Factor Meal Prep in 2025

“You should eat to live, not live to eat.” A family member used to tell me this when I was younger, especially when I seemed indifferent to nutrition. At the time, I cared only about how food tasted. What did she mean I couldn’t survive on just potato chips and black olives forever?

She probably would have appreciated the Factor.

Factor is a meal delivery service that provides single-serving, ready-to-eat meals. It operates under HelloFresh and offers plans ranging from $84 per week for six meals to $207 per week for 18 meals. Depending on the plan, each meal costs between $11 and $14. The menu changes weekly, featuring over 35 choices, along with optional add-ons like breakfast items and juices. 

Meal categories include keto, calorie-conscious, vegetarian, and vegan. Factor, also known as Factor 75, emphasizes health and nutrition in its branding and even provides free access to dietitians for guidance. (Of course, if you’re making major dietary changes, consulting a doctor is always a good idea.)

I first tried Factor for a meal kit review a few years ago. Testing it again more recently, I found some improvements—but only marginal ones. While it might suit some people, I still wouldn’t recommend it.

Issues With Texture

Factor meals arrive fresh, not frozen, and come fully cooked. You just need to heat them in a microwave or oven—two minutes in the microwave, about seven minutes in the oven. They come packaged in recyclable plastic containers, much like a TV dinner.

For this review, my partner and I sampled several meals, including Chicken Alfredo Pasta, Filet Mignon and Mushroom Risotto, Grilled Steakhouse Filet Mignon, Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken, Louisiana Shrimp, and Tomato Chicken Risotto. 

We also tried the Banana Walnut Overnight Oats and the Cold-Pressed Juice Variety Pack. Since the meals take up quite a bit of space, making room in the fridge was necessary.

Without a microwave, I opted to heat the meals in the oven at 375°F (after removing the plastic film, of course). And every single one turned out… mushy. The texture made me feel like an oversized baby or a pet eating a diet of soft food. Even when the flavors were decent, the consistency was unappealing. Factor meals have always reminded me of uninspired airplane food.

That said, the side dishes have improved since my previous experience. I’d gladly eat the Tomato Chicken Risotto again. Most vegetables and sides had decent flavor and texture, and every meal was quite filling. However, precooked and reheated steak simply doesn’t work. 

The supposed filet mignon turned to mush when cut and practically crumbled in my mouth. It tasted like a lab-created version of steak—hints of seasoning and caramelization, but with a texture that didn’t require chewing.

Factor’s Prepared Meals

Had I not been reviewing these meals as-is, I would have added some crunch—maybe croutons, extra vegetables, or Parmesan crisps—to break up the monotony. But for the sake of an honest assessment, I ate them as intended.

Unfortunately, every meal had the same soft, porridge-like consistency. It was frustrating to trick my brain into believing I was eating chicken or shrimp when the texture suggested otherwise. The cold-pressed juices, however, were great. No complaints there.

Who Would Like Factor?

Factor might be a good fit for people who dislike cooking and avoid using a stovetop, or for those who rely heavily on premade meals. If your diet mainly consists of convenience-store meals, Factor could be a healthier alternative. It could also work well for athletes focused on high-protein intake or individuals meticulously tracking their macros. 

If you’re the type who doesn’t mind eating the same simple meal six days a week, it might be a solid option. That said, I’d still argue that making your own meals is a better choice.

For those who care about both texture and taste, an alternative approach might be to order vegetarian meals and supplement them with your own protein.

Factor seems ideal for people who approach eating as a functional task—the meal-prep-for-weeks, efficiency-first crowd. If you fall into that category, the service might be worth considering. 

But for me, while Factor meals aren’t awful, they’re just not enjoyable. Given the many excellent meal kit services available, I’d rather spend a bit more time cooking and doing dishes than settle for a daily diet of mush.