Mindful Chef vs. Gousto Comparison Review and Prices (+3 Sample Meals)

When it comes to convenient meal kits delivered to your door, Mindful Chef and Gousto are two standout names in the UK. Both companies make weeknight cooking simple, providing fresh ingredients and exciting recipes right at your fingertips. But while they share similar goals, these two meal kit services offer different options that appeal to a variety of dietary needs, budgets, and flavor preferences. Deciding between them can feel like choosing between two delicious plates—each has its unique perks!

So, which meal kit really delivers the best experience for you? Should you choose the health-conscious approach of Mindful Chef, with its focus on gluten-free and low-carb meals, or the extensive variety that Gousto brings to the table? From menu selection and portion sizes to pricing and subscription flexibility, this review will break down everything you need to know.

By the end of this article, you’ll have a clear picture of which service aligns with your lifestyle and taste buds. We’ll dive deep into what makes each meal kit unique, so you can make the best choice for your cooking needs and enjoy hassle-free meals at home.

Mindful Chef vs. Gousto Comparison

The following table will depict the different features and advantages which you can find in Mindful Chef and Gousto. We have also mentioned their delivery areas along with the price ranges of the food items you can find in these brands. By checking out the table below, you can choose between Mindful Chef and Gousto.

Feature	Mindful Chef	Gousto
Delivery areas	Mainland UK,Channel Islands	Mainland UK
Price per plate	£4.50 per plate	£3.14 per plate
Difficulty levels	Easy,Intermediate	Easy,Intermediate,Expert
Avg. cooking time	30 minutes or less per meal	30 – 40 minutes per meal
Avg. calorie count	400-650 calories per serving	600-900 calories per serving
Supporting material	Meal description,Nutritional facts,Recipe cards,Recipe library	Meal description,Nutritional facts,Recipe cards,Blog
Recipes supported	Vegan,Poultry,Fish,Beef,Pork,Shellfish,Lamb	Family friendly, Vegetarian, Speedy, Gluten-free, World food, Plant-based, Boost & Balance, Dairy-free
No. of choices	20 per week	>75 per week
Introductory deal	25% off on first 4 boxes	60% off for first box
Avg. shelf life	3-5 days for meat, 1-2 days for seafood	2-3 days in fridge, 6 months in freezer

1. Types of Plans: Mindful Chef vs Gousto

Mindful Chef	Gousto
Healthy Recipe box High quality protein,No refined carbs,Full of fiber	Regular box 2 or 3 or 4 recipes per box,£34.99 per box
Vegan recipe box Low carbon impact,Completely plant-based	Large box 2 or 3 or 4 recipes per box,£50.25 per box
Family-friendly box Kid-friendly,Balanced meals

In Mindful Chef, there are a number of plans that the user can choose from based on their needs and requirements for the week. The best-selling option in Mindful Chef is the Healthy Recipe box which is perfect for balanced and clean eating. There is also a vegan plan in Mindful Chef which is filled with plant-based goodness.

In Gousto, the user can choose from the regular box or the large box depending on how many meals they wish to cook during the week. The regular box from Gousto can be perfect for singles, couples and even small families. The large box from this meal kit delivery service can be great for bigger households.

Winner: Mindful Chef wins the Types of Plans segment.

2. Types of Ingredients: Mindful Chef vs Gousto

Ingredient type	Mindful Chef	Gousto
Produce	Farm-fresh produce	Farm-fresh produce,Overseas suppliers
Meat, eggs, fish	Free range chicken,Grass-fed beef,Sustainable seafood	Hormone-free,Antibiotic-free
Other ingredients	Seasonings, Spices	Seasonings, Spices

The meal kits from Mindful Chef contain only the freshest of ingredients which are not guaranteed to be organic all the time. This can be disappointing for those who prefer eating only as naturally as possible. The meat and the poultry used in the meal kits from Mindful Chef come from sustainable sources and thus are safe to consume on a long-term basis.

In Gousto’s meal kits, the produce and the fruits come from mostly local farms and vendors. However, some ingredients are procured from overseas suppliers. The meat and the poultry used in Gousto’s meal kits come from hormone-free and antibiotic-free sources. The meal kits come with the required seasonings and spices to be used in the cooking process.

Winner: Mindful Chef and Gousto win the Types of Ingredients segment.

3. Add-Ons: Mindful Chef vs Gousto

Mindful Chef	Gousto
Smoothies,Soups,Breakfast items,Desserts,Snacks	Desserts,Drinks,Cookware

The add-on menu from Mindful Chef contains a lot of options for the user to choose from. In this add-on menu, the user can choose from numerous starters and appetizers like soups, snacks and even healthy snacks. Furthermore, the user can also choose from grab-and-go breakfast items and even numerous smoothies.

In Gousto, the add-on menu covers options like healthy drinks and even delicious desserts, which can be perfect for those who have a sweet tooth. Apart from these options, the user can also find useful cookware and even gadgets that are perfect for any home chef who is trying to improve their skill sets.

Winner: Mindful Chef wins the Add-ons segment.

4. Packaging of Meal kit: Mindful Chef vs Gousto

Mindful Chef	Gousto
Denim insulation,Meal boxes,Cool bags,Ice packs	Insulated meal box,Cold packs,Recipe cards
Fully recyclable	Fully recyclable

The meal kits from Mindful Chef are shipped in meal boxes, which are mostly made of recycled cardboard. The meal boxes are lined with insulation made of environmentally friendly material like denim cotton. The ingredients are packed with ice packs containing a non-toxic gel, which can be easily disposed of in the trash.

In Gousto, the meal kits come in boxes that are insulated with eco-friendly material. The ingredients are packed with cold packs containing a non-toxic gel which can be simply emptied in the trash or even mixed with the soil to help plants grow. The meal kits from Gousto also come with recipe cards to help in the cooking process.

Winner: Mindful Chef and Gousto win the Packaging of Meal kit segment.

5. Customer Support: Mindful Chef vs Gousto

Feature	Mindful Chef	Gousto
Chat support	–	+
Email support	+	+
Phone support	+	+
Availability	All days of the week	All days of the week

The customer support of Mindful Chef can be reached through a number of ways, like email support and phone support. However, there is no chat support in Mindful Chef and this can be a disadvantage for those who prefer texting over other types of communication. Mindful Chef is also pretty active on several social media platforms.

In Gousto, users can reach out to the support through the live chat feature and even through emails and phone support. Gousto’s customer support operates on all days of the week, including weekends. Gousto’s support is pretty active and easily responsive when it comes to its customers who are reaching out for help.

Winner: Gousto wins the Customer Support segment.

6. Sample Meals: Mindful Chef vs Gousto

Sample	Mindful Chef	Gousto
Sample 1	Name: Spiced Chicken Salad with Coronation Dressing, Preparation time: 30 min, Spice level: Medium, Difficulty: Easy	Name: Spicy Sausage & Creamy Tomato Sauce with Mushroom Tortelloni, Preparation time: 10 min, Spice level: High, Difficulty: Easy
Sample  2	Name: Tempero Baiano Bavette Steak with Quinoa Salad, Preparation time: 15 mins, Spice level: Medium, Difficulty: Easy	Name: One-Pot Baked Beef Stroganoff Tortiglioni, Preparation time: 30 mins, Spice level: Medium, Difficulty: Intermediate
Sample  3	Name: Slow-cooked Pulled Pork, Spicy Slaw & Carrot Fries, Preparation time: 30 mins, Spice level: Mild, Difficulty: Easy	Name: Sesame, Honey & Lime Basa with Sweet Potato Wedges, Preparation time: 30 mins, Spice level: Medium, Difficulty: Easy

In Mindful Chef, the menu brings plenty of variety and can easily accommodate a number of diets and nutritional requirements. The recipes in Mindful Chef can be prepared in about thirty minutes from start to finish and require only basic cooking skills. The spice levels also vary to cater to different palate preferences.

Gousto also offers a lot of options for the user to choose from. The recipes in Gousto can be mostly prepared in about half an hour and can be cooked by even a mediocre cook. For those who like a challenge in the kitchen, Gousto even offers some recipes that require a little more skill and finesse.

Winner: Gousto wins the Sample Meals segment.

7. App rating: Mindful Chef vs Gousto

Platform	Mindful Chef	Gousto
Google Play Store	Rating not available	4
Apple App Store	4.5	4.8
TWP Rating	3.5/5	4/5

Final Verdict: Gousto wins this battle with its easy to cook recipes and large variety of options.

Mindful Chef aims to make healthy cooking and eating an easy process for everyone in the UK. The beauty of this meal kit delivery service is that it combines both local cuisines along with international cuisines to be able to satisfy any type of palate and dietary preference. The meal kits from Mindful Chef can be cooked by everyone, of all cooking calibers.

In Gousto, the meal kits come with all sorts of proteins, including plant-based proteins which are perfect for those who are following a vegetarian lifestyle. The meal kits and recipes from Gousto require very little time and effort in the kitchen and the dishes are family-friendly enough to suit everyone’s palate at the dinner table.

When we compare Mindful Chef and Gousto, the latter option takes the crown. Gousto is not only easy to cook with, but the whole platform is also very easy to use. This meal kit delivery service also has a great customer satisfaction level from users who have left thousands of raving reviews about its simple and yet great-tasting recipes.

Methodology

We conducted primary research on social media platforms, reviewed the information provided by each service on their respective websites, interviewed testers and actual users, and analyzed user reviews of these platforms on a variety of social media sites to bring you the best reviews of each meal delivery service. Reviews made by current users of these services on the respective Google and Apple applications were also used.

As we do our internal investigation, we will update this webpage with videos and images from our findings. If they differ significantly from the opinions of our external evaluators, we will update this page to present you with both viewpoints, allowing you to use the information provided above to choose which service provider best suits your requirements.

Our primary ranking criteria for these meal delivery services include the simplicity of use of the recipes, the variety of meals provided, the inclusivity of diets and cuisines, and even the accompanying paperwork.

In addition, we have carefully addressed the sustainability and recyclability of the packaging used to supply these services. Finally, we considered these platforms’ customer and shipping services.

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