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The January Meal Kit "Heist": Healthy Eating for £1.47?

  • Amy Eley
  • Jan 8
  • 4 min read


Happy January! Whether you’re officially tackling Veganuary or just trying to find your bank balance again after the December madness, this is officially the best month of the year to be a "new customer."


Right now, the UK’s meal kit giants are in an absolute price war. They are desperate for our business, and honestly? We should take them up on it. I’ve been crunching the numbers, and by playing the "intro offer" game, you can get high-quality, plant-based meals delivered to your door for as little as £1.47 per portion. (Scroll down for referral codes)


Why I’m starting here:

Before we dive into our pantry audits and bulk-cooking sessions later this month, I want you to have a few weeks where the hard work is done for you. These kits are a secret weapon for penny-pinching because:


  • Zero Food Waste: You get exactly two sprigs of thyme or 10g of smoked paprika. No more buying massive jars that sit in the cupboard for three years.

  • Portion Control: It’s much harder to overspend when everything is pre-measured.

  • The "Recipe Library": You keep the recipe cards! Once your discounted week is over, you’ll know exactly how to recreate that "Creamy Coconut Dhal" using supermarket-brand ingredients for even less.

The "Heist" Hit List: 2026 Edition

I’m currently testing these out, but you don't need to wait for me. You can grab these deals right now. Note: Most of these are "refer-a-friend" style—so if you use the links below, we both save. It’s a literal win-win!

Meal Kit

The "Heist" Deal

Why it’s worth a try

Gousto

70% OFF first box with my referral code (or 50% off yourself!)

With 75+ recipes weekly, it's the best for variety and picky eaters.

HelloFresh

FREE (just pay delivery) with my code or 50% OFF introductory fee

The most reliable all-rounder with great "Fresh Restart" healthy options.

SimplyCook

FREE BOX with my code (just pay £1.98 delivery)

You get the spice/flavour pots; you just add your own cheap veg.

Grubby

Up to 50% OFF

100% plant-based and includes a cooking playlist for every meal!

Mindful Chef

30% OFF with a referral code (or 25% off intro fee)

Perfect if you want nutritionist-approved, gluten-free, and dairy-free meals.

Green Chef

40% OFF the first box

The go-to if you have specific goals like Keto or Lower-Carb.

Planthood

20% OFF the first box

High-end, chef-prepared kits that take only 15 minutes to finish.

The Pre-Order Battle: Who Won on Price?


I’ve already pre-ordered four kits, and the introductory discounts vary wildly—I assume the bigger brands can afford to be more aggressive with their offers!


Here is how the "Big Four" stacked up for my first four weeks to help you choose some penny-pinching meal kits! I have mostly chosen kits suitable for 3 people so I'm not sure on the maths for larger or smaller kits, but here's my maths:


  • Simply Cook: The cheapest entry point. I got the first week free, paying just £1.98 for delivery. I’ll update you on the total cost once I’ve bought the fresh ingredients. You could be savvy and choose recipes with overlapping ingredients to save money, but let’s be honest—I’m not up for that level of effort right now!


  • HelloFresh: I grabbed a 50% discount, bringing it to £27.25 for 4 meals (3 people). That works out to £2.27 per serving, which is very reasonable!


  • Gousto: I managed to find a cheeky referral code for 65% off, making this the cheapest actual kit. £21.86 for 5 meals (3 people). That is a tiny £1.46 per serving!

  • Mindful Chef: The most expensive of the bunch. It cost £47.36 for 3 meals (4 people). Even with 25% off, it came to £2.96 per serving. Because they only offer 1, 2, or 4 person options, I had to size up even though we only needed 3 servings. Weirdly, some recipes (like the risotto I wanted!) only appear for certain group sizes, which was a bit of a let-down.


How to Play the Game (The Golden Rule)


To make this work for your wallet, you have to be disciplined. The goal is to get the "intro price" and then decide if you want to stay.


My Tip: Set an alarm on your phone for the day your box arrives. Once you’ve checked the ingredients are all there, log in and cancel or pause your subscription. This way, you get the "Heist" price without accidentally paying full price for box number two.


Let’s help each other save!


I’ve put my own "friends and family" referral links below. By using these, you get the maximum possible discount, and I get a small credit toward my next box too.

My Referral Codes:



Remember to cancel the subscription if you're just in it for the introductory offers!


Already finished your first box? Before you pause that subscription, encourage your friends and family to make the most of the codes to give you extra discounts or even free boxes yourself!


Follow along with my coming blogs where I honestly review the meal kits, to decide if any are worth long-term subscriptions!


What’s Coming Next?

In my next post, I’m going to show you the "Cashback Double-Dip." I’ll show you how to actually get paid cash into your bank account for the shopping you’re doing anyway. See you then!

 
 
 

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