The 7 Best Diabetic Meal Delivery Services of 2024
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Using a meal delivery service can make life much easier. Not only do prepared meals take the stress out of grocery shopping, they can save you time and energy in the kitchen. For people with diabetes in particular, using a meal delivery service can be a great way to meal plan for a diabetic diet and manage your sugar intake.
Nowadays, many popular meal kit providers offer diabetes-specific plans that are high in protein, low in added sugars and portion-controlled. These science-backed diets help encourage healthy eating and include nutritious meals designed to meet dietary needs specific to diabetes. Or, if you opt for a more general meal delivery plan, you can still pick and choose diabetes-friendly menu options by simply browsing the nutritional information.
Whether you’re leaning towards a prepared meal delivery service for its convenience, or because you don’t like to cook or struggle with maintaining a diabetic diet, we’ve assembled the seven best diabetic meal delivery services for you to pick from. Keep reading for our favorite healthy meal kit providers of 2024 and why using a meal delivery service can be beneficial for diabetics, according to registered dietitians.
This content is meant to be informative, but should not be taken as medical advice. It is not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention or treatment of health problems. Always speak with your doctor before starting any new supplement or exercise regimen.
Our Picks for the Best Diabetic Meal Delivery Services of 2024:
- Best Overall Diabetic Meal Delivery Service: Nutrisystem
- Best Diabetic Meal Delivery Service for Weight Loss: Diet-to-Go
- Best Variety Diabetic Meal Delivery Service: WeightWatchers
- Best Diabetic Meal Delivery Service for Easy Recipe: Green Chef
- Best Plant-Based Diabetic Meal Delivery Service: Purple Carrot
- Best Prepared Diabetic Meal Delivery Service: Factor
- Best Organic Diabetic Meal Delivery Service: Sunbasket
Best Overall Diabetic Meal Delivery Service: Nutrisystem
Nutrisystem
Key features & specs
- Cost: Starts at $9.99 per day
- Products arrive: Monthly
- Delivery Area: Continental U.S. (all foods) or outside the continental U.S. (non-frozen foods only)
- Best for: Eating smaller meals throughout the day and online food tracking
Nutrisystem is one of the most popular meal delivery services on the market thanks to its expansive menu, flexible eating structure and weight loss tools like the NuMi app, which allows for food and calorie tracking. For diabetics in particular, Nutrisystem offers Nutrisystem D, a diabetes-specific meal plan that’s used by a reported 500,000 Americans with diabetes.
So what makes it so effective, and why is this diabetic meal delivery service our favorite? Nutrisystem D can be tailored to a men’s or women’s diet (meaning you’ll get the right amount of calories) and also includes lower-glycemic meals. In addition, Nutrisystem snacks and meals are meant to be eaten every two-to-three hours, which studies show is effective for managing diabetes and keeping blood sugar levels steady and spike-free.
Sample meals include a double chocolate muffin and coffee for breakfast, white cheddar mac and cheese and green salad for lunch, and chicken pasta parmesan and steamed broccoli for dinner - meaning you can still enjoy splurge-worthy meals at a fraction of the calories and fat. Overall, you’ll have 100 menu items to choose from, and while some customers report issues with canceling subscriptions and a few not-so-tasty menu items, most praise the service for its flexibility and focus on eating smaller meals throughout the day.
Related Post: The Complete Nutrisystem Review 2024
What we like:
- Expansive menu with 100 choices
- Eating every two-to-three hours
- Not your traditional “diet food”
- Protein shakes and snacks available
What to consider:
- Delivered monthly (meaning you’ll need a lot of freezer space)
- Portions are on the smaller side (the D plan is 1,200-1,500 calories)
Best Diabetic Meal Delivery Service for Weight Loss: Diet-to-Go
Diet-to-Go
Key features & specs
- Cost: $138.99 to $225.99 per week, depending on the plan
- Products arrive: Weekly
- Delivery Area: Continental U.S.
- Best for: Weight loss and low-calorie diets
Weight loss is an excellent tool for reducing the severity of diabetes and the need for diabetes medicine. That’s why weight loss diets like Diet-to-Go can be an effective way to reduce your overall body weight, which studies show can also be effective in preventing future diabetes for people who have been diagnosed with prediabetes. Diet-to-Go offers chef-crafted prepared meals designed for weight loss that are low in calories and ready in three minutes or less.
Diet-to-Go includes a diabetes-friendly variation of its popular and fan-favorite Balance menu called Balance-Diabetes, which is low sodium, low in cholesterol and heart-healthy. The plan operates on a five-week rotation that changes meals each week. Some sample meals include Greek pasta salad with tuna, porcini mushroom chicken and eggplant parmesan. You can also customize your menu with your meal preferences once your order is placed.
All Diet-to-Go meals are flash frozen and can be heated up in the microwave. There are also several cold options for breakfast, such as different cereals and yogurts. Plus, all Diet-to-Go customers are eligible for free health coaching with a registered dietitian, which is a major bonus many customers cite, especially when it comes to setting and maintaining weight loss goals. While a few subscribers complain about excessive packaging, many love the convenience and variety of meals, in particular the ability to adjust meal plans to specific wellness goals.
What we like:
- Created by chefs, nutritionists and registered dietitians
- Flash-frozen and ready in just three minutes
- Includes free health coaching with registered dietitian
- Menu can be customized for meal preferences or goals
What to consider:
- Some customers say bread items (like pita) can get soggy
- Meals tend to come with excessive packaging
Best Variety Diabetic Meal Delivery Service: WW (WeightWatchers)
WW
Key features & specs
- Cost: $10 to $50 per month, depending on your plan
- Products arrive: You can buy optional WeightWatchers frozen meals in grocery stores or use a third-party delivery partner like Magic Kitchen
- Delivery Area: Depends on where and how you buy frozen meals
- Best for: Community support and flexible eating
You’ve probably heard of WW(WeightWatchers), which has built a name for itself with its intuitive points-based program that assigns points to different foods you eat—essentially leaving no foods off limits. Anyone enrolled in WeightWatchers will get a set number of points to use per day, which can then be divided up amongst foods of your choosing. While the program itself no longer comes with ready meals, you can buy optional WeightWatchers meals (which have points assigned) in grocery stores or use a third-party delivery partner like Magic Kitchen.
People with diabetes can enroll in a diabetes-tailored plan from WW that promises reduction in blood sugar levels, weight loss, waist circumference and overall stress levels. This science-backed program also works alongside the WW app, where you can access a “glucose card” and monitor your sugar levels throughout the day. One of the nice things about using WeightWatchers is that you won’t have calorie restrictions. Instead, you’ll simply need to stay within your points budget, and a robust WeightWatchers community makes it easier to maintain your goals.
There’s a reason why millions of people choose to use WW. With an easy-to-follow program, strong support system and no-foods-off-limits style of eating, this diet program takes the structure and restrictions out of traditional dieting. Overall, customers rave about the flexibility of the program, and while a few say it’s too tedious and requires a lot of tracking, many people ultimately see weight loss results and don’t mind the legwork that comes with it.
What we like:
- Flexible diet style
- Strong support system
- Glucose tracking on WW app
- No foods off limits
What to consider:
- Requires a lot of tracking
- Ready meals aren’t included
Best Diabetic Meal Delivery Service for Easy Recipe: Green Chef
Green Chef
Key features & specs
- Cost: $12 to $13 per meal, depending on plan
- Products arrive: Weekly
- Delivery Area: Continental U.S., with the exception of parts of Louisiana
- Best for: People who like to cook and larger households
If you’re a fan of cooking your own meals, but still want a bit of structure and help with meal planning, a meal delivery service like Green Chef is the way to go. Every week, Green Chef delivers certified organic produce and premium proteins to your doorstep that come with recipes and detailed instructions for how to cook them. Luckily, all of your organic ingredients are pre-measured and pre-portioned, so all you need to do is throw them on the stove or oven.
Offering a flexible menu each week, Green Chef’s easy recipes are a great choice for diabetics who enjoy cooking, but may struggle to follow a diabetes-friendly diet on their own. Depending on your preferences, you can choose one of several plans that include keto, plant-based, calorie smart and gluten-free, making this meal delivery service a good fit for various dietary needs. Plus, your meals will never get boring - prepare to whip up everything from creamy ancho turkey soup, to baja-style potato tacos, to even beef meatballs with spicy ginger-lime aioli.
Featuring all nutritionist-approved recipes, you can feel confident in your food choices and still get the satisfaction of cooking up delicious entrees at home. For that reason, many customers love Green Chef, but it may be more expensive than other meal delivery services. Plus, many subscribers report that Green Chef meals actually taste good and come with great flavor.
Check out our in-depth Green Chef review for more information.
What we like:
- Easy recipes that can be cooked at home
- Multiple lifestyle and diet preferences to choose from
- Uses certified organic produce and ingredients
- Menu choices span multiple cuisines and flavors
What to consider:
- More expensive than other services
- Some people may not like cooking meals
Best Plant-Based Diabetic Meal Delivery Service: Purple Carrot
Purple Carrot
Key features & specs
- Cost: $11 to $13.25 per serving, depending on plan
- Products arrive: Weekly
- Delivery Area: Continental U.S.
- Best for: Vegans and vegetarians
Diabetics following a plant-based diet don’t have to fret about limited meal delivery service options. Enter Purple Carrot, a vegan-friendly meal kit service that focuses on plant-based eating. In fact, research supports the benefits of following a plant-based diet for people with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, as this diet can both prevent and treat the disease. Plus, you’ll also have the option of choosing a plan with easy-to-cook meals, or prepared ready meals.
Depending on the day, you’ll enjoy foods like quinoa tabouli, a roasted veggies bowl or mushroom cheddar black bean burgers. You can also stock up on optional “Plantry” items that include pre-packaged vanilla glazed donuts, chilled tomato gazpacho and even plant-based bacon. If you take the ready meals route, these meals take just five minutes to heat up and eat.
Overall, Purple Carrot garners excellent reviews from customers, and many subscribers enjoy that you’re able to choose recipes that can feed up to four people per meal—making Purple Carrot another great choice for large households. While complaints largely center around customer service and not the meal kits themselves, Purple Carrot remains one of the best options for people who follow plant-based diets.
What we like:
- Meals with recipes can serve up to four people
- Ability to pick between cooking or ready meals
- Optional plant-based pantry items are available
- Plant-based diet has proven benefits for diabetes
What to consider:
- May be expensive, especially for a large household
- Some customers complain about customer service
Best Prepared Diabetic Meal Delivery Service: Factor
Factor
Key features & specs
- Cost: $10.99 to $13.49 per meal, depending on plan
- Products arrive: Weekly
- Delivery Area: Continental U.S.
- Best for: Busy individuals or single-person households
Following a diabetic diet can sometimes be tough, especially if you’re a busy individual with just a few minutes to squeeze in for lunch or if you work in a busy office. Luckily, Factor (formerly known as Factor 75) offers tasty meals that are diabetes-friendly and ready in just two minutes. Factor offers a variety of meal plans, including keto or low-carb, high protein, and vegan and veggie. You can also select optional snacks, shakes and smoothies for on-the-go fuel.
What we love about this meal delivery service in particular is that all Factor meals are free of gluten, hormones, GMOs, antibiotics and artificial preservatives, so you can feel good about what you consume. Plus, you can find detailed nutritional information on each meal, which can be helpful for calculating how many net carbs or sugar you’ll consume per serving.
Many customers love Factor for its great taste that a few say rivals restaurant-quality meals, but the service can be expensive. Still, if you’re trying to consume a more balanced diet or seeking out the convenience of meal delivery services, Factor is one of your best bets for healthy meals.
What we like:
- Heats up in microwave in just two minutes
- Free of potentially harmful ingredients
- Nutritional information is clearly outlined
- All meals are gourmet and chef-inspired
What to consider:
- No diabetes-specific meal plan
- May get expensive with higher meal volume
Best Organic Diabetic Meal Delivery Service: Sunbasket
Sunbasket
Key features & specs
- Cost: Starts at $9.99 per serving
- Products arrive: Weekly
- Delivery Area: Continental U.S., with the exception of Montana, North Dakota and New Mexico
- Best for: Organic and sustainable eating
Eating organic isn’t just a trend or a marketing gimmick. Studies show that organic foods have the power to prevent diabetes, making consuming organic foods an excellent choice for people diagnosed with prediabetes or as part of a diabetes care plan. Whether you’re passionate about keeping an organic diet or even eating sustainability, Sunbasket meets both of those goals.
Sunbasket is an organic meal delivery service that’s surprisingly affordable, since organic foods are notoriously more expensive than their non-organic counterparts. Customers will have the option between choosing meal kits with pre-portioned ingredients and easy recipes, or fresh and ready meals that can be heated up in the microwave or oven. You can also choose between nine weekly menus, which include a diabetes-friendly menu with recipes approved by the American Diabetes Association and other options like paleo or pescatarian.
On the rotating weekly menu, you’ll find meal options like salmon cakes with tahini goddess dressing, smothered pork chops with garlicky collard greens and turkey bolognese. While there are limited family-friendly options (for example, there are few foods youth may want to eat), many customers say Sunbasket portions are satisfying, and that the meals truly taste good.
What we like:
- Focuses on organic and sustainable eating
- Nine diverse meal plans to choose from
- Portions are on the larger side
- Optional add-ons and snacks available
What to consider:
- Limited choices for younger eaters
- Packaging can be excessive
Benefits of Meal Delivery Services for Diabetics
It’s no secret that meal delivery services offer both affordability and convenience when it comes to meal planning (which may be tough to do on your own, especially for a diabetic diet with specific nutritional guidelines). According to UChicago Medicine, meal planning for diabetes can not only help you make smart ingredient substitutions, such as eating foods with whole wheat flour instead of refined white flour. It can also help you consume balanced meals with complex carbs, lean proteins and healthy fats, all of which help support healthy blood glucose levels.
Heart-healthy meals that are portioned-controlled and low in saturated fats and sodium are essential to managing diabetes, the American Diabetes Association advocates. “Just about every meal delivery service allows the individual to view detailed nutritional information on their meals—specifically calories, fat and carbohydrate amounts that are critical to weight and sugar control,” explains registered dietitian Scott Keatley, RD, CDN. “The meals tend to include starches, vegetables and protein sources, but most importantly, they are incredibly convenient.”
In addition to their balanced nutrition and convenience, registered dietitian at Balance One Supplements Trista Best, MPH, RD, LD, says diabetes-friendly meal delivery services can be an excellent asset to diabetes care and management. “Consistent portion sizes make it easier to monitor and regulate blood sugar levels,” she says of meal kit portion control. Plus, many meal delivery services cater specifically to diabetes, designing menus that consider glycemic index (which assigns values to foods based on how quickly and how high they can raise blood sugar).
How to Choose the Best Meal Delivery Service for You
With numerous diabetes-friendly meal delivery services on the market, it can be tough to find the perfect fit. While many meal kit providers offer diabetes-specific plans, their menu choices, preparation and even ingredients can vastly differ from one service to another. That’s why it’s important to do a little bit of research - and consider your needs - before picking a service.
Here’s how to choose the best diabetic meal delivery service, according to experts.
Cost
One benefit of many diabetic meal plan providers is that they offer a low-cost option for healthy eating and meal planning. Other meal kits, on the other hand, tend to be pricier in cost and can add up quickly if you’re having most or all of your meals delivered each week. Before selecting a meal plan, be sure to crunch numbers for monthly cost and factor in additional fees such as shipping and delivery. If one meal kit provider is out of your price range, you can also consider a lower-priced service, or reduce the number of meals you plan to have delivered each week.
Health Goals
Whether you’re diagnosed with type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes, you probably share a common health goal: to reduce sugar intake and keep blood sugar levels manageable. Outside of that, your health goals may vary greatly. Perhaps you want to lose weight as part of your diabetes care plan, or you’re seeking out a high protein diet to increase your protein intake (for which you can also consider adding a high-quality, diabetes-friendly protein powder to). Whatever your health goals may be, be sure to find a meal plan that aligns with your needs.
Prep Work
Diabetic meal delivery services can range from simple to more complex. On the easier end, you can opt for a service that delivers fresh or frozen meals to your door that require nothing more than a few minutes in the microwave. Others demand a bit more time from you and deliver fresh ingredients paired with recipes that you then cook and assemble. If you’re a busy mom, for example, and meal prep isn’t feasible for you, you may want to opt for ready meals. Yet if you enjoy cooking with a bit of structure, then a program like Green Chef may be right for you.
Nutritional Information
Luckily, most if not all meal delivery services outline nutritional information for every meal and menu option they offer. While it’s important to browse full nutritional information including ingredients, especially if you follow a specific diet or have dietary restrictions. Best suggests noting total carbs, fiber, protein and fats in particular if you have diabetes. “This information helps individuals with diabetes make informed choices that align with their dietary nerds,” she says.
Dietary Preferences
In addition to following a diabetic diet, you may have other dietary preferences or allergies. For example, you may eat soy- or dairy-free, or follow a vegetarian or vegan diet. You also might lean towards a Mediterranean style of eating, especially if you want to lower your risk for heart disease. With so many meal delivery services on the market, it’s not impossible to find a meal plan that is both diabetes-friendly and accommodates other dietary preferences. Just be sure to do your research and compare different plans to find one that’s right for you.
Balanced Meals
Best says that a well-balanced meal for diabetes should include a mix of lean proteins, healthy fats and complex carbohydrates. The CDC recommends that all diabetic meals include half non-starchy vegetables, like salad, green beans or broccoli; one-quarter lean protein, such as chicken, turkey, beans, tofu or eggs; and one-quarter complex-carb foods such as grains, starchy vegetables (like potatoes and peas), rice, pasta, beans, fruit or yogurt.
Keeping carbs in check is particularly important, as higher-carb foods have the highest impact on blood sugar. When looking for the right diabetic meal delivery service, be sure to select one that offers balanced meals (however, most diabetes-specific plans will do so off the bat). For protein in particular, Keatley says to look for meals with at least 20 grams of protein included.
Glycemic Control
Choosing a meal delivery service with a diabetes-friendly menu—whether that’s a standalone plan, or simply menu options that align with diabetic nutritional guidelines—is essential. That’s why many meal delivery services partner with registered dietitians to design their meal plans. For people with diabetes in particular, Best suggests finding a service that considers glycemic index or glycemic load when designing meals. “Lower glycemic index foods have a slower impact on blood sugar levels, making them more suitable for people with diabetes,” she says.
Portion Sizes
Whether you’re going for easy-to-cook or ready meals, one of the biggest benefits meal delivery services offer is pre-portioned meals. Even if you’re following a program like Green Chef where you cook your own food, the ingredients will always be portion-controlled. “Proper portion control is crucial for managing blood sugar and weight,” Best advises. “Consider whether the portion sizes are appropriate for your dietary needs and goals [before selecting a meal plan].”
Our Methodology: How We Chose the Best Diabetic Meal Delivery Services
We considered numerous factors when choosing the best diabetic meal delivery services. We looked at meal options, diabetes-friendly menus, glycemic index-designed meals, cost, brand reputation, customer satisfaction, ingredients and more. We also considered the overall variety that each meal kit provider offered to help ensure menu options never get boring or old.
Best Diabetic Meal Delivery Services FAQs
Here’s everything else you should know about diabetic meal delivery services.
Are ready meals O.K. for diabetics?
Ready meals can be a great way for diabetics to meet their nutritional needs, but they should also be chosen carefully, Best says. “While some ready meals may be specifically designed for diabetics, others can be high in unhealthy ingredients like added sugar, refined carbohydrates and saturated fats,” she advises. “Such components can lead to rapid spikes in blood sugar levels, posing challenges for diabetes management.”
What foods can diabetics eat freely?
Foods that diabetics can eat freely include beans, dark green leafy vegetables, citrus fruit, berries, tomatoes, fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, nuts and more. The American Diabetes Association outlines a full list of “diabetes superstar foods” beneficial for managing the condition, but it’s still important to monitor your overall carb and sugar intake from these foods.
What foods should diabetics avoid?
There are a handful of foods diabetics should avoid or limit. These include fried foods, foods high in salt, sweets (such as baked goods, candy and ice cream), beverages with added sugar and alcohol, since alcohol can make your blood glucose level drop too low.
Do plant-based diets work for diabetics?
Plant-based meals are an excellent choice for diabetics. “These diets focus on whole, unprocessed plant foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds,” Best says, “which are typically low in saturated fats and rich in fiber and nutrients.” Studies show that plant-based diets are also effective in preventing and treating type 2 diabetes.
Takeaway: Is a Meal Delivery Service for Diabetics Worth It?
Whether you’re strapped for time or having trouble following diabetic nutritional guidelines on your own, a meal delivery service for diabetics can be a great way to eat carb-conscious and nutrient-dense meals delivered right to your door. Be sure to find a meal delivery service that meets your needs, offers a diverse diabetes-friendly menu and ultimately offers tasty foods. For our top picks, be sure to check our list of the best diabetic meal delivery services of 2024.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.
Prices are accurate and items in stock as of publish time.
