10 Best Weight Loss Meal Delivery Services, According to Nutrition Experts

Trifecta is the official meal delivery partner of Crossfit, but rest assured that you don't have to be an athlete to enjoy these meals. Meals average between 430 to 490 calories, with options for low-carb and paleo-compliant dishes too. Those serious about counting macros will 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.

How it works: Choose from over 100 protein-rich meals on a variety of meal plans including paleo, keto, Whole30, vegan or vegetarian. You can choose five, seven, 10 or 14 entrees per delivery and even add on breakfasts if needed. Have Trifecta's chefs select the meals for you or pick them on your own. Meals arrive in vacuum-sealed containers and last 6 to 10 days in the fridge or over three months in the freezer.

Lab results: Our experts appreciate Trifecta's focus on nutrition, macronutrients and meal planning. 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. The brand provides great tools for those looking to gain muscle or lose body fat with its corresponding app and boasts many weight loss success stories on their website. Testers raved about the "variety of meals" and "convenience." They reported portions were satisfying and 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.

Simple and affordable, Dinnerly uses recipes with only six ingredients and five easy steps to make weeknight meals a breeze. Everything can be made in 30 minutes or less, and there are options that cater to a calorie conscious lifestyle.

How it works: Not only is Dinnerly more affordable than many other meal delivery services out there, but you can select from over 100 dishes that change weekly. All have limited ingredients, which means less chopping and cleaning. There are dedicated low-calorie meals as well for those looking to lose weight. The service will suggest recipes based on your taste profile, but you can swap them before your next delivery.

Lab results: The robust selection of meals, including lower calorie ones, impressed our experts and testers. Even the vegetarian offerings on the menu are substantial. Our testers continue to give Dinnerly a high satisfaction rating due to "large portion sizes, delicious flavor and easy-to-follow recipes." Our experts and dietitians appreciate the affordability for healthy, nutritious food. Favorite low-calorie meals included the mustard and scallion crusted chicken, the low-cal shrimp souvlaki pita and the Japanese pulled pork rice bowl. Take note that Dinnerly keeps costs low by cutting down on excess packaging and not printing recipe cards (the recipes are available online).

RELATED: Best Vegetarian Meal Delivery Services

Factor offers ready-to-eat, individually portioned meals that are designed by registered dietitians and chefs. Customers can schedule a complimentary consultation with a Factor dietitian to help select the best meals for their individual tastes and preferences. They also offer more-in depth nutrition coaching for long-term weight loss programming.

How it works: The menu rotates weekly meals and offers over 34 different dietitian-designed and chef-crafted meals each week. The Calorie Smart plan in particular focuses on meals with 550 calories or less, but there are also other options like keto, flexitarian and protein plus. Meals arrive fresh, never frozen.

Lab results: 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. There is a ton of low-carb and keto-compliant options too, but keep in mind that these meals tended to be very high in fat. Our registered dietitians and experts appreciate the extra nutritional support offered to help customers build healthy habits.

Founded by a medical doctor, BistroMD focuses on nutritious prepared meals designed for weight loss. The service also caters to different medical conditions and has a team of in-house registered dietitians that can create a custom diet program for you.

How it works: Start by selecting a program to fit your dietary needs, all of which are designed for weight loss. There are over 150 meals to choose from on the menu, and dishes arrive frozen and simply need a quick reheating before you dig in. The programs include:

• Standard Plan: Designed for weight loss or weight maintenance, with a men's and women's option.
• Diabetic Plan: Ideal for those with type 1 and type 2 diabetes or those who are pre-diabetic. All meals on this program contain 25 grams or less of net carbohydrates.
• Gluten-Free Plan: Designed for people with Celiac disease and those with gluten sensitivities or intolerances. All gluten-free meals are tested to the FDA gluten-free standard and do not contain wheat, rye or barley.
• Keto Flex Plan: BistroMD’s lowest carbohydrate program.
• Heart Healthy Plan: Meals that fall at or below the American Heart Association's (AHA) recommendations for calories, sodium, total fat and saturated fat. All meals on this program contain less than 600 mg of sodium and less than 3.5 grams of saturated fat per serving.
• Menopause Plan: Meals that are uniquely designed to help with the hormonal changes that menopause brings.
• Vegan Plan: Free of dairy, eggs, meat and fish and a good source of plant protein.

Lab results: Our registered dietitians loved that the meals are balanced, satisfying and science-backed. In addition to catering to weight loss, there are legitimate plans for diabetes, heart health and more. Testers gave the service top marks for convenience, variety, freshness of ingredients and ease of reheating the meals, saying they loved that the meals 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."

Looking for organic premade meals to help you manage your weight? Fresh N Lean may be the solution for you. The service caters to fresh, organically sourced ingredients and dishes are ready to eat in minutes.

How it works: Begin by selecting from over 100 menu options each week. There are different plans you can choose from, but the Protein+, Keto, Paleo, Standard Vegan and the Low-Carb Vegan plans all average under 500 calories per meal. The menu is updated weekly and nutritional information for each meal is provided on the company's website. You can also add sweet or savory snacks and proteins, including breakfast muffins and grilled salmon.

Lab results: Testers gave the service top scores for variety of dietary preferences, convenience and fresh-tasting meals, as well as commenting on how satisfying the meals were. Our registered dietitians appreciate the diversity of menu options and that ingredients are non-GMO and organically sourced. If you're looking for satiating meals, much of the menu is rich in protein and fiber to help keep you fueled and satisfied on less than 500 calories per meal. But prepared meals like this can be expensive, so note that the more you order the lower the cost per meal with this service.

Catering to multiple diets with meals designed by local chefs and registered dietitians, Territory offers up fresh (never frozen) meals that are fully prepared and ready to eat in under two minutes. All dishes are free from gluten, dairy and refined sugar.

How it works: The rotating local menus feature as many as 90 dishes each week, and you can get meals delivered once or twice weekly. The service is frequently introducing new meals too so you never get tired of eating the same thing. Choose between different dietary preferences such as Paleo, Low Carb, Keto Friendly, Plant Based, Whole30, Mediterranean, Performance Nutrition and <500 calories. You'll be asked to rate your meals at the end of the week, and then the service will pre-slot meals for the following week depending on your preferences.

Lab results: Testers gave the service top scores for large portion sizes, convenience of ready-to-eat meals and variety. Our registered dietitians appreciated that each meal comes with easy-to-follow macronutrient breakdowns, portion size information and full ingredient details including the inspiration behind the dish. There is also a decent number of meals for the under 500 calories category, but some testers noted that certain meals weren't super flavorful. Some favorites included the Moroccan-style turkey meatballs with roasted vegetables and the artichoke pesto chicken with spaghetti squash.

Another top performer in our tests thanks to its high-quality ingredients, Green Chef offers thoughtfully packaged kits and vibrant recipes. This certified organic company offers a wide variety of health-conscious meal plans, working with farmers to source sustainable ingredients.

How it works: Start by choosing a plan based on your dietary preferences, including the Calorie Smart plan which features meals at 650 calories or less. Additional options include Mediterranean, plant-based, protein packed, keto and gluten-free. All meals can be made in 45 minutes or less

Lab results: The high-quality organic ingredients and meals curated for different dietary needs make Green Chef a favorite among our nutrition experts. You'll pay a premium, but the items come neatly packaged, organized and pre-portioned. 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." Favorite lower-calorie dishes included the sriracha-tamari barramundi, the grilled cumin pork chops, and the blackened chicken bowls with kale rice that are American Heart Association certified. 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 REVIEW: Is Green Chef Worth It?

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

How it works: 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 also filter recipes to choose meals under 600 calories. You'll also have the option to add on additional plant-based grocery items, like vegan cream cheese and crackers with the brand's Plantry offerings.

Lab results: This exclusively vegan service impressed our nutritionists with its array of tasty and nutritious plant-based meals. 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. Our 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." Popular lower-calorie entrees included the lemon braised chickpeas, kimchi mushroom fried rice and the penne alla puttanesca.

RELATED: Best Vegan Meal Delivery Services

One of the first meal kit delivery services on the market, HelloFresh offers a wide variety of curated meal plans, making it a popular pick in our tests. All ingredients are pre-portioned for each recipe.

How it works: Start by selecting your plan. The Fit and Wholesome plan is ideal for those looking to manage their weight, as it features dietitian-approved meals at around 650 calories each. You'll also find 100+ seasonal and convenient grocery items that you can add to your order when needed.

Lab results: 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. The calorie smart meals on the Fit and Wholesome plan were still inventive and delicious, but there are only a handful to choose from each week.

Popular lower calorie meals included the pecan-crusted chicken, creamy garlic spinach ricotta ravioli and the barramundi with zesty cilantro sauce. “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?

Enjoy restaurant-quality meals at just $5 per serving with EveryPlate. Even though the meals are budget-friendly, we were impressed with the quality.

How it works: The menu rotates weekly and there is a Nutrish & Delish plan that features nutrient-dense recipes around 650 calories or less. Everything comes pre-portioned and ingredients are sourced from nationally recognized suppliers. Most meals can be made in under 30 minutes.

Lab results: The tastiness and quality of the meals impressed both our experts and testers. Although there are over 25 dishes to choose from each week, not every dish is low calorie so make sure you select the appropriate plan. The items also aren't as carefully packaged as other kits. That being said, the box itself and the packaging materials are solid.

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."

RELATED: Best Affordable Meal Delivery Services