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Factor (formerly Factor75) is a meal delivery service that provides fresh, dietitian-designed meals. Subscribers praise the flavors and quality of Factor’s meals, but some find the service too expensive. Here’s our hands-on review.
Please note that the writer of this article has not tried this service.
Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here.
Heather Riesebeck, SEO Associate at Healthline, received products from Factor for free. All opinions are her own.
My experience
“[I chose the] 6 meal plan, various Protein Plus, Calorie Smart, [and] Keto. The signup process was super easy to navigate. I had the option to change my delivery date or pause for a certain amount of time if needed. It was very easy to cancel my subscription as well, and gave me the option to pause for no charge if I preferred that.
“I was impressed with the variety of meals to choose from. It seemed to be mostly American, Italian, and Mexican cuisine. However, within these cuisines, I found lots of different options so that I could have variety throughout my week. There were lots of healthy options with different focuses, like low carb, high protein, low calorie. I try to have meals in with higher protein so it was nice to have that category easy to find on the website.
“I was blown away by the texture of the chicken, as I am normally very skeptical about reheating meat. The chicken breast was juicy and flavorful, like I had just cooked it. All of the vegetables were very fresh as well, not mushy like lots of other microwavable meals. I found that all the meals I tried were seasoned well, and I could see that if someone wanted to enhance it further, it would be easy to add more spices (however I did not need/want to).
“The sweet potato grits were amazing and unlike anything I’d tasted before. Overall I was very impressed with the ingredient quality and freshness.”
To start with Factor, a person must visit Factor’s website and navigate to the Get Started button. A person can then select a plan to suit their preferences. Factor customizes plans based on preferences, and people can choose from five options:
- Chef’s Choice
- Keto
- Calorie Smart
- Protein Plus
- Vegan & Veggie
A person can choose one or more of these options so that their meal plan combines these preferences. Next, Factor prompts them to choose the number of meals they want per week, ranging from six to 18.
Choosing more meals per week increases the discount on the price. Factor’s menu changes every week.
Individuals can pause, cancel, or change their Factor meal delivery service plan anytime. To avoid unwanted charges and meals, the company advises people to cancel their orders before the weekly cutoff time of 11:59 p.m. CT.
Factor does not charge more for certain menu plans. Instead, the amount of meals per week influences the cost per meal. People may find that buying more meals is better value.
Below, we break down the cost of each plan option.
The Factor meal delivery service organizes meal plans based on the number of meals a person orders per week. Individuals can heat all of Factor’s meals in just a few minutes in the microwave or oven.
Factor meals include lunches and dinners. The company also offers limited breakfast items, snacks, and drinks. The following are some available options:
Breakfasts
- paleo granola
- breakfast enchilada bake
- orange pancakes
- smoothies or juices
A person can also get bundles, which include breakfast bundles, smoothie bundles, and paired meals.
Main courses
- chickpea curry
- red pepper queso chicken
- pesto salmon
- harissa-braised chicken
- jalapeño popper burger
Snacks and drinks
- oven-roasted mahi mahi
- vegan brownie energy bites
- tropical fruit smoothie
No matter how many meals they order per week, Factor subscribers can filter their options according to the following preferences:
- Vegan and veggie: all meals are meat-free.
- Calorie smart: all meals in this category have 550 or fewer calories.
- Keto: this category features low carbohydrate, high fat meals.
- Chef’s choice: this category features a range of choices suitable for any lifestyle, including keto, vegetarian, and calorie-conscious.
Factor claims to work with suppliers offering high quality ingredients and striving to improve their animal-raising systems. It states it does not work with companies that mistreat animals.
The company website states that Factor meals do not use ingredients containing genetically modified organisms, and many ingredients are organic.
Factor’s meats are from grass-fed or pasture-raised animals, and the eggs do not contain any antibiotics.
Factor uses recyclable and insulated packaging. It also delivers meals in nontoxic and reusable gel packs that contain salt water and sodium polyacrylate.
The company advises against disposing of ice pack contents in the sink or toilet, as they can clog pipes. A person may consider donating them to organizations such as Girl Scouts or a local food bank instead.
In addition, Factor food containers are free of bisphenol A (BPA). BPA is a chemical that can be
The company packs the meals in crystallizable polyethylene terephthalate containers. This is a type of plastic that is safe for food storage. This packaging is also microwave- and oven-safe.
Factor has mainly positive online reviews. Trustpilot shows the company has an average review rating of 4 out of 5 stars, based on over 40,000 customer reviews. Of them, 58% give five stars, and 8% give one star.
The company gets many positive reviews for the taste and quality of its food. People who say they would generally like to eat more healthily or follow keto diets seem particularly pleased with the service.
Negative feedback focuses on customer service issues, such as difficulty resolving concerns about credit card charges. Some people also note that the service is too expensive.
According to the company’s website, Factor’s meals are suitable for people who are trying to lose weight. It states that the meals tend to average about 600 calories. People can also choose lower-calorie meals. Therefore, Factor could be useful for someone wanting to lose weight.
That said, its meals are fairly high in sodium, which may not be helpful for those looking to lose weight. Individuals who want to eliminate sugar from their diet may opt for meals free from or low in sugar.
Customers can choose and combine meals that meet their nutrition goals. The company provides a nutritional value label that indicates the amount of calories, fats, fiber, or sugar the dish has.
Factor enters its meals into apps such as MyFitnessPal and Carb Manager, which may make it easier for customers to track their nutrient intake.
Factor also offers consultations with dietitians if a person wishes to discuss their weight goals in more detail.
Many meal delivery services online deliver either ready-made meals or meal kits. The table below compares Factor with its competitors.
Subscription meal services can be expensive, and it is unlikely that meal delivery services will be more affordable than shopping at a grocery store. However, there are tools available that can help people maintain a balanced diet.
For instance, people can use a range of free online resources, such as MyPlate, to plan nutritious meals throughout the week ahead. They can then try to set aside time once per week to cook and then freeze or store batches of meals for future use.
Learn more about the cheapest meal delivery services.
Alternatively, if a person finds the nutritional consultation aspect of Factor appealing, they can consult a registered dietitian for help designing a meal plan that suits them.
In this section, we answer some commonly asked questions about Factor.
Is Factor high in sodium?
Many Factor meals contain over 600 milligrams (mg) of sodium, with some containing over 1,000 mg. This makes them a fairly high sodium choice, especially when the recommended daily sodium limit for adults is
How much is Factor per month?
Factor can roughly cost between $364.23 and $857.35 per month. The fewer meals a person orders weekly, the more expensive the monthly cost.
Does HelloFresh own factor?
HelloFresh owns Factor. It acquired the company in 2020.
How much does one Factor meal cost?
The cost of one of Factor’s meals varies, depending on how many meals a person orders.
If they order four meals per week, the cost is around $15 per meal. If they order 18 meals per week, the cost is closer to $11 per meal.
How does Factor’s nutritionist service work?
Individuals can book a free 20-minute nutrition consultation with a registered dietitian to discuss which Factor meals are right for them and to create a nutrition plan. As the dietitians design the meals specifically for Factor, they will be familiar with the brand and able to recommend appropriate meals.
According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, registered dietitians and nutritionists can help people manage the following:
People may need more than Factor’s 20 minutes of support, but the service could put them on the right track regarding their eating habits.
Individuals wanting more information and help may wish to consult a dietitian privately.
What dietary requirements does Factor cater to?
In addition to low calorie meals, Factor offers low-carbohydrate and keto meals. A short-term keto diet
A
Factor offers dietitian-approved meals that cater to various dietary needs.
For example, they may appeal to health-conscious people or want to manage their weight better. The convenience of ready-made meals may also suit someone with a busy lifestyle or limited cooking skills.
However, meal delivery services can be expensive. Therefore, a person may prefer to plan meals weekly to make grocery store visits easier or cook in bulk and eat portions throughout the week.
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