You seemingly can’t scroll Instagram or Facebook these days without seeing an ad or an influencer promoting some kind of meal delivery service. Convenient, fresh meal delivery has become a way of life for many of us! Time is scarce and we’re all looking to save it where we can.
But how healthy are these meal deliveries? Some are more nutritious than others, no doubt. And, whether you're looking for a Canadian meal kit delivery or you're in the United States, there's plenty of healthy options for all of us.
And that’s where BistroMD enters the picture. BistroMD is a meal delivery service that takes pride in offering meals planned and developed by doctors and dieticians with the goal of helping their customers to improve their health and reach their weight loss goals.
Does it work? Are the meals tasty or is it bland diet food? Are customers losing weight, getting healthier, and enjoying more free time to spend with their families? I took a deep dive into BistroMD to find out if their service is the real deal so you can decide if it’s right for you. Read my full review of BistroMD below.
Introducing BistroMD for weight-loss diet meal planning
BistroMD was founded by Dr. Caroline J. Cederquist and her foodie husband, Ed, back in 2005. The company was founded on the premise that food is medicine and that healthy food can be used to prevent most of today’s most prevalent health problems.
Dr. Cederquist spent her life’s work helping her patients achieve healthy weight loss through her 20-year clinical practice as a weight loss physician. She understood what nutrition your body needs to achieve a healthy weight and she wanted to expand her reach to allow her to impact more people.
Dr. Cederquist and her husband then came up with the idea of BistroMD, one of the first and original healthy meal delivery services to hit the market. The company is grounded in solid medical and nutritional foundations while managing to maintain delicious flavor and variety.
BistroMD’s weight loss philosophy
The weight loss philosophy that this company believes in is based on the following three (3) KEY stages of dieting:
- Reclaim: In this initial stage, BistroMD’s meal plans help customers to curb their unhealthy cravings and to begin to alter their metabolism.
- Transform: Next, the body will begin to respond positivity to the metabolic changes, and transformative effects will begin to emerge.
- Stabilize: During this final stage, bodyweight will stabilize and maintenance begins.
Types of Plans Available
The BistroMD team understands that we are all unique and that your body and goals are independent of others. Their solution was to create a robust plan offering that allows for personalization and customization.
They first separate men and women’s programming, then their plans include the following options:
- Standard
- Heart Healthy Program
- Gluten-Free Program
- Diabetic-Friendly Program
- Menopause Program
Next, BistroMD has four different packages to choose from based on your desired meal frequency. These include:
Program | Days | Breakfasts | Lunches | Dinners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Full Program 7 Days: | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 Dinners + My Night* (dinner out or meal of your choice) |
Full Program 5 Days: | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 Dinners (weekday meals) |
Lunches & Dinners 7 Days: | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
Lunches & Dinners 5 Days: | 5 | 0 | 5 | 5 |
As you can see from the table above, you get to choose how often you want the convenience of meals delivered. For some, weekdays are enough and they enjoy weekends eating out or as they wish from home. For those who don’t eat breakfast or who would prefer to make their own breakfast, the Lunches & Dinners option works well. The price of your plan will depend on the frequency of your meals.
What About Snacks?
I’m a snacker, and I know I’m not alone on that. Luckily, BistroMD recognizes that sometimes we need a little something to bridge the gap between our meals, keeping us satiated and on track.
In order to maintain your weight loss and make sure that your meal plan is working for you, it’s vital that you choose the right kinds of snacks so that you don’t derail your efforts between meals. You can add EATS (Essential and Tasty Snacks) to your membership. With the EATS addition, you’ll be given protein-filled power snacks that will help keep you full between meals.
The Science Behind BistroMD’s Meals
Dr. Cederquist and the rest of the team at BistroMD use a scientific approach to weight loss, not a quick fix or fad diet that gets quick, short-lived results. They know that healthy weight loss is so much more than just cutting calories. Research shows that when you’re cutting your calories too much, your body will adapt and go into starvation mode which will cause your body to do the opposite of what you want it to do: it’ll hold onto fat, sabotaging your weight loss efforts.
When we talk about losing weight, what we all really want is to lose fat. In order to keep your body in fat-burning mode while still maintaining your muscle mass, you need a specific balance of macronutrients (macros) to support your healthy weight loss. This is the foundation of BistroMD’s programming.
They utilize a scientifically-proven macro breakdown that looks like this:
Fats: 20-25% of total caloric intake is from healthy fats to boost metabolism to help rid the body of unwanted excess body fat and control hunger cravings.
Carbs: 30-35% of total caloric intake is from complex carbohydrates to provide energy and regulate your blood sugar.
Protein: 40-50% of total caloric intake is from lean protein sources to maintain lean muscle while burning off fat.
BistroMD also recognizes that nutrition is only one piece of the weight loss puzzle. They also encourage the following:
Social Support: Studies show that people who have a strong support system, whether that be family, friends, or strangers on the internet, are more likely to experience weight loss success and maintain their results for the long term.
Moderate Exercise: Moving your body through aerobics, resistance training, and stretching help to improve your overall health and wellness and serve as a great compliment to a healthy meal plan, bettering your mood, sleep, blood sugar, cholesterol, and more.
Proper Sleep: Improper sleeping habits contribute to a lack of energy which leads to unhealthy food choices, and unwillingness to add movement to your day. It also reduces your body’s ability to produce insulin, which can lead to weight gain, diabetes, and other health problems.
What’s Included With Your BistroMD Subscription?
- Their proven program: You get a scientifically-based weight loss program that was developed by a board-certified physician who has over 20 years of experience helping people lose weight and keep it off.
- Licensed dietician support: Your subscription comes with unlimited access to their team of registered dieticians so that you can get one-on-one, personalized support to help you reach your goals.
- Community: You’ll get to be a part of the exclusive BistroMD community where you’ll get the support and encouragement you need on your journey.
- All the tools and education you need: You’ll have access to tools that allow you to create a personalized menu that you’ll stick to along with other tools that will help you find your way to a healthy, lasting lifestyle.
Now that you know all the benefits and extras you’ll get with your BistroMD account, let’s talk about how it works and how to get started with your personalized, healthy meal plan.
How It Works
Step 1: Choose your plan
Choose a plan that works for your dietary preferences and your schedule. Each week, you’ll have the opportunity to choose from over 150 chef-prepared meals that all take 5 minutes or less to prepare.
Step 2: Custom Diet Will be created for you
After you’ve chosen your plan, the registered dieticians at BistroMD then create a custom diet program for you. You can access and control your weekly menu and set your taste preferences right through their mybistroMD.com portal. You get to take ownership of your program, controlling the meals you receive each month.
Step 3: Enjoy fresh, delicious meals delivered to your doorstep!
Each week, you’ll receive your meals in a recyclable, cooled box right to your door. Simply place your meals in your refrigerator and bring them out and heat them up as you’re ready to consume them
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Dedicated meal programs designed to match your lifestyle and needs
- Robust menu selections of nutritionally balanced meals
- Meals based in science and designed by an accredited weight loss doctor
- Free consultations and evaluations by their registered dieticians
- Flexibility to choose meal frequency
- The meals are delicious and delivered right to your door
- Community support
- Meals are designed to help you lose weight and stick with it
Cons:
- Delivery costs $19.95 per week to the contiguous United States
- No vegan options
FAQs
Q: Will I be hungry with this program?
A: You shouldn’t! Contrary to what we’ve been led to believe, less is not always more when it comes to calories. In fact, when you don’t eat enough throughout the day, it can make weight loss even harder because your body isn’t getting what it needs to operate properly. Most BistroMD customers report being amazed by the amount of food they get with the program.
Q: Will I get diet and exercise coaching with my meal program?
A: You will receive support from their panel of experts which includes coaching on your diet and exercise program. You can even set up personal, one-on-one sessions with your dietician as needed to discuss things like a weight loss plateau, food sensitivities, etc.
Q: How do I prepare my BistroMD meals?
A: One of the best parts of this weight loss meal plan is how simple it is to heat and enjoy your meals. They literally take all the guesswork, planning, and preparation out of mealtime so all that’s left to do is sit down and enjoy. Your meals will come already prepared for you, all you do is pop it into the microwave and heat it up. Each week, you’ll receive entrees in a BPA-free tray that are vacuum sealed to maintain freshness and will allow the meals to cook in their own natural juices when heated. It’s the closest thing you can get to homemade!
Q: What kind of meal variety can I expect in my plan?
A: At any given time, BistroMD offers over 150 different fresh recipes prepared by their chefs. Some of the meal choices are seasonal. With such a robust offering, you can expect that you won’t get the same meal over and over again. That said, you can also choose your specific entrees to meet your unique taste preferences. If you would like more or less of a certain menu item, all you need to do is log into your account and make those modifications. This allows you to have control over your meal plan and your variety of foods.
Bottom Line: Will BistroMD help you lose weight?
Whether you have a few stubborn pounds that you’d like to shed or many more, a weight loss meal service like BistroMD can help. Preparing meals is not easy, but preparing them in a way that’s conducive to weight loss is even more difficult.
Unless you’re a dietician, doctor, or other health professional, chances are you don’t possess the nutritional knowledge needed to create meal plans that set you up for weight loss success - and that’s ok! That’s why we have services like this that make losing weight and fueling our bodies properly easier and more convenient than ever before.
This is the lowest price it's been by clicking on our link below!
