I have a lot of dietary requirements that most ready meals simply don’t cater to. I am vegan and I also eat low-FODMAP (where possible) because of my IBS. Gluten is one of my triggers, so I also benefit from eating gluten-free.
An even bigger issue is the UPF ingredients that are used in most ready meals, including emulsifiers, gums, and flavourings. Many of which set off my IBS. So, I bet you won’t be able to find a single ready meal in the supermarket that can cater for all my dietary requirements and contain zero UPFs.
There are many awesome online ready meal brands I have tried that tick a few of my boxes. But the only brand to cater for absolutely everything is Field Doctor. They have a great variety of meals spanning multiple diets: vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, and flexitarian. Within these, you’ll find meals that are low FODMAP, low carb, high protein, and more.
I tested a total of 5 meals for this Field Doctor review and tried each meal at least 3 times, to ensure I could write about my honest experience with the flavour, ingredients, portion sizing, and cooking of these meals.
Pros
- Flavourful food
- Good portion sizing
- Vegan and gluten-free options
- Specialist diets covered
- Large range of cuisines
Cons
- The same ingredients used in dishes
- Some food goes mushy
My experience
I have tried the majority of Field Doctor’s vegan meals. Here is a breakdown of what I thought about them, including the ingredients, flavour, texture, portion sizes and diets.
The ingredients
A lot of the Field Doctor dishes contain very similar ingredients. For example, you will find a lot of aubergine in their meals. The problem is, neither my gut nor my mouth particularly enjoys aubergine. For a dietician-focused ready meal company, you would expect some more variety in vegetables, to ensure there is enough choice for everyone, no matter their intolerances!
Despite this, you will find plenty of vegetables and proteins in your meals, meaning extra plant points (for a healthy gut!)
The flavours
Overall, I found their food to be quite flavourful. This came as a surprise when I found out they use less salt, fat and sugar than most other ready meals. They just let the natural and nutritious ingredients to do all the talking!
For example, I found their Plant Lasange to be rich and hearty. I enjoyed the flavour so much that I would go as far as to say that it is one of the best pre-made lasagnas I’ve ever had. I also thoroughly enjoyed the smoky taste of their bean chilli.
Size | Cost |
---|---|
1-person meal | From £6.99 |
2-person meal | From £11.39 |
The textures
I wasn’t always that impressed by the textures of the ready meals. Quite a few of the meals that I reheated went a little bit mushy, particularly the ones that used gluten-free pasta. For example, the pasta in my Smoked Mushroom Carbonara broke down into tiny mushy chunks.
That being said, texture seems to be a universal issue shared by most ready meal companies. And having read other Field Doctor reviews from verified customers, not everyone shares my issue with the texture. This can be a very subjective area!
The meals that did maintain a better texture included ones with rice, beans and chunks of vegetables. Like their 3 Bean + Smoked Tofu Chilli and their Keralan Vegetable + Coconut Curry.
The portion sizing
All of the meals I tried from Field Doctor were really well portioned. I didn’t finish any meal still feeling hungry nor did I suffer from an energy slump after eating. The portion sizing is spot on!
I found I had sustained energy after eating and never felt groggy. However, the latter is probably also down to the fact that these meals have been designed with nutrition in mind. Therefore, I was able to eat vegan meals that were also gluten-free, giving my gut an easier time digesting the food!
The diets
I love the fact that there are many specialist diets covered in Field Doctor’s ready meal selection. This meant that I was able to order fully vegan meals that were also gluten-free and low FODMAP friendly. This is a really quite specific criterion that no other ready meal company has been able to offer. Plus, Field Doctor had quite a few options for me within this criteria!
They also have a great range of weekly meal plans that cover either 5 or 7 days, providing you with both lunch and dinner. However, I think it is a shame that there are no exclusive vegan meal plans. That being said, if you are happy to choose some of their other weekly meal plans, like their gluten-free plan, then you can select all the meals to be vegan. Or you can create your own meal plan from scratch and pick only vegan meals.
My verdict
Overall, I have to say that Field Doctor meals are really good and worth buying, particularly if you have any specific dietary requirements. That is because Field Doctor is the only ready meal company I have seen to take diets and nutrition this seriously, particularly low-FODMAP and gluten-free diets.
I also found the food to be flavoursome and well-portioned. Although, some of the food did go mushy once it was fully reheated. Despite this, I always finished my meals feeling satisfied and pleasantly full. The mushy texture normally only affected ingredients like the gluten-free pasta, and didn’t ruin any of the whole grains, legumes and vegetables.
I like to keep a few of their meals in my freezer to help keep my gut health in check. I pick the vegan low-FODMAP meals and they don’t trigger any of my IBS symptoms. Making them perfect for eating during any of my IBS flare-ups!
Where can you buy Field Doctor?
At this current moment, Field Doctor meals can only be bought from their website – fielddoctor.co.uk
On their website, you can set up a subscription or make a one-off purchase. You can select from 1 or 2-person meals and buy from a wide range of diets and cuisines. Alternatively, you can sign up for one of their weekly meal plans.
Field Doctor discount
As an exclusive for this Field Doctor review, you can get 25% off your first box when using this code at checkout: EDIBLEETHICS
Size | Cost |
---|---|
1-person meal | From £6.99 |
2-person meal | From £11.39 |
FAQs
What is Field Doctor?
Field Doctor is a food brand that offers expertly crafted, nutritionally balanced ready meals. These meals are thoughtfully designed by dieticians and prepared by skilled chefs. Operating from their kitchen in Somerset, they cook each meal in small batches. Their delivery service is available nationwide from Tuesday to Saturday, ensuring convenient access to their wholesome creations.
All their meals are made using natural ingredients and contain at least 2 of your 5 a day. They make sure to create a wide range of meals to suit different tastes and diets. For example, they cater for vegan diets, IBS, coeliac, low FODMAP, gluten-free diets, and more.
Is Field Doctor organic?
Field Doctor incorporates organic ingredients into their culinary creations, although their overall product line does not exclusively adhere to an organic standard. Their commitment to quality extends to championing British ingredients whenever feasible, reflecting a dedication to supporting local producers and maintaining traceable sourcing practices.
While not entirely organic, Field Doctor’s emphasis on using organic ingredients when suitable shows their commitment to both taste and responsible sourcing.
Are Field Doctor meals frozen?
All Field Doctor meals are delivered frozen within insulated packaging and dry ice packets. This is because they are cooked fresh in their kitchen before being flash-frozen, to pack in all the flavours and nutrients.
Ready meals you will find in the supermarket fridge section are normally packed full of preservatives to ensure they have a long shelf life. By flash-freezing their meals, Field Doctor can keep theirs entirely additive-free.
You can decant the frozen meals straight into your freezer and store them for a few months. Alternatively, you can put them straight into your fridge where they will begin defrosting. Make sure to eat any defrosted meals within 48 hours.
Alternatives to Field Doctor
Despite many positive Field Doctor reviews online, I understand their meals wont be suitable for everyone. Here are some alternatives that you may also be interested in finding out about:
- For fresh ready meals: Try out Frive | Read my Frive review
- For a larger variety of vegan meals: Try out Planty | Read my Planty review
- For desserts and side dishes: Try out Allplants | Read my Allplants review
Do you also enjoy cooking? Then you may also be interested to discover these plant-based recipe boxes.
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