I don’t know about you, but I’m always on the hunt for ways to elevate my meal prep game. Don’t get me wrong, I love takeout like the next girl, but I’ve been trying to be a tad healthier. With the little time I have, I find it’s hard to make it to the grocery store, and when I do, having to meal prep feels like such a daunting task. So, I set out to find a solution for all these woes. I kept seeing Tom Colicchio’s ad for Thistle on TikTok (big Top Chef girlie over here), and heard about Sakara Life from a friend, so finally decided to take the plunge.
I tried them both so you don’t have to - here’s what I found:
If you want the ability to customize…Thistle
I’ve got to hand it to both Thistle and Sakara Life here, as they offer weekly menus on a rotating basis, as well as seasonal menus. Thistle is dairy-free, egg-free, and gluten-free, whereas all of Sakara Life's meals are gluten-free and plant-based with no dairy or animal products. Most importantly though, Sakara Life cannot accommodate any allergies.
Thistle, on the other hand, offers a comprehensive list of allergies and preferences that they can accommodate. Not to mention that you can select the number of meals you want per week, protein preferences, as well as swap, add, or remove meals at your leisure. If you value any semblance of customization, Thistle really has the upper hand here.
If you want the best taste…Thistle
Food is a huge part of my life. Even before I finish one meal, I am always thinking of what I am going to eat for the next. So it should come as no surprise that taste is a major category for me. I was shocked by not only how delicious Thistle’s meals were, but also how filling they were given they were all plant-based. My highlights were the Thistle Ragu Pasta Bowl with Tofu Bolognese (just 3 minutes on the skillet and voila!) and the Crunchy Citrus & Cabbage Salad with Sesame Edamame.
A pleasant surprise were the juices and wellness shots that I added to my delivery as well. Watermelon Berry cold press organic juice? Yes please! The Sakara Life food was fine, but nothing to write home about. Thistle is the clear winner for this category.
If you’re looking for the best price…Thistle
Honestly, there’s really no comparison when it comes to price. For Sakara Life, if you choose the 3 day plan with breakfast, lunch, and dinner, it’s a total of $239 per week. This comes down to $26 per meal. Thistle has plans starting at $45 per week, with the option to add on a la carte as low as $11.50 per meal, depending on your quantity. If I'm being frank, for the cost of Sakara Life, I’d rather just order takeout.
If you’re looking for the best nutritional value…it’s a tie
It’s no secret that both Sakara Life and Thistle provide top of the line nutritional value - that’s why I was so excited to try both of them! Thistle is designed by nutritionists and crafted by chefs harnessing 40+ superfoods and an average of 5.8 unique fruits and veggies per meal. Similarly, Sakara Life's meals and products are backed by cutting-edge nutrition science and traditional healing wisdom to give your body what it needs to thrive. When it comes to #health, this one’s a toss up.
If you want to be able to add meat…Thistle
I know I already mentioned that Sakara Life is completely plant-based, AKA vegan. However, I think it’s important to call out that while Thistle’s baseline is also dairy-free, egg-free, and vegan, they allow you the option to add sustainable meats like poultry or pork should you please. Look, I’m all here for tofu, but sometimes a girl’s gotta eat some meat. Thistle’s got my vote here.
My Overall Winner… Thistle
Thistle really caught me by surprise. Not only was the convenience (everything is delivered right to your door!) and nutrition-oriented nature of the meals a treat, but the taste really blew me away. All of this, coupled with the reasonable price tag makes Thistle a no brainer in my book. The only question it leaves me having is: how did it take me so long to discover it?
