Field Doctor meal boxes in a nutshell
Pros: great variety of dishes with something for everyone’s taste, eco-conscious packaging, convenient (especially for those following gluten-free or vegan diets)
Cons: some meals lacked flavour, not convenient for those without freezer space, some meals were microwave only, some may consider the portions small for two people
Overall rating: 4.5/5
What is Field Doctor?
Field Doctor is a meal delivery service that provides great-tasting, planet-friendly and healthy food. All of their recipes are underpinned by peer-reviewed nutrition research, designed by an in-house dietitian and cooked by chefs that use locally sourced, seasonal produce that’s small batch cooked and flash frozen to ensure freshness. Their goal is to support sustainable farming, biodiversity and restoration of UK soil. Their products are also very eco-friendly, with almost all of the packaging recyclable.
Field Doctor meal choices
There were plenty of options on the Field Doctor’s site, with recipes ranging from pad thai, paella, pie, curries, lasagne and more. The dietary sections also have a variety of meals within each one and a few meals fall into different categories, meaning there’s plenty of options to choose from.
Are there special diet options?
Their meals are split into categories depending on the diet you follow, with options for veggie, vegan, pescatarian, lowest calorie, high protein and plant diversity. Each one is also labelled to indicate if it’s gluten-free, low-FODMAP or IBS-friendly. This makes it incredibly easy to decide which meals suit your diet. The meal options are mostly gluten-free, which is a fantastic for those who don’t eat wheat or gluten and struggle to find convenient meal options.
Can you customise recipes?
Recipes aren’t customisable.
How many recipes do you get in one delivery?
You can buy as little or as many individual boxes as you like, however there is also an option to select bundles of six meals that are sorted into categories. The minimum order is £35.
What are your first impressions of the box?
The level of recyclable packaging was very impressive and the meals were all packed well. The packaging itself was bright, eye-catching and clearly labelled to show which dietary category it fit into. The box was slightly damaged on arrival due to an ice pack bursting. Aside from slightly soggy packaging, all meals were still frozen and went straight in the freezer.
What’s in the box?
Inside the box the packaging was kept to a minimum which was great. There was also a list of the meals we purchased.
What is the quality of the ingredients like?
The ingredients were all great quality and definitely tasted fresh. The meat in the dishes was tender and the vegetables were all fresh and still had a nice crunch to them.
Are refrigerated ingredients kept sufficiently chilled in the packaging?
All meals were still frozen on arrival thanks to the ice packs.
What are the delivery options?
You are able to select the exact delivery day when you put in your postcode. Our delivery slot was two days away which was quite quick. A very specific time-slot of 8am-9am was given the day before, which was convenient as you’re not expected to wait in all day. If you’re not in, there’s a drop-down option to choose from to tell the driver what to do with your box. This included the safe place option.
Can you customise delivery options?
There is an option to select ‘other’ and enter your message for the delivery driver.
Are the boxes available nationwide?
Yes, they’re available nationwide
How much packaging is there?
The packaging within the box is essentials only,
Is the packaging recyclable?
The majority of packaging was recyclable. The insulation was compostable with sheep wool inside, whilst the plastic they were contained in was recyclable. The cardboard box that the order arrived in, the meal sleeve and meal tray were all household recyclable. The ice packs were plastic but reusable if you’d like to keep them in the freezer, or recycle code 4. The only thing that was not recyclable was the meal stickers.
Does it offer good value for money?
The price point is higher than usual ready meals, however the fast, eco-friendly delivery, variety of choice, great flavour and clear, precise dietary options make these meals good value for money.
How easy are the meals to assemble?
Very easy. Most meals are both oven- and microwave-friendly, however some can only be made in the microwave. With most, you’re able to just put in the oven and serve when ready.
Are the instructions clear?
The instructions are clear to follow.
Is there any food waste?
There wasn’t any food waste as they come in one or two person portions.
Is there any excess packaging around the food?
The packaging for the food is kept to a minimum – a simple tray, plastic film for freshness and sleeve to give details about the meal.
What are the finished recipes like?
The finished recipes tasted great on the whole. There was plenty of vegetables in most of them and there was no ‘heavy’ feeling afterwards, as they’re all nutritionally balanced. A few meals tasted slightly bland, so some additions from the kitchen were made, however it was nothing that would put off another order. The portions were on the smaller side. However, the convenience, variety of meals and dietary options allowed for something completely different every evening.
How many people does it serve?
You can choose one person or two people portions.
What utensils did you need to use to make the recipes?
No utensils were needed.
Who would the product be most useful for?
Those who have certain dietary requirements and struggle to find ready meals that cater for these. Also, those who are looking to add a variety of healthy recipes and flavours to their diet.
What’s your favourite thing about this product?
Overall, the best thing was the ability to not worry about dinner! The convenience of having nutritious meals in the freezer took the last-minute planning away from the week. The fact that the majority of the meals were gluten-free was also a big bonus.
What are the subscription terms? Can you easily cancel it?
You can choose from a one-off order, or get a subscription which you can pause or cancel at any time.
Star ratings
- Ease of cooking 5/5
- Quality of the finished recipes 4/5
- Delivery options 5/5
- Packaging 5/5
- Quality of ingredients 5/5
- Value for money 4/5
This review was published August 17 2021. If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.
