5 Best Diabetic Meal Delivery Services—From a Health Editor
Updated: Dec. 05, 2022Our 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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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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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