Icon Meals review 2022: Pros, cons, pricing, and more Health ConditionsHealth ConditionsAlzheimer's & DementiaAnxietyArthritisAsthma & AllergiesBreast CancerCancerCardiovascular HealthCOVID-19Dermatology & SkincareDiabetesEnvironment & SustainabilityExercise & FitnessEye HealthHeadache & MigraineHealth EquityHIV & AIDSHuman BiologyInflammatory Bowel DiseaseLeukemiaLGBTQIA+Men's HealthMental HealthMultiple Sclerosis (MS)NutritionParkinson's DiseasePsoriasisSexual HealthWomen's HealthDiscoverNewsLatest NewsOriginal SeriesMedical MythsHonest NutritionThrough My EyesNew Normal HealthPodcastsHow to understand chronic painWhat is behind vaccine hesitancy?The amazing story of hepatitis C, from discovery to cureNew directions in dementia researchCan psychedelics rewire a depressed, anxious brain?Why climate change matters for human healthToolsGeneral HealthDrugs A-ZHealth HubsHealth ToolsBMI Calculators and ChartsBlood Pressure Chart: Ranges and GuideBreast Cancer: Self-Examination GuideSleep CalculatorHealth ProductsAffordable Therapy OptionsBlood Pressure MonitorsDiabetic SuppliesFitness TrackersHome GymsGreen Cleaning ProductsHow to Shop for CBDQuizzesRA Myths vs FactsType 2 Diabetes: Managing Blood SugarAnkylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or FictionConnectAbout Medical News TodayWho We AreOur Editorial ProcessContent IntegrityConscious LanguageNewslettersSign UpFollow UsMedical News TodayHealth ConditionsDiscoverToolsConnectSubscribe Icon Meals Review Pros Cons Pricing & MoreMedically reviewed by Imashi Fernando, MS, RDN — By Zawn Villines — Updated on April 6, 2022We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process. Icon Meals offers a customizable meal delivery service with a wide range of meal delivery boxes available. The service caters to people who would like a diet with a higher protein content. Share on PinterestThe meals available through an Icon Meals subscription generally come under the category of a traditional American diet, relying heavily on meat, potatoes, rice, and green beans. This article reviews Icon Meals and provides examples of its meals. It also discusses the benefits and drawbacks of the service and considers the possible health benefits of the meals. Please note that no one at Medical News Today, including the writer, has tried the Icon Meals service. All information is purely research-based. Icon Meals brand overview Icon Meals offers a range of mail-order meals that are high in protein. The online reviews are mostly positive. However, although some customers praise the company for its flavorful meals, others say that the food is bland or that there is not much variety. Icon Meals ships its meal boxes within the contiguous United States and in certain areas in Alaska and Hawaii. The company recommends that customers in Alaska and Hawaii check whether delivery is possible before making an order. Shipping is free with orders of $130 or more. Icon Meals also offers several brick-and-mortar stores from which Texas residents can collect their orders. How does the service work Icon Meals offers a range of meal options. Customers can choose from one of six options: the Bulk Boxthe Bulk Box XXLthe Chef Boxthe Keto Boxthe Lean Boxthe Lean Box XXL Learn about the ketogenic diet. The Lean Box XXL and Bulk Box XXL each include 24 meals, while all the others include 12. People can also choose individual meals from a menu that changes every week. Other options include: customized meals that allow customers to choose a protein and two sidesa la carte items, including bulk protein foods, such as ground meat snacks and breakfasts The price varies depending on which boxes and meals a person buys. Icon Meals says that all its meals arrive freshly cooked, but customers can choose to freeze them for up to 6 months. The company also emphasizes food safety on its website, claiming that the State of Texas Health Department investigates its facilities daily and that a third party tests the nutrition labels to ensure accuracy. Shop Icon Meals online Menus Icon Meals changes its menu each week. Some of the options include: Snacks: These include protein popcorn, beef bars, protein coffee, protein butter, and condiments. A la carte: A person can choose to add various items to their order, including meatballs, chicken, cod, quinoa, sweet potatoes, protein pancakes, butternut squash, and asparagus. Meal boxes: There are six different options, which include meals such as sweet and savory brisket dinner, ground bison and cheesy ravioli, and Spanish chicken bowl. Weekly menu: This changes every week and may include glazed beef and broccoli, bacon and chicken Alfredo pizza, and diablo shrimp. Plans and pricing Icon Meals does not offer a subscription service. Therefore, customers have to place a manual order each time they want to replenish their supply of meals. This approach to ordering may be helpful for people who want to freeze a supply of meals to have on hand and only order more when they run out. Customers can choose from prepackaged meal boxes, individual premade meals, custom meals, snacks, and a la carte items. These prices are correct at the time of publication: Prepackaged meal boxes (12 individual meals): $128 to $189 per box.Prepackaged meal boxes (24 individual meals): $249 to $369 per box.Individual signature premade meals (choices change weekly): $7.70 to $13.65 per meal.Custom meals: The cost varies depending on a person’s choice of protein, sides, and seasoning.A la carte proteins: $11.85 to $26.95.A la carte carbs: $8.00 to $13.00.A la carte veggies: $11.50 to $18.00.Snacks and more (various): $11.99 to $47.96. Icon Meals products are sometimes available at a sale price on the company’s website. The company also offers discounts to active military and first responders. Service pros and cons People may wish to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of the service before trying it. Service benefitsIcon Meals lists the ingredients and nutritional facts for each meal. It also lists the macronutrients — carbohydrate, fat, and protein — for people who track these. Using a meal delivery service may help people practice better portion control and avoid nonnutritious impulse buys.Using a meal delivery service may help reduce food waste if a person enjoys the meals and eats all the food. A person may save money on groceries, particularly if they tend to spend money on impulse buys. A person may visit the grocery store less, thereby reducing the time they spend shopping. Customers can usually select their own delivery dates. The meals arrive ready to eat. All a person has to do is heat them, so no cooking or meal planning is necessary. This makes the service ideal for busy people and those who would prefer not to spend time preparing meals. Service drawbacksIcon Meals is not a subscription service. Customers have to put in a new order whenever they want to replenish their meal supply. It is possible to select a delivery date in the future — up to 2 weeks in advance for signature meals and up to 6 weeks in advance for custom and a la carte meals. As customers will need to eat or freeze the meals within a few days of delivery, they may require substantial freezer space for an order comprising a meal box or multiple meals. Each meal comes in an individual package that includes plastic. This can increase packaging waste. There is no filter to search for vegetarian or vegan meals. Very few meals come with vegetables, which is a drawback for those who want to include lots of vegetables in their diet. Health pros and cons Although the Icon Meals service offers some health benefits, there are some negative factors to consider. Health benefitsAll of the meals are high in protein, making them a good choice for people who wish to add more protein to their diet. These individuals may include older adults and those following a high protein meal plan, such as certain athletes and those looking to build muscle.The custom meal option offers a choice of protein and sides, allowing customers to stay within specific diet requirements. Among the custom protein options is the vegan Beyond Meat patty. The meals generally contain 250–650 milligrams (mg) of sodium, and the recommended daily allowance is 2,300 mg. Therefore, if a person were to eat three Icon Meals meals per day, and no other food, they would likely remain within the appropriate sodium consumption range. Health drawbacksAs Icon Meals focuses primarily on protein, most of the meals contain no or few fruits or vegetables. This could lead to nutritional deficiencies if customers do not supplement the meals with these foods. People should aim to eat at least 2–3 cups of vegetables and 1.5 to 2 cups of fruit per day.Icon Meals cannot guarantee that allergen cross-contamination does not happen. Customer reviews and brand reputation The customer reviews for Icon Meals are generally positive. At the time of publishing, the company has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot, based on 975 reviews. Trustpilot reviewers like the ability to customize meals, as well as the on-time delivery. Many reviewers also praise the convenience and taste of the meals. Negative comments note that the meals were expensive and not tasty. The company has no listing with the Better Business Bureau. Icon Meals vs competitors Icon Meals focuses on high protein meal options. Its competitors in the prepared meals space may offer a wider variety of food options. Some competitors may also have subscription options, which Icon Meals does not. Icon Meals clearly displays the nutritional information for each meal, including custom meals, on its website prior to ordering. This feature may not be available with all competitors. Discover more low carb meal delivery options. How to get started with Icon Meals People looking to order from Icon Meals can visit the company’s website. They can choose from weekly meals, custom meals, icon boxes, snacks, and a la carte options. For most options, customers simply click on the item of their choosing, and the item goes into their shopping cart. For custom meals, they can select from different options using drop-down menus. Customers can select their shipping option. Pickup is also available in certain neighborhoods near to the company’s base in Texas. FAQs Below, we answer some of the questions that people may ask about Icon Meals. Is Icon Meals worth the price Icon Meals range in price depending on the customer’s specific choices. Customers may wish to weigh the value of Icon Meals not only by the amount of food but also by the convenience. Icon Meals delivers fully cooked but frozen meals that customers can reheat in the microwave in just a few minutes. Stovetop and air fryer cooking instructions are also available. How long does the food last in the freezer People can store the meals in the freezer for up to 6 months. They will need to eat or freeze shipped meals within 5 days of their arrival. Meals that a person collects at the company’s stores need consuming or freezing prior to the expiration date, which is usually 4–12 days after the purchase date. How much does Icon Meals cost per month Monthly costs can depend on the choice of meals. A box of 24 prepackaged meals ranges in price from $249 to $369 per box. Breakfast meals have a lower per-meal cost on average than signature meals or custom meals. Are Icon Meals products organic The website for Icon Meals does not identify any of its meals or ingredients as organic. It does offer nondairy and gluten-free meal options, as well as some vegan options in its custom meal selections. Summary The Icon Meals service may be a good choice for people who wish to incorporate more protein into their diet and are looking for a convenient way to do so. However, people should consider supplementing their Icon Meal purchases with a sufficient intake of fruits and vegetables to prevent nutritional deficiencies. People who wish to lose weight and those with special dietary needs should consult a healthcare professional before making any significant changes to their diet. Last medically reviewed on April 6, 2022UncategorizedCat 1foodkits 3 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017). Only 1 in 10 adults get enough fruits or vegetables [Press release].https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2017/p1116-fruit-vegetable-consumption.htmlDietary guidelines for Americans 2020–2025. (2020).https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/Sodium in your diet. (2022).https://www.fda.gov/food/nutrition-education-resources-materials/sodium-your-dietFEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Imashi Fernando, MS, RDN — By Zawn Villines — Updated on April 6, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? Their unusually large neuronsOmega-3 may provide a brain boost for people in midlifeSeasonal affective disorder (SAD): How to beat it this fall and winterCDC: Monkeypox in the US 'unlikely to be eliminated in the near future'Why are more women prone to Alzheimer's? New clues arise Related CoverageHelloFresh review: Meals, benefits, subscriptions, and moreMedically reviewed by Lisa Hodgson, RDN, CDN, CDE HelloFresh is a meal kit delivery service, which comes with premeasured ingredients for people to cook at home. Here, we review HelloFresh and discuss…READ MORE6 cheapest meal delivery services for 2022 Cooking meals requires time and effort. Using a meal delivery service can help minimize the time a person spends in the kitchen. Learn more here.READ MOREAmazon meal kits reviewMedically reviewed by Jillian Kubala, MS, RD Amazon's meal kit delivery service helps people cook from scratch if they cannot find the time. Ingredients are premeasured and no subscription is…READ MOREDiet-to-Go review 2022: Pros, cons, cost, and moreMedically reviewed by Adrienne Seitz, MS, RD, LDN Diet-to-Go is a meal delivery service that aims to help people lose weight. Here is an overview of how it works and some example menus.READ MOREBlue Apron review 2022Medically reviewed by Amy Richter, RD Blue Apron is a meal kit delivery service that sends out recipes and premeasured ingredients to people who want to cook at home. Learn more.READ MORE