The carbohydrate content of the dishes I tried was generally on the low side; some meals provided about 30 g of carbohydrates (about 10 percent of the daily value) and others provided more than 50 g of carbohydrates (about 20 percent of the daily value). ). Even pasta dishes that I would expect to be higher in carbohydrate content contain small portions of pasta, so they focus more on protein than carbohydrates. For example, Herbed Greek Chicken and Tomato Penne contained 42 g of carbohydrates (15 percent of the daily value) and 32 g of protein.
I liked that all the smoothies contained whole foods with no added sugar. They were very satisfying and as good or better than a smoothie purchased from a smoothie bar or juice shop.
I also liked the mix of lower-calorie smoothies that were more of a snack, as well as higher-calorie, more nutrient-dense smoothies that could serve as mini-meals.
Be Careful About Some Health Claims
There are discrepancies between Factor’s claims about healthiness and the actual healthfulness of meals in general.
But factor meals generally went beyond these rules. For example, the breakfast menu’s Coconut Pancakes contain 740 calories, 42 g total fat (51 percent of the plate’s calories come from fat), 20 g saturated fat (100 percent of the daily value), 23 g added sugar (almost 50 percent of the daily limit). ) and 900 mg sodium. The main menu of Chicken Piccata with Cauliflower Puree and Broccoli, which seems healthy at first glance, contains 620 calories, 45 g of fat (65 percent of the calories come from fat) and 21 g of saturated fat (105 g). percentage of daily value).
Vegetarian dishes were also inconsistent.
For example, Green Beans and Portobellos with Smoky Onion Butter provided only 170 calories and only 3 g of protein; both were very low for an entrée, but still contained 15g of total fat (80 percent of the dish’s calories come from fat). ) and 7 g saturated fat (35 percent of the daily value). Meanwhile, the Smoked Tofu Almond Fries provided 580 calories, 26 g fat (40 percent of the calories from fat), but only 4 g saturated fat (18 percent of the daily value) and 32 g protein. This tofu dish also contained 12 grams of fiber, more than 40 percent of the recommended daily intake. This dish had 900 mg sodium and 8 g added sugar, but as a starter it was overall much more balanced than the others.
While all meals have nutritional labels such as Calorie Smart, Protein Plus, Fiber Supplement, and Carb Conscious, I could not find information on the website that defines what these labels mean.
So, while there are many examples of main meals that meet high protein goals or high fiber goals or contain moderate levels of sodium, those same meals may be excessively saturated fat or contain unexpected added sugar. For someone who doesn’t know how to read labels, especially someone at risk for heart disease, trusting that anything you order from Factor will be healthy could be a mistake.
Breakfast Products and Desserts
Breakfast ingredients were also mixed on the health side. Feta and Roasted Red Pepper Frittata appeared to be more nutritious than other breakfast items, but it still contained very high amounts of fat, saturated fat and sodium. Frittata was made with liquid egg whites that became watery when reheated.
The pancakes were accompanied by a ladle of sweet butter and syrup, with the added bonus of concentrated sources of excess calories and sugar. Breakfast products were also found to contain many more preservatives and ingredients, such as pomace oil, of much lower quality than virgin or virgin olive oil. This was surprising for a company that claims to offer nutritionally balanced meals.
I also tried the Pistachio and Raspberry Cheesecake, which although tasted good, was very high in total fat and saturated fat; It contained monk fruit sweetener instead of cane sugar, but it definitely still had the decadence of a typical dessert.