The Detox includes breakfasts, lunches, and dinners for five days, delivered in two shipments spaced throughout the week. Those meals are meant to be supplemented with the included tonics (three per day, each of them different), hydration drinks, and vitamin capsules (B-Complex, Vitamin D3, and Magnesium Glycinate). The first delivery also includes a body gua sha, meant to promote lymphatic drainage and circulation
Commerce writer Alaina Chou tested the Detox and noted that the deliveries, like those of the Signature Program, were prompt and accompanied by text messages. The contents came neatly packaged, and were accompanied by a guide, daily checklist, and an insulated tote that came in handy when transporting lunches, tonics, and the daily passion fruit hydration drinks to the office. Alaina was pleasantly surprised, like I was, by how filling the lunches and dinners were, though she found that some breakfasts lacked heft. While some days featured hearty fare like a sweet potato hash or rich tahini-cacao parfait, the flax bar and berry smoothie on days three and four were far from satisfying. With that said, it’s worth mentioning that Sakara says that the Detox is designed to be calorically restrictive.
The meals, in Alaina’s opinion, had good flavor but were sometimes lacking in the texture department. While the crunchy salads and smooth pureed soups were quite good, meals like the Lasagna Verde with Broccoli & Mushrooms felt a bit like eating a pile of unidentifiable (but fine-tasting) mush.
The science on the benefits of detox programs is pretty inconclusive to date, and Alaina says it’s hard to comment on whether the Detox had any real effect on her overall health or wellbeing (though she did experience headaches for a few of the days she was on the program, potentialy due to caffeine or refined sugar withdrawals). But if you like the idea of eating nutrient-rich, whole foods-based meals for a few days, this program is an easy way to do it without much effort on your part—at $465 it doesn’t come cheap though.
Cost & Flexibility
Speaking of “it doesn’t come cheap,” there’s no getting around the fact that Sakara is expensive. Both of the brand’s programs cost upwards of $400 a week for a full slate of meals, which is simply unattainable for a lot of people—according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics it’s close to double the weekly grocery budget for a family of four. If you’re on a budget and really want to try it, the Signature Program is the more flexible package. You can order set packs of weeks (one, four, eight, or twelve) or save 15% by ordering a weekly subscription. Whichever ordering style you choose, you’ll then select between three or five days worth of meals, and whether you want breakfast, lunch, and dinner, or just lunch and dinner. So if you just wanted three days of lunch and dinner in a week, you’re looking at about $140–$200 if you order packs of weeks, or $170 with a weekly subscription. On the other end of the spectrum, five days of three signature meals will cost you $395-$465. The 5-day Level II: Detox program only comes in single one-week units.
Should you order Sakara?
Would I do another week of Sakara? Absolutely. In fact, I was bummed not to have a fridge full of breakfasts and lunches that I didn’t have to think about the Monday after my experiment ended. While it’s too expensive to be an everyday thing for me, I would most likely do two meals a day of the Signature Program on a week when I knew I had too much going on to cook for myself.
I also received a few bags of the brand’s beloved granola with my delivery, and I am hoarding them the way a dragon hoards a pile of jewels. It’s super crunchy, not too sweet, and has inspired me to stock up on my favorite plant-based yogurt and lots of seasonal fruits to keep the healthy breakfast vibes going. I also really liked the various herbal teas the brand makes (though these seem to have been discontinued), and have found myself going for a cup or two of tea to get through my 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. slumps instead of second and third coffees.
If I had unlimited money, there’s a real chance I’d order from Sakara a lot. The food is delicious, well-prepared, and I did feel (insert sparkle emojis) well after eating it. Much better than I feel when breakfast is a pastry and lunch is a slice of pizza. While it would never replace cooking and eating at restaurants, the occasional Sakara salad or muffin is a nice way to add some balance into your lifestyle, or to help establish healthier eating habits.