The 6 Best Bodybuilding Meal Prep Delivery Services of 2023

• Best bodybuilding meal service for different diets: Trifecta | Skip to review
• Best prepared meals with higher calories: Factor | Skip to review
• Best customizable meal service: Icon Meals | Skip to review
• Best meal prep service for plant-based diets: Sprinly | Skip to review
• Best option for no meal prep: Snap Kitchen | Skip to review
• Best subscription-free meal service: MealPro | Skip to review

Below is a list of some of the best meal delivery services for bodybuilders.

The following table compares the services in this article.

When choosing a meal delivery service, research is important. A person can consider the following factors:

• Are the meals fresh or frozen?
• How many meals can a customer order each week?
• Does the company rotate its menu regularly?
• Does the service offer meals for different diets and tastes?
• Is the service cost-effective? Are there additional costs for add-ons and delivery?
• Are reviews generally positive across various sites?
• How flexible is the subscription? Is it easy to cancel at any time?

Meal delivery services vary, and it is worth considering the benefits of different options. A person might prefer prepared meals or meal kits, which include recipes and ingredients to prepare and cook at home.

Bodybuilding is a unique sport with its own set of challenges. Bodybuilders do not undergo assessments of their physical performance but of the symmetry, muscularity, and definition of their bodies.

The three phases of bodybuilding include:

• the muscle-gaining phase, or the “off-season”
• the phase of dieting and otherwise preparing for a competition
• the competition

When planning their diet, a bodybuilder should focus on macronutrients — carbohydrates, proteins, and fats — and calories. Older research from 2004 indicates that the diet should contain these three macronutrients in the following percentages:

• 55–60% carbohydrates
• 25–30% protein
• 15–20% fat

During the off-season, a bodybuilder should increase their caloric intake by about 15%.

A 2014 review provides more detailed guidance, indicating that a bodybuilder should consume:

• 15–30% of their calories from fats
• 2.3 to 3.1 grams of protein per kilogram of lean body mass per day
• their remaining calories from carbohydrates

Research from 2019 shows that bodybuilders should consume slightly more calories during the off-season and gain about 0.25 to 0.5% of their body weight each week during this period.

Because the dietary needs of bodybuilders change throughout the year, it is important for meal services to allow them to select different meal plans and skip deliveries accordingly. Additionally, other athletes may have different needs.

Learn about the best meal delivery services for athletes.

Meal kits can remove a lot of uncertainty and time when it comes to creating a meal plan that meets the nutritional content bodybuilders require, both on- and off-season.

People can view the nutritional content of the meals before ordering, which allows people to quickly calculate their macro- and micronutrients for the day.

Meal kits and meal delivery services provide pre-portioned ingredients or meals that are ready to be heated up, which can save a significant amount of time. This is especially true for bodybuilders who are balancing work, family, and other commitments with training.

These kits may also benefit less experienced cooks. Many services offer recipe cards that cut preparation and cooking into simple, easy-to-follow, steps that can help make people more confident in the kitchen.

Here we answer some common questions about these services.

Are frozen bodybuilding meal prep delivery services less healthy than fresh ones?

Research suggests that the nutritional content of frozen fruit and vegetables is at least comparable with — and occasionally higher than — fresh fruit and vegetables. However, the beta carotene content is lower in frozen vegetables.

Are bodybuilding meal prep delivery services suitable for muscle gain?

Bodybuilding meal prep delivery services may be suitable for muscle gain so long as they provide the macronutrients a person requires.

Research suggests that bodybuilders should consume a diet that is 55–60% carbohydrates, 25–20% protein, and 15–20% fat.

Additionally, when building muscle, bodybuilders should eat around 15% more calories than is typical. For example, a person who usually eats 2,000 calories needs to consume a diet of around 2,300 calories per day.

Are there any foods you should avoid when selecting a meal prep delivery service for bodybuilders?

People may wish to avoid foods that are high in fat when selecting a meal prep delivery service for bodybuilding. Additionally, individuals may wish to ensure they avoid meals with low carbohydrates and very low or high amounts of protein.

Various services deliver full meals or meal kits designed for bodybuilders and other athletes.

The best choices for bodybuilders offer a variety of high protein meals featuring high or low amounts of calories to accommodate a person’s bodybuilding phase.

Meal delivery services can be convenient, but they can also be expensive and unsuitable for certain individuals. Anyone looking to save time and money might also consider planning meals weekly to reduce trips to the store or cooking in big batches for easy-to-reheat meals.

Before choosing a meal delivery service, check for reviews on multiple websites. Online bodybuilding communities may also have recommendations and give honest reviews of these services.