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Factor 2024 Review: Why I'd Happily Eat Factor Meals Again
When it comes to flavor, variety, and nutritional punch, Factor delivers on its promise. For one person, it's well worth consideration.
Factor meals provide a convenient solution for busy individuals looking to maintain a healthy diet, with fully prepared meals designed by registered dietitians.
Factor has a strong commitment to quality. It sources sustainably raised proteins and organic produce whenever possible to make sure that every meal is not only delicious but is also environmentally friendly.
Meals are designed to support a variety of dietary needs and preferences, with options such as Keto, Calorie Smart, Chef's Choice, and Vegan & Veggie.
Once you select your meal plan, you can choose the number of single-serve meals you want to receive each week. Meals are delivered once per week and can be heated in the microwave in just a few minutes.
For those logging their meals, Factor also lists detailed nutritional information for each meal, and many can be found in food databases of popular meal tracking apps.
Factor customers can adjust meal selections, change meal plans, or pause subscriptions at any time before the weekly cutoff date in their online accounts.
There are a lot of meal delivery services vying for your business. But it's often a toss up whether the taste of the food will match what a service promises.
With Factor, which boasts meals designed by nutritionists to make healthy eating easier, it does.
Read on to learn about Healthline Nutrition Editor and Registered Dietician Kelly McGrane's experience eating Factor meals for two weeks and why she'd recommend this meal delivery service, especially for solo meal planning.
Meal Delivery Scorecard
I judged Factor across 9 categories, allotting points from 0–5. The scores below reflect the average rating for each category.
Learn more about how we test meal kits.
I've been using meal delivery services for more than 10 years, testing 25 services just within the past 3 years. I tried Factor for 2 weeks to determine whether the service is something I can recommend. Here is my experience.
Sign-up, delivery, and cancellation processes Score: 4.5 out of 5Getting started with Factor was a breeze. As with most meal delivery services, you first choose from one of several meal plans, which include:
You can also pick how many single-serve meals you want to receive each week, ranging from 6 up to 18. Choosing more meals each week can help lower the average cost per meal.
Next, you create an account by inputting details like your name and address. While you can choose which delivery day you want, the delivery day options are somewhat limited based on your location.
After you've input your payment information, you can browse the offerings for the week and start choosing your meals to curate your custom menu.
Choosing my meals was intuitive. While I don't follow a specific diet, I appreciated that you can easily filter meals by dietary need and ingredient to find meals that fit your dietary needs and preferences.
If you want to modify your menu or make changes to your subscription, be sure to do so by the weekly cut-off date, which is listed online in your account information. If you wish to cancel your subscription, you can do so either by deactivating your account on the company's website or by emailing customer service.
Meal varietyScore: 4.5 out of 5
Many prepared meal delivery services have large menus that rarely change or rotating menus of just a few options. I was happy to discover that Factor's menu changes weekly and there's a good variety of meals to choose from. In fact, I had a hard time narrowing down which ones to try.
I ultimately ordered the following items over the course of 2 weeks:
Factor food delivery ensures that your meals arrive fresh and ready to heat every week, with robust packaging that keeps ingredients at the ideal temperature.
Both weeks, my deliveries arrived smoothly, right on time and at the proper temperature. And while the containers were stackable and not particularly bulky, they did take up a good amount of space in my refrigerator.
According to Factor, meals can be enjoyed for up to 7 days. Because I only ordered 5 entrees each week, I didn't have any meals left by the 7-day mark. However, on day 5, my last entree was just as flavorful and fresh-tasting as the entree I tried on day 1.
Nutritional qualityScore: 5 out of 5
As a registered dietitian, I was impressed by the nutritional quality of each entree. The entrees I tried were nutritionally balanced, meaning that they each contained a lean protein, a healthy source of fat, and a generous serving of vegetables.
Factor has ensured that each entree is nutritionally balanced, containing a lean protein, a healthy source of fat, and a generous serving of vegetables.
With that said, some of the entrees are high in sodium, and some dishes, especially those on the Keto plan, are high in saturated fat.
Ingredient quality and freshnessScore: 5 out of 5
Factor prides itself on featuring high quality ingredients, including sustainably sourced seafood and antibiotic-free poultry.
While I only tried the service for 2 weeks, I didn't experience any issues with damaged or spoiled ingredients.
In fact, unlike many other prepared meal delivery services, Factor's ingredients — especially the vegetables and proteins — tasted fresh and didn't get mushy, dry, or rubbery after microwaving.
Ease of prepScore: 5 out of 5
Every meal I tried was easy to reheat when I decided to use Factor for my meal prep needs. All I had to do was remove the paper sleeve, puncture the plastic film once or twice, and microwave the meal on high for 2 minutes.
For those who prefer not to use a microwave, Factor meals also include reheating instructions for the oven.
TasteScore: 4.5 out of 5
I found the ingredient quality continued to be excellent after reheating and didn't experience any mushy vegetables or dry proteins — a major win for microwavable meals.
I also found the meals to be flavorful without being overseasoned, and I loved that each meal had a generous serving of vegetables.
The Herbed Quinoa Pesto Bowl stood out as my favorite. The quinoa was perfectly chewy, the sweet potatoes were soft but not mushy, and the pesto was zesty and flavorful without being overpowering.
The Roasted Tomato & Feta Cavatappi was another winner. It featured a sauce with a slight spiciness that was nice, along with juicy tomatoes, hearty noodles, and broccoli, which was soft without being mushy.
The only reason I didn't award Factor a 5 out 5 for taste is because while the meals were satisfying, I can't say that the flavor combinations were unique or differed greatly from what I'd typically make on my own.
SustainabilityScore: 3 out of 5
Factor's delivery boxes, food containers, and laminated insulation are all recyclable. Additionally, the gel packs used to keep the food cold during transit are nontoxic and reusable.
However, some items, like the PET and cotton insulation layers are not recyclable. I also found it a bit tricky to understand which materials could be recycled without searching for that information on the company's website.
Another way in which Factor strives to be more sustainable is by using high quality, sustainably sourced ingredients in all its meals. All meals are free of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The service also uses sustainably sourced proteins, including antibiotic-free poultry and pasture-raised pork.
However, Factor's ingredients are conventional, which might not be ideal if you prefer eating organic. If organic ingredients are important to you, you might consider Green Chef.
CostScore: 3 out of 5
While Factor isn't the most expensive meal delivery service, and its per-meal pricing goes down the more you order, when you include shipping, the cost adds up. Here is Factor's pricing*:
*as of April 2024
Shipping is available within the contiguous United States and costs $10.99 per delivery.
Also keep in mind that Factor frequently offers discounts for new customers.
5 Best Vitamin Deficiency Tests In 2024
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A vitamin deficiency test can give you important information about your nutritional health. Find out why Healthline dietitians recommend Labcorp, Everlywell, and LetsGetChecked.
If you eat a balanced diet and don't have an underlying health condition that affects nutrient absorption, you likely don't have a nutritional deficiency. But if you're concerned about not getting enough nutrients, you may consider taking a vitamin deficiency test. The best vitamin deficiency tests typically require a small blood sample, come with mail-back packaging, and yield results within a week.
Read on to learn how vitamin deficiency tests work and tests we recommend to help inform your next steps.
Use code "HEALTHLINE25" for 25% off.
Healthline's reviewWhile it isn't cheap, the LetsGetChecked Micronutrient Test is one of the few at-home tests designed to test your levels of multiple nutrients, including selenium and vitamin D, earning it our pick as the best overall vitamin deficiency test.
Plus, the service offers follow-up guidance from a team of nurses to help you determine the appropriate next steps.
If you have a history of low levels of more than one of these nutrients, then this blood test for vitamin and mineral levels may be an appropriate option. This may especially be the case if you also have several unexplained symptoms, such as fatigue, hair loss, and joint pain. Always discuss these symptoms with a doctor as well.
Pros & consUse code "HEALTHLINE25" for 25% off
Healthline's reviewIf you're concerned about whether you're meeting your vitamin B12 and D needs, then the LetsGetChecked Essential Vitamin Test could be a good option.
Unlike the Labcorp Vitamin Deficiency Test, this test from LetsGetChecked doesn't require going to a lab. Instead, it comes with everything you need to take your blood sample at home.
Because the risk of deficiency in both vitamin B12 and vitamin D increases as you age, this test may also be a sound option for adults ages 65 years and over.
The test also checks for vitamin E deficiency. While vitamin E deficiency is rare, it can be a sign of underlying conditions such as Crohn's disease and chronic pancreatitis.
Pros & consIf you're concerned about symptoms of an iron deficiency, you may consider getting a test that checks your levels of ferritin (a protein in your blood that carries iron), such as this one from Labcorp.
Your body stores iron in ferritin proteins. Thus, low levels of ferritin can mean your body doesn't have enough iron to store, which could indicate a deficiency.
However, keep in mind that some other methods of checking your iron levels are potentially more accurate than a ferritin test.
The Labcorp Ferritin Blood Test is processed in a CLIA certified lab, and samples must be collected by a trained technician at one of Labcorp's nearly 2,000 locations.
Your results are posted on your Labcorp OnDemand account. If your results require immediate attention, a healthcare professional will contact you by phone or email.
Pros & consIf you prefer to have your blood sample taken by a professional, the Labcorp Vitamin Deficiency Test could be a good option. This test measures blood levels of three key vitamins — folate (vitamin B9), vitamin B12, and vitamin D — to determine whether you're meeting your needs.
This is also a good test if you know that you're at risk of vitamin B12 deficiency or vitamin D deficiency. But it's always a good idea to discuss these risk factors with a healthcare professional first.
For this test, a technician will collect a blood sample at one of Labcorp's nearly 2,000 locations. Results are typically available within 1–2 days.
The company recommends fasting for at least 12 hours and discontinuing the use of any supplements that contain biotin for at least 72 hours before testing.
Once your test has been processed, you can access your results through your Labcorp OnDemand account. Sometimes, a healthcare professional may follow up via phone or email about your results.
Pros & consUse code "HEALTHLINE25" for 25% off.
Healthline's reviewWhile there are other quality at-home vitamin D tests on the market, we like that this test from Everlywell provides results within days and includes educational resources to help you learn more about your test results.
The Everlywell At-Home Vitamin D Test uses a blood sample obtained with a finger-pricking device, which is included in the kit. This kit is also CLIA certified and independently verified by a doctor in your state.
After receiving your results, you may choose to view a recorded educational session, which provides more details about your results and what your next steps should be going forward.
Overall, this test has mostly positive reviews from customers, who mention its accuracy and ease of results for the price. A few users note that the results were slower than expected.
Pros & consIf you eat a balanced diet and don't have an underlying health condition that affects nutrient absorption, you likely don't have a vitamin deficiency.
However, as much as one-third of the U.S. Population may have a higher risk of at least one nutrient deficiency or anemia. Vitamin B6 is one of the most common micronutrient deficiencies. Meanwhile an estimated 20% of U.S. Adults ages 60 and older have a vitamin B12 deficiency.
In the United States, deficiencies are more common in the following nutrients:
If you're concerned about not getting enough nutrients, or if you've experienced vitamin deficiency symptoms, a good first step is to talk with a medical professional. They will want to explore what could be going on, including prescribing blood work to test your nutrient levels among other measurements.
Some at-home tests for vitamin deficiencies may be more reliable than others. For instance, blood samples may be more accurate than saliva samples at detecting certain nutrient deficiencies.
Much like blood tests ordered at a doctor's office or hospital, most at-home nutrient deficiency tests are processed in labs certified by CLIA. It's wise to double-check for this before purchasing an at-home test.
Still, several factors can affect the accuracy of at-home tests, such as:
Vitamin deficiencies are often measured through a blood test, which is then analyzed by a lab. In some cases, a hair or saliva sample may be collected and analyzed instead.
Most at-home vitamin deficiency tests typically involve:
Be sure to check the instructions included in your testing kit, as the collection procedure may vary for different products.
Vitamin deficiencies are often measured through a blood test, which is then analyzed by a lab. In some cases, a hair or saliva sample may be collected and analyzed instead.
Most at-home vitamin deficiency tests typically involve:
Be sure to check the instructions included in your testing kit, as the collection procedure may vary for different products.
How do I find out if I'm deficient in vitamins?While there are some signs and symptoms that may raise suspicion, the only way to confirm a deficiency is to test for it, typically through blood work.
While there are some signs and symptoms that may raise suspicion, the only way to confirm a deficiency is to test for it, typically through blood work.
What is a full vitamin panel called?A full vitamin panel is often called a comprehensive nutrient panel or micronutrient test panel, and assesses the levels of various vitamins and minerals in your body and can help identify potential deficiencies or excesses of these nutrients.
A full vitamin panel is often called a comprehensive nutrient panel or micronutrient test panel, and assesses the levels of various vitamins and minerals in your body and can help identify potential deficiencies or excesses of these nutrients.
If you're searching for at-home vitamin deficiency tests, you'll find several options. We've included five recommendations that address some of the most common deficiencies. These companies are all CLIA certified, and healthcare professionals will review your results.
If you decide to move forward with testing, discuss your results with a doctor or registered dietitian. They can help you decide whether you need further testing, dietary changes, or supplementation.
This Technology Company Is Being Acquired At A Shocking 207% Premium -- And These 2 Stocks Could Be Next
We recently learned that spatial technology company Matterport (NASDAQ: MTTR), which provides the space-mapping technology used for 3D home tours and many other applications, has agreed to be acquired by real estate giant CoStar (NASDAQ: CSGP).
The terms of the deal were quite favorable for Matterport investors. CoStar values the company at $5.50 per share, half of which will be paid in cash and half paid in CoStar stock. This represents a massive 207% premium over Matterport's most recent closing price.
Here's a key point that investors need to know: Matterport isn't the only cash-rich former SPAC that has an excellent product, but for one reason or another there is uncertainty about its ability to reach profitability as a stand-alone business. Two others that I believe could follow the same path in the not-too-distant future are neighborhood social media platform Nextdoor (NYSE: KIND) and genetics company 23andMe (NASDAQ: ME).
Nextdoor has a massive user base, but profitability remains a concernIn many ways, neighborhood-focused social media platform Nextdoor is an impressive business. It ended 2023 with nearly 42 million weekly active users (WAUs) and has 88 million verified "neighbors" on its platform, both of which have grown significantly since its SPAC IPO.
However, the business has been losing money since it went public, and the losses are getting wider. For 2023, Nextdoor posted a $147.8 million net loss, versus $137.9 million in 2022. And 4% year-over-year revenue growth isn't exciting enough to get investors to overlook it.
Along with its fourth-quarter earnings report, Nextdoor announced a few interesting things:
CEO Sarah Friar will step down from her position, and Nextdoor's co-founder Nirav Tolia will take over in the second quarter.
The company is adding $150 million to its share repurchase program, and it isn't hard to see why: Not only is Nextdoor 80% lower than its $10 IPO price, but the market isn't giving much value to the business. The company has a $791 million market cap and has $531 million in cash and investments on its balance sheet.
Not only is the business cheaply valued, but while the losses have been high, the metrics are starting to move in the right direction. Management expects revenue growth to accelerate in 2024 and for its adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) margin to improve by about 10 percentage points. While we have no idea if it will be acquired, its low valuation, large user base, and recognizable brand could make it a valuable target for the right acquirer.
Story continues
23andMe has a passionate founder who wants her business backYou're probably familiar with 23andMe because of its in-home genetics testing products, but it also has potential when it comes to pharmaceutical research, thanks to its massive library of genetic information on millions of people.
Unfortunately, 23andMe's path to profitability hasn't exactly panned out as many had hoped for when it went public through a SPAC sponsored by Richard Branson's Virgin Group in mid-2021. The stock went public at $10 per share initially and peaked at more than $16, but has since fallen to $0.47.
It's not hard to see why the stock has fallen into penny-stock territory and is in danger of being delisted from the Nasdaq. Not only is the company losing money hand over fist, but its revenue is actually declining, mainly due to the end of a drug development partnership with GlaxoSmithKline. In its most recent quarterly report, not only did 23andMe project an adjusted EBITDA loss of $180 million to $185 million for the current fiscal year, but quarterly revenue dropped by 33% year over year.
23andMe's founder and CEO Anne Wojcicki is reportedly considering taking the company private. She already owns over 20% of the business and may make an offer for the rest of the shares.
While there's no way of knowing what she might end up paying, it's worth noting that 23andMe has a market cap of just $225 million and has $242 million in net cash and securities on its balance sheet. So, if Wojcicki were to take her business back, she'd likely have to pay a significant premium for the business, which the market is giving a negative value.
How much will shareholders get?To be perfectly clear, we have no idea if a deal will actually be reached for these two businesses to be acquired or taken private. And even if they are, there's no way to know what the eventual acquisition price might be.
Should you invest $1,000 in Nextdoor right now?Before you buy stock in Nextdoor, consider this:
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Matt Frankel has positions in Nextdoor. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends CoStar Group, Matterport, and Nextdoor. The Motley Fool recommends GSK. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
This Technology Company Is Being Acquired at a Shocking 207% Premium -- and These 2 Stocks Could Be Next was originally published by The Motley Fool
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