Healthy Living Review Methodology

How we research and test healthy living products and services

To evaluate healthy living products and services, including diet and weight loss programs, meal delivery services, and grocery delivery services, we conduct thorough research and testing. We identify the most important factors to consider for each type of healthy living product or platform and compare the most popular options based on these factors.

Weight loss programs

For diet and weight loss platforms, the factors we consider include progress tracking, educational components, how you log nutrition and exercise, how easy it is to use the program, and access to clinical support. We spent two weeks testing each platform to learn how the app or website worked and what the program was like each day. During testing, we completed the initial sign-up process and any included questionnaires, prepared any recommended recipes or prepackaged food, logged our meals and activity, interacted with available health coaches and customer service representatives, and recorded our experience.

We also surveyed 600 people who have used weight loss platforms to learn more about their experiences and conducted a focus group interview with weight loss platform users. We consulted 20 experts in nutrition, weight management, and nutritional psychology, including registered dietitian nutritionists and psychologists.

Meal delivery and grocery delivery services

When evaluating meal and grocery delivery services, we compared the most popular platforms by their costs, availability and delivery options, types of meals or grocery items, options for dietary restrictions, how long it takes to prepare meals, quality of the meals, and how easy it was to place orders for meals and groceries. We spent one week testing each service to become familiar with the app or website. In our testing, we completed the sign-up process and any initial questionnaires, ordered one week’s worth of meals or groceries, tracked our delivery and evaluated the quality of the packaging and items when delivered, prepared the included recipes, tried the prepared meal options, and recorded our thoughts on the quality of the meals and grocery items.

We surveyed 600 people who have used meal and grocery delivery services to learn about their firsthand experiences. We also interviewed experts in nutrition and nutritional psychology, including registered dietitian nutritionists.

How we rank and review healthy living products and services

To test and review healthy living platforms and programs, we looked at specific factors we identified through our research. We weighted these factors according to feedback from our surveys, focus groups, and interviews with experts.

Weight loss program factors

The details we take into account when reviewing weight loss platforms:

Education on nutrition and weight management (25% of total score): We looked to see if brands provide accurate information and easy-to-understand advice on nutrition and healthy habits to make weight management sustainable and practical.

Accountability through progress tracking (20% of total score): We looked for brands that make it easy to keep track of your progress in an app or website, and that use this accountability in a supportive and encouraging way.

Recommendations and tips for physical activity (20% of total score): Our team followed any recommended physical activity included in the plans. We evaluated whether the activities were easy to learn, felt appropriate for the plan, and if the platform included activity tracking as part of your daily routine.

Access to clinical support (15% of total score): We examined the type of access each platform gave us to clinical support, including coaching and support from nutritionists and trainers.

Ease of use: (10% of total score): We tried out all of the features of each platform to see how easy it was to follow any recommendations and to track progress. We looked for platforms and programs that are easy to make a part of your day.

Availability of mental health resources (10% of total score): If platforms offered access to mental health resources and support, we tested those. This can be an important component of weight loss and provides support when making changes and adopting new habits.

Meal and grocery delivery factors

The details we take into account when reviewing meal delivery and grocery delivery services:

Cost (25% of total score): We evaluate brands based on their subscription fees, the price per meal and price per serving of each meal, delivery fees, and the cost of grocery staples compared to average in-store costs.

Types of meals and grocery items (25% of total score): For meal delivery services, we compared brands that offer meal kit recipes, prepackaged meals, or a combination of both. For grocery delivery services, we compared brands to see if they offered pantry staples, frozen foods, perishable items like eggs and meats, and any prepared foods.

Quality of the meals and groceries (20% of total score): Our team tried each meal, cooking them using the included ingredients and recipes or heating up prepared meals, and rate them on taste, portion size, and nutritional value. For groceries, our testers rated the items for freshness, whether they were delivered undamaged, and the overall quality of the items.

Ease of use (15% of total score): For meal delivery services, our team followed all instructions and rated how long it took to prepare the meals and how difficult the recipes were to complete. For grocery delivery services, our team rated services on how easy it was to find specific items and to place their order for the week.
Dietary options: (15% of total score): We reviewed meal delivery services to see if they offered options for specific dietary restrictions and food allergies. We reviewed grocery delivery services to see if they offered ingredients and brands for these same dietary restrictions and food allergies.