Waitrose is extending the trial of its 'Cook Well from Waitrose' healthy recipe box service with the addition of 60 new dishes, an extra delivery day on Mondays and the option to choose a four person/family box.

The retailer's chefs and nutritionists have worked together to develop easy to prepare meals that are nutritionally balanced, with no red traffic lights for saturated fat, sugar and salt, and all providing at least one of the recommended five portions of fruit and vegetables a day.

The delivery service - created in conjunction with tech consultancy ThoughtWorks - caters for one-off and weekly subscription customers with a new menu each week with eight recipes to choose from. Boxes contain pre-portioned, bagged ingredients for easy storage and minimal waste and step-by-step recipe cards, all delivered directly to customers' homes free of charge. The goods are packed in upcycled sheep's wool designed to keep everything chilled until 10pm on the day of delivery.

Archie Mason, Head of Business Development at the John Lewis Partnership said: “Waitrose was the first supermarket to develop a recipe box scheme which went live in March this year to selected customers. We have been greatly encouraged by the initial response with customers delighted at the quality and convenience we are offering and the fact that recipes have been specifically tailored to be nutritionally balanced.

We have taken their feedback on board, adding more delicious healthy recipes this month along with an additional delivery day and from October, the option to order a box for a family of four. Our recipe box scheme gives people another way to access and enjoy quality Waitrose food, delivered to their doorstep.”

Nathalie Winn, Senior Nutritionist, who helped develop the recipes, said: “The trial has been a great example of how Waitrose is able to bring together its food expertise in different areas to create a unique offer of recipes to our customers. We have prioritised no red traffic lights for the nutrients we need to reduce in the diet; saturated fat, sugar and salt, whilst offering recipes with more of the ingredients we need to eat more of, such as oily fish and fruit and veg. Its success has highlighted how, with a little help, customers can enjoy delicious and nutritionally balanced, home-made Waitrose-quality meals easily.”

Customers can select up to three meals to serve two people per week, choosing from vegetarian, pescetarian and meat options. A three recipe box is priced at £6.50 per portion with options such as 'tikka carrots and spiced chickpea dahl with tamarind potatoes' and 'miso cod, sticky coconut rice and chilli glazed pak choi'.