Our Ingredient Philosophy
What We Keep Out
The following artificial ingredients, sweeteners, colors, preservatives, and additives will not be found within our recipe dishes.
- 2,4,5-trihydroxybutyrophenone
- Acesulfame-K
- Acetoin
- Activated Charcoal
- Advantame
- Agave Syrup
- Aluminum Ammonium Sulfate
- Aluminum Potassium Sulfate
- Aluminum Sulfate
- Ammonium Alum
- Ammonium Chloride
- Ammonium Saccharin
- Anoxomer
- Apricot Kernel
- Aspartame
- Aspartame-Acesulfame Salt
- Azo Dyes
- Azodicarbonamide
- Bacopa
- Beet Sugar
- Benzoates
- Benzophenone
- Benzoyl Peroxide
- Benzyl alcohol
- Benzyl Benzoate
- Bleached All Purpose Flour
- Bleached Whole Wheat Flour
- Bromated Flour
- Brominated Vegetable Oil
- Brown Sugar
- Butane Glycol
- Butylated Hydroxyanisole
- Butylated Hydroxytoluene
- Butylparaben
- Calcium Benzoate
- Calcium Bromate
- Calcium Peroxide
- Calcium Saccharin
- Calcium Sorbate
- Cane Sugar
- Canola Oil
- Canthaxanthin
- Caprenin
- Caramel Coloring
- Carbon Monoxide
- Carmine
- Carnauba wax
- Carnauba Wax
- Carrageenan Gum
- Charcoal Powder
- Citrus Red 2
- Corn Oil
- Corn Syrup
- Cottonseed Oil
- Cultured Dextrose
- Cultured Sulfate
- Cyclamate
- Dextrose
- Diacetyl Tartaric Acid Esters of Monoglycerides
- Dimethyl Silicone
- Dimethylamylamine (DMAA)
- Dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (DSS)
- Disodium Guanylate
- Disodium Inosinate
- Distilled Monoglycerides
- Dodecyl Gallate
- Edipee
- Eleuthero
- Esterified Propoxylated Glycerol
- Ethoxyquin
- Ethyl Acrylate
- Ethyl Vanillin (Synthetic)
- Eugenyl Methyl Ether (Methyl Eugenol)
- FD&C Blue No. 1
- FD&C Blue No. 2
- FD&C Colors
- FD&C Green No. 3
- FD&C Red No. 3
- FD&C Red No. 40
- FD&C Yellow No. 5
- FD&C Yellow No. 5 (Tartrazine)
- FD&C Yellow No. 6
- FD&C Yellow No. 6 (Sunset Yellow FCF)
- Fructose
- Gardenia Blue
- Glucose
- Glyceryl Triacetate
- Grapeseed Oil
- Heptylparaben
- High Fructose Corn Syrup
- Hydrogenated Oil
- Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
- Interesterified palm oil
- Invert Sugar
- Iron Oxide
- Isomaltitol
- Isomaltulose
- Kava Root
- L-cysteine
- Lactitol
- Lard
- Maltitol
- Maltodextrin
- Mannitol
- Methyl Silicone
- Methylparaben
- Modified Rice Starch
- Monoammonium Glutamate
- Monopotassium Glutamate
- Monosodium Glutamate
- Neotame
- Orange B
- Palm Kernel Oil
- Partially Hydrogenated Oil
- Phosphoric Acid
- Polydextrose
- Polyesters (Olestra)
- Polysorbate 60
- Polysorbate 65
- Polysorbate 80
- Polysorbates
- Potassium Alum
- Potassium Benzoate
- Potassium Bisulfite
- Potassium Bromate
- Potassium Hydroxide
- Potassium iodate
- Potassium Metabisulfite
- Potassium Nitrate/Potassium Nitrite
- Potassium Propionate
- Potassium Sorbate
- Prebiotic IMO
- Propionic Acid
- Propyl Gallate
- Propylene Glycol
- Propylene oxide
- Propylparaben
- Pulegone
- Pyridine
- Raw Sugar
- Refined Sugar
- Rice Bran Butter
- Rice Bran Oil
- Rice Syrup
- Saccharin
- Saccharin Sodium Salt
- Safflower Oil
- Salatrim
- Sodium Acid Sulfate
- Sodium Aluminum Phosphate
- Sodium Benzoate
- Sodium Bisulfate
- Sodium Bisulfite
- Sodium Carbonate
- Sodium Cyclamate
- Sodium Diacetate
- Sodium Erythorbate
- Sodium Hydroxide
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
- Sodium Nitrate/Sodium Nitrite
- Sodium Phosphate
- Sodium Propionate
- Sodium Saccharin
- Sodium Sorbate
- Sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate (SSL)
- Sodium stearyl fumarate
- Sodium Tripolyphosphate
- Sorbic Acid
- Sorbitol
- Soybean Oil
- Stearyl tartrate
- Sucralose
- Sucroglycerides
- Sucrose
- Sucrose Esters
- Sulfur Dioxide
- Sulfurous Acid
- Synthetic Smoke Flavor
- Tapioca Fiber Syrup
- Tapioca Syrup
- Tara Flour
- Tara Gum
- Tertiary Butylhydroquinone
- Thiodipropionic Acid
- Titanium Dioxide
- Toluene
- Tonka Beans
- Turbinado
- Vanillin (Synthetic)
- Vegetable Shortening
- Xylitol
Dietitian-Designed
Health Shouldn’t Come at the Expense of Taste
Frequently Asked Questions
Carbohydrates come from fruits, grains, vegetables, and dairy, and generally fall into simple and complex categories. Simple carbs are digested quickly, while complex carbs — especially those rich in fiber, like whole grains and legumes — break down more slowly to provide steadier energy throughout the day.
Protein supports everything from hair growth to enzyme function, organ health, and hormone production. When digested, it breaks down into amino acids — the building blocks your body depends on. Of the 20 types of amino acids, nine are “essential,“ meaning your body can't produce them on its own and they must come from food.
Healthy fats benefit both your heart and your brain. Unsaturated fats—including monounsaturated and polyunsaturated varieties— help support healthy cholesterol levels and cardiovascular function. Great sources include salmon, tuna, eggs, avocado, chia seeds, flaxseed, nuts, seeds, olives, and olive oil
Micronutrients are vitamins and minerals — like vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, and magnesium — that your body needs in small amounts to function. They support the brain, muscles, skin, bones, nerves, circulation, and immune system. Many are “essential,“ meaning your body can't make them on its own. Together, they keep you healthy and performing at your best. Deficiencies are associated with heart disease, diabetes, certain cancers, osteoporosis, and more.
Factor offers a rotating weekly menu of ready-made, dietitian-designed meals designed for maximum flavor and nutrition. Options include, high-protein, low carb, fiber filled, calorie-smart, and vegetarian — all fully prepared by our chefs, so there's no cooking required.
Yes — all Factor meals are delivered fresh, never frozen. Every meal is sealed for freshness and shipped in insulated packaging with ice packs to ensure it arrives safely chilled.
Factor meals stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 7 days after delivery. Temperature-controlled packaging keeps them cool throughout transit, so you get the best quality when you're ready to eat.
Because Factor meals are delivered truly fresh and never frozen, we use precise amounts of sodium alongside vacuum-sealed packaging to naturally maintain food safety, quality, and freshness. Freezing food is a common way to preserve taste and longevity, but since we skip the freezer entirely, a strategic baseline of salt is essential to elevate our high-quality ingredients and spices. This careful culinary balance ensures that every dish maintains its integrity from our kitchen to your doorstep. Ultimately, this approach allows us to deliver the convenient, ready-to-heat experience you need without sacrificing the vibrant, restaurant-quality flavor you expect.
Yes, your body absolutely needs sodium because it is an essential nutrient that your cells, nerves, and muscles cannot function without. This mineral plays a critical role in regulating your internal fluid balance and maintaining proper blood volume. It also acts as an electrical conductor that allows your brain to communicate with the rest of your body and signals your muscles to contract properly. Since your body cannot produce sodium on its own and constantly loses it through daily sweat and urine, you must replenish it through the foods you eat. The key is finding the right balance, as getting the small amount your body requires supports optimal daily performance, while routinely getting too much can strain your cardiovascular system.
The exact sodium content for every dish is always available on our weekly menu by simply clicking on a meal to view its full nutrition facts label. Currently, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that healthy adults limit their daily intake to 2,300 mg of sodium or less. To help you stay within these guidelines, our Sodium Smart meals are expertly crafted to contain 750 mg of sodium or less per serving. Because you have complete control over your weekly menu, you can easily mix and match these lower-sodium options to build a custom delivery that perfectly fits your lifestyle and health goals. As always, if you are managing a specific medical condition or heart-health target, we highly recommend consulting with your healthcare provider to ensure our meal tracks align with your personal needs!