via merchant
VIA MERCHANT
Pros:
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100% gluten- and dairy-free meals
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Meals are nutrient-dense in protein, healthy fats and fiber-rich complex carbs
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Crafted by chefs and nutritionists
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Ready-to-eat options for breakfast, lunch and dinner
Cons:
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Doesn’t offer a specific diabetic meal plan, but they do offer plenty of meals with high-protein and fiber-rich complex carbs
Splendid Spoon
Another plant-based meal delivery service, Splendid Spoon offers a wide variety of diabetic-friendly meals and snacks crafted by chefs and nutritionists including smoothies, juices, soups, noodles and main dishes like vegan chicken parm or grain bowls. Not only are their meals gluten- and dairy-free, but they’re rich in fiber-dense complex carbs, healthy fats and protein. Though Splendid Spoon doesn’t offer a filter for diabetic meals, they help you sort through meal preferences like high fiber, high protein, low sugar, low carb and low sodium choices to customize your delivery.
Via Merchant
VIA MERCHANT
Pros:
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Paleo meals are diabetic-friendly
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The produce is so fresh that it’s often harvested the same day it’s prepared
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Menu changes weekly
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Skip a week or cancel any time
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Includes a breakdown of your macros
Cons:
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No delivery to Hawaii or Alaska
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 7 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, 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).
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. “Meal kits should also be flavorful and offer variety so that they will be a sustainable choice in your diet,” shares Nancy. “Bonus points if they can also prove educational on portion control and meal ideas for newly diagnosed diabetics.”
- 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 the price per serving or cost per week and look for meal kit sales.
- 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. “Avoid meal kits that contain fried or processed foods, added sugars (<10% of calories), high amounts of sodium (<750 mg per serving) or saturated fat (<10% of calories)," adds Nancy.
With any dietary needs, “Be sure to consult with your physician or dietitian before selecting a meal kit to ensure you’re choosing one that meets your individual health goals and dietary needs, as well as staying within your daily carbohydrate and caloric range,” says Nancy.
Why You Should Trust Us
With over 20 years of experience as an award-winning freelance writer, I have crafted and edited content for prominent print and digital publications such as Southern Living, Travel + Leisure, USA Today, Reader’s Digest and Taste Recipes. My expertise lies in health, travel and wellness, allowing me to provide top-notch product recommendations whether you’re looking for the finest suitcases or meal delivery services tailored to specific diets.
Alexandra Mantella, Content Updates Editor at Taste Recipes, updated and contributed research to this piece. She has over five years of experience in product testing, research and commerce writing. Previously, she served as a commerce content update editor at Bob Vila.
Additional research was contributed by Associate Shopping Editor, Madi Koetting.
How We Found the Best Diabetic Meal Delivery Services
Our list of the best diabetic meal delivery services was chosen based on the quality of their ingredients. Many prioritize organic produce and pasture-raised meats, and most 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. Finally, we narrowed it down to this final collection by reviewing professional and customer testimony to ensure we’re only promoting the best of the best.
FAQs
Do Hello Fresh, Blue Apron and Hungryroot have diabetic meals?
No. While all of these services offer meals suitable for people living with diabetes, none of them have a diabetic-specific plan—unlike BistroMD and Diet-to-Go.
Which meal delivery service is best for diabetics?
Out of all the brands we reviewed, we think that BistroMD is the best diabetic meal delivery service out there. BistroMD is a physician-created service curated by registered dietitians, giving users peace of mind when ordering. Plus, they have over 100 recipes to choose from.
Can you buy ready-made diabetic meals?
Absolutely. As evidenced by our guide above, options are abundant for ready-made meals specifically made for diabetics. Just ensure you’re paying attention to their labeling and ingredients; if those factors are met, you should be good to go.
What ready meals are good for diabetics?
There are many ready-made meals that accommodate the dietary needs of someone with diabetes. But, some of the healthiest options we came across were Diet-to-Go, BistroMD and Green Chef. Each of these meal delivery services offers low-sodium, heart-healthy recipes made to regulate glucose levels and provide essential nutrients.