Cheef does not play in the same league as the other boxes of our comparator: the stated goal is weight loss. Slimming meals cooked and delivered at home, with a dietitian follow-up on top. We followed the programme for several weeks for this Cheef review, scale and calculator in hand.
Our Cheef scores, criterion by criterion
We score every meal kit on the same 5-criteria grid. The final score is the average of these 5 marks, and it is the one used in our ranking.
| Criterion | Score | What we keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Taste and quality | 7.5/10 | Decent fresh dishes, good for slimming food, uneven across recipes |
| Menu variety | 5.5/10 | The programme drives the menus, you choose less than elsewhere |
| Convenience and flexibility | 7.0/10 | Everything calibrated and ready in minutes, but the frame is rigid |
| Delivery and customer service | 6.5/10 | Reliable insulated parcels, reachable dietitians, fair lead times |
| Value for money | 6.5/10 | From EUR 4.90 per dish, fair for supervised slimming, real monthly budget |
| Cheef final score | 6.6/10 | That is 3.3/5, the score shown on this page |
To place this 6.6/10 against other brands, head to our comparator of the best meal kit boxes.
How does Cheef work?
You start with a slimming assessment, then pick a programme: slimming, balance, or health plans for people watching blood sugar or cholesterol. Cheef then composes your meals, cooks them and ships everything in an insulated parcel. You only reheat. The logic is assumed: the less you decide, the less you crack. Portions are calibrated by nutritionists and a dietitian tracks your progress.
Our detailed review after testing
Taste and quality: 7.5/10
A rather good surprise: for slimming meals, the whole holds up. Chicken blanquette, colombo or vegetarian curry are tasty, the vegetables keep some bite and the seasoning exists. Not everything is equal, some dishes stay light in character as in salt, that is the diet game.
Menu variety: 5.5/10
The flip side of the concept. The programme drives your menus, so the feeling of choosing fades fast. The menu rotates, but over several weeks the repetition shows, especially at breakfast. If you want to compose your own weekly menu dish by dish, Cheef will frustrate you by design.
Convenience and flexibility: 7.0/10
Day to day, hard to make simpler: no shopping, no calorie counting, no prep washing-up. Each dish is ready in minutes. We remove points on flexibility: changing plans mid-programme goes through customer service, where other boxes handle it in two clicks.
Delivery and customer service: 6.5/10
Insulated delivery is serious, the cold chain holds and storage dates are clear on each tray. The real plus is human: the dietitians answer, encourage and adjust. The carrier remains a classic one, with the usual area-dependent hiccups.
Value for money: 6.5/10
Count from EUR 4.90 per dish, more on full-day plans. For a supervised slimming programme, the rate is consistent with classic dietitian consultations. Over time the monthly budget does weigh: see our guide on how much a meal kit costs to put these figures in perspective.
The advantages and drawbacks of Cheef
The advantages:
- A real included dietitian follow-up, with a starting assessment.
- Calibrated portions, zero daily thinking.
- Dedicated health programmes (blood sugar, cholesterol).
- Decent fresh dishes, far from the sad diet tray.
The drawbacks:
- A dish choice framed by the programme.
- A significant monthly budget over time.
- Limited flexibility to change plans.
Cheef, who is it for?
Cheef targets people who want to lose weight within a frame, not foodies looking for a pleasure box. If your goal is to cook fresh food as a family, our Quitoque review fits that need better. And for ready meals without the slimming angle, our Seazon review covers exactly that ground.
What customers say
Cheef customer reviews are numerous and largely positive, driven by results: weight lost in the first month, a follow-up that makes the difference, the mental load gone. The reserves match ours: some dishes get repetitive and the renewal price stings. Many use Cheef during a weight loss phase then take back the kitchen.
Our score: 3.3 / 5
Cheef does its job properly: a delivered, supervised food rebalancing, honest dishes and real support. The score reflects a niche product, strong on its slimming goal, less seductive on pleasure and freedom of choice. Within its category, a serious reference.
FAQ: your questions answered
Does Cheef really make you lose weight?
Cheef provides calibrated low-calorie meals and a dietitian follow-up. With good adherence, weight loss happens for most clients, as with any supervised programme.
How much does a Cheef programme cost?
Prices start at EUR 4.90 per dish. The total budget depends on the chosen plan (lunches only or full days) and the programme length.
Are Cheef dishes fresh or frozen?
Dishes are cooked and delivered fresh in an insulated parcel, with a storage date on each tray. They reheat in minutes.
Can you stop Cheef anytime?
Programmes work by periods. You can simply not renew at the end of a cycle, but it is not a free-pause subscription like a classic meal kit.
Is Cheef suitable for diabetics?
Cheef offers dedicated health programmes, including a blood sugar programme validated by a doctor. Personal medical advice remains recommended.