Best meal delivery service for diabetics. 12 Best Diabetic Meal Delivery Services in 2023: Expert Recommendations
What are the top diabetic meal delivery services in 2023. How do these services cater to the specific dietary needs of diabetics. Which factors should be considered when choosing a diabetic meal delivery service. How can diabetic meal delivery services help manage blood sugar levels and promote overall health.
Understanding Diabetic Meal Delivery Services
Diabetic meal delivery services have gained significant popularity in recent years, offering a convenient and tailored solution for individuals managing diabetes. These services provide pre-prepared or ready-to-cook meals that are specifically designed to help regulate blood sugar levels and support overall health for people with diabetes.
The market for meal delivery services has experienced remarkable growth, with a $2.47 billion increase in 2021 alone, according to Grand View Research. This surge in demand reflects the growing need for convenient, health-conscious meal options, particularly for those with specific dietary requirements like diabetes management.
Key Benefits of Diabetic Meal Delivery Services
- Convenience: Eliminates the need for extensive meal planning and grocery shopping
- Portion control: Ensures appropriate serving sizes to support blood sugar management
- Nutritional balance: Meals are crafted to provide the right balance of macronutrients
- Variety: Offers a wide range of diabetic-friendly meal options to prevent diet fatigue
- Time-saving: Reduces time spent on meal preparation and cooking
- Education: Helps users learn about proper diabetic meal composition
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Diabetic Meal Delivery Service
Selecting the right diabetic meal delivery service requires careful consideration of several factors to ensure it meets your specific needs and preferences. Here are the key aspects to evaluate:
Convenience Level
How much time are you willing to spend on meal preparation? Some services offer heat-and-eat options that require minimal effort, while others provide ingredients and recipes for those who enjoy cooking. Consider your lifestyle and time constraints when making your choice.
Dietary Specifications
Does the service cater specifically to diabetic needs? While many offer diabetic-friendly options, some may focus on related diets like Paleo or Keto, which can also help regulate blood sugar. Ensure the service you choose aligns with your dietary requirements and preferences.
Budget Considerations
How does the cost of the service fit into your food budget? Compare the price per serving or weekly cost across different services. Remember to factor in the potential savings from reduced grocery shopping and food waste.
Nutritional Quality
Are the meals nutritionally balanced for diabetic needs? Look for services that prioritize low glycemic index ingredients, adequate protein, healthy fats, and fiber. The right balance of nutrients is crucial for managing blood sugar levels effectively.
Top Diabetic Meal Delivery Services of 2023
Based on expert evaluations and user feedback, here are some of the leading diabetic meal delivery services available in 2023:
1. BistroMD: Best Overall Diabetic Meal Delivery
Founded by Dr. Caroline Cederquist, M.D., BistroMD stands out for its medically-backed approach to meal delivery. The service offers a specialized diabetic program designed by registered dietitians to help maintain healthy blood glucose levels.
- Over 100 rotating diabetic-friendly meals
- 25 grams or less of net carbs per entree
- Adequate lean protein to regulate blood sugar
- Options for full weekly programs or lunch and dinner only
Pricing starts at $149.90 per week, making it a mid-range option in terms of cost. While the service requires a weekly subscription, users can cancel or pause at any time, offering flexibility for changing needs or schedules.
2. Sunbasket: Best for Cooking Enthusiasts
Sunbasket offers a unique approach for those who enjoy spending time in the kitchen. While not a heat-and-eat option, it provides high-quality, organic ingredients and diabetic-friendly recipes.
- Diabetes-friendly meal plan with at least 10 grams of protein per serving
- High-quality carbs from whole grains, beans, and lentils
- Minimum of 5 grams of fiber per serving
- 400-700 calories per serving for satiety
Sunbasket’s “carb smart” approach focuses on nutrient-dense, minimally processed meals that are slow to digest, helping to regulate blood sugar levels effectively.
The Role of Nutrition in Diabetic Meal Services
Nutrition plays a crucial role in managing diabetes, and diabetic meal delivery services are designed with this in mind. These services typically focus on providing meals that are:
- Low in refined carbohydrates and added sugars
- High in fiber to slow digestion and stabilize blood sugar
- Rich in lean proteins to promote satiety and blood sugar regulation
- Balanced in healthy fats to support overall health
By carefully controlling these nutritional aspects, diabetic meal delivery services can help users maintain more stable blood glucose levels throughout the day.
The Importance of Glycemic Index
Many diabetic meal services incorporate the concept of glycemic index (GI) into their meal planning. The GI measures how quickly a food can raise blood sugar levels. Low GI foods are typically preferred in diabetic diets as they cause a slower, more gradual rise in blood sugar.
How does the glycemic index impact meal choices for diabetics? Low GI foods (55 or less on the GI scale) include many vegetables, some fruits, whole grains, and legumes. These foods are often featured prominently in diabetic meal delivery services due to their beneficial effects on blood sugar control.
Customization Options in Diabetic Meal Delivery Services
One of the key advantages of many diabetic meal delivery services is the ability to customize meal plans to individual preferences and needs. This customization can take several forms:
Dietary Preferences
Many services offer options for various dietary preferences within their diabetic-friendly plans, such as:
- Vegetarian or vegan
- Gluten-free
- Dairy-free
- Low-sodium
Meal Frequency
Users can often choose how many meals per day or week they want to receive. This flexibility allows for integration with existing eating habits or preferences.
Calorie Control
For those managing diabetes alongside weight loss goals, many services offer lower-calorie options while still maintaining the necessary nutritional balance.
The Convenience Factor of Diabetic Meal Delivery Services
Convenience is a major selling point for diabetic meal delivery services, offering several benefits to users:
Time Savings
By eliminating or reducing the need for meal planning, grocery shopping, and extensive food preparation, these services can save users significant time each week. This can be particularly beneficial for busy professionals or those with limited mobility.
Stress Reduction
Managing diabetes requires constant attention to diet. Meal delivery services can alleviate some of the stress associated with ensuring each meal meets the necessary nutritional requirements.
Consistency
Regular delivery of diabetic-friendly meals can help users maintain a consistent eating schedule, which is important for blood sugar management.
Cost Considerations for Diabetic Meal Delivery Services
While diabetic meal delivery services offer many benefits, it’s important to consider the cost implications:
Comparing Costs
How do the costs of diabetic meal delivery services compare to traditional grocery shopping and home cooking? While meal delivery services often have a higher upfront cost, factors to consider include:
- Reduced food waste
- Time savings
- Potential health benefits from consistent, well-balanced meals
Value for Money
When assessing the value of these services, consider not just the monetary cost but also the potential health benefits and lifestyle improvements. For many, the convenience and health benefits justify the additional expense.
The Impact of Diabetic Meal Delivery Services on Health Outcomes
While individual results may vary, research suggests that structured meal plans, such as those provided by diabetic meal delivery services, can have positive impacts on health outcomes for people with diabetes.
Blood Sugar Control
How can diabetic meal delivery services improve blood sugar control? By providing consistently balanced meals with controlled portions of carbohydrates, these services can help users maintain more stable blood glucose levels throughout the day.
Weight Management
Many diabetic meal delivery services also support weight management goals, which can be crucial for improving insulin sensitivity and overall diabetes management.
Nutritional Education
By experiencing well-balanced, diabetic-friendly meals regularly, users can gain a better understanding of appropriate portion sizes and meal compositions, potentially improving their overall approach to nutrition.
In conclusion, diabetic meal delivery services offer a convenient and potentially effective tool for managing diabetes through diet. By providing nutritionally balanced, portion-controlled meals, these services can support better blood sugar control, weight management, and overall health for individuals with diabetes. As with any significant dietary change, it’s important to consult with a healthcare provider to ensure the chosen meal plan aligns with individual health needs and treatment goals.
5 Best Diabetic Meal Delivery Services from a Health Editor
Our Health Editor took the guesswork out of preparing a meal that’s low in carbs and sugar with these convenient and tasty diabetic meal delivery options.
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Via Merchant
Do you feel like you don’t always have time to plan recipes, shop for ingredients and cook healthy from scratch? You’re certainly not alone. Convenient meal delivery services are gaining popularity across the board—in fact, according to a report by Grand View Research, the market grew by a whopping 2.47 billion dollars in 2021.
It’s clear that consumers are turning to subscription services for their mealtime needs, and this is especially true for specialty diets, such as keto and gluten-free options. Read on to discover our top picks for (mostly) heat-and-eat diabetic meal delivery services that’ll help you keep your sugars balanced at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Parents, make sure you check out this list of best meal delivery services for your family, too.
Via Merchant
What to Look for in a Diabetic Meal Delivery Service
When choosing the diabetic meal delivery service that’s right for you, keep the following factors in mind:
- Convenience. If you don’t want to cook, be sure to choose a heat-and-eat option that’ll be ready in minutes with no mess to clean up. If you’re open to spending a little time prepping and cooking ingredients that are delivered to your doorstep, then get your apron ready.
- Dietary needs. Most diabetic-friendly services are truly designed with diabetic customers in mind; other companies offer Paleo and Keto plans, which are popular choices for eating a low-carb diet that can help regulate blood sugar.
- Budget. Keeping your food budget in mind will help ensure these convenient options don’t break the bank. Double check price per serving or cost per week.
- Nutrition. Avoiding refined carbs and added sugars is a priority, but it’s also important to get enough protein, fiber and healthy fats to help round out the meal.
Via Merchant
Evaluation Criteria
Each of the five diabetic meal delivery services listed below were chosen based on the quality of their ingredients. Many prioritize organic produce and pasture-raised meats, and are free of gluten, soy and dairy. We also looked at their professional standards. Some companies work with registered dietitians or doctors to ensure healthy, well-rounded recipes and their ability to meet the needs of someone with diabetes.
Via Merchant
Best Overall Diabetic Meal Delivery:
BistroMD
Founder Dr. Caroline Cederquist, M.D., literally puts the “MD” in BistroMD, and she operates her brand with the belief that food is medicine. The menu is designed to help with weight-loss, and offers various customized plans, such as gluten-free, heart-healthy, diabetic and low-sodium diets. The diabetic-friendly program is designed by a registered dietitian to help you maintain healthy blood glucose levels. Each chef-prepared entree has 25 grams or less of net carbs, plus adequate lean protein to help regulate blood sugar.
There are two full program options that offer breakfasts, lunches and dinners (one is for seven days, the other for five), plus options for five or seven days of just lunches and dinners. With over 100 rotating diabetic meals—such as hickory smoked barbecue pork with broccoli, and grilled salmon with creamy pesto—staying on track has never been easier or more delicious.
Pros
What we like best:
- Doctor-created service overseen by registered dietitians
- Large menu of options (over 100 diabetic-friendly meals)
Cons
What to consider before purchasing:
- No delivery to Hawaii or Alaska
- Weekly subscription required (but you can cancel or pause at any time)
Price: Starts at $149. 90 per week
Shop Now
Via Merchant
Best Diabetic Meal Delivery That Requires Cooking: Sunbasket
OK, this diabetic meal delivery option is going to require a bit more time spent in the kitchen, as it’s not a heat-and-eat plan. But where Sunbasket really shines is the organic fresh produce, lean meats and seafood and delicious flavors it delivers. The diabetes-friendly meal plan dishes up at least 10 grams of protein per serving, high quality carbs (such as whole grains, beans and lentils), at least five grams of fiber and 400-700 calories per serving to ensure you stay satisfied.
Sunbasket’s “carb smart” approach to this plan means you’ll dine on nutrient-dense meals that are minimally processed and slow to digest, which helps keep your blood sugar regulated. Think lettuce-wrapped turkey burgers with green goddess dressing and lentil salad or seared pork with blueberry-apricot sauce and sauteed greens. Most meals are ready to eat in 15 to 40 minutes.
Pros
What we like best:
- You learn some healthy cooking techniques as you prep
- Free shipping with your first order
- No commitment; skip or cancel any time
- Money back guarantee to ensure you love your meals
Cons
What to consider before purchasing:
- Requires cooking vs. heat-and-eat
Price: Starts at $11.49 per serving.
Shop Now
Via Merchant
Best Organic Diabetic Meal Delivery:
Provenance Meals
While it doesn’t have a program specifically called “diabetic-friendly,” Provenance does ensure that its meals are organic and free of gluten, dairy and refined sugars. The Daily Essentials Program, which is only available in NYC and LA currently, are delivered straight to your doorstep and are ready to eat right out of the box. Before starting, you’ll receive a free consultation with the in-house health coach. Ongoing sessions are available for purchase.
Choose from omnivore or plant-based meals that include breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks that cost $12 to $29 per meal. Not only do these meals help balance blood sugar, but they also banish bloat, support a healthy gut, reduce inflammation and increase energy. Doesn’t chicken Tikka Masala with sauteed spinach and dried tart cherries sound delish? How about a caramelized fennel frittata with tomato jam? And don’t miss the black bean soup with avocado and pepitas.
Pros
What we like best:
- Organic meals free of gluten, dairy and refined sugars
- Omnivore and plant-based meal options
- Dishes have gourmet flavor combinations and very fresh ingredients
Cons
What to consider before purchasing:
- No “official” diabetic plan
- Availability currently limited to NYC and LA
Price: Starts at $12 per meal
Shop Now
Via Merchant
Best Paleo Delivery Service: Pete’s Paleo
If you have diabetes and follow a Paleo diet because it’s generally lower on the glycemic scale, then put Pete’s Paleo on your radar. Place your order on Mondays and your meals will be shipped fresh for delivery on Friday. All of the meals are gluten-, dairy- and soy-free and the menus change with the seasons. Each meal has 4.5 ounces of protein and seven ounces of veggies.
Customers go crazy for the pork chops over fennel sweet potato hash, arugula-basil pesto chicken with roasted veggies and beef meatballs with roasted red pepper marinara with broccoli and spaghetti squash. Choose from five, 10, 14 or a family plan, based on your meal needs. One more nice feature? This company makes the nutritional information available in case you’re counting calories and macros (protein, fat and carbs).
Pros
What we like best:
- Paleo meals are diabetic-friendly
- The produce is so fresh, it’s often harvested the same day its prepared
- Menu changes weekly
- Skip a week or cancel any time
- Includes a breakdown of your macros
Cons
What to consider before purchasing:
- No delivery to Hawaii or Alaska
Price: Starts at around $14 per meal.
Shop Now
Via Merchant
Best Keto Delivery Service:
Factor
It’s important to watch carb count when choosing a diabetic meal delivery service, and the dietitians who design Factor’s meals understand how to make keto meal kits that fit your lifestyle. That’s why they offer 25 meals and 36 add-ons (think: soups, shakes and green juices) each week. By selecting the Keto plan, you’ll receive 60% of your calories from fat, 20% from protein and 10% from carbohydrates. And you won’t be stuck with boring chicken and broccoli bowls either. Instead, enjoy fresh (never frozen) options like a spicy turkey poblano bowl, rosemary pepper pork chop and shrimp alfredo.
All subscriptions come with a complimentary 20-minute consult with a registered dietitian so that the nutrition advice is tailored to your needs.
Pros
What we like best:
- Low in carbs
- Delivers to the 48 contiguous states
- Can cancel or pause subscription at any time
- Truly delicious meals that stay fresh for 7 days
Cons
What to consider before purchasing:
- No low-sodium meal options
- Limited variety compared to other services
Price: Starts at $11 per serving
Shop Now
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Originally Published: March 23, 2022
Jill Schildhouse
As an editor at large for Taste of Home, Jill Schildhouse is an expert in health and wellness, beauty, consumer products and product reviews, travel, and personal finance. She has spent the last 20 years as an award-winning lifestyle writer and editor for a variety of national print and digital publications.
The 4 Best Diabetic Meal Delivery Services of 2023
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Cooking meals from scratch when you have diabetes may be challenging for some people, even stressful. This is why people turn to diabetes-friendly meal delivery services to make healthy eating easier. Getting complete meals delivered right to your door, with the appropriate amounts of nutrients like complex carbohydrates, protein, sodium, and healthy fats, can be helpful.
Since those with diabetes have to be extra mindful about their carb intake, most diabetes-friendly meal delivery services specialize in meals with no more than 45 to 60 grams of net carbs per meal. Of course, the optimal amount of carbs per meal varies from person to person, based on factors like their weight, activity level, and overall diabetes management goals.
Carbohydrates come in three categories: sugars or simple carbs, starches or complex carbs, and fiber. Although fiber doesn’t raise blood glucose levels, sugars and starches do. But starches have nutritional benefits that simple sugars don’t. That means diabetic meals typically focus on swapping simple carbs (sugar and refined wheat flour) for complex carbs loaded with dietary fiber (whole grains and dried beans) since fiber helps improve blood sugar levels.
Individuals living with diabetes are at higher risk of developing heart disease. This is why it’s important to be aware of the sodium and saturated and trans fats consumed in their overall daily diet.
As more prepared meal delivery services enter the online marketplace, many of them offer diabetes-friendly meals, or at least low-carb meals that make meal planning easier. We evaluated them all to find out which ones were best for those following a diabetes-friendly diet.
The 4 Best Diabetic Meal Delivery Services of 2023
- Best Overall:
BistroMD - Best for Weight Loss:
Diet-To-Go - Best for Athletes:
Metabolic Meals - Best Grain-Free:
Pete’s Real Food
The Best Diabetes-Friendly Meal Delivery Services Make Healthy Eating Easier
The Best Diabetes-Friendly Meal Delivery Services Make Healthy Eating Easier
- Our Top Picks
- BistroMD
- Diet-To-Go
- Metabolic Meals
- Pete’s Real Food
- See More (1)
Final Verdict
Compare Providers
Frequently Asked Questions
Methodology
Best Overall
:
BistroMD
The Spruce Eats’ Rating
- Starting Price:
$10. 99 - Number Of Recipes:
150
Learn More
Why You Should Try It
For those following a strict diabetic diet, dinner isn’t the only meal with potential pitfalls. BistroMD provides physician-designed meals for all times of day, plus snacks, so you can eat worry-free.
Pros
Designed by a physician
Options for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks
Large selection
Low-sodium program available
Founded by doctors with a team that includes registered dietitians, chefs, and fitness experts, BistroMD is designed as a weight-loss program, providing heat-and-eat meals for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks so that customers can easily adhere to daily calorie limits while still ensuring they’re getting enough nutrition. The company has applied this expert-led approach to diabetic diets as well. BistroMD’s Diabetic Friendly Program serves up prepared frozen meals that contain 25 grams or fewer net carbs per serving. Sodium levels adhere to U.S. Dietary Guidelines with about 2,000 to 2,300 milligrams per day, and a heart healthy program that averages about 600 milligrams per serving is available.
The lineup of meals is vast, with about 145 options, including desserts and snacks, but most are classic and familiar comfort food favorites like hickory-smoked barbecue beef with potatoes for dinner, sloppy joe with cabbage slaw for lunch, and familiar breakfast options like a cheese frittata with turkey sausage. Full ingredient and nutrition information is available for each recipe when you sign up.
The plan is ideal for customers who want a service to provide all of their meals each day, which is why the five- or seven-day program that includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner costs the least at about $8 to $10 per meal. The other option is lunch and dinner only for five or seven days, which comes in closer to $10 per meal. Shipping is $19.95. Although BistroMD is subscription-based, you can change, pause, or cancel anytime.
Best for Weight Loss
:
Diet-To-Go
The Spruce Eats’ Rating
- Starting Price:
$9.71 - Number Of Recipes:
300
Learn More
Why You Should Try It
Diet-to-Go excels at offering calorie-controlled meals that fit within diabetic parameters. It’s an ideal service for those diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes who are told by their doctor that losing weight can help manage and even eliminate their condition.
Pros
Dietician approved
Calorie-controlled to aid weight loss
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner options
Diet-to-Go, founded in 1991, now owns Freshology meal delivery service, which is why it goes by both names online. But it’s the same company and one that follows the American Diabetes Association’s nutritional guidelines to help people who have Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes manage their condition and even lose weight.
The service offers four menus: Keto-Carb30, Vegetarian, Balance, and Balance-Diabetes, the latter specifically designed for diabetics. The meals are approved and calibrated by dieticians to keep calories, sodium, carbs, fat, and cholesterol in check.
There are dozens of frozen, heat-and-eat meals to choose from, and if you don’t like a meal in your plan that week, the service offers a list of other meals to choose from that still fit the nutritional guidelines of your plan. The selection tends to be mostly traditional, with options like blackened salmon with spinach-cauliflower puree and Brussels sprouts, and turkey Salisbury steak with mashed potatoes, gravy, and green beans.
Customers can opt for five- or seven-day plans, and get breakfast, lunch, and dinner, or just lunch and dinner. Meals average about $10 and shipping is $19.98. You can change, skip, or cancel the subscription anytime.
Best for Athletes
:
Metabolic Meals
Metabolic Meals
Learn More
Why You Should Try It
This service is designed expressly for people with diabetes and metabolic disorders, with meals that pay careful attention to carbs, fiber, and healthy fats. But the interesting selection, responsibly sourced ingredients, and options to add extra protein make it a great choice for active adults who appreciate food.
Pros
Can add extra protein
Interesting selection
Pasture-raised meats and organic produce
Free shipping with 15 meals
With a name like Metabolic Meals, it’s no surprise this subscription service is tailor-made for people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome. Each week brings 15 new entrée options and seven breakfast dishes, all made with organic produce, wild seafood, and pasture-raised meats. Even the shipping containers are lined with biodegradable materials.
The meals come fresh, not frozen, and can be ordered in two sizes: regular, or with extra protein—which is great for athletes or those who work out regularly. In addition to classics like organic free-range turkey meatloaf with mashed cauliflower and corn, there are more uncommon dishes like miso-glazed wild-caught salmon with hot and sour sweet potato noodles. Customers can even order packs of cooked proteins and side dishes to create their own meals, like grass-fed bison burger patties and creamy herb mashed cauliflower.
Dishes generally cost $12.99 each, or $17.49 if you want the extra helping of protein that comes with a Performance meal. Shipping costs $19.95, but if you order at least 15 meals, it’s free. You can change, pause, or cancel your subscription anytime.
Best Grain-Free
:
Pete’s Real Food
The Spruce Eats’ Rating
- Starting Price:
$15.60 - Number Of Recipes:
10
Learn More
Why You Should Try It
Active people following a diabetic diet often find paleo meals, with their emphasis on fiber-rich vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats, a good mix for their needs. Pete’s Real Food creates these meals with organic and pasture-raised ingredients.
Pros
Generous portions for active people
Seasonal menu
Organic ingredients and pasture-raised meats
Delivery is usually free
Although Pete’s Real Food isn’t aimed at people with diabetes, its paleo-designed meals naturally meet their needs because they’re low in carbohydrates and centered around lean protein, healthy fats, and lots of low-carb, fiber-rich vegetables.
All of the regular heat-and-eat meals offer under 30 grams of carbohydrates and come with 5 ounces protein and two, 3.5-ounce side dishes of vegetables rather than grains, an amount of food that is ideal for active people. You can even add extra protein and sides. For lighter appetites, there’s the Lite program with meals that feature 3.5 ounces of protein and two 2.5 ounces of cooked sides at a slightly lower cost.
The menu changes every week and is inspired by seasonal ingredients like organic produce, sustainable seafood, and pasture-raised meats, which have more healthy omega-3 fats. The fresh meals can stay refrigerated for two weeks or can be frozen. A minimum order of five meals costs $19.5, but the price goes down to $18 when ordering 14 meals. The Eat What You Love plan offers frozen meals for a smaller fee, such as a chef’s bundle of 10 meals for $120.98.
Final Verdict
Adhering to a diabetic diet can be a challenge for many people. If you already have trouble finding time to shop and cook, it’s even harder when you have to track your carbs, calories, fats, and sodium to keep your blood sugar at a normal level and your body healthy. Diabetic meal delivery services make feeding yourself and managing your condition effortless. Single-serving, ready-to-heat meals calibrated for a diabetic diet are delivered right to your door, and many services even offer breakfast and lunch options. These all-day meal plans are ideal for those who need to lose weight since all daily calories are planned out.
Compare Providers
Company | Category | Average Price per Meal | Typical Shipping Costs | Fresh or Frozen | Subscription required? | Minimum order |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BistroMD | Best Overall | $10 | $19. 95 | Frozen | Yes | 15 |
Diet-To-Go | Best for Weight Loss | $10 | $19.98 | Frozen | Yes | 10 |
Metabolic Meals | Best for Athletes | $12.99 | $19.95 | Fresh | Yes | 8 |
Pete’s Real Food | Best Grain-Free | $20 | Free | Fresh | Yes | 5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Methodology
To select the services in our roundup, we looked for those that offer heat-and-eat meals that either adhere to the American Diabetic Association’s recommended nutritional guidelines, have dieticians involved with recipe creation, or meet guidelines that are in line with the ADA’s recommendations. We looked for services that prioritized meals that limit their carbs to 30 to 60 grams, with an emphasis on complex carbs rather than simple carbs, and lean meats, healthy fats, and fiber-rich vegetables. Services that only offer just a few of those meals in their lineup didn’t make the cut. We also only included services that can ship within the entire continental U.S.
How We Test and Rank Meal Delivery Services
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Top 12 Diabetic Food Delivery Services in 2022 – Drink-Drink
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If you have diabetes, a nutritious diet that promotes healthy blood sugar levels is critical.
However, it can be difficult to stock your refrigerator and pantry with the food you need to prepare diabetes-friendly meals. In addition, many people do not have enough time, which makes cooking and planning much more difficult.
Fortunately, many food delivery services offer diabetes-friendly options, such as low-carb, plant-based, paleo, and keto options. Research shows that all of these eating patterns can promote healthy blood sugar control. 1, 2, 3, 4).
Here are the top 13 food delivery services for people with diabetes.
Best Diabetic Food Delivery Services at a Glance
- Best Low Carb: Sun Basket, Snap Kitchen, Freshly
- Best Paleo: Nutrition Trifecta
- Best Keto: Green Chef, 518 Cuisine
- Best Vegetable: Factor Purple Carrot
- The best fully prepared meals: Magic kitchen, Mosaic, Spoon, Diet takeaway
How to choose the best diabetic food delivery service
There are many factors to consider when choosing a diabetic food delivery service, including:
- Nutritional value. Meals should be low in refined carbohydrates and added sugar, and high in fiber, protein and healthy fats to maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
- Time commitment. If you love to cook, you may prefer a meal kit delivery service that provides pre-cooked ingredients and simple recipes. On the other hand, if you’re short on time, look for a company that delivers fully prepared meals.
- Household needs. Some companies offer meals for one person, which is the best choice for people living alone or looking for light meals. Other services offer catering for multiple people, which is generally suitable for couples or families.
- Dietary needs. If you’re on a particular diet, have any allergies or special food preferences, it’s important to find a food delivery service that caters to your needs.
- Budget. The cost of food delivery services can vary greatly, so be sure to consider your budget when looking for the service that’s right for you.
How We Selected
The food delivery companies on this list were selected based on the following criteria:
- The quality of the ingredients. Companies supply high quality ingredients and some use organic and pasture-raised meat.
- Suitable for people with diabetes. Food rich in vegetables rich in fiber, protein and healthy fats.
- Check. All products included have been tested to meet medical and business drink-drink standards.
Best Delivery Services for People with Diabetes
Best Low Carb Meal Delivery Options
Many people with diabetes follow a low carb diet to control their blood sugar levels. In particular, a low-carb, high-protein diet may help lower blood fat levels and speed up weight loss in people with diabetes (5, 6, 7, 8).
The following food delivery companies offer low carb meals that are ideal for people with diabetes.
Sunbathing basket
- Price per serving: $11.49-14.49 for meal kits, $9.99-12.99 for ready meals.
- Servings: 2 or 4 Serving Meal Sets, One Serving Ready Meals
Sunbasket offers a variety of nutrient rich food sets that are suitable for many diets, including low carbohydrate diets.
The Diabetes-Friendly Plan provides meals with at least 10 grams of protein, 5 grams of fiber, and 20-70 grams or less of high-quality carbohydrates per serving.
It also offers vegetarian, paleo, pescatarian, Mediterranean and gluten-free options.
What’s more, Sunbasket uses mostly organic produce and wild-caught seafood. The company employs a team of certified dietitians who evaluate recipes to ensure they are fully nutritious.
Meals are delivered weekly and most can be prepared in less than 30 minutes. Sunbasket also offers a wide variety of diabetes-friendly snacks such as egg chunks, bone broth, yogurt, protein bars, nuts, and jerky.
Here are a few examples of diabetic-friendly meals that Sunbasket offers:
- Spicy Balinese Chicken with Cucumber and Kale Salad
- with Spring Vegetables and Lemon Dill Aioli
Please note that Sunbasket does not currently offer shipping to Alaska, Hawaii, Montana, North Dakota, or certain areas of New Mexico.
Pros
- uses high quality ingredients, including wild-caught seafood and mostly organic eggs and products
- offers a large menu with a variety of meals and snacks to choose from
- offers both set meals and fully prepared meals
Snap Kitchen
- Price per serving: $11.34-$13.84
- Servings: single serving for people with diabetes. The company’s low-carb meals are approximately 30% carbohydrate, 30% protein, and 40% fat.
All meals are carefully selected by a team of certified nutritionists and prepared by our chefs.
The service also offers many options for the paleo, gluten-free, keto, and high-protein diets.
Examples of recent low-carb options include:
- Spicy-crusted salmon with fried broccoli and feta
- Chicken bowl with coconut curry and Thai basil
- Turkey chile with beans and cheddar cheese 9 0018
Snap Kitchen delivers most states in the US, though it’s best to check the company’s website to see if Snap Kitchen delivers to your area.
Pros
- meals are fully prepared and require minimal preparation
- menu curated by a team of certified nutritionists
- includes free delivery
fresh
- price over time Servings: $8.99-$11.79
- Servings: single serving
Like Snap Kitchen, Freshly offers fully prepared meals that require no preparation or cooking and can be reheated in less than 3 minutes.
On average, the 8-10 meals on the weekly Freshly menu contain less than 20 grams of carbs, giving you a wide variety to choose from.
Some of the service’s low-carb options include:
- Spicy Buffalo Chicken with Loaded Cauliflower
- Super Greens and Roasted Cauliflower
Fresh meals are gluten free, and some meals are also dairy and plant free.
Since you can choose between 4-12 meals per week, Freshly is the perfect choice for those who only need a few ready meals at a time.
Freshly is available in most of the continental US.
Pros
- Meals are fully cooked, reheated and enjoyed
- Offers flexible ordering options based on your needs
Best Paleo food delivery option
The Paleo Diet promotes whole, rich foods nutrient dense foods such as vegetables, fruits, proteins and healthy fats, while excluding grains, dairy products and added sugar.
Some research suggests that this dietary pattern can help with weight loss and improve some metabolic markers. However, studies have been small and longer-term studies are needed (7, 8).
Trifecta Nutrition
- Price Per Serving: $10.49-$15.86
- Servings Per Container: single serving
Trifecta Nutrition Offer Meals high protein, low sugar, gluten free, soy free, dairy free foods and genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
The company’s paleo plan includes grass-fed and organic dishes. It also has meal plans for vegan, vegetarian, and ketogenic diets.
Some examples of products from the Trifecta Nutrition paleo menu:
- Grilled Chicken Breast with Asparagus
- Sausage Egg Omelet with Sweet Potato
- Korean Bulgogi Beef
Although you can choose up to two items to exclude from your menu , you can’t select specific meals or customize your weekly order.
You can also choose between a paleo plan and an à la carte menu, allowing you to choose your own sources of protein, vegetables and carbohydrates.
Trifecta Nutrition ships to most areas in the continental United States.
Pros
- meals are fully cooked
- all meals are gluten, soy, dairy and GMO free
- offers breakfast, lunch and dinner
- includes free delivery
Cons
- may not be suitable for families or large households
- does not allow you to create your own menu
Best keto meal delivery options with better blood sugar control in people with diabetes.
On this diet, you should limit your carbohydrate intake to 50 grams per day (2).
The popularity of this meal plan has prompted many food delivery companies to offer keto options.
Green Chef
- Price per serving: $11.99-$13.49
- Servings: 2, 4 or 6 servings
Green Chef is a certified organic food kit delivery service that will become a good choice for those who love to cook.
Multiple meals at Green Chef Paleo and Keto Plan provide less than 15 grams of carbs per serving, making them keto-friendly.
You can choose from delicious dishes such as:
- Sesame-Ginger Barramundi with Coconut Rice, Lettuce and Cilantro
- Creamy Chicken Cabbage Chimichurri with Cilantro, Roasted Bell Peppers and Roasted Zucchini
- Moroccan Prawn Bisque with zucchini, tomatoes, feta, spicy yoghurt and almonds
Green Chef uses organic ingredients and works with many local suppliers to provide high quality, sustainable ingredients for all of its recipes.
In addition to their Keto + Paleo plan, Green Chef offers plant-based and Balanced Living meal plans.
Green Chef ships to most areas in the US except Alaska and Hawaii.
Pros
- uses organic products and organic ingredients
- offers many menus for several dietary patterns
Cons
- more expensive than some other meal kits
- no ready-made options
- can only be ordered from your chosen meal plan
Kitchen 518
- Price per serving: $7.49-$18.99
- 9 0016 Number of servings: Single serving
518 Kitchen specializes on gluten-free keto meals made with high quality ingredients such as pasture-raised meats, organic eggs and responsibly sourced seafood.
All recipes are developed by the company’s in-house nutrition team, and nutrition statistics such as macronutrient ratios are always available to customers.
You can choose from keto breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks, as well as keto bread.
Some sample dishes from the 518 Kitchen menu:
- Keto Chicken Pot Pie
- Chimichurri Pork Tenderloin
You can also filter the menu to find low carb, vegetarian, dairy free, nut free options ov and without pork .
518 Cuisine available throughout the country.
Pros
- uses high quality, organic ingredients
- meals are delivered fully cooked
- may be more affordable than some services depending on the items you choose
- no subscription required
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- limited options for certain dietary restrictions
- may not be suitable for families or large households
Best plant-based meal delivery options
Research shows that plant-based eating patterns, such as vegetarian and vegan diets, improve many aspects of health. In fact, a plant-based diet may help people with diabetes lower their blood sugar levels and achieve or maintain a moderate weight. 9, 10).
factor
- Price per serving: $11-$15
- Number of servings: single serving
Factor offers a variety of meal plans, including fully cooked plant-based meals. The company’s ingredients are fresh, never frozen, free of gluten, refined sugar and GMOs.
The Plant Based Meal Plan menu is filled with delicious dishes such as:
- Peanut Buddha Bowl
- Falafel Spice Chickpea Bowl
shaft body with essential nutrients.
It also offers other meal plans, including the Keto menu, Calorie Smart, and Chef’s Choice.
What’s more, drink-drink editor Kelly McGrain, MS, RD, has recently tried a number of ready-to-eat delivery services and Factor has become her favorite for its high-quality ingredients and vibrant flavor.
Factor currently delivers to all 48 contiguous states.
Pros
- offers a large menu with several diabetes-friendly options to choose from
- offers balanced gluten-free meals prepared with fresh ingredients
- all meals are fully prepared
Cons
- may not be suitable for families or large households
- limited options for certain dietary restrictions
- expensive, especially with delivery
Purple Carrot
- Serving Price: $9. 99-$12.99
- Servings: One serving ready meals, 2 or 4 serving sets
If you love trying new ingredients and flavor combinations, you should try Purple Carrot, a 100% plant-based meal delivery service that offers a new menu every week.
Choose from several plant-based options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, including:
- Beans and Green Stew with Swiss Chard and Chili Garlic Yogurt
Meals are easy to prepare and come with pre-made ingredients and recipe cards.
Purple Carrot also offers a selection of fully cooked, plant-based meals that you can simply reheat and enjoy.
Pros
- provides both meal kits and ready meals
- offers breakfast, lunch and dinner options
- includes free shipping
Cons
- limited options for other diets
- can be relatively expensive depending on how many meals you order
Best ready meal delivery options
There are many ready meal delivery services available that offer fresh or frozen meals that do not require any cooking or preparation .
Many of these services offer low-carb, plant-based, or high-protein meals to help stabilize blood sugar and save time on food preparation.
Magic Kitchen
- Price per serving: $10-14 per serving for a full meal
- Number of servings: per serving or family
Magic Kitchen is a food delivery service that provides full prepared frozen meals adapted to a variety of dietary patterns and offers a wide range of low carb and diabetes-friendly options.
You can purchase either set meals, sets or individual products, including appetizers and desserts.
Most items on the Magic Kitchen diabetic menu contain 20-45 grams of carbs per serving and less than 700 mg of sodium.
Here are some examples of diabetes-friendly meals:
- Balsamic Chicken with Roasted Potatoes and Green Beans
- Crab Cake, Brown Rice and Mixed Vegetables
- Eggplant Parmigian and Polenta with Spinach and Roasted Peppers
You can also filter items on the menu to find options that are low-fat, gluten-free, dairy-free, low-sodium, vegetarian, or suitable for people with kidney disease.
Magic Kitchen is available in all areas of the continental United States.
Pros
- provides a variety of meals and snacks for different diet patterns
- allows you to order full meals, sets or individual meals
- meals are frozen and fully cooked
Cons
- shipping can be expensive
- little information on provenance or as ingredients
Mosaic Food
- Price per serving: $ $ 4.99 11.99-
- Servings: per serving or family
delivered frozen and ready for heating and use.
The service offers both single and family meals, each of which consists of four portions.
Meals contain at least 10-20 grams of vegetable protein per serving and are rich in high-fiber vegetables that help better control blood sugar levels.
All dishes are also prepared without any artificial ingredients or preservatives, and many dishes are even free of nuts, wheat and added sugar.
Here are some examples of dishes currently on the menu:
- Coconut Chickpea Curry
- Vegetarian Sausage and Gouda Oats
- Butternut Squash and Sage Pasta
Mosa ic delivers goods to most areas in the east and west USA. You can check if they ship to your area by entering your zip code on the Mosaic Foods website.
Pros
- provides both single meals and family meals
- meals are fully prepared
- meals do not contain artificial ingredients and preservatives
Cons
- smaller menu than at some other services
- Not in all areas
- limited options for certain diet patterns
Magnificent Spoon
- Serving Price: $ $ 9.33 14-
- Servings Per Container: Single Serving
Splendid Spoon specializes in providing plant-based ready meals, smoothies, soups and snacks to help you save time in the kitchen while increasing the nutritional content of your diet.
In addition to choosing gluten-free, non-GMO, and high-protein foods, you can also filter Splendid Spoon’s menu to find options that contain less than 20 grams of carbs per serving to keep your blood sugar stable.
Here are some examples of low carb foods:
- Vegetable Bolognese Cereal Bowl
- Cauliflower Tikka Soup
- Red Beet Quinoa Cereal Bowl
All items fully prepared and individually packaged for added convenience.
Splendid Spoon is currently available worldwide. adjacent United States.
Pros
- meals and smoothies are delivered fully prepared
- offers smoothies, soups, snacks and meals
- all products are vegan, gluten free and non-GMO
Cons
- does not fit all dietary restrictions
- some plans can be somewhat expensive
Diet-To-Go
- Price per serving: $ $ 9.19 14.80-
- Number of servings: single serving
- Greek Quinoa Chicken
- Baked Salmon with Herbs and Vegetarian Blend
- Cinnamon Walnut Flakes
- offers a rotating menu with fully cooked meals
- offers breakfast, lunch and dinner options
- Menu can be customized based on personal preference
- May not be suitable for families or large households
- Shipping costs may be expensive
- Not suitable for those with certain dietary restrictions or food allergies
substances of meals designed to improve control blood sugar levels.
They offer several different menus, including the Balance-Diabetes menu, which includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner that are low in carbs, sodium, fat, and cholesterol.
They also have various other rotating menus that include an assortment of vegetarian, low carb or low calorie options.
Diet-to-Go also allows you to customize the menu based on your food preferences and dietary restrictions when placing an order.
Here are some examples of menu items that are good for diabetes:
individual packaging, which makes this option convenient for those who live alone.
Pros
Cons
Food delivery services comparison
Here is a quick overview of how our selections of the best food delivery services for people with diabetes compare:
Price per serving Delivery Type of food Portions 9001 7 Special diets Sun basket • US$11. 49-14.49 per meal kits • Ready meals from $9.99 to $12.99.
$9.99 • Meal sets • Ready made
• Meal sets for 2 or 4 servings • Single serving ready meals
• Diabetes friendly • Gluten free
• Paleo
• Pescatarian
• Vegetarian
• Mediterranean
Snap Kitchen $ $ 11.34 13.84- free prepared single serving • dairy free • high protein
• keto
• low carb
• paleo
• pescatarian
• total30
fresh $ $ 8.99 11.79-90 688 $ $ 9.99 11.99- prepared single serving • gluten free • for vegetable base
Trifecta $ $ 10.49 15.86- free prepared single serving 906 88 • keto • paleo
• Vegan
• Vegetarian
Green Chef $ $ 11. 99 13.49- $9.99 meal kits 2, 4 or 6 servings • gluten free • keto
• paleo
• vegan
• vegetarian
• Mediterranean
Kitchen 518 $ $ 7.49 18.99- $14.99 prepared single serving • dairy free • keto
• low carb
• vegetarian
factor $ $ 11 15- $9.99 prepared single serving • Keto • Low Carb
• Low Calorie
• Plant Based
Purple Carrot • 9$.99 for meal kits • $12.99 for pre-made meals
free • meal kits • ready-made
• 2 or 4-serving meal sets • one-serving ready meals 90 003
• gluten free • high protein
• low calorie
• vegan
Magic Kitchen • $10-14 per set food • $1 to $45 for individual items.
starts at $18.95 • prepackaged • single serving • family
• good for diabetes • good for dialysis
• kidney diet
• no milk
• low fat
• low sodium
• low carbohydrate
• seniors diet
• vegetarian
Mosaic $ $ 4.99 11.99- • $7.99 • Free on orders over $100
• Ready made • Single serving • Family
• Vegetarian • vegan
• high protein
• wheat free
• nut free
Gorgeous spoon $ $ 9.33 14- free • finished single serving • vegan • low fat
• high fiber
• low carbohydrate
• low sugar
• low sodium
• low calorie
9 0683 Diet-To-Go $ $ 9.19 14. 80- $19.98 per week • prepared single serving • vegan • calorie control
• keto
90 705
FAQ
Does HelloFresh have a diabetic menu?
While HelloFresh doesn’t have a diabetic menu, they do offer several low carb options.
In fact, all foods labeled “Carb Smart” on the menu contain about 40 grams of net carbs per serving, which may be appropriate for people living with diabetes.
Are there ready meals for diabetics?
Many different food delivery services offer ready meals that can be simply reheated without the need for cooking. Most of the options listed above include pre-made options as well as meal kits with pre-made ingredients and recipe cards.
Is Blue Apron good for people with diabetes?
Blue Apron does not currently offer a low carb menu or meal plan specifically for people with diabetes. However, they do provide detailed nutritional and ingredient information for each dish, so you can choose meals to suit your needs.
Bottom Line
Many food delivery services provide nutritious meals that can promote healthy blood sugar levels.
If you’re looking for a delicious and convenient way to improve your diet and improve your overall health, try one of the diabetic meal delivery services on this list.
Proper nutrition: products useful for diabetes
Subscription food delivery services
Subscription food services can be a lifesaver for those who don’t want to spend time cooking. We have collected 9 companies from Moscow and St. Petersburg that will feed you ready-made meals every day and charge no more than 1000 R per day for this. In each service, you can choose the regularity of delivery.
Wow Food
Price: from 440 R per day
The low price is due to the fact that the service delivers three meals a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner. At the same time, almost all services deliver five meals a day by defaultLook at the menu
My food
Price: from 605 R per day
Deliver a variety of four meals a day in containers every three days. The menu is not repeated for 15 days, but the service tries to periodically update the assortmentLook at the menu
PG Food
Price: from 950 R per day
The service has 7 nutrition programs of different calorie content: for weight loss, weight control, and mass gain. Suitable for lovers of fitness and strength exercisesLook at the menu
General Food
Price: from 900 R per day
The service allows you to create a diet based on your taste preferences. True, it is more expensive than ready-made rations. There is a menu for vegansLook at the menu
Grow Food
Price: from 900 R per day
Offer 9 different nutrition programs. They differ not only in calorie content: you can take breakfast or meals for the day in the office. It is best to subscribe for 60 days with a 20% discountLook at the menu
Grandson and granddaughter
Price: from 800 R per day
Imagine: your beloved grandmother came to you and cooked 9 kilograms of varied food for the week ahead. The menu changes every day, it will be delicious at homeLook at the menu
Cityfood
Price: from 700 R per day
For this price, they will bring three meals a day for only 600 kilocalories. It is unlikely that this is enough for a good meal, but for a snack in the office – definitelyLook at the menu
Simple Kitchen
Price: from 1000 R per day
In addition to nutrition for weight loss, the service has relatively inexpensive diets for weight gain : 8 meals for 2500 kilocalories will cost 950 R per dayLook at the menu
Level Kitchen
Price: from 770 R per day
The menu has more than 250 dishes.