Food delivery boxes are now huge business. People are getting everything from ingredients to whole meals delivered. The latter is what the Mindful Chef does, but with a twist. They do healthy recipe boxes which take out the hassle of cooking. They deliver all of the ingredients and from prep to plate it all takes 20-30 minutes. The ingredients are all lean and sustainably sourced. Mindful Chef was founded in 2015 by Myles and Giles, two young men from Devonshire.

Myles and Giles were inspired to launch Mindful Chef due to busy schedules and finding it hard to eat healthily because of their hectic lifestyles. Although recipe box delivery companies existed at the time of their need, none were truly healthy.

What makes Mindful Chef different is their ability to create well-balanced, imaginative recipes whilst still being 100% gluten-free. Their healthy recipe boxes include no refined carbs and therefore avoid high-carb fillers such as pasta or bread. Instead they guarantee genuinely exceptional quality, gluten-free, dairy-free and locally sourced fresh, organic produce. Working with local, sustainable farmers in the West Country, the award-winning organic meat and fish included in the recipes are also stocked in Fortnum & Mason and Harrods.

All the recipes and ingredients are scrutinised by personal trainer and nutritional coach Myles. He works closely with some of the very best nutritionists and chefs in the UK, who take their inspiration from around the world to create imaginative, varied and delicious recipes. The instructions are easy to follow and the meals are easy to make; helping make chefs out of even the most inexperienced of cooks. The pair believe that the key to a healthier life is reducing your intake of gluten and that refined sugars and refined carbohydrates should be avoided.

Mindful Chef offers eight weekly changing recipes to choose from, with four containing fresh, locally sourced meat and fish, organic vegetables and delicious herbs and spices. Mindful Chef also caters for those who eat a meat-free diet, with four plant-based recipes available each week. The boxes are delivered to homes or offices in the UK free of charge.

Chicken & quinoa paella with artichokes.

Za’atar Lamb, quinoa & roasted rainbow carrots. 

The food arrives in a box with the meat in a large envelope which has ice packs in it. On top are two smaller bags with the ingredients of each meal in. They are clearly labelled. Also in the box are the recipe cards.

The entire thing is very easy. You take the ingredients out of the brown paper bag and then you follow the recipe. The recipes are written out in an easy to follow way. The recipe did take me longer than it said on the card, but only because I am inept at cooking. It took me ages to chop. I also think I did not drain the quinoa properly so the paella was liquidly when it should not be. My husband made the lamb dish the next day and it was a huge hit on Instagram.

On the other side of the recipe cards are the amount of time it takes to make the meal, how many calories it is, information on where the meat comes from, and confirmation that it is gluten-free. The entire thing is convenient, healthy and easy. It is pricey at between £6-9 per portion, but it is less than a takeaway and a lot less than a meal out. It is also a whole lot healthier. Would I sign up to Mindful Chef? I would indeed. It is healthy eating made easy as they team up with nutritionists. Another great thing about them is that there is no food waste. Good stuff indeed.

RECIPE BOXES

Recipe box companies are still relatively new to the UK. The concept was born in Sweden to provide healthy meals for busy people and this has translated well on our hard-working shores.

Naturally popular in busy towns and cities such as London and Manchester, recipe box deliveries take away the hassle of shopping and cooking, promising all the ingredients needed to a make a quick meal at the end of a long day with no waste.

PRICE

From £6 per meal

EXAMPLE RECIPES

Meat and Fish Recipes:

•   Beef & mustard burger with balsamic onions & carrot fries
•   Red Thai chicken curry with courgetti & cashew nuts
•   Peanut satay pork with wild rice, leek & red pepper
•   Pan-fried plaice with asparagus , dill quinoa & crispy capersPlant- based Recipes:

•   Vietnamese pho with courgetti noodles, tofu & cashews
•   Mexican veggie chilli with sweet potato nachos & guacamole
•   Roasted cauliflower & chickpea tikka masala with black rice
•   Veggie lasagna with aubergine, cannellini bean ragu & pesto

Mindful Chef is more than a recipe box company, it is a lifestyle brand offering customers a healthy, mindful way of life.

For more information see: www.mindfulchef.com

Instagram & Twitter: @MindfulChefUK
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MindfulChefUK/