Facebook PixelFreshly Subscription Box Review + 30% Off - October 2018 | MSA
My Subscription Addiction
My Subscription Addiction
Our reviewers research, test, and recommend the best subscriptions and products independently; click to learn more about our editorial guidelines. We may receive commissions on purchases made through links on our site.

Freshly Subscription Box Review + $40 Off Coupon – October 2018

Freshly October 2018 - Closed Box Review Front

Freshly
3.4 overall rating
18 Ratings | 6 Reviews

Freshly is a gourmet food subscription service that is designed to help people eat healthier without taking the time to prepare the meal themselves. They send out 4, 6, 9, or 12 chef-prepared meals each week. Freshly delivers meals that are all natural and gluten-free. Each meal is made with no refined sugars, high-quality protein, and nutrient-dense veggies.

Freshly October 2018 - Opened Box Top

Check out all of our reviews of Meal Delivery Services to see every meal kit subscription box option!

This review is for the 6-meal plan, which cost $59.99 per week, including free shipping.

Freshly updates their menu weekly with dozens of breakfast, lunch, and dinner options for you to choose from. All meals are fresh, never frozen, and peanut- and gluten-free. Each single-serving meal is fully prepared and ready to eat in around 3 minutes. Meals are delivered to your door in a recyclable refrigerated box with ice packs.

Freshly October 2018 - Recycle 1

Freshly October 2018 - Recycle 2

This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)

Freshly October 2018 - Opened Box All Meals Top

About Freshly Meal Subscription Box

The Subscription Box: Freshly

The Cost: Freshly meal plans cost $49.99 (4 meals), $59.99 (6 meals), $89.99 (9 meals) or $107.99 (12 meals) per week and shipping is included.

ACTIVE DEAL: Use code LAUNCH15 to get $60 off your first four meals
CODE: LAUNCH15

The Products: Healthy single-serving meals that are fully prepared and ready to eat in minutes.

Ships To: Freshly ships to most US states. They are opening a new kitchen soon to further expand their delivery area. Click here to see if Freshly delivers to you.

Freshly October 2018 Review

Freshly October 2018 - Menu

For this week’s Freshly delivery, I choose from a wide selection of breakfast and entrée choices. I’m not a big breakfast eater, so I choose mostly entrees. The menu lists the item number, name, SKU, and quantity of the 6 meals I choose. I noticed that the breakfast items are in blue packaging and the entrée items are in green packaging.

Freshly October 2018 - Berry Berry Porridge with Chocolate Coconut Muffin Front

Berry Porridge with Chocolate Coconut Muffin

This berry porridge is a hot cereal mix of hearty grains topped with a sweet compote made with raspberries, blueberries, and vanilla, plus a gluten-free chocolate-coconut muffin on the side. This meal is gluten-free.

Calories: 460 | Fat: 24g | Carbs: 54g | Protein: 14g

Freshly October 2018 - Berry Porridge with Chocolate Coconut Muffin Back

Heating instructions for microwaving in the package calls for 1 minute and 45 seconds. Whether microwaving in the package or on a plate, Freshly recommends first heating the porridge then adding the muffin. I microwaved the meal in the package and the heating instructions were accurate.

Freshly October 2018 - Berry Porridge with Chocolate Coconut Muffin Unopened

What exactly is "porridge"?! I choose this meal out of pure curiosity. The name seems both exotic and fairytale fancy. Porridge is a hot cereal made of any grain cooked in liquid like water or milk. This porridge was delicious, hearty, and the berry compote added just the right amount of sweetness. In my quest toward healthier eating, I’d sworn off pastries, but this chocolate coconut pastry was so good, light and tasty. I’m honestly surprised that this meal comes in at less than 500 calories! It felt more like a treat than a boring healthy breakfast.

Freshly October 2018 - Berry Porridge with Chocolate Coconut Muffin Unplated

Some of the meals have information published on the inside sleeve. The good read inside the sleeve for the berry porridge is a short summary of quinoa—what it is, and how to make it a part of your healthy diet. The sleeve also has suggestions to spice up your meal. In this case, Freshly recommends adding a little cinnamon or almond butter to your porridge for an extra kick.

Freshly October 2018 - Berry Porridge with Chocolate Coconut Muffin Read

Freshly October 2018 - Mexican Omelette with Salsa Roja & Masa Cakes Front

Mexican Omelette with Salsa Roja & Masa Cakes

This fluffy omelette has pepper jack cheese and is topped with a slightly spicy ground turkey salsa. It is paired with masa cakes made with corn kernels, jalapeños, and a touch of honey. This meal contains less than 35 carbs and is gluten-free.

Calories: 560 | Fat: 35g | Carbs: 32g | Protein: 31g

Freshly October 2018 - Mexican Omelette with Salsa Roja & Masa Cakes Back

Heating instructions for microwaving in the package and microwaving on the plate were the same and only required 2 minutes. I got called into an impromptu meeting just as I was about to dig in, and unfortunately, my meal was cold when I got back. Another quick minute did the job.

Freshly October 2018 - Mexican Omelette with Salsa Roja & Masa Cakes Unopened

My first Freshly orders where all about selecting meals I knew I would enjoy. This round was about selecting new and interesting dishes. I didn’t have any idea what masa cakes were! I took this meal on-the-go to work and enjoyed a late breakfast at my desk. The Mexican omelette was fantastic, the portion was large and the meal was filling. It also smelled really good! The masa cakes, I didn’t really enjoy. The taste was fine and slightly sweet from the corn, but the texture was one I didn’t agree with. I was still happy I tried this dish and would order it again for the delicious omelette alone.

Freshly October 2018 - Mexican Omelette with Salsa Roja & Masa Cakes Unplated

Freshly October 2018 - Homestyle Chicken with Butternut Mac & Cheese Front

Homestyle Chicken with Butternut Mac & Cheese

This chicken mac & cheese dish comes with a juicy oven-fried chicken breast, cheesy macaroni and cheese with butternut squash puree, and fresh garlic green beans. This meal contains less than 35 carbs, is gluten-free, high in protein, and soy-free.

Calories: 540 | Fat: 26g | Carbs: 30g | Protein: 46g

Freshly October 2018 - Homestyle Chicken with Butternut Mac & Cheese Back

Heating instructions for microwaving in the package is an easy 3 minutes. When microwaving on a plate, Freshly suggests heating the chicken first then adding the mac & cheese and green beans. I microwaved the meal in the package, and the heating instructions were spot on.

Freshly October 2018 - Homestyle Chicken with Butternut Mac & Cheese Unopened

The mac and cheese was the highlight of this dish! It was a small portion but packed big taste. It’s another dish I’d sworn off on my healthy eating journey, but this one is revamped to be healthier and more delicious. The green beans were fresh and perfect with a little added salt and pepper. I’d hoped the chicken would pack a little more kick, but it was still good. With every chicken meal, I’m impressed at how juicy the chicken breast is, especially considering that they are reheated.

Freshly October 2018 - Homestyle Chicken with Butternut Mac & Cheese Plated

Freshly October 2018 - Spaghetti Squash & Meatballs Front

Spaghetti Squash and Meatballs

This spaghetti squash and meatballs dish has garlic and parmesan spaghetti squash and four sizable ground beef meatballs topped with a flavorful marinara sauce. It contains less than 500 calories, less than 35 carbs, is gluten-free, high in protein, and soy-free.

Calories: 460 | Fat: 29g | Carbs: 25g | Protein: 27g

Freshly October 2018 - Spaghetti Squash & Meatballs Back

Heating instructions for microwaving in the package calls for 3 minutes and 15 seconds. When microwaving on a plate, Freshly suggests heating the meatballs and sauce first then adding the squash. I microwaved the meal in the package, and the heating instructions were perfect.

Freshly October 2018 - Spaghetti Squash & Meatballs Unopened

Could I be fooled into thinking the spaghetti squash was pasta? No way! But it was delicious in its own right. It was fresh and light and composed a healthy serving of veggies. The meatballs were the best part! They were perfectly cooked and well-seasoned. The marinara sauce was simple but good. I just wished there was more of sauce.

Freshly October 2018 - Spaghetti Squash & Meatballs Plated

Freshly October 2018 - Steak Peppercorn with Sautéed Carrots & French Green Beans Front

Steak Peppercorn with Sautéed Carrots & French Green Beans

The steak peppercorn dish has tender steak and mash potatoes with a yummy peppercorn cream sauce and a side of garlic carrots and green beans. This meal contains less than 35 carbs, is gluten-free, high in protein, and soy-free.

Calories: 490 | Fat: 28g | Carbs: 32g | Protein: 32g

Freshly October 2018 - Steak Peppercorn with Sautéed Carrots & French Green Beans Back

Heating instructions for microwaving in the package calls for 3 minutes and 30 seconds. When microwaving on a plate, Freshly suggest heating the steak first then adding the potatoes and veggies. I microwaved the meal in the package, and the heating instructions left the steak cold in the center. I microwaved the steak for an extra minute.

Freshly October 2018 - Steak Peppercorn with Sautéed Carrots & French Green Beans Unopened

I love comfort food! This dish is perfection! How can you have steak, mash potatoes and green beans for under 500 calories? Choosing healthy ingredients and being mindful of portions is key. I really enjoyed this dish. It was hearty, filling and perfect for fall. This is one of my favorites.

Freshly October 2018 - Steak Peppercorn with Sautéed Carrots & French Green Beans Plated

Freshly October 2018 - Cod Cakes with Spicy Chipotle Sauce & Succotash Front

Cod Cakes with Spicy Chipotle Sauce & Succotash

The cod cakes meal contains fish cakes topped with a spicy chipotle sauce and a side of roasted herb potatoes and a lima bean, bell peppers, and corn succotash. This meal is gluten-free and soy-free.

Calories: 660 | Fat: 37g | Carbs: 64g | Protein: 22g

Freshly October 2018 - Cod Cakes with Spicy Chipotle Sauce & Succotash Back

Heating instructions for microwaving in the package calls for 2 minutes and 30 seconds. When microwaving on a plate, Freshly suggests heating the succotash and potatoes first, then adding the cod cakes. I microwaved in the package and found that the meal was over-heated, which dried out most of the chipotle sauce on the cod cakes.

Freshly October 2018 - Cod Cakes with Spicy Chipotle Sauce & Succotash Unopened

The potatoes in this meal were a little dry, which was likely due to the overheating. However, the cod cakes and especially the succotash was really tasty. It was a large and filling portion, but at 660 calories, it was one of the highest calorie Freshly meals I’ve tried thus far. If I were able to change this dish, I would keep the cod cakes as is, remove the potatoes and add more succotash, which was the most enjoyable part of the dish for me.

Freshly October 2018 - Cod Cakes with Spicy Chipotle Sauce & Succotash Plated

The read inside the sleeve for the cod cakes is an article on meditation and the positive impact it could have on your life. The sleeve also has suggestions on how to spice up your meal. In this case, Freshly recommends adding a squeeze of lemon or a sprinkle of red pepper flakes to your meal.

Freshly October 2018 - Cod Cakes with Spicy Chipotle Sauce & Succotash Read

The Verdict: I’m impressed! I took a bit of a chance with my choices this week, and I still enjoyed all the Freshly meals. They were consistently fresh, well-portioned, flavorful, and healthy without sacrificing taste. My favorite dishes were the Steak Peppercorn and Mexican Omellete dishes. Also, this time around, I tried the heating instructions for microwaving in the package versus those for microwaving on a plate. I found that I got more consistent heating with my previous meals so I definitely recommend using the microwave on a plate instructions. I can’t wait to try other Freshly meals on the menu. If you want the convenience of having fresh, already prepared meals that are delicious, gluten-free and ready in minutes, you should give Freshly a try!

To Wrap Up:

Can you still get this box if you sign up today? The Freshly menus change weekly, so you’ll have an awesome variety of meals to choose from. However, the breakfast items will be unavailable for a few weeks while they rework the menu.

ACTIVE DEAL: Use code LAUNCH15 to get $60 off your first four meals
CODE: LAUNCH15

Value Breakdown: This box costs $59.99 including shipping, which is $9.99 per meal.

Check out all of my Freshly reviews to learn more about this subscription. Check out all of our Food Subscription Boxes in the Subscription Box List. Rate, review, and follow this subscription on the Freshly profile page.

What do you think of Freshly box?

Starting at $45.96
Active Deal
Use code LAUNCH15 to get $60 off your first four meals
Use Coupon Code LAUNCH15
Subscribe Now
Freshly is a prepared meal delivery subscription that offers over 30 different meals that you can heat and eat in 3 minutes or less. It’s one of the few meal subscription services that not only tastes better than its competitors but is also made with less sugar than standard subscriptions. Developed... read more.
Shatae Hutchinson
Shatae Hutchinson
Hi, I’m Shatae; pronounced shhh-tay! I work in IT Healthcare, I’m married to my high school sweetheart and we have 2 cool kids. I am obsessed with black culture, lifestyle, travel and art made by and featuring women of color. I also love trendy plus-size fashion and accessories, eclectic and bohemian home décor and all things self-care, mental health and fitness. My favorite box is Izzy & Liv’s Brown Sugar Box; a monthly box offering tees, accessories and lifestyle products designed for black women. I also subscribe to TheSelfCareBox, FabFitFun, CauseBox and Merkaela. Being a wife and full-time working mom, subscription boxes are one of the few things that are just for me! They are fun, convenient, reasonably priced and full of surprises.

Join the Conversation

Please do not enter your email address in the Name field or in the comment content. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *. Remember to post with kindness and respect. Comments with offensive language, cruelness to others, etc will not be approved. See our full comment policy here.

14 comments

liz R

Just got my 2nd shipment today . Got 6 meals, sharing with my hubby. The stand outs last week were the Meatballs & Spaghetti Squash and the Chicken with Risotto. Skipping a few weeks due to vacation but we will continue getting the meals. The Steak & Peppercorn was not tough but wasn’t a favorite. Trying a couple of breakfasts this week. Thanks for the info about freezing I wasn’t sure.

Reply ButtonReply

Shatae

The Chicken with Risotto is one of my favorites! I’m glad you’re enjoying them!

Reply ButtonReply

Artemis

This looks great! Unfortunately, they don’t deliver to my area 🙁 Hopefully they expand to New Jersey in the future.

Reply ButtonReply

Shatae

They haven’t made it the East Coast yet but hopefully soon!

Reply ButtonReply

Diana Navarro

Great job presenting this sub, now I’m hungry!

Reply ButtonReply

Shatae

Thank you! The meals are really good!

Reply ButtonReply

Tammy

I used Freshly while undergoing chemo this year, so I have some negative associations with it that make me not want to order more right now, but they made it easy from start to finish. They have a great process from the first order to cancelling, and the customer service in between was stellar. There is definitely a lack of variety though they change at least some meals out every week. If you order a lot, it will get repetitious since you can’t expect to like everything. Being able to skip any week you don’t want makes it easy to try and then order every now and then as long as you don’t forget to keep skipping. You can skip up to about four weeks in advance, so it’s not hard to keep up with. Of course making it yourself is cheaper and better, but then there’s the whole making it yourself thing going on. I always ordered the 12 meal plan and froze them since that made it cheaper. I say if anyone is considering it but unsure what they are getting in to, just try it.

Reply ButtonReply

Shatae

Hi Tammy! Thanks for your comments and suggestions. My mom underwent chemo and I empathize with how difficult that can be. I pray you are on the road to recovery. Love the suggestion of ordering more and freezing.

Reply ButtonReply

TK

My family used this service last year and we enjoyed almost everything. We were amazed how good the grilled chicken tastes being reheated. The problem is..they don’t change the meals often enough and we got tired of eating the same things. Our choices are even more limited because we don’t eat beef.

Reply ButtonReply

Shatae

Yes, the meals are really delicious! I heard they are reworking the menu starting with breakfast so *fingers crossed*!

Reply ButtonReply

Lexi

I just really wish they would deliver to me in philadelphia! Dying to try it, I’ve been asking them when for over a year now and they always say “soon”! Come on Freshly!!!

Reply ButtonReply

Shatae

They are working on a new kitchen closer to the East Coast. I’m in Atlanta so maybe “soon” will really be sooner than later?! I really hope so!

Reply ButtonReply

Me

I began trying Freshly about a week ago. I’m in the “trying things out” phase, so checking different recipes. I’m definitely a picky eater, so there’s been some hit and miss with it.

I do not like to cook and since my son has moved out, I’ve been even less motivated to do it. In addition, I’m not likely to try things like spaghetti squash or butternut squash. So I figured this might get me to try new things.

Short answer: It has AND I’m down 3 pounds this week. I didn’t do this for the weight loss, but I’m loving the side effects. I am getting more veggies and I’m eating out less than I used to, so I think that’s having an effect.

My tip: Freshly intends for you to eat these meals within just a couple of days of arrival (hence the FRESH). But that’s not reasonable for me. So depending on my weekend schedule, I keep one or two in the fridge and put the rest in the freezer. On their FB page, I saw where they addressed freezing the meals and they just say to double the cooking time. That’s worked perfectly for each of my meals (I reheat in their package). The only thing that doesn’t reheat well is the cut potatoes, but to be honest, I’ve had them fresh and they aren’t all that great there either.

My longer answer with thoughts on the meals I’ve tried:

Chicken and mac and cheese–totally agree with you on both counts. Chicken is on the bland side (I added some buffalo wing sauce to mine) but mac and cheese was fabulous. I think the squash puree ups the ante and the flavor was so good.

Cod Cakes: I totally agree with you on this one too. The cakes are mmm, the sauce is delicious and actually on the spicy side (but not too hot). I was shocked that I loved the succotash and I agree, replace the potatoes with more of that. The potatoes were the only loser in this meal. They don’t really have much flavor and are the only thing I’ve tried so far that didn’t respond well to the freezing and reheating.

Pork al Pastor: This was a mistake on my part as I didn’t see it said pineapple. I don’t care for “sweet” meat. The corn was super bland and very cilantro-y. Not a fan.

Southwest Chicken Bowl: I threw the whole entree away :(. I don’t like cilantro, so I should have guessed. But when it said “cilantro-lime vinaigrette” I thought it would be a little drizzle of sauce. No. It’s a puree that smelled so strongly of cilantro that I could still smell it in my house from the garbage can. Very gross for me, but if you just adore cilantro on everything, it might work for you.

Buffalo Chicken–the chicken was just ok. Not spicy at all, which is weird for buffalo chicken. The loaded cauliflower is the first time that I’ve tried cauliflower disguised as something else and been more than okay with the results. You can still tell it’s cauliflower, but it’s the first time that veggie has tasted good to me.

Black Bean and Sweet Potato Patties–the patties were okay. I was really outside of my comfort zone (veggie meal? not my usual) but I didn’t hate them or love them. The “spicy” broccoli slaw wasn’t spicy at all in mine.

Chicken parm needs some kick to it… wasn’t anything special. But the broccoli was so good. Juicy and delicious–and I rarely say anything good about broccoli.

Steak Peppercorn–maybe I got a bad one of these. I have another to try this week. The meat was big, but gristly and tough. I thought this was just okay overall.

When I was trying to decide whether to spend the money, I really wanted more info about Freshly overall, so maybe this will help you to decide. The scale, the overall taste of the items, and the convenience have convinced me to keep going with this one.

Reply ButtonReply

Shatae

Great review! I agree with the challenge of eating the meals in just a few days! You take is awesome – come work with us!

Reply ButtonReply