Let’s Be Real About Meal Delivery Services
Between work, kid’s schedules, the gym, and squeezing in a social life, cooking healthy meals every day can feel like a full-time job you never signed up for. That’s where meal delivery services come in. Meal delivery services have become hugely popular in the past few years and it’s made eating healthy a lot easier—especially for those with busy schedules. I’ve tried two popular options – Factor and Nutré, and this post breaks down everything you need to know, including pricing, nutrition facts, and real customer reviews. If you’re trying to decide if meal delivery services are right for you, let’s dig in.
Who Are Meal Delivery Services Actually For?
Before we compare, let’s make sure this is even the right solution for your life. Meal delivery services are a great fit if you tick any of these boxes:
⏱️ Your Time Poor
Your days are defined by long work hours, kids, or a packed schedule making cooking feel like an impossible task most nights.
🎯 You have specific health goals
Whether it’s losing weight or building muscle—having portioned, nutritionist-designed meals would make it easier.
🛒 You hate grocery shopping
You appreciate no planning, no wandering the aisles and no produce going bad in the fridge.
🔥 You want variety without effort
You’re tired of eating the same meals on repeat and want menus that rotate weekly.
Not sure it’s for you?
If you genuinely love cooking and have the time, a meal kit service (where you prep and cook) might be a better fit. But if “dinner ready in 2 minutes” sounds like a dream — read on.
Meet the Contenders
Here’s a quick snapshot before we get into the nitty-gritty.
| Factor | Nutré |
| Formerly Factor 75, now owned by HelloFresh. Fresh (never frozen), chef-prepared meals that go from fridge to table in under 2 minutes. Known for variety, strong branding, and dietitian-backed nutrition plans. | A rising favorite among the fitness community. Fresh meals with exceptional macro labelling, a strong focus on calorie control, and a loyal customer base who swear by the flavor and transparency. |
Price Comparison: What Will It Actually Cost You?
Let’s talk money — because nobody wants to fall in love with a service and then quietly cry at the checkout. Both use a sliding scale: the more meals you order per week, the less you pay per meal.
| Plan Size | Factor | Nutré |
| 5-6 meals a week | $15.49/meal (6 total) | $14.25/meal (5 total) |
| 10 meals a week | $13.99/meal | $13.49/meal |
| 15-16 meals a week | $12.99/meal (16 total) | $12.59/meal (15 total) |
| 20 meals a week | $12.99/meal | $12.09/meal |
| Shipping | $12.99 | $10.99 |
| Weekly Meal Cost (10 meals) | ~$152.89 | ~$145.89 |
Both brands are very close in pricing and because of the sliding scale, you can see how the pricing model shifts the more meals you add to the cart.
Money-Saving Tip
Both services run regular new customer promos. Always check for a promo code before you subscribe — it’s almost always there.
Nutrition: What Are You Actually Eating?
This is where things get interesting — and where your personal goals really matter.
| Category | Factor | Nutré |
| Calories | 350–900 kcal (avg ~600) | Mostly under 500 kcal |
| Dietary Plans | Keto, High-Protein, Calorie-Smart, Vegan, Fiber-Filled, GLP-1 | Balanced, plant-based, gluten-friendly, high-protein, weight loss |
| Sodium | Higher in some meals — worth checking labels | Generally lower in sodium |
| Label Transparency | Full macros + QR code on packaging | Full macros, sugar, fiber, sodium clearly listed |
| Ingredient Quality | Preservative-free, sustainably sourced, dietitian-designed | Fresh, never frozen, clearly sourced |
Both services are transparent about nutrition and ingredients, but Nutre is particularly popular with those watching calories, sodium, or sugar.
Nutrition Tip
If you’re managing blood pressure, heart health, or a calorie deficit, pay close attention to sodium and total calories on Factor’s higher-end meals. Nutré tends to run leaner by design — it’s kind of their whole thing.
Taste & Real Customer Experience
Okay, nutrition labels are great, but let’s be honest — if the food doesn’t taste good, no one is sticking with it. Here’s what people (myself included) are actually saying:
| Factor | Nutré |
| ✅ Flavor-packed meals that genuinely impress | ✅ Big on flavor despite lower calories |
| ✅ Huge menu variety — rotates weekly | ✅ “Protein plus” options help meet fitness goals |
| ✅ Dietitian support & transparent nutrition | ✅ Beloved by the fitness & macro-tracking crowd |
| ✅ Praised by major outlets (Good Housekeeping, Healthline, NY Post) | ✅ Clear, trustworthy nutritional labelling |
| ⚠️ Some meals can be “mushy” — texture varies | ⚠️ Portions can feel small (intentional for calorie control) |
| ⚠️ Many meals fall in the 700–1000mg sodium range | ⚠️ Compared to Factor’s national infrastructure, Nutre feels more “local” |
My Honest Take
Both genuinely surprised me with taste — I was expecting “healthy = bland” and got proven wrong. Factor felt more like a restaurant meal, very filling, good portions and very flavorful. Nutré felt much more calorie conscious and smaller portions, but still very flavorful. Quality of ingredients across both were very good. Delivery and logistics could be tricky some times with timing and packaging so you need to plan accordingly for both, but that comes with the territory of meal delivery services.
The Verdict
Neither is “the best.” The right choice depends entirely on what you’re trying to achieve, your budget and your routine. A meal delivery service is a great option if you are starting off on a health food journey, need help in the kitchen in order to eat healthy, short on time but still have goals to meet, or just ready to try something different.
If a meal delivery service is something that fits into your budget, both Factor and Nutré are great options. Factor may be more well-known, offer more variety and pack a flavorful punch, whereas Nutré is more macros friendly and has a more local audience. There are plenty of meals between the two that could help introduce some new flavors into your day-to-day.
Ready to Give One a Try?
Both services offer new customer discounts — so make sure to take advantage if you are trying them out for the first time. It’s a great way to switch things up at a much cheaper price point. Click the links below to browse their current menus and find the plan that fits your lifestyle.
For 40% off of Nutré meal delivery services, use my affiliate code JJ50.
