Metabolic Meals Review 2023: Healthy, but Worth the Price?

Overview

Competition between fitness-focused prepared meal delivery services is as tough as a triathlon. Metabolic Meals lists athletes, celebrities, and executives among its customers and has been in business since 2009. But how does it stack up against the challengers?

Some study cars, some study stocks. I study meal delivery services. I scrutinize ingredient lists, compile shipping costs, and compare competitors to see who comes out on top. I’m tough but fair, and this is my honest take on Metabolic Meals.

While it’s not cheap and has no vegetarian or vegan options, Metabolic Meals is an easy, healthy, and tasty way to lose weight or kick-start a keto/paleo diet.

How easy, you ask?

• You choose from over 25 breakfast and dinner items

• Fresh, ready-to-eat meals arrive at your door

• Heat them up and eat in 1-2 minutes

• Skip a week or cancel anytime

Intrigued? Read on, eat healthier, and take advantage of our special Metabolic Meals discounts!

Pros

• Special diabetic diet plan

• Almost all meals suitable for sodium-restricted diets

• No prep or cleanup means more time for working out

• Special discount: $20 off your first order

Cons

• Meals are meat-centered with no plant-based offerings

• Single-serving meals may not be ideal for feeding families

Metabolic Meals Is Best For

• Calorie-counters: Most Metabolic Meals are under 500 calories

• Diabetics: Chef’s Choice can provide a full 7-day diabetic-friendly menu

• Gluten-sensitives: All Metabolic Meals entrees are 100% gluten-free

Metabolic Meals May Not Be Great For

• Vegans: Metabolic Meals has no vegan or vegetarian offerings save granola and a few side dishes

• Those on a Tight Budget: Extra protein upcharges and shipping fees can add up quickly

What’s on the Metabolic Meals Menu

Metabolic Meals specializes in prepared meals for health-conscious eaters. Its food contains no gluten, wheat, soy, refined sugars, or artificial colors and flavors. Most entrees clock in between 350 and 600 calories.

Metabolic Meals lets you filter for other allergens like dairy, fish, shellfish, eggs, peanuts, and tree nuts. You can also choose Diabetic Friendly, Low Carb, Keto, Low Sodium, and Under 450 Calorie entrees.

Every week Metabolic Meals brings you a selection of 15 main entrees and 6-8 breakfast dishes, as well as a selection of Premium Proteins, Signature Sides, and healthy desserts.  

While Metabolic Meals doesn’t let you swap proteins like Home Chef, almost every entree offers an “extra protein” option that doubles up on the lean meat or fish.

While the menu has a lot to offer soy- and gluten-sensitive eaters, Metabolic Meals offers no vegetarian or vegan main entrees.

Unboxing

Every week Metabolic Meals sends between six and 22 fresh, ready-to-eat meals. They arrive like tasty little Russian dolls in their own boxes, which are then cradled in a chilled and insulated bigger box. Your meals are beautifully organized, but what about the carbon footprint?

Metabolic Meals uses recycled cardboard and the box liner is made from a recycled and biodegradable cotton blend. The ice packs contain a non-toxic gel that can be emptied into the trash after use.

Prepared meal delivery will inevitably involve a lot of packaging. Metabolic Meals works hard to make sure that packaging can be reused. And while the packaging and meal containers are all 100% recyclable, they can still keep your food cool for over 12 hours on your doorstep.

Your meals can stay in the refrigerator for 4-5 days or can be frozen for longer shelf life. Most Metabolic Meals freeze well, but the company recommends you don’t freeze meals containing eggs or leafy greens.

Cooking with Metabolic Meals

With Metabolic Meals, healthy eating isn’t just convenient, it’s delicious. Metabolic Meals chefs prepare your food and send it ready to eat. There’s no prep and very little in the way of clean-up.

You can heat it up in your microwave for 1-2 minutes or use your oven. If you do the latter, you’ll need an oven-safe container and a meat thermometer. Metabolic Meals recommends you heat your meal “until it has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees.”

The Metabolic Meals menu features many riffs on the “Lean Protein + Green Vegetables” theme. While you see nods to international cuisines, most entrees are comfort food that aims to satisfy your palate rather than expand it.

All the specifications below are for the regular-sized entrees and will increase to varying degrees with the “Extra Protein” option.

Shortlist of My Favorite Meals

Any recipe that combines coffee and steak is bound to be a winner. Now add caramelized onions and brussel sprouts tossed in red wine and balsamic vinegar and you have a meal that’s sure to please! This is Metabolic Meals’ best-selling entree, and it’s easy to see why.

The Coffee Rubbed Steak is a good example of a typical Metabolic Meals entree. It’s simple but sophisticated and combines nutritious vegetables with lean protein for a diet meal that wouldn’t be out of place in a restaurant.

Eggs. Beef. Pork Bacon. Cheese. How can you not love a breakfast that starts with those ingredients? With butter and olive oil added, the Meat Lover’s Keto Scramble is a blast of good fat and clean proteins that’ll kick your ketosis into overdrive.

While Metabolic Meals has a few excellent keto offerings, most of its menu is geared for paleo and lower-fat diets. If you’re a dedicated keto dieter, you may want to check out Fresh n’ Lean, which has a dedicated keto menu.

One of the great temptations facing any dieter is the siren song of tasty, greasy, calorie-laden takeout food. This Cashew Chicken Stir Fry is made with organic chicken, cashews, and bone broth. Soy-free misos and coconut aminos provide a healthy umami alternative to soy sauce.

And not only is there no MSG. With only 365 mg of sodium, this Cashew Chicken Stir Fry is suitable for sodium-restricted diets.

Shepherd’s Pie isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you think of diabetic-friendly food, but Metabolic Meals replaces the mashed potato topping with a yummy cauliflower and Parmesan cheese mash. This is an indulgence you can enjoy without spiking your blood sugar.

Through their Chef’s Choice plan, Metabolic Meals offers dedicated plans designed for people with diabetes and pre-diabetes.

Best Low-Carb Meal: Biscuits and Gravy Casserole w/Turkey Sausage

Biscuits and gravy are a ticket to breakfast ecstasy. And with Metabolic Meals, you can enjoy a biscuits and gravy morning with just 18 grams of carbs. These gluten-free biscuits are made with white rice flour, and the eggs and turkey sausage are 100% organic.

Most entrees at Metabolic Meals contain between 15 and 35 grams of carbs and would be suitable for a reduced-carb diet.

Shipping & Delivery

Metabolic Meals ships via UPS. You can choose between multiple delivery days when you sign up. The delivery day you choose will be your delivery day going forward. You can track your order on its journey through the MyUPS app.

Metabolic Meals ships to the continental United States and to Hawaii. Extra shipping charges apply to Hawaiian orders, and Alaska is still out in the cold.

You can reschedule a delivery by logging into your Metabolic Meals account, by calling 855-355-MEAL (6325) Monday-Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM CST, or by email at customerservice@mymetabolicmeals.com.

Subscription

How to Sign Up

When you subscribe, you choose between My Choice and Chef’s Choice. Chef’s Choice offers you a selection of 2-meal and 3-meal plans for three, five, or seven days a week. You choose between the “Fit” (1,200-1,400 calories/day) and the “Performance” (1,800-2,000 calories) menus.

My Choice allows you to select between six and 28 meals a week from the rotating menu. You have more freedom to choose, which can be a good or a bad thing if you’re trying to stick to a particular plan.

Every week Metabolic Meals’ algorithms learn more about your tastes, nutritional preferences, and order size. If you don’t pick your meals or skip the delivery, Metabolic Meals will choose your meals for you. Around 20% of customers let Metabolic Meals pick for them.

Managing Your Subscription

You can pause or cancel deliveries, manage payment methods, cancel your subscriptions, and change delivery dates through your online account.

All Metabolic Plans are commitment-free. You can switch plans, pause your plan or cancel anytime you want. Any changes or adjustments to your order or membership should be made before Wednesday 9:00 AM CST of the week before your meals ship.

Customer Service

If there are any problems, you can put in a ticket at the Metabolic Meals customer service help desk. Their customer service office is open from Monday to Friday 9 AM to 5 PM CST and can help you with problems ranging from damaged deliveries to billing issues.

It would be nice if Metabolic Meals offered more customer service hours, but many smaller companies face staffing issues nowadays. When I asked a question via email, I found the customer support service friendly and helpful.

Prices

Most Metabolic Meals breakfasts start at $10.99, while main entrees go for $12.99 to $13.99 per serving. If you go with the “Extra Protein” option you can expect a $4 upcharge on breakfast items and a $4.50 upcharge on main entrees.

Chef’s Choice weekly subscription price ranges between $79.95 (three days, Fit Breakfast/Lunch or Dinner) to $309.95 (seven days, three Performance Meals/day).

Metabolic Meals also charges a hefty $19.95 for shipping.

I reached out to Metabolic Meals and within 24 hours I received a note explaining that it offered free shipping on orders over 15 meals. While I appreciate the quick response, $19.95 is a kick in the wallet.

Even with our special discounts, Metabolic meals isn’t cheap. But fitness-focused prepared meal delivery services typically charge a premium price, and Metabolic Meals’ price per entree is comparable to other diet-conscious services.

The Bottom Line: Is Metabolic Meals Worth It?

Several meal delivery services offer excellent prepared meal plans for fitness-conscious customers. How does Metabolic Meals stack up against the competition?

If you’re looking for a complete meal plan as part of a fitness regimen or for a medical issue, Metabolic Meals Chef’s Choice plan brings a tasty and nutritious selection of weekly meals to your door.

If you want to eat better but you don’t have a lot of kitchen skills, the Metabolic Meals My Choice plan makes healthy eating as easy as using a microwave.

While it’s expensive, Metabolic Meals costs per serving are comparable to other healthy prepared meal services.

Vegetarians and vegans will do better by checking out our list of the best vegetarian meal delivery services. But if you’re an omnivore looking for a convenient and delicious way to improve your diet, Metabolic Meals is definitely worth a try – especially with our special discounts!

FAQ

Does Metabolic Meals have a Diabetic-Friendly Plan?

Metabolic Meals offers dedicated plans for people with diabetes and pre-diabetes through their Chef’s Choice program. Even if you sign up for the My Choice plan, most Metabolic Meals entrees contain between 15-35 grams of carbs and have no added sugar. Check with your physician before making any changes to your diabetes care plan.

Does Metabolic Meals offer Low-Sodium Meals?

Metabolic Meals Low Sodium dishes  have between 400 and 600 mg of sodium per serving and can be part of a heart-healthy diet for lowering high blood pressure and cholesterol. Almost all Metabolic Meals contain under 800 mg of sodium.

Can You Freeze Metabolic Meals?

Metabolic Meals arrive fresh and can be kept in your refrigerator for 4-5 days. While Metabolic Meals recommends against freezing meals with eggs or leafy greens, other Metabolic Meals can be frozen for an even longer shelf life.