Best Senior Meal Delivery Services

CookUnity has the best meal delivery options for seniors

By
Danielle Centoni
Danielle Centoni
Danielle is a James Beard Award-winning food writer and editor based in Portland, Oregon. She has authored five cookbooks and contributed recipe testing to six additional cookbooks. Danielle has worked as a staff editor and writer for the Oakland Tribune and Eater Portland, among others. Danielle has been writing for The Spruce Eats since December 2018. 
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Updated on 09/27/22

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Cooking can be a challenge for older adults, but luckily there’s a wide array of meal delivery services for seniors tailor-made for their specific dietary needs. Whether they have physical limitations that make cooking difficult, need help maintaining a strict diet for medical reasons, or perhaps find cooking for one a chore, seniors can opt to let one of these services deliver healthful, ready-to-heat meals right to their door.

These meal delivery services for seniors make it very easy to select meals according to strict dietary needs, offer very clear-cut ingredient and nutrition information, provide meals portioned for solo diners, and ensure each meal is balanced with the macronutrients (macros) aging adults need.

Best Senior Meal Delivery Services of 2022

Best Overall : CookUnity

The Spruce Eats' Rating
4.6
  • Price Per Serving: $10.49
  • Serving Sizes: 1
  • Number Of Recipes: 100
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Why You Should Try It

CookUnity delivers local, chef-developed, prepared meals made with ingredients that prove meals for seniors don’t have to be bland.

Pros

  • Chef-made meals at an affordable price

  • Fresh, ready-to-heat meals

  • Plenty of menu options

Cons

  • Limited delivery area

  • Doesn’t cater to specific health conditions or dietary restrictions

Overview

CookUnity offers a unique, direct-from-the-chef meal experience to make dinner effortless. It’s ideal for seniors with a palate to appreciate dishes from local chefs. Meals are balanced and well-seasoned, with menu options that range from vegan burgers to beef bulgogi ramen and lemon rosemary chicken. The menu rotates weekly, so there’s always something new and interesting to try.

Learn More: Read Our CookUnity Review.

Pricing and Plans
  • 4 meals per week: $13.59
  • 6 meals per week: $12.29
  • 8 meals per week: $11.69
  • 12 meals per week: $11.19
  • 16 meals per week: $11.09
Meals We Tried
  • Coconut lime hanger steak
  • Carnitas street tacos
  • Butternut squash ravioli
  • Chili roasted shrimp

Best Budget-Friendly : Mom’s Meals

The Spruce Eats' Rating
3.7
  • Price Per Serving: $6.99
  • Number Of Recipes: 28
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Why You Should Try It

When you want to take the guesswork out of eating on a restricted diet, these ready-to-heat meals have you covered at an affordable price. They’re designed by dieticians and can accommodate perhaps the widest range of dietary needs.

Pros

  • Accommodates the most dietary needs

  • No subscription needed

  • Works with insurance providers

Cons

  • Meals aren’t customizable

  • Menu is unadventurous

Overview

The dietitian-designed meals at Mom's Meals are created to meet the nutrition requirements of older people. Besides common dietary needs like low-sodium meals for those with heart conditions or low-sugar meals for diabetics, there are meals for people battling cancer, recovering from surgery, on dialysis, or having difficulty swallowing. All meals are prepared fresh and only require reheating. The company’s proprietary packaging keeps the food fresh in the refrigerator for up to 14 days.

Learn More: Read Our Mom's Meals Review.

Pricing and Plans
  • 10 meals for $79.90
  • 14 meals for $111.86
  • 21 meals for $167.79
  • Renal-friendly, puréed and gluten-free meals are available at $8.99 per meal.
Meals We Tried
  • Curry vegetables with pineapple and brown rice, string cheese, and vanilla pudding
  • Cheeseburger and seasoned mixed vegetables, whole wheat bun, and orange
  • Chicken and stir fry vegetables with teriyaki sauce, white rice, and applesauce
  • Sweet and sour chicken with stir fry vegetables and white rice, grape juice, and ginger spice cookie
  • BBQ chicken with potato medley, seasoned green beans, and applesauce
  • Beef goulash over whole wheat pasta, seasoned carrots, and orange
  • Salisbury steak with mushroom gravy, potatoes, seasoned vegetables, whole wheat dinner roll, and gelatin
  • Mushroom risotto and seasoned peas and carrots, whole wheat roll, and grape juice
  • Korean-style BBQ meatballs with white rice, seasoned broccoli, and ginger spice cookie
  • Creamy macaroni and cheese and seasoned vegetables, mandarin orange cup, and blueberry applesauce

Best Variety : MagicKitchen

The Spruce Eats' Rating
4.0
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Why You Should Try It

Not only does Magic Kitchen accommodate a wide range of challenging dietary requirements, but it offers a wide array of menu items, which can make even the pickiest eaters happy.

Pros

  • Accommodates many dietary needs

  • No subscription needed

  • Works with insurance providers

  • Discounts for seniors

Cons

  • Relatively expensive

  • Frozen meals take longer to heat

Overview

Magic Kitchen’s flash-frozen two- and four-serving a la carte options are ideal for those who enjoy eating the same dish together, with dozens of entrées, soup, side dishes, and desserts to choose from. On the flip side, people who don’t want to make compromises will love Magic Kitchen’s complete meal lineup, with single portions of an entrée and side dishes all in one tray. There are meal plans for a wide range of dietary needs, from dairy-free to kidney disease, and they’re all designed by dietitians.

Learn More: Read Our Magic Kitchen Review.

Pricing and Plans

Magic Kitchen's meal pricing will depend on what you order. Most meals average around $10 to $14 each, and there are discounts applied if you sign up for a meal program. Sample pricing is as follows:

  • 1 meal per day (choice of breakfast, lunch, or dinner): $82 to $90 for 7 days
  • 2 meals per day (choice of breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner): $164 to $180 for 7 days
  • 3 meals per day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner): $246 to $275 for 7 days
Meals We Tried
  • Vegetable caponata with orzo and spinach
  • Beef and broccoli over noodles and vegetable blend
  • Balsamic glazed chicken with roasted potatoes and green beans
  • Chili with beans with carrots and broccoli florets

Best Plant-Based : Mosaic Foods

The Spruce Eats' Rating
4.1
  • Price Per Serving: $5.99
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Why You Should Try It

Mosaic is our pick for seniors who want to add more plant-based meals to their diet.

Pros

  • Vegan and vegetarian options 

  • Meals appropriate for people with heart disease, diabetes, and high cholesterol 

  • Developed by chefs and dietitians

Cons

  • Limited delivery area

Overview

Mosaic offers a variety of vegan and vegetarian meal options that are perfect for seniors who want to incorporate more veggies into their diet. The menu includes vegan or vegetarian spins on favorites mac and greens and flavorful veggie bowls. Customers can also order pizzas, oatmeals, soups, and smoothies.

Pricing and Plans
  • 6 items per box: $65.94 plus $10 shipping
  • 12 items per box: $119.88 (with free shipping) 
  • 18 items per box: $198.70 (with free shipping)
Meals We Tried
  • Spicy dan dan noodles
  • Buffalo cauliflower pasta bake (family size)
  • Mac and greens
  • Pozole verde
  • Veggie kebab platter
  • Coconut chickpea curry

Best Gluten-Free : ModifyHealth

The Spruce Eats' Rating
4.2
  • Price Per Serving: $11.75
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Why You Should Try It

For seniors seeking pre-made, gluten-free, low sodium meals that are either Mediterranean or  certified low-FODMAP, ModifyHealth may be the service for you.

Pros

  • Meals are both gluten-free and low-sodium

  • Developed by physicians, dietitians, and chefs

  • Some plans include support from a ModifyHealth dietitian

Cons

  • Only two diet plans (low-FODMAP and Mediterranean) available

Overview

ModifyHealth offers fresh, ready-to-heat meals that are developed in collaboration with a team of chefs, dietitians, and physicians. It stands out as one of the few companies offering certified low-FODMAP and Mediterranean diet meals made in a 100% gluten-free facility, making it ideal for people with certain health conditions. Customers also have the option to consult with a dietitian as part of some plans.

Pricing and Plans
  • Low-FODMAP Entrées (6 meal minimum): $81 and up
  • Low-FODMAP Program (10 entrees plus expert support): $180 and up
  • Mediterranean Plan Entrées (6 meal minimum): $81 and up
  • Mediterranean Get Well Program (10 entrees plus expert support): $129 and up
Meals We Tried
  • Greek chicken and rice
  • Longevity stew with black-eyed peas and kale
  • Shrimp chimichurri with black beans and rice
  • Lemon thyme chicken with tahini cauliflower and za'atar quinoa
  • Blackened salmon with quinoa, broccoli, and red bell pepper
  • Roasted pistachio salmon with white beans and kale

Best Gourmet : Epicured

The Spruce Eats' Rating
4.1
  • Price Per Serving: $6.99
  • Number Of Recipes: 30
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Why You Should Try It

Epicured provides an extensive variety of restaurant-quality meals that are appropriate for seniors with various dietary needs.

Pros

  • Offers low-sodium and low-fat plans

  • Meals created by chefs and dietitians

  • All meals 100 percent gluten-free

Cons

  • Menu does not rotate out options

Overview

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 nutritional parameters such as fat content, sodium content, or low added sugar. Menus are a collaboration between chefs and dietitians, giving Epicured’s meals a gourmet touch.

Learn More: Read Our Epicured Review.

Pricing and Plans

Epicured offers à la carte items, as well as bundles, so pricing varies based on which menu items you select. The average price per serving is $10.29. Some examples of pricing for Epicured’s bundles:

  • Chef’s Favorites: $110.21
  • Fiber-Fueled Bundle: $131.14
  • Brunch Bundle: $143.21
Meals We Tried
  • Vietnamese rice noodles (vegetarian)
  • Pad Thai with chicken
  • Sesame-crusted grilled salmon
  • Pulled BBQ chicken

Best for Weight Management : BistroMD

The Spruce Eats' Rating
4.1
  • Price Per Serving: $9.49
  • Number Of Recipes: 150
Learn More
Why You Should Try It

BistroMD’s signature program provides calorie-focused meals with custom input from dietitians to help support weight loss.

Pros

  • Weight loss programs designed by doctors

  • Offers ongoing dietitian support

  • Meals are ready to eat in 5 minutes or less

Cons

  • Company does not disclose sourcing information

Overview

BistroMD specializes in delivering individual, heat-and-eat, calorie-restricted meals for weight loss. The company also offers meals appropriate for those with diabetes, heart issues, and gluten-free needs. With dishes like low-carb lasagna and salmon with dill mustard sauce, bistroMD provides familiar flavors along with the support of a registered dietitian.

Learn More: Read Our BistroMD Review.

Pricing and Plans
  • Full Program (7 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 6 dinners): $219.80
  • Full Program (5 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 5 dinners): $187.35
  • 7 Days of lunches and dinners (7 lunches, 7 dinners): $188.86
  • 5 Days of lunches and dinners (5 lunches, 5 dinners): $149.90
Meals We Tried
  • Chicken, rice, and cheddar casserole
  • Salmon with dill mustard sauce
  • Turkey breaks with cranberry apple chutney
  • Oven-fried catfish with spicy tomato leek sauce
  • Baked pasta marinara with chicken sausage
  • Meatloaf with honey bourbon glaze
  • Mojo pork with black beans and rice
  • Chicken pad thai
  • Grilled salmon with creamy pesto
  • Lasagna with garden marinara

There’s no one-size-fits-all meal plan for senior adults. Some older adults have little to no health conditions that require dietary restrictions, while others might have to adhere to severely restricted diets. Some love exploring new foods and adventurous flavors, while others might be at a stage of life when unfamiliar foods and strong flavors are unwelcome. That’s why we found CookUnity to be our best overall pick, as it delivers flavorful options while also accommodating various dietary restrictions.

Compare Providers

 Company  Starting Price Delivery Area  Products Arrive  Customers Can Choose Delivery Date? Free Shipping?
Best Overall: CookUnity $10.39 per serving 45 states Fresh Yes Yes
Best Budget-Friendly: Mom’s Meals $7.99 per serving 48 states Frozen No No
Best Variety: Magic Kitchen $10 per serving 48 states Frozen Yes No
Best Plant-Based: Mosaic $9.43 per serving  Varies; check zip code for availability  Frozen Yes No
Best Gluten-Free: ModifyHealth  $12.95 per serving 48 states Fresh No Yes
Best Gourmet: Epicured $10.29 per serving 48 states Fresh No Yes, for orders over $100
Best for Weight Management: bistroMD $10.99 per serving 48 states Frozen No No

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Easy to Get Live Help While Ordering From a Senior Meal Delivery Service?

Seniors who don’t like placing orders online can call any of these companies for live help with a customer service representative.

How Do I Prepare the Food From a Senior Meal Delivery Service?

All of the fresh and frozen meals will come with heating instructions. Most can be heated in the microwave in their trays, but some will need to be heated in the oven. If a microwave is unavailable, all meals can be heated in the oven but often need to be transferred to an oven-safe dish first. Frozen meals often reheat better when allowed to thaw in the refrigerator. Fresh meals can be frozen for longer storage.

Can I Give a Meal as a Gift?

Many meal delivery services offer gift certificates. Plus, many of those aimed at seniors also make it easy for caregivers to manage the meal plan accounts. Services that are subscription-based will require the recipient to set up an account to redeem their gift certificate, and the recipient will have to cancel the subscription if they no longer want to receive meals.

Methodology

Our testers ordered from, cooked, and rated 40 different meal delivery services. We carefully scored each one based on meal selection, nutritional information, sustainability, and customer service, as well as the flavor, freshness, and quality of each meal and ingredient. Our Spruce Eats tester panel includes dietitians, chefs, and longtime food writers. The one thing they all have in common is their love and knowledge of food.