Best calorie-counted food boxes
Food boxes with calorie-controlled recipes and meals, handy for weight management without giving up convenience.
| Box | Type | Our rating | Value | Subscription | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gousto | Meal Kit | 8.4/10 | £3.84 / portion | One-off available | Read review |
| Field Doctor | Ready Meals | 8.1/10 | £7.29 / portion | One-off available | Read review |
| HelloFresh | Meal Kit | 8/10 | £4.06 / portion | Subscription only | Read review |
| Mindful Chef | Meal Kit | 7.8/10 | £7.08 / portion | Subscription only | Read review |
| Grubby | Meal Kit | 7.7/10 | £5.75 / portion | Subscription only | Read review |
| Green Chef | Meal Kit | 7.6/10 | £6.30 / portion | Subscription only | Read review |
| Prep Kitchen | Fitness / meal prep | 7.6/10 | £6.95 / portion | Subscription only | Read review |
| Fresh Fitness Food | Fitness / meal prep | 7.5/10 | - | One-off available | Read review |
| SimplyCook | Recipe Kit | 7.5/10 | from £9.99 | Subscription only | Read review |
| MuscleFood | Fitness / meal prep | 7.3/10 | £1.93 / portion | One-off available | Read review |
Ratings are our own editorial scores. Value shows price per portion where a box is priced that way, or the cheapest full-price box otherwise. Prices were checked in June 2026 and exclude introductory offers.
Calorie-counted food boxes
If you are watching calories, a box that counts them for you removes the guesswork - and the over-serving that happens when you cook by eye. Look for clearly published calories per portion, not just a "lighter" or "balanced" label.
Best for calorie control
- Meal kits - Green Chef, Gousto, HelloFresh and Mindful Chef all flag calorie-controlled recipes.
- Fitness meal prep - Prep Kitchen and MuscleFood offer dedicated weight-loss plans with set calories.
For steady weight management while still cooking, a meal kit's calorie-counted range works well. For stricter targets with no cooking, a fitness meal-prep weight-loss plan is more controlled.
Frequently asked questions
Are meal kits good for losing weight?
Yes, because portions are controlled and calories are published, which prevents over-serving. For stricter goals, a fitness meal-prep weight-loss plan gives tighter control.
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