Youfoodz Roast Chicken & Gravy with Loaded Mash & Veg
Youfoodz Roast Chicken & Gravy with Loaded Mash & Veg: independently scored 8.3/10 on Protein Score and 7.5/10 on Clean Score by ProteinScore.
25.6g protein per serve · 315 cal · 7.4g sugar · 1530mg sodium · 350g serve.
Overview
Eating over three-quarters of your daily sodium limit in one 315-calorie meal is a serious trade-off, and it's the defining feature of this roast chicken dinner. The 1530mg of sodium per serve is one of the highest we've seen in the chiller aisle, putting this squarely in the 'sometimes' category for anyone mindful of their intake. That said, the protein is substantial for a meal this light on calories, making it a very efficient way to get a post-gym hit without the prep. The ingredient list tells a story of convenience. At 36 ingredients, it's a highly engineered meal designed to deliver a consistent roast dinner flavour from a microwave. Potato (27%) and chicken (20%) provide the whole-food base, but they're supported by gravy powder, bacon bits, milk solids, and a suite of thickeners, mineral salts and preservatives. This isn't a home-cooked meal, and it doesn't pretend to be; it's a solution for when the kitchen is off-limits. Compared to the brand's Shredded Beef Ravioli with Tomato Ragu, this tray packs slightly less protein per 100g, but the per-serve hit is what most shoppers will focus on. Where it really stands apart from the ready meal category is its sodium load. Most meals we track sit around a third of your daily 2000mg sodium limit; this one delivers 77% in a single tray, a number that demands attention. As a chilled meal found in Coles, it's an easy backup to have in the fridge for a busy night. Just be aware that at only 315 calories, it's more of a light dinner or substantial lunch than a truly filling evening meal for most active adults.
Protein Score: 8.3/10
Is this tray actually a high-protein meal? With 25.6g of protein per serve, the answer is yes, landing it ahead of the typical ready meal in the chiller. That protein density, driven by real chicken, earns a 7.6/10 and makes it a genuinely solid option for hitting your macros. The protein-per-calorie metric is strong, with 8.1g of protein for every 100 calories. This puts it in the balanced zone, meaning you're getting a decent amount of protein for the energy invested, rather than a meal padded out with carbs and sauce. For a single-serve tray, clearing the 25g mark is a solid performance. Stack it against other options in the supermarket, and it holds its own on the protein front. The trade-off is the extremely high sodium content, which you have to accept in exchange for the convenience and protein hit. We see it as a good fit for a post-training meal when you need protein fast, but not as a daily driver.
Clean Score: 7.5/10
Mineral salts like 451 and 450 appear in both the bacon and the chicken marinade, helping this meal hold its texture and moisture. These, along with preservatives and thickeners, contribute to a 36-ingredient list and a Clean Score/10, which sits just below the average for the ready meal category. The list includes 11 additives in total, spanning colours (102, 150c), preservatives (250, 223), and thickeners (1422, 407, 412). This level of processing is common in meals designed for a longer shelf life in the supermarket chiller, ensuring the taste and structure remain stable from the production line to your microwave. This isn't a clean, whole-food meal, and it doesn't try to be. It's a convenience product where the trade-off for not cooking is a longer, more complex ingredient list. For shoppers chasing a simpler nutritional panel, other meals in the Youfoodz range offer a shorter list of ingredients.
Wins
- A solid 25.6g of protein in a convenient 315-calorie meal.
- Real chicken and potato make up almost half the meal.
- Under 8g of sugar per serve keeps the sweetness in check.
Watch outs
- Extremely high sodium at 1530mg, 77% of the daily recommended limit.
- A long list of 36 ingredients including 11 additives.
- Only 315 calories, making it a light meal, not a filling dinner.
Ingredients
Potato (27%), Chicken (20%), Water, Corn (11%), Carrot (11%), Green Cabbage (3.5%), Bacon (2%) (Mineral Salts (451, 450), Antioxidant (316), Preservative (250)), Gravy Powder (2%) (Milk, Soy, Thickener (1422), Acid (330), Colour (150c), Mineral Salt (450)), Butter (Milk), Marinade (Acidity Regulators (327, 451, 450), Thickeners (407, 412)), Southern Fried Seasoning (Wheat, Milk, Thickener (1442), Mineral Salts (451, 452), Colour (102)), Modified Starch (1422), Natural Flavour, Salt, Beef Booster, Garlic (Acidity Regulator (260), Preservative (223)), Canola Oil, Milk Powder, Flour (Wheat), Parsley, Black Pepper.
36 ingredients.
Frequently asked questions
- How much sodium does this meal contain?
- This meal contains 1530mg of sodium, which is approximately 77% of the 2000mg daily limit recommended for adults. This is significantly higher than the typical ready meal, which usually sits between 600mg and 800mg. Such a high sodium load makes it unsuitable for regular consumption, especially for those monitoring blood pressure. We'd consider this an occasional meal, not a daily staple.
- Is 25g of protein enough for a post-workout meal?
- Yes, 25.6g of protein is a substantial amount for a post-workout meal, helping to support muscle repair and growth. It falls squarely in the 20-30g range often recommended after training. However, with only 315 calories, it may not be enough to fully refuel on its own, depending on your energy needs and the intensity of your workout. We'd grab it for the protein convenience, but consider adding a snack if you need more calories.
- Is this meal suitable for eating several times a week?
- No, we would advise against eating this meal several times a week due to its extremely high sodium content. At 1530mg per serve, regular consumption would make it very difficult to stay within the recommended daily sodium limit of 2000mg. High sodium intake is linked to long-term health risks. Think of this as a convenient backup meal for emergencies, not a go-to for your weekly meal prep.
- How do I heat this Youfoodz meal?
- This is a chilled ready meal designed to be heated in the microwave for maximum convenience. You simply need to pierce the film and heat it for a few minutes, as per the instructions on the tray. It is not designed for oven cooking. The single-serve tray makes it an easy option for a quick lunch at the office or a fast dinner when you get home late. We think it's best for when you have zero time to prep.
- Where can I buy the Youfoodz Roast Chicken meal?
- Youfoodz ready meals are typically stocked in the chiller aisle of major Australian supermarkets, with this one listed at Coles. You may also find it available directly from the Youfoodz website, which offers a broader range of their products. According to the brand, their meals are made in Brisbane, Australia, by their parent company, HelloFresh. For stock levels, the retailer's website is the most reliable source.