There are so many options out there today, it can be hard to know what you should really be looking for. So today we're talking about your healthy meal delivery service - and luckily that's what we're experts at! Take a look at our Top 6 Things to Consider When Choosing Your Healthy Meal Delivery Service.

1. What’s in it

Above and beyond everything else, you're looking for healthy meals delivered to your door. So the first thing you should be doing is checking ingredients lists. Are any of the below listed on the meals?

- Added artificial sugars and sweeteners - check out the list of 50 different names for sugar here!

- Unhealthy oils (canola, vegetable, sunflower....the list goes on forever). You want to be looking for coconut oil and/or olive oil.

- Preservatives - generally recognised by a number (like flavour addition 221). 

- If you're coeliac or lactose intolerant/avoiding, are there ingredients that contain these elements.

- Sauces that would contain any of the above, including: soy sauce, Worcestershire, store bought mayonnaise/aioli/ketchup/BBQ sauce. Unfortunately companies are allowed to list 'sauce' without actually telling you what's in it.

The biggest danger we face as a society today is being marketed 'healthy' products that are actually making us gain weight. Know what to look out for, and avoid the nasties at all costs!

At Nourish’d, you can guarantee that the meals you eat have no preservatives,  cater to your dietary restrictions, and contain no hidden nasties that may leave you feeling weak, sick or tired.

2. Serving Size

One of the biggest frustrations with portioning is this 'one size fits all' mentality that seems to be getting about! News Flash - different people, of different genders, different activity levels, and different lifestyles, have different needs! If your healthy meal delivery provider is going with the one size for all approach, you may want to re-think whether they have your best interests in mind. All meals should be macro nutrient balanced (with the proper breakdown of proteins, carbs, and good fats) and then portioned according to a persons physical needs, mainly

- Gender 

- Work type (do you work on your feet or are sitting at a desk?) 

- Lifestyle (are you a fitness fanatic or prefer a more chilled out way of like?)

The bottom line - if you're a 5ft3, female, corporate worker, you should not be eating the same size meals as a 6ft5, male, tradie. 

P.S. Did you know that at Nourish’d we offer three different meal sizes to suit every lifestyle including: regular, large, and extra large?

3. Variety & Choice

They do say that variety is the spice of life for a reason! But seriously though, how many people start their 'health kick' and 5minutes in are totally bored with eating the same thing over and over again, so start reaching for the local takeaway menus! You want to know:

- How many meals are on the menu

- How often are new meals added

- Do they rotate regularly

- Do you get to choose your meals, or is it a set menu

- Can you de-select things you don't like

Remember - healthy is the priority, but you're paying for this with your hard earned money so it damn well better taste good also! Lucky for you, Nourish’d has over 60 meals on the menu with 20 offered each week! A huge number of these are dairy free - meaning you will never tire of choice. 

4. Value

Now that we've touched on price - let's take a look at value. Now I know you're not here because you're looking for the cheapest food option but just as all people aren't created equal, neither are all healthy meal delivery services. Instead of looking for what is the cheapest, start asking yourself some questions to see what is the best value

- Which is the healthiest (refer to point one)

- What sort of produce is being used - is the meat grass-fed, and the eggs and poultry free-range?

- Where is the fresh produce coming from - is it bought from Australian farmers, or sourced internationally

- What kind of ingredients are being used - coconut oil instead of vegetable? almond meal instead of flour?

- What size is the meal - side by side one meal may appear more expensive. However what is the nutritional value? If a meal has 2 times the nutrition for 1.3 times the price, then cheaper is not the better option. 

Value also needs to be considered in the wider sense - and you know that otherwise you wouldn't be looking for this kind of service. What you pay a little more on now to achieve great health, will save you butt loads in the long run on medical bills.

See how Nourish’d stacks up against other meal providers in the meal delivery space and you’ll understand what we mean by value! 

5. Delivery Method

You wouldn't be here if you weren't looking for convenience, so you should be considering -Do my meals arrive fresh or frozen. You're paying for a premium product to be delivered to your door - do you really want it looking like something you've just picked up out of the frozen food section of the supermarket? At Nourish’d all of our meals are delivered fresh straight to your door. 

6. The Fine Print

Like anything in life, it's really important that you know what you're getting yourself in to. Always check to see if there are any:

- Lock in periods: e.g. you must stay for X amount of time before you can cancel your subscription

- Contracts: Unusual to find, but be sure you're not signing on to something you can't get out of.

- Cancellation Periods: This is where they usually sting you unexpectedly - you sign up for repeat business not even realising that you have to give a month's notice to stop your deliveries.

What you are getting yourself into with Nourish’d

- No lock in periods: You can pause or cancel your subscription at any time! 

- No contracts 

- No cancellation periods: Simply cancel or pause your subscription before 12 pm AEST on a Thursday!

And there you have it - the Top 6 Things to Look For When Choosing Your Healthy Meal Delivery Service. We'd love to hear your thoughts on what you look for in your service? Follow is on Facebook and Instagram @nourishdmealco to contribute your input.