Healthy meal prep delivery providers like Frive can save you up to £90 per month, cut food waste to near zero and give you back around 7 hours a week, just by removing the need to prep, cook and clean. With a flexible, no-fuss service, you also avoid last-minute supermarket trips and wasted ingredients. Just fresh, ready-made meals when you need them.
Driven by busy lifestyles and rising food costs (both in supermarkets & takeaways), meal prep delivery is booming in the UK. More people are choosing convenience, consistency and less waste over long shopping lists and hours in the kitchen.
So, how much do you really save? This guide takes a deep dive, comparing meal prep delivery to grocery shopping, takeaways and DIY prep. We'll uncover where the hidden costs lie and whether top meal prep services like Frive are worth the switch.
How does meal prep delivery actually save you money?
Meal prep delivery can lead to real savings, not just in your wallet but also in time and food waste. Services like Frive make it easier to stick to your budget and your goals, all without the stress of cooking from scratch.
Here’s how the savings stack up:
1. Fewer impulse buys and takeaways
No more popping into the shop for “just one thing” and walking out £30 lighter. With your meals ready to go, you're far less likely to grab snacks on a whim or order Deliveroo after a long day.
“It can feel quite expensive sometimes, but for me, the convenience and keeping me on track eating healthy meals is worth the cost.” – Frive customer
2. Reduced food waste
Cooking from scratch often leads to half-used ingredients that spoil before you can use them. With meal prep delivery, your meals are portioned and ready to eat. You only get what you need, and nothing goes to waste.
3. No wasteful bulk buys or unused ingredients
Trying new recipes usually means buying full jars or specialist items that you only use once. With meal prep delivery, variety is built in and your fridge stays streamlined.
“I was always pro cooking my own meals, but it became boring and laborious. Frive gives me healthy, high-protein meals for about the same as I was spending before.” – Frive customer
4. Built-in portion control
Oversized portions at home can lead to overeating and leftovers that end up in the bin. Pre-portioned meals help manage both nutrition and cost by giving you exactly what you need, with nothing wasted.
5. Lower energy bills
Cooking every day uses gas, electricity and water. You may be running ovens, hobs, dishwashers and kettles multiple times a day. With prepared meals that only need reheating, you are likely to see a steady reduction in utility costs over time.
6. Fewer top-up shops and travel costs
Supermarket visits often come with fuel expenses, parking fees or delivery charges if you shop online. Meal prep delivery helps reduce these hidden costs by keeping your food routine consistent and planned.
7. Time saved equals money saved
This may not be a direct financial saving, but it is just as valuable. Research by Frive shows that using a meal prep service can save up to 7 hours per week by eliminating the need to plan meals, cook, clean and decide what to eat. That time can be used for work, rest, or simply enjoying your day with less stress.
Is it cheaper to use a meal delivery service or buy groceries?
In many cases, meal prep delivery can save you between £90 and £120 per month, while also giving you back up to 28 hours of your time. When you factor in hidden costs like food waste, fuel, impulse purchases and the hours spent cooking and planning, it often works out cheaper than your weekly supermarket shop.
Here’s how the weekly costs compare:
| Expense (per week) | DIY grocery prep | Frive meal delivery |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly food shop | £31–72 | £35–£60 |
| Fuel/delivery cost | Anywhere from £5–£20 (depending on whether you drive or have a delivery membership) | £0 (free delivery over £40) – £6+ for delivery |
| Food waste (avg.) | £13 (average per person per week) | £0 (zero-waste portions) |
| Time spent cooking + planning + cleaning | 7 hrs/week | 0 hrs |
| Cost of unused ingredients | £5–£20 | £0 |
| Total | £41–£125 | £35–£55 |
Key takeaways:
- - The weekly supermarket shop may look like £40 or £50, but hidden costs like travel, waste and unused ingredients can push that number significantly higher.
- - Meal prep offers tighter cost control, with typical weekly costs between £35 and £60, including delivery.
- - You could save up to £60 per month, especially if you frequently overbuy, waste ingredients or rely on takeaways when time runs out.
- - Meal delivery can save you around 7 hours a week, time you would normally spend shopping, planning, cooking and cleaning.
- - Food waste accounts for up to £13 per week in the average UK household, which prep services help eliminate entirely through pre-portioned meals.
What hidden costs come with cooking at home?
Home cooking can seem cheaper on the surface, but once you factor in time, waste and overlooked expenses, it can quietly eat into your budget.
Here are some of the hidden costs that sneak up when cooking at home:
- - Time spent
Planning meals, writing shopping lists, commuting to the supermarket, cooking, and cleaning can take hours every week. Frive estimates it adds up to around 7 hours per person. - - Forgotten ingredients and spoilage
Fresh ingredients go off quickly, especially if your week doesn’t go to plan. Missing a herb or spice can also lead to unplanned top-up trips or abandoned recipes. - - Impulse buys and snacks
Supermarket trips rarely stay on budget. It’s easy to grab extras you don’t need, adding £10–£20 or more to your total bill without realising. - - Energy usage
Cooking at home every day increases your use of gas, electricity and hot water. Over time, this contributes to higher utility bills , especially if you're batch cooking, baking or running dishwashers daily.
Compared to this, meal prep services like Frive help reduce or eliminate many of these hidden costs. With pre-portioned meals, no cooking or cleaning time, and predictable pricing, it's easier to manage both your schedule and your spend.
Frive’s Flame-Grilled Lamb Chops
How do meal delivery savings compare to eating out or takeaways?
A single takeaway or restaurant meal may seem affordable, but weekly spending adds up quickly. In fact, Ninja Kitchen reports that individuals in the UK spend roughly £1,758 per year on takeaways, around £34 per week!
By contrast, meal prep services like Frive offer an economical, healthy, nutritious alternative.
| Cost | Takeaway (estimated) | Frive Meal Delivery |
|---|---|---|
| Average cost per meal | £10–£20 | £10.40 |
| Weekly cost (5 meals) | £50–£100 | £52 |
| Monthly cost (20 meals) | £200–£400 | £208 |
- - Convenience: No more waiting around for delivery or deciding what to eat, your meals are already sorted.
- - Consistency: Balanced portions, whole ingredients and no mystery oils, chemicals or excess salt.
- - Satisfaction: Customers say Frive’s meals are just as enjoyable as a good takeaway, with less bloat and more energy.
- - Health & Well‑being:
Ready-prepped meals help support both physical and mental health by promoting nutrient-rich eating, reducing stress around food decisions, and fostering a sense of routine and control, all linked to better mood, reduced anxiety, improved self-esteem and overall wellbeing
What’s the average cost of meal prep delivery in the UK?
Meal prep services typically cost £4–£8 per meal at trial prices, with higher standard rates once the trial period ends. Here's how Frive compares with two competitors:
| Brand | Trial Price | Standard Price | Trustpilot Rating (Reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frive | £4.06 | £6–£9 (most mains £7.50–£8.50) (Frive, Food Prepped) | 4.6★ (6,500+) |
| Simmer | £5.57 | From £7.49 per meal | 4.4★ (1,400+) |
| Prep Kitchen | £4.65 | £6.25–£8.25 per meal | 4.5★ (1,200+) |
What influences meal delivery pricing?
- - Budget-friendly services offer basic meals from around £4 per portion, usually when buying in bulk or subscribing.
- - Standard plans tend to fall between £6.00 and £7.00 per meal, with balanced nutrition and good variety.
- - Premium services may charge more than £7.00, especially for specialised diets or gourmet options.
- - One-off orders often cost more than subscription plans due to added flexibility.
Why Frive Offers Exceptional Value
- - Lowest trial cost: At £4.06 per meal, Frive undercuts competitors.
- - Competitive standard pricing: Most mains are £7.50–£8.50, with standard meals starting at £6 per portion Food
- - Flexible delivery pricing:
- - Free delivery on a 3-day plan (one delivery per week) for orders over £40
- - Free delivery for the first Sunday box (over £40) and Wednesday box (over £30) on 5–6 day plans
- - Exceptional customer satisfaction: 4.6★ Trustpilot score from over 6,500 reviews .
- - Premium quality and perks:
- - 30% of meals are organic
- - Made with 100% whole foods, no UPFs, artificial ingredients, refined sugars, low-quality oils, gluten, or dairy
- - Includes a loyalty scheme, mobile app, and new meals launched weekly
Can you save more by meal prepping yourself instead of using a service?
If your priority is saving money and you have time and the skills, DIY meal prep can be cost-effective. But, for busy lifestyles, meal prep services like Frive offer a valuable balance of cost, convenience and quality, often making it the smarter choice overall.
1. Time
- - DIY meal prep requires planning, shopping, cooking and cleaning, taking around 7 hours weekly.
- - Meal Prep services deliver meals that are ready to eat straight to your door.
2. Food waste
- - Cooking at home can lead to spoilage if ingredients aren’t used quickly.
- - Perfectly portioned, macro-balanced meals that reduce waste and unnecessary expenses.
3. Convenience
- - DIY meal prep demands consistent effort and motivation to shop and cook regularly.
- - Frive’s doorstep delivery removes these hassles, supporting a healthier routine with less stress.
4. Variety and nutrition
- - Home cooking gives you full control but can become repetitive or unbalanced without the proper knowledge or skills.
- - Frive’s chefs work with nutritionists to design varied, nutritionally-balanced menus tailored for optimal health.
Does meal prepping actually work?
As we can see, meal prepping can be highly effective, and Frive makes it even easier by delivering ready-to-eat meals that bring all the benefits of meal prep services without the extra effort.
Common benefits of meal prepping:
- - Fewer takeaways: Planning meals in advance helps reduce impulsive ordering and unhealthy choices.
- - Better portion control: Pre-prepared meals help manage calorie intake and avoid overeating.
- - Less decision fatigue: Knowing what you’ll eat each day removes stress around meal choices.
Spend Smarter on Food: Key Takeaways
Meal prep delivery services like Frive aren’t just about convenience; they also offer measurable savings, better nutrition and a smarter way to manage your weekly food budget.
Here’s a recap of what we’ve uncovered:
- - Save up to £90–£120 per month compared to a typical takeaway or supermarket-heavy routine.
- - Cut food waste to near zero, avoiding the £13 per week the average UK household loses through spoilage.
- - Reclaim up to 7 hours per week by removing the time spent shopping, cooking, cleaning and deciding what to eat.
- - Avoid hidden costs like fuel, impulse buys, unused ingredients, energy usage and top-up supermarket trips.
- - Spend less than the average UK takeaway habit, which costs individuals around £1,758 per year.
- - Meal prep delivery can be cheaper than cooking from scratch, once you factor in waste, effort and unplanned extras.
- - Frive offers exceptional value, with trial meals from £4.06, flexible free delivery options, and competitive ongoing pricing that holds up even against DIY cooking.
- - Healthier eating becomes easier, with balanced, portion-controlled meals made from whole foods, free from UPFs, artificial additives, refined sugars, seed oils, gluten or dairy.
- - Fewer decisions, fewer compromises. Meal prepping reduces mental load and supports better eating habits over time.
If you want to save money, reduce waste and eat well without sacrificing your time or your routine, a high-quality meal prep delivery service like Frive can help you do exactly that, simply, consistently and on your own terms.
Try Frive today and get 40% off your first week, plus 20% off weeks two and three. Spend less time cooking and more time enjoying your food.
FAQs
How much can you save with a meal prep delivery service like Frive?
You can save up to £90–£120 per month with a meal prep delivery service by reducing food waste, avoiding takeaways, and cutting down on time spent cooking and shopping. Services like Frive also help minimise hidden costs like energy usage and impulse purchases.
Is meal prep delivery actually cheaper than grocery shopping?
In many cases, yes. Once you account for food waste, fuel, unused ingredients and your time, meal delivery services can work out cheaper than a weekly supermarket shop. Frive customers often spend between £35 and £55 per week, with minimal waste and no added effort.
Is meal prep cheaper than takeaways or eating out?
Absolutely. Takeaways can cost £10–£20 per meal, while Frive meals start at £6 and average around £7.50–£8.50. With Frive, you get healthy, ready-made meals that are just as satisfying, without the cost, salt, or delivery delays.
What hidden costs does meal prep delivery help eliminate?
Meal prep services help eliminate hidden costs like impulse snack buys, fuel for supermarket trips, spoilage of unused ingredients, and higher energy bills from daily cooking. They also save you up to 7 hours a week in meal planning and prep time.
Is meal delivery worth it for busy people?
Yes. Meal prep delivery is ideal for anyone with a busy schedule. It replaces meal planning, shopping, cooking and cleaning with chef-made meals that are ready when you are. Frive customers often report feeling more focused, healthier and less stressed during the week.
How does Frive compare to other UK meal prep brands?
Frive offers the lowest trial cost in the UK at £4.06 per meal, competitive standard pricing, and a 4.6 Trustpilot rating from over 6,500 reviews. It uses whole foods, 30% organic ingredients, and offers features like weekly new meals, a loyalty program, and a mobile app, all of which competitors like Simmer and Prep Kitchen do not.
What’s the average cost of a meal prep delivery in the UK?
Most services range from £6 to £9 per meal, depending on portion size and subscription. Budget options start around £4 per portion when bought in bulk. Frive meals typically cost £7.50–£8.50 per dish, with flexible delivery and discount options for new customers.
Can meal prep delivery help reduce food waste?
Yes. Services like Frive provide pre-portioned meals, which means you only receive what you’ll actually eat. This helps eliminate the £13 per week in food waste most UK households experience.
Is meal delivery better for your health than takeaways?
Meal delivery services like Frive offer balanced, macro-friendly meals made from whole ingredients. Unlike takeaways, they contain no ultra-processed foods, refined sugars, low-quality oils or artificial additives, helping support both physical and mental wellbeing.
What time savings can I expect with a meal prep service?
Frive estimates customers save around 7 hours per week by removing the need to plan, shop, prep, cook and clean. That time can be used for work, rest, or simply enjoying your meals without the usual weekday hassle.
How much does the average UK household spend on food waste each week?
The average UK household wastes around £13 per week on uneaten or spoiled food. Meal prep delivery services like Frive provide perfectly portioned meals to reduce food waste to nearly zero, helping you spend less and waste less.
Can meal prep delivery help lower my monthly energy bills?
Yes, by cutting down on cooking time, oven use, and washing up, meal prep delivery can lead to lower electricity, gas, and water usage. Frive’s ready-made meals only need reheating, which helps reduce your utility costs over time.
How does meal delivery reduce impulse buying at supermarkets?
When you know all your meals are covered, you’re less likely to do unnecessary top-up shops or grab snacks and extras. Frive customers avoid last-minute supermarket visits, helping them stick to a tighter budget.
Can a meal prep service support a healthier lifestyle?
Yes. Frive meals are built around balanced macros, whole ingredients, and portion control, helping you avoid ultra-processed foods and maintain energy throughout the day. This supports both physical health and mental wellbeing.
What’s the best way to reduce food waste without cooking from scratch?
Using a pre-portioned meal delivery service like Frive is one of the easiest ways to minimise food waste. You receive only what you’ll eat, with no leftover ingredients or half-used items going off in your fridge.
Does Frive offer flexible plans for different lifestyles and budgets?
Yes, Frive offers a range of plans with free delivery on larger orders, bulk savings, and the flexibility to choose between 3, 5, or 6-day schedules. This means you can match your food plan to your lifestyle without overspending.
