Disappointing experience – not worth the moneyI don’t usually write negative reviews for small, women-owned businesses, but I feel I have to share my experience with Chiyo’s postpartum meal service because postpartum is such a delicate time in a woman’s life. Chiyo claims their meals are based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), but I was disappointed to find that very few meals actually incorporated traditional herbs or ingredients and the principles of TCM. Instead, the meals were very Americanized, heavy on chicken, turkey, fish, or tofu, and included very little beef. Turkey, tofu, and white fish are cooling proteins based on TCM. Beef is considered crucial in postpartum recovery and so are warming proteins, especially for rebuilding blood after hemorrhage (which I experienced). I was genuinely surprised that this wasn’t reflected in their meal plans.Flavor-wise, I didn’t find the meals enjoyable, and neither did my mom or husband, who would often eat the leftovers since the portions were quite large. They consistently described the food as bland and tasteless.The delivery process was another major issue. Unlike other postpartum services that hand-deliver fresh meals, Chiyo uses UPS. Almost every delivery arrived with problems—spilled containers, boxes with the tape coming off, and meals showing up late in the evening. In one shipment, the food didn’t arrive until after 8pm with all the ice packs fully melted, and some containers open. After eating one of those meals, I ended up with severe diarrhea.On top of that, over Labor Day weekend Chiyo notified me *the Friday before* that no meals would be sent that week. This left my family scrambling to buy groceries and plan meals at the last minute. Instead of offering a refund, they issued a gift card, which felt dismissive and unhelpful given the circumstances.Ultimately, I canceled my 6-week prepaid subscription and requested a proper refund back to my credit card (not gift cards). For the combination of poor service, lackluster food, and unreliable deliveries, I cannot recommend Chiyo. My mom’s home-cooked meals ended up being far more nourishing, flavorful, and reliable.Bottom line: Do not waste your money on this service.
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Chiyo is defining the future of maternal nutrition, with stage-specific, evidence-based meal programs, personalized education, and a community of support for every stage of motherhood, from fertility through postpartum.
