Meal Delivery Services Best Diabetes Meal Delivery Services Sunbasket offers the best diabetes meal plan By Kristy Del Coro, MS, RDN, LDN Kristy Del Coro, MS, RDN, LDN LinkedIn Twitter Kristy is a licensed registered dietitian nutritionist and trained culinary professional. She has worked in a variety of settings, including MSKCC and Rouge Tomate. Learn about our editorial process and Kayleigh Drake Kayleigh Drake Kayleigh is an associate food editor for the Performance Marketing team at Dotdash Meredith. She has nearly a decade of combined experience in both the media and culinary industries. Learn about our editorial process Updated on September 26, 2022 Fact checked Verywell Fit content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Haley Mast Fact checked by Haley Mast Haley has a professional and educational background in reviewing, transcribing, and curating technical content. Learn about our editorial process Print We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. Meal delivery services offer convenience for many individuals and families nationwide by providing pre-portioned, ready-to-cook meal kits or pre-made, ready-to-heat meals for home delivery. For those on therapeutic diets to help manage chronic health conditions such as diabetes, these services can not only offer convenient, easy-to-prepare meals but also help individuals stay compliant with their diets and ease the stress of meal planning on their own. The companies on this list stand out because of the quality of their meals as well as their transparency around nutrition information. Some companies have specific plans for those with diabetes while others consistently offer meals that are lower in refined carbohydrates and added sugar and higher in fiber (key recommendations for blood sugar balance). Best Diabetes Meal Delivery Services of 2023 Best Overall: Sunbasket Best Variety: Splendid Spoon Best Budget-Friendly: Mom’s Meals Best for Nutrition Counseling: BistroMD Best for Seniors: Magic Kitchen Best Calorie-Conscious: Diet-To-Go Best Pre-Made Meals: Snap Kitchen Best Diabetes Meal Delivery Services View All Best Diabetes Meal Delivery Services Our Top Picks Sunbasket Splendid Spoon Mom’s Meals BistroMD Magic Kitchen Diet-To-Go Snap Kitchen See More (4) Frequently Asked Questions Methodology Best Overall : Sunbasket Verywell's Rating 5.0 SunBasket Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $9.99 per servingDelivery Area: 46 statesProducts Arrive: Fresh Why You Should Try It Sunbasket offers a variety of nutrient-dense meal kits as well as ready-to-heat meals for a variety of dietary preferences, including diabetes-friendly meals. Pros and Cons Pros Certified organic Variety of menu options for all meals of the day Menus developed in collaboration with registered dietitians Cons Shipping only free on first order Higher per meal price due to use of premium ingredients Overview We like Sunbasket for its variety of menu options, meal types, and serving sizes for the whole family. Sunbasket offers the ability to filter for diabetes-friendly and paleo-friendly meal options as well as a carb-conscious meal plan. Detailed nutrition information for each meal is always available before ordering, but Sunbasket defines its carb-conscious meal plan as containing less than 35 grams of net carbs and at least 10 grams of protein per serving. Learn More: Read Our Sunbasket Review. Pricing and Plans Pricing is categorized between Meal Kits and Fresh & Ready Meals, but customers can mix and match items from both menus. Meal Kits start at $11.49 per serving, and Fresh & Ready meals start at $9.99. From there, the price will increase depending on selection. Shipping is free for the first delivery and is $9.99 per box thereafter. Meals We Tried Meal Kits Sea scallops over fresh fettuccine with sun-dried tomatoes and spinachSnapper with romesco, vegetables and almondsBurmese chicken and sweet potato currySirloin strip tacos with zucchini scallion salsa Prepared Meals Broccoli mac and cheeseChicken chow mein with broccoli, mushroom, and toasted garlicBeef donburi rice bowl with edamame and kimchi-lime vegetablesBurrito bowl al pastor with plant-based Impossible Beef Best Variety : Splendid Spoon Verywell's Rating 4.2 Splendid Spoon Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $10 per servingDelivery Area: 48 statesProducts Arrive: Frozen Why You Should Try It Splendid Spoon's completely plant-based and gluten-free menu includes convenient filters that can sort meals by sugar content and other dietary specifications. Pros and Cons Pros Variety of menu options and flavors All meals are plant-based and gluten-free Can filter menu by sugar content Cons Some meals may not be as filling Overview Splendid Spoon's plant-based and gluten-free menu feature a variety of smoothies, soups, grain bowls, noodle bowls, juices, and wellness shots. You can filter items by multiple dietary needs and preferences, including gluten-free, low-carb, vegan, and diabetic-friendly. Splendid Spoon strives to use organic produce in all of its foods, and most of the company's packaging is recyclable or compostable. Learn More: Read Our Splendid Spoon Review. Pricing and Plans Splendid Spoon offers a variety of plans, and customers can choose to have their meals delivered weekly, biweekly, or on a monthly basis. Some sample meal plans include: Breakfast: $70Breakfast and Lunch + Reset: $105Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner + Reset: $160 Meals We Tried Smoothies Cacao almondBlackberry basilGreen matchaPower greensRaspberry cacao Soups Red lentil dalGreen tomatillo chiliLentil and kaleKimchi fried quinoaCauliflower tikkaCauliflower potatoButternut turmericGarden minestrone Best Budget-Friendly : Mom’s Meals Verywell's Rating 3.9 Mom’s Meals Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $7.99 per servingDelivery Area: 48 statesProducts Arrive: Frozen Why You Should Try It Mom’s Meals is a ready-to-heat meal delivery service specifically for individuals with special dietary needs due to different medical conditions common to seniors and the elderly population. Pros and Cons Pros Long refrigerator shelf-life May be covered by insurance (Medicare) Registered dietitians on staff Cons Small portions Shipping not included Overview Mom’s Meals was created with the senior population in mind. Designed in consultation with a team of registered dietitians, Mom’s Meals offers nine different therapeutic menu options including one that’s designed for people with diabetes. Meals tagged as diabetes-friendly will have less than 75 grams of carbohydrates per meal. This amount is notably higher than other low-carb menus on this list and on the upper end of the recommended carbohydrate intake for those with diabetes, but it’s still within a balanced range. We like that the sources of carbohydrates are nutrient-dense and that the carbohydrate content for all menu items is available if a customer is looking for an item even lower. Learn More: Read Our Mom's Meals Review. Pricing and Plans Pricing for Self-Pay is $7.99 per meal (+$1 more for Pureed, Renal, and Gluten Free) plus a flat rate shipping fee on all deliveries of $14.95 per delivery. Orders can be placed for boxes of 10, 14, and 21 but the per-meal pricing remains the same prior to shipping. In addition to self-pay, Mom’s Meals can also help facilitate ordering meals under Medicare and Medicaid plans. Meals We Tried Curry vegetables with pineapple and brown rice, string cheese, vanilla puddingCheeseburger and seasoned mixed vegetables, whole wheat bun, orange Chicken and stir fry vegetables with teriyaki sauce, white rice, applesauce Sweet and sour chicken with stir fry vegetables, white rice, grape juice, ginger spice cookieBBQ chicken with potato medley, seasoned green beans, applesauce Beef goulash over whole wheat pasta, seasoned carrots, orange Salisbury steak with mushroom gravy, potatoes, seasoned vegetables, whole wheat dinner roll, gelatinMushroom risotto, seasoned peas and carrots, whole wheat roll, grape juiceKorean-style BBQ meatballs with white rice, seasoned broccoli, ginger spice cookieCreamy macaroni and cheese, seasoned vegetables, mandarin orange cup, blueberry applesauce Best for Nutrition Counseling : BistroMD Verywell's Rating 3.9 BistroMD Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $10.99 per servingDelivery Area: 48 statesProducts Arrive: Frozen Why You Should Try It Founded by a physician, we like that BistroMD’s meal delivery service offers a large menu selection and a variety of evidence-based therapeutic meal plans, including one for diabetes management. Pros and Cons Pros Registered dietitians and doctors on staff Specializes in therapeutic diets Focuses on high-fiber foods and calculates net carbs Cons Can’t customize individual meals Some meals may be too low in calories or carbs without an additional side or snack Overview BistroMD delivers single-serving frozen meals designed by a team of doctors and dietitians to be nutritionally balanced for different therapeutic diets, including a diabetes-friendly program. According to the website, all meals on the BistroMD diabetic program contain 25 grams or less of net carbohydrates. A registered dietitian is available for individual consultation to make sure the plan meets your needs. Note that BistroMD is marketed as a weight loss program but it can still be used for those trying to maintain weight. (It will just take a conscious effort to overlook the communication that focuses on weight loss.) Learn More: Read Our BistroMD Review. Pricing and Plans Customers can choose the Full Program which includes meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner or just choose to receive lunch and dinner. Sample pricing is outlined below: 5 days of lunch and dinner: Starting at $164.857 days of lunch and dinner: Starting at $141.65 Meals We Tried Chicken, rice, and cheddar casseroleSalmon with dill mustard sauceTurkey breaks with cranberry apple chutneyOven-fried catfish with spicy tomato leek sauceBaked pasta marinara with chicken sausageMeatloaf with honey bourbon glazeMojo pork with black beans and riceChicken pad thaiGrilled salmon with creamy pestoLasagna with garden marinara Best for Seniors : Magic Kitchen Verywell's Rating 4.1 Magic Kitchen Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $10 per serving Delivery Area: 48 statesProducts Arrive: Frozen Why You Should Try It Primarily catered towards seniors, Magic Kitchen's extensive menu of frozen prepared meals accommodates a wide range of dietary needs, including low-carb and diabetic-friendly. Pros and Cons Pros Simple and fast meal preparation Over 10 different dietary needs accommodated Dedicated "diabetic-friendly" section of the menu Cons Shipping not included Some items sell out quickly Overview If you’re looking for a variety of pre-made meals that cater to numerous dietary preferences and restrictions, including diabetic-friendly, Magic Kitchen is an excellent option. Designed primarily for seniors, the company features an online menu that can be sorted by numerous filters, including low carb, low fat, low sodium, diabetic-friendly, renal and dialysis friendly, dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegetarian. Choose from entrees like baked tilapia, beef bourguignon, and chicken enchiladas, plus an array of desserts, sides, snacks, and more. Pricing and Plans Magic Kitchen's meal pricing will largely 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 days2 meals per day (choice of breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner): $164 to $180 for 7 days3 meals per day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner): $246 to $275 for 7 days Meals We Tried Vegetable caponata with orzo and spinachBeef and broccoli over noodles and vegetable blendBalsamic glazed chicken with roasted potatoes and green beansChili with beans with carrots and broccoli florets Best Calorie-Conscious : Diet-To-Go Verywell's Rating 3.4 Diet-to-Go Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $9.71 per servingDelivery Area: 48 statesProducts Arrive: Frozen Why You Should Try It Designed by a team of registered dietitians and chefs, Diet-To-Go offers five-week rotating menus for weight loss, including a plan specifically for those with diabetes. Pros and Cons Pros Meals can be customized Extensive recipe selection Registered dietitians on staff Cons Use of diet-culture language Shipping not included Overview Diet-To-Go provides pre-portioned meals for individuals wanting to lose weight (the service can also be used for individuals who just want to maintain a healthy diet). Diet-To-Go has four different menu plans: Balance, Balance-Diabetes, Keto-Carb30, and Vegetarian. The Balance-Diabetes plan is designed to help you manage your blood sugar with heart-healthy nutritionally balanced meals that all contain less than 45 grams of carbohydrates per meal and at least 15 grams of protein. All meals arrive frozen and are delivered once or twice weekly. Learn More: Read Our Diet-To-Go Review. Pricing and Plans All plans are available in five- or seven-day options with two (lunch and dinner) or three (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) meals per day. Shipping is $19.98 for weekly deliveries, shipped every Monday, but if you live in an area for local delivery, shipments go out twice weekly (Tuesday and Friday) and each delivery charge is $9.99 per shipment. The price breakdown of the Balance-Diabetic plan per week is as follows: 5-day option with two meals: $138.995-day option with three meals: $162.997-day option with two meals: $185.597-day option with three meals: $203.99 Meals We Tried Chicken Florentine burger Tomato pesto meltover Tuscan boats with turkey Monterey turkey with almonds Chicken black bean wrap Turkey Salisbury steak Asian meatballs Herbed baked salmon Chicken and three grain Blackened turkey loin Best Pre-Made Meals : Snap Kitchen Verywell's Rating 4.2 Snap Kitchen Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $11.34 per servingDelivery Area: Not specifiedProducts Arrive: Fresh Why You Should Try It Snap Kitchen specializes in ready-to-heat, fresh, gluten-free meals, including low carb options, made without preservatives, antibiotics, artificial sweeteners, or other unwanted additives. Pros and Cons Pros Quality ingredients free of artificial additives or preservatives Registered dietitians on staff Can filter menu by carbohydrate content Cons No plant-based, low carb options No customization Overview Snap Kitchen first opened as a brick-and-mortar establishment in Austin, Texas, and now offers fully cooked, fresh, ready-to-heat meals for home delivery. The website has menu filters for a variety of special diets, including Paleo, Whole30, High Protein, Low Carb, and Keto—which nearly all fit into a diabetes-friendly meal plan. You can also filter the menu items by the number of carbs they contain. All meals are gluten-free and made with nutrient-dense ingredients that are free of artificial additives. Protein, fat, sodium content, and carbohydrate content (including fiber and sugar) are all available for each menu item prior to ordering. Learn More: Read Our Snap Kitchen Review. Pricing and Plans Snap Kitchen offers two types of subscription plans for any diet category. Shipping is always free. 6 meals per week: $83 ($13.84 per meal)12 meals per week: $136 ($11.34 per meal) Meals We Tried Baked ziti with Italian beef sausageStir-fry chicken and broccoli with garlic sauceChicken vermicelli bowl with Vietnamese dipping sauceHerb butter steak with bacon roasted brussels sproutsShawarma chicken bowl with lemon tahini saucePeach BBQ brisket with loaded cauliflower Final Verdict Sunbasket is our top pick for the best diabetes-friendly meal delivery service. The company features a diverse menu of both meals and meal kits, which can be filtered by numerous dietary preferences, including gluten-free and diabetic-friendly. We like the emphasis on organic, nutrient-dense ingredients, as well as the company's eco-friendly approach. All of Sunbasket's packaging is either reusable, recyclable, or compostable, and the company even donates food to charitable organizations like Farmers Against Hunger and Hope Food Pantry of Monroe County, California. Frequently Asked Questions How Much Do Diabetes Meal Delivery Services Cost? The per-meal cost ranges from around $5 to $17, however, the average is around $10 or less. Cost will vary depending on the type of ingredients used (for example, animal protein costs more than plant-based meals and organic animal protein will cost even more) as well as the volume ordered. Most companies offer value plans, so the more meals you get per week, the less each meal will cost. Some companies offer free shipping while others add a flat rate for all deliveries. What Are Meal Delivery Services for Diabetes? Meal delivery services for diabetes vary based on the company. In general, they are lower in total carbohydrates (or more specifically “net carbohydrates,” which are calculated after accounting for fiber) and emphasize minimally processed vegetables, fruits, and whole grains plus contain a source of lean protein. Some companies have designated menus that are aligned with dietary recommendations from the American Diabetes Association, while others rely on internal criteria developed by their own team of nutrition professionals and medical experts. If a company does not have a meal plan specifically for diabetes, we made sure that the nutrition information was available prior to ordering and that the menu contained a good variety of balanced meals that emphasize complex carbohydrates. It is important to keep in mind that each individual may need different amounts of carbohydrates per meal, so even if a meal plan is labeled as diabetes-friendly, customers should review the nutrition information for the meal plan and each recipe and determine if it's in line with their personal needs (some may actually be too low in carbs). Are Diabetes Meal Delivery Services Worth It? Meal delivery services that cater to those with diabetes can be helpful for individuals who are newly diagnosed and unfamiliar with how to plan meals for blood sugar control. These services can also assist those with limited time for meal planning and preparation as well as people who feel overwhelmed counting carbohydrates. Having pre-portioned meals on hand can be extremely beneficial and may be a huge support for someone trying to manage their diabetes since blood sugar is directly impacted by food choices. How Do I Choose a Diabetes Meal Delivery Service? First and foremost, before choosing a meal delivery to help manage your diabetes, it will be valuable for you to have information from a registered dietitian or physician about the ideal range of carbohydrates, per day and per meal, to help you with meal planning. You will also need to consider whether you have any other needs for therapeutic diets, such as a heart-healthy or gluten-free diet, to help narrow down which companies are right for you. Some important considerations include:Cost: If this is going to be used as a regular service, long-term costs need to be considered, including shipping.Serving Sizes: Some meal delivery services may only offer single servings while others offer bulk ordering or meals with multiple servings for larger households.Variety: If you plan on ordering regularly, consider the variety within the menu as well as how frequently the menu changes if you don’t want items on repeat.Meal Types: Some meal delivery services focus solely on lunch and dinner while others include breakfast and snacks and beverages.Other health goals: Consider whether you have any other dietary needs such as a low-sodium or heart-healthy diet. Some low carb menus may just focus on lowering carbs for each meal but have higher amounts of sodium or saturated fat or inadequate fiber. Methodology We ordered, cooked, and evaluated meals from 40 different meal delivery services to rate each one’s offerings, nutrition profiles, prices, sustainability, and, of course, flavors. We contacted the customer service teams at each of the companies, collected data, and rigorously reviewed each one. Our Verywell Fit writers are all registered dieticians who relied on their research and its resulting data to inform their reviews. BakiBG / Getty Images By Kristy Del Coro, MS, RDN, LDN Kristy is a licensed registered dietitian nutritionist and trained culinary professional. She has worked in a variety of settings, including MSKCC and Rouge Tomate. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit