5 Best Meal Delivery Services For Seniors 2024: Top Brand Reviews
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BistroMD
- Custom programs available
- Includes support from registered dietitians
- Skip or cancel anytime
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Hungryroot
- Skip or cancel anytime
- Vegan and vegetarian options
- Shop groceries or recipes
- Offers snacks
Mom’s Meals
- Dietitian-designed meals
- Covered by some health insurance programs
- Meals as low as $7.99 each (self-pay)
- Offers pureed textures
Adequate nutrition is essential in all phases of life, but a well-balanced diet holds particular importance as we age. Unfortunately, many older adults find it challenging to prepare nutrient-dense meals for themselves, so malnutrition in this particular demographic is on the rise.
Malnutrition[1] sometimes referred to as nutritional frailty, can lead to loss of muscle tissue and decreased function. But meal delivery services for seniors have changed the game. They make nutritious meals more accessible for older adults, taking into account dietary restrictions, medical needs, and food preferences.
Some meal delivery services provide pre-made meals, while others offer all the ingredients needed to prepare your meals. Meal kits have proven to be a helpful service, promoting a plethora of options. We’ve done the research and identified some of the top senior meal delivery services available. Let’s explore.
5 Best Meal Delivery Services For Seniors In (April. 2024)
- BistroMD – Editor’s Choice
- Hungryroot – Best Vegan Options
- Mom’s Meals – Most Affordable
- Magic Kitchen – Large Variety Of Dietary Accommodations
- Home Chef – Best Delivery Service With An App
Benefits Of Meal Delivery Services For Seniors
Older adults who find it difficult to prepare meals may rely on processed foods for convenience. However, higher consumption of ultra-processed foods has been independently associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality[2]. Meal delivery services promote well-balanced nutrition and many other benefits, such as
- Saving time: Meal delivery services eliminate the need for grocery shopping or meal prep in some cases. You can have a nutritious meal ready in just a few minutes.
- Reducing food waste: With pre-portioned meals, you are less likely to have excess waste.
- Catering to dietary needs: If you have specific medical needs, many meal delivery services, organic or note, offer dietary accommodations.
- Providing predetermined portion sizes: Meal delivery companies take the guesswork out of food preparation. Portion sizes come predetermined for ease of cooking.
- Saving money: Less waste means more money saved. You pay for the food you will actually eat.
- Adding variety to your diet: Meal delivery services are great for someone who wants to add variety to their intake. Many meal delivery companies have hundreds of recipes to choose from, so every meal can be something different.
5 Best Senior Meal Delivery Services In 2024
BistroMD
BistroMD is a prominent meal delivery service that provides pre-made meals made from nutritionally balanced recipes. While they market their service as weight loss support, BistroMD can serve those in need of meal support of any kind.
- Custom programs available
- Includes support from registered dietitians
- Skip or cancel anytime
- Weight-loss focused
- Standard shipping is $19.95
Started by the husband and wife team, Ed and Caroline Cederquist, MD, BistroMD combines the science of medical doctors and registered dietitians with the culinary cuisine of top-notch chefs. They pride themselves on using quality ingredients, never using trans fats, artificial colors, MSG, chemical fillers, nitrates, artificial sweeteners, or added sulfites.
Choose from six available meal plans with prices as low as $8.24 per meal. If preparing meals isn’t feasible, you’re in luck. Simply select your meal plan and choose from a menu of 150 doctor-designed, chef-prepared meals. In addition, BistroMD’s menus include gluten-free, heart-healthy, menopause-friendly, keto-flex, and diabetic-friendly.
Your meal plans can include breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. No contracts are involved, meaning you can cancel or skip your subscription anytime. However, you can access support from a registered dietitian anytime while subscribed.
Since BistroMD primarily offers meal delivery services for weight loss, calorie-focused meals can be pretty restrictive and may fall short of some people’s nutrition needs. Also, even with a flat rate of $19.95, shipping can be expensive, and meals are only delivered on certain days.
Hungryroot
Hungryroot is both a meal kit and grocery service rolled into one. Take a short quiz, and Hungryroot designs a plan made specifically for you.
- Skip or cancel anytime
- Vegan and vegetarian options
- Shop groceries or recipes
- Offers snacks
- Starts at $65 per delivery
Hungryroot is a grocery and meal kit delivery service all in one. Take a quick survey and Hungryroot designs a subscription plan made specifically for you. With Hungryroot, you have the option to order grocery kits or recipe kits.
Each week, Hungryroot will recommend meals based on your preferences, but you’re able to make changes as needed. You have the option to include breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks, and you can choose the number of servings included in your shipment. Then, your food is delivered right to your door on your schedule.
Meals cost as low as $9.69 each if you order the maximum amount of meals per week. You have the option to skip a week or cancel your subscription at any time. That also includes the ability to change your dietary needs. Hungryroot offers dietary accommodations for several needs including vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, and others.
Mom’s Meals
Mom’s meals offer medically-appropriate meals through a subscription system that allows older adults to maintain their independence. The meals are designed by professional chefs and registered dietitians.
- Dietitian-designed meals
- Covered by some health insurance plans
- Meals as low as $7.99 each (self-pay)
- Offers pureed textures
- Not vegan-friendly
Mom’s Meals, meal delivery for elderly people, combines the nutrition knowledge of registered dietitians with the culinary talents of professional chefs to provide customers with delicious, medically appropriate meals delivered right to your door.
Some health insurance plans like Medicaid and Medicare will cover the cost of Mom’s Meals. However, if you are a self-pay customer, Mom’s Meals offers its meal service at an affordable price. Pay as little as $7.99 per meal.
Mom’s Meals offers a wide variety of menus, including heart-healthy, diabetic-friendly, gluten-free, cancer support, renal-friendly, general wellness, and others. You choose your desired menu based on your nutritional needs, and then you are able to select your week’s meals.
The fully-prepared meals can stay refrigerated for up to 14 days. You choose entrees based on your preferences and the number of meals per week that your insurance approves of or that you wish to purchase.
Magic Kitchen
Magic Kitchen is a meal delivery service that offers professional chef-prepared meals that are flash-frozen and shipped to your door. These fully prepared meals come ready for reheating in the stove, oven, or microwave.
- Buy complete meals or a la carte
- Covered by some health insurance programs
- Recipes reviewed by a dietitian
- Meals can cost between $12 and $60
- Small section of meals for one
Magic Kitchen offers meal programs that provide complete meals or a la carte options. In addition, you have the option to set up an auto-ship meal program and have meals sent weekly, every two weeks, or monthly without having to place your own orders. Otherwise, you can browse their menus and choose your favorite dishes every time.
Choose how many meals you want to be delivered per day. There are no commitments or contracts, and once you place your order, your food is delivered in 1-3 days.
Magic Kitchen has several dietary accommodations available within its meal programs. They offer low-sodium, low-fat, low-carb, dialysis-friendly, dairy-free, diabetic-friendly, and many others. Most are ready-to-heat meals, but a few require cooking.
One-serving meals are offered, but the variety is limited; most meals feed 2-4 people. Prices can vary, ranging from $12 to $60 per meal, but some health programs like Medicaid or Medicare will cover the cost of the meal plan.
Home Chef
Home Chef offers a wide variety of meal kits, some that require preparation and cooking and others that are ready for the oven. In addition, their easy-to-use app makes managing your subscription a breeze.
- Satisfaction guarantee
- Home meal kits are available in some stores
- Easy-to-use app for ordering
- The minimum order is $49.95
- Limited dietary accommodations
Home Chef offers a wide variety of meal kits, some with fully-prepared meals and some that require cooking. You can download the Home Chef app to easily manage your subscription and choose your meals for the week. You can add meals or adjust servings, and if you desire, you can cancel or skip anytime.
Unfortunately, they do not advertise many menus that accommodate dietary accommodations, which may affect some customers’ decision to subscribe. Home Chef offers calorie-restricted, carb-conscious, vegetarian, soy, and wheat-free meals.
Home Chef meals start at $7.99 per serving, and you decide how many meals per week you want to be delivered. Home Chef is also available in several stores nationwide if you don’t want to order online.
Some examples of meals available with Home Chef include a miso beef burger, Italian sausage and broccoli pasta, firecracker salmon, avocado ranch chopped salad, and many others. You must order a minimum of $49.95 per delivery, but Home Chef offers a satisfaction guarantee if you’re unhappy with the meal service.
Choosing The Best Meal Delivery Service For The Elderly
When choosing the right meal delivery service for seniors, there are several factors to consider. Home-delivered meals should help meet the nutrition needs of the elderly while still supporting their independence.
When reviewing senior meal delivery service companies, we considered the nutritional content per serving, the availability of dietary accommodations, the meal cost per week, the variety of recipes, and the ease of preparation. Lastly, we consider the meal delivery service reviews based on customers’ actual experiences.
Everyone has their own unique dietary needs and may benefit from one company more than another. Therefore, it’s important to consider all factors before signing up for senior meal delivery. Your doctor-referred registered dietitian can help you navigate your individualized needs based on your health history.
Final Thought
Senior meal delivery is changing the game for many older adults. Aging can make choosing a meal challenging when age-related conditions start adding specific nutritional requirements. Healthy meals are now more accessible than ever with easy-to-manage delivery subscriptions. There’s no need for meal planning, grocery shopping, or laborious cooking.
You can order complete meal bundles at an affordable price and have them shipped straight to your door. Most programs offer heat-and-eat meals, meaning older adults can have quality nutrition available in a matter of minutes if desired.
If you have dietary restrictions, most meal delivery services can accommodate your needs. Designate your restrictions and requirements and design your weekly meals accordingly. You might even consider ordering from companies that utilize registered dietitians in their meal-planning process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Many companies offer high-quality frozen meals for seniors.
Yes, you can find some institutions that will deliver hot meals to the elderly. However, not all areas have access to these meals. Some of the best meal delivery services discussed above offer heat-and-eat meals that come fully prepared and only need you to pop them in the microwave or oven.
Of the meals we reviewed, Mom’s Meals comes in at the most affordable price. If you are a self-pay customer, you can pay as little as $7.99 per meal. However, some health insurance programs will pay for meals for seniors delivered. Check with your health insurance provider before signing up for a subscription.
A well-balanced dinner for an older adult would include a lean protein source, carbohydrate source, healthy fat, and fruits or vegetables. Some older adults have difficulty tolerating large meals, so it’s essential to focus on the portions you can tolerate.
Prepared meal delivery for seniors can play an essential role in well-balanced nutrition for older adults. Some may benefit from dietary accommodations to help with the management of a chronic diagnosis, such as meal delivery services for diabetics. Others may simply benefit from the ease of meeting their nutrition needs through delivered meals.
+ 2 sources
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- Shlisky, J., Bloom, D.E., Beaudreault, A.R., Tucker, K.L., Keller, H.H., Freund-Levi, Y., Fielding, R.A., Cheng, F.W., Jensen, G.L., Wu, D. and Meydani, S.N. (2017). Nutritional Considerations for Healthy Aging and Reduction in Age-Related Chronic Disease. Advances in Nutrition: An International Review Journal, [online] 8(1), pp.17.2-26. doi:10.3945/an.116.013474.
- Rico-Campà, A., Martínez-González, M.A., Alvarez-Alvarez, I., Mendonça, R. de D., de la Fuente-Arrillaga, C., Gómez-Donoso, C. and Bes-Rastrollo, M. (2019). Association between consumption of ultra-processed foods and all cause mortality: SUN prospective cohort study. BMJ, [online] p.l1949. doi:10.1136/bmj.l1949.