“When it comes to meals for folks with diabetes, the two most important things to consider are timing (eating regularly) and the pairing of nutrients,” says Shana Minei Spence, M.S., RDN, CDN. “Diabetes can be managed without a premade meal or kit, but for some it might make things easier—especially if the amount of carbs, fat, and protein are listed out.” Luckily, there are several meal delivery services out there that prioritize diabetes-friendly diets, such as low-carb, paleo, or keto, which are suggested to maintain a healthy blood sugar level. If you’re looking for a little help with the prep and planning of your meals, read on for our picks of the best meal delivery services for diabetics. Of course, shipping can also play a big part in the overall cost of your meal delivery. Some services offer free shipping with larger orders, while others have flat-rate shipping. Don’t worry: We’ll go over the shipping costs of each brand below! BistroMD offers a 5- or 7-day diabetic meal plan that includes lunches and dinners with the option to tag on breakfast. Once you’ve selected, you can further customize your plan to meet your schedule and choose from 150 dietitian-designed entrées each week. And if you want to take a break or cancel, you can at any time. However, the biggest negative for this service is the shipping costs; you’ll likely get the shipping fee waived on your first order thanks to promos, but it’ll cost you around $20 per shipment after that. Example Meal: -Pork tenderloin with whole grain mustard sauce -Roasted tofu and ancient grain salad bowl Sustainability & Quality: While they don’t have a focus on organic ingredients, BistroMD partners with local, family-owned farms whenever they can, and sources environmentally responsible seafood and hormone-free chicken and beef. They also provide a full list of banned ingredients, which are mostly artificial ingredients and preservatives. Almost all of BistroMD’s packaging is curbside recyclable) and they offer suggestions about how to repurpose anything that isn’t). Cost: From $10 per serving with 7-day subscription The meals are creative but accessible, so there are bound to be several items on the menu that call to you each week. Green Chef doesn’t have a specific filter on its menu for diabetics (or a filter to weed out potential allergens), but they do call out paleo, keto, and Mediterranean recipes. Plus, all ingredients are clearly marked on the recipe cards, so you can always leave out something that’s not a fit for your diet. Example Meal: -Thai coconut chicken soup with carrots, red bell pepper, shiitakes, and black sesame seeds -Roasted curry pork chops with cauliflower rice, kale, mango chutney, and almonds Sustainability & Quality: As the name suggests, Green Chef puts an emphasis on using sustainably sourced ingredients and partnering with smaller farms. They are a certified business by the California Certified Organic Farmers Foundation (CCOF), and Green Chef’s kits are both carbon and plastic offset. Cost: $13 per serving Mosaic Foods’ subscription model is based on items (you can mix-and-match smoothies, pizzas, full meals, etc.), so the total cost varies by what you choose to pop in your box each week. But shipping is free for boxes with 12 and 18 items, which helps make them a more affordable option than a lot of other delivery services. Another great perk: For every box sold, Mosaic donates two pounds of food to City Harvest, a New York City nonprofit that helps feed families in need. Example Meal: -Curried lentil shepherd’s pie -Pepper, feta & olive ragout Sustainability & Quality: All of Mosaic Foods’ meals are frozen to extend shelf life and reduce food waste—both during manufacturing and at customers’ homes. Its recipes are always free of preservatives and artificial ingredients, and the company sources fruit, veggies, and grains from small, local farms. What’s more, all of Mosaic Foods’ packaging is curbside recyclable, from the foil tins and paper cups to the box your meals arrive in. Cost: From $5 per serving for family meals We picked Snap Kitchen as a budget-friendly option because the 12-meal subscription comes to $11 per serving, which is significantly more affordable than other premade meal delivery services. On the downside, it has only two subscription plans available (6 or 12 meals) and doesn’t ship everywhere (yet!). Example Meal: -Buffalo ranch burger with loaded roasted cauliflower -Baja shrimp taco salad with pickled slaw and mango salsa Sustainability & Quality: Snap Kitchen uses organic ingredients where possible, and sources meat and produce from farmers that practice mindful, sustainable farming. It also uses curbside recyclable materials for the packaging. Cost: From $11 per serving If you’re someone who enjoys spending some time in the kitchen, the meal kits will take you anywhere from 15 to 40 minutes to prepare (all of the ingredients come pre-portioned). One of the best parts about Sunbasket is that you can mix and match meal kits and premade meals under one subscription, just not in the same box. They even have a few pantry items that you can pop in your box each week so you can take one less trip to the grocery store. Example Meal: -Indian fish curry with tamarind and onions over cauliflower rice -Sichuan glass noodle bowl with pork, cabbage, and carrots Sustainability & Quality: Sunbasket uses organic produce, eggs, yogurt, and tofu, as well as responsibly sourced, hormone-free meat and seafood. Plus, all of Sunbasket’s packaging is made from recycled materials like paper and denim, so it’s easy to recycle or compost. Like BistroMD, Sunbasket has a how-to page dedicated to recycling their packaging. Cost: Dinners start at $10 per serving And if there wasn’t a fit for you on this list, take a peek at our lists of the best keto and best paleo meal delivery services.
