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If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process. Some meal delivery brands cater to people who want to lose weight. Increasing exercise levels and adopting other healthy habits can help. Share on PinterestThis article explains how meal delivery services work and why they may help with weight loss. It lists brands that people can try, discusses the benefits and downsides of meal delivery, and looks at general weight loss tips. A quick look at the best meal delivery services for weight lossBest for a range of diets FactorBest for organic meals TrifectaBest for lower budgets Blue ApronBest for certified humane meals Fresh n LeanBest for allergies GobbleBest for gender-specific meals BistroMDBest for fast preparation FreshlyBest for vegans Veestro What is meal delivery Meal delivery brands provide prepared meals for home delivery. A person only needs to heat them up. Meal delivery kits, on the other hand, contain portioned ingredients and recipes. People prepare and cook these meals at home. In both cases, a person chooses the types and number of meals they want to order each week. Most brands offer one-off purchases as well as subscription plans. Using a meal delivery service may save time and help prevent food waste. These services may appeal to people with limited cooking abilities or people who want to try new recipes without the hassle of grocery shopping. Learn more about the best meal delivery kits. How we chose Medical News Today selects meal delivery services that fit the following criteria:Price: MNT chooses meal delivery services that will suit a variety of budgets.Diets: MNT selects meal delivery services that cater to a wide range of diets.Nutritional quality: MNT only chooses meal delivery services that offer nutritionally balanced meals and plans that aim to provide a person with adequate daily nutrition.Ingredient freshness: MNT selects meal delivery services that use fresh ingredients free from preservatives. The meal delivery services also keep their food fresh during delivery by appropriately cooling and packing the food.Ease of preparation: MNT chooses meal delivery services offering meals that are easy to prepare and suitable for people with varying levels of cooking experience. Meal delivery brands for weight loss A person should be sure that their meal choices meet nutritional requirements and contain whole grains, vegetables, and a suitable balance of macronutrients. People should vary their menu choices to ensure they are getting essential vitamins and minerals. Learn more about a healthy diet here. Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information presented is purely research-based and correct at the time of publication. Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here. Best for a range of diets Factor Factor, formerly Factor 75, provides fully prepared meals designed by dietitians and prepared by chefs. The company says that its meals are fresh, never frozen, and that a person needs to eat them within 7 days of delivery. This brand may be suitable for those who have a range of diets, as it offers several menus that may help with weight management, including:low calorielow carbhigh proteinketoplant-basedpaleo It also has gluten-free options. The company says its meals each have around 600 calories. Sample meals At the time of writing, some options include:keto poblano bowlGreek lemon chickenhomestyle ground beef and chive potato mash Pricing:4 meals per week: $15 per meal6 meals per week: $12.83 per meal8 meals per week: $12.38 per meal12 meals per week: $11.50 per meal18 meals per week: $11 per meal Factor also offers add-ons, such as snacks and shakes, for a fee. People will need to enter their credit card details on the Factor website for the prices of these products. Delivery is free, and the company ships to the contiguous United States. Deliveries take place between Monday and Wednesday, depending on the zip code, and customers can skip deliveries as long as they give 4 weeks’ notice.SIGN UP NOW FOR FACTOR Best for organic meals Trifecta Trifecta delivers fresh, organic, chef-prepared meals. This may benefit people who wish to follow an organic diet. The meals may also be suitable for plant-based, keto, and paleo diets. According to Trifecta, each meal contains 350–500 calories. Sample meals Some options include:kung pao chicken with roasted sweet potato and brown ricegrilled steak and mixed vegetablesKorean beef bulgogi Pricing Meal plans are priced individually, with the cheapest plans being vegan or vegetarian:Vegan or Vegetarian: $99.99 per weekKeto, Clean, Whole30, Paleo: $110.99 per weekMeal Prep and Classic: $119.20 per weekMeat Lovers Meal Prep Kit: $173.40 per weekBudget Meal Prep Kit: $176.84 per week Delivery is available in the contiguous U.S. The company offers free shipping, and customers can skip deliveries as long as they give 7 days’ notice.SIGN UP NOW FOR TRIFECTA NUTRITION Best for lower budgets Blue Apron Blue Apron offers meal kits at a cheaper cost than its competitors. Its menus include low calorie, carb-conscious, and diabetes-friendly options, and may suit people on a lower budget. It also has meals approved by WW, previously Weight Watchers, and meals with 600 calories or less. For people with plant-based diets, it uses the Beyond Meat plant-based alternative in its recipes. A person can choose their meal preferences so that Blue Apron can make recommendations. These preferences include Chef Favourites, Wellness, Family Friendly, Fast & Easy, and Veggies. Wellness includes WW-recommended dishes, Fast & Easy meals can be made in 30 minutes, and the Veggies option includes plant-based meals. Sample meals Some options include:roasted paneer and vegetablesbroccoli and cheddar quichepan-seared pork and mashed potatoes Each kit comes with recipe cards with beginner-friendly instructions, and most recipes take under 45 minutes to prepare. PricingTwo meals per week: Two servings cost $11.99 each, and four servings cost $9.49 each.Three meals per week: Two servings cost $9.99 each, and four servings cost $8.49 each.Four meals per week: Two servings cost $9.49 each, and four servings cost $7.99 each. Shipping is free for most Blue Apron plans, and delivery is available in the contiguous U.S. A customer can decide to skip meals or change plans between 5 weeks and 5 days before the company processes their next order.SIGN UP NOW FOR BLUE APRON Best for certified humane meals Fresh n Lean Fresh n’ Lean offers organic, non-GMO, free-range, and certified humane meals. This service may therefore be suitable for those who prefer to eat meat from animals humanely raised and handled. The meals are single-serving and microwavable, and the company claims that most meals are under 500 calories. This company provides Protein+, Standard Vegan, Paleo, Whole30, Mediterranean, Low Carb Vegan, and keto meals. People can choose 5–7 meals per week. Sample meals Some options include:tomatillo shrimp fajitas with white rice and beansroasted chicken breast with turkey baconharissa chickpeas with sumac carrots and broccoli PricingProtein+: $54.95–216.79 per weekKeto: $54.95–223.79 per weekPaleo: $54.95–223.79 per weekStandard Vegan: $52.45–178.29 per weekWhole30: $79.95–167.35 per weekMediterranean: $54.95–216.79 per weekLow Carb Vegan: $54.95–209.79 per weekÀ la Carte: minimum $85 per week The company also has an à la carte menu, which offers prepared protein, grains, and vegetables, as well as an entrée and snack menu. Fresh n’ Lean delivers meals each Friday. Shipping is free. People can skip or cancel their weekly order as long as they do so before noon PST on the Saturday before their delivery.SIGN UP NOW FOR FRESH N’ LEAN Best for allergies Gobble Gobble offers chef-designed, prepared, and portioned meal kits that are ready to eat in 15 minutes. According to the company, each serving of the Lean & Clean plan contains no more than 600 calories. People can personalize their meals so they are free of dairy, nuts, and gluten. This may be beneficial to people with allergies. Sample menu Some options include:lemongrass and coconut milk shrimp curryannatto-spiced chicken with corn and poblano gritsmiso glazed salmon with soba noodles and snow peas PricingDinner for 2 plan: $11.99 per serving, $67.96–119.90 per week.Dinner for 4 plan: $12.99 per serving, $103.92–239.80 per week. Gobble also offers sides, such as soups, salads, and breakfasts, which people can add to their orders. People need to enter their credit card details on the Gobble website to see the prices for these products. The company offers delivery for $6.99 and operates in many states across the contiguous U.S. People can check if Gobble delivers to their state on the company’s website.SIGN UP NOW FOR GOBBLE Best for gender-specific meals BistroMD BistroMD offers three meals and two snacks per day, or two meals per day, with different plans for males and females. The company writes that the plan for males provides an average of 1,400 calories per day, and the plan for females provides an average of 1,200 calories. This service may benefit males and females seeking to lose weight as BistroMD aims to provide each gender with their calorific needs. The company offers meals that it claims are gluten-free, diabetes-friendly, low sodium, and menopause-friendly. Sample meals Some options include:salmon with dill mustard saucehickory smoked BBQ pork with broccolichicken with lemon peppercorn sauce PricingFull program 5 days: $187.35 per weekFull program 7 days: $219.80 per weekLunches & dinners 5 days: $149.90 per weekLunches & dinners 7 days: $188.86 per week BistroMD states that delivery takes 5–6 days and will cost $19.95.SIGN UP NOW FOR BISTROMD Best for fast preparation Freshly Freshly offers microwavable meals that it states are ready in 3 minutes or less. These meals may be suitable for people who are pressed for time as they are quick and easy to prepare. People can filter meals to refine their choices. For example, FreshlyFit meals have 500 or fewer calories per serving. Additionally, Freshly offers options that are free of dairy, gluten, and soy. Sample meals Some options include:steak peppercorncauliflower shell beef bolognesezingy buffalo chicken Pricing4 meals per week: $47.165 meals per week: $58.956 meals per week: $59.947 meals per week: $69.938 meals per week: $75.929 meals per week: $85.4110 meals per week: $92.9011 meals per week: $102.1912 meals per week: $107.88 Freshly also offers breakfast items priced from $7.99–8.99 per meal, which count toward the 12-meal maximum. Freshly charges shipping for each order. Shipping starts at $9.99–11.99 and depends on the number of meals people order weekly. People may also have to pay a sales tax.SIGN UP NOW FOR FRESHLY Best for vegans Veestro Veestro is a meal delivery service that provides plant-based frozen meals. These meals may be beneficial for people who wish to follow a vegan diet. The company states that eating three of its meals per day yields an average of 1,200 calories. People can also filter menu options by dietary requirements, such as gluten-, nut-, and soy-free meals, and low calorie and kosher options. Veestro offers two menus: an à la carte menu and a dedicated weight loss plan. Sample meals Some options include:kale & quinoa saladpad thaiHawaiian chili Pricing5-day weight loss plan: $178.95 per week7-day weight loss plan: $250.53 per week10 meals à la carte: Starts from $12.82 per meal20 meals à la carte: Starts from $11.93 per meal30 meals à la carte: Starts from $11.03 per meal Veestro states that shipping is free on all of its plans.SIGN UP NOW FOR VEESTRO Comparison The following table compares the weight loss delivery services in this article, including price, products offered, and diets covered.PricesProducts Number of meals per weekDiets ShippingCancellationFactor$11–$15 per meal• mains• desserts• shakes• smoothies• high protein• breakfast4–18 meals• low calorie • low carb• high protein• keto • plant-based• paleofree4 weeks’ noticeTrifecta$99.99–176.84 per week• mains• prep kits7–21 meals• clean• paleo• classic• vegan• ketofree7 days’ noticeBlue Apron$7.99– 11.99 per servingmeal kits2–4 meals • WW recommended• family-friendly• 30-minute prep time• plant-basedfree5 days–5 weeks before delivery date Fresh n’ Lean $52.45–223.79 per week• mains• entrees• breakfast5–7 meals• high protein• vegan• paleo• keto • Whole30 approved• Mediterranean dietfreebefore noon PST on the Saturday before delivery Gobblefrom $11.99 per meal• meal kits • salads• sides• soups• breakfast• desserts2–5 meals• gluten-free• low carb• vegetarian $6.99anytimeBistroMD$149.90–219.80 per week• mains • breakfast10–21 meals• gluten-free• diabetic friendly• low sodium• menopause friendly$19.95Wednesday at 5 p.m. ET for the following weekFreshly$47.16–107.88per week• mains• breakfast4–12 meals• soy-free• plantbased• gluten-free• dairy free• low-carb$9.99-$11.993 weeks’ noticeVeestro • $11.03–12.82 per à la carte meal• $178.95–250.53 per week weight loss plan• mains• breakfast 10–30 meals• vegan friendly• gluten- free• low calorie• kosher friendly• high protein• soy free• nut freefreeany time How to choose a meal delivery service People may wish to consider the following when choosing a meal delivery service:Preparation time: Some services may provide ready-to-eat meals, recipes, or premeasured ingredients, all of which have different preparation times.Menu choices: Individuals with food allergies or dietary requirements should ensure that the meal delivery service they choose has food they can consume.Cost: People should choose a meal delivery service that fits their budget. Does meal delivery work for weight loss Opting for a meal delivery service may help reduce a person’s overall calorie intake because the portions of the food are set. Meals made with fresh ingredients from a delivery service may be similar to home-cooked meals, and some research has looked at how home cooking may help with weight loss. A large, population-based study in the United Kingdom compared the effects of eating home-cooked meals more than five times per week with eating them fewer than three times per week. The researchers found that 39.3% of participants who ate home-cooked meals more than five times a week lost at least 5% of their initial weight. Furthermore, 22.4% of these participants sustained a loss of at least 5% of their initial weight for up to 3 years. The researchers also found that people who ate more home-cooked meals were 28% less likely to be overweight, based on their body mass index, and 24% less likely to have excess body fat. Learn more about natural weight loss here. Pros and cons of meal kits for weight loss The following are some benefits and drawbacks of using meal kits for weight loss. ProsMeal delivery services have set portion sizes, which may help a person keep to their weight loss plan.Meal delivery services provide full nutritional information, which can help a person track their calories and nutrients.Meal delivery services offer food that people can prepare quickly, which may suit those who are short on time. ConsSome meal delivery services offer higher-calorie meals, which may hinder weight loss efforts.People will need to consider what meals or snacks they consume other than the delivered meals to achieve a calorie deficit.Meal delivery services can be more expensive than batch-cooking home-cooked meals. Learn about the cheapest meal delivery options here. General weight loss tips To lose weight successfully and safely, experts recommend aiming to lose no more than 1–2 pounds per week. People can do this by achieving a calorie deficit of 500–1,000 calories per day through a combination of diet and exercise. As a 2018 review concludes, no single diet is effective and sustainable for everyone. The best approach to weight loss is setting realistic goals and having a balanced diet that is possible to follow in the long term. People should tailor their diet to meet their own preferences and medical needs. However, the same review does highlight some generally effective strategies for weight loss. These include:avoiding added sugars limiting processed foodsconsuming whole grain productshaving fruits and vegetables make up more of the diet According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), for a person to maintain their current weight, they need to do 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise, or a combination of the two, each week. To lose weight and maintain the loss, people likely need to do more exercise than this. Learn about the best exercises for weight loss here. Frequently asked questions Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about meal delivery options for weight loss. What is the best meal delivery service The best meal delivery service will offer a wide range of meals, cater to a variety of diets, and provide affordable and flexible plans. However, the best meal delivery service will be different for each person. A person’s budget, dietary requirements, and the type of meals available will affect how suitable a person finds a meal delivery service. How do I choose the best meal delivery service for weight loss People should consider factors such as the type of diets a meal delivery service caters to, plus the nutritional content, ingredients, and calorie values per meal when looking for the best meal delivery service for weight loss. Some meal delivery services offer lower calorie meals than others and may be more suitable for people who aim to eat fewer calories per day. Do weight loss meal delivery services work Weight loss meal delivery services may help with portion control and maintaining a calorie deficit if a person chooses lower-calorie meals. They may also help a person stay interested in their chosen weight loss plan as they can offer a wide variety of meals each week. Summary Meal delivery services may support weight loss goals, but it depends on various factors, including meal choices and overall activity levels. Some brands have menus designed for weight loss. These may include low calorie, carb-conscious, or plant-based options. Last medically reviewed on August 21, 2022UncategorizedNutrition / DietObesity / Weight Loss / FitnessCat 1foodkits 8 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Aim for a healthy weight. (n.d.).https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/lose_wt/recommen.htmFood portions: Choosing just enough for you. (2021).https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/weight-management/just-enough-food-portionsKetogenic diet. (2022).https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499830/Koliaki, C., et al. (2018). Defining the optimal dietary approach for safe, effective and sustainable weight loss in overweight and obese adults.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6163457/Masood, W., et al. (2022). Ketogenic diet.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499830/Medawar, E., et al. (2019). The effects of plant-based diets on the body and the brain: A systematic review.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6742661/Mills, S., et al. (2017). Frequency of eating home cooked meals and potential benefits for diet and health: Cross-sectional analysis of a population-based cohort study.https://ijbnpa.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12966-017-0567-yPhysical activity for a healthy weight. (2022).https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/physical_activity/index.htmlFEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Alissa Palladino, MS, RDN, LD, CPT, Nutrition, Personal Training — By Louisa Richards and Nadia Zorzan — Updated on August 21, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? 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