Scoring Methodology · v1.0

We don't score taste. We score value.

Taste is personal. Price-per-gram of protein is not. Our scoring system measures only what can be objectively verified — cost efficiency, nutritional accuracy, reliability, and transparency — so you can make decisions based on data, not someone else's palate.

Every score on this site is derived from the formula below. No editorial override. No sponsored placement. If a service scores a 4.2, it scored a 4.2 by the numbers.

The Five Dimensions

What we measure, and why

Each dimension is weighted by its impact on a consumer's actual experience and long-term value. Weights are fixed and not adjusted per service or category.

Protein Value
Cost per gram of protein, normalized across serving sizes and shipping costs. The most objective single metric for diet meal value — especially for weight loss, muscle building, and macro-focused eating.
Metric: all-in cost ÷ grams of protein per meal · updated monthly
25%
Weight
Nutritional Accuracy
How closely delivered meals match their labeled macros. Sourced from third-party lab reports, independent testing databases, and aggregated user reports flagging significant discrepancies.
Metric: reported vs. labeled macro variance · sourced from independent labs and community data
20%
Weight
Delivery Reliability
Aggregated delivery complaint rate drawn from BBB filings, Trustpilot reviews, Reddit community data, and our own reader reports. Measured as complaint incidents per 1,000 orders estimated.
Metric: complaint rate per 1k estimated orders · rolling 90-day window
20%
Weight
Price Transparency
All-in cost versus advertised cost. We calculate the final checkout price including shipping, packaging fees, and any non-optional add-ons, then measure the delta from the headline price shown in marketing.
Metric: (final price − advertised price) ÷ advertised price · updated quarterly
20%
Weight
Menu Flexibility
How well the service accommodates dietary needs: available filters (keto, vegan, diabetic-friendly, etc.), ability to skip weeks without penalty, and ease of cancellation without dark patterns.
Metric: scored rubric across 8 flexibility criteria · audited quarterly
15%
Weight

The Formula

How scores are calculated

Each dimension is scored 1–10, then multiplied by its weight. The final score is the sum, expressed on a 10-point scale.

// Final Score (out of 10)

Score = (ProteinValue × 0.25) + (NutritionalAccuracy × 0.20) + (DeliveryReliability × 0.20) + (PriceTransparency × 0.20) + (MenuFlexibility × 0.15)

// Example
Score = (8.2 × 0.25) + (7.5 × 0.20) + (9.1 × 0.20) + (6.8 × 0.20) + (7.0 × 0.15) = 7.82 / 10

Interactive

Try the score calculator

Adjust the sliders to see how a hypothetical service would score under our methodology. This is exactly the math behind every rating on the site.

Score Simulator
7.82 / 10
Protein Value (25%) 8.2
Nutritional Accuracy (20%) 7.5
Delivery Reliability (20%) 9.1
Price Transparency (20%) 6.8
Menu Flexibility (15%) 7.0
Grade: B+ · Strong Pick — Good protein value and reliable delivery. Minor price transparency issues to be aware of.

Score Tiers

What the numbers mean

Scores are not curved or adjusted. A service earns its tier purely by the numbers.

Score Grade What it means
9.0 – 10.0 A · Exceptional Excels across all five dimensions. Genuinely rare. Represents the best objective value in the category.
8.0 – 8.9 A− · Excellent Strong performance with minor gaps. Most top-tier services land here.
7.0 – 7.9 B · Good Solid value with one or two meaningful weaknesses. Worth considering depending on your priorities.
6.0 – 6.9 C · Average Passes the bar but has notable gaps. Usually a price-value mismatch or reliability concerns.
Below 6.0 D · Below Average Significant issues in one or more dimensions. We recommend alternatives in the same category.

Editorial Stance

What we deliberately don't score

These omissions are intentional. Each one is excluded because it cannot be measured objectively at scale.

✕
Taste and flavor
Subjective by definition. One person's "bland" is another's "clean eating." Taste scores are the primary vector for biased affiliate reviews — we've removed it entirely.
✕
Packaging aesthetics
Preference-based and irrelevant to nutritional outcomes. We note packaging sustainability claims only when they're third-party verified.
✕
Brand reputation or history
A service's past does not predict today's value. Scores reflect current, measured performance — not brand sentiment or how long a company has existed.
✕
Celebrity or influencer endorsement
Paid partnerships distort perception without adding informational value. We note when a service relies heavily on influencer marketing as a transparency flag only.

Data Integrity

How we keep data current

Stale data is wrong data. Prices change, menus shift, delivery performance fluctuates. Here's our update cadence.

Monthly
Protein Value
Menu prices and nutrition labels are scraped and recalculated every 30 days. Score updates automatically if the ratio shifts by more than 5%.
Rolling 90d
Delivery Reliability
Complaint data is pulled on a trailing 90-day window. A single bad month doesn't tank a score — but a sustained pattern does.
Quarterly
All Other Dimensions
Price transparency, nutritional accuracy, and menu flexibility are audited quarterly or whenever a service makes a significant policy or menu change.