A top nutritionist reveals what that detox you're on is really doing to your body
Embarking on a 'detox' ahead of your summer holiday? Stop right there!
One of the most respected nutritionists in the industry is keen to emphasise that most people aren't aware that detoxification is what our bodies do naturally, without any need to do a drastic detox.
Here, Rosemary explains the vital difference between 'detoxing' and the process of actual detoxification. Put down that detox tea and read on...
‘Detox’ has become a buzzword over recent years and it’s one that has become controversial as marketers have taken the word and used it to promote anything from skinny teas to shampoo.
As a nutritionist, I come across a lot of confusion and I want to make clear that there is a difference between the very fashionable craze that is known as 'detoxing' and the process of actual detoxification.
Detoxification is what our bodies do naturally, without any particular diet or particular plan – all day, every day. The body naturally works to neutralise, transform and remove harmful substances from our systems. For this process, our liver filters 1.4 litres of blood every minute in two phases. First it neutralises the baddies - and then it adds chemicals to make the bad stuff soluble and possible for the body to excrete it.
So why do we all want to 'detox' when our bodies are detoxifying all the time anyway?
The body is a wonderful thing and simply put, no tea will detox you. But if you want to feel the benefits that a detox offers, you can give your body a helping hand. You can change what you eat to fuel the body with the nutrients it needs to detoxify effectively.
Cutting out sugar, alcohol and caffeine, eating a balanced diet of plant-based, anti-inflammatory foods alongside plenty of hydration will help. Try a liquid fast for a maximum of three days, with juices, smoothies and soups, or try vegan meals as a rest for the body and include nuts and seeds and avocados, for protein and good fats.
This will help your body get on with the day job and could have added benefits for your skin, mood, energy levels, weight and sugar cravings. What’s more, it can be a really useful opportunity to ‘check-in’ with your body and see how different foods make you feel.
Over a short period of time you can see the impact of what eating well can do for your body and your mind. Detoxing shouldn’t be a punishment, it should be a helping hand.
Rosemary Ferguson is a successful model of the 90s turned nutritionist and founder of the 5 Day Plan, a working-week meal plan designed to stimulate your metabolism, give your system a break and increase your energy levels.
Best meal delivery service for healthy pre-prepared dishes
Price: From £10/per day
Delivery areas: Nationwide
Editor's comments: "If you're all about healthy meal prep but don't have the time or inclination to roast your veggies and grill your turkey, KBK is the option for you. For those stretched for time across the working week, there’s the Office Plan, where busy clients will have a healthy breakfast and one main meal delivered straight to their desk which can be enjoyed at lunch or to take home in the evening, or for those with specific health goals in mind, the Stay Lean or Get Lean plans will work perfectly (there's even a student plan for those on a budget). My Get Lean day of meals consisted of overnight oats with berries for breakfast, for lunch chicken Pendang with basmati rice, then a delicious healthy nut protein brownie for a snack before harissa turkey with beetroot hummus and couscous for dinner. It pairs perfectly with our new stay-at-home lifestyles where I want to avoid eating everything in sight out of boredom. The best part? You literally heat them up in the microwave for a few minutes and you're good to go, but you know they're absolutely nutritionally balanced for you."
Read our KBK meal prep delivery review before you try!
Best meal delivery service for easy-to-read recipe cards
Price: From £24.99 for a 2-person box - but you can save money with our Gousto discount codes.
Delivery areas: Nationwide
Editor's comments: "When I was trying to stick to the Mediterranean diet I needed a little help. Although it is not a hard one to follow - the social aspect of it is fun, overall you eat well and you don't restrain yourself from much other than red meat - there are still rules. Gousto's Box was my go-to. The portions are for two (so call your BFF), the ingredients are fresh and the recipes are super easy to make. The first recipe I tried - my favourite of the three that came in the box - was Gousto's fish tacos. They have photos of each step and they even send you all the spices and condiments you'll need, so there's no way you'll mess it up. For someone that's a pretty shocking cook, this proved invaluable.
I loved Gousto so much that I decided to branch out later on, and am now a firm fan of many of their dishes - from the Joe Wicks Lean in 15 meals to their smokey chicken and mushroom linguine, chicken, date and tamarind curry and warming red pepper soup. Most recently, I've tried a handful of the dishes from their Marmite collaboration which are absolutely incredible. Granted, I'm a long-standing lover of Marmite, but I'm almost certain that haters would be able to get on board, too. Why? It adds a very welcome edge to a tonne of classic dishes, my favourites being Marmite Teriyaki Popcorn Tofu, Marmite Pineapple Pizza, Marmite Fried Chicken and Marmite Mushroom Carbonara. If you do one thing in 2021, make it be trying this collab."
We tried with: Mediterranean diet.
Gousto discounts
Get £15 off your next box when you refer a friend to Gousto right now, or save money on your first purchase with our Gousto discount codes.
Best meal delivery service for no-waste cooking
Price: 1 person - from £7 per portion, 2 person - from £5 per portion, 4 person - from £4.50 per portion. They also offer a Care Box which you can send to your relatives for £34 plus delivery.
Delivery areas: Nationwide
Editor's comments: "I've always wanted to dispel my nightly post-work Tesco shop and sign up to a food delivery service but I've always hesitated because, well, I don’t want to just eat vegetables every night. Add to that that I’m pain in the arse when it comes to buying meat and fish – it HAS to be sustainably sourced and free-range. So when I was offered a trial of the Mindful Chef I obviously said yes. Healthy? Tick. Quality ingredients sourced from small farms? Tick. Ready for me to put together when I get home (no Tesco’s required)? Tick. Bonus? It actually delivered more. The thing about food delivery is that they give you just the right amount of food meaning there's minimal to no waste. This is a game–changer for me. Consider your dinners, sorted."
We tried with: Gluten Free
Best meal delivery service if you still want freedom
Price: £3 for four recipes during your trial, then £9.99 per box with free delivery.
Delivery areas: Nationwide
Editor’s comments: "If you still want a bit of freedom to choose what goes into your meals, Simply Cook is great. They send you boxes full of herbs, spices, pastes and flavours so that you can create restaurant-quality meals by adding just four-six ingredients from your fridge or cupboard. The boxes fit through your letterbox, which is handy if you’ve nipped out on your daily walk, and recipes take 15-20 minutes to cook. The recipe cards make things super easy to follow, and you can choose from over 100 recipes when you’re ordering. My faves have got to be the Malay Laksa and Nasi Goreng. You can cancel, pause or change your subscription at any time, online for free. They’re also offering 50% off for NHS workers right now which is a great touch."
Best meal delivery service for frozen vegan meals
Price: From £4.99 per serving.
Delivery areas: Nationwide
Editor's comments: "I once told my Sicilian dad I was vegan, apart from cheese. And chicken stock. Oh, and I don't want to be an inconvenient dinner party guest, so will happily eat a bolognese, if that's what's cooking. My comment was met with a raised eyebrow, and I silently sat down and demolished the chicken cacciatore on my plate. It's this fickle approach to veganism that led me to Allplants - a vegan meal delivery service that cuts the cr*p for you. On first appearances, their endless options of creamy carbonara, risotto, and what looks like parmesan-topped bolognese had me double-checking the 'vegan' claim. Then I clicked on the ingredients. Cashew cream, almond parm crum and butternut-squash béchamel, all 100% dairy-free with no added preservatives. Umm...yum! The meals arrive frozen, in individual or double-up portions, and after a quick oven/microwave zap, you're tucking into creamy hot pasta, without the guit. Verdict? Let's just say, it's easy to forget you're doing the vegan thing. Well, I do at least."
We tried with: Vegan diet
Check out our full allplants review here.
Best meal delivery service for convenience and families
Price: From £5.80* per portion for a 2 person box, but you can save money with our HelloFresh promo codes.
Delivery areas: All of the UK
Editor's comments: "The price, options and flexibility of this delivery service make it a winner in my books. My fiancé and I travel often and HelloFresh allows us to pick and choose which weeks we actually want food delivered. The recipes are consistently delicious and it’s fun to experiment with new dishes I would never think to cook on my own. And the gluten-free and vegetarian options are ACE."
We tried with: Gluten Free
Hello Fresh discounts
Save money on your first order with our HelloFresh promo codes.
Best meal delivery service for simplicity
Price: From £4.70 per service.
Delivery areas: Green Chef will deliver your recipe boxes across the UK, including: UK Mainland Jersey Guernsey Isle of Man Isle of Wight.
Editor's comments: "Green Chef is the recipe box with five diet options to choose from each week. You choose between keto, lower carb, balanced, vegan and vegetarian, (or mix and match tasty nutritionist-designed recipes to fit your lifestyle), then you receive healthy, top-quality ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes to your door. I loved that most dinners were ready in 30 minutes or less, and particularly enjoyed the Paneer Bhaji Burger for a "fake-away" style dinner."
We tried with: Vegetarian diet plan.
Best meal delivery service for accompanying juices and snacks
Price: from £99 per plan.
Delivery areas: Nationwide, and delivery is free.
Editor's comments: "The Good Prep is a meal delivery service which curates tailored meals to help you achieve your chosen lifestyle goals. You simply pick the plan that works best for your preferences and activity level, then choose the meals you like the sound of – made only from the freshest ingredients. The best part? You can compliment your meals with five snacks, and if you want, as many detox juices as you’d like... and every meal is ready in two minutes. So good. Undecided? There is also a 2 day taster available for £49.
We tried with: Maintain and Sustain.
Best meal delivery service for organic produce
Price: From £6 per plate
Delivery areas: Nationwide
Editor's comments: "Abel & Cole is the healthy meal delivery service for you if you're passionate about organic produce. If it's recipe boxes you're after, they have a delicious and seasonal menu for you to choose from which changes every week. There's so much variety, and all ingredients are, of course, organic. Some of our favourite dishes include the roast butternut squash, spinach and lentil daal and the tangy tempeh and noodle stir fry. Once you've chosen, they deliver direct to your door and collect your recyclable, collectable boxes the following week. Oh, and if you don't fancy a full recipe box, they also offer fruit and veg boxes. Or you can just order the standalone ingredients you're after, from meat and fish to produce for your pantry. It's such a great site."
Best meal delivery service if you love cooking
Price: From £12.45 per meal - each serves 2 people
Delivery areas: Nationwide and Wales
Editor's comments: "After hearing about Riverford's Fruit & Veg delivery, I was excited to learn that they also offer healthy meal boxes. You get the fresh ingredients - we're talking organic everything - and recipes delivered at the start of the week. Admittedly, I'm not that great in the kitchen but I really enjoy cooking and I like to see exactly what's in my meals so this proved the perfect way to have the convenience of delivery but still have some creative control."
Best meal delivery service for pasta fans
Price: From £6.75 per meal
Delivery areas: Nationwide
Editor's comments: "If all this stockpiling and the closures of your favourite Italian restaurants has you desperately craving getting your hands on some fresh pasta of finest quality, look no further than Pasta Evangelists. Delivered to your door (through your postbox!!) is a box of fresh meals that all have minimal prep time, and offer gorgeous combos of fresh pasta and accompanying sauces. I was worried that ordering 3 different pastas would make me feel super carb-loaded, but they're portioned perfectly to be filling without being too over-indulgent. A personal highlight was the sausage ragu, salty and delicious, but there are tonnes of options for vegetarians and allergen sufferers too. Plus, they even include all the toppings and (all-important) parmesan you need, meaning there's nothing to add but a little drizzle of oil and a fork. Artisan pasta delights in under 5 minutes? Definitely treat yourself."
Pasta Evangelists is also available through Not On The High Street, as subscription boxes to gift to your friends (or yourself).
Best meal delivery service for lunchtimes
Price: From £7.70 per meal for a monthly lunchtime subscription
Delivery areas: London
Editor's comments: "The Key To Food takes all of the hassle out of preparing your lunch, breakfast or dinner by doing it for you and keeping it nutritionally balanced. If you want to build muscle alongside a fitness regime, select their BUILD plan, BURN for losing weight. I went for the BALANCE plan where meals are between 530-650 cals and give high protein, moderate fats and moderate carbs. You can't choose what you're getting, but for me this was a nice surprise and I liked that it took away another decision in my busy day. There's enough variety and great flavours to the healthy food that I didn't get sick of it."
Best meal delivery services in London
Price: From £19.55 a day
Delivery areas: London
Editor's comments: "Eating well has such a great impact on your life, so when I signed up for this I had really high hopes. I generally eat well but can easily fall off the wagon so I was looking for a meal delivery service to keep me in check. The great thing about Detox Kitchen in comparison to some others is that the portions are big and taste comes first. I opted for The Active Protein package because I need my meat everyday, but if you're a veggie or just really in it for a detox (without doing a disgusting juice cleanse) there's plenty of other options that will suit you. You’re never left hungry and the food is fresh and delicious. They can definitely count me as a loyal customer now.”
Best meal delivery service for building muscle
Price: From £10.25/per meal
Delivery areas: London
Editor's comments: "BAM! This is true fuel, not only meals. I was so impressed by how much Munch Fit would change my routine. Being a gym rat I spent a lot of time meal prepping on Sunday to make sure I stayed on my diet when I was at the office - now, bear in mind when I say diet I mean eating healthy to build muscle, not to loose weight. Not only were the portions perfectly sized, the food was so fresh. It literally arrives at your door each day packed in a cool bag. Put it this way, if you're really into fitness and making sure you're getting your daily protein intake right (and spending your Sundays outdoors rather than in the kitchen), out of this list, this service will be the one for you.
Best meal delivery service for smaller portions
Price: From £36/per day
Delivery areas: London
Editor's comments: "Another box that got us going crazy about how gorgeous it looked is Spring Green. FLOWERS EVERYWHERE! And we were all for it. Throughout the day the meals are diet sized, but don't worry, the dinner platter will make up for it - and that's usually when everyone tends to snack a little too much. If you do stick to the plan and combine it with exercise you're bound to see results. First, on how weirdly light you feel - if you're looking to banish bloating this box would be a good choice. Secondly, to your energy levels which will be up, up, up. And thirdly, to your skin. Yes, my skin was absolutely glowing. Overall, I would totally recommend this."
Best meal delivery service for beautiful presentation
Price: From £8/per meal
Delivery areas: London
Editor's comments: "Honestly, I was quite impressed with Potage from the moment the meals arrived. Packed individually, each one of the meals looked straight off a chef's kitchen (perfect for the 'gram). Intricately adorned with seasoning and yes, even flower petals I was instantly attracted and eager to try each one of those little boxes. My dad - who's a health nut - was in town with me and he was super impressed by how healthy but well-sized the meals were. If you're not a health junkie (like me) worry not, you'll still find the meals tasty and feel satisfied by the end of the day. I would definitely give this one a go again, for a weekly detox or even if I'm having people over - they do big meals to share as well."
Best meal delivery service for personalised plans
Price: From £44.95/per day for a 10 day package
Delivery areas: London and M25
Editor's comments: Don't be put off by the price; this is gourmet food delivered straight to your door. One of the main benefits of this company is the dedicated team who call you before your first delivery and run through your goals and help you choose a programme accordingly (they also call to check how you're getting on with your programme mid-way through). There's weight loss, paleo-inspired, healthy eating, training support, longevity, pre and post-natal, vegan and vegetarian and brain food; there's even the option to have your own custom plan created depending on your needs. I opted for the healthy option and my super chic cool bag arrived with my custom menu, detailing each meal and its nutritional benefits. Breakfasts included the likes of bircher or cottage cheese and tomato on rye bread, lunches were delicious salads, dinners consisted of wholesome meals like mushroom risotto, whilst snacks on offer included healthy brownies. I didn't feel hungry once and the portion sizes were huge. If you're a busy office worker who doesn't have time to leave your desk or cook when you get home but crave a nutritious and delicious meal, this is perfect. A lot of my friends who work on busy trading floors swear by it and say it's like having a restaurant meal at their desk. I'll definitely be recommending this.
We tried with: Paleo diet
Best meal delivery service for workout junkies
Price: From £23/per day
Delivery areas: London and the M25
Editor's comments: "The perfect meal delivery service for any fitness foodie. If you struggle with meal prep and find it difficult to eat clean whilst leading a busy-working life, it might be worth giving this a go. The FFF team pride themselves on convenience, nutrition and customer service, ensuring that your food is as personalised and delicious as can be. My favourite meal so far was my Matcha Protein Waffle breakfast! I could definitely NOT make those at home".
We tried with: Flexitarian diet
Best meal delivery service for calculated plans
Price: From £4/per meal
Delivery areas: All of the UK
Editor's comments: "Fit Kitchen is rather new to the market, making their competitive prices a great advantage. Much cheaper than most healthy delivery services out there (but just as delish!), we were excited to give this one a go, as it seemed like great news for our readers. And believe us, it was. Their diet plan system is based on your caloric needs and what you're trying to achieve with Fit Kitchen's help. I went for the aggressive weight-loss option, and the portions were strict-diet sized. But if you are looking to gain muscle or just maintain a healthy diet like the DASH, the website will calculate and base the plan on your macros - which is quite cool and makes you feel like a bodybuilder that knows their shit."
We tried with: DASH diet
Best meal delivery service for home-cooked food
Price: from £65 per bundle
Delivery areas: Nationwide
Editor's comments: "Designed to make eating well throughout life's transitional moments (such as becoming parents, bereavement, moving house) simple; The Food Doula delivers home-cooked 'food bundles' across the UK. Bundles are created using the highest quality ingredients and produce catering to vegan, vegetarian and meat-based diets. There are three options to choose from (Vegetate with your Bundle, Vegan Hug with your Bundle and Meat with your Bundle) available in two sizes: small at £65 or large at £100 (including delivery); as well as gift cards and the opportunity to create bespoke bundles should customers be looking for longer-term edible support or have specific dietary requirements. We tried the "Meat with Your Bundle" option and the meals on offer were totally delicious and soul-warming - particularly the black bean lasagne. It also came with a raw cacao and date energy log - perfect with a cuppa for a mid-morning sugar boost - and a selection of herbal teas. Perfect for sipping on in front of the TV of an evening. So good - and a great way to support small businesses."
Best meal delivery service for prioritising gut health
Price: £39.40 per day
Delivery areas: Various postcodes across London. You can check out the full list on their website.
Editor's comments: Kurami's ethos is based around the belief that food can be an ethos for change. They help professionals fit healthy meals into their busy London lifestyles, ensuring all of their dishes do not use ingredients or additives that contain gluten and dairy, or refined sugars.
Each daily box is packed with everything you need for breakfast, lunch and dinner alongside snacks and drinks to keep you full throughout the day. Every meal day has been carefully crafted by the brand's dedicated Nutritionist, who has a thorough understanding of the vital importance of gut health and how taking care of your second brain can leave you feeling beautiful and looking fabulous. Science suggests that good gut health promotes improved digestion, and lowers the risk of heart disease, stroke and Type 2 diabetes.
When you sign up, you can choose either the signature or calorie-controlled meal path. You then select how many days you'd like the plan for, and whether you want it as a subscription or a one-off purchase. Fancy a peak at a sample menu? Here goes...
Breakfast: Teff Pancakes & Berry Compote and Nut Butter
Lunch: Aubergine Parmigiana
Dinner: Turkey and Quinoa Meatballs with Rice and Cauliflower
Snack: Signature Truffles
Drink: Butterfly Blue Moon Mylk
Best meal delivery service for low carb
Price: From £19.99/daily
Delivery areas: All of the UK
Editor's comments: "Low Carb sounds easy on paper, but don't fool yourself, it's hard. I've tried low-carb diets before and they didn't work - mainly because I had cheat meals every day (I love carbs). So Balance Box sounded like the perfect idea, with not much in my fridge other than their meals there was no way for me to cheat. The portions aren't huge, so if you're aiming to shed some pounds this will help to keep you on track. You get breakfast, lunch, dinner and even snacks, plus the food is super tasty, nothing like those diet prep meals you get in the supermarket - they taste homely. Honestly, I tried as much as I could to not cheat, of course I slacked off sometimes but overall I was feeling lighter. The results on the scale? Two pounds in one week - going to the gym and sweating it out of course - there's no miracle-maker, although Balance Box is pretty close to it."
We tried with: Low carb diet
Best meal delivery service for frozen ready meals
Price: from £6 per meal.
Delivery areas: Nationwide. They deliver for free in carbon neutral vans.
Editor's comments: "I loved Tastily as an easy, healthy ready-meal service. Having them in my fridge and freezer for lunchtimes when I didn't have a chance to cook was a life-saver. The ordering process was super easy: you choose between 4 and 12 meals by Friday, Tastily prepares, cooks and packages the meals fresh with a 7 day shelf-life and your meals are delivered by the following Wednesday. Everything tastes genuinely fresh and healthy - from the butternut squash lasagne to the chicken pad thai. All meals are between 400-500 calories (or 600-700 calories if you upgrade to large), have at least three servings of vegetables and will never include additives, preservatives or refined sugar. Plus, there are vegan and veggie options to boot."
