Packaged smaller food portions do not mean lower quality.

From a microwave meal disaster to a nutritionally portion-controlled menu offering, this pre-packaged food giant is taking strides to deliver a better experience for its customers. This isn’t a paid placement; however, Youfoodz did send us five mini meals to taste test to get our opinions on the new range from the meal prep giant. Get ready for our thoughts on the items they sent us and why they might be a good option for older folks like us who are time-poor and lack the fridge space to store months’ worth of food prep.

The big thing is that as you get older, things change. The amount and types of food you consume, as well as your tastes, are all very subjective.

I tried YouFoodz when they first came out, and to be honest, they were bloomin’ awful. It was microwave meals that defied taste and the price point. McCain had a better mouth feel on the palette, and that’s using their meat and three veg option as a “choice”. Once upon a time, one would say – they were costly carb-driven cardboard, and that is being nice.

However, time has passed, and many competitors have come and gone. Meal services have become an integral part of daily planning for solos, families, and everyone in between, with the evolution of these food services progressing substantially. 

As you get older, you come to understand the importance of nutrition – whether it’s self-taught or imposed due to a medical scenario, which is the case for me. Falling into a diabetic coma, and subsequent organ failures – not realising I had been diabetic for decades, caused untold damage to my body and my mental health. The slow road to recovery introduced me to dieticians, personal trainers (thank you NDSS) and a newfound relationship with food. No longer did I need to eat until I was bursting, I just needed the nutrients and the flavour to get me through the day and regulate my activities, my sugars and my taste buds.

I did this during the past week using the Youfoodz five-evening-meals sample pack they sent over, and I was pleasantly surprised. I know, cynic to the front. But yes, it was a definite and welcome improvement.

At first, I thought I would starve, but no, it’s been a treat. Yes, the meals are slightly on the carb-heavy side, as that’s what transports and packs well, but if you have a condition like I do, you can measure these elements and adjust accordingly.

The pack sizes are small, but I get it now that they are on purpose! As an older gentleman, I spend more time in the gym walking and doing cardio than I did when I was twenty. Why would I want to eat more now that I am less mobile, my joints hurt, and I genuinely want to stay home and read a book or watch some YouTube? 

So, when this invitation came through on email to trial the Youfoodz smaller “senior” (thanks) meals – I jumped at the chance.

I thought, “Oh, this is just a marketing trick to pay the same for less food.” However, it’s not that simple, they market them as portion sizes for us older folks or even kids, so there’s that, but costings are proportionate, not a one size fits all. Enquiries were made about the price difference; however, Youfoodz doesn’t offer pre-set small and large meal sizes; instead, the price difference is based on the meal’s calorie count and ingredients, with smaller, lower-calorie options being more affordable, while larger or premium ingredients cost more. This can also vary depending on location, making it challenging for us to provide a genuine review based on price point. It’s all up to what you want to consume based on your tastes and portion size.

Returning to the items we received for a taste test, the favourite meals were the Mushroom and Cheese Tortellini. It held up well to a 2-minute microwave and was very tasty. Usually, pasta made in a microwave tastes like wood, but not this. As someone with diabetes, the carbs didn’t cause my sugars to spike as I expected, so the portion size was just right for my needs. That said, pasta is often a gorge-yourself type of meal, but this portion was small yet somewhat satisfying. It’s moments like these that make you realise you don’t have to eat the entire pot! Or sacrifice the wheat and flour to get some pasta moments. It was a winner.

The other favourite in the range they sent over was the Chicken Burrito bowl – now black beans are not a favourite of mine. In fact, I would remove them from everything I was offered as they were a turn off, but in fairness to the experiment, I gave them a go and was surprised to be proven wrong. Was it the way they cooked the beans – or the generous amount of sour cream on the dish? Either way, I don’t care; it was fantastic. The balance of flavours and proteins versus the amount to eat was spot on. Including a nice portion of sour cream was just delicious.

The three others were typical microwave meals, including lasagne, which, to be honest, the ALDI one is much better, regardless of carb count, and the crumbed chicken bites with mash, peas and gravy were nothing to write home about – in fact, it was the only one that harkened back to the days of TV Dinners and no taste. So maybe avoid that one if the budget is tight, it’s not bad at all, but it’s not an ALDI lasagne.

Given that opinion, these meals are a good option for those who are calorie-counting and keeping track of their meal intake, making it a good choice. Just remember, some options on the Youfoodz menu can be swapped out for other cheaper items. If you are looking for convenience in handling your meal all at once, this could be a great option. However, you can save money by taking a bit of time to ensure you get the best value for your money.

The concept is strong – the offerings are delicious, and the size, although small, is spot on for those of us needing some help either medically or from a dietary perspective, so we do recommend the range, with specific cautions about the individual meal offerings. You actually won’t go hungry – the portions are deceiving, filling. It reinforces the need to eat smart, not just by portion size, but by savouring and celebrating different options whenever possible!

The week-long experience of having dinner via a meal delivery service, or these new items available in some supermarkets, makes for an interesting trial. Having the delivery service added a .5 to the score for the convenience factor.

Of course, all dietary advice or opinions are subject to your personal requirements. We celebrate that Youfoodz has come a long way since our initial trial – so it’s worth giving them another shot if you find it convenient.

Check out their website here.

3.5/5