Why is eating tasty, nutrient-rich meals so dang hard?
For most people, it comes down to time, labor, and $. There’s the chore of aimlessly wandering the grocery store aisles searching for the right items. Not to mention forking over your hard-earned cash for food that costs a ton more than it did last year! Once you get home, the real work begins—rinsing, chopping, sautéing, and roasting for what can be hours.
That’s simply too much effort for a single meal. No wonder so many are turning to meal delivery services to bring fully prepared dinners right to their doorstep.
There are oodles of services out there, but Tempo, Factor, and CookUnity are 3 of the most popular that offer convenient, ready-to-heat options. Each one supports a healthy lifestyle so you can get some time back to each day.
But do these premade meals truly save time and hassle? And which one comes out on top?
Having tried many of the prepared meal delivery services out there, our Food and Beverage editors compared these 3 brands head-to-head. Here’s what we discovered:
Key Similarities
Okay, first things first: Tempo, Factor, and CookUnity have a few things in common:
- They deliver chef-crafted, premade meals right to your door
- All food is delivered fresh
- Minimal prep required, and no cooking skills needed
- All 3 are subscription-based, and you can skip weeks, pause, or opt out any time
Key Differences
- Tempo meals come in at less than 600 calories per serving | Factor dinners range from 500-790 calories | CookUnity runs from 500-750 calories
- Tempo meals cook for only 3 minutes (and cool for 1) | Factor takes 3 minutes | CookUnity can take up to 5 minutes
Tempo
First up is Tempo—a brand-new meal kit solution for when you’re short on time. Choose from 12 convenient entrees each week, and let their talented chefs do the work for you.
Tempo’s delicious, protein-packed, nutrient-rich, calorie-conscious meals are delivered fresh and include 30g+ of protein. Simply pop each dish in the microwave for 3 minutes, let it cool for 1, and…dinnertime!
Tempo’s weekly rotating menu has feel-good faves like the Lemon Pesto Primavera. Plus, there are plenty of options to avoid meal fatigue (though we’re definitely ordering the Moroccan Beef Meatballs again—chef’s kiss!)
And the capper: Tempo meals come in at less than 600 calories a serving, yet aren’t bland like most low-cal dishes. It’s no wonder so many people have turned to Tempo as their new dinnertime hero.
Factor
From Keto and Calorie Smart to Vegan & Veggie, Protein Plus and Chef’s Choice, Factor offers a full lineup of meals designed to suit a variety of dietary and lifestyle needs. Like Tempo, Factor’s rotating menu of dishes arrives fully cooked. Pretty awesome for those looking for delicious meals that eliminate the pain of prepping.
Their plans are flexible enough—you can select how many meals you want per week and the number of servings (between 4 to 18), and choose your preferred delivery day. The $11-$13.50 price tag is in the same ballpark as Tempo and CookUnity. However, this doesn’t include add-ons or premium recipes which can really run up your final bill.
In terms of flavor, what’s with all the cheese? 3 out of 4 of the Chef’s Choice meals we tried were sprinkled with cheese. High in sodium, the meat can be a bit fatty—especially the Keto dishes.
CookUnity
CookUnity crafts fresh, small-batch, fully cooked meals right to your door. The menu is filled with a dizzying array of globally inspired dishes for diet plans like vegan and vegetarian, Keto, low-calorie, gluten-free, and many more.
While that sounds great, we were completely overwhelmed by the glut of choices. So we went with good old classics like Mom’s Sunday Sauce Rigatoni with spicy Italian pork meatballs and the Lemon Rosemary Chicken with grilled asparagus and mashed potatoes.
At $11-$13.50 per serving (with 4 to 16 servings available), you might be tempted to add extra meals because portion sizes are much smaller than Factor and Tempo. CookUnity also highlights a number of premium meals that come with price surcharges.
Their chefs call for 2 approaches to heating: you can pop a meal into the microwave. Or, you can preheat your oven and heat for 8 to 20 minutes… The latter? Not so quick and not such a easy-peasy dinner.
Finally, CookUnity doesn’t deliver nationwide—a real bummer.
Final Thoughts
And the winner is…Tempo! We give their meal delivery service 5 stars. With meals starting at only $10.98 per serving and 12 nutrient-rich choices each week, Tempo is a fantastic way to enjoy fresh, flavorful meals that support a healthy lifestyle.
Editors’ Note:New Tempo customers get 50% off their first box + 20% off the next month, so now’s the time to try it out!
For hassle-free, enticing, feel-good meals, Tempo meals are where it’s at.