The UK healthy ready-meal market is booming, projected to reach £8.7 billion by 2027. This growth is fueled by a major shift in priorities; in 2026, one in four households now names health as their primary goal for the year.
This focus on health is colliding with a shrinking window for cooking. The average evening meal now takes just 31 minutes to prepare, leaving little room for complex, from-scratch nutrition. This has created a surge in demand for functional foods that do the heavy lifting for us, evidenced by a 9.6% increase in protein-based food sales as consumers look for meals that support active lifestyles without the time investment.
However, convenience is facing a clean-eating reckoning. With 66% of UK adults concerned about ultra-processed foods (UPFs), many are now looking beyond the labels of their favourite "healthy" shortcuts.
Within this space, Simmer Eats and Prep Kitchen have become household names. You’ve likely seen their adverts across social media promising calorie-controlled, high-protein ease, but what actually goes into their food? While they appear similar, their nutritional philosophies and ingredient standards differ significantly.
In the guide below, we compare Simmer Eats and Prep Kitchen on price, variety, and performance. We’ll also offer up Frive as the premium, 100% UPF-free alternative for those who refuse to compromise on taste and ingredient integrity.
Simmer Eats vs Prep Kitchen: A quick comparison
| Category | Simmer Eats | Prep Kitchen |
|---|---|---|
| Quality | Balanced, flavour-led meals; some freezer-friendly options. Free from artificial preservatives, additives, and processed fillers. | Macro-balanced; performance-first recipes; uses Red Tractor chicken. Contains some UPFs. Some recipes include E-numbers or industrial additives. |
| Variety | 16–22 dishes weekly; rotating breakfasts. | 20–30 rotating mains; limited vegan/vegetarian range. |
| Delivery | Weekly (Sun & Mon); 5-day fridge life. | Twice weekly (Sun & Mon); some freezer-friendly. |
| Cooking | Heats in <5 mins (Microwave). | Heats in <5 mins (Microwave). |
| Price (6 Meal plan) | £44.94 + £6.99 delivery (£7.49/meal). | £41.70–£49.50 (£6.95–£8.25/meal). |
| Reputation | 4.4/5 on Trustpilot (10k+ reviews). | 4.5/5 Trustpilot (3k+ reviews); elite athlete ambassadors. |
| Diet Plans | Balanced meals; high-protein options available. | Dedicated fat loss and muscle gain plans. |
| Tech Compatibility | Website only; no direct app integration. | Barcode scannable with MyFitnessPal integration. |
| Best For | Every day variety and convenience. | Dedicated athletes and strict macro-trackers. |
Deep dive: Head-to-head comparison
Meal quality and ingredients
Prep Kitchen
Prep Kitchen focuses on performance-led nutrition using Red Tractor-assured chicken, free-range eggs, and seasonal British produce. To maintain freshness without traditional preservatives, they use Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP). While they are transparent about using functional additives like lecithin or vitamin C for stability, they do not follow a strict whole-foods-only philosophy, choosing instead to prioritise macro-accuracy for athletes.
Simmer Eats
Simmer Eats offers a "cleaner" approach, explicitly guaranteeing that meals are 100% free from artificial preservatives, additives, and processed fillers. Rather than using chemical stabilisers, they employ a small-batch cooking process and immediately chill meals to lock in freshness. Their messaging focuses on flavour and ingredient integrity, providing natural, chef-led recipes for those wanting to avoid ultra-processed foods.
Key Takeaway: Choose Simmer Eats for clean, additive-free meals with a 100% "real food" guarantee. Opt for Prep Kitchen if you need goal-specific portion sizes and barcode scanning for easy macro-tracking.
Try now: Chicken Pho with Rice Noodles, Fresh Herbs & Peppers
Menu variety and nutrition
Prep Kitchen
Prep Kitchen provides a structure designed specifically for body composition goals, offering approximately 20–30 rotating mains each week. Their menu is built around three core objectives: Fat Loss, Muscle Gain, and Maintenance, with portion sizes like "Large" providing up to 35% more calories and 60g of protein for those with higher energy demands. While their focus is heavily performance-led, they do provide a selection of breakfasts and snacks, such as protein brownies and oats, to support a full day of macro-tracking.
Simmer Eats
Simmer Eats operates with a slightly different philosophy, focusing on high-protein, flavour-led variety for everyday health. Their weekly menu of 16–22 dishes is drawn from a broader rotation of over 50 monthly recipes, ensuring frequent changes to prevent "meal fatigue". Notably, they are more accommodating for specific dietary needs, with approximately 40% of the menu suitable for vegetarians and vegans, and roughly 80–90% of dishes being dairy and gluten-free.
Key Takeaway: Choose Prep Kitchen for highly structured, goal-based plans that prioritise exact macro-tracking. Choose Simmer Eats for more frequent menu rotation and better support for vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free dietary requirements.
Pricing and value for money
On a like-for-like 6-meal plan, both brands sit at competitive price points, though their structures differ slightly. Simmer Eats keeps things straightforward at £44.94 for six meals, which works out to £7.49 per meal. Prep Kitchen offers a more tiered approach; while their premium Muscle Gain range is priced at £49.50 (£8.25 per meal), their standard Fat Loss or Balanced plans can start as low as £41.70 (£6.95 per meal).
Value depends on your specific priorities. Prep Kitchen’s pricing reflects its goal-oriented structure, offering different portion sizes (Regular vs. Large) to help you hit exact macro targets. Simmer Eats focuses its value on high-protein, flavour-led variety, with many meals naturally containing 30–50g of protein without the need for a premium "performance" tier.
Both brands offer Student and Blue Light discounts and frequently run introductory offers for new customers, such as 40–53% off your first order. While there are no hidden fees, keep in mind that Simmer Eats typically adds a £6.99 delivery fee per order, which can impact the total weekly cost.
Key Takeaway: Choose Prep Kitchen for the best entry-level price on weight-loss plans starting at £6.95 per meal. Choose Simmer Eats if you want consistent mid-range pricing for chef-prepared, high-protein meals with a broader monthly rotation.
Customer reviews and reputation
Both brands maintain strong reputations, though Prep Kitchen edges ahead slightly on overall rating. Simmer Eats holds a 4.4/5 score on Trustpilot from over 10,000 reviews, with customers frequently praising the "homemade" flavour and consistency. The brand has built significant visibility through features in GQ and maintains strong traction across social media as a go-to for busy professionals.
Prep Kitchen scores a slightly higher 4.5/5 on Trustpilot from over 3,000 reviews. Feedback often highlights how simple the service makes it to stay on track with specific body composition goals. Its status is reinforced by a heavy-hitting roster of athlete ambassadors, including Anthony Joshua and Eddie Hall, cementing its position as a performance-first brand.
While both services are praised for reliability, recurring criticisms for both involve occasional delivery timing issues. Ultimately, Simmer Eats leads on review volume, while Prep Kitchen is the preferred choice for those seeking professional-grade nutritional support.
Key Takeaway: Choose Simmer Eats for a highly-rated, flavour-first experience backed by over 10,000 reviewers. Choose Prep Kitchen for a performance-focused service endorsed by elite athletes.
Try now: Succulent Beef Pho with Rice Noodles, Fresh Herbs & Crisp Peppers
The pivot: Why Frive is the gold standard for ingredient integrity
Simmer Eats and Prep Kitchen are popular choices for convenient, protein-focused meals and both suit busy schedules and structured nutrition goals. Over time, though, the trade-offs become clear: tighter menus, performance-first recipes and less emphasis on ingredient transparency or wider variety.
Frive approaches meal prep differently.
Rather than centring purely on macros or keeping menus limited for operational ease, Frive combines performance-level nutrition with whole-food ingredients, wider variety and zero UPFs, bridging the gap between functional meal prep and genuinely high-quality, everyday eating.
| Category | Simmer Eats | Frive | Prep Kitchen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quality | Balanced, flavour-led meals; some freezer-friendly options. Free from artificial preservatives, additives, and processed fillers. | 100% natural ingredients with zero ultra-processed foods (UPFs). Meals are chef-prepared and nutritionist-approved. | Macro-balanced; performance-first recipes; uses Red Tractor chicken. Contains some UPFs. Some recipes include E-numbers or industrial additives. |
| Variety | 16–22 dishes weekly; rotating breakfasts. | 40+ dishes weekly across breakfasts, snacks and mains. | 20–30 rotating mains; limited vegan/vegetarian range. |
| Delivery | Weekly (Sun & Mon); 5-day fridge life. | 4 delivery days (Sun, Mon, Wed, Thu) for 7-day freshness. | Twice weekly (Sun & Mon); some freezer-friendly. |
| Cooking | Heats in <5 mins (Microwave). | Ready in under 5 minutes in the microwave or under 40 minutes in the oven. | Heats in <5 mins (Microwave). |
| Price (6 Meal plan) | £44.94 (£7.49/meal). | £50.94 + Free Delivery (From £8.49/meal) | £41.70–£49.50 (£6.95–£8.25/meal). |
| Reputation | 4.4/5 on Trustpilot (10k+ reviews). | 4.5/5 on Trustpilot (11k+ reviews) and endorsed by celebrities. | 4.5/5 Trustpilot (3k+ reviews); elite athlete ambassadors. |
Why Frive is the premium standard
- - 100% UPF-free guarantee: While many brands claim to be "healthy," Frive is the only UK meal prep service that guarantees zero ultra-processed foods. Every meal is made from 100% whole foods, using only premium fats, like extra virgin olive oil and avocado oil, with no industrial seed oils, artificial thickeners, or hidden E-numbers.
- - Commitment to organic sourcing: Up to 30% of all ingredients used are sourced organically to support higher farming standards and long-term health.
- - Unrivalled menu variety: Don't get stuck in a "chicken and rice" loop. Frive offers a rotating weekly menu of 40+ different dishes across breakfasts, mains, and snacks. This is significantly more variety than the 16–22 dishes offered by Simmer Eats or the 20–30 performance-focused meals at Prep Kitchen.
- - Maximum freshness with 4 delivery days: Unlike competitors who typically deliver once or twice a week, Frive offers four delivery days (Sun, Mon, Wed, Thu), for ultimate freshness throughout the week.
- - Inclusive dietary support: Premium nutrition should be accessible to everyone. Frive offers the widest range of dietary-specific menus in this comparison, including dedicated high-protein, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and halal options, without compromising the 100% natural ingredient standard.
- - Seamless tech and goal tracking: Hit your targets without the manual labour. Every Frive meal comes with a scannable barcode for instant MyFitnessPal integration. Whether you are on the High Protein (40g+), Low Carb, or Balanced plan, tracking your macros is as simple as a quick scan.
- - The Frive Rewards Club: Frive rewards you for making healthy choices. As you enjoy and review your meals, you earn points towards treats and discounts for future orders. The Frive app tracks your progress, notifying you when you’ve unlocked a reward and allowing you to view your history as you commit to your long-term health goals.
- - Eco-conscious packaging: Frive’s commitment to health extends to the planet. All Frive packaging is 100% recyclable or biodegradable, ensuring your convenience doesn't come at the cost of the environment
- - Best for: Health-conscious and busy professionals, couples and fitness enthusiasts who want to stay on track without the burnout of manual meal prep. Frive is the ideal solution for anyone tracking macro goals or seeking a 100% UPF-free diet, providing high-quality, convenient meals for busy careers and active lifestyles.
Read our guides “Frive vs Simmer Eats” and “Frive vs Prep Kitchen” for a more comprehensive breakdown.
Simmer Eats vs Prep Kitchen: The final verdict
Simmer Eats and Prep Kitchen both make healthy eating more convenient, and on paper, their pricing is almost identical. The real difference lies in what you prioritise. If that’s strict macro tracking or straightforward, protein-forward staples, either can do the job. If you want a wider variety, clearer ingredient standards and meals that feel less functional and more genuinely satisfying, the gap starts to show.
A small difference in price rarely determines long-term satisfaction. Quality, freshness, flexibility and ingredient integrity matter more over time than a few pence difference per portion.
If you are a busy professional or fitness enthusiast looking to stay on top of your goals with 100% UPF-free, macro-portioned and nutritionist-approved meals that never compromise on flavour, Frive is the natural choice for your lifestyle.
Ditch the processed “health” food. Try Frive today and get a introudctionary offer on your first order.
