When choosing the right option for you, consider the following factors:
Energy (Calories/ KJ per meal)
Depending on your health requirements and goal, your energy needs will differ from the next person. Energy requirements are based on several factors from life stages, exercise levels, pregnancy or lactation, recovery and many other influences.
Comparing weight loss prepared meals by their calculated energy per meal and their totals per day can assist you to recognise their caloric intakes from their pre-prepared meals to individual recommended intakes.
Nutritional Balance
Protein is an important component of creating satisfaction and fullness with meals, ensuring an adequate amount of protein (25-30g) is distributed between meals is essential. Although energy requirements (calories) are less during a weight-loss plan the requirements for nutrients such as protein, essential fatty acids, dietary fibre, vitamins and minerals are very similar to a normal adult recommendation (Dwyer, Melanson et al. 2015). It’s important to not sacrifice essential nutrients in meals just because energy deficits are created.
Compare meals based on their ingredients and nutritional panels, and if meals are lacking vegetables consider adding more to meals.
Meals per subscription
Analyse how many meals per day or week is provided and if the quantity provided meets your energy requirements, for example, if you are trying to consume 1200 calories a day are you receiving 3 main meals and 2 snacks that equate to this total? Or are you only receiving 3 main meals and no snacks?
Consider the value versus convenience.
Volume of the meal
Although energy requirements are significantly lower on a weight loss plan, this doesn’t always equate to small portioned meals. Meals can still have volume despite being lower in calories, favouring foods that are satiating such as protein, and including naturally lowering calorie foods such as fruits and vegetables allows for volume (DS, PA et al. 2005).