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Cooking meals from scratch when you have diabetes can be tricky, which is why people turn to diabetic meal delivery services to make healthy eating easier. Getting complete meals delivered right to your door, with appropriate amounts of complex carbohydrates, protein, sodium, and healthy fats, takes the guesswork out of eating healthfully on a diabetic diet.
Since those with diabetes have to be extra careful about their carb intake, most diabetic meal delivery services specialize in meals with no more than 45 to 60 grams of net carbs per meal, which is a general recommendation from the American Diabetes Association.
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 control blood sugar levels.
But keeping track of carbs isn’t all people with diabetes have to look out for. Since diabetes can accelerate the development of clogged and hardened arteries, those with the disease are at an increased risk of heart disease too. That’s why it’s important that diabetic meals keep sodium and saturated fat in check.
As more prepared meal delivery services enter the online marketplace, many of them offer diabetic-friendly meals or at least low-carb meals that can fit the nutritional requirements for diabetes. We evaluated them all to find out which ones were best for those following a diabetic diet. Here are the best diabetic meal delivery services that rose to the top.
Best Diabetic Meal Delivery Services of 2021
- Best Overall: BistroMD
- Best for Weight Loss: Diet-to-Go
- Best for Athletes: Metabolic Meals
- Best Budget-Friendly: Freshly
- Best Grain-Free: Pete’s Paleo
Best Overall : BistroMD
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BistroMD
Why We Chose 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.
Designed by a physician
Options for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks
Large selection
Low-sodium program available
No dinner-only option
Shipping isn’t free
Meals are unadventurous
Founded by doctors with a team that includes registered dietitians, chefs, and nurse practitioners, 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 and avoid simple sugars. The meals are designed to offer 40 percent to 45 percent of calories from lean protein, 30 percent to 35 percent from complex carbohydrates, and 20 percent to 25 percent from healthy fat. Sodium levels adhere to U.S. Dietary Guidelines with about 2,000 to 2,300 milligrams per day, but a low-sodium program that averages about 1500 milligrams per day is available.
The lineup of meals is vast, with about 150 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 $9 to $10 per meal. The other option is lunch and dinner only for five or seven days, which comes in closer to $12 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
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Diet-to-Go
Why We Chose 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.
Dietician approved
Calorie-controlled to aid weight loss
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner options
Shipping isn’t free
No entrée-only option
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, Vegetarian, Balance, and Balance-D, 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 $12 and shipping is $19.98. You can change, skip, or cancel the subscription anytime.
Best for Athletes : Metabolic Meals
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Metabolic Meals
Why We Chose 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.
Can add extra protein
Interesting selection
Pasture-raised meats and organic produce
Free shipping with 15 meals
Relatively expensive
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 16 new entrée options and eight 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: Fit meals average 360 calories while Performance meals ($4.50 more) have extra protein and average 575 calories per meal—which are 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 $14 each, or $18.50 if you want the extra helping of protein that comes with a Performance meal. Shipping costs $29.95, but if you order at least 15 meals, it’s free. You can change, pause, or cancel your subscription anytime.
Best Budget-Friendly : Freshly
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Freshly
Why We Chose It: Freshly’s meals are aimed at health-conscious food lovers with adventurous appetites, but its emphasis on low-carb, gluten-free meals built on vegetables and lean proteins fits in well with diabetic diets too. And with meals as low as $8.50, the price is hard to beat.
Emphasis on vegetables
Gluten-free
Adventurous menu options
Budget-friendly
Small orders are a bit expensive
Freshly is aimed at anyone who wants to eat healthier without having to spend time shopping and cooking. Since all of its meals are gluten-free (it even uses gluten-free pasta) and contain under 35 grams of carbs per serving, it can work great for diabetics too, especially those who enjoy meals that are more adventurous than traditional selections.
There are about 30 dishes to choose from, including low-sodium options, and they’re delivered fresh so they need just a couple minutes to reheat. There are always a few classics like turkey chili, but it’s jazzed up with rich ancho chiles and features a trio of beans. There are also more surprising options like spiced dukkah chicken or beet risotto. Dishes average 500 calories, 30 grams of protein, and 8 grams of sugar per meal. Vegetables are incorporated into not only the side dishes, but the sauces and “noodles” too, which can significantly increase the fiber content.
This is a subscription service but you can cancel, pause, or change anytime. The cost per meal starts at $11.49 for a minimum order of four meals and gets cheaper the more you order ($8.49 for orders of 12). Shipping is fairly inexpensive at about $5.99.
Best Grain-Free : Pete’s Paleo
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Pete’s Paleo
Why We Chose 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 Paleo creates these meals with organic and pasture-raised ingredients.
Generous portions for active people
Seasonal menu
Organic ingredients and pasture-raised meats
Delivery is usually free
Relatively expensive
Limited menu
Sodium content and ingredients list not always readily available online
Although Pete’s Paleo 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 $16, but the price goes down to $14.84 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 $99.
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 | $11 | $19.95 | Frozen | Yes | 10 |
Diet-To-Go | Best for Weight Loss | $12 | $19.98 | Frozen | Yes | 10 |
Freshly | Best Budget | $9.60 | $5.99 | Fresh | Yes | 4 |
Metabolic Meals | Best for Athletes | $14 | $29.95 | Fresh | Yes | 8 |
Pete’s Paleo | Best Grain-Free | $15 | Free | Fresh | Yes | 5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Easy to Get Live Help From a Diabetic Meal Delivery Service?
Most meal delivery services have a comprehensive FAQ/Help page on their website, as well as email and phone numbers for customer service.
How Do I Prepare the Meals?
Every diabetic meal delivery service includes labels with heating instructions on its meals. More often than not, the meals can be heated in the microwave in just a few minutes, even those that are frozen. Check the label to see if heating in the oven is preferable, in which case you will likely need to transfer the food to an oven-safe dish first. Any fresh meals can be frozen for longer storage.
Can I Cancel My Subscription?
All of the services we recommend make it easy to change your subscription, pause it, skip weeks, or cancel entirely. Read the instructions on the website because you will need to do it with enough advance notice so that you’re not charged for the next delivery.
How We Chose the Best Diabetic Meal Delivery Services
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.