All products featured on Bon Appétit are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.
I’ve never been a microwave meal person, but I certainly see the appeal. Cooking a balanced, multi-component dinner on a weeknight is no easy feat, so the idea of coming home to a fridge full of prepared meals that taste good and require just a short trip to the microwave seems pretty ideal.
So when I set out to test Factor’s fully prepared meal delivery service, I was intrigued—if a bit skeptical. Factor positions itself as a nutritious, dietitian-approved meal delivery service with meals “designed to support your wellness goals.” But could those meals, all neatly packaged in their segmented plastic trays, actually be any good? After two weeks of testing 12 different Factor meals, I finally have answers. Read on for my full Factor meals review.
What's the Factor ordering experience?
The Factor ordering experience is pretty standard as far as meal kits go: You’ll select up to three “goals” from a list that includes “Improve my health,” “Eat more protein,” “Save time in the kitchen,” “Manage my weight,” “Eat a better variety of foods,” and “Support my GLP-1 journey.” Then you select any dietary preferences (Calorie Smart, I eat everything, Keto, High Protein, Carb Conscious, GLP-1 Support, Fiber Filled, or Flexitarian), what your spice preference is, and how many meals you want per week (6, 8, 10, 12, 14, or 18).
After entering your address and payment info, you can pick your meals from a weekly menu of around 65 options. Meals are clearly labeled with specific recipe tags (such as Calorie Smart, Protein Plus, Carb Conscious, and Vegetarian), which is helpful if you have particular dietary restrictions or goals in mind. Clicking into each meal reveals a full description, nutrition label, ingredient list, and allergen information.
Factor gives you the option to pause your deliveries if you’ll be out of town or want a break, but note that you’ll need to do so before a specific cutoff day to avoid being sent next week’s box.
What to expect in a Factor box
My Factor deliveries arrived on time, stacked neatly into an insulated, recyclable box lined with ice packs on the bottom. Each meal is packaged in a plastic tray with two or three compartments sealed with a plastic film—think a more refined TV dinner. Each has a cardboard sleeve that lists the meal name, nutritional information, ingredient list, and heating instructions.
What I like about Factor
I tested Factor during two busy weeks, right after I’d gotten home from a few weeks of travel and was feeling very much in need of some nourishing food. I can’t understate how great it was to have a fridge stocked with meals that required no foresight or prep, and that felt somewhat healthy. As someone who is currently trying to prioritize protein in my diet, I also appreciated how easy it was to ensure those meals fit my own nutritional goals. I’ll also note that each meal is technically approved by a team of registered dietitians.
I’ll admit I was skeptical of how good a heat-and-eat meal could taste, but I was pleasantly surprised by how well most of the dishes held up in the microwave.
The chicken breast in the Green Chile Chicken was shockingly juicy, the pasta in the Cavatappi and Meatballs and Herbed Greek Chicken and Tomato Penne retained a bit of bite, and the Brussels sprouts in the Homestyle Turkey and Gravy somehow didn’t get mushy. I also thought every dish was well-seasoned, and didn’t find myself reaching for any additional salt or pepper (a rare occurrence for me).
Portion sizes felt just right for my appetite; they were enough to satiate me without making me feel overly full. I also appreciated that each meal felt relatively balanced, often made up of some sort of protein, plus one carb and one vegetable side. I liked that I felt like I was getting adequate amounts of protein, carbs, and fats to satiate me, and that the meals never felt one-note.
What I didn’t like about Factor
While I found the meals generally enjoyable to eat, there’s no getting around the fact that eating microwaveable meals out of a plastic tray will never feel the same as eating fresh, home-cooked fare. This is the kind of service I could see myself subscribing to for a couple of weeks here and there, but not the kind of thing I’d do long term. Of course, I say this as someone who very much falls into the live-to-eat rather than eat-to-live camp, so do with that what you will.
I found the meals to be well seasoned for my taste, but I could imagine some people finding them a touch too salty. And if you’re watching your sodium for health reasons, note that meals tend to fall in the 700–1000 milligram range. This is also not the best premade meal delivery option for anyone with a plant-based diet—at the time of writing, next week’s menu has just one vegan meal option.
The meals held up better than expected in the microwave, but the veggie side dishes were sometimes prone to getting waterlogged or squeaky in texture—I’m thinking particularly about the broccoli and green beans. And, because Factor uses the same rotating cast of vegetables throughout its meals, they can feel repetitive. Out of all of the proteins I tried, the pork chop was the only one that truly fell flat. It was tough, and I didn't enjoy the meal enough to finish it.
It’s also worth noting that while some meal kits I’ve tested pride themselves on their high-quality ingredients, Factor doesn’t provide a ton of transparency about where their food is sourced aside from a note about chicken welfare standards in their FAQs. Factor also uses some preservatives in its meals, such as natamycin (a “natural mold inhibitor”).
Does Factor offer any add-ons?
Factor offers a range of menu add-ons, including breakfast options, cold-pressed juices, protein shakes, ready-to-blend smoothies, larger format proteins and sides, and products from their Factor Form supplement line.
Is Factor worth it?
If what you’re looking for is an extremely convenient way to have a week’s worth of balanced, tasty, relatively healthy meals at the ready for whenever you need them, no meal prep required, Factor is a great option. Based on my Factor meals review, it’s also particularly well suited to anyone looking to achieve certain wellness goals or meet dietary needs, whether you’re tracking macros or upping your protein.
With meals priced between $12.49 and $14.99, depending on how many you order per week, Factor is cheaper than takeout but more expensive than cooking your own food. If you’re looking to wean yourself off your delivery habit, this could be a good way to do so. I also think it’s worth the price you pay for the convenience if ordered from time to time on especially busy weeks.