My Complete FlexPro Meal Delivery Experience: An Extensive Review
Have you ever come home after a long workday, only to stare blankly into the fridge knowing you still need to plan and cook dinner? Meal fatigue is real. To solve this pain point and make healthy eating easier for busy people nationwide, FlexPro Meals offers chef-prepared dishes delivered to your door.
But are they worth the money and hassle? After testing their service myself the past few months and doing extensive research, I‘m breaking down everything you need to know in this complete FlexPro review.
A Bit About FlexPro‘s Background
FlexPro Meals got its start in Kansas City back in 2013. Founder Nathan Corn, a passionate home cook and busy accountant, tired of his own meal struggles and decided to provide a solution for himself and others.
He rented out commissary kitchen space, carefully crafted a balanced nutrition-focused menu, and began selling affordable prepared meals locally out of a food truck (pretty humble beginnings!).
The tasty, dietitian-approved meals quickly grew a cult following in the area. Nathan brought on more chefs to keep up with demand as word spread. Within 5 years, FlexPro expanded nationally via its online direct-to-consumer meal delivery model that makes the service so convenient today.
Fun fact – FlexPro‘s Director of Culinary, Michael Robertson, graduated Le Cordon Bleu culinary school and later cooked for none other than Julia Childs herself!
With over 15 full-time employees including chefs, dietitians, and customer service specialists, FlexPro‘s small but mighty team has prepared and delivered over 2 million affordable meals to date!
So unlike trendy VC-funded competitors, FlexPro has withstood the test of time. Their tried and true operating model clearly serves a strong market need.
How Delivery and Ordering Works
Ordering from FlexPro couldn‘t be simpler. Just visit their website or iOS/Android app, select your meals for the week, checkout, and your freshly prepared food arrives in a climate controlled cooler bag 1-2 days later.
Meals stay fresh for 5-7 days refrigerated or 2 months frozen. So it‘s easy to stock up your freezer. All dishes just require heating in the oven or microwave before enjoying.
I love that you can customize deliveries based on your schedule – skip weeks when traveling or double up after an exhausting week. And cancel anytime without penalties.
FlexPro ships all cold items for a flat $9.99 shipping fee nationwide. They use recyclable insulation and gel packs instead of inefficient Styrofoam coolers – so that‘s points for sustainability!
For context, here‘s how FlexPro‘s logistics stack up to competitors:
| Company | Shipping Cost | Shipping Speed | Packaging |
|---|---|---|---|
| FlexPro | $9.99 flat fee | 1-2 day | Recyclable insulation and gel packs |
| Daily Harvest | $6.99 – $8.99 | 1-2 day | Recyclable insulation and gel packs |
| Freshly | $12.99 | Same day in select areas | Recyclable box with gel packs |
| Platejoy | $19 flat fee | 2 day | Insulated foam cooler & ice packs |
FlexPro wins when it comes to affordable, timely shipping – a huge factor when ordering perishable meals.
Overview of the Meal Plan Options
Alright, let‘s get to the good stuff: the food! FlexPro meals emphasize lean proteins, complex carbs, and vegetable blends to provide balanced nutrition. And they offer tons of variety with 35+ weekly choices covering different cuisines and dietary preferences.
Their most popular plans are the Fat Trimmer line (300-400 calorie meals) for weight loss and the Lean Muscle line (500-700 calorie meals) for building mass. But you can mix and match however you like based on your goals.
I‘ll dig into macros and nutrition details later. First, here‘s a sneak peek at 5 trending dishes on their latest menus:
1. Diablo Steak & Shrimp – Grilled top sirloin steak and jumbo shrimp in a zesty diablo sauce with peppers and onions over cauliflower rice (paleo & keto friendly)
2. Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Bake – Shredded chicken, beans, rice and melty cheese sauce stacked in corn tortillas then baked. Topped with fresh cilantro.
3. Hawaiian Chicken – Aloha! Baked chicken breast glazed in a sweet and tangy pineapple bourbon sauce with roasted broccoli and ancient grains.
4. Shrimp Scampi Zoodle Bowl – Garlic butter shrimp with spiralized zucchini noodles, grape tomatoes and spinach.
I don‘t know about you, but my mouth is watering just reading those descriptions! Here are a few more menu highlights:
- Sloppy joe stuffed sweet potatoes
- Turkey bolognese zucchini lasagna
- Jerk pork stir fry with butternut squash "rice"
- Lemon butter cod over risotto
- Falafel power bowl
With so many craveworthy options covering various cuisines and diets, I never got bored of the selections. Portion sizes felt just right too – satisfying without leaving you overly stuffed.
Beyond fully prepared meals, FlexPro offers Γ La Carte proteins, sides, and baked goods to make it easy to supplement your delivery. I sometimes added extras like salmon fillets, chicken skewers, or a side salad.
Let‘s now analyze how FlexPro‘s pricing and subscription model stacks up against the competition:
| Company | Price Per Serving | Min. Order Value | Subscription |
|---|---|---|---|
| FlexPro | $8.50 – $13.49 | $59.93 | Optional |
| Freshly | $8.49 – $12.50 | $65 | Optional |
| Factor_ | $11 – $15 | $60 | Required |
| Veestro | $9.90 – $11.90 | $130 | None – Order As Needed |
*Based on published pricing for 5-7 meals/week
The above competitors are all prepared meal delivery brands emphasizing health. FlexPro comes in very affordable especially given their large portions and subscription flexibility.
Even if you select premium organic dishes from Veestro or Factor_, FlexPro clocks in 20-40% cheaper. They offer solid value while using predominantly high quality ingredients (more details later).
One trick I learned – become a FlexPro VIP Member for just $9.99/month. You save 5% on every order which quickly offsets the fee. Perk bonuses like free protein bars and early menu access make it even sweeter.
Putting FlexPro Meals to the Test
Alright, enough window shopping – time to dig into howFlexPro tastes and performs when actually putting their prepared meals to use!
I ordered the 21 meals per week plan for a full month. With meals starting under $9 when you order bulk, it came out more affordable than grocery shopping myself.
Here‘s an inside look at my experience enjoying FlexPro‘s meals for weeks on end:
Unboxing & First Impressions
The first shipment arrived safely in a thick recyclable cooler bag. Inside, each meal came individually packaged in a microwave and oven safe container with nutrition facts clearly marked.
While frozen, nothing looked soggy or damaged which can happen when delivering perishable prepared foods. So great job maintaining quality enroute!
I spread out storing the entrees so I wasn‘t microwaving everything frozen. DEFROST FIRST rather than cooking meals straight frozen to ensure the best texture and taste.
After refrigerating overnight, I decided to warm up the Jerk Pork Stir Fry for lunch the next day:
The pork shoulder was fall apart tender. Black rice and butternut squash played nicely together. And just enough jerk seasoning to give a slow building heat without overpowering the star ingredients‘ natural flavors. This Carribean classic makes for a tasty, protein-packed lunch or dinner!
Testing Out 2 Weeks of Meals
With 21 filling entrees on hand, I enjoyed FlexPro meals for my main lunch and dinner for two whole weeks. No grocery shopping or meal planning required – just grab and heat!
A few other standout dishes I absolutely wolfed down:
-
Shrimp & Chicken Pad Thai – Tender rice noodles in a rich peanut sauce with snap peas and bean sprouts. Top notch Asian comfort food!
-
Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers – Thinly sliced beef, melty provolone cheese, onions, mushrooms and peppers in just the right savory ratios. So much flavor packed into those bell peppers shells!
-
Chicken Tikka Masala – Chicken breast in an incredible creamy tomato curry sauce with spinach and jasmine rice. Silky, warm and deeply satisfying.
Really my ONLY complaint taste-wise was the Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry. The broccoli turned out way overcooked unfortunately, lending a mushy texture I didn‘t love.
But one dud out of 20+ meals isn‘t bad at all. And FlexPro customer service quickly credited me a free meal when I gave feedback about the issue.
Nutrition & Ingredients Analysis
Now, a meal delivery service can send out the tastiest dishes ever, but if nutrition doesn‘t align with your goals it‘s useless.
After analyzing FlexPro‘s ingredient sourcing, macro ratios, and dietary options covered in their menus, I would give them high marks for prioritizing health.
Nearly all protein sources come from antibiotic-free poultry, grass-fed/grass-finished beef, or sustainable seafood. There are several wild caught salmon and shrimp dishes, though farm raised whitefish occasionally gets used likely for cost savings.
They incorporate lots of nutrient dense veggies across the board – varieties like rainbow swiss chard, brussels sprouts, and broccoli rabe that you rarely find in prepared meals. Quinoa, brown rice, and whole grain pasta make frequent appearances over white varieties as well.
And you can specify preferences for low carb, paleo, vegan, nut free, soy free, dairy free etc. at checkout if you have allergies or stick to a specific diet protocol. Phew!
Now regarding macros, FlexPro definitely emphasizes protein first and foremost. Most Fat Trimmer meals contain 35-45g per serving while Lean Muscle dishes get up to 60-80g.
Carb sources come second – ranging from 15-30g generally. Some keto friendly meals like steak over cauli-rice keep carbs under 10g. And there‘s ample healthy fats from oils, nuts, seeds, and fatty fish.
If trying to lose weight, I‘d suggest pairing their lighter 300-400 calorie meals with lots of low starch vegetables to ensure you get enough micronutrients and stay satisfied. Their higher protein approach helps retain muscle in a deficit.
For athletes or more active individuals wanting to gain strength and size, the higher calorie Lean Muscle meals make hitting daily macros easy breezy. I had to remind myself to stop adding extra protein shakes out of habit!
How Does FlexPro Handle Common Meal Service Issues?
No company is 100% perfect 100% of the time. Factors like last minute ingredient shortages, supply chain hiccups or illness sometimes disrupt operations.
In my experience though, FlexPro handles common issues better than competitors, so you eat well even when problems arise:
1. Running out of popular menu items – FlexPro keeps 2 backup meals in regular production at all times to swap in if planned options become unavailable. And they proactively reach out to suggest replacements tailored to your preferences.
- Late/missed deliveries – All shipments come with live tracking. If transit issues cause delays, FlexPro expedites free rush delivery of your next order.
3. Subpar meal quality – As mentioned before, their rapid customer service helped make things right the one time I experienced off flavors. Always photograph dishes that disappoint before discarding too.
No major red flags after personally testing FlexPro myself for 30+ days. Their operations and logistics proved reliable even through harsh winter storms.
FlexPro Customers Share Their Experiences
Curious what other real life customers think? Check out these glowing testimonials I found online:
"This is our favorite meal delivery service out of the 5-6 weβve tried over the past few years. Their recipes are innovative and tasty. Customer service is excellent."
Kara S. from Tempe, AZ
"FlexProβs meals are delicious! Way better than eating out. The instructions for preparing each meal are simple and very clear. I will continue to order from FlexPro weekly for the convenience as well as keeping my grocery bill lower."
Tony R. from Nashville, TN
"Flexpro has changed my life! Their meals are healthy, delicious, convenient, and affordable. As a busy nurse and mom of 2, not having to worry about dinner is amazing. Thanks FlexPro – you all feel like family!"
Nicole P. from Omaha, NE
Across various review sites, satisfied customers praise the convenience, quality, and nutrition FlexPro provides. Some even admitting they replaced nearly all home cooking with this reliable delivery service!
And the few negative critiques seem to stem from easily avoided issues like forgetting to cancel orders while away on vacation. Or not heating meals properly before rating flavors.
How FlexPro Stacks Up Against the Top Competition
Alright, let‘s pit Flexpro against the biggest national prepared meal delivery brands…fight!
I‘ll compare them across 5 key criteria important to customers:
| Taste | Nutrition | Customization | Price | Delivery & Service | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FlexPro | π₯π₯π₯π₯ | π₯π₯π₯π₯π₯ | π₯π₯π₯ | π₯π₯π₯π₯ | π₯π₯π₯ |
| Freshly | π₯π₯ | π₯π₯π₯ | π₯π₯ | π₯π₯π₯ | π₯ |
| FACTOR | π₯π₯π₯π₯ | π₯π₯π₯π₯ | π₯ | π₯π₯π₯ | π₯π₯ |
| Veestro | π₯π₯π₯ | π₯π₯π₯π₯ | π₯π₯ | π₯π₯π₯π₯ | π₯π₯π₯ |
Based on taste testing various competitor meals myself over the years, Freshly has a slight edge over FlexPro. Their executive chef backgrounds allow some restaurant quality dishes.
But when scoring nutrition and affordability, FlexPro provides better balanced macros tailored to goals and saves you more money long run. Their simpler operational model leads to those savings.
If you require completely customized nutrient breakdowns (like 75g protein, under 50g carbs, 25g fat each meal), Factor_ is best. But hope you have healthy credit card limits because they are priciest by far!
And 100% plant based customers sway towards Veestro over the meat-centric FlexPro. But lose out on cost, speed, and reliability by choosing this niche organic brand.
- Folks with some dietary flexibility who eat both meat and plant foods. FlexPro isn‘t for strictly vegan/veggies or extreme keto dieters.
- Athletes and weekend warrior fitness types wanting lots of protein to refuel, without supplement cost and hassle.
- Those who value balanced nutrition first more than indulging foodie tastes.
- Anyone desiring convenience as their #1 priority. FlexPro eliminates nearly all shopping, meal planning, chopping, dishes etc.
- People focused on sticking to a weight loss meal plan long term. Having satiating prepared meals eliminates daily diet struggles.
Follow this advice to make the most of what FlexPro meal deliveries offer:
- Take the 2 minutes to properly defrost meals before reheating to guarantee best textures and flavors.
- Rotate weekly proteins instead of just ordering chicken dishes to avoid taste bud boredom
- Pair lighter Fat Trimmer entrees with low starch vegetables as sides to feel fully satiated
- SMARTLY supplement FlexPro meals with fresh grocery items like yogurt, fruit, toast etc to balance taste and nutrition.
- Without buying every week, you‘ll forfeit discounts from their loyalty pricing model. Freeze extras meals for later or set up automatic deliveries.
Well, that wraps up this EPIC full review featuring my personal take having tested FlexPro meals for a month straight! Hopefully the deep dive helps you determine if their solution fits the bill.
Feel free to reach out with any other questions. And let me know if this honest review won you over to give FlexPro‘s prepared meal delivery a shot for yourself!