For instance, if you live in states like North Carolina, South Carolina, Illinois, Missouri, Utah, and parts of Nevada, Idaho, and Indiana, you should receive your order within 2 days of placing the order. Otherwise, it’ll take 3 (in most of the US) to 4 days from the moment you place the order.

However, UPS doesn’t deliver on Sundays, so if your delivery day falls on a Sunday, it’ll be bumped to the following week. When you place the order, you receive an estimate saying your order will be delivered between day X and day Y, but once your order is picked up by the courier, you should receive some tracking information.

If you want to edit the order or change the delivery date, you have to get in touch with the customer support team. However, this has to happen within the first 24h of placing the order; once the order is processed, no changes are possible.

How Clean Eatz Works

Clean Eatz isn’t a subscription-based service. You can create an account in order to keep track of your order history and save details such as addresses and payment details, but this step isn’t necessary.

You can order as much as you want at once, and you should treat each shipping as a one-time purchase.

How to Sign Up

To create an account, click on the Create Account button in the upper-right corner and fill in the form. It takes less than a minute, and once you activate the account (via email), you have full access to all the features.

Managing Your Subscription

A Clean Eatz account doesn’t provide many features besides a list of your orders and the possibility to change your address. So, there isn’t much to manage. All changes can take place using your online account.

Customer Service

Sadly, the customer service team doesn’t win any extra points since it’s not easy to contact them. The only contact channel is an email address where you send any complaints or requests. Also, there are several social media accounts, but the Facebook page looks the most promising when you’re trying to get in touch.

Overall, the customer service team does respond in a timely manner, but they aren’t always helpful. For one, the refund policy is rather weak as the company doesn’t accept returns (for obvious reasons) and only offers store credit for any food containers that got damaged during transport.

There’s an FAQ section and a How it Works section where you can find some answers regarding shipping, ingredients, how the meals are prepared, and so on. There’s also an entire page dedicated to Heating Instructions, and you have access to some reviews from real users, but I suspect Clean Eatz only publishes the most positive ones. So, before you place a large order, it’s best to make sure you like the service first.

How Clean Eatz Compares to Other Meal Delivery Services

Clean Eatz vs Factor: Factor’s menu also includes ready-made meals and has a good selection of recipes for keto and high-protein diets. However, unlike Clean Eatz, it also includes vegetarian and vegan meals. Plus, the add-on section includes smoothies, juices, breakfast options, and keto-friendly desserts. So, if you want more diversity, Factor may be a better option.

Clean Eatz vs Fresh N Lean: Fresh N Lean is a completely gluten-free service that caters to a wide range of diets, such as keto, paleo, Mediterranean, or Vegan. The menu is more diverse (100+ meals each week), and you can exclude ingredients. However, prices start at  $10.66 per serving, so it may not fit every budget. Fresh N Lean has 5 dairy-free menus and 2 dedicated vegan menus, including a low-carb vegan, so it offers a lot of choices. There’s also an a la carte ordering option.

Clean Eatz vs Trifecta: Trifecta’s offer includes ready-made meals crafted to fit specific weight loss or muscle gain diets. Plus, the service comes with a free app that lets you track daily calorie and macro intake and helps users stay active. However, unlike Clean Eatz, with Trifecta, you don’t get to choose your meals – you just specify your preferences, and a nutrition-trained chef picks them for you.

The Bottom Line: Is Clean Eatz Kitchen Worth It?

Yes. If you’re on a diet where you have to count calories or keep accurate track of your macronutrients, Clean Eatz can be a great way to reduce the time spent thinking about what to eat.

However, the menu isn’t varied enough, and I’m not a big fan of frozen and heated meals since you lose some of the texture. Therefore, if you’re unhappy with Clean Eatz or want to see other companies, check our list of the best weight loss meal delivery services as well.

FAQ

How does Clean Eatz kitchen work?

Clean Eatz works just like any other ready-made meal delivery service on the market. First, the meals are prepared in one of the company’s kitchens. Next, the prepared meals are frozen to seal in the taste and nutrients, and then they’re shipped to your house via UPS.

Are Clean Eatz meals pre-cooked?

Yes. This means that all you have to do is heat the meals up and enjoy them! 

The freezing process helps seal in the freshness of the ingredients, and the meals reach your door packed with a maximum of nutrients.

Is Clean Eatz a subscription?

No, you can order as much as you like whenever you want. Clean Eatz isn’t a subscription-based service, and you don’t have to worry about recurring orders. If you don’t like the meals, you simply don’t place a new order.