Welcome to Meal Prepâs ultimate guide to the best low carb meal delivery services in Australia.
Losing weight is no easy feat, we hear ya! And there are so many different diets out there that can help you achieve your weight loss goals. So how are you supposed to know which is the best one for you?
Chances are since youâve come across this article, youâve realised a low carb diet will suit your needs and goals best. Yet trying to figure out the carbs per meal, let alone shopping and cooking for the ingredients to make low carb meals is a major headache and time waster.
Fear not, weâre coming in hot with some of the best low carb meal delivery services in Australia to help you lose weight, and keep it off.
Weâve also put together a bunch of handy tips about eating a low carb and low-calorie diet, including:
- Types of food commonly found in a low carb diet
- The difference between low calorie and low carb
- Things to consider before starting a low carb and low-calorie diet
- And a whole lot more!
P.S.: Looking for low-carb providers for a keto diet? See our top keto provider picks.
The Top Low Carb Meal Providers
My Muscle Chef
Low carb options: 6
Delivery locations: NSW, VIC, ACT, QLD, SA, WA
Average cost per meal: $10.95
Subscription required: No
Average carbs: Under 20g per meal
Currently on a low-carb diet, or looking to start one? My Muscle Chef is one of the top rate meal delivery services in Australia right now, and for good reason.
MMC has curated a delicious array of low-carb as well as keto meals, packed with all the nutrient-dense ingredients youâll need to get started, all with under 15g of carbs per meal. If youâre looking to keep off the kilos, My Muscle Chefâs low-carb and low-calorie meals are exactly what youâre after.
Cooked by real chefs, MMC says their low-carb weight-loss meals have the comfy feel of a homemade meal and all the delicious taste too. MMCâs team of chefs work closely with their Head Nutritionist to develop a wide variety of meals that offer all the health benefits of following a low-carb diet.
They have a Low Calorie Shred pack, or you can pick and choose your own meals.
A Life Plus
Low carb options: 50+
Delivery locations: NSW, VIC, ACT, QLD, SA, TAS, WA
Average cost per meal: $13
Subscription required: No
Average carbs: 1-6g
A Life Plus is the gold standard for keto providers which are inherently low carb. When ordering, you can even choose between standard or organic ingredients, and they cater to vegetarian eaters on a keto diet too.
You can choose a 3, 5 or 7 lunch and dinner keto meal plan, or order keto pizzas off the menu. A Life Plus meal plans are 100% keto compliant and will have a ratio of: Fat: 70-80%, Protein: 15-25%, Carbs: 5% (1-6g carbs per meal).
Macros
Low carb options: 40
Delivery locations: NSW, VIC, ACT, QLD, SA
Average cost per meal: $13.00
Subscription required: Yes
Average carbs: Under 20g per meal
Designed for athletes, Macros provides nutritionally-optimised plans for your performance goals. Macrosâ filter tool (on the Menu page and at checkout) enables you to select the meals that suit your dietary requirements.
Macros very clearly list their macros really and know people who want low carb donât want to sacrifice protein. With clean meals and minimal sauces, Macros is the ideal low-carb provider.Â
Macros’ dedicated Weight Loss Plan includes single-serve meals that are low in carbs and calories to help support an individualâs weight loss goals. Each of the weight loss meals are 300g and under 350g calories.
They also have several low-carb and low-cal meal plans with its dietitian approved Sculpt meal plan contacting only 6-17g of carbohydrates, and at least 25g of protein guaranteed per pre-portioned serve.
All meals are also free from preservatives and other artificial ingredients. And, because Macros is in MyFitnessPal, you can easily keep track of your calorie intake and diet through the app.
Workout Meals
Low carb options: 20+
Delivery locations: NSW, VIC, QLD, ACT, SA
Average cost per meal: $12.00
Subscription required: No
Average carbs: Under 20g per meal
Workout Meals have a system to assist in creating a custom meal plan for you, including a Weight Loss meal plan. Ordering is easy, and with no required subscription model, all you need to do is select your meals from the low carb menu, add them to your cart and checkout.
You can also order from a dedicated meal plan, which is designed based on a few questions, such as your gender, your activity level and how many meals you want per week. Every aspect of Workout Meals is designed with the time-poor, health & fitness focused customers in mind.
Using the highest standard ingredients from Australia and New Zealand which includes their very own farm in Kulnura NSW, their real restaurant chefs and qualified nutritionist have designed the best-tailored meals to go alongside their customer’s fitness journey no matter what the workout is.
Workout Meals are fresh and not frozen and will remain fresh for 7 days when refrigerated.
HelloFresh
Low carb options: 25+
Delivery locations: VIC, NSW, ACT, QLD, WA, SA, NT
Average cost per meal: $11.33
Subscription required: Yes
Average carbs: Under 20g per meal
HelloFresh is slightly different to the above providers in that itâs a meal kit service rather than a ready-made meal provider. It is, however, a good alternative to ready-made meal providers where you can learn to cook low-carb meals from their Carb Smart menu.
You can choose how many meals you want per week, and the type of meals (i.e. you can choose just veggies, meat and veg, pescetarian and so on). After checkout, you will have access to the entire menu of 25+ weekly recipes that are low-carb.
Be Fit Food
Low carb options: 20+
Delivery locations: NSW, VIC, ACT, QLD, SA, WA
Average cost per meal: $10.30
Subscription required: No
Average carbs: Under 20g per meal
Be Fit Food is one of the best low-carb meal delivery services because it creates science-back meals and programs to help individuals lose weight. Their entire focus is weight-loss meals curated by dietitians.
All their meals are low in carbs, which can be purchased in packs so you know the average calories per day. They have Rapid Weight Loss programs, Gradual Weight Loss programs and Maintenance programs.
The Be Rapid 7 Day program is probably one of the most popular and has been scientifically formulated by a doctor & team of accredited dietitians to bring you a low carb, high protein & nutritionally balanced meal program to help you lose weight quickly.
The Be Rapid program is a Very Low Calorie Diet (VLCD) designed to induce mild nutritional ketosis by providing approximately 800-900 calories per day and around 40-70g of carbohydrates. This program allows the body to burn stored fat rather than carbohydrates as fuel, resulting in rapid weight loss.
Garden of Vegan
Low carb options: 15+
Delivery locations: VIC, NSW, QLD, ACT, SA, TAS, WA
Average cost per meal: $15.45
Subscription required: No
Average carbs: Roughly 30g per meal
The Cleanse and Detox Meal Plan focuses on nutrient-dense, plant-based whole foods that support safe and effective cleansing and natural detoxification.
Many cleanse or detox programs do not take into account the variety of plant foods that are rich in essential nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. This is not a fad diet or trend, but a plan to help the body safely eliminate toxins, rejuvenate cells, and reset with nature’s whole foods.
To create a personalized meal plan for the week, simply select 5 or 7 days, review the meal plan, and swap any meals with the carefully selected options. All meals are low in fat, sodium, and are under 400 calories. Every day, breakfast will consist of a fresh juice or smoothie made from the juicing and fruit box in the plan.
Chefgood
Low carb options: 10+
Delivery locations: VIC, NSW, QLD, ACT, SA, TAS
Average cost per meal: $10.90
Subscription required: Yes
Average carbs: Under 20g per meal
Chefgood is one of the highest rated meal providers on Mealprep and for good reason. With a regularly updated menu (often curated by guest chefs), Chefgood offers a range of low-carb plans that don’t compromise on satiety or taste.
Chefgoodâs Slim & Trim meal plan is a low-carb weight loss meal plan designed to help kick your weight loss goals. The Slim & Trim plan lets you choose between 5 and 14 meals each week. Each meal is calorie-controlled to 350 calories/per meal.
Chefgoodâs Slim & Trim meal plan is calorie-controlled and meals are based on a low carb, high protein model. They also come with vegetarian and vegan options.
How We Made This List
We based our list on the following criteria:
âïž Low carb options: how many low carb/low cal options does the provider offer?
đ Delivery locations: where in Australia do they deliver?
đ° Average cost per meal: whatâs the average cost per meal?
đ Subscription required: does the provider ask you to subscribe in order to purchase meals?
đœ Macro split: whatâs the average macro split of the meals?
â Just FYI: Weâve identified low carb as being less than 20g of carbs per meal.
Other Providers With a Low-Carb Menu Worth Checking Out
Dineamic
Dineamic has a range of low carb prepared meals designed by chefs. The meals have been crafted so so 10-14% of the total energy provided comes from carbohydrates, with no more than 23g. Dineamic meals are delivered Australia wide, and can be found in select supermarkets.
Thr1ve
Thr1ve has a bunch of dedicated weight loss meal plans, such as the Accelerated Weight Loss meal plan, the Fat Burn meal plan, and a keto and intermittent fasting plan. They deliver to NSW, VIC, QLD & ACT Metro areas, with meals also available at IGA.
Dietlicious
Dietlicious is all about providing customised and fuss-free Keto/low carb meals. Dietlicious offers a range of plans caters to countless different dietary requirements. Overall, their focus is on high protein and high fat while keeping carbs and calories low to cater to most keto dieters’ needs. The menu boasts an array of meat and seafood options, all designed to provide no more than 10g of carbs per meal and a satisfying portion of protein. The ship to NSW, ACT, VIC & QLD.
FAQs
What Are Carbs?
Carbohydrates â fibre, starches and sugars â are essential food nutrients that your body turns into glucose to give you the energy to function. Complex carbs in fruits, vegetables and whole-grain products are less likely to spike blood sugar than simple carbs (sugars).Â
Carbs are the foundation of life. We need carbs to function, just like we need protein and fats. Itâs how the body fuels itself to continue living each day (science, yo). However, too much of a good thing can sometimes be a bad thing, and thatâs certainly true of carbs.
Not only can carbs quickly ramp up your daily calorie intake, but carbs cause your blood sugar to rise, which causes insulin to rise, which causes glucose to go into fat cells, which turns into fat. Now, this isnât a problem in small doses or when itâs being burned off through exercise, but too much insulin and too much glucose isnât good for anyone.
The Difference Between Low-Carb and Low-Calorie
When shopping for a low-carb meal provider, there is something to take note of and thatâs the fact that low-carb and low-calorie arenât necessarily the same thing.
Calorie counting involves applying the principle of âcalories in, calories out.â To lose weight, you must therefore burn more calories than you eat. To lose weight when counting calories, you would set a daily goal for your calorie intake. For example, you could cut 500 calories out of your diet per day. Over the course of a week, this might lead to 0.5kg of weight loss. However, calorie counting is a science and depends on a lot of factors including your current weight, activity lifestyle and a few other factors.
Carbohydrate counting is an eating method that involves counting the number of carbohydrates you eat each day. Carbohydrates (think bread, pasta, potato â basically every food has carbs â but some have more than others). Some carbs such as refined foods and sugar are empty calories and thatâs what leads to weight gain. By eating low-carb, youâll ideally be eating in a way that promotes weight loss. The standard definition of low carb is less than 20g of carbs per meal, but it will differ from person to person depending on age, weight, goals and so on.
Each weight loss method has its own pros and cons, and itâs possible to mix and match between low-carb and low-cal to help you lose weight. Itâs a science, but it certainly does vary from person to person.
Will Low-Carb Meal Delivery Services Help You Lose Weight?
If you want to lose weight, a low-carb meal delivery service can be an excellent way to help you lose weight and keep it off. Low-carb diets work for a number of reasons, largely because it focuses on increasing your protein and non-starchy veggies to keep you full.
When using a meal delivery service, youâre more likely to stick with your low-carb diet because the meals are there and waiting for you in your fridge. Thereâs no planning, shopping or cooking needed to be done â making it a very sustainable and simple way to eat low-carb and lose weight.
Is a Low-Carb Diet the Same as a Keto Diet?
Technically, keto is one kind of low-carb diet. The biggest difference between keto and low-carb is that a keto diet is much higher in fat and lower in carbs than the average low-carb diet. The Harvard School of Health suggests the macronutrient ratio on a keto diet is:
- 70-80% fat
- 5-10% carbohydrate
- 10-20% protein
Meanwhile, a low-carb diet sees carbs make up about 20% of your meals. Also, low-carb diets differ from person to person, however, most people will be on anywhere from 20-60g of carbohydrates a day.
A low carb diet is less restrictive than a keto diet, with carbohydrates making up approximately 20% of the diet. Also, a low carb diet should not promote ketosis because it will typically have a much higher protein and carbohydrate content than a keto diet. What does this mean? It basically means keto diets and low carb diets have very different metabolic effects.
Whatâs the Best Meal Delivery Service for Keto?
See our Top 5 Keto Meal Providers list updated April 2022.
How Long Do You Need to Eat Low Carb to Lose Weight?
Looking at the plans most meal providers put you on, anywhere from 4-6 weeks and youâll start noticing changes.
Can You Eat Your Own Meals When Using a Meal Provider?
Depending on the meal provider you choose, you can certainly eat your own home-cooked foods and snacks while using a meal delivery service. Typically, you can choose how many meals you want to buy per week, and many people will buy lunches and dinners ready-made but cook their own breakfast for example.
How Long Does it Take to Receive The Meals?
Again, it depends on the provider you choose. Some offer delivery as fast as the next day, while others run on weekly schedules. It can be tricky if you miss the cut-off by a day, and then you have to wait a week to get your first delivery. Itâs important to figure out the delivery schedule and if it suits your needs before you place an order.
Things to Consider Before Starting A Low-Carb Diet
While a low-carb diet is usually safe for most healthy people, itâs not for everyone, and there may be some initial side effects while your body adapts. Typically when you first start a low-carb diet, you might experience the following:
đ© Diarrhoea
đ„” Constipation
đ§ Poor energy and mental function
đ Increased or decreased hunger
đŽ Sleep issues
đ€ą Nausea
đȘ Decreased exercise performance
There are some people who shouldnât eat a low-carb or low-calorie diet full stop, such. As with any new diet, itâs important to talk to your doctor before starting.
If youâre looking for the ultimate low-carb meal delivery service, weâd suggest starting with My Muscle Chef or Thr1ve. Both are popular options with low-carb eaters, while offering competitive pricing and a range of meal options.
If youâre looking for a low carb meal kit provider, weâd suggest checking out Marley Spoon. With meals coming in as low as $8.50 per serve and a regularly updated menu, you canât go wrong.