Best meal delivery service for diabetics. 12 Best Diabetic Meal Delivery Services in 2023: Convenient and Healthy Options
What are the top diabetic meal delivery services available 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.
Understanding Diabetic Meal Delivery Services
Diabetic meal delivery services have gained significant popularity in recent years, offering a convenient solution for individuals managing diabetes. These services provide carefully crafted meals that are low in carbohydrates and sugar, helping to maintain stable blood glucose levels. But what exactly makes a meal delivery service suitable for diabetics?
A diabetic-friendly meal delivery service typically offers meals that are:
- Low in refined carbohydrates and added sugars
- High in lean protein and fiber
- Balanced in healthy fats
- Portion-controlled
- Nutritionally balanced to support overall health
These services often work with registered dietitians and medical professionals to ensure their meals meet the specific nutritional needs of individuals with diabetes.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Diabetic Meal Delivery Service
Selecting the right diabetic meal delivery service can be crucial for managing your condition effectively. Here are some essential factors to keep in mind:
Convenience
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 pre-portioned ingredients for you to cook yourself. Consider your lifestyle and time constraints when making your choice.
Dietary Needs
Does the service cater specifically to diabetics, or does it offer other low-carb options like Paleo or Keto plans? Ensure the service you choose aligns with your specific dietary requirements and preferences.
Budget
Meal delivery services can vary significantly in price. Consider the cost per serving or per week and compare it to your current food budget. Remember, while these services may seem expensive, they can often save you money on groceries and reduce food waste.
Nutritional Value
Look for services that prioritize balanced nutrition. A good diabetic meal should be low in carbs and sugar, but it should also provide adequate protein, fiber, and healthy fats to keep you satisfied and support overall health.
Top Diabetic Meal Delivery Services in 2023
Based on thorough research and expert recommendations, here are some of the best diabetic meal delivery services available in 2023:
1. BistroMD
BistroMD stands out as the best overall diabetic meal delivery service. Founded by Dr. Caroline Cederquist, M.D., this service operates on the principle that food is medicine. Their diabetic-friendly program is designed by registered dietitians to help maintain healthy blood glucose levels.
Key features of BistroMD include:
- Over 100 rotating diabetic-friendly meals
- Each entree contains 25 grams or less of net carbs
- Adequate lean protein to help regulate blood sugar
- Various customized plans available, including gluten-free and heart-healthy options
- Full program options offering breakfasts, lunches, and dinners
While BistroMD offers excellent variety and nutritional balance, it’s worth noting that they don’t deliver to Hawaii or Alaska, and a weekly subscription is required (though you can cancel or pause at any time).
2. Sunbasket
Sunbasket is an excellent choice for those who enjoy cooking but want the convenience of having ingredients delivered. Their diabetes-friendly meal plan focuses on high-quality, organic ingredients and delicious flavors.
Highlights of Sunbasket’s diabetic offerings include:
- At least 10 grams of protein per serving
- High-quality carbs from whole grains, beans, and lentils
- Minimum of five grams of fiber per serving
- 400-700 calories per serving for satiety
- Organic fresh produce and lean meats
Sunbasket’s “carb smart” approach ensures meals are nutrient-dense and slow to digest, helping to regulate blood sugar levels effectively.
The Rise of Diabetic Meal Delivery Services
The growing popularity of meal delivery services, particularly for specialty diets like diabetic-friendly options, is evident in recent market trends. According to a report by Grand View Research, the meal delivery service market grew by an impressive $2.47 billion in 2021 alone.
This surge in demand can be attributed to several factors:
- Increasing prevalence of diabetes worldwide
- Growing awareness of the importance of diet in managing diabetes
- Busy lifestyles leading to a need for convenient, healthy meal options
- Advancements in food technology and logistics enabling better meal preservation and delivery
- The COVID-19 pandemic accelerating the adoption of home delivery services
As more people recognize the benefits of these services in managing their diabetes, we can expect to see continued growth and innovation in this sector.
Benefits of Using a Diabetic Meal Delivery Service
Opting for a diabetic meal delivery service can offer numerous advantages for individuals managing diabetes. Here are some key benefits:
Simplified Meal Planning
One of the most significant challenges for people with diabetes is planning meals that maintain stable blood sugar levels. Diabetic meal delivery services take the guesswork out of this process, providing carefully balanced meals that fit within recommended nutritional guidelines.
Portion Control
Proper portion control is crucial for managing diabetes. These services typically offer pre-portioned meals, making it easier to track your intake and avoid overeating.
Time-Saving
By eliminating the need for extensive meal planning, grocery shopping, and food preparation, diabetic meal delivery services can save you significant time and energy.
Diverse Menu Options
Many services offer a wide variety of meal choices, allowing you to enjoy diverse flavors while still adhering to your dietary requirements. This can help prevent meal fatigue and make it easier to stick to your eating plan long-term.
Education and Support
Some diabetic meal delivery services provide additional resources such as nutritional information, cooking tips, and even access to dietitians. This can be invaluable for learning more about managing your diet effectively.
Potential Drawbacks of Diabetic Meal Delivery Services
While diabetic meal delivery services offer many benefits, it’s important to consider potential drawbacks as well:
Cost
These services can be more expensive than preparing meals at home from scratch. However, when factoring in the time saved and potential reduction in food waste, many find the cost to be justified.
Limited Flexibility
While most services offer some degree of customization, you may have less control over your meals compared to cooking everything yourself. This could be challenging if you have additional dietary restrictions or strong food preferences.
Reliance on Delivery
Depending on a meal delivery service means relying on timely and accurate deliveries. Delays or mistakes could potentially disrupt your meal plan.
Environmental Impact
The packaging and transportation involved in meal delivery services can have a higher environmental impact compared to buying local ingredients and cooking at home.
How to Maximize the Benefits of Your Diabetic Meal Delivery Service
To get the most out of your diabetic meal delivery service, consider the following tips:
Communicate Your Needs
If the service offers customization options, clearly communicate your dietary preferences and any additional restrictions. This will help ensure you receive meals that best suit your needs.
Plan Your Non-Delivery Meals
Most services don’t cover every meal of the week. Plan your other meals carefully to maintain a consistent approach to your diet.
Monitor Your Blood Sugar
Keep track of how different meals affect your blood sugar levels. This information can help you make informed choices about which meals work best for you.
Supplement When Necessary
While these meals are designed to be nutritionally balanced, you may need to add extra vegetables or a side salad to some meals to increase fiber intake or feel more satisfied.
Use It as a Learning Tool
Pay attention to the portion sizes, ingredient combinations, and cooking methods used in your delivered meals. This can provide valuable insights for when you cook your own diabetic-friendly meals.
The Future of Diabetic Meal Delivery Services
As technology advances and our understanding of nutrition deepens, we can expect to see continued evolution in diabetic meal delivery services. Some potential developments include:
Increased Personalization
Future services may offer even more personalized meal plans based on individual health data, preferences, and even genetic information.
Integration with Health Monitoring Devices
We may see meal delivery services that integrate with continuous glucose monitors or other health tracking devices to provide real-time meal recommendations.
Sustainable Packaging Solutions
As environmental concerns grow, services are likely to invest in more eco-friendly packaging and delivery methods.
Expansion of Fresh, Local Options
There may be a trend towards more locally-sourced ingredients and partnerships with local farms to provide fresher, more sustainable meal options.
In conclusion, diabetic meal delivery services offer a convenient and effective way to manage your diet and blood sugar levels. By carefully considering your needs and choosing the right service, you can simplify your meal planning, save time, and enjoy delicious, diabetic-friendly meals delivered right to your door.
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.
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.
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
10’000 Hours / Getty Images
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
min mustache
- 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.