Calo Meal Delivery Review: A Fitness Writer's Experience
The Calo meal delivery service, formerly known as Fresh Fitness Food, promises to save users hours each week by delivering nutritious meals directly to their door. As a senior fitness writer, I decided to put this claim to the test over a month-long period. With a busy schedule that often leaves evenings disappearing between work, dog walks, and dinner prep, I was eager to see if Calo could reclaim my time and keep my nutrition on track.
How Calo Works and Personalisation Options
Calo operates through a user-friendly app that updates weekly with a rotating menu of over 80 options, covering breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks, and juices. Users can build a customised plan by selecting the number of meals, dish types, delivery slots, and add-ons like snacks or drinks. Prices start at £11 per day, making it an investment worth evaluating.
As a gym-goer with a vegetarian-leaning diet, the personalisation features particularly appealed to me. The app allows choices from categories such as balanced, high protein, vegetarian, or custom macros. It also tracks protein, fat, carbohydrates, and calorie intake, creating a suggested weekly delivery based on personal factors like height, weight, and fitness goals. Meals can be swapped to suit dietary needs and preferences, offering flexibility for varied lifestyles.
Testing Process and Monthly Experience
I tested Calo for several weeks, receiving deliveries twice a week—on Mondays and Fridays—with each day including a breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack, and juice. Throughout the month, I documented my experiences, focusing on taste, nutrition, variety, value for money, and ease of use.
The app estimated that Calo saved me 75 hours of cooking time over the month. While this figure seemed slightly high, I definitely noticed a significant difference in my daily routine. Breakfasts, such as protein-rich yoghurts with nuts or omelettes with greens, were a standout, ensuring I never missed a meal and supported my strength training sessions. Lunches and dinners were tasty, varied, and required just two minutes in the microwave, making them convenient for busy days.
Benefits and Time-Saving Advantages
The primary benefit of Calo was the time it freed up. Without the need to plan, shop, cook, and clean up meals, I gained extra hours each week. This not only made my evenings more relaxing but also boosted my productivity at work. Office days became more efficient, as I could pack nutritious meals like yoghurt bowls, tofu snacks, and spicy salmon quinoa lunches in minutes, avoiding unsatisfying sandwiches.
Highlights from the menu included dishes like tamarind sea bass noodles, bang bang shrimp, and greens and tofu bowls. The variety was impressive, even with my pescatarian preferences, and the ability to swap meals up to 24 hours in advance kept things fresh. Nutritional breakdowns on each packet helped me make informed dietary choices, contributing to better overall health.
Challenges and Areas for Improvement
Despite the positives, I encountered a few challenges. The app's interface was slightly confusing initially, with terms like "bag" referring to a day's worth of food rather than deliveries. This led to a near-mistake in ordering multiple rounds of meals. Additionally, the daily meals provided about two-thirds of my calculated nutritional targets—3,693 calories, 198g protein, 363g carbs, and 161g fat—requiring supplementation for larger appetites or muscle gain goals.
I found the cold-pressed juices and smoothies unnecessary, preferring whole fruits instead. Variety in automatic selections could be limited, especially with specific dietary filters like pescatarian and high protein, resulting in repetitive meals like harissa salmon and quinoa. However, this is easily mitigated by proactively customising choices in the app.
Value for Money and Final Verdict
Calo is undeniably expensive, with costs that may not fit every budget. However, the time savings and nutritional benefits can justify the expense for many. Personally, I plan to use Calo more selectively in the future, opting out of juices and snacks and only ordering meals for busier weekdays. The app's customisability allows for such adjustments, and reward schemes or referral offers can help reduce costs.
Overall, Calo earned my approval by helping balance a hectic work and social life with fitness goals. It ensured I ate nutritious meals even during busy periods, though it's best suited for those who can afford the premium. I recommend downloading the app to explore plans that match your needs and budget, as delicious, efficient meals await.
Exclusive Discount and Trustworthiness
As part of this review, The Independent offers an exclusive discount code for Calo, providing readers with a cost-saving opportunity. Our evaluations are based on thorough testing by experts, ensuring reliable recommendations for quality products and services in the health and fitness sector.
