10 Best Meal Delivery Services for Weight Loss, According to a Dietitian

Also our favorite healthy meal delivery service, Trifecta is very popular in the CrossFit community and was recently featured on Netflix's You Are What You Eat. Each prepared Trifecta meal averages between 350 to 550 calories depending on the plan you choose, with options for low-carb and paleo-compliant dishes too. If you're into counting macros, you'll appreciate that each plan has curated macros depending on the specific goal and a corresponding app to give you a personalized plan and tools for weight management. Plus, all meals are developed by a team of dietitians, chefs and doctors.

When selecting my meals, I loved that the service has five different plans to choose from: clean, Paleo & Whole 30 friendly, keto, plant-based and GLP-1 friendly. Everything comes in vacuum-sealed containers and lasts up to seven days in the fridge (or three months in the freezer). Testers raved about the "variety of meals" and "convenience." They reported portions were satisfying, and one person said that having access to healthy meals made their week "stress-free." That being said, the meals aren't the most flavorful we've tried, but they do offer a balance of carbs, protein and fat. If you're trying to manage your weight and stay active, this service is ideal. Since all of the meals are lower calorie, you have a great selection to choose from.

Not only is Dinnerly a simple and affordable meal delivery service option, but they have one of the largest weekly menus I have seen with over 100 weekly recipes. Most meals can be made in 30 minutes or less, and there are options that cater to a calorie conscious lifestyle at 650 calories or less per meal. Another thing I appreciate about this service is that all of the recipes have just a few ingredients, which means less chopping and cleaning.

The dedicated low-calorie meals are great for those looking to lose weight, and the service will suggest recipes based on your taste profile which is helpful. Even the vegetarian offerings on the menu are substantial, and meals are great for beginner cooks. One tester raved about the "large portion sizes, delicious flavor and easy-to-follow recipes." Others said that the recipes were easier to prepare than other meal delivery services they have used in the past, and like that you have the option to receive printed cards in your box or opt for digital recipe cards. Just take note that to cut costs, items don't come as organized as some other more expensive services (but the quality of ingredients is still great).

RELATED: Best Vegetarian Meal Delivery Services

I was first introduced to Factor a few years ago by a friend at my gym that was hooked on the service. It's been something I have turned to time and time again for calorie-conscious, individually portioned meals. Since everything is ready to eat, I know I can rely on having a delicious hot and nutritious meal ready in minutes. Each dish is designed by registered dietitians and chefs, and the service offers a complimentary nutrition consultation with a Factor dietitian (which I tried out myself and found the information quite helpful and the dietitian I spoke with very knowledgable) as well as more in-depth nutrition coaching for long-term weight loss programming.

While Factor offers a few different plans, they are most known for their popular Keto offerings but also have plans including Protein Plus, Calorie Smart, Flexitarian, Vegan + Veggie, Chef's Choice and more. The Calorie Smart plan in particular focuses on meals with 550 calories or less, and all meals arrive fresh, never frozen. The meals' high protein counts stood out to me and also helped keep me full – dishes felt substantial and hearty, and that was a key takeaway in my consultation with Factor's dietitian. Just keep in mind that some of the meals, especially the keto-compliant ones, can be high in fat and sodium. But overall, meal variety and portion sizes were highly rated in our tests for Factor. One tester said, "I did not feel that microwaving my meals compromised the integrity of the taste or texture either. Everything heated nicely!" Another mentioned that the "variety of food, great flavor and generous portion sizes made life easier." Testers also liked that the service has add-ons including shakes, smoothies, juices, snacks, proteins and desserts.

The U.S. Department of Labor is investigating HelloFresh and hiring agency Midway Staffing over claims that migrant children were working at a Factor facility in Illinois. "We were deeply troubled to learn of the allegations made against a former temporary staffing agency, Midway Staffing,” a HelloFresh spokesperson told Good Housekeeping. “As soon as we learned of these allegations, we immediately terminated the relationship. We have strict protocols in place to ensure all vendors follow our robust global ethics and compliance policies. We have zero tolerance for any form of child labor, and we have taken action to ensure no minors perform work in or have access to our facilities.” RJ Parrilli, CEO of Midway Staffing, also told Good Housekeeping, “Midway Staffing continues to cooperate with the Department in its ongoing investigation. Midway Staffing denies that its actions or practices contributed to or caused any alleged child labor violations. Midway Staffing’s business and legal compliance practices strive to follow all applicable laws and industry standards. "

If you're serious about your weight loss efforts, this service founded by a medical doctor may be your best bet. BistroMD focuses on nutritious prepared meals specifically designed for weight loss, and also has plans catering to different medical conditions like diabetes, heart health and menopause. The menu selection is substantial too with over 150 meals per week to choose from on their Signature Program. Dishes arrive frozen and just need a quick reheating before you dig in. The service even has a team of in-house registered dietitians that can create a custom diet program for you.

I love that BistroMD meals are balanced, satisfying and science-backed. Testers gave the service top marks for convenience, variety, freshness of ingredients and ease of reheating the meals, saying they loved that the dishes required no prep work which helped improve compliance. One tester said that the variety of meal choices was impressive and commented that they would "never get bored" with this type of service. Another noted the helpful weight loss tips and nutrition advice available on the brand's website. “Good quality of food, interesting variety and good taste," one tester said. "Plus, I actually lost weight."

Green Chef is one of my (and our testers') favorite meal kits thanks to its delicious dishes, fresh ingredients and neatly packaged kits. They are one of the few USDA-certified organic meal kits and offer a wide variety of health-conscious meal plans, including their Calorie Smart selection which features meals at 650 calories or less. Additional options include Mediterranean, plant-based, protein packed, keto and gluten-free.

You'll pay a premium for this service, but the quality ingredients truly stand out. Testers said they loved the portion sizes, saying that the meals filled them up and had great flavor. “I was so impressed with all the portions and freshness of the products," said one tester. "Every meal was super easy to prepare." On the downside, some testers noted that the instructions could be a bit complex and required many pans and bowls, but that the pictures on the recipe cards were very helpful.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Is Green Chef Worth It?

Not only is EveryPlate one of the most affordable meal delivery services on the market, but the budget-friendly meals actually impressed myself and our testers with their tastiness and quality. There are over 25 dishes to choose from each week, but not every dish is low calorie. Make sure to opt for their Calorie Smart plan, which features a nice assortment of meals around 650 calories or less per serving.

Multiple testers remarked on the helpful instructions, which come with pictures that made it easy to prep and plan ahead while cooking. One tester said, "Everything was awesome, from the ingredients to the completeness of the recipes provided." Another noted, “I am a decent cook but tend to stay in my lane when it comes to meals. I really enjoyed making these meals and learning new techniques." That being said, the items aren't as carefully packaged as other kits. In some ways, I actually preferred this because it cut down on unnecessary plastic. And rest assured that the box itself and insulation are solid – we had a tester in Arizona try out EveryPlate during the hot summer months, and everything was still cold when she opened the box.

RELATED: Best Affordable Meal Delivery Services

Blue Apron is one of the OG meal delivery services and my top pick for best overall meal delivery service since the recipes are consistently great and the selection is always substantial. They offer both standard meal kits as well as prepared meals for busy weeknights. As a dietitian, I like that they consider your preferences upfront by letting you select 600 Calories or Less Meals, 30g of Protein Meals and/or Carb Conscious Meals.

Our testers loved the fresh ingredients and variety of proteins and spices. The lower-calorie meals didn't sacrifice flavor either, and the dishes had pretty generous portions. I also appreciate that sugar, saturated fats and fiber were taken into consideration in their menus. Many said the meals were delicious and inventive and the recipe cards offered simple step-by-step instructions. "Blue Apron is a solution for busy people who like to explore new recipes and ingredients. It's adventurous without being extreme. The ingredients are perfectly measured, packaged well and fresh," one tester said. When it comes to price, Blue Apron is average with an upcharge for premium items.

One of the first meal kit delivery services on the market, HelloFresh is a service I have tested regularly over the years and it always delivers a consistent experience. You can count on it for reasonably-priced meals that are tasty, with well-done recipe cards and solid packaging features. If you opt for their Fit and Wholesome plan, you'll find dietitian-approved meals all under 650 calories per serving that are inventive and delicious, though the selection isn't the biggest we have seen.

That being said, HelloFresh knows what they are doing — the instruction cards were easy to follow and the packaging proved to be superior to other services we tested, in terms of both performance and sustainability. Testers gave this service top overall scores for quality, saying that the food tasted great. “My partner and I liked the taste and flavor," said one tester. "Every dish had something extra beyond what we would normally make. I thought the food tasted better than what we would get from takeout at a restaurant!” Although you can't get a kit for one person, you can get meals for two people so this is great if you and a spouse or partner are on the same weight management plan.

READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Is HelloFresh Worth Trying Out?

This service stands out for offering one of the widest ranges of dietary preferences, and if you are looking for calorie conscious meals, their Lean & Clean plan is the one for you. All meals in this category are under 600 calories and contain at least 10 grams of protein and five grams of fiber to keep you full and satisfied. The Lean & Clean meals can be ordered ready to heat and eat or as a traditional meal kit with prepped ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes. Meals are crafted by dietitians and chefs too.

Testers raved about the quality and ease of preparing the meals. "The variety, freshness and portion sizes were outstanding," exclaimed one tester. I appreciate the fresh and flavorful, USDA-certified organic ingredients, inventive dishes and balanced nutritional profile, plus the brand's commitment to sustainability from food choices to packaging. But pricing can be steep per serving on some of the meals, though the ingredients are super fresh.

Trying to lose weight on a plant-based diet? This vegan meal delivery service features globally-inspired recipes that wowed me and made me look forward to vegan dinners. All of the meals are completely plant-forward and kits come with a weekly recipe booklet that you can keep to recreate your favorites.

Choose either standard meal kits or fully prepared meals (the latter are even available in grocery stores). For the meal kits, everything is already plant-based, but you can look for meals with a special tag that indicates they are 600 calories or less to assist calorie-conscious needs. More importantly, the service has been clinically proven to help people lose weight and lower LDL cholesterol. But for a kit that doesn't include meat, it is on the pricey side per serving. Testers found the meals inventive and flavorful and appreciated that all of the offerings were plant-based and didn’t take very long to prepare. "I love how Purple Carrot meals are delicious and nutritious without involving complicated cooking," one tester said. "The meals feel much fancier and more complicated when eating than when cooking. It encouraged me to try new flavors and food combinations I wouldn't have thought of myself."

RELATED: Best Vegan Meal Delivery Services