Meal prep in the UK has moved far beyond basic convenience. What began as a time-saving alternative to takeaways has evolved into a broader shift towards health and ingredient transparency. With the ready-meals market projected to reach £8.7 billion by 2027, delivered food is now firmly mainstream.
But 2026 looks different from five years ago. Consumers are asking harder questions about sourcing, additives and nutritional integrity. Around 66% of UK adults are concerned about ultra-processed foods (UPFs), and over a quarter plan to actively reduce them.
As protein sales rise and health becomes a top priority for one in four households, the market is splitting into two: convenience-first services and whole-food, performance-driven alternatives driven by transparency.
The best meal prep services in the UK for 2026 are no longer judged on speed alone. Ingredient quality, macro precision and long-term health now lead the conversation. The question is no longer “What’s easiest?” but “What actually supports how I want to live?”
| Service | Best For | Trustpilot Rating | Menu Choice | Avg. Price (per meal) | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frive | 100% Natural & Zero UPF | 4.5 / 5 (11k+ reviews) | 40+ weekly dishes | £8.49 | Fresh / Chilled |
| Simmer Eats | Bold Global Flavours | 4.4 / 5 (10k+ reviews) | 16-22 weekly dishes | £7.49* | Fresh / Chilled |
| Prep Kitchen | Fitness & Body Goals | 4.5 / 5 (3.3k+ reviews) | 20-30 weekly dishes | £6.95 - £7.75 | Fresh / Chilled |
| Allplants | Plant-Based Variety | 4.4 / 5 (9k+ reviews) | 30+ vegan dishes | ~£5.00 | Flash-Frozen |
| Home-Cooks | Small Batch Variety | 4.3 / 5 (180+ reviews) | 300+ rotating dishes | £7.95 | Small Batch |
| Calo | AI-Personalised Plans | 4.3 / 5 (300+ reviews) | 80+ dish options | ~£20.00 (Daily) | App-Led Plans |
Note: Pricing and ratings based on February 2026 data. *Simmer Eats price excludes £6.99 delivery fee.
How we’ve selected our ‘best’ meal prep brands
The truth is, there is no single service that wins for everyone. The right choice depends entirely on your specific goals, your schedule and the standards you set for what goes into your body, including:
- - Nutritional integrity: Moving beyond calories to look at ingredient quality, sourcing and the presence of ultra-processed additives.
- - Macro precision: How accurately and easily you can track your protein, fats and carbs to meet fitness or health targets.
- - Value and flexibility: Looking at the total cost per meal alongside the ability to pause or skip your plan.
UK meal prep services: 2026 snapshot profiles
Frive
Brand USP:
Frive is the only UK meal prep service offering a 100% natural, zero ultra-processed food guarantee. Every meal is chef-prepared, made fresh, nutritionist-approved, and made with 0% UPF ingredients. Their focus is on clean macros, consistent, high-quality protein and ingredient transparency, not just convenience.
- - Average meal price (6 meals): £50.94 (£8.49 per meal) + Free Delivery.
- - Trustpilot rating: 4.5/5 (11,000+ reviews).
- - Number of menu choices: 40+ dishes weekly (includes breakfasts and snacks).
- - Best suited for: Busy professionals, couples, health and fitness enthusiasts, eco-conscious customers and anyone prioritising whole-food, non-UPF nutrition.
Pros:
- - 100% natural ingredients with zero UPFs
- - Extensive range of high-protein, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, balanced, low-calorie meal plans
- - 40+ rotating dishes across all-day eating
- - MyFitnessPal barcode integration
- - Rewards Club and student/Blue Light discounts
- - Four delivery days with 7-day chilled freshness
Cons:
- - Subscription model required (cancel anytime)
- - Don’t currently deliver 7 days a week
Simmer Eats
Brand USP:
Simmer Eats centres its offering around bold, globally inspired flavours paired with a high protein content, typically 30–60g per meal. Portions arrive chilled and are designed for quick heating without sacrificing taste. The brand is known for satisfying, comfort-style dishes that still hit macro targets.
- - Average meal price (6 meals): £44.94 (£7.49 per meal) + £6.99 delivery.
- - Trustpilot rating: 4.4/5 (10,000+ reviews).
- - Number of menu choices: 16–22 dishes weekly (50+ rotating monthly).
- - Best suited for: Flavour-focused eaters who want high-protein, chilled convenience.
Pros:
- - Consistently strong flavour profiles
- - High protein across most dishes
- - Reliable chilled delivery format
- - Simple, straightforward ordering
Cons:
- - A £6.99 delivery fee is applied to most orders
- - Smaller weekly menu compared to larger competitors
- - Limited dietary options beyond the core high-protein focus
Read our guide to 'Frive vs Simmer Eats' to find out more.
Try now: Succulent Beef Pho with Rice Noodles, Fresh Herbs & Crisp Peppers
Prep Kitchen
Brand USP:
Prep Kitchen takes a performance-first approach, offering clearly structured plans such as “Fat Loss” and “Muscle Gain,” each with defined portion sizes and calorie targets. Meals are built around macro transparency, with protein-led recipes designed to support body composition goals.
- - Average meal price (6 meals): £41.70–£46.50 (£6.95–£7.75 per meal).
- - Trustpilot rating: 4.5/5 (3,000+ reviews).
- - Number of menu choices: 20–30 mains available weekly.
- - Best suited for: Gym-goers and macro-trackers on a budget.
Pros:
- - Competitive pricing for high-protein meal prep
- - Clear calorie and macro breakdowns
- - Goal-based portion sizing
- - Straightforward, no-frills plans
Cons:
- - Functional, repetitive menu style
- - Less emphasis on culinary variety or premium ingredients
- - Limited dietary flexibility beyond performance plans
Read our guide to 'Frive vs Prep Kitchen' to find out more.
Allplants (The vegan choice)
Brand USP:
As a fully plant-based service, Allplants delivers chef-made dishes that arrive frozen to lock in nutrients and reduce waste. Meals are built around whole ingredients and plant diversity, aiming to help customers reach 30 plants per week through a flexible, non-subscription model.
- - Average meal price (6 meals): Around £30 (£5 per meal).
- - Trustpilot rating: 4.6/5 (9,000+ reviews).
- - Number of menu choices: 30+ dedicated vegan dishes.
- - Best suited for: Vegans, vegetarians and flexitarians looking for plant-based variety.
Pros:
- - Fully vegan menu with strong plant-diversity focus
- - Flash-frozen for long shelf life and minimal waste
- - Flexible ordering with no subscription required
- - Recyclable packaging and B Corp sustainability credentials
Cons:
- - Delivered frozen rather than fresh
- - No macro-tracking integration
- - Limited to plant-based options only
Read our guide to 'Frive vs Allplants' to find out more.
Home-Cooks
Brand USP:
Home-Cooks operates as a marketplace, connecting customers with independent UK chefs who cook in small batches rather than large-scale factory production. With 300+ dishes rotating monthly, the platform offers bold, global flavours alongside macro-balanced, high-protein and weight-loss-friendly options.
- - Average meal price (6 meals): From £41.00 per box (£7.95 per meal).
- - Trustpilot rating: 4.3/5 (183+ reviews).
- - Number of menu choices: 300+ dishes from independent chefs.
- - Best suited for: Foodies who want maximum variety and restaurant-quality small-batch meals.
Pros:
- - 300+ dishes help prevent menu fatigue
- - Crafted by independent chefs in small batches
- - High-protein and goal-based categories available
- - Flexible plans (6–14 meals) with pause/skip options
Cons:
- - Delivery is limited to Tuesdays and Fridays
- - Meals may be briefly frozen before dispatch
- - Kitchens are not allergen-free (cross-contamination possible)
Calo
Brand USP:
Calo’s model revolves around a fully app-led experience that calculates your daily calorie and macro needs using an AI-driven algorithm. Instead of ordering individual meals, users follow a structured daily plan covering breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks.
- - Average meal price: Around £20.00 per day (for full daily plans).
- - Trustpilot rating: 4.3/5 (300+ reviews).
- - Number of menu choices: 80+ dishes, including snacks and lunches.
- - Best suited for: Tech-focused users wanting a fully-managed, AI-personalised nutrition plan.
Pros:
- - Fully managed daily nutrition with minimal decision-making
- - Strong mobile app and personalised experience
- - Covers full-day intake, not just single meals
Cons:
- - Significantly higher daily cost compared to individual meal plans
- - Less flexibility
Read our guide to 'Frive vs Calo' to find out more.
How to choose the right meal prep service for you
With more choice than ever in 2026, the “best” meal prep service depends entirely on what you value most. Price, protein, ingredients, flexibility and cooking time all matter, but not equally for everyone.
The health-conscious eater
If ingredient quality is your priority, look beyond calorie counts. Check whether meals are built around whole foods or rely heavily on additives and stabilisers. Many consumers are actively reducing ultra-processed foods (UPFs), so transparency around sourcing, oils used and preservatives matters.
Look for:
- - Clear ingredient lists
- - No artificial additives or seed oils
- - Information about sourcing and sustainability
- - Nutritionist involvement or evidence-based meal design
The gym-goer or athlete
Training goals demand precision. High-protein claims should be backed by actual numbers, not vague marketing.
Look for:
- - 30–50g+ protein per meal (if muscle gain is the goal)
- - Clear macro breakdowns (carbs, fats, proteins and calories)
- - Barcode scanning or app integration for tracking
- - Portion sizes aligned to fat loss, maintenance or muscle gain
The busy professional
Time is often the real currency. Ask yourself how many evenings you realistically want to spend cooking.
Look for:
- - Heat-and-eat vs cook-from-scratch formats
- - Shelf life (3–5 days chilled vs freezer-friendly options)
- - Number of delivery days per week
- - Flexibility to skip, pause or amend orders
The cost-conscious buyer
Price per meal tells only part of the story. Factor in delivery fees, minimum orders and any pantry extras required.
Consider:
- - Cost per portion on a 5–6 meal plan
- - Bulk discounts for larger bundles
- - Student, NHS or Blue Light discounts
- - Loyalty or rewards programmes
The variety seeker
Some people burn out on repetitive menus quickly. If “meal fatigue” is a concern, menu size and rotation frequency are essential.
Check:
- - Weekly dish count
- - Monthly rotation volume
- - Breakfast and snack options, not just mains
The sustainability-minded customer
Environmental impact is becoming a bigger factor in 2026 decisions.
Look for:
- - Recyclable or biodegradable packaging
- - Portion-controlled formats that reduce food waste
- - British or locally sourced ingredients
The best meal prep services UK 2026: The final verdict
The UK meal prep market in 2026 is larger, more competitive and more health-driven than ever. Providers now span plant-based convenience, performance-focused macro plans, cook-from-scratch recipe kits and fully prepared heat-and-eat meals. There isn’t one universal winner, only the service that aligns with your lifestyle, standards and long-term goals.
Convenience is easy to find, but consistent ingredient quality is harder. Whole-food nutrition, transparent sourcing and meals that are genuinely ready in minutes without ultra-processed shortcuts narrow the field quickly.
If you want 100% whole food, UPF-free meals that remove the stress of a busy workday, Frive is the premium choice, helping you to effortlessly achieve your wellness goals with nutritionist-approved dishes that are ready in minutes.
Ready to upgrade your nutrition? Order today and receive a tantalising introductory offer from Frive!
