Hey Florida friends! Are you looking for delicious and convenient food that is prepared fresh, local, and health-focused? If you are like me and often find yourself in search of affordable, convenient meals that don't sacrifice taste or nutrition, then you may want to check out my review of Eat Fresco Foods - locally made and available in the Jacksonville and Tampa Bay regions!
This week's Product Review: Eat Fresco Foods - "Delicious, Portable, Convenient and Nutritous Food"
Here's my quick Product Review for Eat Fresco Foods:
** Disclaimer: This review is in no way sponsored. I was asked to try a free sample and provide my honest feedback and I received two free meals to try a few weeks ago.
First, let's talk a little bit about Eat Fresco Foods and what they stand for. If you visit their website, it is clear to see that Eat Fresco Foods is all about "fresh, nutritious and flavorful meals, designed to save you time and energy. A fresh approach to lunch and dinner." All of their meals are cooked locally, never frozen, and contain all natural and organic ingredients. They use "state of the art packaging to lock in freshness without the need for preservatives and offer inspired cuisine with a variety of forward, health-focused options, including: high-protein, gluten free, milk free, nut free, vegetarian, and heart smart." Even better, they are conveniently located in several grocery, convenience, and health food stores across Jacksonville and Tampa Bay Areas! This is a huge plus in my book since I can pick up portable meals while also food shopping for the week! Sound too good to be true? I thought so... so I just had to try them out myself!
The verdict? Overall, I was VERY impressed with my Eat Fresco Foods meals! Here's the details:
First, let's talk about the preparation of the meals:
Super easy to microwave, but very difficult to remove the plastic wrap after heating the meal. I almost lost my food from the container when I went to break the seal and remove the vacuum-sealed plastic. I wasn't sure if the company had heard any other feedback like this from anyone else or if there was really anything they could do about it, so I asked the owner! Here is what she said: "Yes, the film can be challenging to remove, you may have to enlist scissors (I do that). A tight seal keeps the meal fresh and air out, which is how we are able to offer fresh and healthy prepared meals with a longer shelf life without adding preservatives :) " That response is good enough for me! Next time I will use scissors!
Next, let's talk about the Carribean Style Jerk Chicken Meal:
Gluten-free, milk-free, and high-protein!
My neighbor, who is quite the little "foodie" herself, tried this meal and this is her feedback... "The portion was great and definitely high in protein, but the seasoning was over-powering. The Jerk seasoning was very intense and took over the whole meal so I didn't really taste the rice or other seasonings much." Now, she is a "plain Jane" and others may like the intense Jerk flavor... but I tried a bite of her chicken and rice and I too agree that is was too over-powering! I recommended that they reduced the amount of seasoning that the chef adds, which will reduce the overall sodium level (huge plus) and enhance the other flavors in the vegetables and rice - this way the consumer can really taste all the flavors! Now if you like spice and Jerk style flavor, then you will love this meal!
Nutrition-wise, this meal is pretty on point! Aside from the higher sodium level (570mg), this meal is very balanced with healthy fat, clean carbohydrates, and very high in protein. Plus, it is very filling and satisfying for only 490 calories!
Lastly, let's talk about the Grilled Chicken Fajita Bowl:
Gluten-free, milk-free, nut-free, and high-protein!
I ate this meal and was very impressed! The portion was very big (satisfying) and I could not finish it all (even though I really wanted to!). The flavor was great and I would definitely purchase this meal while food shopping for a quick and convenient weeknight dinner! The packaging recommends adding "salsa, sour cream, or guacamole to enhance your eating experience" and I do recommend doing so since the calories are a little lower in this meal (only 390 calories). I added a kale salad to my dinner to make it a little more filling and to add more veggies!
Nutrition-wise, this is an excellent "delicious, portable, convenient, and nutritious" meal! I love the high protein, healthy fat, and fiber content and that is has 110% of your daily Vitamin C and less sodium than other options! For me this meal ranked a 10/10!
All-in-all, I would definitely recommend purchasing Eat Fresco Foods next time you are at your local grocery store for a healthier portable meal. I do believe that you will be pleasantly pleased with the flavor, nutrition profile, and convenience of picking up a few quick dinner options while you are food shopping for the week!
I hope you enjoyed my product review of Eat Fresco Foods! Please comment below if you have any questions about Eat Fresco Foods and if you have any other nutrition or fitness products you would like me to review next!