The 8 Best Bodybuilding Meal Prep Delivery Services of 2024

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There are meal delivery services that provide prepared meals that may suit bodybuilders trying to lose weight or build muscle. Here, we try out and discuss our favorites.
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A quick look at 8 of the best bodybuilding meal prep delivery services:
Best for different diets: Trifecta Nutrition | Skip to review
Trifecta Nutrition
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Best with higher calories: Factor | Skip to review
Factor
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Best for customization: ICON Meals | Skip to review
ICON Meals
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Best for plant-based diets: Sprinly | Skip to review
Sprinly
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Best no-prep: Snap Kitchen | Skip to review
Snap Kitchen
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Best subscription-free: Meal Pro | Skip to review
Meal Pro
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Best high protein: Muscle Meals 2 Go | Skip to review
Muscle Meals 2 Go
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Best for local pick-up: Clean Eatz Kitchen | Skip to review
Clean Eatz Kitchen
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Best options for bodybuilding meals
Medical News Today has tested some of the products below. Reviewers may have received some products from the manufacturers for free, which does not influence their review. All opinions are the reviewers’ own.
Trifecta Nutrition

Price per serving: $13.79 to $15.85
Meals per week: 7, 10, 14, or 28
Shipping fees: $9.99 for the contiguous United States, $49.99 for Alaska and Hawaii
Meal type: prepared meals and a la carte items
Servings available: 1
Delivery area: United States (Alaska and Hawaii included)
$13.79 AT TRIFECTA NUTRITION
*Price may vary.
Trifecta says it offers macro-balanced meals that are all high in protein and low in calories.
Trifecta
The company’s dietary plans include paleo, clean eating, vegetarian, vegan, and keto.
paleo
vegetarian
vegan
and keto
Each plan includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner options, and a person can add entrées if required.
Trifecta’s menus change weekly, and some examples of its meals include salmon and wild rice, oatmeal walnut bake, Korean beef bulgogi, crispy tofu skillet and turkey bacon cheddar frittata.
salmon
rice
oatmeal
walnut
tofu
Trifecta also offers a meal prep à la carte menu. A person can select precooked ingredients and make a meal at home.
Nutritional content
Each meal plan has the following average nutritional information:
Clean eating: 450 calories, 17 g of fat, 45 g of carbs, and 29 g of protein
Paleo: 440 calories, 20 g of fat, 35 g of carbs, and 30 g of protein
Keto: 400 calories, 28 g of fat, 10 g of carbs, and 32 g of protein
Vegan: 430 calories, 15 g of fat, 55 g of carbs, and 21 g of protein
Vegetarian: 430 calories, 15 g of fat, 55 g of carbs, and 21 g of protein
Pricing and cancellation
The vegan and vegetarian plans start from $99.99 per week, with the rest of the plans costing between $110.99-$119.20 per week.
When purchasing a subscription, people can choose from five or seven days a week. Meal options include breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a third entree. Choosing all options for seven days a week costs around $415.
Customers can cancel at any time, and there is a 7-day money-back guarantee. The company does not offer a free trial.
meals are free from soy, gluten, dairy, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
the meals are reportedly low in sugar
uses sustainable ingredients and packaging to reduce food waste and carbon footprint
most meals are 500 calories and under, which may not be enough for people who are bodybuilding
more expensive per meal than some other competitors
meals are free from soy, gluten, dairy, and genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
the meals are reportedly low in sugar
uses sustainable ingredients and packaging to reduce food waste and carbon footprint
most meals are 500 calories and under, which may not be enough for people who are bodybuilding
more expensive per meal than some other competitors
Menus: Clean, Paleo Whole30, Keto, Plant-Based
Personalization: specialty diet menus
Diet friendliness: paleo, keto, Whole30, vegan, and vegetarian
Ingredients: some organic ingredients, locally sourced, sustainably sourced fish and seafood, grass-fed beef, and humanely raised meat and poultry
Packaging: most packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable
Menus: Clean, Paleo Whole30, Keto, Plant-Based
Personalization: specialty diet menus
Diet friendliness: paleo, keto, Whole30, vegan, and vegetarian
Ingredients: some organic ingredients, locally sourced, sustainably sourced fish and seafood, grass-fed beef, and humanely raised meat and poultry
Packaging: most packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable
Factor

Price per serving: $11.49 to $13.99
Meals per week: 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, or 18
Meal type: prepared meals
Servings available: 1
Delivery area: contiguous United States
Shipping fees:
$130 Off first 6 boxes with code HEALTHLINE130N
$10.99 AT FACTOR
*Price may vary.
Factor rotates its menu options weekly, with meal plans to suit various diets.
Factor
Bodybuilders may prefer Factor’s high protein, paleo, keto, low calorie, or plant-based meals. A person can filter their search on the company’s website by these categories.
Some example meals include sage chicken with butternut squash macaroni, black bean and rice enchilada bowl, cilantro-jalapeño pork chop, Indian-style vegetable rice, and Peruvian shrimp bowl.
butternut squash
Nutritional content
The nutritional information will vary depending on the meal a person chooses. The nutritional content for some of the sample meals are:
Peruvian shrimp bowl: 580 calories, 48 g of fat, 14 g of carbs, 28 g of protein, and 879 mg of sodium
Black bean enchilada bowl: 480 calories, 23 g of fat, 54 g of carbs, 16 g of protein, and 830 mg of sodium
Indian-style vegetable bowl: 440 calories, 23 g of fat, 52 g of carbs, 15 g of protein, and 840 mg of sodium
Pricing and cancellation
A person can choose to have 4–18 meals delivered per week, starting at around $11 per meal. The cost per meal reduces if people order in bulk.
To cancel a subscription, people must call Factor’s customer service number or email the company with their full name and registered address.
“Factor pre-selected my. meals but gave me the option to change them. However, all the selections sounded so good that I only ended up changing one.
“My box got delivered to me while I was at work, the day they said it would be delivered. When I got home later in the evening, all the meals were still perfectly refrigerated. The box wasn’t too big or heavy, and all of its packaging felt very intentional.
“Each meal was incredibly easy to heat, only requiring two minutes in the microwave.I ate each meal with no modifications, and enjoyed each one!”
– Heather Reisebeck, Healthline SEO Associate
“Factor pre-selected my. meals but gave me the option to change them. However, all the selections sounded so good that I only ended up changing one.
“My box got delivered to me while I was at work, the day they said it would be delivered. When I got home later in the evening, all the meals were still perfectly refrigerated. The box wasn’t too big or heavy, and all of its packaging felt very intentional.
“Each meal was incredibly easy to heat, only requiring two minutes in the microwave.I ate each meal with no modifications, and enjoyed each one!”
– Heather Reisebeck, Healthline SEO Associate
most of the meals have a higher calorie count than other services on the market, which may suit those who require more calories per day
offers a 20-minute consultation with a registered dietitian
no full meal service for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
has a higher sodium content than some other meals
some reviewers state that the meals are not flavorful
most of the meals have a higher calorie count than other services on the market, which may suit those who require more calories per day
offers a 20-minute consultation with a registered dietitian
no full meal service for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
has a higher sodium content than some other meals
some reviewers state that the meals are not flavorful
Menus: Chef’s Choice, Keto, Calorie Smart, Vegan & Veggie, Protein Plus, Flexitarian
Diet friendliness: vegetarian, gluten-free, keto, low carb, paleo, and dairy-free
Personalization: specialty diet menus, mix-and-match weekly meal plan
Ingredients: humanely raised meat and poultry
Packaging: most packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable
Menus: Chef’s Choice, Keto, Calorie Smart, Vegan & Veggie, Protein Plus, Flexitarian
Diet friendliness: vegetarian, gluten-free, keto, low carb, paleo, and dairy-free
Personalization: specialty diet menus, mix-and-match weekly meal plan
Ingredients: humanely raised meat and poultry
Packaging: most packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable
ICON Meals

Meal type: prepared meals
Servings available: 1
Delivery area: contiguous United States
Price per serving: $10 to $36
Shipping: shipping calculated at checkout
$10 AT ICON MEALS
*Price may vary.
Icon Meals offers gluten-free meals that it claims are clean and lean with a variety of proteins, carbohydrates, and vegetables.
It primarily caters to the following diets: low calorie, low fat, high protein, and dairy-free.
Some example meals include big chicken Philly cheesesteak, beef pizza and Diablo shrimp.
Nutritional content
Nutritional content will vary depending on which meals a person chooses. The nutritional information for the example meals are:
Big chicken Philly cheesesteak: 380 calories, 24 g of fat, 4 g of carbs, 38 g of protein, and 430 mg of sodium
Beef pizza: 440 calories, 19 g of fat, 34 g of carbs, 34 g of protein, and 660 mg of sodium
Diablo shrimp: 420 calories, 16 g of fat, 44 g of carbs, 25 g of protein, and 450 mg of sodium
Pricing and cancellation
Custom meals begin at around $8 per meal. The company offers one-time purchases and a subscription, and has just launched a budget box. Shipping is not free.
Icon Meals does not detail its cancellation policy.
allows for customization by choosing from 11 different proteins and 13 sides
people can replace certain foods with lower-carb alternatives
may not be suitable for people who prefer not to eat meat protein, as there are limited vegetarian and vegan options
does not offer free shipping
allows for customization by choosing from 11 different proteins and 13 sides
people can replace certain foods with lower-carb alternatives
may not be suitable for people who prefer not to eat meat protein, as there are limited vegetarian and vegan options
does not offer free shipping
Menus: a la carte and curated boxes
Personalization: option to set ingredient preferences
Diet friendliness: gluten-free, dairy-free, keto, high protein, low fat, low calorie, vegetarian
Ingredients: locally sourced
Packaging: most packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable
Menus: a la carte and curated boxes
Personalization: option to set ingredient preferences
Diet friendliness: gluten-free, dairy-free, keto, high protein, low fat, low calorie, vegetarian
Ingredients: locally sourced
Packaging: most packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable
Sprinly

Price per serving: $16.05 to $18.17
Meals per week: 6, 12, or 18
Shipping fees: $10 to $15, depending on location
Meal type: prepared meals
Delivery area: contiguous United States
$16.05 AT SPRINLY
*Price may vary.
Sprinly offers plant-based meal boxes. Most meals use organic ingredients, are gluten-free, and are low in sodium. The company only uses extra virgin and cold-pressed olive oil or toasted sesame oil in its dishes.
Some meals on the menu include mac and “cheese”, pesto pasta, vegetable tikka masala, and sesame crusted tofu.
Nutritional content
The nutritional content of the meals will vary depending on which ones a person chooses. The nutritional information of some of the sample meals are as follows:
Mac and “cheese”: 502 calories, 13 g of fat, 86 g of carbs, 11 g of protein, and 476 mg of sodium
Pesto pasta: 657 calories, 32 g of fat, 77 g of carbs, 18 g of protein, and 384 mg of sodium
Sesame crusted tofu: 514 calories, 12 g of fat, 85 g of carbs, 22 g of protein, and 475 mg of sodium
Pricing and cancellation
Every week, Sprinly offers six new choices that subscribers can choose from. People can opt for six, 12, or 18 meals per week, ranging from $109 to $289 per week.
People can cancel their Sprinly account by going to their account settings. People must delay or cancel their order by Thursday 11:59 p.m. EST.
does not add sugar to its meals
only caters to plant-based diets, which means vegans and vegetarians may find a wider menu choide than with other services
only offers six meal options per week
more expensive than some other options
does not add sugar to its meals
only caters to plant-based diets, which means vegans and vegetarians may find a wider menu choide than with other services
only offers six meal options per week
more expensive than some other options
Menus: all items vegan
Personalization: none
Diet friendliness: vegan and gluten-free
Ingredients: all organic ingredients
Packaging: all packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable
Menus: all items vegan
Personalization: none
Diet friendliness: vegan and gluten-free
Ingredients: all organic ingredients
Packaging: all packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable
Snap Kitchen

Price per serving: $11.88–$14.67
Meals per week: 6 or 12

Shipping fees: free
Meal type: prepared meals
Servings available: 1
Delivery area: only available in select areas
$11.92 AT SNAP KITCHEN
*Price may vary.
Snap Kitchen offers a weekly subscription delivery service. All menus change seasonally.
The company offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner options.
Some example meals include peach BBQ brisket with loaded cauliflower, romesco steak with charred broccoli, herb chicken with Mediterranean sauce and green beans, and devilled egg salad.
Nutritional content
The nutritional content will vary depending on the meals a person chooses. However, the nutritional information of some of the sample meals include:
Peach BBQ brisket: 570 calories, 28 g of fat, 25 g of carbs, 56 g of protein, and 1,250 mg of sodium
Romesco steak: 480 calories, 30 g of fat, 19 g of carbs, 40 g of protein, and 840 mg of sodium
Deviled egg salad: 230 calories, 20 g of fat, 3 g of carbs, 9 g of protein, and 550 mg of sodium
Pricing and cancellation
People can choose either 6 or 12 meals per week. A weekly delivery begins at $82.99. The company offers free delivery.
Snap Kitchen states that people can pause or cancel their subscriptions at any time.
offers fresh, never frozen, meals that its chefs prepare
people do not need to prepare or cook any ingredients, making it a convenient service for those with minimal time to cook meals
not suitable for vegans
does not offer many options for different dietary requirements, such as keto meals
offers fresh, never frozen, meals that its chefs prepare
people do not need to prepare or cook any ingredients, making it a convenient service for those with minimal time to cook meals
not suitable for vegans
does not offer many options for different dietary requirements, such as keto meals
Menus: High Protein, Low Carb, Keto, Paleo, Vegetarian, Vegan
Personalization: specialty diet filters
Diet friendliness: high protein, keto, low carb, paleo, gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan
Ingredients: some organic ingredients, locally sourced
Packaging: all packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable
Menus: High Protein, Low Carb, Keto, Paleo, Vegetarian, Vegan
Personalization: specialty diet filters
Diet friendliness: high protein, keto, low carb, paleo, gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan
Ingredients: some organic ingredients, locally sourced
Packaging: all packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable
Meal Pro

Meal type: prepared meals
Meals per week: 18, 20
Servings available: 1
Delivery area: United States and Canada
Price per serving: $8.99–$18.99
Shipping: shipping calculated at checkout
$8.99 AT MEAL PRO
*Price may vary.
MealPro provides customizable and pre-prepared meals. The company offers high protein, low carb, keto, and high calorie meal plans.
Additionally, MealPro offers meals suitable for certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, Chron’s disease, and celiac disease are available too.
Chron’s disease
celiac disease
Rather than a set meal plan, people can choose 18 or 20 meals. Options include BBQ bean chicken, steak teriyaki, fish and chips, turkey bolognese, and lentil Brussels sprouts.
Nutritional content
The nutritional content will vary depending on the dishes a person chooses. The nutritional information of the sample meals are:
BBQ bean chicken: 429 calories, 10 g of fat, 43 g of carbs, 47 g of protein, and 1,030 mg of sodium
Turkey bolognese: 687 calories, 12 g of fat, 77 g of carbs, 65 g of protein, and 384 mg of sodium
Fish and chips: 710 calories, 33 g of fat, 58 g of carbs, 43 g of protein, and 759 mg of sodium
Pricing and cancellation
MealPro prices each meal individually. People can expect to spend anywhere from around $9–$19 per meal.
If a person chooses an 18-meal box, they must pay for delivery. The delivery charge depends on a person’s ZIP code. The 20-meal box has free delivery.
People can pause, delay, or cancel recurring deliveries on their account page.
people can choose to subscribe or have meals as one-off purchases
meals come vacuum-sealed for freshness
fewer options for vegans and vegetarians
people have to commit to 18 or 20 meals as there is no smaller trial box
people can choose to subscribe or have meals as one-off purchases
meals come vacuum-sealed for freshness
fewer options for vegans and vegetarians
people have to commit to 18 or 20 meals as there is no smaller trial box
Menus: A-La-Carte, Medical, Keto, Bodybuilding, Custom
Personalization: option to set ingredient preferences
Diet friendliness: keto, paleo, low carb
Ingredients: prioritizes seasonal ingredients
Packaging: most packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable
Menus: A-La-Carte, Medical, Keto, Bodybuilding, Custom
Personalization: option to set ingredient preferences
Diet friendliness: keto, paleo, low carb
Ingredients: prioritizes seasonal ingredients
Packaging: most packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable
Muscle Meals 2 Go

Meal type: prepared meals
Meals per week: 10, 18, 24
Servings available: 1
Delivery area: contiguous United States
Price per serving: $13.95–$19.75
$13.95 AT MUSCLE MEALS 2 GO
*Price may vary.
MuscleMeals 2 Go offers four specific meal plans:
Lean Meal Plan
Train Meal Plan
Low Carb or Keto Meal Plan
Gain Meal Plan
People can choose breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus, as well as snacks such as protein muffins and protein pudding. People can also buy food items by the pound, such as chicken breast or broccoli.
Standard meals, on average, contain 450 calories and 42 grams of protein.
The company website states that its meals do not contain antibiotics, hormones, preservatives, or GMO products. These heat-and-eat meals can last for eight days after delivery if a person stores them in a refrigerator.
Nutritional content
The nutritional content will depend on which meal a person chooses. Examples include:
Lean Beef Lasagna: 570 calories, 21 g of fat, 47 g of carbs, and 46 g of protein
Thai Peanut Chicken (low carb): 330 calories, 14 g of fat, 8 g of carbs, and 40 g of protein
Blackened Salmon: 410 calories, 12 g of fat, 42 g of carbs, and 37 g of protein
Beef and Broccoli (extra protein): 530 calories, 13 g of fat, 49 g of carbs, and 55 g of protein
Pricing and cancellation
Each plan – apart from the Gain Meal Plan – starts at $145 per order. The Gain Meal Plan begins at $165. People can order 10, 18, or 24 meals for delivery every 1–2 weeks.
Muscle Meals 2 Go offers delivery to most of the contiguous United States for $25 per order. However, people in Florida only have to pay $9.99 per delivery.
People can purchase the meals as a one-off, or pause and cancel their ongoing orders with a week’s notice.
has several meal plans for different goals, such as bulking and training
has gluten- and dairy-free options
offers a nutrition coaching program
offers limited nutritional content on meals
no vegetarian or vegan meals available
has several meal plans for different goals, such as bulking and training
has gluten- and dairy-free options
offers a nutrition coaching program
offers limited nutritional content on meals
no vegetarian or vegan meals available
Menus: Lean, Train, Gain, Low Carb
Personalization: option to set ingredient preferences, allergy-friendly for gluten, lactose, and nuts
Diet friendliness: keto, low carb, gluten-free
Returns: no returns or refunds
Shipping: shipping calculated at checkout
Menus: Lean, Train, Gain, Low Carb
Personalization: option to set ingredient preferences, allergy-friendly for gluten, lactose, and nuts
Diet friendliness: keto, low carb, gluten-free
Returns: no returns or refunds
Shipping: shipping calculated at checkout
Clean Eatz Kitchen

Meal type: prepared meals
Servings available: 1
Delivery area: contiguous United States
Meals per week: 5–6
Price per serving: $7.99
$7.99 AT CLEAN EATZ KITCHEN
*Price may vary.
Clean Eatz Kitchen delivers prepared meals as well as offering in-restaurant dining and catering. At the time of publication, it has more than 85 locations in 20 states.
Unlike other meal delivery services, people must pick-up their meals from their closest restaurant.
The company offers a meal plan program that provides a balance of protein, carbs, and fats. People can customize their meals using the ‘Special Request’ option on the website, otherwise they must pick their selections from weekly new menus.
Special Request options include low carb or extra protein. Low carb meals feature green vegies and cauliflower rice instead of grains. Extra protein meals add two ounces of additional protein.
Nutritional content
Each meal has differing nutritional content. Examples include:
Chicken Parm Meltz: 513 calories, 15 g of fat, 54 g of carbs, and 40 g of protein
Vegetarian Wrap: 380 calories, 8 g of fat, 60 g of carbs, and 17g of protein
Buffalo Chicken Dip with “Chips”: 391 calories, 15 g of fat, 48 g of carbs, and 16 g of protein
Straw-nana Blast Smoothies: 235 calories, 4.8 g of fat, 28 g of carbs, and 20 g of protein
Pricing and cancellation
According to Clean Eatz, the price a person can expect to pay per meal is:
$8.20 per meal for up to 9 meals
$7.30 per meal for 10–14 meals
$7 per meal for 15–20 meals
$6.52 for 21 or more meals
Clean Eatz Kitchen is only available in certain states. People can check whether they are able to use this service by choosing their state and nearest Clean Eatz location on the company’s website.
People must place their order by the Sunday and can pick up their order from their nearest location on a Sunday–Tuesday.
offers diverse mains, sides, snacks, and bulk options
provides options for additional protein to each meal
cooks meals fresh in restaurant locations
only available to people who live near a Clean Eatz location
only available in 20 states
does not offer delivery
offers diverse mains, sides, snacks, and bulk options
provides options for additional protein to each meal
cooks meals fresh in restaurant locations
only available to people who live near a Clean Eatz location
only available in 20 states
does not offer delivery
Menus: Keto, High Protein, Weight Loss, Gluten-Free, Breakfast
Personalization: specialty diet filters, mix-and-match weekly meal plan
Diet friendliness: gluten-free, keto
Ingredients: some organic ingredients, locally sourced when available
Packaging: most packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable
Returns: no returns or refunds
Shipping: $5 for orders under $85 and free over $85
Menus: Keto, High Protein, Weight Loss, Gluten-Free, Breakfast
Personalization: specialty diet filters, mix-and-match weekly meal plan
Diet friendliness: gluten-free, keto
Ingredients: some organic ingredients, locally sourced when available
Packaging: most packaging is recyclable, reusable, or compostable
Returns: no returns or refunds
Shipping: $5 for orders under $85 and free over $85
Bodybuilding meal kit comparison
The following table compares the services in this article.
Trifecta
Factor
Icon Meals
Sprinly
Snap Kitchen
MealPro
Muscle Meals 2 Go
Clean Eatz
How we chose
Medical News Today chooses meal kits for bodybuilding based on the following criteria:
Meal options: Services that offer a variety of flavorful options to help prevent people from becoming bored of eating from limited menus.
Macro- and micronutrients: Services that offer enough nutrition to help support the body when building muscle.
Convenience: A mix of services that offer meal kits and prepared food to suit most people’s schedules.
Cancellation: Services that have transparent cancellation policies.
What to look for in meal services
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.
Nutrition for bodybuilders
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
Meal timing is important for bodybuilders, who should eat small meals 3-4 times a day and plan for meals after workouts to help them recover. When planning their diet, a bodybuilder should focus on macronutrients — carbohydrates, proteins, and fats — and calories.
small meals 3-4 times a day
macronutrients
According to fitness professionals, the daily bodybuilding diet for men should include:
fitness professionals
1-1.5 g protein for each pound of body weight
2-3 g of carbs for each pound of body weight
0.5-1 g of fat for each pound of body weight
15-29 calories for each pound of body weight
The “off-season” is the time period between bodybuilding competitions. It is when bodybuilders strive to gain as much muscle as possible, with little increase in fat. It is where bodybuilders spend most of their time, and it comes with its own dietary needs.
Science based recommendations for the off-season include:
Science based recommendation
5-20 percent more calories than needed for maintenance
1.6-2.2 g protein for each kilo of body weight
0.5-1.5 g fat for each kilo of body weight
3-5 g carbohydrates for each kilo of body weight, or their remaining calories
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.
0.25 to 0.5%
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.
Learn about the best meal delivery services for athletes.
How can meal kits help bodybuilders?
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.
Frequently asked questions about bodybuilder meal kits
Hello Fresh is a popular meal delivery service that includes pre-portioned fresh ingredients. Its Protein Smart meals or Fit & Wholesome meal plan may be a good choice for bodybuilders.
Hello Fresh is a popular meal delivery service that includes pre-portioned fresh ingredients. Its Protein Smart meals or Fit & Wholesome meal plan may be a good choice for bodybuilders.
Bodybuilding meal prep delivery services may be suitable for muscle gain so long as they provide the macronutrients a person requires.
Experts suggest that bodybuilders should consume a diet that is 55–60% carbohydrates, 25–20% protein, and 15–20% fat.
Experts
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.
Bodybuilding meal prep delivery services may be suitable for muscle gain so long as they provide the macronutrients a person requires.
Experts suggest that bodybuilders should consume a diet that is 55–60% carbohydrates, 25–20% protein, and 15–20% fat.
Experts
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.
Meal prep can help people with their bodybuilding goals as they can prepare their meals for the week ahead in batches and freeze them.
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.
Research
People who do not have the time to prepare and cook meals from scratch every day may find meal preparation helpful.
Meal prep can help people with their bodybuilding goals as they can prepare their meals for the week ahead in batches and freeze them.
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.
Research
People who do not have the time to prepare and cook meals from scratch every day may find meal preparation helpful.
Factor, previously Factor75, is a meal delivery service that offers several different meal plans that provide different dining options.
The Protein Plus plan could be a good choice for bodybuilders because the meals in this plan all provide 30 grams or more of protein in each serving.
Factor, previously Factor75, is a meal delivery service that offers several different meal plans that provide different dining options.
The Protein Plus plan could be a good choice for bodybuilders because the meals in this plan all provide 30 grams or more of protein in each serving.
Summary
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.