I’ve always been a little leery about ready-to-eat meal subscriptions as a food editor. Even though a heat-and-eat delivery saves time in the kitchen, I wasn’t persuaded that it would be that much tastier than something I could cook myself in 30 minutes or less, and most appeared too pricey (convenience is famously expensive). However, I set out to disprove my own preconceptions, one bite at a time, when I had the opportunity to sample a week’s worth of meals in 2021 from Factor, a chef-prepared, dietitian-designed meal service that specializes in fresh (never frozen) dinners.
Four years later, the brand offers a whole new array of meals, from green chile beef in the Santa Fe manner to garlic herb chicken. To help you decide what to include in your box (or whether it’s the correct choice for you in the first place), I tasted six more recent offerings to bring you the reviews and original photographs below.
What Is Factor and How Does It Work?
- Value: 17/20
- Functionality: 20/20
- Quality: 18/20
- Aesthetics: 17/20
- Taste*: 17/20
TOTAL: 89/100
*My final taste score was based on the average of the taste scores of each individual meal.
A ready-to-eat meal subscription business, Factor is a subsidiary of HelloFresh, one of the top recipe-driven meal kits available. Each week, hundreds of chef-prepared, dietitian-designed dishes made with healthy ingredients are available for subscribers to select from.
The completely prepared meals are delivered right to your door after you choose your menu based on your dietary requirements and culinary preferences (you may choose from a variety of different meal plans, such as plant-based, low-carb, keto, and dairy-free). To enjoy them, simply keep them in the refrigerator until mealtime and reheat them in the microwave or oven.
By removing the burden, the intention is to make eating healthily more accessible. Factor’s meals are devoid of added sugars, gluten, hormones, and antibiotics. (There are also options for breakfast and dessert, such as protein-rich smoothies, wellness shots, and egg bits.) Even better, every subscription comes with a 20-minute consultation with a dietitian who can help you select the meals that would best suit your lifestyle and wellness objectives.
Read on to hear about each dinner in my meal plan (and see unedited photos of what the food really looked like).
Day 1: Broccoli & Cheddar Shredded Chicken
Broccoli and cheddar shredded chicken with garlic rosemary zucchini and leek butter
- Nutrition: 610 calories, 45g fat, 17g carbs, 34g protein, 8g sugar, 4g fiber
- Taste: 18/20
The zucchini was surprisingly crisp-tender for being microwaved in a pool of oniony butter, the chicken was incredibly delicious, and the cheese sauce was incredibly decadent. Broccoli-cheddar soup was enhanced by the flavor and aroma of the chicken piece. There was no rubbery texture, and it tasted fresh and herbaceous.
Day 2: Grilled Pork Chop & Butternut Mash
Grilled pork chop and butternut mash with caramelized onions and roasted Brussels sprouts
- Nutrition: 500 calories, 23g fat, 31g carbs, 43g protein, 13g sugar, 7g fiber
- Taste: 17/20
This had the scent of a dinner gathering in the fall. But I felt the sprouts were tasteless, dry, and insufficient. But the mash was exquisitely jammy, sweet, and creamy. Nevertheless, I felt that a little more salt would have been nice. The pork, on the other hand, was surprisingly succulent and had some lovely sear. If you put it on a plate, no one would notice that you didn’t prepare it yourself, but I had anticipated it to be much drier.
Day 3: Caramelized Onion & Gouda Shredded Beef
Caramelized onion and gouda shredded beef with red potatoes, garlic broccoli and carrots
- Nutrition: 460 calories, 25g fat, 36g carbs, 24g protein, 11g sugar, 7g fiber
- Taste: 17/20
Immediately noticeable were the scents of the buttery cheese, sweet alliums, and meat that had been kissed with black pepper. It was incredibly thick, smokey, and flavorful, and the juicy, soft meat resembled a cheesesteak. (I enjoy Factor’s meals’ natural richness, but the absence of wheat makes them ketogenic.) This particular pairing looked like a hospital food or an old-fashioned TV supper; for the price, I think it should look a little finer. The vegetables were a little tasteless and watery.
Day 4: Smoked Gouda & Bacon Shredded Chicken Hash
Smoked gouda and bacon shredded chicken hash with roasted green beans and pearl onions
- Nutrition: 530 calories, 28g fat, 40g carbs, 32g protein, 9g sugar, 7g fiber
- Taste: 16/20
I thought the vegetable quantity was small, but it had a tangy, savory flavor similar to balsamic. As soon as it came out of the microwave, the cheese and bacon’s increased smokiness was evident on the nose. However, it was a little more one-note on the tongue. However, I did love the texture of the soft potatoes, wilted but not mushy greens, and juicy fowl.
Day 5: Grilled Chicken & Lemon Herb Vinaigrette
Grilled chicken and lemon herb vinaigrette with kale, roasted peppers, green beans and carrots
- Nutrition: 450 calories, 23g fat, 21g carbs, 38g protein, 10g sugar, 7g fiber
- Taste: 16/20
While the green beans and carrots still had a nice crispness to them, the vegetable side was very bland and subtly sweet in comparison to the other sides. In addition to being perfectly juicy and tender, the chicken was undoubtedly herbaceous, but the citrus flavor was overpowered. My favorite parts were the tomatoes and greens; they made me think of pizza.
Day 6: Fajita-Style Shredded Beef
Fajita-style shredded beef with queso, honey-ancho carrots and charro beans
- Nutrition: 390 calories, 19g fat, 32g carbs, 25g protein, 12g sugar, 7g fiber
- Taste: 19/20
Despite having more wetness than the other mains on this list, this substantial main was possibly my favorite. (Perhaps the rather huge whole tomatoes were the cause.) The beef had a delicate, melt-in-your-mouth feel and was expertly seasoned. The beans had a starchy yet toothsome texture and a strong flavor with a hint of acidity. As a typical carrot hater, I was likewise taken aback by how much I liked the somewhat spicy carrots. However, these had a delicious blend of savory and sweet flavors and were cooked to perfection.
The Bottom Line
The meals won’t let you down if Factor is within your means, but it all boils down to cost. The retail cost for six meals is $81, or $13.49 per dish, although there are reductions available. Yes, it becomes less expensive the more you purchase; 18 meals start at $11 a serving. However, that is too costly for many people’s budgets. But it was really pleasant to have no cleanup to do and not have to worry about what I was going to make for supper.
Only if the meals are truly delicious will the cost and convenience be worthwhile. To be honest, I thought they all tasted pretty damn excellent, and the fact that they were created with wholesome, premium ingredients was a bonus.
However, you might have fewer menu alternatives if you’re following a low-fat diet. I tracked some of the dinners in my app to see how many points they would clock in at when I was on Weight Watchers (now WW). The majority were at least 19, or roughly 60% of my daily allowed points. On the other hand, Factor could save you a ton of time when it comes to grocery shopping and cooking if you’re following a high-protein, high-fat diet like keto. It all depends on your food preferences, wellness objectives, and financial situation.
