We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post at no additional cost to you.
Spoiler Alert, Factor 75 Meals are Mom and 15-year-old boy approved
If it was your first day on the internet, you’d probably be served an ad for a meal subscription box. The popularity of subscription box meal delivery services has skyrocketed over the last 5 years, with some even becoming available in grocery stores (I know that negates the delivery and subscription aspect). Companies like Factor 75, Gobble, Sunbasket, and Hello Fresh can be seen advertising all over social media with the latter being one that’s available in grocery stores too.
Factor Meals, or Factor 75 as it’s also known, is one of the many meal delivery companies on the market right now. They tout themselves as healthy eating made simple, and with 4 kids and a picky wife, I was looking for simplicity. After a few meal subscription service reviews, I knew I wanted prepared meals, not meal kits. If I am going to take the time to prepare a meal, it’s going to be for the whole family and ours is too large to be accommodated by these services.
What is Factor 75?
Factor 75 is a meal delivery service owned by a well-known meal subscription service HelloFresh. Factor delivers healthy, chef-prepared meals that arrive fresh and never frozen. Each week Factor dietitians craft 27+ healthy meals including ketogenic, low-carb, low-calorie, and plant-based options. You can select from a range of meal delivery options each week that range from 4 meals to 18 meals per week. The emphasis with Factor is nutrition, taste, and convenience.
Nowhere is it more evident that Factor is focused on nutrition then the fact that every Factor subscriber receives a complimentary nutritional consultation with one of their dieticians. During the consultation, subscribers can discuss new diet options like keto or vegetarians, fitness or weight-loss goals, and desired results. The same dieticians that work with subscribers are also working with Factor chefs to create flavorful, nutritious meals that are pre-portioned and don’t require any prep-work. Factor Meals are perfect for anyone living an active lifestyle, picky eaters, health-conscious people, and dieters with food limitations.
If you want truly tasty, no-prep, nutritious meals delivered to your doorstep each week, Factor is the best meal subscription service we’ve tested so far at Revoupon.
Save $120 with Factor Meals! Use code RVP120OFF at Checkout.
Our friends at Factor offered us an opportunity to select six meals to try. I made the executive decision on which meals were sent but did my best to select meals that my wife and 15-year-old son would also like. Believe it or not, my wife is harder to pick foods for than my son. I’ve always implemented a “you have to at least try it” policy his whole life, and he’s an adventurous eater as a result. My wife is not so adventurous and has a major aversion to smell and texture. I have been vegetarian in the past but found it hard to maintain and didn’t select an of Factor’s veggie options. My son and I eat sushi, but no other forms of fish, so this Factor review won’t mention any seafood either.
In our house, there are 7 mouths to feed most nights ranging from age 1-72 (my 72-year-old father lives with us). On any given night, we my wife or I must cook at minimum 2 meals to accommodate our two youngest and sometimes my dad (who has a limited diet and also hates flavor). As you can imagine, 2-3 meals are not only time consuming but stressful. Meal delivery kits allow us a simple, stress-free solution to save money and headaches at dinner time by letting us focus on our kids’ simple meals and giving us gourmet options without the time commitment.
Let’s be honest, we could find meals at the grocery store that can be microwaved in 2 minutes. We’ve done that. In fact, there’s Healthy Choice and Lean Cuisine in our freezer right now. Sure, those meals are about half the price of Factor, but they are not as healthy and (spoiler alert) they don’t taste as good. If your only measure is price, I say stick with grocery store freezer meals. If you’re looking for quality meals with gourmet options, then keep reading to find out why Factor should be one of your top considerations for a meal delivery subscription.
What Makes Factor a better food subscription?
Factor Pros and Cons: Revscore 9.6/10
PROS
- Fresh, never frozen meals
- Weekly delivery
- No prep work needed
- Cooks faster than frozen meals, only about 2 minutes
- Non-GMO and hormone free ingredients you can feel good about
- Fresh recipes weekly
- Perfectly portioned sizes prevent binging and overeating
- Diet-specific foods: Keto, Paleo, Low-calorie, Plant-based, and Dairy-free
- Flexible delivery options and meal quantities
CONS
- Fresh foods don’t last as long, so you must commit to eating it before it goes bad
- More expensive than grocery store prepared meals
- Single serving meals mean you can’t feed families
- Dietary options don’t appear to be available every week (Didn’t see dairy free for 2 weeks)
- Slim selection of vegetarian and vegan options each week
- Website can be confusing when first navigating and looking for information
- If you forget to choose your meals, Factor will choose them for you
- UPS, FedEx, and other logistics companies can be delayed
One of the best things about signing up for Factor meals is that there’s no commitment. You can cancel any time or skip weeks that don’t work for you. To get started go to factor75.com and click the GET STARTED button in the top menu. From there you’ll pick your meal preferences and meals per week, then hit SELECT THIS PLAN. Enter your delivery information, select your days, and use Factor Coupon Code RVP120OFF for exclusive savings for Revoupon readers. Click NEXT to add your payment details, then finally select your meals.
Factor Menu: Delicious but not decadent
Don’t expect to find fried chicken and double cheeseburgers on Factor’s menu. It’s common knowledge that those aren’t healthy food choices, and as I mentioned, Factor is a health-conscious meal delivery service. That being said, healthy does not have to be flavorless. If you’re on the fence about whether Factor has meals that fit your wants and needs, you can always see the weekly menu without needing to subscribe. In fact, Factor lets you preview the next 2-weeks of meals which will have at least 29 unique culinary choices.
When browsing the meal options, be sure to click on each meal for more information. Doing so will show you a “plated” picture of the meal, have detailed nutritional information, include a description of the dish, show all the ingredients, and breakdown the microwave and oven heating instructions.
In additional ready-to-eat lunch and dinner meals, Factor offers bundles, breakfast options, snacks, sides, shakes, smoothies, and juices. A few of the Factor ad-ons are:
-
-
- Tropical Fruit Smoothie
- Brownie Energy Bites
- Cinnamon Roll Fat-bombs
- Keto Cheesecake
- Oven-roasted Mahi-Mahi
- Keto Shake Bundles
- Breakfast Tostada + Blueberry Pancake Bundles
-
Factors’ selection of eats is enough to get anyone through a day of healthy eating without feeling like they’re on a fad diet. All the Factor add-ons are crafted with the same high-quality standards as their ready-to-eat meals. That means you can feel good about the ingredients, know it’s going to fit within your dietary restrictions, and it’s not going to break the bank.
How does Factor ship/arrive?
Factor meals are available in all 48 contiguous US state, so no need to enter your zip code on the site to see if delivery is available in your area. A few of the carriers used include: UDS, Blue Streak, AxleHire, Lasership, UPS and FedEx. My order arrived via UPS. Luckily, I was standing outside when my order arrived, so it didn’t have to sit in the direct sun of our southern facing Colorado porch. It turns out that fear was unfounded.
The order arrived in a medium sized box, heavily lined with repurposed denim insulation. There were a few gel ice packs keeping the meals cold. After unpacking the meals and placing them in our fridge, I nonchalantly placed the box near our front door. A few days later my wife opened the box to discover that the inside of the box was still very cold. So, if you have concerns about whether your meals will arrive cold, I am here to tell you it, that will not be a problem. Deliveries from factor come between Monday and Wednesday, arriving somewhere from 8am to 8pm.
All Factor meals arrive in a BPA-free CPET plastic container that’s safe for food storage and heating in the microwave. The container is wrapped in a non-recyclable plastic film plastic and a cardboard sleeve label, to so you know which meal is which. The sleece also contains the ingredient list and nutritional information. After you enjoy your meal, the container and sleeve may also be recycled.
I’m not generally one to get excited about packaging materials, but we received gel ice packs in our Sunbasket order and have used them countless times since. So, I was excited to have another gel pack. We use the gel icepacks when camping, going to the Asian grocery store 40 minutes away, and to keep drinks cold in our cooler when we have more than a few friends over. Unfortunately, since you receive a pack or two each delivery, you’ll eventually have too many to be useful. Luckily, you can empty the contents into the trash and got to plasticfilmrecycling.com to find a close plastic film recycler.
REVIEW: The Perfect Microwave Dinner: Sunbasket Fresh & Ready Review
I learned how to cook in middle school. Growing up it was just me and my pops, and his idea of cooking was frozen fish sticks and ore-ida fries in the oven. If it wasn’t something along those lines, it was fast-food. I quickly realized if I wanted real food, I was going to learn how to cook. All those skills I honed throughout the years are unnecessary with Factor though.
Although I still enjoy cooking, my wife and I rarely have the time to dedicate to meal prep. With four kids running around, mealtime can be stressful. The kids are simpler and the youngest don’t appreciate a pepper mutton over basmati with a side of chicken momo. That’s exactly where Factor comes in.
While some nuggets are air frying, it’s easy to whip up a Garlic Pork Tenderloin with Asiago Cauliflower Mash & Pesto Green Beans by simply microwaving it for 2 minutes or baking it for 5. Heating directions for most Factor meals are as follows:
- Remove meal sleeve and pierce clear plastic film. 2. Microwave meal on HIGH for 2 minutes. If needed, heat an additional 30 seconds or until desired temperature is reached. 3. Carefully remove meal and let stand for 2 minutes. 4. Remove film, plate meal and enjoy!
- Preheat oven to 375°F. 2. Remove meal sleeve and clear plastic film. 3. Place tray on an oven safe baking sheet, position in the center of the oven and heat for 5 minutes. 4. Check temperature. If needed, heat an additional 2 minutes or until desired temperature is reached. 5. Carefully remove meal, plate and enjoy!
For the sake of this Factor meals review, we plated our meals after cooking, but you can eat them straight out of the container if you’re in a rush or want to minimize the dirty dishes. Our house is a constant pile of dirty dishes, so in the future we’ll be eating from the trays.
Although the directions say to heat for an additional 30 seconds if it’s not hot enough, none of the meals we ate needed any extra time (I assume that’s based on microwave power). We didn’t try to oven bake any of the meals, but in hindsight that would be better when cooking more than one meal at a time. Unlike other frozen meals, the cook times and temperature of our Factor meals were uniform, allowing multiple meals to go in at the same time. I love this aspect because we like everyone eating at the same time – call us old fashioned.
Factor Farming, Food Safety and Nutrition
When the whole meal delivery trend first started, I admit we had concerns about food safety and quality. It turns out that many of the meal delivery services, Factor included, recognized that pain point for consumers and built their companies around the solution. Factor specifically, prides themselves on working with organic farms and the use of sustainable farming methods. Eco-friendly clothing options is one way to help the environment, but eco-friendly farming can have just as positive of an impact.
Although not all of Factors’ ingredients are sourced in the US, a good deal of them are. Some ingredients sourced outside the US include BAP-certified Salmon from Canada, some meats from Australia, produce from Central and South America, and wild-caught shrimp. Factor believe” Every Meal Matters.” Working with animal welfare experts, they strive for ethical and humane treatment of chickens. This means that chickens in their supply chain are free from thirst or hunger, discomfort, pain, injury, disease, fear and distress for the life of the chicken, as it relates to their eggs or meat. They are one of the only meal delivery services I’ve seen with such an emphasis on the ethical treatment of chickens and require all poultry to be cage-free.
In addition to ethical sourcing, food safety is major concern for Factor. All meals are packaged in recycled and/or recyclable materials. The insulation they use to keep meals cold include 100% recycled PET insulation, and cotton insulation, both of which should be disposed of in the trash. Gel packs are non-toxic and reusable (which is super useful) but should never be poured in a drain or toilet, the gel should be emptied into the trash and the plastics recycled. If you’re off the beaten path and recycling isn’t available in your area, contact earth911.com to find the closest recycling facility or other options.
Although Factor is not a diet meal subscription box, the nutrition that goes into Factor meals is balanced and can help with weight loss goals, especially when paired with exercise and moderation in other parts of your life. Personally, my wife and I could stand to lose a few pounds. If you’re looking for a true weight loss meal solution, Factor might not be for you – discuss that with Factors nutrition coaches. If you are eating Factor, their meals are entered into MyFitnessPal, LoseIt, and Carb Manager to help you track macros. Typical meals range from 350 to 900 calories, averaging around 600 per meal.
Does the low price of Factor Meals factor into the quality?
The meal delivery services my family and I have tested in the past didn’t set the bar too high. They were all good, for the most part, but they couldn’t compare to home cooking and the value for price didn’t always align. My skepticism was especially strong given that Factor only has prepared options. We’ve all had our share of microwave dinners throughout the years, especially if you’re an 80’s baby like my wife and I. I can honestly say, I don’t crave Stouffers Salisbury Steak or Hungry-Mans’ Country Fried Chicken, but as you’ll see in the following Factor 75 review that they delivered some crave-worthy meals.
Factor Meals Review: Value is more than cost
As food costs continue to rise at restaurants and at the grocery store, Factor has kept their pricing competitive and is currently a real value. As of this writing in May 2022, meals start at $5.49 for 18 meals per week and go up to $7.49 if you only want 4 meals a week delivered (with code RVP120OFF). Considering the recently resurrected Taco Bell Mexican Pizza combo will run you $8.99, it’s clear Factor is providing great value for better quality food.
The breakdown of costs without a discount applied is:
- 4 meals per week – $15.00/serving
- 6 meals per week – $12.83/serving
- 8 meals per week – $12.38/serving
- 10 meals per week – $11.99/serving
- 12 meals per week – $11.50/serving
- 18 meals per week – $11.00/serving
As you can see, there’s significant cost savings by using Revoupons exclusive discount code.
Factor Review: The Verdict
If you’re in the market for a meal delivery service, Factor should be at the top of your list for testing. With options for dietary restriction and preferences, it’s likely to have a meal for even the pickiest eater. The quality of the food can be seen and tasted in each bite, but it’s not all sun-dried tomatoes and rainbow carrots.
We were all impressed by the meals we received from Factor, but we are somewhat picky eaters and that limits the menu. We’re always going to steer clear of seafood and certain vegetables like mushrooms, so of the 30 meals per week we see it more as 20-25. Although still a healthy selection, since the meals rotate, I could see us getting bored with the selections after a few months. Also, having meals delivered fresh is great, but life gets busy, and I can see us forgetting about meals and wasting a couple a month.
When it was all said and done Factor was the best meal subscription service I’ve tested. The food was incredibly flavorful, and the meals were unique, not the typical chicken and rice you’d expect from a healthy meal delivery. The prepared, pre-packaged aspect made life easier and there’s a lot to be said for that in a house as chaotic as ours. The bottom line is that I would recommend Factor to almost anyone and would purchase it again myself.
If you’re looking for information on anything, Reddit is a goldmine of people who have tried everything. Finding reviews of Factor on Reddit uncovers mostly positive feedback, as you can see below:
One user in r/mealkits wrote “I’m using Factor right now and really enjoying them so far. The meals are extremely filling and rich in protein.” While another user said, “Out of the gate Factor_ has been amazing, and will definitely be in my rotation each month. Large portions, which means higher calories if anyone cares about that, but the ingredients are sound and the flavor is on point.”
Sunbasket vs Factor
When it comes down to the food quality and flavor, I believe Factor is the better choice for pre-packaged meals, especially if you’re health conscious. Nutritionally, when comparing the chilis, Factor was “better” for you. However, that was mostly due to serving size. Sunbasket gives you more food and, as a result; calories, sodium, carbs, and everything else is higher. Some would argue that this gives you better value, but that’s relative to what you find value in. Personally, I prefer a $30 steak over a $30 buffet, despite how much extra food you get. I feel the same about Factor.
Other downsides to Sunbasket vs Factor are menu visibility and quantity. For anyone to see the menu on Sunbasket, you must register. Factor doesn’t hide their menu or force you into their mailing list to see it. Factor also shows 2 weeks of food, so it’s easier to plan and decide if you want to skip a week. Finally, Sunbasket Fresh and Ready only allows you to select 10 meals per week. With Factor, you can select up to 18 meals.
Sunbasket has an edge for those looking for meal prep meals, since Factor only has prepackaged options. Additionally, Sunbasket has more dietary restricted options like gluten-free, Mediterranean, diabetes-friendly, and carb-conscious. There’s no “one-size-fits-all” meal delivery service and it boils down to personal preference, but for our family Factor is the clear winner versus Sunbasket.
Who are Factor Meals best suited to?
Factor is ideal for anyone who loves good food, but doesn’t want to, or doesn’t have time to, cook. When I say good food, I mean high-quality ingredients and complex flavor profiles. These aren’t simple meals like fired chicken and roasted potatoes. They are thought out meals, with complimentary sides and unique flavor combinations.
Factors meal delivery is ideal for 1-3 people with a busy life who care about healthy foods and want to avoid the traps of our grab-n-go society. This could be a single guy in downtown Denver who needs a quick and healthy meal at the office, a couple who wants a fast and flavorful dinner before heading out for happy hour, or a family who need to get some quality “fuel” into their daughter before the afternoon softball practice.
Factor is a versatile meal delivery service that cab work for a lot of different people, but I noticed a lot of Keto options. Factor is an ideal meal delivery for those adhering to a keto diet, or s couple where one person is not looking for keto-friendly options.
Who are Factor Meals not best for?
First and foremost, Factor isn’t going to be a great choice for Vegetarians and Vegans. This week, Factor only has 2 Vegetarian selections, which if you’re paying for the minimum 4 meals/week means doubling up on the only two selections. It’s also not great for seafood lovers and pescatarians. Once again, this week there’s only 2 seafood dishes to choose from.
Large families and families with small children won’t find Factor to be a good choice, unless they are looking to only feed themselves to make dinner time easier (like us). At the lowest price of $11 per meal, feeding a family of 6 can get pricey quick and would only cover 3 meals per week.
Anyone on a strict budget might find Factor to be an expensive choice. There are other meal subscriptions in the market that have prices under $2 a meal. If you’re on a shoestring “fry” budget, it would be best to check those out.
