The Best Low Calorie Meal Delivery

Wednesday, March 19th

2025 Low Calorie Meal Delivery Reviews

Sunbasket

• Prices from $39.65 to $229.80 per week
• 2-10 days of food per week
• 1-2 meals per day
• Family-style options
• 100% satisfaction guarantee
• Tons of 5-star ratings

Sunbasket is a newer player in the Low Calorie Meal Delivery scene. The company got its start 7 years ago, and, since 2023, it has become one of the top choices for healthy and organic meal kit delivery.

High quality, organic ingredients

Sunbasket stands out by using high-quality, organic ingredients and catering to a variety of diets with low-calorie, Keto, paleo, and Mediterranean meal plans. It also provides options for vegans and vegetarians if you prefer a no-meat or no-dairy approach. Going beyond meal kits, Sunbasket has added a convenient online marketplace for grocery items like fresh meat, fish, seafood, cheese, coffee, and snacks which can be added to your weekly box. With about 99% USDA-certified organic produce, you can expect your items to arrive fresh and crisp. Plus, Sunbasket offers you easy access to all the nutritional information you need during selection and delivery.

Service Overview

• Diets offered: Keto, Paleo, Carb-conscious, Gluten-Free, Diabetes, Lean and Clean, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Mediterranean,
• Days of food: 4-10
• Shipment frequency: Every week
• Daily meals: 1-2 meals per day (depending on order)
• Calories per day: 600 cal or fewer for each meal
• Number of low-cal-specific programs: Zero but all plans offer low-cal options
• Trial period: No

Basic plan: Fresh and Ready

One stand-out feature is that Sunbasket doesn't separately list low-calorie as an option as all of their meals are low-cal focused. While the company does have a page called the "Lean and Clean Meal Plan” once you start checkout, the meals are the same as the traditional meal. As such, there are two ways to buy meals from Sunbasket. Fresh and Ready is the cheaper of the two. Fresh and Ready meals kick off at $9.99 per serving, offering you a range of 4-10 meals each week. What makes these meals stand out is that they're all set for you - no cooking, cleaning, or prep needed. Simply pop them in your oven or microwave, and you're good to go. Once you've decided on the number of servings, the weekly cost falls between $39.65 and $99.99.

Low cal diet meal examples

Even though these meals are typically designed for one person, you have the option to add extra meals or simply double up for yourself. The Fresh and Ready section offers various low-cal-friendly meal choices. Some example meals that support a low-cal diet include:

• Chipotle Turkey chili with cucumber sumac salad
• Salmon with cilantro lime sauce
• Steak with chimichurri

Top tier plan: Meal Kit

If you're after a more hands-on experience with ingredients, the regular Meal Kit is what you should consider. These kits take anywhere from 15 to 40 minutes to cook, depending on the recipe, and they kick off at $11.49 per serving. What sets this section apart is the ability to fine-tune your choices, such as opting for Gluten-free or Vegetarian extras without a price increase. Another significant change is that the shipments cater to serving sizes for 2-4 people, offering up to 5 meals at those servings. So, when you break down the cost per serving, a Sunbasket Meal Kit ranges from $45.96 per week for a 2-person 2-meal kit to $229.80 per week for a 4-person 5-meal kit.

Regular meal kit examples

You can anticipate a variety of meals in the Meal Kits, including:

• Almond-crusted dijon pork chops
• Ethiopian red lentil stew
• Spicy Kung Pao chicken with cashews
• Jerk chicken with coconut cauliflower rice

100% mouthwatering guarantee

Sunbasket offers a 100% Mouthwatering Guarantee so that you can be confident that you'll thoroughly enjoy your experience with their Meal Delivery services. If you're not content, Sunbasket promises to address it. Simply reach out to their Help Center within 7 days of your delivery. Beyond that, the Sunbasket subscription offers convenience with no long-term commitment. Your kits and meals arrive every week, but you have the freedom to skip a week or cancel whenever you like. Even if you're away from home, Sunbasket has you covered and can deliver to your vacation spot too.

Reviewers love Sunbasket

When we delved into Sunbasket's reputation, we found a "B-” rating from the Better Business Bureau. While this grade falls somewhere in the middle, customer reviews tell a different story. On Trustpilot, Sunbasket holds an impressive 4.6-star average, backed by thousands of reviews. Numerous 5-star reviews from food and fitness blogs highlight everything from quality ingredients to delightful flavors. Customers applaud the simplicity of the recipes, and for those seeking a speedy option, the Fresh and Ready meals receive love for their taste and quick cooking times. Subscribers also sing praises for the a-la-carte market, where you can add extras for your meals (or just grab some snacks if you feel like it).

Top option for meal flexibility

Sunbasket sets itself apart with its outstanding flexibility. Instead of limiting you to family-sized meals or individual portions, Sunbasket lets you choose what suits your lifestyle best. Offering a variety of diets, including Lean & Clean, it caters not only to your diet style but also addresses concerns like allergies, vegan preferences, and more. The pricing is quite competitive, especially for those opting for up to 10 meals per week so that a single person gets at least one meal per day plus a few lunches. This puts it ahead of the other companies in our review, a decision strongly endorsed by customer reviews praising the delicious flavors and easy preparation. Sunbasket earns a 5-star rating. And since most of their meals do support low-calorie eating, Sunbasket earns the first-place spot in this review.

Factor

• Prices from $80.94 to $197.82 per week
• 1 mix-and-match program that includes Low-cal
• 6-12 days of food per week
• Up to two meals a day
• Single serving pre-made food
• Rewards program
• All food is fresh, never frozen
• "A+” rating from the BBB

Since 2013, Factor's been sending gourmet meals straight to your door whenever you want. These meals aren't just fresh; they're fully prepared in single servings, only needing a few minutes of reheating before you can enjoy them.

Variety of restaurant-quality meals

You get to pick from 35 restaurant-quality meals every week with a variety of options that support different diets. As part of the family with HelloFresh, Green Chef, and Every Plate, Factor is all about health, bringing you fresh, heat-and-eat meals perfectly sized for one with a gourmet touch. The team of chefs and dietitians at Factor creates dishes from comfort food classics to global cuisines. And if you're into Keto, vegetarian, or "Calorie Smart" meals, they've got you covered.

Service Overview

• Diets offered: Calorie Smart, Keto, Vegan and Veggie, Flexitarian, Protein+, Chef's Choice, Snacks and Desserts, Shakes and Smoothies, Protein Extras
• Days of food: 6 days on average
• Shipment frequency: Every week
• Daily meals: 2-3 meals per day
• Calories per day: Less than 550 cal per meal
• Number of low-cal-specific programs: Mix-and-match style
• Trial period: No

Only one plan: mix-and-match

Factor's plans are designed for flexibility. Instead of picking just one box type, you can go for any and all of them (or just one) and get all your food in one go. There are 6 "preferences" to pick from (Chef's Choice, Keto, Calorie Smart, Flexitarian, Protein+, Vegan & Veggie). You can choose one or all of them to get a box that suits your lifestyle. To get an idea of Factor's pricing, we only looked at the price for the Calorie Smart meals (without picking other preferences). You can choose 6-18 meals each week, making 2-3 meals a day for six days. The lowest cost for the Calorie Smart plan is $80.94 a week for 6 meals. The most expensive is $197.82 for 18 meals a week. If you want to add in other options like Vegan and Vegetarian and Keto together, it won't change your price. It just changes what Factor suggests for your meals.

Low calorie meal examples

But no matter what, you can access all the meals and choose whatever you like. Some of the meals you can find on the low-calorie list include:

• Chipotle queso chicken
• Broccoli cheddar ground beef
• Shredded chicken taco bowl with roasted corn salsa

Qualify for free gifts with loyalty

Remember this when it comes to Factor: the shipping is something to consider. There's a flat-rate shipping fee of $10.99 for all orders, and it's not part of your meal plan cost. So, if you go for the six-meal plan, the total cost, including shipping, is $91.93 - adding the $80.94 for the meals. On top of shipping fees, which were slightly disappointing, we also didn't find info on guarantees or refunds, so getting your money back might be a bit tricky. On a positive note, sticking with Factor can earn you some cool free treats. Their Factor Freebies program gives you totally free meals as you hit certain milestones. Most of these freebies are worth $60, so you get to decide what you want to use them for.

Factor is the total package

Factor's reputation is impressive. The company holds a perfect "A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau, and the company remains extremely popular with food and fitness bloggers. Customers looking for a better diet or a lifestyle upgrade are trying Factor and raving online about the high-quality, non-frozen meals. According to reviews on Trustpilot, Factor has an average rating of 4 stars. Customers praised the look and taste of the food including excellent seasoning. In general, there was also a lot of love for the single-portion pre-made nature of the meals making them easy to eat for even the busiest low-cal fan. Plus, with sides and veggies included in the meals, customers don't seem to have enough good things to say about this total meal package.

Top option for singles

If you're flying solo or just feeding yourself and maybe one more, Factor stands out as a top-notch service. While Factor might not suit everyone due to the single-portion servings, the unique mix-and-match approach means you get fresh, never-frozen meals that support your low-cal lifestyle. Customers love the flavors and variety, making it a great place to dive in. The prices are competitive, and their rewards program lets you snag free meals along the way. That's why Factor scores a solid rating, standing out as the best Low Calorie Meal Delivery option for singles who'd rather skip the cooking hassle.

EveryPlate

• Prices from $38.94 to $179.64 per week
• 1 mix-and-match meal plan
• 3-6 meals per week
• 1 meal per day
• Fresh food and low waste
• Budget-friendly
• Popular with reviewers

Every Plate is a meal delivery service specifically designed for Low Calorie eating. Each weekly menu is designed with low-calorie meals in mind, and you can choose from 26 meals each week to create your perfect dinner plans.

Meals rotate every week

The meals rotate weekly too, so you'll get something new. Every Plate is a meal kit service, so you'll be diving into the cooking process. Positioned as a budget-friendly option, Every Plate is an extension of Green Chef (another company in our review) and also was acquired as part of the HelloFresh family in 2018. While Green Chef leans towards a more gourmet meal kit experience, Every Plate sets out to be your go-to for the most affordable meal kit service in town.

Service Overview

• Diets offered: Meat and Veggie, Quick and Easy, Vegetarian, Nutrish and Delish, and Family Friendly.
• Days of food: 3-6
• Shipment frequency: As needed
• Daily meals: 1 meal
• Calories per day: Around 650 cal per meal
• Number of low-calorie-specific programs: Whole site
• Trial period: No

Only one plan: mix-and-match

Like many of the other companies in our review, Every Plate offers a pick-and-choose method for their meal shipments. Instead of committing to one diet type, you can use any and all of the menu items or just a few. When you choose your preferences, you can select between 5 different meal styles: Meat and Veggie, Quick and Easy, Vegetarian, Nutrish and Delish, and Family Friendly. Choosing one or multiple of these options doesn't affect your overall price, which is perfect.

Low calorie is the focus

All of these meals have low-calorie ingredients built-in. Ion fact, it's the primary focus of every meal Every Plate delivers. You can select anywhere from 2-6 people to be served by each shipment and enough food to last between 3-6 days. For our price comparison, we just looked at the Meat and Veggie style. At the low end, you can expect to pay $38.94 for a 2-person box that will provide 3 days of food (at 1 meal per day). At the high end, the price is $179.64 for a 6-person box that will provide 6 days of food (also at 1 meal per day). Impressively, the prices at Every Plate are much lower than many competitors.

Refunds for damaged items

While there isn't a satisfaction guarantee at Every Plate, they do have a basic refund policy. We did have to dig all the way through the terms and conditions to find it, though. So, if you believe that any products you receive are damaged, defective, or don't meet the guarantees, you can contact Every Plate. The company and team will carefully review any digital or physical evidence you provide of the defective product and share the outcome with you through email within a 14-day period. So, while this process is a little lengthy, you can possibly get a refund if one of your food items (or the packaging) is defective.

Popular with reviewers for ease of use

When we looked into Every Plate on the Better Business Bureau, the news wasn't great. The company held an "NR” rating at the time of this review. However, outside of the BBB, Every Plate's reviews and ratings show a different story. From verified third-party review sites like Trustpilot, the company has an average rating of 4.1 stars out of 5. Customers love how the recipes are put together and how easy they are to cook. Clients have also said that there is less food waste in the boxes, so they use everything they get. At a much lower price than competitors, most customers were very pleasantly surprised.

Perfect option for budget-conscious chefs

With tons of praise from reviewers and popular food blogs too, Every Plate stands out as a popular budget-friendly low-calorie meal delivery option. While the "NR” rating from the BBB Is a bit of a downer, the positives generally outweigh any concerns at Every Plate. The very low price makes it much easier to get into than some of the other "gourmet” priced meals in this review. If you're looking to cook for you (and your family) on a budget, but still get good and low-calorie meals, Every Plate is definitely worth your time. For this reason, it earns a strong rating from us in this review.

Green Chef

• Prices from $80.94 to $215.82 per week
• 1 mix-and-match kit
• 3-4 days of food per week
• 1 meal per day
• Ingredients for home chefs
• "A+” rating from the BBB

Established in 2014 and based in Boulder, Colorado, Green Chef's meal delivery service offers more than 50 weekly meals for you through flexible meal kits. This Low Calorie Meal Delivery option is designed to suit any lifestyle with up to 8 different mix-and-match diet styles.

Flexibility to swap ingredients

You have the flexibility to swap to premium proteins or include chicken or fish in various vegan and veggie meals. With Green Chef, adopting a low-cal lifestyle doesn't exclude you from restaurant-quality meals. Plus each Green Chef box contains pre-portioned ingredients, minimizing food waste and reducing your environmental impact. As a bonus, Green Chef turns you into a culinary expert. You receive a box of ingredients with new low-cal recipes each week, transforming the cooking experience into an enjoyable activity.

Service Overview

• Diets offered: Calorie Smart, Keto, Protein, Gluten-free, Vegan, Veggie, Quick and Easy, Mediterranean, Low-Carb, Premium
• Days of food: 3-4
• Shipment frequency: Every week
• Daily meals: 1 per day (doesn't cover a full week)
• Calories per day: Average 650 cals per meal or less
• Number of low-cal-specific programs: 1 (mix-and-match)
• Trial period: No

Only one plan: mix-and-match

At Green Chef, meal kits work with a mix-and-match method, giving you the freedom to choose from a variety of foods based on your diet preferences. There are eight "styles" to consider, such as Calorie Smart, Keto, Protein, Gluten-free, Vegan and Veggie, Quick and Easy, Mediterranean, Low-Carb, and Premium. You can pick one or all of these dietary preferences to create a box just for you.

Competitive meal pricing

To get a clear picture of the pricing for the low-cal meals, we just narrowly focused on that style (without selecting other preferences). However, the cost is the same even if you add extra preferences. You can choose between 3 to 4 meals per week, allowing for one meal a day serving 2-6 people based on your preference. Alternatively, a single person could enjoy meals for 6-8 days by splitting them in half. The starting cost for the low-calorie option is $80.94 per week for the 3-meal plan for 2 people, while the highest cost is $215.82 per week for the 4-meal plan serving 6 people with each meal.

Low cal meal examples

Some of the meals you can expect from Green Chef include:

• Almond-crusted Barramundi with kale and sun-dried tomatoes
• Steak Banh Mi Bowls with sautéed broccoli, quick-pickled veggies

Unclear refund policies

For those looking to try or return meals here, we didn't come across clear details about the refund policy or satisfaction guarantee at Green Chef. The only information we did find was tucked away in the shipping policies. When unexpected events like truck breakdowns or weather-related traffic disruptions cause delivery delays, Green Chef suggests that customer service might step in. If your box doesn't reach you cool to the touch and at a safe temperature of 40 degrees or below, reaching out to customer service is an option (though it's not specified whether the resolution would involve a new shipment or a refund).

Easy and tasty recipes overall

Even though there's no listed refund policy, Green Chef has a solid reputation. The company holds a perfect "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau. Fitness and food bloggers love Green Chef, with most bloggers giving it a score of over 4 stars for flavor and unique meals. However, when we looked at verified third-party reviews, the score was slightly lower. Trustpilot indicates that Green Chef's average rating is 3.8 stars. While this is still good, it's a bit lower than what many bloggers suggest. According to these reviews, customers generally agree that the recipes are easy to follow and result in tasty meals. On the other hand, a small number of reviews mentioned shipping issues and missing meals, though these negative reviews are outnumbered by the positive ones.

Best if you like cooking for 2+

Green Chef has some interesting features, especially if you enjoy cooking or have a larger household. The 2- to 6-person meals make it convenient to feed everyone. If you live alone, you can split meals for leftovers, extending your kit to last 6-8 days. However, if you're not a fan of cooking, this Low Calorie Meal Delivery service might not suit you. Plus, with an average shipment of 3-4 days of food, Green Chef offers fewer total meals (even when split) than many competitors. This, along with the absence of a refund policy or guarantee, slightly lowers its rating. It's worth exploring for cooking enthusiasts, but if you want a full week of low-cal food (including breakfast, lunch, and dinner), you might miss out by choosing this option.

Gobble

• Prices from $67.96 to $239.80 per week
• 1 low-cal specific program
• 5-10 days of food
• 1 meal per day
• Case-by-case returns

Gobble drew us in with its promise of quick 15-minute meal kits that offer top-notch flavors. Positioned as the speediest home-cooking meal kit option in the industry, Gobble's service strikes a balance between traditional meal kits and fully prepared meals.

Speed racer

Each kit arrives with essential components of the recipe prepped or pre-cooked, streamlining the cooking process for you. Established in 2010, Gobble became part of Intelligent Food in 2022. Notably, Gobble stands out for its allergy-friendly approach, willingly accommodating all allergies by meal prepping without any allergens when specifically requested.

Service Overview

• Diets offered: Classic, Lean & Clean, Vegetarian
• Days of food: 2-5
• Shipment frequency: As needed
• Daily meals: 2-10 meals
• Calories per day: Around 600 cal per meal
• Number of low-cal-specific programs: 1
• Trial period: No

Basic plan: Classic

Basically, there are two plans available at Gobble. Though the prices are the same between both plans, we separated them out because the menu options are a little different. For someone who wants a healthier lifestyle, but doesn't want to commit to a completely low-cal diet all the time, the Classic plan is a good place to start. You can choose between dinners for 2 and dinners for 4 with enough meals to last from 2-5 days for each. If you don't mind leftovers, you could even eat all the portions yourself, which would make the food stretch even longer. The prices for this plan (and all other plans with Gobble) run from $67.96 for 2 meals per week for 2 people up to $239.80 for 5 meals per week for 4 people.

Classic menu meal examples

The menu selection for the Classic plan includes:

• Chicken scallopini with creamy lemon garlic sauce
• Wagyu Beef Swiss cheeseburger with mushrooms and truffle aioli
• Spicy kung pao shrimp with cashews, vegetables, and brown rice

Best low-cal plan: Lean & Clean

Now, while the calories might be fairly low in the Classic menu too, the ones designed for the Lean & Clean menus are guaranteed to be around that 600 cal count per meal. Like the Classic plan, there are options for 2-5 days of food with either portions for 2 people or 4 people. And, since the prices are the same, the range for the meals for Lean and Clean also runs from $67.96 to $239.80. There were notably fewer meals for the low-cal specific filter.

Low calorie meal examples

The menu for the Lean & Clean is a little different too. Here's what you can expect:

• Pork chop Milanese with garlicky vegetables
• Lime coconut broth with shrimp, shiitakes, and bok choy
• Baked salmon with Moroccan spices & jeweled couscous

Refunds on case-by-case basis

While there aren't any specific details about reimbursement, Gobble does have a stated refund policy. It notes that when you accept delivery of a product from Gobble you can reach out to them within 7 days if you aren't satisfied with a meal or meal ingredient. However, parameters for returns are refunds are totally at their discretion.

Mixed reputation depending on where you check

When we checked out the company's reputation, we were shocked to see how badly it was doing on the Better Business Bureau. According to the BBB, Gobble has the lowest "F” rating. This is due to multiple unanswered complaints on the BBB site. However, when we dug into customer reviews, they told a different story. For example, Trustpilot showed that Gobble had a solid 4.1-star average from verified third-party reviews. With well over 2,000 individual reviews with over half of them holding 5 stars, we were a little puzzled by the discrepancy between the BBB and other reviews. Customers who loved the program noted that the food was fresh and tasted amazing. There are a handful of complaints about food that had gone bad during transit and other concerns, but those appear to have been resolved by Gobble on Trustpilot directly.

Fastest meal prep on the market

At the end of the day, Gobble still stands out as the fastest cookable meal kit on the market. So, if you want to dip your toes into a low-calorie meal plan without a lot of hassle, this is a good starting point. However, two downsides keep this service from being rated higher. First, it has a more limited selection of low-cal options in its own menu filters, which is disappointing, and despite overall positive reviews, the "F” rating from the BBB does give us pause. So, for this reason, Gobble gets a solid rating overall with the hopes that it will quickly move up the raisins as it raises its reputation in the future.

Hello Fresh

• Prices from $56.95 to $250.75 per week
• 1 mix-and-match menu
• 4-12 meals per week
• 1-2 meals per day
• Refunds within 5 days

HelloFresh, a successful German meal-kit provider, has made its mark in the United States, offering a unique menu with dozens of meal options that are conveniently delivered to your doorstep. This meal-kit service allows you to select up to six different recipes per week, with serving quantities tailored for either two or four people.

Meals and groceries too

HelloFresh expanded with the launch of HelloFresh Market in the summer of 2021. This expansion offers customers a comprehensive online grocery platform, so you have access to meal-prep solutions and can also order breakfasts, side dishes, snacks, beverages, and fresh produce. It will all be conveniently shipped in the same box as your selected weekly recipes. Partnering with renowned brands like Pillsbury, Annie's Homegrown, Sargento, Larabar, and more, the HelloFresh budget-friendly prices, substantial new-customer discounts, and an expansive weekly menu featuring up to 60 recipes, make it a frontrunner in the meal delivery industry as a whole.

Service Overview

• Diets offered: Meat & Veggies, Just Veggie, Family-Friendly, Fit and Wholesome, Quick and Easy, and Pescatarian
• Days of food: 2-6
• Shipment frequency: As needed
• Daily meals: 4-12 meals
• Calories per day: 590-1,200 per serving
• Number of low-cal-specific programs: mix-and-match
• Trial period: No

Only one plan: mix-and-match

At HelloFresh the meal plans are your pick from their wide and unique menu. Instead of nailing down just one plan type like at some companies, you can click through all of the meals and select those that best fit your lifestyle. HelloFresh allows you to choose from six styles: Meat & Veggies, Just Veggie, Family-Friendly, Fit and Wholesome, Quick and Easy, and Pescatarian. And you can swap sides and proteins in any meal, so if you don't love it you can make it your own.

All meal types are the same price

The best part? All of the types are the same price. You just need to choose the number of servings per meal (from 2-4 people) and how many days of food you want per week (from 2-6 days). At the low end, the meals from HelloFresh cost $56.95 for 2 days of food with servings for 2 people in each meal. The most expensive box is $250.75 for 6 days of food and enough for 4 servings per meal.

Low cal meal examples

It's a little harder to find low-cal foods on HelloFresh than at some other sites that specialize in that diet style. Many of the meals here are 800+ calories each and even more are over 1,000, which isn't ideal for your low-calorie diet. Still, some of the meals on the low-cal side you can expect from this service include:

• Southwest shrimp tacos
• Crispy Caesar chicken
• Za'atar-crusted grilling cheese
• Zesty Mexican-spiced steak bowls

Refunds available within 5 days

If you happen to be dissatisfied with any part of your Meal Box or a specific Meal Kit, don't hesitate to get in touch with HelloFresh. You'll need to get in contact within five days from the date you received an unsatisfactory item. This is a little shorter than some of the refund windows in this review. Many other companies offer a full 7 days. If your concern is with the ingredients or the condition of a Meal Kit, the company promises (at its discretion) to offer you credit for the individual ingredient or the whole Meal Kit. In certain instances, the company promises to provide a partial or full refund for the ingredient or the entire Meal Kit. However, there is no guarantee of this.

Reputation is a mixed bag

One quick Google search will turn up tons of food and fitness bloggers talking about HelloFresh meal kits and scoring them with rave reviews. But, when you look at third-party review sites and the Better Business Bureau, the story is a little different. The BBB shows that HelloFresh has an "NR” rating and an alert for having a pattern of complaints. Further, on Trustpilot, the average star rating is 3.7 stars out of 5 with over 50,000 individual reviews to back up the rating. The top 5 most recent reviews on Trustpilot show that customers have mixed feelings about HelloFresh. Complaints include poor customer service, too expensive, and difficulty getting the right order. On the other hand, there are positives. Customers love the flavor, variety, and ease of use of the online grocery to supplement their meals.

Middle of the pack for low-calorie

When considering HelloFresh overall, it's a pretty neat program. However, when we stack it up against other low-cal meal delivery services, HelloFresh doesn't do quite as well. For the quality and uniqueness this company still earns a solid score from us, but without more focus on low-calorie, it can't be a top contender among the options on our list. With other limitations like a shorter refund window and some poor ratings from reviewers creating a mixed reputation, HelloFresh falls right in the middle of the pack for low-calorie meal delivery services.

Jet Fuel Meals

• Prices from $51 to $170 per week
• 1 low-cal-specific program
• 3 programs that have low-cal meals included
• 7 days of food per week
• Up to 5 meals a day
• Fresh and never frozen
• Rave reviews and hundreds of 5-star ratings

Jet Fuel Meals is gaining tremendous popularity for providing fresh, top-notch, and all-natural healthy meals that not only satisfy your hunger but focus on diet-specific menus. And customers love the quality and taste of the meals.

Very limited reach

However - before we get too far - if you don't live in New York, New Jersey, or Florida, you're out of luck. This program is still pretty small and they cook all the food for you locally. So, if you don't live in one of the areas they service, you can't jump in. On the other hand, given their positive impact on the meal plan delivery scene, especially for busy individuals seeking affordable options, expansion into other states might be on the horizon.

Service Overview

• Diets offered: Keto, Weight Loss, Traditional, Athletic Weight Gain, Pescatarian, Plant-Based, and Kids' Meals
• Days of food: 7
• Shipment frequency: Three times per week
• Daily meals: 1-5 meals
• Calories per day: 350-450 cal per meal
• Number of low-cal-specific programs: 1
• Trial period: No

Basic plan: Maintain Meal Plan

Most of the meal plans from Jet Fuel Meals are designed to be low-cal (with the obvious exception of the athletic weight gain program). So, we're going to go through the most basic low-cal plan here: the Maintain Meal Plan. While it's designed for maintenance, the caloric value of the meals is notably lower than many of the other "low cal” meal kits from other retailers. The maintenance plan offers meals that are 400-450 calories on average.

How many meals will you eat each day?

Another thing that sets Jet Fuel Meals apart is that they organize their meal kits by how many meals you want to eat during a day. You can choose from 1-5 meals per day with enough food for 1 serving per meal. The lowest cost for the Maintain Plan is $51 per week for 1 meal per day. The most expensive you can go is $205 per week for 5 meals per day (5 servings of food for 7 days of the week). For most customers, though, who just need 3 meals per day , the price is $124 per week. However, it's likely that these higher meals-per-day options are meant for customers who have multiple people in the household.

Maintain Meal Plan examples

Some of the meals you can expect to find in the Maintain Plan include:

• Chili cheese scrambled eggs with potatoes
• Pumpkin spice pancakes with fruit
• Misu chicken salad with pita bread
• Balsamic tomato whiting fish with polenta

Top tier plan: Weight Loss Meal Plan

The weight loss plan is if you really want to dig in and get serious. The average caloric value per meal is between 350-400 cal. Like the Maintain Plan, The Weight Loss Plan is organized by how many meals you want per day. You can choose from 1-5 meals each serving 1 person. The prices for the Weight Loss Plan are a little cheaper when you get to the higher numbers of meals. For example, the lowest price is the same: $51 per week for 1 meal every day for a week. However, at the most expensive end 5 meals per week (7 days of food with up to 5 services of food per day), the cost is $170 ($35 cheaper than the Maintain Plan). For a regular 3-meal-per-day shipment (3 meals for 7 days per week), the cost is $115 per week.

Weight loss meal plan examples

Some of the foods you can expect to find in the Weight Loss Plan include:

• Chili cheese scrambled eggs with potatoes
• Roasted pork tenderloin with sweet potatoes
• Char Siu pork chops with Asian garlic noodles
• Strawberry ricotta French toast with honey

Extremely limited returns

Unfortunately, there's only one way to get a refund from Jet Fuel Meals, and it's pretty limited. If there's a problem with your order, you have until 6pm on the day of your delivery to let them know something's up. If you don't, you'll be outside of the window for refunds. This means if you work a busy 9-5, you'll have just under 1 hour to get home and figure out if something is wrong with your shipment before your time is up.

Customers love the quality and the taste

In terms of reputation, it's hard to get a read on Jet Fuel Meals. The company doesn't currently have a rating with the Better Business Bureau. However, it is highly popular on sites like Yelp as well as Google Reviews. Many of the 5-star reviews awarded to Jet Fuel Meals are listed on its website. On Google, Jet Fuel Reviews has an impressive 4.8-star average, which is one of the highest scores on our list. Customers noted that this is a great plan if you're a "foodie” who wants to lose weight or limit your calories. Since their healthy portions are pre-designed, and the fresh food is delicious, many customers feel like they're not missing out. Customers love the hands-off approach and that the food they get tri-weekly is never frozen. In all, it's a top option across the board according to these rave reviews.

Limited range takes it out of the top

The bottom line is, Jet Fuel Meals is the total package with only one hangup: location. The company doesn't serve anywhere outside 3 states at the moment, though we hope they'll expand in the future. For this reason, Jet Fuel Meals only gets a 3-star rating, rather than the 5 stars it deserves for balancing flavor, freshness, ease of preparation, and truly low-calorie food experiences. However, if only 3 states can access this business, it's going to leave a lot of people in the dark. So, if you live in New Jersey, New York, or Florida, consider this a de facto 5-star rating, but for the rest of us watching by proxy, it slides down due to this massive limitation.

Blue Apron

• Prices from $60.95 to $170.79 per week
• Mix-and-match menu
• 2-5 days of food per week
• 1 meal per day
• 100% satisfaction guarantee

Blue Apron is a meal kit delivery service that provides you with fresh, high-quality ingredients directly sourced from farms, importers, and family-run purveyors. With more than a decade of experience in meal delivery, Blue Apron could be the ultimate meal kit choice for you, especially if you're ready to invest in a wide range of nutritious and delicious globally-inspired restaurant-quality meals.

More than 8 million meals delivered

The company, founded in August 2012, had already shipped an impressive 8 million meal servings as of September 2016. The one big snag? Despite noting a low-calorie meal option on one of its web pages, the signup process and meal selection are identical no matter what style you choose, and there isn't a filter for low-calorie specific meals. On the bright side, it appears most if not all the meals are low-calorie at Blue Apron, but it's still a little less clear than it could be.

Service Overview

• Diets offered: Signature, Vegetarian, Wellness, Signature for Four, Add-ons
• Days of food: 2-5
• Shipment frequency: As needed
• Daily meals: 1 meal
• Calories per day: 600 cal or less per meal
• Number of low-cal-specific programs: 1 mix-and-match
• Trial period: No

Only one plan: mix-and-match

While there are four main styles of eating at Blue Apron, these seemingly don't include low-calorie. However, low-calorie meals are built into all of the options on this site. So, when you take advantage of their mix-and-match style meal boxes, you can choose between 5 filters to explore all of your meals. These include Chef Favorites, Wellness, Family Friendly, Fast & Easy, and Veggies.

Meal styles don't affect price

Although we had some issues getting Blue Apron to finally accept our email address, we were excited to see that our account had gone through - and that we could literally choose any day of the week as our regular delivery option in our area. The first available delivery date was just a week away. This is also the only service we've seen that guarantees your box will arrive by 8PM on the given delivery date.

Low calorie meal examples

Some of the meals you can find at Blue Apron include:

• Lime and date chicken
• Seared salmon with walnut-cilantro sauce
• Crispy sesame cod

100% freshness guarantee

At Blue Apron, the company is dedicated to quality. This commitment is exemplified through its Freshness Guarantee. This means that Blue Apron handles your deliveries with the utmost care, treating them like precious cargo. However, if issues arise, the Freshness Guarantee kicks on. This guarantee means if any ingredient isn't able to be cooked due to a shipping error, Blue Apron will take care of it. All you need to do is reach out to the Blue Apron Customer Experience team within 7 days of receiving your delivery, and they'll credit or refund your account.

Mixed reputation and low BBB score

Unfortunately, Blue Apron doesn't stand out with its reputation despite the refund guarantee. The company holds a pretty terrible score of "D-” from the Better Business Bureau, and reviews across third-party websites are mixed. While Trustpilot offers Blue Apron a solid 4.1 stars, other third-party review sites like ConsumerAffairs only show an average of 2.9 out of 5. Positive reviews showcase that the company is particularly good at providing family meals, which makes dinner time easy if you have yourself, your spouse, and several little ones to look after. There are also frequent positive reviews covering the good taste and "fun” meal options. However, on the other hand, lower ratings say that the food quality is just "average” and that customers had difficulties talking to their chat representatives.

Mixed reviews and red flags bring scores down

Despite being a seasoned player in meal kit delivery, at the end of the day, there are a few red flags to keep an eye out for with Blue Apron. First, its prices are around the middle of the pack, and with mixed reviews, it's unclear if the food is worth the extra cost or not. While the return policy is a benefit, the fact that this company doesn't have a dedicated low-calorie menu to choose from may be confusing for some customers. So, given those factors and the "D-” rating from the BBB, Blue Apron rates just below average.

Home Chef

• Prices from $47.96 to $359.64 per week
• 1 mix-and-match kit
• 2-6 days of food per week
• 1 meal per day
• Family-style
• Refund policy for orders under $100

Established in 2013, Home Chef set out with a straightforward aim: to provide you with everything necessary for more delicious meals and moments at your table. The company offers weekly picks from a selection of over 30 meals.

Tailored for families

These meals are tailored for families of 2-6 people with pre-portioned ingredients in an insulated box to save you the trouble of shopping or measuring items at home. If you're often on the move, you can try out the Home Chef mobile app for easy low-cal meal planning from your phone. Plus Home Chef offers the option to select meals or purchase in-store since it's part of the Kroger family. However, it's worth noting that to view prices, you need to submit your email and agree to receive promotional material, which might be a bit frustrating for those who prefer upfront details before signing up.

Service Overview

• Diets offered: Calorie counting, Carb-counting, Vegetarian, Gluten-Smart, Keto-friendly
• Days of food: 2-6
• Shipment frequency: Every week
• Daily meals: 1-2 meals per day (depending on number of people)
• Calories per day: Not specified
• Number of low-cal-specific programs: 1 mix-and-match program
• Trial period: No

Only one plan: mix-and-match

Home Chef's meal kit system offers a mix-and-match strategy, giving you the freedom to choose from various foods by narrowing down the diet you want to follow. With five "preferences" (Calorie counting, Carb-counting, Vegetarian, Gluten-Smart, Keto-friendly), you can select one or all of these dietary approaches to add new meals to your weekly kit. However, unlike some of the other mix-and-match kits in our review, Home Chef's prices do change depending on which selections you choose.

Low calorie meal pricing

Looking at the low-calorie meals only, we'll specifically explain the pricing for those menu items (without selecting other preferences). Adding extra preferences, like vegetarian or gluten-free, won't change your price, so there's no need to worry about extra costs to follow those diets. You can also choose between 2 to 6 meals per week, allowing for 1 meal per day feeding 2-6 people (depending on your preference). If you're okay with leftovers, a single person could eat for 4-12 days by splitting meals in half or up to 36 days if you don't mind freezing your meals. The starting cost for the low-calorie-only plan is $47.96 per week for the 2-meal plan for 2 people, and the highest cost is $359.64 per week for the 6-meal option serving 6 people with each meal. For reference, the cost for the Keto diet ranges from $55.96 to $431.64, making the low-calorie boxes more affordable. There's also a flat fee of $10.99 for shipping on every box.

Low cal meal examples

If you're curious about what kind of meals you'll find with the low-calorie meal box, here are some of the ones available at the time of this review:

• Pork Chop and Black Garlic Marinara Sauce
• Pork Shumai Meatballs
• Grilled Honey-Mustard Salmon
• Neapolitan Pizza Margherita

Refunds for orders under $100

During our research, we found out that Home Chef does offer a refund policy. If, after receiving a product from Home Chef, you discover it's not 100% satisfactory (due to defects or other reasons), you can ask for a Home Chef credit or a refund. In most cases, this means a full refund, and you just need to reach out to the company's support team within seven days of delivery. However, receiving credit on your account or a full refund equal to the entire product's value isn't available for orders exceeding $100. So, if you're worried about trying out the kits and hoping for a refund if you don't like what you get, you might want to start with a smaller portion size the first time to make it eligible for the refund policy.

Not rated with concerns about flavor

Despite being in the industry for over 10 years, Home Chef doesn't have a great reputation. According to the Better Business Bureau, Home Chef has a concerning "NR” rating. The company also only holds a low 2.8-star average rating from verified third-party review sites. Most complaints about Home Chef are related to the food. Many customers agree that the flavors are bland and taste like foods from a grocery store's frozen section. Other customers complained about a lack of customer support. Many reviews (with pictures) showed that foods that came in the mail split open or leaked, making them impossible to eat and a big problem to clean up. Gross!

Not worth the price for all the problems

Despite the inclusion of a return policy, the negatives at Home Chef outweigh the positives. Despite the lower cost for low-calorie meals, Home Chef remains one of the more expensive options in our review, and with numerous complaints about food quality and shipping problems, it just doesn't seem worth the money. With an "NR” rating from the BBB, we're seeing a lot of red flags from this particular Low Calorie Meal Delivery program. Since other companies out there offer family meals and meals you can cook yourself, even those features don't help this company stand out from its poor reputation.

Magic Kitchen

• Prices from $84 to $165 per week
• 8-15 days of food
• Up to three meals a day
• Excellent meals for seniors
• Frozen meals
• "A+” rating from the BBB

Operating since 2005, Magic Kitchen takes pride in delivering tailored meals designed to cater to diets like diabetic, renal, dialysis, and portion-controlled. When you opt for Magic Kitchen, you're treated to meals that not only taste delicious but also align with your nutritional goals.

Familiar palette

The menu predominantly features American and Italian favorites, offering tasty and filling options, although it may not venture into more adventurous culinary territories. It's worth noting that Magic Kitchen doesn't feature a rotating menu, meaning you'll likely be selecting from the same meals regularly. And meals are usually frozen, which is a downside for many foodies out there looking for low-cal.

Service Overview

• Diets offered: MK Signature, Senior, Portion Controlled, Diabetic, Dairy-free, General Wellness meals, Low Sodium, Low Carb, Low Fat, Renal, Dialysis-Friendly, Gluten-Free, Vegetarian, Trial Meal Packs, Shelf-Stable, and Insurance Menu
• Days of food: 8-15
• Shipment frequency: As needed
• Daily meals: 1-3 meals
• Calories per day: Not listed
• Number of low-cal-specific programs: 1
• Trial period: No (the trial meals still cost a significant amount)

Basic plan: A La Carte

The easiest way to start buying food from Magic Kitchen is through its a la carte menu. However, it's a little hard to find specifically low-cal items on this menu. Noticeably, low-calorie isn't one of the options for diets offered by Magic Kitchen. So, we guessed the closest in caloric value (since none of the foods list the calories on them) and checked out the pricing for Low-Fat and Portion Controlled a-la-carte meals. The prices start as low as $11 per serving and go up to $17 per serving. Surprisingly, there were only 27 results for both diet styles, showing that Magic Kitchen may be more limited if you don't want to shop specifically for seniors or those with medical complications.

A la carte menu examples

Some of the meals you can find on the a-la-carte menu include:

• Balsamic-glazed chicken
• Beef and broccoli
• Chicken patty with penne pasta
• Chicken with sweet and sour sauce

Best low-cal plan: Portion Controlled

Since there wasn't a specific pre-packaged meal plan called "low calorie” we went with the Portion Controlled plan for our price comparison. At Magic Kitchen, there are 6 different Meal Packs listed under the Portion Controlled listings. These range from 8 single meals to 15 meals, each intended for 1 person. The prices for 8-meal packs are all $84 per pack, while the 15-meal pack is $165.

Low calorie meal examples

The meals for these packs are pulled directly from the a-la-carte menu. So you can expect to see:

• Chicken with Sweet and sour sauce, rice, and blended vegetables
• Breaded chicken parmesan, with pasta with broccoli
• Beef and Broccoli over noodles
• Waffles with turkey sausage and strawberries

Zero satisfaction guarantee

There is no room for a refund with Magic Kitchen. Once your money has been paid and the order processed, you can't get a refund no matter what you do. Thankfully, there doesn't appear to be a recurring subscription required by Magic Kitchen, you just order as you need, but it still stands out as one of the least customer-friendly options on our list.

Stellar reputation across the board

Despite myriad frustrations with low-cal menu items, Magic Kitchen holds a full "A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau. On top of that, third-party review sites have offered it an average of 4.3 stars out of 5. Customers echoed our concerns about the confusing site and the navigation problems, but said once they got through all the UI troubles, their experience was solid. Customers love being able to send these meals to friends and loved ones, like college students or aging parents. Notably, many of the reviews are highly positive with comments like "ideal for a 95-year-old” or other similar age-specific comments. However, there aren't any reviews about low-cal options or complaints about the calories not being listed.

Decent for gifting, but not for calorie counting

At the end of the day, Magic Kitchen's service is solid for gifting or making sure an aging parent (or grandparent) is getting tasty meals that align with their dietary restrictions. On the other hand, for the low-cal enthusiasts and diet fans, this site falls to the bottom of the pack. Even the "A+” rating can't make up for a lack of nutritional information and the prepackaged frozen meals come across as very TV-dinner-like, so the gourmet fan is going to feel left out with these dinners. However, for other purposes, it might be a solid choice, so keep Magic Kitchen in mind for your non-low-cal meal needs.