First Impressions: BistroMD

I finally got to try BistroMD! I've been hearing about them for a while and have been hoping for the opportunity. They promise to deliver chef-prepared meals, designed by dietitians and tailored to your lifestyle. 

One thing that immediately caught my attention? They also offer specialty meal plans for needs like diabetes, menopause, and GLP-1 support—something I don’t often see with meal delivery services.

First Impressions is a series that introduces and reviews new brands for My Subscription Addiction based on readers’ requests for an insider’s first look. Want to see more reviews from this brand or have another box in mind? Let us know in the comments.

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Subscription Details:

• Subscription: BistroMD
• What’s Included: Varies by subscription
• Price: Starts at $100
• Shipping: Varies

First Impressions

The Quiz

I don’t know about you, but when a meal delivery service has a menu bigger than The Cheesecake Factory’s, I get overwhelmed. So I appreciated that BistroMD includes a simple program quiz to help guide your choices. It’s straightforward, but it does a great job narrowing down the right plan for your needs.

I went with the Signature Program, mostly because it felt the most flexible—it offers a little bit of everything.

The Menu

The menu is... extensive. Tons of choices, and I liked that you can filter meals based on cravings—so if I wanted fish-based recipes only, I could easily find them.

Honestly, just browsing the pictures made me hungry. The meals look amazing in the previews. You can either:

1. Stick with the meals recommended by their dietitians based on your quiz answers, or
2. Swap in other meals from the current menu.

I swapped most of mine just based on personal preferences. I wouldn’t say I’m picky, but I was curious to explore the options. In the end, I selected 10 meals that honestly resemble what I’d order at a restaurant.

The Unboxing

The box arrived via FedEx and was dropped at my door—no signature needed. I was nervous the meals might defrost, but they arrived in perfect condition.

Inside, there’s a welcome sheet with info about your program and meals. Everything’s packed securely, with a layer of dry ice (so be careful). The meals were neatly stacked and labeled. They do resemble classic microwavable dinners, but the packaging made everything super easy to sort and store.

The Nutrition

This is where I was pleasantly surprised. I’m usually skeptical of frozen, pre-made meals because they often contain additives and unrecognizable ingredients. Not to mention, they're always like a thousand calories. Most BistroMD meals are under 400 calories.

BistroMD meals are built around balanced nutrition, focusing on:

• 25–30 grams of protein
• 20–25 grams of net carbs
• 5 grams of fiber
• 8–12 grams of healthy fats
• Less than 500mg of sodium

What stood out is that the ingredients are real, whole foods, not a long list of preservatives. It’s one of the few frozen meal services I’ve tried where the ingredient list didn’t take up the entire back of the box.

The Meals

Now to the fun part: the meals themselves. The breakdown for most is 40% protein, 30% carbs, and 30% fats, and they’re designed to support a daily calorie intake of 1,200 calories for women and 1,400 for men.

Most of my picks ended up under 400 calories per meal. I won’t lie—when you first open them, they don’t look like the photos on the website. They’re not plated beautifully, and the portions look small at first glance.

But here’s the twist: they’re filling. I credit that to the protein and fiber. I didn’t feel hungry in between meals, and I wasn’t reaching for snacks throughout the day.

Flavor-wise? It’s a bit of a mixed bag.

One meal, a salmon with mustard sauce, was a total miss. The mustard was overpowering, and I couldn’t finish it.

But the barramundi with mango rice? A home run. The flavors were balanced, fresh, and surprisingly elevated.

Others, like a Thai chicken dish I tried, fell somewhere in the middle—decent, but not extremely flavorful. This one was a healthier version of one of my favorite takeout dishes, and well, it missed the mark.

The Cooking Process

Most meals are microwave-ready in 3–5 minutes, which is honestly a lifesaver on busy days. You can thaw them and heat them in a pan or even in the oven (the container is oven-safe up to 400°F), but unless you’ve got time, the microwave is definitely the faster route.

That said, as someone trying to get back into cooking, I did enjoy using a pan when I could. It gave me a little more control over texture, especially with proteins.

My Verdict – Is BistroMD Worth It?

Let’s talk price. BistroMD isn’t cheap. Starting at $100+, it’s definitely on the higher end of the meal delivery spectrum. But…

If you’re:

• Committed to weight loss
• Not super confident in the kitchen
• Looking for structured, foolproof nutrition support

Then I really think BistroMD is one of the best options out there. The meals are nutritionally balanced, feel personalized, and come ready to eat—which takes out all the stress of meal planning.

It’s kind of like eating out, but healthier, cheaper, and right at home. And if you compare the cost to hiring a chef or eating out every day? It actually starts to feel like a pretty smart investment.

Final verdict: Yes, it’s worth it if you’re looking for a consistent, no-stress meal plan to support weight loss or special dietary needs. Personally, it was a relief not having to plan or cook for an entire week.

And no, they didn’t pay me to agree with their program—this is just my honest first impression after trying the program myself.