Yes, I’m a dietitian, but a big part of my day job as an editor is testing meal kits and meal delivery services. I’ve cooked my way through many of them, and if I haven’t tried one first-hand, chances are I’ve had someone test it for me. So, when the ads for Tempo meals—that feature celebs like Julianne Hough, Shawn Johnson, Molly Sims and Chelsea Handler—started popping up on my social media feed, my curiosity piqued. What is this prepared meal delivery service that celebs are raving about online? I had to try it.
Tempo Meals
Home Chef
Starting Price: $5.49 per serving | Delivery Area: 98% of the United States | Shipping: $10.99 | Products Arrive: Fresh
Owned by the meal kit company, Home Chef, the meals from Tempo arrive fresh and fully cooked. All you have to do is heat and eat. The recipes are chef-crafted and then dietitian-approved so each meal is designed to be healthier, whether high in protein and fiber or calorie-conscious. Each week, you choose from over 20 meals designed for lunch or dinner and can also add on items from a smaller menu of breakfasts, snacks and desserts.
Lucky for me, the folks at Tempo were willing to send me a box when I inquired. I ate my way through five of their meals, took a few at-home photos and wrote up a full, honest review. The meals I tried were Spicy Carnitas Pork Rice Bowl, Sweet Chili Meatballs, Bistro Salmon in Dijon Cream Sauce, Chimichurri Grilled Chicken and Coconut Curry Chicken and Squash.
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Of the five meals I tested, my favorite was the Spicy Carnitas Pork Rice Bowl. The cilantro-lime brown rice and pulled pork combination was filling. The guacamole was ample, and although the salsa was more like pureed tomato than true salsa, it was delicious. I loved the nutrition profile of the meal: I got in a nice 30 grams of protein (60% of the daily value (DV) and a little over 40% of my personal daily target) and 6 grams of fiber (21% DV). I ate this meal for lunch and found it carried me through the afternoon.
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Another meal that impressed me was the Chimichurri Grilled Chicken. First, I prefer a chicken thigh, and second, I assumed (based on how the chicken looked when I opened the meal) the breast in this meal would come out a little dry and overcooked. I was very wrong. The grilled chicken breast was moist and tender, and there was plenty of chimichurri to add to the dish. This meal also delivered ample protein (31 grams).
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Read on for more on what I liked about Tempo Meals, and a couple of cons I encountered.
Features I Love
- The 2-minute cook time is a major plus, and I also appreciate that the cooking instructions are the same for all of the meals: microwave and let the dish sit for 1 minute. Some of the other prepared meal delivery services I’ve tested have different cooking instructions for different meals (e.g., varying cook times or the need to stop and stir in the middle of cooking). The simplicity of preparing Tempo’s meals is a great feature and minimizes the potential for cooking errors.
- While I only used the microwave option, I appreciated that each cardboard sleeve that enveloped the meals also came with oven cooking instructions. Any seasoned cook will tell you that you’re more likely to reap a better outcome if you have time to employ the oven rather than the microwave.
- The health and nutrition features of each dish are clearly listed on the Tempo website, which makes choosing a meal that fits within your goals quick and easy. You can filter each week’s dishes by category: protein-packed, GLP-1 balanced, fiber-rich, calorie-conscious. And also easily scan for nutrition targets like 30 or more grams of protein, 20% DV fiber, under 500 calories, a pescatarian diet, etc.
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Some Cons to Consider
- The vegetable sides weren’t consistent. In one meal, the combination of vegetables was bland; in another, there was squash, corn and edamame, but everything tasted like corn.
- The fish was not for me. Here’s my disclaimer: I only tried one meal with seafood—it was salmon, and I microwaved it. In hindsight, I should have prepared this one in the oven. However, I have eaten seafood when testing other prepared meal delivery services and sometimes I like it, sometimes I don’t. Unfortunately, this one fell into the skip category for me because the salmon tasted a little too fishy when reheated.
How long do Tempo meals last in the refrigerator?
According to the Tempo website, meals should be stored in the refrigerator immediately after unpacking and consumed by the use-by date indicated on each package. My meals had a range of use-by dates that spanned the upcoming week, so I was able to plan out which ones should be eaten first and which meals could be eaten in a few days.
The site doesn’t explicitly say not to freeze meals, but it does emphasize that they are intended to be refrigerated. This recommendation didn’t surprise me because, as the Tempo website rightfully pointed out, the quality and cook time could change significantly if the meals are frozen. While there are some prepared meal delivery services that can be frozen, I have found that enjoying them fresh is the better experience.
How much are Tempo Meals?
Tempo meal pricing starts at $5.49 per meal and goes up from there. (Remember, each meal serves one.) The more meals you purchase, the lower the price per serving. If you are buying the small quantity available, which is six meals, the price per serving is $13. Compared to other prepared meals that are drop-shipped to your door, Tempo’s pricing is on the more affordable side and potentially the most affordable if you’re purchasing a large quantity of meals.
Shipping is a flat rate of $10.99, which is not surprising as most meal delivery services don’t offer free shipping. Tempo is an ongoing subscription service, but you can set your delivery to weekly, bi-weekly or monthly. You can also skip deliveries as needed.
Our Trusted Expertise
Brierley Horton, M.S., RD, is a senior editor at EatingWell. She’s an enthusiastic home cook and product tester. Tempo meals are just one of the many meal delivery services she’s tested over the years.
