Best Low Sodium Meal Delivery Services of 2021

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Americans eat an average of 3,400 milligrams (mg) of sodium per day, but the recommended amount is 2,300mg—just one teaspoon of salt. This lower amount can help you maintain healthy blood pressure and improve your heart health. If you have a medical condition that requires limiting sodium intake, such as heart or kidney conditions or high blood pressure, your doctor may prescribe a diet of under 1,500mg of sodium per day. Too much sodium can cause hypertension, which can increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke.

Contrary to popular belief, the salt shaker is not the highest source of sodium in the American diet. Instead, the highest sources of sodium are deli meats, bread, cheese, and packaged and processed foods. Because meal kits and meal delivery services are pre-packaged, it’s important to look out for sodium content. When reading nutrition labels, “low sodium” foods have less than 140mg of sodium per serving.

It can be overwhelming to sift through all the meal delivery services out there to find ones that are low in sodium. But we did the work for you. Here, find the best low sodium meal delivery services to make mealtime easy while also helping you stay healthy.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall: BistroMD Heart Healthy Program
Best Budget: Nutrisystem
Best for Food Allergies: Fresh n' Lean
Best Fresh, Never Frozen: Freshly
Best for Families: Sunbasket
Best Plant-Based: Splendid Spoon
Best Heat and Eat: MagicKitchen.com

Our Top Picks

Best Overall: BistroMD Heart Healthy Program

Key Specs

Lowest Price Per Serving: $9.49
Number of Diets Served: 5
Number of Recipes: 150+

Pros

Doctor- and dietitian-approved
No cooking required
Less than 600mg sodium per serving

Cons

More expensive than other services
Shipping costs $20

Overview

BistroMD is a meal delivery service created by a doctor that offers six meal plans, including a Heart Healthy Program, which is perfect if you’re following a low sodium diet. All of the meals in the Heart Healthy Program have less than 600mg of sodium and less than 3.5 grams of saturated fat per serving. You can choose lunches and dinners or breakfast, lunch, and dinner for five or seven days per week.

BistroMD is the best low sodium meal delivery service, not only because it’s nutritionally designed to keep your heart healthy, but also because you get access to a private portal, mybistroMD.com. After selecting a meal plan, bistroMD’s team of registered dietitians will create a custom diet plan for you, and you can edit or update your preferences at any time inside the portal. Chefs cook all of the meals; all you have to do is reheat and enjoy.

Best Budget: Nutrisystem

Key Specs

Lowest Price Per Serving: $2.25
Number of Diets Served: 3
Number of Recipes: 100+

Pros

Includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks
Less than 600 mg sodium per serving
10% or fewer calories from saturated fats

Cons

Affordable per serving but monthly cost can add up
Some meals lack adequate vegetables
Could include more whole grains

Overview

Nutrisystem is specifically designed for weight loss but is also a great budget-friendly option if following a low-sodium diet. That’s because all of their meals have less than 600mg of sodium per serving and you can get started for as low as $9.74 (three meals and a snack for women) and $11.29 (three meals and two snacks for men) per day. However, if Nutrisystem is providing all of your meals and snacks for an entire month, the total cost might be more than a meal delivery service that provides a few dinners each week.

Choose from their Basic, Uniquely Yours, Vegetarian, or Diabetes plan, based on your goals. Nutrisystem rarely adds salt to meals but instead flavors recipes with herbs, vegetables, and spices. Along with being low in sodium, Nutrisystem meals are high in protein and fiber and low in saturated fat and added sugar. There are 100 to 160 frozen and ready-to-go meals and snacks to choose from each week. In addition, each plan includes access to their app, NuMi, as well as weight loss coaching and support. Shipping is always free.

Best for Food Allergies: Fresh n' Lean

Key Specs

Lowest Price Per Serving: $7.93
Number of Diets Served: 6
Number of Recipes: 59

Pros

Fresh, never frozen
Organic, non-GMO, gluten-free
Ready in 3 minutes, no cooking required

Cons

More expensive than other services
Can’t combine meals plans

Overview

Fresh n' Lean offers dietitian-approved, fresh, never frozen, meals made from whole foods. You can choose from one of five meal plans: Protein Plus, Keto, Paleo, Vegan standard, or Vegan Low Carb. Meals average about 600mg of sodium to help you stay under the recommended 2,300mg of sodium per day. Opting for one of the vegan meal plans will likely be lower in sodium since animal products tend to have more sodium than plant-based foods.

Fresh n' Lean offers the most customization when it comes to food allergies and preferences. First, choose if you want five or seven days of meals. Second, select if you want breakfast, lunch, dinner, or all three. Then you will be given the option to exclude three ingredients from a drop-down menu of over 15 ingredients such as garbanzo beans and soy. Fresh n' Lean is a certified gluten-free kitchen, but you can further choose to eliminate sesame, tree nuts, or soy. Most of their meals are dairy-free but check each recipe to be certain. Meals start at $7.93 per serving.

Best Fresh, Never Frozen: Freshly

Key Specs

Lowest Price Per Serving: $8.49
Number of Diets Served: 2
Number of Recipes: 48

Pros

No cooking required
Ready in 3 minutes or less
Can filter meals based on sodium from low to high

Cons

Shipping costs extra
No specific diet plans, can choose preferences

Overview

Freshly delivers single-serve fresh meals that are never frozen and ready to eat in about three minutes. Simply heat up the meal and enjoy. Choose from four, six, eight, 10, or 12 meals each week from a library of over 30 different recipes. You can switch up the number of meals delivered weekly if desired.

Freshly offers the ability to filter meals from low sodium to high sodium. You can click on each meal to see the complete nutrition facts and the exact milligrams of sodium before adding to your cart. You can also filter calories, carbohydrates, total fat, and protein from low to high or high to low based on your goals. In addition, once logged into your account, you can set your dietary preferences for over 15 different foods by choosing “enjoy,” “neutral,” or “avoid” for each food item to get suggestions for meals based on your preferences. Freshly meals last three to five days in the refrigerator.

Best for Families: Sunbasket

Key Specs

Lowest Price Per Serving: $8.99
Number of Diets Served: 8
Number of Recipes: 43

Pros

Option to choose meal kits or heat and eat meals
Over 10 menu plans to choose from
Less than 800mg sodium per serving

Cons

Facility is not free from top 8 allergens; potential for cross contamination
Not a good fit if there are allergies in the family

Overview

With over 10 menu plans to choose from, Sunbasket has options for everyone in the family, even the pickiest eaters. First, select if you want a meal kit or "Fresh and Ready" meals. Meal kits include ingredients and easy-to-follow recipe instructions so you can cook dinner in 15 to 40 minutes. The single-serving “Fresh and Ready” meals simply have to be heated, making a great option for busy nights when you want a healthy dinner on the table in three minutes or less.

Next, select any diets you follow: Paleo, gluten-free, vegetarian, pescatarian, Mediterranean, or diabetes-friendly. Then, filter for a variety of preferences, including “low sodium.” All of Sunbasket’s meals contain limited sodium, typically less than 800mg per serving.

In addition to choosing low sodium, you can also select to avoid any foods you are allergic to or don’t like. Choose anywhere from two to six dinners per week for two or four people. Sunbasket’s ingredients are all USDA certified organic, and meals range from 400 to 800 calories with at least five grams of fiber and 10 grams of protein per serving.

Best Plant-Based: Splendid Spoon

Key Specs

Lowest Price Per Serving: $9
Number of Diets Served: 2
Number of Recipes: 65

Pros

Vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, non-GMO meals
Ability to customize meals each week
3-5 new flavors added every season

Cons

Only has soups, grain and noodle bowls, and smoothies
No specific diet type plans like keto or paleo

Overview

Splendid Spoon serves up ready-made, 100% plant-based soups, smoothies, and grain bowls. The company partners with a registered dietitian to keep sodium low in most of their meals, aiming to stay under 12% to 15% of the recommended daily value for sodium. In addition, they include a “low sodium” filter, which includes meals in which sodium comprises 12% of the daily value or less. You can further filter with selections like “higher fiber” or “lower sugar.” And, you can choose foods to avoid like soy, cilantro, or coconut.

First, choose from one of six meal plans—Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Reset; Breakfast, Lunch, and Reset; Breakfast and Lunch; Lunch; Breakfast; or On-Demand Box. Meals start as low as $6 per serving with their discount. Each plan includes meals for five days. For example, the breakfast and lunch plan has five breakfasts and five lunches in single-serve portions. After choosing a plan, select which meals you want from over 50 vegan meals. While they don’t have specific plans such as "Keto," all of their meals are vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free.

You can choose if you want meals weekly, biweekly, or monthly. Splendid Spoon’s soups and grain bowls are flash-frozen to preserve nutrients, shipped frozen, and are best consumed within one to two weeks of refrigeration. You can also freeze them and eat them within one to three months. Each bowl is 16 ounces and designed to be one meal or split up into two snack portions. The smoothies are refrigerated and shipped on dry ice.

Best Heat and Eat: MagicKitchen.com

Key Specs

Lowest Price Per Serving: $12
Number of Diets Served: 11
Number of Recipes: 28

Pros

Includes renal, dialysis-friendly, and low-sodium plans
No cooking required
Less than 500-700mg sodium per serving

Cons

More expensive than other heat-and-eat companies
Some meals lack vegetables

Overview

MagicKitchen.com specializes in meals for seniors and offers over 12 different meal plans specifically made for those who need to be on special diets like low sodium, renal, or dialysis-friendly plans. You can choose complete meals or a la carte options. All meals are fully cooked by chefs and flash-frozen to preserve nutrients. No cooking is required on your end—simply reheat in the microwave or oven.

Since it's important that your meals are not only healthy but taste good, if you don’t like your MagicKitchen.com meal, they will replace it or give you a credit to try something else. The downside is that the meals are more expensive and don’t include as many vegetables as some of the other heat-and-eat options. However, you can be sure you’re getting a meal that’s good for your heart with their low-sodium plan.

Final Verdict

The BistroMD Heart Healthy Program takes the number one spot for ensuring all of their meals are less than 600mg of sodium and less than 3.5 grams of saturated fat per serving. Not only that, but the food is doctor-designed and dietitian-approved, and subscription includes a private portal for editing your own meals and getting support from the BistroMD community. If you have any food allergies, Fresh n' Lean could be ideal. Or, if you eat a plant-based diet, Splendid Spoon is a great option.

Guide to Choosing the Best Low Sodium Meal Delivery Services

Is a Low Sodium Diet Right for You?

Not everyone needs to follow a low sodium diet. However, most people would benefit from keeping an eye on sodium content since the average American consumes about 1,000mg more of sodium each day than is recommended. Consider these points to determine if a low sodium diet would benefit:

Prevention: The American Heart Association recommends consuming no more than 2,300mg of sodium each day. This can help lower your chances of getting hypertension and reduce your risk of heart disease. Further, sodium retains water in the body so eating too much salt can lead to feeling bloated or cause frustration if trying to lose weight.
Treatment: Your doctor may have prescribed a low sodium diet of less than 2,300mg per day or less than 1,500mg per day to treat a condition such as high blood pressure, which can lead to heart disease or stroke. Meal delivery services with low-sodium options can help you adhere to this diet.

Comparing Low Sodium Meal Delivery Services

Along with looking for meal delivery services that are low in sodium, look for those that offer fresh, plant-based food, variety and customization, and cost and shipping rates that fit your budget.

Sodium Content: "Look at the sodium content listed on the Nutrition Facts panel of the meal. If a meal contains 20% or more of the recommended daily value, it is considered 'high' in sodium. If it contains 5% or less of the recommended daily value for sodium per serving, it is considered 'low' in sodium. Choosing meals that contain less than 20% of the recommended daily value will help you keep a handle on your sodium intake per meal," says Dr. Joan Salge Blake, EdD, RDN, LDN, FAND, Nutrition Professor, Boston University, and host of the "Spot On!" podcast.
Plant-Based: While you don’t have to eat completely plant-based or vegan to follow a low sodium diet, plant-based foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are lower in sodium than animal products like meat and dairy.
Fresh Food: Look for low sodium meal delivery services that deliver fresh food with as few preservatives as possible.
Variety and Customization: If you have food allergies or follow a specific diet like paleo, keto, or vegan, look for low sodium meal delivery services that cater to these diets and allow you to filter for allergens.
Cost: Compare the cost per serving of the meal plans you are considering to see which fits best with your goals and lifestyle. Consider how many meals you will order per week and month and look at shipping cost as shipping can range from free to $18 or more per box.

Sustaining a Low Sodium Lifestyle

Low sodium meal delivery services can make it easier to stick to your low sodium diet because there’s no guessing how much salt is in your dinner. Meal kits either give you the exact amount of sodium in the meal or provide a range. Consider how often you will use low sodium meal delivery services, how many meals and servings you will order, and what type of meals you want. Most services allow the option to skip weeks or pause the deliveries at any time.

How Often: Will delivery be a regular occurrence each week or a supplemental option when you’re sick of cooking but still want a healthy meal?
Number of Meals: Consider if you just want to order dinners or if you want all of your meals provided for the week. Choosing a service that provides all meals makes it easy to stick to sodium goals but is more expensive.
Number of Servings: Will you be the only one ordering the low sodium meal delivery or do you have others in your household you need to feed? This will determine if you choose single-serve meal kits or servings for two, four, or more.
Type of Meals: Do you want meals that are heat and eat or would you prefer to receive the ingredients and cook the meals yourself? Some companies only provide one option while others offer both.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Low Sodium Delivery Services Be Part of a Healthy Lifestyle?

Absolutely. When putting together meals on your own, it’s time-consuming to calculate the amount of sodium in every ingredient. Low sodium meal delivery services do the work for you so all you have to do is scan the website for the meals that look delicious, double-check that the sodium is within a healthy range, and place your order. This saves you time from meal planning, shopping, and prepping on your own and makes it easier to stay within your sodium requirements for the day.

How Much Do Low Sodium Meal Delivery Services Cost?

The cost of low sodium meal delivery services varies, depending on the company and how many servings you order each week or month. The low sodium meal delivery services included here range from $2 to $12 per serving, with most in the $7 to $9 per serving range.

Methodology

The best low sodium meal delivery services were compiled by thoroughly researching the nutrition facts of the meal delivery services on the market and looking for meals containing 600 to 800mg of sodium or less. We also assessed services that have a “low sodium” option and spoke with a registered dietitian to gain insight into the best low sodium meal delivery services.