Bistro MD Review

Friday, May 16th

2025 Weight Loss Meal Delivery Reviews

Bistro MD

• Price per serving: Starts at $9.50
• Discount: 40-50% off first box
• Shipment frequency: Weekly
• Daily meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks
• Calories per meal: 240-500
• Number of recipes: 150 total, smaller weekly selection
• Prep time: A few minutes

BistroMD is all about making weight loss meals that are actually tasty, breaking the stereotype that diet food has to be boring. It's founded by Dr. Caroline Cederquist, a doctor with over 20 years of experience, who used her knowledge to create a meal plan that helps you lose weight and stay healthy without giving up delicious food. This approach makes eating well and losing weight something you can enjoy and stick with for the long run.

The science behind BistroMD

BistroMD's strategy is all about balancing what's on your plate to support your body in the best way possible. Every meal is packed with enough protein to keep your muscles strong and your metabolism buzzing, especially important when you're trying to lose weight. They choose carbs that are gentle on your blood sugar, preventing those spikes that can lead to more cravings and weight gain. To keep you from feeling hungry, they add plenty of fiber, along with proteins and healthy fats, which also work to keep your heart in good shape. The idea is to give you all the nutrients you need without the excess salt and bad fats, making sure every bite contributes to your health and satisfaction.

Take a quiz to get started

Starting your journey with BistroMD? It kicks off with something pretty simple: a quiz. Think of it as a first date where BistroMD gets to know all about what you're looking for in a meal plan. You'll dish out your main goal (yep, weight loss), why you're aiming to lose weight (maybe you're after more energy or fewer medications), your dieting history, and even how much you love (or don't love) cooking. It's like having a nutritionist getting to know you personally, right down to whether you need a keto, vegan, or menopause-friendly diet. Once you've taken the plunge and signed up, registered dietitians roll up their sleeves and craft a diet plan that's all about you. (And yes, you'll need to give your email to get your results.)

Starts at $9.50 a meal

For those opting for the Full Program (3 meals a day), you can choose between a 7-day plan, priced at $219.80, breaking down to about $9.50 per meal, or a 5-day plan at $189.95, which comes out to approximately $12.67 per meal. If you're someone who prefers just to cover lunches and dinners, the 7-day option is available at $189.95, costing around $13.57 per meal, and the 5-day plan at $149.90, making it about $14.99 per meal. Note that for one night a week (called "My Night”) on the 7-day plan, you won't be sent a dinner - which some may view as a well-deserved cheat night, and some may view as being cheated out of a meal.

40-50% off

Savvy shoppers will appreciate a cool 40% off and free shipping on their first order, a deal that sometimes jumps to 50% off.

Protect yourself from Oreo attacks with EATS

In addition to main meals, BistroMD emphasizes the importance of staying sated on your weight loss journey with their EATS (Essential and Tasty Snacks) program. These snacks are designed to keep you satisfied between meals without derailing your progress. The 7 Day Men's Program includes 3 daily snacks at $52.50, averaging about $2.50 per snack, and the 7 Day Women's Program offers 2 daily snacks for $35, which works out to roughly the same per snack cost.

Rotating menu of 150 dishes

BistroMD has a pretty good lineup: over 150 meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The idea here is simple: make tasty meals with good-for-you ingredients that they'd be happy to eat themselves. But, because they're focused on quality, not every single meal makes the cut every week. They like to mix things up, trying out new flavors and dishes, which means sometimes your favorites might take a little break from the menu. But don't worry, they're always cooking up something new and yummy to keep your taste buds happy.

American cuisine

Checking out what you'll be eating with BistroMD is easy. Head over to their sample menu, pick the "Signature Menu" filter, and voila - you can peek at the nutritional scoop and get the lowdown on each dish. Picture starting your day with Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal and Scrambled Eggs, diving into a Beef Burrito Bowl for lunch, enjoying Honey Mustard Chicken with Herb-Roasted Potatoes for dinner, and topping it off with a Vanilla Bean Cheesecake snack. It's mostly an American-style menu, which will be a home run with some but too limiting for others.

People feel kind of "meh” about the taste and texture

When it comes to how much people are enjoying their BistroMD meals, it's a bit of a mixed bag. Some people aren't thrilled, mentioning that the veggies could be cooked better and the meals can feel a bit too much like those budget frozen dinners you grab from the grocery store. Then, there's feedback about the meals feeling a bit one-note with the flavors or the meat and veggie balance not hitting the spot. That said, tweaking how you heat them up - like sticking them in the oven instead of the microwave - might just be the hack to level up your meal experience.

Microwave or heat in the oven

BistroMD understands that when you're on a weight loss journey, your focus should be on reaching your goals, not worrying about meal prep. That's why they've made their meals super easy to get ready. Whether you're someone who plans meals in advance or you tend to decide at the last minute, BistroMD offers flexibility. You can heat their entrees straight from the freezer or thaw them overnight for a quicker warm-up. Choose between microwave or oven heating - just follow the easy steps on the package. It's all about getting you to that delicious, healthy meal faster, so you can stay on track with your weight loss without the hassle.

Not the same as a grocery store frozen meal

When it comes to what's in your meals, BistroMD says they want to offer something better than your average grocery store frozen dinner. While a couple of customers may have compared BistroMD meals to what you'd find in the grocery store freezers, BistroMD meals don't contain the added MSG, Trans Fat, or Aspartame that make those bad for you. They might not spill all the beans on where every ingredient comes from, but they're committed to using wholesome, responsibly sourced meats - think hormone-free chicken and rBGH-free beef. They also utilize cooking methods that keep the good stuff in, like baking and steaming, instead of frying.

Packaging can be recycled

Opening your first box from BistroMD is pretty exciting. You get all the meals and snacks you chose, plus a weekly menu and a welcome kit full of useful tips to start off right. They really think about the environment, too. Everything the food comes in can be recycled, and they suggest cool ways to reuse the insulation, like making a comfy spot for your pet or keeping groceries cold.

Shipping is $10 more expensive than average

But, there are a couple of things that aren't so great. Shipping costs $19.95, which can feel like a lot if you're watching your budget. Also, they don't deliver to Hawaii or Alaska, and you can't pick the day your food arrives. It might take up to six business days to get to you after it ships, so you need to plan a bit.

No contracts

BistroMD makes sticking to a weight loss plan pretty straightforward and stress-free. They don't lock you into any contracts and offer a weekly meal subscription that you can tweak, pause, or cancel before a set deadline each week. You're in control, with the freedom to skip any week you need - just hit "Skip" in your delivery schedule. If you decide BistroMD isn't for you, canceling is just as easy. Log into your account, go to "Manage Plan," and follow the steps to cancel. They've set it up to be user-friendly, aiming to make your weight loss journey as flexible as possible.

Some customers have been charged after canceling

However, despite the easy policy, some customers have run into troubles, especially when trying to get in touch with customer service for cancellations or to inquire about their orders. Complaints about unanswered calls and emails, along with issues like being charged after attempting to cancel, have popped up. Though BistroMD has responded to these issues, promising refunds and addressing concerns, these experiences expose a few areas for improvement in customer service and communication.

An "F” from the BBB, but a 4.0 on Trustpilot

BistroMD has a solid reputation with a great 4.0 rating average on Trustpilot, although it's not perfect everywhere, getting an "F” from the Better Business Bureau because they didn't respond to a couple of complaints. But what really stands out are the personal success stories from people who have used their service. It's these experiences, where customers share their weight loss and health improvements, that truly show the impact of BistroMD's meal plans. People talk about how the program has helped them make significant changes in their eating habits, leading to substantial weight loss and a healthier lifestyle overall.

Dozens of pounds lost in just months

For example, one customer said, "I joined BistroMD a few months ago... Since starting, I have lost over 40 pounds... The meals have retrained my eye to healthy portions... I'm really on my way to better health" Another shared, "BistroMD is a great diet plan... I have lost 12 pounds since starting about 3 months ago. I am thoroughly pleased with this program." And another customer mentioned, "I've lost 21 pounds on the heart healthy program in five months and never felt better."

A safe choice, but not the best value

While we like BistroMD's science-based approach, they're not doing things much differently from their competitors that place more emphasis on the taste of the food and providing a gourmet experience. BistroMD's customer service also isn't as good as these competing services. Their pricing is decently competitive, but nothing to get excited about. It's kind of like when you're shopping for a face wash and one bottle appears all clinical with labels like "doctor formulated”, but its ingredients are the exact same as the prettier, less expensive bottle next to it that works just as well. So while we still recommend BistroMD, we feel there are other weight loss meal delivery services with better customer service and lower prices.