Not everyone has the time, energy, or skills to prepare healthy, delicious meals. Some look for truck-to-door meal delivery with easy-to-prep foods that taste great, make healthy eating more doable, and take the drain out of cooking and clean-up. Meal delivery services are quickly multiplying, and picking the right one is not so straightforward, especially if you want a service that can actually help you lose weight.
To narrow down our top picks for the best weight loss meal delivery services, our team tested over 40 of the best meal delivery services that deliver food and convenience right to your doorstep. We ranked each company based on their ordering process, taste, ease of preparation, portion size, ingredient quality, variety, meal customization, nutrition facts visibility, shipping, sustainability, and customer service.
Editor’s choice: Home Chef
Home Chef takes the stress out of meal planning and is our editor’s choice for best meal delivery service for weight loss. The meal delivery service offers many options for healthy eating, including meal kits stocked with everything needed for a nutritious home-cooked meal and freshly prepared dishes for quick eats. The budget-friendly meal delivery service makes it easy to prioritize health and weight.
Medical disclaimer: This article is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for medical advice. For health advice, contact a licensed healthcare provider.
Our picks for the best meal delivery services for weight loss
- Best meal kit: Home Chef
- Best vegetarian: CookUnity
- Best fresh: Tempo
- Best prepared: Fuel Meals Weight Loss Plan
- Best for families: Family Menu
- Best for weight loss: Trifecta
- Best keto: Factor75
- Best organic: Green Chef
- Best vegan: Purple Carrot
Compare meal delivery services for weight loss
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| Home Chef | CookUnity | Tempo | Fuel Meals Weight Loss Plan | Family Menu | Trifecta | Factor75 | Green Chef | Purple Carrot | |
| Rating | |||||||||
| Cost | Starts at $9.95 per meal | Starts at $10 per meal | Starts at $11 per meal | $14 per meal | Starts at $6.99 per meal | Starts at $15 per meal | $13 per meal | $13 per meal | Starts at $11 per meal |
| Type | Prepared and meal kits | Prepared | Prepared | Prepared | Kits | Prepared | Prepared | Meal kits | Prepared and meal kits |
| Delivery area | Contiguous U.S. | Most states except Alaska, Hawaii, North Dakota, South Dakota, and parts of Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, West Virginia, and Wyoming | Contiguous U.S. | All 50 States | Contiguous U.S. | Contiguous U.S. | Contiguous U.S. | Contiguous U.S. | Contiguous U.S. |
| Frozen | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Best meal kit for weight loss: Home Chef
Key product features
What you should know
If you’re looking for convenience while still being able to perfect your cooking skills, Home Chef can be a solid choice. The meal kits contain everything you need to whip up a tasty meal at home, with most options taking 30 minutes or less to prepare.
- According to our product testers, Home Chef’s meals consistently taste good, and the ingredients are always fresh.
- Starting at just under $10 per meal, Home Chef provides everything you need to prepare each meal. You don’t have to worry about keeping your pantry stocked or navigating a busy grocery store.
- Home Chef is ideal for people who enjoy cooking but don’t have time to research new recipes every week.
- Most meals have 625 calories or fewer, so they can seamlessly fit into a diet plan if you want to drop a few pounds.
- The meals are prepared in facilities that also handle milk, shellfish, and other allergens. If you have a food allergy, you may want to try another service.
Why we like Home Chef as best meal kit
If you’re looking for meal kits with loads of meal variety, you’ve found it with Home Chef. Depending on your weight loss goal, you can select vegetarian, carb-conscious, or calorie-conscious meals that align with your health needs. On average, meals have 625 calories or fewer.
Many weight loss food delivery services provide either meal kits that require putting together a recipe or meals you have to reheat in the microwave. Home Chef offers both. But for those who enjoy the art of cooking, their meal kits offer recipes and pre-portioned ingredients, so you can feel inspired to craft fresh meals in the comfort of your kitchen.
Our product testers love how easy and quick it is to use these meal kits to whip up dinner without wondering what they’re going to eat or swinging through a drive-thru line. Whether you’re a cooking novice or a self-made chef, most recipes are easy to follow. Some meals take longer than 20 minutes to prepare, but Home Chef offers express meal kits that have recipes with fewer steps.
The meals are also easy to recreate on your own. One of our team product testers has been using Home Chef since 2022 and frequently revisits old recipes using store-bought ingredients.
“Even during the weeks when my husband and I skip our delivery, we go back to our favorite Home Chef recipes. The meals are just that good and so easy to make.”
Team Product Tester
She gave Home Chef 5 out of 5 stars for taste and meal variety and 4 out of 5 stars for ingredient quality.
Plus, Home Chef makes the ordering process easy to do because it takes you through a short set of questions to guide your meal picks. Our product testers like that Home Chef sends reminders each week to select their meals based on their preferences. The service has plenty of rotating options to choose from, and you can filter out specific foods you don’t want in your meals, like seafood.
You can customize your meal kits to yield two, four, six, or eight servings, depending on the size of your family. Portion sizes are excellent and satisfying.
“My husband and I both feel satisfied after finishing our Home Chef meals,” our product tester noted.
Aside from its user-friendly website, Home Chef outshines the competition by providing ongoing discounts to military workers, healthcare professionals, teachers, and first responders.
However, we recommend people with food allergies avoid Home Chef. The meals are made in facilities that handle common allergens, such as milk, shellfish, and tree nuts.
Furthermore, there are no guarantees that Home Chef will have meals on their weekly menu to accommodate various dietary preferences. If you follow a vegan diet, for example, consider another service that offers more customization.
Visit our Home Chef review for more information.
What customers are saying
Home Chef has an average of 2.7 stars based on over 3,100 reviews on Trustpilot. The food itself earned positive reviews, but the packaging received negative feedback.
“I have tried eight different services, and this is one of the best! A lot of choices, tasty recipes, and consistent fresh ingredients. Sometimes it’s hard to choose with so many tasty-looking recipes.”
Kristine, Trustpilot
Another buyer named Angela F. said, “Good service and affordable. I used this meal service for quite a while. I canceled them because they use FedEx for their deliveries and my food started to be delayed and the boxes looked like they had been bounced around a lot and damaged or split open.”
Specs
| Meal options | Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and dessert |
| Diet options | Vegetarian, low-carb, low-calorie |
| Meal type | Meal kits |
| Calories per meal | 625 or fewer (on average) |
| Number of meals per week | Up to 6 recipes and up to 6 servings per delivery |
Best meal delivery service for weight loss for vegetarians: CookUnity
Key product features
What you should know
CookUnity is a chef-crafted meal delivery service that provides fresh, not frozen, meals starting at fewer than 600 calories.
- Overall, our product testers enjoyed the meals they tried from CookUnity and appreciated the variety of cuisines to choose from.
- Each meal starts at $10, which is an average price for a meal delivery service.
- CookUnity is the perfect choice for busy vegetarians who want quick and healthy meals so they don’t resort to takeout.
- On the CookUnity website, you can see all of the nutrition information including calories, protein, carbs, fat, ingredients, and nut allergy warnings.
Why we like CookUnity as best for vegetarians
CookUnity is our top pick for vegetarians struggling to reach their weight goals. Subscribers can choose between four and 16 meals per week.
The meal delivery service offers a number of plant-based options with 600 calories or less per serving, which aligns with diets like the Mayo Clinic Diet where calorie reduction is part of the overall weight loss plan, or Factor75, which offers low-calorie prepared meals. (4)
We do want to point out that calories for CookUnity’s vegetarian meals vary, with some meals packing in 1,000 calories or more per serving. Check the nutrition information for each meal to make sure it fits your needs and goals.
One thing we’d like to see CookUnity focus on is sodium content in meals. Although a certain amount of sodium is needed in our diets— 1,500–2,300 mg per day—too much sodium can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. (5) Some meals have more than 1,000 mg of sodium per serving, meeting nearly half the daily limit.
CookUnity meals can be heated in a microwave or oven. Our tester found that heating meals in the oven resulted in a tastier meal with better texture, especially for the proteins and veggies. We also appreciate the variety CookUnity meals provide, with options like, chana masala, vegan “chorizo” and black bean chili, and caramelized mushroom quesadilla, It’s worth noting that some pre-portioned meals may not be enough for some people; one of our testers noted feeling hungry between meals.
Because these meals are fresh and not frozen, our tester recommends only ordering what you can eat in a week, otherwise your meals may spoil before you have a chance to enjoy them. CookUnity does not recommend freezing the meals—they’re best when fresh.
First-time CookUnity customers can enjoy a 50% off discount for their first week of the service, which is a great way to save money. For example, with that discount an 8-meal order in the 20732 area code comes to $5.85 per meal. Without the discount, meals start at $10 each.
Visit our CookUnity review for more information.
What customers are saying
CookUnity has garnered an impressive 10,748 reviews on Trustpilot, with many customers enjoying the quality of the meals they tried.
One reviewer on Trustpilot, Andre, loved how high-quality CookUnity meals are.
“The dishes are restaurant quality and are from a variety of cuisines (e.g., Indian, Mexican). I look forward to eating them, and the food has been helping me during my diet.”
Andre, Trustpilot
Another reviewer on Trustpilot, Shina M., was disappointed in the amount of veggies her meal contained.
“Love the variety, but most of my meals have about three pieces of vegetables (e.g., three florets of broccoli, three sprigs of asparagus). Would love a bit more of the veggie part of meals,” she writes.
Several reviewers also noted that customer service could be improved, explaining that they found it difficult to stop their subscription and cancel the service.
Specs
| Meal options | Breakfast, lunch, snacks, dinner, and drinks |
| Diet options | Low-calorie, low-carb, vegetarian, vegan, keto, paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free, Mediterranean, and pescatarian. |
| Meal type | Fresh |
| Calories per meal | Starting at fewer than 600 calories |
| Number of meals per week | Up to 16 |
Best fresh meal delivery service for weight loss: Tempo
Key product features
What you should know
Tempo is a fresh heat-and-eat meal delivery service from Home Chef. Instead of a kit, you get single-portioned meals featuring fresh, nutrient-rich ingredients.
- The Tempo menu includes high-protein, high-fiber, and calorie-controlled meal options to meet a wide range of nutrition goals.
- Starting at $11 per meal, Tempo is within the average market price for a meal delivery service and costs only $1 more than the Home Chef meal kit.
- This is a good meal delivery service for busy, health-conscious individuals looking for fresh and flavorful meals without prep or clean up.
Why we like Tempo as best fresh
Tempo is an easy win for best fresh meal delivery service for weight loss. It’s the Home Fresh meal kit without the mess. Tempo offers fresh, single-serving meals you heat in the microwave in 4 minutes or less. You get fresh and balanced meals without prepping, cooking, or cleaning.
For weight management, Tempo offers several diet options, including calorie conscious, carb-conscious, keto-friendly, and protein packed. They also have dietitian approved meals designed to meet healthy diet guidelines, providing at least 17 grams of protein and no more than 700 calories, 800 mg of sodium, and 8 grams of added sugar.
To keep meals fresh and healthy, Tempo updates meals and recipes every week. Though options may change, they offer many delicious lower calorie meals like BBQ chicken, salmon with creamy mushroom sauce, and pork chop alfredo. The prepared meal delivery service lists the nutrition information for each meal, so you can select meals that fit your needs and goals.
Tempo offers meal recommendations based on your health goals and preferences. You can select 4 to 16 meals a week, making changes up until 12pm central time on the Friday before your weekly delivery. Deliveries are made every week on the day that works best for you.
Keep your meals in the refrigerator and consume by the “use by” date on the label, usually 3 to 10 days from date of delivery. Since the meals are fresh, Tempo warns against freezing them because it may change quality and cooking time.
Currently, Tempo delivers to 98% of the United States. Before signing up, they ask for your zip code so you know right away if they deliver in your area.
Meals start at $11 per serving, which is around the average market price for meal delivery services. The fewer meals you order, the higher the cost per meal. For example, you pay about $16 per meal with 4 meals per week and $11 per meal with 16 meals per week.
Overall, Tempo is a good meal delivery service for weight loss, offering fresh, balanced meals in single-serving portions. However, they don’t have vegetarian or vegan options and can’t guarantee that meals are free from cross-contact of common food allergens. If you have severe food allergies, Tempo may not make a good choice for you.
Specs
| Meal options | Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and drinks |
| Diet options | Protein-packed, calorie-conscious, carb-conscious, fiber rich, keto-friendly, and dietitian approved |
| Meal type | Prepared, fresh |
| Calories per meal | Starting at fewer than 600 calories |
| Number of meals per week | 4 to 16 |
Best prepared meal delivery for weight loss: Fuel Meals Weight Loss Plan
Key product features
What you should know
Fuel Meals allows you to choose up to 28 entrees per week, ensuring you have a steady supply of meals that take just minutes to reheat. The meals feature lean proteins such as turkey and chicken and nutritious carb sources like brown rice and sweet potatoes.
- Our product testers appreciated the convenience of these heat-and-eat meals but found that some meals required extra sauces or seasonings to make them more palatable.
- With an average cost of $14 per meal, Fuel Meals isn’t the most affordable option. Other meal delivery services cost almost half the price for meals that are just as good.
- The meals offer up to 60 grams of protein per serving. They’re suitable for those who want to preserve as much lean muscle mass as possible while losing fat.
- However, the weight loss plan only provides 1,500-1,750 calories per day (depending on if you’re a man or woman). These calorie counts may be too low for some individuals, making it hard to stick with the plan for the long term.
Why we like Fuel Meals Weight Loss Plan as best prepared
According to a 2020 review published in Physiology and Behavior, eating over 35 grams of protein in one sitting is effective at promoting fullness and less hunger, which may benefit weight loss. (4) Fuel Meals supply up to 60 grams of protein per serving in most of their meals to help you stay satisfied and focused on your goals. Individual meals range between 460 to 610 calories.
When you choose the weight loss plan, you have to indicate whether you’re a man or a woman. The male weight loss plan totals about 1,750 calories per day, and the female plan equals about 1,500 calories per day. Even if you want to lose weight, this may not be enough food for you—especially if you’re active.
After you select your gender, Fuel Meals auto-populates meals for you based on how many you want per week. You can select seven, 14, 21, or 28 meals per week. Fuel Meals will then prep and deliver all of the meals to your home.
Organic ingredients aren’t an option with this diet food delivery brand. As for flavor, the dishes left our product testers wanting more. Some meals needed additional sauces and seasonings to enhance the taste.
Editorial team member Kate Meier tried a variety of meals, including chicken quesadillas, shrimp quesadillas, salmon and broccoli, an egg white scramble, and a bison burger.
“The meals were all edible, and I would eat them again,” she commented. “But I kept feeling like I wanted something more. I would often add more vegetables to the meals or put my own spices on them.”
As such, Meier rated Fuel Meals 3.5 out of 5 stars for taste.
While you can filter for gluten-free and dairy-free options, there’s no way to filter other allergens, so it’s important to pay close attention to the ingredients in each meal.
As with any other meal delivery service, convenience is also a huge benefit of Fuel Meals. They take just a few minutes to reheat in the microwave, so you can enjoy your meal in no time.
Our product testers found that getting in touch with customer service wasn’t so easy. To contact the company, you must fill out a form. There are no live chat functions available, which are features that most other meal delivery companies offer.
Check out our full Fuel Meals review to learn more.
Specs
| Meal options | Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks |
| Diet options | Paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free, weight loss or muscle gain |
| Meal type | Prepared |
| Calories per meal | 290-660 |
| Number of meals per week | Up to 28 |
Best meal delivery service for weight loss for families: Family Menu
Key product features
What you should know
Family Menu is a meal kit delivery service designed for busy families who want family-friendly meals that are easy to prepare and fit everyone’s tastes.
- Family Menu is a 4-serving meal kit from Home Chef, created specifically for busy families who want to spend more time at the table and less time in the kitchen.
- Family Menu is a budget-friendly meal delivery service with meals starting at $6.99 per serving.
- This is a good meal delivery service for families tired of short-order cooking four different meals for each member of the family.
- Family Menu offers calorie-conscious and protein-packed meal kits to support weight goals.
Why we like Family Menu as best for weight loss for families
Making healthy meals the whole family enjoys isn’t easy, that’s why we like Family Menu as best meal delivery service for weight loss for families. Family Menu is part of Home Chef.
Healthy eating habits start at home. (14) Even if you’re the only one with weight loss goals, you don’t have to prepare separate meals for the rest of your family. Eating together benefits everyone, improving nutrition, relationships, and mental wellness. (15)
Between work, school, and after school activities, many parents don’t have time to plan, shop, prep, and cook healthy meals. That’s why Family Menu is a great option for getting fresh meals on the table without the stress, helping everyone eat better.
Family Menu offers meal kits with simple recipes and approachable flavors that even the pickiest eaters will like. Meal options include one-pan chicken cutlets with orzo, lasagna-style bolognese gemelli, and pulled pork enchiladas. Prep and cooking time vary, but Family Menu offers many easy-prep, no clean-up options so you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time at the table.
Recipes include nutrition information to help you stay on track. Family Menu isn’t geared towards weight loss, but they do highlight meals that are lower in calories and higher in protein. Though balanced nutrition is important for you and your family, flavor and food preferences matter too. Choose meals that everyone likes. Eating together, even if the meal is higher in calories, is an opportunity to try new foods, create healthy habits, and connect.
Family Menu is less expensive than many of the other meal delivery service options on our list, with meals starting at $6.99 per serving. The service offers a 46% discount for the first week of meals, dropping the price to $3.77 per serving.
One of the drawbacks of Family Menu is that they don’t have vegetarian or vegan menu. Additionally, meals are made in facilities that process eggs, milk, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soy and sesame and they can’t guarantee meals are free from cross-contact. Family Menu may not make a good choice for folks with severe food allergies.
Specs
| Meal options | Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and drinks |
| Diet options | Calorie-conscious, protein packed |
| Meal type | Meal kits |
| Calories per meal | 625 or less (on average) |
| Number of meals per week | 4 meal kits with up to 8 servings per meal |
Best premade meal delivery service for weight loss: Trifecta
Key product features
What you should know
Fortune Recommends analysts ordered a couple weeks’ worth of Trifecta meals, and while there were a couple of minor drawbacks, the meals scored favorably across multiple categories. But before you place your order, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Our testers appreciated the freshness of their Trifecta meals, which is due to the vacuum-packed containers each meal comes in.
- With an average cost of around $15 per meal, Trifecta can be expensive, but you may find the cost worth it if you’re looking to save time in meal prepping.
- Trifecta offers meals that cater to a wide variety of dietary preferences. It’s suitable for individuals who prefer eating whole foods and those who follow keto, paleo, and plant-based diets.
- Most meals contain 350-550 calories, which may not be enough for certain individuals, especially those who are very active.
Why we like Trifecta as best premade
Trifecta goes the extra mile in providing top-notch, nutritious foods. The company gives special attention to offering fresh, organic foods; responsibly sourced ingredients grown using ethical farming practices; and nutritionally adequate meals.
While Trifecta targets performance athletes, you don’t have to be one to order from their four meal plans, each crafted by dietitians and chefs. The meal plans include clean eating, paleo and whole 30, keto, and plant-based. Most meals are between 350 and 550 calories to align with your health goals. Our testers liked that the meals came vacuum-packed to maintain freshness. They rated the freshness and quality of the ingredients 4 out of 5 stars.
Customization is limited, though. If there are three meals you like, and you want to order 10 of those, that’s not an option.
Kate Meier, a certified personal trainer and Olympic weightlifting coach on the Fortune Recommends editorial team, tried a wide variety of entrees. Her favorite meals were the egg scrambles from the breakfast menu. However, she wished the portions were bigger.
“I tried breakfast scrambles with brisket, bacon, and sausage. They all had a lot of flavor, but they didn’t keep me full,” she noted. “I think the portion sizes were a little too small for me.”
Another product tester, however, found the keto meals satiating and gave Trifecta 5 out of 5 stars for portion sizes.
If you’re also concerned about the portions being too small, you can toss a few a la carte items into your cart. For example, you can stock up on extra protein, carbs, or vegetables to keep you full and on track to hit your weight loss goals.
Unique to Trifecta are its high-protein, macro-balanced meals—meaning they have a good balance of proteins, carbs, and fat. Adequate protein intake, in particular, can aid weight loss by increasing fullness. (1)
“Protein is especially important during weight loss to help minimize the loss of lean body mass, including muscle.” (2)
Rob Wildman, Ph.D., RD, LD, CISSN, FISSN, Fortune Recommends Advisor
You have easy access to the nutrition information listed on each meal option on the website, which helps you easily keep track of your macros if that’s important to you.
Further, Trifecta helps support weight loss with its app that supplies intuitive weight loss tools, such as a macro tracker and food logger. There are also personalized plans to get you closer to meeting your health goals. Additionally, your meal purchase gets you access to their online community and nutrition experts for more support and help.
Trifecta also stands apart from their competitors due to their low-sodium meal options. Their meals contain around 500 milligrams of sodium, while those from other companies contain 1,000 milligrams of sodium or more.
For best results, our product testers recommend reheating the meals using a skillet or pan instead of microwaving them. That’s something to consider if you want to pack meals for work and don’t have an oven in the office.
Another drawback our testers noted was the packaging, which they found wasteful. According to Kate:
“The box and ice packs produce a lot of waste. The boxes are pretty big, and the insulation inside the box is significant. The ice packs are also large. I had a lot of garbage to throw away after I got my delivery.”
Kate Meier, Team Product Tester
However, according to Trifecta’s website, they plan to make all their packaging biodegradable in the next two years.
Visit our full Trifecta review for more information.
What customers are saying
On Trustpilot, Trifecta only has an average of 1.6 stars out of 5. Reviews are split, with some customers liking the taste of the meals.
“Started supplementing my own home-cooked meals with Trifecta, to keep me on track and avoiding fast food cheat meals,” says one reviewer named Curtis K.
“Tasty healthy meals, and conveniently delivered to my house every few days, so they’re always fresh. Great option if you’re trying to be healthy and don’t want to meal prep all the time.”
Curtis, Trustpilot
Other customers called the meals bland and expressed disappointment in the cancellation process.
“The food is subpar,” Sam V. wrote on Trustpilot. “I tried to cancel five days before my shipment date and was told I couldn’t and they refused to refund me. Had to go to my bank to get my money back.”
Specs
| Meal options | Breakfast, lunch, and dinner |
| Diet options | Paleo, keto, vegetarian, vegan |
| Meal type | Frozen meals, a la carte items |
| Calories per meal | 350-550 |
| Number of meals per week | 5 to 14 (plus the option to add 5 to 7 breakfasts) |
Best keto meal delivery for healthy eating: Factor75
Key product features
What you should know
Factor75 earned high marks from our team of analysts for taste and convenience. However, you do have to be mindful of which meals you choose. Some have up to 900 calories, which can stall your weight loss progress if you already eat too many calories for the rest of your daily meals.
- A team product tester—and triathlete—felt that Factor75 was the only meal delivery service that offered ample portions for each meal.
- Each meal costs about $13, putting Factor75 on the high end of the price range for a meal delivery company.
- While the higher-fat meals are ideal for keto dieters, Factor75 also offers meals for vegans, vegetarians, and people who follow high-protein diets.
- Some meals contain 36% of the daily recommended limit for sodium—something to be mindful of if you must follow a low-sodium diet.
- Factor75 also offers meals with as few as 350 calories, which may be better for individuals who want to lose weight.
Why we like Factor75 as best keto
Factor75’s fresh, ready-prepared keto meals change weekly and offer plenty of variety with low amounts of carbohydrates. For instance, if you choose the Grilled Steakhouse Filet Mignon dish, you’ll get eight grams of net carbohydrates.
Factor75 displays all of their keto meals with a “KETO” tag under each meal photo. You can set your meal plan to be keto only and choose your meals from there. The user-friendly website that makes the ordering process a cinch.
Each week, you can order six to 18 meals and choose from 34 options, like Roasted Garlic Butter Salmon and Jalapeno Lime Cheddar Chicken. You can round out your order by adding snacks, shakes, and desserts.
You can expect to get protein, vegetables, and grains (for non-keto eaters) in the lunch and dinner meals. There’s no clean-up to worry about with Factor75—you just microwave your meal, eat, and toss the container into a recycling bin. Our staff gave them a perfect 5 out of 5 stars for convenience.
Dietitians are available to chat with you by phone if you have nutrition questions or just need some guidance on what meals to order. You also get ample portions of food, which one of our expert product testers—who’s also a triathlete—loved. She gave Factor75 4.5 out of 5 stars for portion sizes.
“This is one of the only meal services I tried that had ample portions! These meals can fill me up when I’m in the middle of a tough training block, so they can fill up just about anyone. But some of the meals have 750-800 calories, so that’s something to be mindful of, depending on your goals.”
Team Product Tester
Nutrition information per meal is easy to view on Factor75’s website, and they also provide calorie-conscious meals with 550 calories or fewer.
However, some meals have over 830 milligrams of sodium, which is 36% of the daily limit for sodium according to the Food and Drug Administration. (5) Being mindful of your sodium intake can help keep your blood pressure in check per the American Heart Association. (6) If you have heart problems, you can seek some nutrition advice by booking a call with a registered dietitian on Factor75’s website.
Further, customer service responds quickly, which is helpful if you need to make any changes to your order.
Check out our full Factor review for more information.
What customers are saying
With close to 51,000 reviews on Trustpilot, Factor75 has an average of 3.9 stars. Customers enjoy the taste of the food, the quality of the meals, and the convenience of not having to cook.
“The Factor meals taste great and are in appropriate serving sizes. Microwave reheating in 2-3 minutes is very convenient and efficient…The time saving is significant and you don’t need to have all the ingredients in your kitchen.”
Jeff, Trustpilot
However, some reviewers note the cost as a drawback. Factor75 costs around $13 per meal, which is on the high end for a meal delivery service.
“The meals are great, the convenience is amazing, however, the price is very much on the high side, and not doable for us long-term,” an anonymous reviewer wrote.
Specs
| Meal options | Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, shakes, and desserts |
| Diet options | Flexitarian, keto, low-calorie, vegan, and vegetarian |
| Meal type | Prepared |
| Calories per meal | 350-900 |
| Number of meals per week | Up to 18 |
Best organic weight loss meal delivery: Green Chef
Key product features
What you should know
In addition to supplying ingredients from local farmers whenever possible, Green Chef uses eco-friendly and recyclable packaging. For people who want to support a company that prioritizes sustainability while working towards their weight loss goals, it could be a solid option.
- A team product tester enjoyed the taste of the meals but called out the number of tools needed to prepare them as a drawback.
- Each meal costs about $13, which puts Green Chef at the high end for a meal delivery service.
- Since Green Chef doesn’t offer prepared meals, we only recommend it for people who enjoy cooking but want to cut back on the amount of time they spend grocery shopping each week.
Why we like Green Chef as best organic
Green Chef is a certified organic meal delivery company providing 47 weekly meal options with sustainably sourced, organic ingredients with priority given to local farmers. While they don’t supply reheat-and-eat meals, Green Chef offers chef-crafted recipes and all of the ingredients and direction you need to pull your meal together at home. Our product testers appreciated that each recipe card plainly stated the instructions and gave a list of the kitchen equipment needed to prepare the meal.
You can easily filter out your lifestyle preferences, whether you’re looking for low-calorie foods or foods that support your mood by benefiting gut and brain health.
You do need some time to prepare Green Chef meals. You’ll also want to give yourself room for clean–up since it may take multiple pots and pans to get dinner on the table at the right time.
“The meals took about 30 minutes to cook, and I wouldn’t want to spend any longer than that in the kitchen during the week. They also require multiple pieces of equipment, but the recipe card lists everything you need.”
Team Product Tester
With this in mind, our tester gave Green Chef 3 out of 5 stars for ease of preparation.
Her top dinner choices were the Monterey Jack Cheese Smothered Chicken and Chicken Burrito Bowls. While the taste of the food was fantastic, she didn’t like the small portions. She gave Green Chef 3 out of 5 stars in this category as well, noting, “I could easily finish my portion and eat some of another portion. A single portion would never be enough for my husband, who’s an active, 6’2″ guy.”
Still, she appreciated that Green Chef provided nutrition information on the recipe card and made it visible on their website.
Her deliveries arrived on time, and it was clear that the company takes packaging seriously. They packed certain spices, dairy, and produce into singular bags and placed the meat at the bottom of the package under ice. All packaging is eco-friendly and recyclable, which tells us this company values sustainability.
Read our full Green Chef review for more information.
What customers are saying
With close to 3,000 reviews on Trustpilot, Green Chef has garnered an average of 3.8 stars. Satisfied customers enjoy the easy-to-follow recipe cards and the freshness of the ingredients.
“The recipes are easy to follow, the food is delicious. The vegetables are very fresh, and the meats are high-quality.”
Tammy, Trustpilot
Other reviewers mention that customer service is poor and there are issues with skipping deliveries.
A verified buyer who referred to themselves as tsargent said, “When I would skip a week, sometimes the shipment would still come in. That was frustrating enough that I let it slide once or twice and then canceled today.”
Specs
| Meal options | Breakfast, lunch, dinner, vegetable sides, and snacks |
| Diet options | Plant-based, gluten-free, keto, Mediterranean |
| Meal type | Meal kits, Green Market with ready-to-eat items and snacks |
| Calories per meal | 600-800 (on average) |
| Number of meals per week | 8 |
Best vegan weight loss meal delivery: Purple Carrot
Key product features
What you should know
Purple Carrot doesn’t offer any specific weight loss plans, but you can use their meal kits to create delicious vegan meals at home. The company also offers a convenient “Plantry” option, so you can stock up on snacks and beverages without going to the grocery store.
- Our product testers haven’t always felt full when tasting meals from various meal delivery services. However, the meals from Purple Carrot left them satisfied.
- Even though meals cost $11 per serving, Purple Carrot can still be an affordable way to add more plant-based meals to your diet.
- All of Purple Carrot’s meals are 100% vegan, but we think anyone would enjoy them. Even our non-vegan product testers gave the meals high marks for taste.
Why we like Purple Carrot as best vegan
Eating more plants may help promote weight loss and enhance your gut health, and Purple Carrot can help. (9) This plant-focused meal delivery service takes the best vegan spot since each delicious meal is 100% vegan. Purple Carrot gives you a chance to cook your own meals or order ready-made meals that require zero prep.
To boost their culinary skills, our lead product tester opted for the meal kits, which he said had fresh and great-tasting ingredients. He particularly loved making the sloppy joe, which used tofu instead of meat.
“I was quite impressed with how the meal turned out,” he said. “All of the ingredients were fresh and the entire dish tasted delicious.”
Our tester also noted the portions were generous, and he always felt full after finishing a meal. He gave Purple Carrot 4 out of 5 stars for portion size.
Being that Purple Carrot is a plant-based company, you may wonder if high-protein meals are available, and the answer is yes. Icons on the menu page allow you to see which meals are high in protein. The Black Bean Bowls, for example, offer 14 grams of protein per serving. According to Dr. Rob Wildman, an expert in human nutrition, this amount of protein can help to “meet daily protein needs, which tend to be higher during weight loss.”
Purple Carrot does a good job of offering dishes from different cultures, such as Crispy Sumac Brown Rice Bowls and Hoisin Glass Noodles. However, there may not be enough variety for some, and others may not be as adventurous with eating to try some of the dishes.
Difficulty finding the nutrition info was another drawback noted by our product tester. He only gave them 2 out of 5 stars here, noting:
“Access to the nutrition facts isn’t Purple Carrot’s strong suit. Unless you choose the high-protein meals, it’s hard to figure out where on the website to find this information.”
Team Product Tester
Also, the meals offer at least two servings, so you’ll have to do a little math to determine the nutrition of a single serving.
What sets Purple Carrot apart from other weight loss meal delivery companies is their “Plantry” section, which allows you to stock up on plant-based pantry staples you may need during your busy weeks.
Additionally, customer service is just a live chat away, but you can also call, text, or email.
Check out our in-depth Purple Carrot review for more information.
What customers are saying
Reviews on Trustpilot for Purple Carrot are positive, with the company averaging 3.8 stars based on 876 reviews. Most customers enjoy the flavors of the meals and have no complaints about the ingredient quality or freshness.
“The meals from Purple Carrot are like going out to dinner! The entrees are creative, multi-layered in their flavors, easy to prepare, and made with quality ingredients. My husband was skeptical at first about eating vegan, but he has been wowed by these dinners and now looks forward to them.”
Username “KKTeren,” Trustpilot
However, some reviewers mention issues with missing ingredients.
“We had at least our third meal today that had an ingredient missing,” commented one verified buyer referred to as CTD. “Tonight’s meal was cauliflower steaks and the cauliflower was missing. Really need more quality control on the meal ingredients to make sure all are included.”
Specs
| Meal options | Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks |
| Diet options | Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free |
| Meal type | Meal kits, prepared meals, frozen, “plantry” items |
| Calories per meal | 500-800 (per serving) |
| Number of meals per week | Up to 4 |
How we test meal delivery services
Our team of product testers ranks meal delivery services based on strict quality standards. Our standards ensure first-person experience with products, fact-checking by qualified experts, and medical reviewing by industry professionals.
Learn more about how our testing process below, or read our full meal delivery service methodology page for an in-depth look at how we rank each company.
Meal choices—30%
If your goal is to lose weight, your success may require a long-term commitment. What better way to commit to healthy eating than by having a robust selection to choose from? We know it’s important to score companies based on meal variety, but we also look at the following criteria:
- Multiple options
- Substitutions
- Guidance
- Label transparency
Food quality—30%
Keeping foods fresh is often a concern of customers when looking for the right meal delivery services. Our testers have made note of companies with the freshest ingredients so that it’s easy to reap the benefits of healthy foods straight to your door.
In addition to freshness, we also evaluate meal delivery services on these factors:
- Flavor
- Healthiness
Value—20%
Choosing the right meal delivery service for you is often driven by financial investment, which is why we’ve done the work of figuring out how well one service may fit your budget compared to the next.
We analyzed the cost per meal relative to the number of meals or servings provided, but we also scored each meal delivery service on the following:
- Fair price
- Multiple quantity options
- Customization
Customer experience—20%
At times, you’ll need to contact the company for assistance with your order if something goes wrong or if the ordering process isn’t straightforward. We scored meal delivery services on the options available for contacting customer support, how quickly the agents respond to questions, and how knowledgeable the representatives are about the meals and subscription options.
When considering a company’s overall customer experience, we also evaluated them on the below categories:
- Packaging
- Ease of preparation
- Reviews
Are meal delivery services worth it?
Whether meal delivery services are worth it to you will depend on your daily schedule, family, budget, and needs for convenience. According to Statista, American households spent a weekly average of $150 on groceries in 2022. (10) Further, in 2022, American households spent $3,639 on meals eaten away from home, per Statista. (11)
A large complaint people can have about meal delivery services is their cost, but it’s important to factor in how much money you spend on groceries, how much time you have to prepare them, how much groceries go to waste, and how much you spend dining out.
How to choose a meal delivery service for weight loss
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to choosing a meal delivery service for weight loss. Here’s a list of things to consider when selecting the right meal delivery service for you:
Determine your budget
On average, meal delivery services can cost around $10-$15 per meal. If you want to get three meals per day for seven days, you can easily spend over $200 per week. The cost goes up even further if you buy meals for multiple family members. You may end up spending more on meal delivery than you would on your weekly grocery shopping. Therefore, you’ll need to decide what you’re comfortable spending.
However, remember that meal delivery services remove the need for you to grocery shop and meal prep. The convenience alone can make the extra cost worth it.
Consider your dietary preferences
If you follow a special diet, like gluten-free, keto, vegetarian, or paleo, ensure the meal delivery service can cater to your needs. This is especially important if you have to avoid certain ingredients due to food allergies or religious reasons.
Read the nutritional information
Review the nutrition facts for each of the meals you’re interested in trying. Pay close attention to the number of calories per meal and consider how each meal will fit into your overall daily caloric intake. If you’re meticulous about tracking macros, also analyze the protein, carbs, and fat in each meal.
Look for meal variety and customization options
Having a variety of foods to choose from prevents boredom and helps you stay on track. You’re less likely to veer off course and stop for takeout or reach for less nutritious options when you get hungry.
Furthermore, being able to customize your meals and make substitutions when desired ensures satisfaction. If you don’t have to choke down your food, you’ll find it much easier to reach your goals.
FAQs
Can meal delivery services help you lose weight?
Meal delivery services may be a beneficial part of your weight loss success because they can enhance your intake of highly nutritious foods, remove the likelihood of missing meals, and leave you satisfied after eating which can keep you full for longer.
Which meal delivery service is best for weight loss?
Generally, the best meal delivery service for weight loss depends on your lifestyle and dietary needs and preferences. However, in this review, our top pick for the best meal delivery service overall is Trifecta. Trifecta offers high-quality and fresh ingredients, multiple plans to suit many dietary needs, and significant weight loss support.
Our experts
Robert Wildman, Ph.D., RD, LD, CISSN, FISSN
“Dr. Rob” is a globally renowned exercise, fitness, and nutrition expert who speaks around the world on exercise and sport nutrition, and continues to work with professional and elite athletes to achieve their highest level of performance as well as health and fitness. Rob received his Ph.D. from The Ohio State University, earned his MS from Florida State University, and earned his BS from the University of Pittsburgh. He is also a registered and licensed dietitian.
Amanda Dvorak
Amanda has been writing and editing fitness and nutrition content since 2021, with a heavy focus on equipment and supplement reviews. She has contributed to BarBend, Breaking Muscle, FeastGood, and PowerliftingTechnique. While she currently does CrossFit out of her garage gym, Amanda also enjoys lifting heavy weights, running, cycling, and hiking. She is currently studying for her personal trainer certification through the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA).
Kelly Uhler
Kelly has a multifaceted background in elder care, health care, and copywriting. She has worked for organizations such as A Place For Mom and Homecare.com, which gave her the opportunity to work closely with families, providing reliable information to help them make informed decisions about their loved one’s health, safety, and quality of life.
Gaby McPherson, RDN
Fortune Recommends Nutrition Writer
About Author
Gaby McPherson, RDN, is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and freelance writer with 9 years of experience in the health and wellness industry. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition and Dietetics and completed her dietetic internship at St. Louis University. She also earned a Master of Science degree from St. Louis University with a concentration in pediatric nutrition.