This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out our review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)

About Sakara Life

1 of 1 | Inside my Sakara Life delivery

Sakara Life is a meal delivery service with well-developed ethos and several meal programs for those with different goals. Let's start by looking at the plans and pricing, and then we'll dive into what this service is all about.

Pros 

• Sakara Life's ready-to-eat, healthy meals are delivered directly to your front door.
• Everything is organic, plant-based, gluten-free, dairy-free, non-GMO, free from refined sugars, and packed full of superfoods.
• The food is GORGEOUS. (We do eat with our eyes first, after all.)
• Programs are customizable. You can place a one-time order or sign up for a recurring subscription and choose how many meals you receive in each box.
• Multiple programs are available: Level I Signature Organic Meal Delivery, Level II Detox Program, and the 20-Day Bridal Program.
• Sakara has an in-depth nutrition philosophy developed by a team of in-house nutritionists, and the meals are designed to produce real results like improved digestion, weight loss, reduced bloat, increased focus, and clearer skin.
• Meal programs are sent with lots of bonus extras, including things like vitamins, supplements, energy bars, and tea.
• There's a rewards program. You can collect points by ordering and reviewing meals and then exchange them for free items.
• You can purchase supplements, vitamins, beauty chocolates, protein bars, metabolism powder, and tea in the online store.
• The company is woman-owned (Whitney Tingle and Danielle Duboise are the co-founders and co-CEOs) and New York-based.
• Sakara delivers to the contiguous U.S.

Cons

• This service might not work for picky eaters. The menu changes regularly, but no customization is offered.
• Salads and veggie-centric bowls feature regularly. If you're the kind of person who prefers hot meals, this might not be the subscription for you.
• At around $80.00 per day, Sakara is pricey.

Programs & Pricing

Image via Sakara Life.

Sakara Life offers several different programs:

• Signature Meal Program

Experience clean eating made easy and the power of food as medicine. Fresh meals, teas, supplements, and support. Organic, plant-based, gluten-free, dairy-free, non-GMO, no refined sugar.

• Level II Detox

Created with functional medicine doctor Aviva Romm, MD, and building on Sakara’s signature philosophy of plants as medicine, this powerful whole-food cleanse temporarily eliminates common inflammation triggers and floods your body with potent plant nutrition.

Using effective dietary principles like ketosis and intermittent fasting, Level II will help heal the gut, restore the metabolism, release years of toxic build-up, and hit reset on the body’s systems—revealing a healthier, brighter you.

• Bride Meal Program

You want to look and feel like your best self on your big day—without the crash diet. You'll receive 4 consecutive weeks of our signature meal program.

Prepare to walk down the aisle confidently with one month of unlimited access to Lauren Roxburgh's online workouts, designed to improve posture, release tension and stress, activate and strengthen the core, and heal from the inside out.

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Here's how much each program costs:

Signature Meal Program: 2, 3, and 5-day programs are available, and you can order a single week of meals or sign up for a subscription.

• The 2-day program (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) costs $169.00 with a subscription and $185.00 without.
• The 3-day program (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) costs $239.00 with a subscription and $255.00 without.
• The 5-day program (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) costs $420.00 with a subscription and $440.00 without.

Level II Detox: $450.00 for a 5-day program that includes everything you need: breakfasts, lunches, supplements, teas, and more. Note that this program is offered only once per month.

Bride Meal Program: $1,680.00 for 4 weeks of meal delivery and unlimited access to online workouts.

Sakara Life ships to the contiguous U.S.

The Ethos

Image via Sakara Life.

Sakara Life's nutrition philosophy is clearly outlined on their website, and they break everything down into the "9 Pillars of Nutrition," which cover everything from not counting calories to eating sulfur-rich veggies and listening to your body.

The Sakara Life organic meal delivery program is based on a whole-food, plant-rich diet that includes fresh, nutrient-dense, and delicious ingredients. Our nutritional pillars form the basis of each and every meal that comes to your door.

My Sakara Life Box

My Sakara Life meal delivery arrived in the early afternoon, and I immediately unpacked it and transferred my meals for the next few days into the fridge. The box was lined with several cold packs, and the temperature in the box was nice and chilly. One of the containers leaked a bit in transit, but this wasn't too much of an issue. I wiped down the meals that were in the splash zone before putting them into the fridge.

I received Sakara's 3-day Signature Meal Program, which includes meals for three days: breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. I received a calendar with information on when to eat each of the meals. My first meal would be dinner, followed by two full days of Sakara, and then breakfast and lunch on the final day.

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My box included a plastic pouch with a welcome kit to help introduce me to the program and see me through the week. Aside from a guide to the program, it also included a complimentary sample from the Clean Boutique (Sakara's online shop) and Palo Santo incense. It also provided a discount code to use in the Clean Boutique.

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The guide was thorough and really lovely and provided information about the program, a recommended daily regimen, tips for healthy snacking and hydration, and some basic info about why clean eating is so good for you.

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Palo Santo incense, I learned from the supplied card, is part of an ancient cleansing ritual that's "burned during ceremonies or prior to moving into a new home to cleanse the space energetically." Okay, guys- full disclosure here. My idea of self-care is more "bubble bath and champagne" than "meditation and energy cleansing," so this item was a little outside of my comfort zone. That said, I leaned into it. I lit the end of this stick and walked around my house. And you know what? I had a lot of fun with it! Palo Santo smells incredible and the experience absolutely lightened my mood.

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Detox Tea - $20.00 for 20 sachets + Complete Probiotic - $46.00 for 180 capsules

Inside a packet of "daily essentials," I found three bags of Detox Tea (a blend of red rooibos + lemongrass + rose) and a complimentary sample containing 10 capsules of Sakara's Complete Probiotic, a dietary supplement designed to improve gut health, reduce bloat, boost immunity, and improve skin radiance.

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Metabolism Super Powder - $45.00 for 10 single-serve pouches

I also received a sample of "Metabolism Super Powder," a nutritional powder made with horsetail extract, Gymnema sylvestre, l-glutamine, fucoxanthin, and black pepper piperine. The attached card suggested blending it into a Chocolate-Cherry Metabolism Super Smoothie and provided a recipe.

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Sakara's Energy Super Bar - $29.00 for 6 bars

This energy bar is designed to give a boost of energy, and it's made with cocoa powder, nibs, and dates. The flavor was great, and this bar delivered. I tried it one afternoon when I felt my energy lagging and that "hangry" feeling knocking at my door, and it lifted me up and helped me shake off the crankiness.

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Finally, I received an insulated lunch tote. I think this is such a thoughtful addition! I'm working from home these days, so I don't need to transport my lunch anywhere, but this is still a welcome bonus. It's well-made and big enough to hold the ingredients for a small picnic.

Day #1

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Dinner: The Thai Burger + Root Fries w/ Almond Butter-Ginger Drizzle

My box from Sakara Life arrived in the early afternoon, and I began the program that evening with The Thai Burger, a salad with a vegan patty, roasted sweet potatoes, and a dressing made with ginger and almond butter. Optional heating instructions were provided for the patty and root vegetables, but I decided to eat everything cold. Ingredients for this dish were separated and stored in different layers of packaging (which effectively kept the greens, patty, and root vegetables from getting soggy), and assembling the salad on a plate took me about two minutes. First impression: this is a good-looking recipe. The pink grapefruit and the orange sweet potato give a burst of color on the plate that makes this dish very enticing, and I couldn't wait to dig in. Flavor-wise, this dish was a winner. The ingredients worked well together, but the most memorable aspect of this salad was the dressing. Sakara calls it a "Almond Butter-Ginger Drizzle," but for me, it tasted a lot like Thai peanut sauce, which I love. After eating this salad, I felt satisfied but not overly full. Initially, when I first signed up for the Sakara 3-day program, I wasn't sure how I'd feel about a full 3-day regimen of Sakara meals, but after this salad, I was excited for what was to come.

Day #2

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Breakfast: Chia + Coconut Protein Waffles w/ Coconut Nectar

For breakfast the following morning, Chia + Coconut Protein Waffles were on the menu. Waffles and maple syrup is one of my favorite weekend morning meals, and I think Sakara's take is a delightfully fun twist on the classic. First of all, how pretty is this breakfast? When I got up in the morning and opened up the container to see what was inside, I was downright delighted. Even though these waffles come packaged in a plastic container, the kumquats and coconut chips make it seem like a dish you'd receive at a super hip little boutique restaurant. Again, there were optional heating instructions provided, but I ate the waffles cold. I dipped them into the supplied coconut nectar, and while the waffles themselves were fairly dense and seemed "healthy," the super-sweet nectar pulled the dish back into the realm of "tasty indulgence." This dish lifted my spirits and set me up for the day.

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Lunch: Sakara Burrito Bowl w/ Turmeric Corn Salsa

My Wednesday lunch was Sakara's Burrito Bowl w/ Turmeric Corn Salsa. The wetter ingredients were packaged separately from the greens, and I plated them together and served the provided dressing on the side. (I couldn't find the dressing listed anywhere, so I'm not exactly sure what it is, but it tasted to me like a creamy lime and cilantro sort of concoction.) This salad was very fresh and really tasty. Also, yet again, so pretty! I've never seen pink rice before (I'm assuming it was cooked in beet juice?), but I love the pop of color. This salad was filling and satisfying— like a much lighter and healthier version of a Chipotle salad.

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Dinner: Pink Pearl Salad w/ Cooling Red Lentil Dal

On the menu for Wednesday evening was an Indian-inspired take on soup and salad: Pink Pearl Salad with Cooling Red Lentil Dal. The salad was a mix of baby kale greens and colorful veggies with (what tasted like) an herb-forward, bright, green goddess-esque dressing. I loved the spiced and roasted pieces of cauliflower, and the bright pink pickled onion slices added a nice brightness and acidity. The dal was smooth and fairly thick, and I liked the flavor profile of creamy lentils paired with Indian spices, but I felt the salad was the star of the meal. Still, it was nice to have a break from salad (Sakara sends a lot of salads), and overall this was a tasty dinner.

Day #3

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Breakfast: Zen Zucchini Muffin

Breakfast the following day was a Zen Zucchini Muffin with Coconut Bliss Cream served with a clementine. Again, I ate my breakfast cold, but in hindsight, I really should have warmed it up. While the flavor was okay, I found the texture of this muffin to be a little dense, and I think some heat would have softened up the crumb. That issue aside, this was a nice little breakfast. It was filling, and the coconut cream was a really thoughtful addition. I also really enjoyed that every breakfast was served with a small serving of fruit. For whatever reason, I don't eat a lot of fruit in the morning (I tend to eat fruit after dinner in place of dessert), but it was a nice reminder that starting my day with a piece of fruit makes me feel really good.

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Lunch: H2O Glow Salad

At this point in the Sakara Life program, I was halfway through my second full day, and when it came time for lunch, I can't say I was thrilled to have another salad waiting for me. (I love salads, but this seemed like one of the lightest meals in the program thus far, and I would have killed for a sandwich.) Reservations aside, this was a perfectly tasty salad. The flavors were fresh and bright, and the addition of beans and seeds gave me enough energy to make it through until dinner. The fresh herb dressing was also outstanding.

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Dinner: Sedona Chipotle Chili + Olive Oil Cornbread

Dinner #3 was Sedona Chipotle Chili with Olive Oil Cornbread, and oh my goodness was I thrilled to have a hot dinner and a break from salad. This chili was well-seasoned, and it was full of veggies that still had a bit of crunch to them. Texturally, this was a departure from the "slow-cooked all day" kind of chili that I usually make at home, but it was by no means unpleasant. When paired with the toasted cornbread, this made for a really nice meal. The cornbread was, again, not quite what I expected, but I enjoyed it. Sakara's cornbread was denser and less crumbly than your average cornbread, but it was pretty tasty and it paired nicely with the chili.

Day #4

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Breakfast: Goji Rose Donut

For breakfast on my final day of Sakara's program, I had this Goji Rose Donut, which ended up being one of the highlights for me from the entire program. First of all, just look at that thing. It's utterly BEAUTIFUL. The coconut glaze is dusted with goji berry dust and dried rose petals, and I still can't believe how dang pretty it is. In addition to the visual appeal, this is one of those items that personally ticked a lot of boxes for me. I love the flavor of rose, I love donuts, and kiwi (which was served on the side) is one of my favorite fruits. As for the taste, I really enjoyed this little pastry, though I feel like it's important to point out that neither the flavor nor texture was that of your average donut. It was denser and less sweet for sure, but I still loved it. I'm not even sure I'd call it a donut (and I may have liked it even more if I hadn't gone in expecting pillowy soft sweetness), but it was a winner.

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Lunch: Moo Shu Veggie Wraps w/ Tamarind Sauce

My final meal of the 3-day program was Friday lunch, Moo Shu Veggie Wraps with Tamarind Sauce. I think it's smart that my final meal featured pre-cooked, hearty veggies and only a few leaves of delicate greens, as this dish still seemed fresh at the end of the fourth day. Flavor-wise, this dish was fine. The veggies were flavorful, the coconut cassava wraps were nice, and the tamarind sauce was tangy in a good way, but overall I found this dish just okay. I think this was a smart dish and the flavors were nice, but it just didn't wow me. (Also, to be fair, I think I was ready to be done with my 3-day program and eat a sandwich.)

Is Sakara Life worth it?

In researching for this review, I pressed pause on my normal eating habits and embraced Sakara Life's 3-day Signature Meal Program. I'm far from a wellness guru, but I do like to take care of myself, and I really enjoyed doing things Sakara's way for a few days. It was definitely a departure from my usual routine, but would I do it again? Do I think it's worth it? Given how much it costs for the meal plan, that's not an easy answer. Let's break this down category-by-category:

Did it taste good?

Absolutely. Yes. 100%. Sakara Life's meals are fresh, delicious, and beautiful. I'm blown away by how pretty the food is, and the flavors were spot on. The dressings, in particular, were all fantastic. (No kidding, if Sakara Life released a line of vegan salad dressings, I would buy them all.) By the end of my 3-day signature program, I was ready for a break, but that should not reflect poorly on the food at all. It was great. If there was a cafe around the corner from me that sold the Goji Rose Donut, Burrito Bowl, or Thai Burger, I would live there.

What about the portions?

None of the portions were huge; however, I found all of the meals filling and satisfying. In fact, when looking at the quantity of food I received each day, I think it's fairly substantial. If you're the type of person who needs a lot of calories to support big workouts or have a very high activity level, you might feel overly restricted, but this meal plan worked for me. I wouldn't want to eat this way all the time, necessarily, but I sometimes fall into bad habits and need a kick in the pants to start making better choices. I think Sakara's 2 or 3-day meal plan would absolutely give me the kickstart I needed to get back on track.

How did it make me feel?

I felt great while on Sakara's program! (Though, I always feel great when I'm eating a vegan diet full of healthy fats, lots of veggies, and plant-based proteins... not that I always do it, mind you.) I slept well, I had plenty of energy, and I never felt weighed down by a too-heavy meal.

Was it convenient?

Receiving a shipment with prepared vegan and organic meals for the week was extremely convenient. Sakara Life's program made it easy for me to eat well and make good food choices, and it never took me longer than 10 minutes to get a meal on the table.

Is it expensive?

Yes, Sakara Life is very pricey. The 3-day Signature Meal Program I tried costs $239.00 with a subscription and $255.00 without. That breaks down to $26.56 and $28.33 per meal, respectively. Now, I received additional supplements and bonus items with my delivery, but there's no way around it: Sakara Life is very expensive. I could easily eat out for every meal and still save money. That said, if you accept that Sakara Life is providing a program and not just meals... perhaps that helps justify the cost. For me personally, especially when I consider that I'm part of a two-person household and would need double the food to feed both my husband and me, this isn't a viable long-term subscription option. I would, however, consider purchasing another one-time program. I loved the food, it made me feel great, and I really did feel like my week on the Sakara Life program was like my very own "at-home spa dining retreat."

Is it easy to skip a week or cancel?

It is! To skip a future delivery, sign in to your account and navigate to your "profile" and click cancel. You must cancel before Wednesday at midnight EST to not receive meals the following week.

Should YOU try Sakara Life?

I'd recommend Sakara Life to anyone who:

• Is looking for a meal delivery program that thinks of everything.
• Isn't picky. Sakara Life doesn't offer meal choice or customization, so open-mindedness is essential.
• Enjoys plant-based meals that are organic, fresh, and salad-heavy.
• Eats with their eyes, and gets excited when food is pretty enough to photograph.
• Wants to skip meal prepping and the grocery store and have meals for the week delivered right to the front door.
• Is happy to pay a premium for a high-end meal program.

Ready to try  Sakara Life for yourself? Save on your first order here:

Or if you've tried Sakara Life already, tell us about your experience! Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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