Many meal delivery services claim to offer easy plans that support weight loss goals, but not all of them are sustainable in the long run. In fact, it can be difficult to find a service that doesn’t have steep calorie deficits or meals that taste like soggy cardboard.
Thankfully, there are options out there that take the hassle out of healthy eating. I’ve worked with a team of experts who’ve tried and tested some of the best on the market and taken their experiences into account, along with my own research, to bring you this comprehensive list of the 10 best weight loss meal delivery services.
My top choice is Factor. Alongside its sustainable prices, there’s a good range of carb- and calorie-conscious prepared meals and even a dedicated Calorie Smart plan. But every meal delivery service on this list can help you lose those unwanted pounds.
Factor – Best keto-friendly prepared meals
BistroMD – Best MD-approved diet meal delivery service
Nutrisystem – Best meal plan for fast weight loss
HelloFresh – Best affordable weight-loss meal delivery
Protein packs, smoothies, and other extras available
35+ meals on the menu each week
Dietary options include gluten-free, keto, vegan, and more
Current deal: Enjoy 50% OFF your first box and 20% OFF the next 4 boxes!
Factor brings healthy, prepared meals to your door, which could be useful for anyone trying to stick to a more restrictive diet such as keto or gluten-free.
There’s no chopping vegetables, no shopping for groceries – just pop a meal in the microwave, and in 3 to 5 minutes, you’ll have a balanced dish on the table. Whether you’re short on time, kitchen equipment, or culinary skill, a Factor subscription could ensure you’re still eating meals that fit your diet plan.
If you’re looking for keto options, Factor has a great range that includes dinners like the Jalapeño-Lime-Cheddar Chicken pictured, which contains a whopping 42g of protein and just 10g of carbs to help keep your body fueled.
The Calorie Smart plan gives you meals that are around 550 calories or less. Every week, you’ll get a choice of 15 to 18 Calorie Smart options. Though even if you mix it up and order other meals, you’ll find that most Factor dinners come in less than 750.
Factor also has a small selection of vegan and vegetarian meals, including recipes like the Indian-Spiced Vegetables and Tomato Rice with Candied Cinnamon Almonds, Tandoori Carrots and Cilantro-Mint Chutney. While there probably aren’t enough options for those who are solely vegan, they’re a great way to incorporate some meat-free days into your diet.
These ready meals taste just as good as any home-cooked dishes, which my colleague confirmed when they put Factor under the microscope. Factor also offers high-protein breakfasts, smoothies, wellness shots, keto-friendly snacks, and extra proteins for those who want to include add-ons in their box.
Factor also offers optional nutritional coaching for an extra fee. You get a free 20-minute virtual session when you sign up, so you can try it out without obligation and see if it works for you.
Factor’s prices are high compared to some of the other options on my list, but the convenience and quality of the ingredients could be worth the cost. Every dish is made with premium, sustainably farmed proteins and non-GMO ingredients, and prepared by in-house chefs.
Physician-designed meals and dietary support
150+ breakfast, lunch, and dinner items – plus snacks
Dietary options include gluten-free, diabetes-friendly, heart-healthy, and more
Current deal: 40% OFF + free shipping on your first week
BistroMD sends flash-frozen prepared meals to your door each week, as many as 3 meals per day for ultimate convenience. You can order breakfast, lunch, dinner – and even snacks – which makes tracking your food intake and losing weight much easier.
The service was set up in 2005 by Dr.Caroline J. Cederquist, a weight loss physician. Her goal was to ensure her patients were getting the nutrition they needed. Today, Dr. Cederquist works with other medical professionals, and her foodie husband Ed, on the healthy weight loss programs.
BistroMD has a number of specialist plans to choose from, which are great for anyone struggling with specific health conditions. These include gluten-free, heart-healthy, diabetic, menopause-friendly, and keto plans.
They’re all designed with input from medical professionals. But if you have medical issues of your own, BistroMD recommends that you speak with a physician before starting any kind of weight loss plan.
BistroMD will automatically choose your meals for you each week, though there is the option to swap out some entrees. Since all the portion-controlled dishes contain 450 calories or less, you can rest assured that everything will be within your daily calorie limit.
The menu is heavy on meat and fish, with a few veggie options and little-to-no vegan meals. While breakfast might include something like a Cheese Omelet with Turkey Sausage or Blueberry Waffles with Mixed Berry Compote, lunch and dinner entrees feature dishes such as Meatloaf with Honey Bourbon Glaze, or Chicken Rice and Chedder Casserole (pictured).
Our reviewer was especially impressed by BistroMD’s EATS, also known as Essential and Tasty Snacks. In conjunction with low-calorie meals these high-protein, high-fiber treats help you resist the temptation to cheat – think Chewy Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars and collagen-infused Cookie Dough.
BistroMD also provides subscribers with access to dietitians and fitness experts. Their guidance could help you develop healthier lifestyle habits that let you maintain your ideal weight once you reach it. And if you want to lose weight with your partner, BistroMD offers a 15% discount for couples and families.
Convenient, calorie-controlled portions
More than 100 meals and snacks to choose from
Dietary options include vegetarian and diabetes-friendly
Nutrisystem’s restricted-calorie plans are super convenient for anyone trying to lose weight. The service actually encourages subscribers to eat 6 small meals a day, so as well as having the food delivered to your door, it’s unlikely you’ll feel hungry on this program.
Nutrisystem offers 3 plans, with different calorie counts for women and men. Each plan also offers a Diabetes option and a Partner option. These plans include Essentials, Uniquely Yours Max+, and Complete 55.
The Essentials Plan gives you 5 days of Nutrisystem Pantry-Perfect meals. These meals are shelf-stable and do not require refrigeration. The selection of Pantry-Perfect meals is fairly small, so you’ll need to supplement your meals with healthy snacks at home.
The first 7 days are designed for Nutrisystem meals and snacks only. This all-encompassing menu kickstarts your weight loss journey with calorie-controlled portions. As you progress, you add “flex meals” and other treats in moderation. Nutrisystem provides shopping lists to help to simplify your grocery shopping and keep you on track.
You also get access to Nutrisystem’s NuMi app, which helps you on your weight loss journey, and to Nutrisystem’s optional (but recommended) protein shakes.
Nutrisystem’s most popular plan, Uniquely Yours Max+, gives you a choice of 5 or 7 days of meals. But in addition to Pantry-Perfect offerings, it also adds Hearty Inspirations meals. The Chicken Parmesan (pictured) is a frozen entree that comes in at just 270 calories.
Uniquely Yours Max+ adds in larger meals that are more filling while still remaining low in calories. It also provides a full 7 days worth of meals, making it the best choice for those who might find themselves overeating on weekends. Although I was unimpressed by the taste of Nutrisystem’s meals, I found that it can help you lose weight if you stick to it.
Farm-fresh ingredients and crowd-pleasing dishes
50+ recipes to choose from each week
Dietary options include vegetarian, pescatarian, and calorie-smart
HelloFresh is one of the most popular meal kit delivery services in the US, and it's also one of the most affordable, with prices starting at $3.32 per serving.
The service offers a wide selection of nutritious and wholesome meals that are perfect for anyone wanting to add more variety and color to their dinner times – but on a limited budget.
All the recipes are dietitian-approved and have a good balance of macros. The Fit & Wholesome plan is particularly great for weight loss, since it’s filled with meals that are less than 650 calories per serving. The Creamy Lemon-Herb Pork Chops (pictured), for example, have just 590 calories per serving. You can subscribe to the Fit & Wholesome plan when you sign up, or just look for the Calorie Smart tag when you browse the menu.
HelloFresh also has Veggie and Pescatarian meal plans. The fish dishes are packed with healthy Omega-3 fats and protein, while the plant-forward meals have vitamins and fiber that will help you feel fuller for longer. There are even some vegan recipes on the menu. My colleague tried HelloFresh’s Veggie and Pescatarian meals at home and revealed that “everything turned out looking and tasting delicious”.
If you’re trying to cut down on carbs, look out for the Carb Smart tag, which identifies recipes that have less than 50g of carbs per serving. HelloFresh doesn’t have a dedicated keto plan (unlike its premium subsidiary Green Chef, which we’ll talk about next) but if you’re looking to limit your carb intake, you can try meals like the Sesame-Crusted Chicken Salad and One Pan Mushroom Cauliflower “Risotto.”
HelloFresh also scores highly for its outstanding customer service. All the meals are ranked by difficulty and you can even make some protein and side swaps, thanks to its HelloCustom feature.
Subscribers also get access to the HelloFresh Market, where you can add high-quality produce and bulk-buy proteins to your order. If you can resist the temptation to order the desserts, the HelloFresh Market could save you serious shopping time.
Healthy, organic ingredients for specialized diets
45 recipes to choose from each week
Dietary options include keto, plant-based, and gluten-free
Green Chef was the first USDA-certified organic meal kit company, and it has since day one been focused on healthy eating. Consuming high-quality ingredients not only keeps your body fueled but it can be an integral part of weight loss and weight maintenance.
With Green Chef, you get fresh-from-the-farm produce alongside prepared marinades that are free from corn syrup, preservatives, and other additives that you might find in store-branded meals, while all the meat and seafood is responsibly sourced, non-GMO, and free of antibiotics, hormones, and steroids.
This is a premium service that lives up to its price tag, as I discovered when I tried Green Chef at home. The food was some of the best I’ve cooked in several years of reviewing meal delivery services, so you’ll have no problem sticking with this diet plan.
Green Chef has a superb keto menu. Many of the meals on the keto menu are gluten-free and contain no grains or legumes. The Mediterranean Chicken with Artichokes (pictured) is an example of a filling keto dish that has just 550 calories per serving. And since the meals are so varied, you’ll find new options every week.
Green Chef is also a great opportunity to get more plant-based foods into your diet. Its meals from the Plant Based menu are packed with flavor – look out for dishes like Chimichurri White Bean Stuffed Peppers with Herby Kale Rice, Pepitas, and Cashew “Parmesan”.
The Quick & Easy plan has meals that are ready in 25 minutes or less. Green Chef’s newest plan is Protein Packed, which – as you might have guessed – is super high in protein and perfect for fitness buffs. Whichever plan you choose, you’ll always be able to order from the wider menu if you want to mix it up.
There’s also a ton of add-ons available each week. You can add breakfast entrees, salads, and healthy proteins like chicken cutlets and salmon fillets. The extra convenience could save you valuable shopping time, and ensures you stay on track with your diet.
With prices from $5.99 per serving, Green Chef isn’t cheap. But I can say from experience that you get what you pay for.
Swap, upgrade, or double-up on protein
30+ recipes each week, plus extras
Dietary options include carb-conscious and calorie-conscious
Home Chef’s Customize It feature allows you to make healthy swaps for sustainable, long-term weight loss. While not all of the meals are considered low-calorie, you could switch fattier meats like Italian pork sausage for ground turkey, for example, or even choose the vegetarian option, though these are not so readily available at the moment.
You can also filter the menu to exclude certain allergens or ingredients when you set up your Home Chef subscription. The list is basic, but does include options such as nuts, shellfish, and pork. You can also opt to view only calorie-conscious (less than 625 calories per serving) or carb-conscious (less than 35g carbs per serving) meals.
These meals aren’t boring either! The Cheesy Italian-Style Bolognese Risotto pictured is a calorie-conscious dish coming in at just 600 calories per serving – so you don’t need to worry about feeling cheated by Home Chef’s lower-cal offerings.
There are even Express calorie-conscious recipes like the Jalapeño-Popper Chicken with Corn and Zucchini, which can be ready in just 15 minutes.
You can find Home Chef’s dietitian-approved dishes by looking for the green tomato icon. These are described by Home Chef as being “lighter spins on classic favorites.” Find out more about what my colleague thought of these when they gave Home Chef a trial run.
Home Chef’s meal kits vary in both cooking time and difficulty, from the more-complex Culinary Collection recipes to fast, easy meals like oven-ready options and 15-minute meal kits. You can mix and match across the board, so you’ll always find something to suit your schedule (zero excuse to order takeout!).
Note that some of Home Chef’s meals can be high in sodium. If you are watching your sodium intake, check out my list of the 10 Best Low-Sodium Meal Delivery Services.
Offers tips for reducing calories in your cooking
19+ recipes on the menu each week, plus extras
Dietary options include vegetarian, diabetes-friendly, and more
Blue Apron includes several low-calorie meals each week, so you can eat lower-calorie dinners without feeling cheated of variety. At just 450 calories per serving, the Garlic Shrimp and Spanish-Style Potato dish (pictured) is an example of a diet-friendly dish that doesn’t skimp on flavor.
The Wellness menu has healthy options to please everyone, with nutritionist-approved recipes that include carb-conscious dishes, Mediterranean-inspired meals, vegetarian meals, and more.
The service even includes tips to help you on your weight-loss journey with suggestions such as using an alternative cooking oil or replacing sour cream with low-fat yogurt. For example, Blue Apron recommends you coat your pan with a nonstick cooking spray instead of olive oil.
And if you want to add even more variety, the online Market offers packaged spice blends that introduce flavor without unwanted calories. With exotic options like Za’atar and Japanese Togarashi, you’ll be able to put an international spin on your healthy meals.
If you enjoy the occasional glass of wine, you may enjoy Blue Apron’s wine subscription. While too much alcohol may sabotage weight loss, a glass of wine with dinner can be a fine and healthy treat – and Blue Apron’s bottles come perfectly sized for two.
My colleague found the step-by-step recipes easy to follow, and you can save Blue Apron’s recipe cards and use them again in the future. This is useful as learning how to cook healthier meals can be a huge help in keeping the weight off after you lose those unwanted pounds.
Blue Apron also offers a great selection of extras, including a number of Heat & Eat meals which can be microwaved in minutes – just look for those marked with the Wellness sticker for healthier fast food. You can also pick up soups, salads, and extra proteins.
Great range of low-calorie meals
100+ recipes on the menu each week, including extras
Dietary options include vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, and more
Marley Spoon is known for its wide selection of recipes curated by Martha Stewart. If you’re feeding a family, Marley Spoon has tons of options that will please everyone – even the littlest and pickiest members of your household.
Marley Spoon also offers a great range of low-calorie options that could help with weight loss. The dedicated Low-Calorie recipes have less than 650 calories per serving, with tasty dinners available like the Sheet Pan Barramundi and Roasted Vegetables (pictured).
You’ll also find a great range of vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free, and kid-friendly options, which my colleague highlights in their review. Of course, meal kits also give you the flexibility to swap or remove ingredients where necessary, so you can make your own healthier choices while cooking, such as using less oil or butter.
Marley Spoon’s One Pot meals will save you a sink full of dirty dishes on those nights when you want minimal prep and cleanup. All the recipes are easy to follow, too, just note that you may need some pantry essentials to hand like balsamic vinegar and other items – but you can check for these on each recipe.
There are also low-carb options for anyone watching their carb intake. These come in at less than 40g of carbohydrates per serving but you can still expect family favorites, like the Chicken Parm Skillet Meatballs. Marley Spoon is probably not the best choice for serious keto dieters, though, who will fare better with one of our 10 Best Keto Meal Delivery Services.
I should also mention Marley Spoon’s dedication to sustainability. Not only was this meal delivery service the first to go completely carbon neutral, but its packaging is completely recyclable, with detailed information available on the website.
Enjoy up to 3 meals per day, 5 or 7 days per week
150+ meals and snacks on the menu
Dietary options include keto, vegetarian, and diabetes-friendly
Diet-to-Go’s freshly prepared meals come with sides and condiments, delivered to your door in a large box with heating instructions and a nutritional breakdown of each dish. Each meal is ready to eat after just 2 or 3 minutes in the microwave. My colleague tried Diet-to-Go at home and declared it “a great choice if you’re looking for a strict diet regimen.”.
Diet-to-Go’s menus are offered on a five-week cycle, with tons of meals to choose from. You can choose a 5- or 7-day plan with 2 or 3 meals per day. If you want to swap some of the meals that Diet-to-Go suggests to you, you can.
The plans are tailored by gender. The women’s plan offers around 1,200 calories per day, while men get 1,600 calories. In addition to its standard Balance menu, Diet-to-Go also offers programs designed for those with diabetes, a Keto-Carb30 option, a Vegetarian plan, and a heart-healthy Mediterranean plan. It’s worth noting that there are no options for vegans.
The Balance-Diabetes plan is designed to be low in sodium, fat, and cholesterol, with carbs being kept to less than 45g per serving. All the meals on this program meet the nutritional guidelines of the American Diabetes Association. The Keto-Carb30 plan limits your carb intake to just 30g per serving.
Diet-to-Go’s Mediterranean plan is designed for people who want to keep weight off, with meals inspired by the Mediterranean diet. While this can be a good transition for people who have reached their ideal weight with Diet-to-Go, I also recommend checking out my list of the 10 Best Meal Delivery Services for the Mediterranean Diet for a longer-term solution.
There’s no tracking or calorie-counting (that’s all done for you), so if you follow the Diet-to-Go plan faithfully, you’ll certainly lose weight. With prices starting at $4.60, it’s not cheap – but it could be worth it if you’ve tried to lose weight in the past and struggled.
100% plant-based meals, including add-ons
16 meal kits and prepared meals each week
Dietary options include nut-free, soy-free, and high protein
Purple Carrot’s plant-based offers can be great for weight loss. Often people don’t know where to start when it comes to leading a vegan lifestyle, but if you want to learn how to pack in the protein in a more plant-forward way – and make veggies exciting at the same time – Purple Carrot is the answer.
Purple Carrot’s meal kits celebrate veggies in all their forms rather than relying on processed meat substitutes. Its menu includes many Asian, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influences. The meal kits not only help you eat more vegetables, but teach you vegan recipes and cooking techniques you can use later.
The service’s prepared meals are ready within just 2 to 3 minutes in the microwave. And Purple Carrot recently introduced Less Prep meals with premade sauces and some pre-chopped vegetables to save you cooking and cleanup time. Its Plantry also offers staples like cashew cream cheese, vegan desserts, and plant-based breakfast and lunch entrees.
Purple Carrot’s <600 Calories label lets you find lower-calorie entrees. The Cajun Baked Tofu (pictured) combines tangy pickled cauliflower and chard with cajun-spiced tofu for a flavor explosion that comes in at just 430 calories. And with 31g of plant-based protein, this supper dish will keep you feeling full for hours.
It also lets you search for entrees using the High Protein, Soy Free, Gluten Free, and Nut Free labels should you have other dietary needs. And with most meals coming in under 750 calories, Purple Carrot’s menu is a great choice for anyone trying to moderate their calorie intake. In his review, my (non-vegan!) colleague found Purple Carrot meals to be tasty, satisfying, and packed with flavor.
Purple Carrot can get you accustomed to eating more tasty, healthy plants in place of fattening junk food and empty calories. Losing weight is not nearly so hard as keeping the weight off. Purple Carrot can help you develop better eating habits, which is the best way of ensuring lasting weight loss.
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Our Rating | 9.6 | 9.2 | 9.1 | 9.5 | 9.6 | 9.4 | 9.2 | 8.8 | 9.0 | 9.1 |
Starting Price | ||||||||||
Starting Price | $6.19 Per Serving | $8.24 Per Serving | $8.54 Per Serving | $3.32 Per Serving | $5.99 Per Serving | $7.99 Per Serving | $5.74 Per Serving | $2.99 Per Serving | $4.60 Per Serving | $8.50 Per Serving |
Minimum Order | ||||||||||
Minimum Order | 6 prepared meals | 10 prepared meals | 6 meals for 4 days | 2 meals for 2 people | 3 meals for 2 people | 2 meals for 2 people | 2 meals for 2 people | 2 meals for 2 people | 10 prepared meals | 3 meal kits for 2 people/6 prepared meals |
Meal Types | ||||||||||
Meal Types | Prepared meals | Prepared meals | Prepared meals, shelf-stable, and frozen food | Meal kits, speedy kits, prepared meals | 30-minute meal kits | Kits, speedy kits, oven-ready | 20 - 60 min. meal kits | 30 min. meal kits | Prepared meals | Meal kits, prepared meals |
Prep Time | ||||||||||
Prep Time | 2-3 min | 2-3 min | 0-3 min | 5-50 min | 25-40 min | 5-50 min | 5-45 min | 20-40 min | 2-3 min | 3-40 min |
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Active Deals |
Whether you’re trying to stick to a strict weight-loss diet or you’re just looking to eat healthier, there’s a meal delivery service that can help. Here’s what I look for to help find the right one:
Enjoyable tasty meals: Counting calories shouldn't lead to joyless eating, and dieting shouldn't put your health in jeopardy. I've sought out services that provide you with tasty, nutritionist-approved meal plans for sensible (and long-term) weight loss.
Weight-loss cooking tips: It's easy to add unhealthy things like heavy cream or extra oil when you cook from scratch. Look for services that give tips for making tasty but low-calorie meals.
Flexible plans: Finding the right weight loss meal delivery service can take some time – you may want to try a few to see which gets you the best results. In that case, find a service that’ll let you cancel your subscription with minimal fuss, and remember to check for active discounts each time you try somewhere new!
Plenty of choices: Look for a service that offers a large, diverse menu or one that changes weekly. Sticking to a weight loss plan is tough enough without having to pick from the same few meals every day!
Factor comes top of my list thanks to its varied and exciting menu. It’s also committed to offering high-quality meals that are both healthy and great value.
Green Chef made my top 10 because it’s one of the best options for anyone who wants to cook nutritious, balanced meals at home. Its keto-friendly meal kits are great for those trying to lose weight, while its vegan options will help you incorporate more plant-based ingredients into your diet.
Meal delivery services with special menus, such as HelloFresh’s Fit & Wholesome plan, could be a great way to lose weight. Many services offer dedicated menus which have been optimized for low-calorie and low-carb diets.
If you’re looking for a program that offers calorie-controlled portions and up to 3 meals per day delivered to your door, a service like BistroMD could be an alternative.