Kristy is a licensed registered dietitian nutritionist and trained culinary professional. She has worked in a variety of settings, including MSKCC and Rouge Tomate.
Haley has a professional and educational background reviewing, transcribing, and curating technical content. Her extensive background in research and analytics contribute to her adept editorial profession. She is currently finishing her Batchelor's of Science through Harvard University Extension with a background in social, environmental, and health studies.
Meal delivery services provide the convenience of thoughtfully prepared food regularly delivered to the home for individuals and families. For those with specific dietary needs based on health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, celiac disease, or kidney disease, finding the right service with reliable meals that you can trust can be even more overwhelming because some of those diets can be restrictive. But the convenience they offer can be a big payoff, particularly for folks who have limited skills in the kitchen or simply are not able to prepare their own meals.
With this in mind, we researched dozens of meal delivery services and compiled a list of good options for people with health conditions that require a specific diet. Read on to learn which one may be the right fit for you and your specific condition.
Sunbasket
Key Specs
Why You Should Try It
Sunbasket has a specific meal plan designed for people with diabetes.
Extensive menu with internationally inspired flavors
Thoughtfully sourced ingredients
Recipes approved by American Diabetes Association
Breakfast and lunch are add-ons
No free shipping
Sunbasket offers two types of meals: meal kits that require prep and cooking and Fresh & Ready meals that just need to be reheated. The company takes pride in its ingredient standards and says that 99% of its eggs, milk, and yogurt are organic. The seafood is either wild-caught or sustainably raised, while the meat and chicken on its menu are always free of antibiotics and hormones.
Sunbasket offers a meal plan for people with diabetes, which includes meal kits and prepared meals. They generally contain 400–700 calories per serving, at least 10g of protein, 20g–70g of carbohydrate, at least 5g of fiber, good fats with no more than 10% of calories from saturated fat, less than 700mg of sodium, and less than 10% of calories from added sugar. All of them are seasoned with internationally inspired herbs, spices, aromatics, and vinegar while using a minimum amount of added sugar.
“While there is no one-size-fits-all meal plan for diabetes management,” says Barbie Cervoni, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist, “people with diabetes benefit from eating meals that are rich in non-starchy vegetables, fibrous carbohydrates such as whole grains and legumes, lean protein like white meat chicken, fish, and turkey, and healthy fats like avocado, nuts, and seeds.”
Pricing and Plans
When you sign up for Sunbasket, you will be prompted to choose between a Meal Kit plan or a Fresh & Ready plan; however, the full menu is always available to you every week, no matter which plans you choose.
Breakfast and lunch items are available but are considered add-ons. Free shipping is available with your first order, but you will then pay $7.99 per box shipped.
Changes to orders can be made the Wednesday before your delivery by noon PT.
Epicured
Key Specs
Why You Should Try It
Epicured provides an extensive variety of meals that are gut-friendly, low FODMAP, and gluten-free.
Doctor- and dietitian-approved
Chef-designed meals full of flavor
Great variety of meals
Not everyone will need low FODMAP
Variable delivery costs
Only one serving size available
Epicured is a subscription meal delivery service based in New York City that offers gluten-free, gut-friendly meals to the lower 48 states. All meals are designed by Daniel Chavez-Bello, the company's chief culinary officer and a Michelin-starred chef.
For people with celiac disease, avoiding gluten is essential because this protein found in wheat, barley, and rye will attack the lining of the small intestine. “Individuals with celiac disease cannot ingest any amount of gluten, even a trace amount, as this can damage the small intestine,” says registered dietitian EA Stewart, an autoimmune and digestive health expert at The Spicy RD.
Epicured offers meals that are 100% free of gluten and are made in a certified gluten-free facility. The food is also low in FODMAPs, which are small-chain carbohydrates that bring water into the digestive tract and can cause bloating and other digestive symptoms.
Epicured’s menu includes a variety of entrees, bowls and salads, soups, sides, snacks, breakfast, beverages, and meal bundles. All meals can be filtered for a number of preferences to ensure that you are getting the appropriate meal for your needs including additional sensitivities such as GERD; dietary preferences such as pescatarian, vegetarian, and vegan; allergens; and nutritional parameters such as fat content, sodium content, or low added sugar.
Pricing and Plans
You can order Epicured food either a la carte or via meal bundles that include pre-selected meals. Pricing varies depending on individual items:
For meal bundles, prices are all different but seem to average around $10 per meal. Bundles include anywhere from 10 meals to 21.
Shipping costs vary based on location, and free shipping is available for some orders east of the Mississippi River.
BistroMD
Key Specs
Why You Should Try It
BistroMD offers a physician-designed program that includes meals low in cholesterol and saturated fat.
Evidence-based, not fad diet plans
Backed by RDs and a physician
Features a heart healthy-specific meal plan
No 100% vegan/vegetarian program available yet
Some meals may need additional seasoning
BistroMD offers a variety of plans to choose from, including one that features meals low in saturated fat and cholesterol to promote a healthier heart. The meals align with the American Heart Association’s recommendations for calories, sodium, total fat, and saturated fat, and the programs are designed in collaboration with registered dietitians to ensure that the meals have the proper balance of nutrients.
“Nutrition can heavily impact your heart condition, heart disease, and risk for heart attacks and strokes,” says Michelle Routhenstein, a cardiac dietitian and the owner of EntirelyNourished.com. “For example, those with high cholesterol and high triglycerides need to focus not only on reducing saturated fat and refined sugar content in food, but also by ensuring proper macronutrient balance and adding in therapeutic foods like those that contain soluble fiber, folate, and vitamin C.”
Each meal is pre-cooked and then frozen in single-serving trays designed to be thawed and then reheated. Individualized support through one-on-one consultations with dietitians is also available, along with additional tools and resources for lifestyle wellness on the company's website.
Pricing and Plans
BistroMD offers the following programs: Standard (one for Men and one for Women), Gluten-Free, Heart Healthy, Diabetic, and Menopause. The Heart Healthy menu contains more than 100 rotating recipes to choose from. Pricing is as follows:
Ordering snacks requires signing up for BistroMD's EATS program, which includes two to three snacks per day for a cost of $3 to $4.50 per day. BistroMD delivers to the continental U.S. and charges $19.95 for shipping.
Territory Foods
Key Specs
Why You Should Try It
Territory Foods is a good choice for non-inflammatory foods because it offers fresh, ready-to-eat meals made with ingredients that do not promote inflammation.
Responsibly sourced ingredients
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner options with two meal sizes
Dietitian-designed meals to help prevent inflamation
High price point
Limited delivery area
Territory Foods is a meal delivery service developed by a team of dietitians in tandem with local and regional chefs. The menu puts an emphasis on non-inflammatory whole foods that fit into a variety of eating styles and also supports environmental sustainability. All animal proteins are raised without hormones or antibiotics, and seafood is fished in ways that have a minimal environmental impact.
Territory is a good choice for folks looking to combat inflammation because all of the food is free of inflammatory ingredients such as refined sugars, highly processed oils, gluten, and dairy. Inflammatory conditions can include rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis.
Martha McKittrick, a registered dietitian, certified diabetes educator, and the owner of Martha McKittrick Nutrition, says people living with inflammation should eat foods “especially high in good sources of omega-3 fatty acids, good fats such as extra virgin olive oil, nuts, and avocado, along with leafy green vegetables while also, limiting excess added sugar, refined carbohydrates, and processed meats.”
Territory's meals are made fresh and arrive ready to eat or reheat.
Pricing and Plans
Territory has multiple plan options. Plans are available for six, nine, or 12 meals per week and can be recurring or ordered as needed. You can opt for one or two deliveries weekly. Meals range from $10.00 to $14.95 per dish.
Hungryroot
Key Specs
Why You Should Try It
We like Hungryroot’s emphasis on nutrient-dense foods that are available for stocking a healthy pantry or building meals. It promotes a balanced way of eating that can lead to sustained weight loss and positive health outcomes.
Flexibility to use credits to buy groceries or meals
Plant forward, but not 100% plant based
Large recipe archive
Some meals may be too simple for advanced cooks
Credit system may be confusing for some
Although Hungryroot is not marketed as a weight loss delivery service, weight loss could easily be achieved along with positive health outcomes due to the nature of the food offerings and portion-controlled recipes. (It's important to note, however, that restricting calories is not the ideal solution for some people, including those with certain medical conditions.)
Hungryroot offers a combination of pre-portioned meal kits and groceries. Groceries and recipes include a large selection of prepped vegetables, fully cooked proteins, pantry staples, and pre-made sauces for flavor boosts. There is a clear emphasis on produce, whole grains, legumes, sustainable proteins, and options for plant-based alternatives to meat and dairy products.
There are numerous ways to achieve weight loss and while there is no catch-all approach, there are some key pillars to long-term weight management. “Generally, one of the most important paths to achieving weight loss is through a reduction in calorie intake, but it is important to follow a calorie-restricted diet that also has the right balance of nutrients and doesn’t just focus on calories alone,” says Dr. Robert Graham, chef at FRESH Med NYC. “Prioritize nutritious foods that keep you feeling full such as beans, legumes, lentils, and fiber-rich vegetables, like carrots, beets, and broccoli, and stay hydrated with calorie-free beverages.”
Pricing and Plans
With around 3,000 meal kits and grocery items on offer, Hungryroot's pricing varies depending on what you choose. However, the lowest price per serving is $8.49. Customers can order meals in servings of two or four.
Magic Kitchen
Key Specs
Why You Should Try It
MagicKitchen.com offers pre-made, single-serving meals specifically designed for those on therapeutic diets, including several options for those with kidney disease.
Meal plans for variety of therapeutic diets, including kidney disease
Can be sent as gifts
Variable shipping costs
Heating times are not always accurate
MagicKitchen.com offers two models for meal delivery: a mix-and-match a la carte feature to build your own meals and pre-made, pre-portioned meals. For therapeutic diets such as those for people living with kidney disease, pre-made meals are a great option because the company breaks up the menu based on dietary needs.
Kidney disease is one of the more complex health conditions, and dietary needs vary depending on the stage of the disease and whether or not you are on dialysis.
“It is very important for a dietitian to check any dietary plans and meals to see if they would make sense for their clients before starting since there is the potential for the meal plan to not meet their nutritional needs, or worse, cause harm in providing an excess of something that could further damage their kidneys,” says Jen Hernandez RDN, CSR, LDN, Founder of the virtual nutrition practice Plant-Powered Kidneys. “Most people with stages 3-4 chronic kidney disease [CKD] do not have potassium restrictions and protein needs will vary considerably based on a person’s body size.”
MagicKitchen.com offers a Renal Diet Menu designed for CKD stages 3 and 4, which limits sodium, potassium, phosphorous, and protein. Each meal has a main course and either one or two side dishes. The Dialysis Menu also focuses on low sodium, potassium, and phosphorus but does not restrict protein. All meals arrive frozen, designed to be reheated in the microwave.
Pricing and Plans
Meals can be filtered by meal type (breakfast, lunch/dinner, snacks, desserts) and by dietary needs (diabetic, portion-controlled, dialysis, renal, dairy-free, gluten-free, low fat, low sodium, low carb, and vegetarian). The pricing structure varies, but meals start at $10 and can be as high as around $14.
Since individual needs vary, there is no single best option that will work for everyone in need of a meal delivery service to fit into a specific diet. The good news, however, is that there is no shortage of options to try. We recommend starting your search with the company on this list that aligns with your special diet.
The cost of meal delivery services varies depending on the types of ingredients, portions, and shipping, among other factors. Most start around $9 per meal with some exceptions and may run as much as $15 per meal. Some services allow you to order as few as six or eight meals per week, while others have higher minimums. Shipping costs also vary, and some companies offer free shipping on all orders or for orders over a certain dollar amount.
All of the meal delivery services on our list can benefit folks who are on special diets to treat their health conditions. Aside from general benefits such as eating nutrient-dense ingredients, being exposed to new flavors, and having a variety of meals to eat, these services limit certain ingredients to help with medical conditions. That includes lower-sodium meals for heart health and whole grains and lean protein for combatting diabetes. There are also low-potassium meals for kidney disease.
Meal delivery services provide pre-portioned recipes which can help you stay within a certain range of calories. This is most successful if you stick with the meal plan regularly and avoid eating other calorie-rich foods. Certain meal plans (that don’t exclude major food groups) can also give customers a visual guide to recommended portions and ingredients that make up a balanced meal. Just note that losing weight might not be appropriate for everyone, including people with some health conditions, women who are pregnant, or people with a history of eating disorders.
We researched nearly 30 meal delivery services as part of this roundup. We ordered food from 27 companies as regular customers to see how each service works and to gauge the quality of the food, what diets they cater to, and more. We prepared and ate hundreds of meals and collected data from the companies and from our meal testers as part of the process. To make sure this roundup is accurate and provides the best options for people with the medical conditions listed, this article has been fact-checked and medically reviewed by experts.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Lower-sodium foods: shopping list.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Diabetes diet, eating, & physical activity.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Eating right for chronic kidney disease.
Kristy is a licensed registered dietitian nutritionist and trained culinary professional. She has worked in a variety of settings, including MSKCC and Rouge Tomate.
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