Recipes Best Weight Loss Meal Delivery Services BistroMD is our top choice for weight loss meal delivery By Lainey Younkin, MS, RD Lainey Younkin, MS, RD Lainey Younkin is a registered dietitian with a Master's degree in Nutrition Communications from Tufts. She specializes in weight loss, is a mother of two young boys, and frequently contributes to various publications. Learn about our editorial process Published on October 29, 2021 Print Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links. Our Top Picks Best Overall: BistroMD Best Budget: HelloFresh Best for Families: Sunbasket Best for Portion Control: Factor Best Plant-Based: Purple Carrot Best High Protein: Fresh n' Lean Protein Plus Best Low Carb: Green Chef Keto+Paleo Best Heat and Eat: Freshly Fit If you're looking to lose weight, it's important to do it at a steady pace, which is typically 1 to 2 pounds per week. Doing so can help improve a number of health conditions, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high blood sugar. But losing weight, and the most important part—keeping it off—takes time. Those who are most successful with maintaining weight loss change focus to making it a lifestyle change and adjusting their habits instead of the number on the scale. Consistency and planning are key, and that’s where meal delivery services come in. Meal delivery services make the weight loss journey easier by creating structure when it comes to eating your meals; they can help you learn portion control and refrain from eating unhealthy foods out of convenience. They also save time, eliminating the need to plan, prep, and shop. Instead, a meal kit shows up at your door with pre-chopped ingredients to cook or fully-cooked meals that only need to be reheated. However, it's important to choose wisely when it comes to meal selections as some lack vegetables and fiber, which are key for weight loss because they add volume and weight but not calories. Weight loss isn't always recommended for everyone, so it's best that it's done with their guidance. Keep reading for the best weight loss meal delivery services. Our Top Picks Best Overall: BistroMD BistroMD Sign Up Now Key Specs Lowest Price Per Serving: $9.49Number of Diets Served: 5Number of Recipes 150 Pros & Cons Pros Created by a physician and tailored to specific medical conditions Meals customized by a registered dietitian Access to a private portal to edit meals Cons More expensive than other services Can only see ingredients list and nutrition facts if you’re a member Overview BistroMD was developed by a doctor and her foodie husband. Whether you’re looking to lose weight or you also have a medical condition like diabetes, BistroMD has you covered. Their chefs and dietitians do the prep and cooking and the meals are ideal for portion control. Choose from one of six programs: Standard Women’s, Standard Men’s, Heart Healthy, Gluten-Free, Diabetic Friendly, and Menopause. Meals arrive frozen and all you have to do is heat them up. There are 150 meals to choose from, all doctor-approved, and you have the option of adding on snacks at checkout. Opt for five or seven days of lunches and dinners or their full program, which includes five or seven breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. After you choose your desired program, BistroMD’s registered dietitians will customize it to fit your specific needs. They can also filter out meals if you are allergic to something. BistroMD starts at $9.49 per serving and increases based on how many meals you order. In addition, the weekly subscription gets you access to the company's members-only portal, where you can get support from other members as well as unlimited support from their dietitians. You can also edit your meal plans and shipping schedule right inside the portal. Standard shipping is $20, but you can get free shipping, along with 25% off on your first order. Delivery is available to the continental United States. Best Budget: HelloFresh HelloFresh Sign Up Now Key Specs Lowest Price Per Serving: $7.49Number of Diets Served: 4Number of Recipes: 25 Pros & Cons Pros Budget-friendly Over 25 recipes to choose from each week Flexible plans Cons Involves more cooking than some plans Cannot tailor plan for specific allergies Overview Starting at $7.49 per serving, HelloFresh is the best weight loss meal delivery service that doesn't break the bank. Each box includes a recipe card with beautiful photos and step-by-step instructions, with the goal to “bring the fun of cooking back into your life,” according to its website. Boxes also include pre-measured ingredients and separately-packed proteins. Meals are ready in about 30 minutes or less. HelloFresh is the best budget-friendly option for weight loss because most of their recipes include enough vegetables to comprise half your plate, a goal when trying to lose weight. HelloFresh has six plans: Meat and Veggies, Veggie, Family Friendly, Calorie Smart, Quick and Easy, and Pescatarian. Select serving sizes from two or four people and choose anywhere from two to six recipes per week. You get the option to choose from over 25 balanced recipes each week like miso apricot salmon with roasted carrots or Middle Eastern chickpea bowls. HelloFresh does not allow you to filter out specific allergens, but their team of dietitians reviews each meal and labels if it has any of the top eight allergens. You can skip a week, swap recipes, or cancel any time. HelloFresh delivers to the lower 48 states. Best for Families: Sunbasket SunBasket Sign Up Now Key Specs Lowest Price per Serving: $8.99Number of Diets Served: 8Number of Recipes: 43 Pros & Cons Pros Option to choose meal kits or heat and eat meals Over 10 menu plans to choose from Meals are chef- and dietitian-approved Cons Facility isn’t free from top eight allergens; potential for cross contamination Not a good fit if there are allergies in the family Overview Whether the members of your family are trying to lose weight or not, Sunbasket is the best family-friendly option because of the variety of foods and meal plans it offers. You can choose a meal kit, where you receive ingredients and easy-to-follow recipe instructions to cook dinner in 15 to 40 minutes. Or opt for the company's Fresh and Ready meals when you don’t feel like cooking and receive a pre-cooked, ready-to-heat meal that can be on the table in as little as three minutes. The meal kits start at $11 per serving, and the Fresh and Ready meals begin at $8.99 per serving. Choose from one of 10 menus, including Paleo, Vegetarian, Lean and Clean, Gluten-Free, Carb-Conscious, Mediterranean, Diabetes-Friendly, Pescatarian, Chef’s Choice, or Fresh and Ready. Different dietary preferences for different members of the family? Mix and match any of the meal plans to suit everyone’s needs. You can also filter to find meals that take less than 20 minutes to make, meals under 600 calories, dairy-free meals, or gluten-free meals. To get started, choose four or more dinners, select meal preferences, and then add breakfast, lunch, or snacks if desired. All of Sunbasket’s produce is organic and its meat is free of antibiotics and hormones. An in-house dietitian approves all of the meals. HelloFresh ships to 46 states, excluding Alaska, Hawaii, Montana, and North Dakota. Best for Portion Control: Factor Factor Sign Up Now Key Specs Lowest Price Per Serving: $11Number of Diets Served: 5Number of Recipes: 24 Pros & Cons Pros Heat and eat, no cooking required Delivered fresh, never frozen Nutrition coaching available with registered dietitian Cons More expensive than other services Can’t filter for specific food allergies No breakfast options Overview If you struggle with portion control, sign up for Factor. Each meal serves one and is around 600 calories, making it simple to keep portions in check. Because they are a single portion, there's less risk of overeating. Dietitians design these dinners (or lunches), which means they come with protein, fiber, and healthy fats. Choose from four, six, eight, 12, and 18 meals per week. Factor has a variety of meal plans to choose from including keto, Paleo, and plant-based. Plus, all subscriptions include one 20 minutes complimentary consultation with a registered dietitian so you can get personalized weight loss advice. You have the option to add on more coaching if desired. Factor's meals are prepared by chefs and delivered fresh, never frozen. All recipes are free from hormones, antibiotics, refined sugars, and GMOs. The downside is that these meals start at $11 per serving, which is more expensive than other meal delivery companies. However, you can get your first delivery for as low as $8 per serving with their discount for first-time orders. Note that some of Factor's meals can be higher in calories, which might not align with all weight loss journeys. Factor ships to 48 states, excluding Alaska and Hawaii. Best Plant-Based: Purple Carrot Purple Carrot Sign Up Now Key Specs Lowest Price Per Serving: $9.99Number of Diets Served: 5Number of Recipes: 27 Pros & Cons Pros Vegan Includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks Meal kits and heat and eat meals available Cons Not all ingredients are organic and non-GMO Can’t filter specific allergens Facility is not certified gluten-free Overview Plant-based meals are full of fiber, which can help in weight loss and maintenance. However, some plant-based meal delivery services lack protein, which is also important for weight loss. That’s not the case with Purple Carrot, which specializes in plant-based, vegan meals. Not only are Purple Carrot’s meals full of colorful vegetables, but they also include satiating plant-based proteins like tofu, tempeh, beans, and whole grains. You have the option to choose a meal kit, where you get to cook the meal, or opt for their fresh, prepared meals that are ready in five minutes or less. A Purple Carrot subscription includes breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks from their “Plantry.” Choose a two- or four-serving plan: The two-serving plan includes eight dinners, two lunches, and two breakfasts, and the four-serving plan includes four dinners, two lunches, and two breakfasts. You can also filter for one of four meal preferences: gluten-free, high-protein, quick and easy, or no preference. Note that their facility is not certified gluten-free, even though they have a gluten-free plan. High protein meals have 20 grams or more of protein. For context, a sedentary man should eat about 56 grams of protein per day, while a sedentary woman should eat around 46 grams per day. Meals are between 500 and 800 calories. Each meal kit box includes the ingredients for each meal, along with a recipe booklet. Purple Carrot’s culinary team chooses the meals each week but you can always edit based on preferences or cravings. While Purple Carrot strives to source as many organic and non-GMO ingredients as possible, it cannot guarantee that all of its ingredients are organic or non-GMO. You can skip, pause, or cancel your subscription at any time. Purple Carrot ships its meals to the lower 48 states. Best High Protein: Fresh n' Lean Protein Plus Fresh n Lean Sign Up Now Key Specs Lowest Price Per Serving: $9.75Number of Diets Served: 5Number of Recipes: 18 Pros & Cons Pros Fresh, never frozen Organic, non-GMO, gluten-free Ready to eat in 3 minutes Cons More expensive than other services Can’t combine meals plans Overview Fresh n' Lean’s Protein Plus plan is one of the six meal plans offered by Fresh n' Lean and the best high-protein weight loss meal delivery service for those who want a high-protein meal without having to cook it. Fresh n' Lean’s meals are cooked by chefs, never frozen, and arrive fresh. They can last in the refrigerator for seven to 10 days, or you can freeze them upon arrival for six to eight weeks. To eat, simply pop in the microwave for about 3 minutes (follow the instructions on the back of each meal). Each meal serves one person, and you can choose breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks for five or seven days of the week. Fresh n' Lean chooses quality protein sources, including free-range meats with no antibiotics or hormones and non-GMO, organic beans, and legumes. All meals are gluten- and GMO-free and most are also dairy-free. Fresh n' Lean's high protein emphasis Fresh n' Lean is helpful in helping you feel full longer when you're trying to lose weight. When choosing a meal plan, you have the option to exclude three ingredients based on preferences, such as beans, chicken, nuts, or quinoa. In addition, you can filter for allergies, including eggs, sesame, dairy, shellfish, tree nuts, and soy. However, you can’t combine plans, such as vegan and protein plus or keto and paleo. Shipping is always free with Fresh n' Lean. Fresh n' Lean is available for delivery nationwide. Best Low Carb: Green Chef Keto+Paleo Green Chef Sign Up Now Key Specs Lowest Price Per Serving: $11.49Number of Diets Served: 3Number of Recipes: 10 Pros & Cons Pros No gluten, grains, legumes, soy New plan every week Certified USDA organic Cons More expensive than other plans No breakfast options No heat-and-eat options Shipping is expensive Overview Green Chef is a certified USDA organic meal delivery service that offers three meal plans: Keto + Paleo, Balanced Living, and Plant-Powered. All are great options for weight loss but the Keto + Paleo is the best if following a low-carb diet because it is free of gluten, grains, legumes, and soy. A new plan is released weekly with the option to choose servings for two, four, or six people and three or four meals per week. You can skip or cancel any time. Each box includes ingredients that have been pre-measured and prepped as much as possible to save you time in the kitchen. This includes pre-made sauces so dinner is ready in about 30 minutes. Recipe cards are also included with step-by-step instructions and photos, and the recipe cards and ingredient bags are color-coded. Green Chef prides itself on its eco-friendly packaging, which is made from material that is recyclable, reusable, or compostable. The downside to the Green Chef Keto + Paleo meal plan is that it is a bit more expensive than other plans, starting at $11.49 per serving with a $9 shipping fee. Green Chef's delivery area includes addresses in the lower 48 states. Best Heat and Eat: Freshly Fit Freshly Fit Sign Up Now Key Specs Lowest Price Per Serving: $8.99Number of Diets Served: 2Number of Recipes: 48 Pros & Cons Pros No cooking required Ready in 3 minutes or less Can filter nutrients and allergens Cons Shipping fee No specific diet plans, can choose preferences Overview If you’re looking for healthy meals that can help you lose weight but don’t want to cook, Freshly Fit has you covered. Freshly is a reputable heat and eat meal delivery company, and Freshly Fit is their line of carb-conscious meals, designed by nutritionists, cooked by chefs, and ready to eat in three minutes or less. Meals are fully cooked and delivered fresh with lean proteins, high-fiber vegetables and grains, and heart-healthy fats. Most Freshly Fit meals are under 500 calories with less than 35 grams of carbohydrates. Each meal serves one, and you can choose from four, six, eight, 10, or 12 meals per week from a library of over 30 recipes. Freshly Fit meals last three to five days in the refrigerator. There is a small shipping fee, which is calculated at checkout, depending on how many meals you order. You can change the number of meals in your order at any time or skip a week if needed. While Freshly Fit doesn't have set diet meal plans like gluten-free, you can filter for various diet types and allergies. You can also filter for protein, carbohydrates, sodium, and calories by sorting low to high or high to low. Freshly delivers to the contiguous U.S. Final Verdict You can’t go wrong with any of the weight loss meal delivery services here, but bistroMD comes out on top. That’s because their meals are specifically designed for weight loss, developed by a doctor, prepped by chefs, and customized by a registered dietitian. BistroMD also comes with a built-in community for support so you have others to help support you on your weight loss journey. Green Chef Keto+Paleo is ideal if you're looking to cook your meals, while Freshly Fit is great for already prepared meals. Guide to Choosing the Best Weight Loss Meal Delivery Services Are Weight Loss Programs Worth It? The value depends on your goals, budget, and lifestyle, and overall health. Weigh the pros and cons, think about your own health needs, as well as your willingness to cook, and consider these factors: Health: What are your health needs? Is it hard for you to keep portions in check? Then a meal delivery service might be worth it for you. Do you have high blood pressure or cholesterol? If so, it’s important to check and see if the service allows you to choose meals that are low in sodium and fat. If not, a meal delivery service might not be worth it to you. You should also consult with your doctor if you're losing weight, as it can be harmful if you battle certain conditions (e.g., eating disorders). Cost: The price of meal delivery services can add up over time, depending on how often you use them.Willingness to Cook: If you don't like to cook, weight loss meal delivery services may absolutely be worth it so you have a healthy option waiting at home instead of resorting to takeout food. Comparing Weight Loss Meal Delivery Services Consider several factors when comparing weight loss meal delivery services, such as variety, cost, shipping, availability, and the ability to customize meals or remove allergens. It’s also important to look at the ratio of vegetables to protein to grains in each meal. For weight loss, the ideal balance is a half plate of fruits and vegetables, a quarter plate of whole grains, and protein for the other quarter along with some healthy fat. Weight Loss Programs as Part of Your Lifestyle Consider how often you want to use meal delivery services, how many meals you want to get each week, and how many servings of each meal you want. This will depend on how many people are in your household, as well as your budget. Frequency: Do you want to use a weight loss meal delivery service every week, once a month, or every couple of months? Decide if you want it to be a dinner staple in your household or more of a supplemental option when you’re tired of cooking or out of ideas. Many plans allow you to pause the service and then restart it when you are ready.Number of Meals: You can choose from two meals up to 18 meals, depending on the company. Number of Servings: Some meals have two servings, while others have four. Think about who will be eating the meal delivery service. Will anyone want leftovers for lunch the next day? Medical Conditions: If a medical condition arises where someone in the house needs to eat low-carb, for example, a meal delivery service can help you stay on track. Note: Meal plans may not be recommended or some medical conditions, so it's important to check with your doctor. Frequently Asked Questions What Are the Potential Health Benefits of Using Weight Loss Meal Delivery Services? Using a meal delivery service helps you to understand what a portion should actually look like. According to California-based, registered dietitian Ashley Larsen, RDN, portions at restaurants are much larger than what's recommended for a healthy diet. "By using a meal delivery service for weight loss, your meal will be portion-controlled for the number of calories you need," she says. "The meal will provide you with a visual example of how your plate should look to help you reach a healthy weight.” A meal delivery service can also help ensure your meal has enough fiber, protein, and healthy fats, important nutrients to include at each meal to keep you full. Aside from the health benefits of weight loss meal delivery services, other benefits include saving time and providing variety in the diet. “Somehow, healthy eating has become associated with cooking gourmet meals from scratch every night. This is just not possible for most Americans with our busy schedules. Using a meal delivery service helps to overcome the barrier of not having time to cook while ensuring that you'll get a wholesome and nutritious meal,” says Larsen. Even pre-prepped and measured ingredients that come with these meal delivery services can ensure portion control if you're not interested in ready-to-heat meals. How Much Do Weight Loss Meal Delivery Services Cost? The cost of healthy meal delivery services varies depending on the company and how many servings you order each week or month. The weight loss meal delivery services included here range from $7.49 to $11.49 per serving. Methodology To compile this list of the best weight loss meal delivery services, we looked at over 25 meal delivery services on the market and chose the ones that emphasize vegetables, since fiber is key for weight loss and maintenance. In addition, we ensured these weight loss meal delivery services included healthy protein sources and whole grain options. When possible, we included companies that have registered dietitians on staff, and we personally spoke with dietitians whose clients use meal delivery services for their expert recommendations. Finally, we included meal delivery services that offered customization and a number of diet types, such as Paleo and keto. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get simple, delicious recipes to help you eat well without feeling deprived. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 7 Sources Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Hensraud, Donald. "Why do doctors recommend a slow rate of weight loss? What's so wrong with fast weight loss?" Mayo Clinic. "What is healthy weight loss?" CDC. Tello, Monique. "Which diet is best for long-term weight loss?" Harvard Health Publishing. "Weight loss: Feel full on fewer calories." Mayo Clinic. "How Much Protein Is Simply Too Much?" SCL Health. Godman, Heidi. "Extra protein is a decent dietary choice, but don't overdo it." Harvard Health Publishing School. "Healthy Eating Plate." Harvard TH CHAN School of Public Health.