It’s no secret that meal delivery services are all the rage right now. There are so many options out there and it seems like more are added daily.
Today, you can get meals delivered to your home, saving you time, money, and a whole lot of hassle, for any diet or lifestyle you follow. Some meal delivery services cater to just one lifestyle or eating style, like Splendid Spoon, who delivers plant-based meals only, but other nutrition startups that focus on direct-to-consumers cater to a whole range of options.
Fresh N’ Lean is a meal delivery service that provides fresh, pre-cooked meals for a variety of eating choices, which is different than meal kit brands like chefs plate (see our chefs plate Canada review). From vegan and keto to paleo and high protein, you’ll find it all with this meal subscription service.
Is this meal service legit? Do they deliver tasty meals that are packed with nutrition? I’m breaking down this meal service, giving you all the information you need to make an informed decision as to whether or not this service is right for you.
What is Fresh N’ Lean? A Peek Behind The Brand
Fresh N’ Lean is a direct to consumer meal delivery service based out of California. The company was founded by Laureen and Thomas Asseo, a brother/sister duo who are on a mission to enhance lives through eating right. Their motto is “Healthy food in, healthy lifestyle out.” It all starts with having access to high-quality, whole foods.
Laureen and Thomas were well aware that 32.5% of Americans are overweight and another 36.5% are obese, so it became their mission to help change those numbers and making eating healthy easier. They asked the question, “what if fast food could also mean quality food?”
“We are spearheading a movement towards a more wholesome meal designation and delivery. By using mother earth’s natural processes, we harvest organic, non-GMO ingredients combined with free range, certified-humane animal proteins as the foundation of all our meals. Nature knows what it is doing, it has been doing it for a long, long time. We are just the in-between people to ensure nature’s dish arrives on your doorstep undisturbed.”
Fresh N Lean is dedicated to catering to a wide range of eating styles, delivering ready-made meals right to the doorsteps of people all over the country, helping them to live a healthier, more fulfilling life.
visit https://www.freshnlean.com/ 
you can also sign up to their email list and get $20 off your first order
What Kinds of Meal Plans Do They Offer?
Protein + ($10.41 /meal): High-protein (71%) for high performance. This plan comes with some form of animal protein with each meal along with vegetables and grains.
This plan features high-quality animal protein like wild-caught salmon, grass-fed beef, chicken, and bison. On the side, you’ll get organic vegetables and grains. The average macro breakdown per meal is 39 grams of protein, 68 grams of carbs, and 14 grams of fat, for a total of about 500 calories per meal.
Keto ($10.78 /meal): Low carb (15%), premium protein and clean fats. This plan comes with animal protein plus vegetables.
This plan features high-quality animal proteins and relatively high fats. On average, the macros for this meal plan feature 31 grams of protein, 43 grams of fat, and 13 grams of net carbs for a total of about 560 calories per meal.
Paleo ($10.78 /meal): High protein (60%) low carb. This plan comes with animal protein and fats, but excludes legumes and grains entirely.
This meal plan is very similar to the high-[protein plan except that instead of grains and legumes, you’ll get fresh vegetables. The average calories of each meal is around 450.
Standard Vegan ($7.93 /meal): Vegan protein and organic vegetables. This plan comes with vegan proteins, natural carbs, and minimal fat.
This plan features plant-based dishes as opposed to animal proteins, but it’s otherwise very similar to the protein + meal plan. The average macros are 19 grams of protein, 75 grams of carbs, and 11 grams of fat for a total of 475 calories per meal.
Low-Carb Vegan ($9.63 /meal): Low carbs (28%) and organic vegetables. They have two options for this plan: Low-Carb, Low-Calorie Option - This plan is great for weight loss, helping you fuel your day with health plant-based proteins and fats and minimal carbs.
Low-Carb, High-Protein Option - This option allows for more protein while still allowing you to cut out carbs.
Bulk ($85 minimum order): The Plan for You to Bulk up on Proteins, Veggies, Oats and Everything Else you need.
Fresh N’ Lean allows you to choose a la carte orders, picking out individual meals, snacks, and proteins in bulk. This allows you to customize your own meals at home, giving you full control over the main protein and side dishes.
How it Works
Once you decide which meal plan is right for you based on your unique needs and lifestyle, you can then get work setting up your subscription plan that will allow you to have fresh, tasty, lifestyle-approved meals delivered right to your door each week.
Here’s what the whole process will look like:
Step 1: Choose whether you want 1, 2, or 3 meals per day. Or, you can choose meals individually via their a la carte option. You’ll also choose between 5 or 7 meals per week and can decide if you want just breakfast, lunch, or dinner, or a combination of any of them.
Step 2: Indicate whether or not you have food allergies and food aversions. You can choose to exclude up to three ingredients that you don’t like or wish to consume in your meals. You can also indicate if you have any food allergies. They are a gluten-free kitchen so no need to worry about gluten!
Step 3: Choose if you want any additional meals/snacks/sides added to your meal plan in addition to your regular meals.
Step 4: Checkout and start your weekly meal plan subscription! You’ll need to enter your information to create your account as well as enter your payment information. WIth your subscription you can switch plans, pause your delivery, or cancel at any time - no questions asked!
Step 5: Your meals are shipped. All Fresh N’ Lean meals arrive at your doorstep fresh, never frozen. The meals are packed in insulated boxes that will keep them fresh for up to 12 hours, so if you’re not home for delivery, no worries!
All meals come pre-packed into individual meals that are ready to be heated in the microwave or on the stovetop, leaving you to heat and eat in 3 minutes or less. There’s no prepping, cooking, or cleaning up required!
Fresh N’ Lean Pros and Cons
As with any meal plan service, there are always pros and cons. The great news is that there are countless services out there to choose from, so if there is something about one service that doesn’t fit with what you want, you can easily find another one that does. Some of my personal favorite meal delivery services include Splendid Spoon, Sprinly, and Veestro.
Here are the pros and cons of using Fresh N’ Lean:
Pros
- All meals come pre-prepared and ready to eat. All you need to do is pop them in the microwave to heat.
- There are so many meal options to choose from. They cater to one of the widest ranges of diet choices I have seen, which is incredible.
- Their meals are available nationwide, which is not common in the industry.
- Choosing their meals is a great way to experience a new diet/lifestyle plan without spending a lot of time planning and prepping.
- They use only the highest-quality, organic ingredients, including grass-fed beef and wild-caught fish.
- All meals are chef-inspired and designed for both amazing taste and healthy living.
- THe ingredients are non-GMO and are free from processed and artificial foods.
Cons
- The biggest, and perhaps only con is that there is very little flexibility in your weekly meal choices. Other than the exclusions and allergens you indicate, you sort of just get what you get. This is great for some who want to experience variety, but may be a downfall for those who want to just stick with what they like.
FAQs
Q: How does the Fresh N Lean meal subscription work?
A: When you subscribe to one of Fresh N’ Lean’s meal plans by following the instructions listed above, you’ll then be sent a box of freshly made meals every Friday via Fedex. All you need to do is transfer them from their insulated box, place them in the refrigerator, reheat, and eat when you’re ready.
Q: Are the meals all organic?
A: Yes, Fresh N’ Lean prepares and deliverers organic, gluten-free, fresh meals right to your door anywhere in the US.
Q: Can I customize what meals I want to eat in a week?
A: Somewhat. In order to keep their prices lower and their dishes varied, they create weekly menus based on the availability of local fresh ingredients. You have the option to choose between their curated weekly meals that cater to your unique dietary needs and goals, or to choose from the a la carte menu and mix and match your foods to make your own meals.
Q: Can I only order for the days that I want?
A: No, they do not offer the option to receive meals for specific days. Since they make all their meals from scratch, they deliver for a full week. However, you can choose between 5 or 7 days per week and you can certainly eat them on whatever day you choose.
Q: Can I order just lunch or just dinner?
A: Absolutely, you can choose how many meals you want per day; 1, 2, or 3, and you eat them when you want.
Q: Can I order a one-time delivery?
A: Yes, but you’ll need to contact Fresh N’ Lean after your first order to cancel your subscription as you’re automatically enrolled the first time you order. You can reach them via phone at (888) 420-4080.
Q: How much does shipping cost?
A: Shipping is always FREE!
Q: When do the meals arrive?
A: Meal plans are shipped via GLS or FedEx for Friday delivery, guaranteed by Saturday. For A la carte orders the following applies:
- Orders placed Monday before 1:30 PST will be delivered by Wednesday by end of day.
- Orders placed Tuesday before 1:30 PST will be delivered by Thursday end of day.
- Orders placed Wednesday before Noon PST will be delivered by Friday end of day. Guaranteed by Saturday.
- Orders placed Friday, Saturday or Sunday (anytime) will be delivered by Wednesday end of day.
Q: Do I need to add any extra ingredients to prepare my meals?
A: No, everything you get from Fresh N’ Lean is ready to eat, with the exception of their breakfast granola which they suggest adding fresh fruit to our unsweetened milk.
Q: How long do the meals stay fresh?
A: Each meal comes in a vacuum sealed container, which allows it to stay fresh for up to 7-10 days after delivery when stored in the refrigerator. However, you can extend the life of your meals by placing them in the freezer for 6-8 weeks.
Reviews of Fresh N’ Lean: What are customers saying online about this prepared meal delivery service?
According to trustpilot.com, there are 1184 reviews of Fresh N’ Lean, with 72% being excellent. After reading through all comments, I discovered that the negative feedback generally had to do with customer service and not the quality or taste of the food delivered. Several customers complained that their online system is not conducive to easy account management, leaving them to need to contact the company via telephone.
That said, I was thrilled to see that every review, both positive and negative, were replied to by a member of the Fresh N’ Lean team. And it appears that the customers who had complaints were contacted via phone immediately to resolve the situation, which is so refreshing to see. This tells me that they truly care about their customers and their satisfaction.
Overall, the majority of customers are highly satisfied with their service and the quality of the meals. They agree that the convenience of the service is unparalleled and the ability to select meals based on their unique needs is greatly appreciated.
The Final Verdict: Is Fresh N’ Lean Legit?
There are so many meal delivery services out there right now that it can feel incredibly hard to discern the good from the bad. When it comes to Fresh N’ Lean, they offer a service that’s very unique in that they cater to a wide range of eating styles and diets.
I see tons of prepared meal services, most of which cater to only one niche, but Fresh N’ Lean does things differently, which can be very beneficial for many, particularly those who want to try out a certain style of eating or like to mix things up. Additionally, it’s great for households that have different people eating different ways. You don’t need to purchase meals from separate companies, which is both convenient and time saving.
If you’re looking for a prepared meal plan service that allows you to save hours per week shopping, planning, cooking, and cleaning and more time with family and friends doing the things you enjoy most, then you’re going to love the convenience of Fresh N’ Lean. The best part is that their meals are made from the highest quality ingredients and they switch up the menu each week, which means you’ll never get bored and you’ll get to try new things that you may not have otherwise tried.
