Registered Dietitians Tested Over 50 Meal Delivery Services to Find the Best Options for Seniors

This service is a favorite with our experts, registered dietitians, and testers for its high quality and fresh ingredients. The Green Chef menu offers eight meal plans — including high-protein, low-carb, gluten-free, and plant-based options — that can help seniors improve their diets and provide balanced meals. We also appreciate the emphasis on using non-GMO, organic, sustainably sourced ingredients.

The meals do require preparation. But our tester, editor Tori Martinet, RD, found everything well-labeled, easy to prepare, and accompanied by brightly colored, easy-to-read instruction cards. She says that some meals were slightly higher in sodium, but she “loved the protein content overall, the inclusion of vegetables, and the fiber that comes with it.”

While she found the meals healthy enough to eat a few days a week, she would recommend checking the nutrition facts for each recipe rather than assuming they're healthier than they are.

Martinet found that the biggest advantages of this service were the time saved, reduced food waste, and the relief from decision fatigue that comes from deciding what's for dinner. She appreciated the variety of the menu, with options like fajita-style spiced shrimp and steak tacos, veggie and bean-stuffed peppers, herbed turkey-and-kale bulgur bowls, and Mediterranean chicken. She also liked how easy the meals were to prepare. However, she says that Green Chef may not be the best pick for people with cardiac or renal issues, due to some of its menu items having higher amounts of sodium.

Read our full review of Green Chef. Not sure if this service is right for you? Check out our list of the best meal delivery services.

Factor meals are fully prepared and delivered fresh to your door. They are super-convenient because all you have to do is pop them in the microwave, and they’re ready in minutes. We also appreciate that they provide tasty, high-protein options.

Our tester, writer Kristy Del Coro, RDN, was impressed with Factor as a fully prepared meal option. “Typically, microwavable ready-to-reheat meals are all one texture (mushy),” she says. “I was impressed at how well Factor's meals maintained different textures after reheating.”

When sampling entrées like the shredded chicken taco bowl with corn salsa and cilantro crema, smoky gouda chicken with potatoes and Parmesan green beans, and herbed Greek chicken and tomato penne with garlic broccoli, she found that each part of the meal retained its own distinct flavor. It didn't all blend together, a common issue that she’s run into with other meal delivery services.

Some dishes were richer and higher in fat than she typically prefers, but she still found them enjoyable. That’s why reading nutrition labels is important, especially for older adults managing certain health conditions that may require lower-fat, lower-sodium meals, such as with a heart-healthy diet.

Another one of our testers, senior Randee Greenberg, says that using Factor meals simplified her routine. Having fully prepared meals delivered, without the need for grocery shopping or extensive prep, gave her more time to do activities she enjoys, like mahjong and pickleball.

We also appreciate that Factor offers tasty smoothies as an add-on. A decreased or fluctuating appetite and intake are common in seniors, and taking in liquid nutrition can help them keep getting enough nutrients.

“Smoothies can be a great option in between meals. You can lean on pre-made protein shakes that are fortified with vitamins and minerals if appetite is low to help fill in common nutrition gaps,” says Melissa Mitri, RD, a nutrition writer and owner of Melissa Mitri Nutrition in Monroe, Connecticut.

Read our full review of Factor.

If you enjoy cooking and like to spend time in the kitchen, you might be interested to know that HelloFresh offers one of the largest ranges of weekly menu options. The company serves up more than 60 picks each week in both fully prepared meals and traditional meal kit formats.

While the cuisines offered vary, with options like the Mediterranean tabbouleh bowl or spicy coconut curry noodle soup, many menu choices are more-traditional American-style entrées. You can find options including soups, flatbreads, tacos, noodles, and pasta dishes, as well as burgers and other entrees featuring a protein, a starch, and a vegetable. Portions are generous, and we found during testing that we often had leftovers.

Martinet says that most meals can include a vegetable, although not always, and the selection can feel repetitive over time. She says you’ll often see potatoes, zucchini, kale, broccoli, carrots, green beans, and bell peppers in rotation. She also found that the variety of grains is limited to mostly rice. Some proteins can be swapped or modified to increase variety. There are also add-ons such as soups, hot dips, and desserts, as well as ready-to-cook proteins like ground meat, chicken cutlets, and pork chops. This makes it easy to boost meals as needed.

We found that some meals may be challenging for people who don’t cook often or aren’t used to juggling multiple tasks in the kitchen. Also, while we found that the average cook time was about 30 minutes, some menu items could take nearly an hour. So, for seniors with more-limited mobility or stamina, the prepared meals could be a better option than the meal kits.

Another consideration is that some recipes are high in sodium and may not be the best choice for people on low-sodium diets. Overall, we think this pick would work best for more-active seniors who still enjoy spending time in the kitchen and cooking for more than one person.

Read our full review of HelloFresh.

Sunbasket is another favorite meal delivery service with our team of experts and dietitians because it offers an exciting menu. And according to Martinet, the meals feel “dynamic and interesting but not intimidating.”

We also love this service for seniors because of the variety of preparation options it offers; you can either order a traditional meal kit to cook yourself or choose fresh or frozen prepared meals. Also, if you’re following a plant-based, high-protein, low-sodium, or diabetic-friendly diet, this service has options.

According to the company, Sunbasket prioritizes organic produce, aiming to provide a minimum of 98% USDA-certified organic produce. Meal kit menu options include chicken breasts with olive-leek sauce and sautéed kale, salmon farro bowls with spinach and green-goddess dressing, Saigon chicken vermicelli bowls with pickled carrots and nước chấm dressing, and mushroom tostadas with pinto beans and cabbage slaw. The prepared-meal options include a Sichuan glass noodle bowl with pork, cabbage, and carrots (fresh), and spinach saag paneer with basmati rice (frozen).

We found that this service can be on the pricier side depending on how you order. But “unlike other kits, the pricing does sometimes include wild or sustainably raised seafood and other upgraded proteins in addition to organic produce,” says Martinet. And for people with bigger appetites or higher-calorie needs, there is a wide assortment of add-ons to choose from, including raw and pre-cooked proteins, breakfast items, yogurt, coffees, breads and spreads, deli items, nuts and seeds, and cookies.

The meal kits were easy to prepare, and the prepared meals were convenient, requiring only heating. Overall, Martinet found the prepared items, including the meats, to be really tasty, and the portion sizes decent. She also felt that the proteins, including meat and seafood, in some of the meal-kit dinners were not only high-quality but also super-easy to prepare; they “felt fancy” and “leveled up an otherwise simple dinner dish,” she says.

This service stands out for offering chef-crafted, prepared meals with over 50 menu items, including Asian-inspired, Mexican, Italian, bar food, and salad options.

All CookUnity meals are single-serve and oven-ready. You can browse menus by dietary preference — like GLP-1-friendly, pescatarian, Mediterranean, vegan, low-calorie, or low-carb — or filter further by protein (beef, chicken, salmon), cuisine, chef, or even meal type, such as lunch or dinner.

Our tester, writer Mary Sauer, tried entrees such as sesame salmon, the mission-style chicken burrito, and the pesto chicken bowl. There’s also an option to add on breakfast, cold-pressed juices, and treats. Meals are freshly prepared and not frozen. They arrive with instructions for oven or microwave heating; and some meals (like salads) don’t need to be heated at all. While Sauer found most meals heated well, some items, like mashed potatoes and cauliflower rice, didn’t.

Info on macronutrients — protein, fat, carbohydrates — is provided with all meals. But there is no micronutrient or fiber information available; these nutrients are important at any age but can be more so for seniors.

Also, to support bone health, meals should include key micronutrients, such as calcium and vitamin D.

Sauer says CookUnity’s portion sizes were mostly generous, and so was the amount of protein. She did feel that some meals could have included more veggies. She intentionally chose several high-protein, low-calorie meals, and those meals felt very healthy. However, she says that meals not specifically labeled as low-calorie were actually high-calorie (around 1,000 each), which could be beneficial for seniors who eat smaller portions and require more calories.

Read our full review of CookUnity.

BistroMD offers nine frozen, prepared meal “programs” to choose from. These include keto flex, vegan, gluten-free, diabetic, menopause, and heart-healthy. All meals are “doctor-designed and dietitian-reviewed,” and are focused on “weight loss and health management,” according to the company.

Most meals contain 25 to 30 g of protein, 20 to 25 g of carbohydrates, 5 g of fiber, 500 milligrams (mg) or less of sodium, and healthy fats. The daily average of calories ranges from 1,100 to 1,400.

The process of making these pre-prepared meals was easy; they could either be defrosted overnight or popped right into the microwave for three to five minutes.

Martinet found the meals healthy and the portions generous, though she felt hungry shortly after eating. For people with larger appetites, these meals may feel restrictive; adding a snack in between meals may help prevent this. Martinet also advises caution for people with allergies, as this service can be difficult for them to manage. That said, the service could be best for seniors who don’t have a large appetite and prefer the convenience of a frozen prepared meal.

Read our full review of BistroMD

This fully vegan service offers both prepared fresh or frozen meals and more-traditional meal kits, so you can easily create delicious plant-based meals in your own kitchen.

The standard meal kit typically takes about 30 to 40 minutes to prepare. Menu items are inspired by a wide range of global cuisines with a rotating weekly menu. Purple Carrot also uses a mix of organic and non-organic ingredients, and prioritizes non-GMO ingredients.

Our tester, writer Caitlin Beale, RDN, found both the meal kits and prepared meals to be fresh, flavorful, and generously portioned. She says the meals were generally healthy thanks to their wide variety of plant foods and plant-based protein. However, some meals were higher in carbohydrates. That could be a consideration for people watching how many carbs they take in, especially if they're following a diabetes diet.

Beale’s husband, who usually eats meat, tried most of the meals and still felt satisfied. While plant-based proteins like beans and quinoa help keep the meals high in protein, they can also naturally increase carbohydrate levels, she says. For example, a tomato soup contained 98 g of carbs per serving, or almost seven carbohydrate servings, which could be quite high for some.

Overall, we appreciate that this service offers high-quality, plant-based meals that are a thoughtful balance of complex carbohydrates, healthy fats, and plant proteins. We also found that an advantage of this service is that its easy-to-follow recipes provide a quick and simple way to add more plants to your diet while helping you cut back on processed foods.

Read our full review of Purple Carrot.

Territory provides fresh, prepared meals that just need reheating. The meals have been previously frozen and thawed by the time they reach you, and they only require about two to three minutes in the microwave.

All of Territory’s meals are free from gluten, dairy, and refined sugar. They're full nutrition, and ingredient information is provided for each meal. The menu offers meals for specialized diets, including paleo, low-carb, plant-based, Whole30, and gluten-free. You can also filter by nutrients and exclude items such as meats, dairy, nuts, shellfish, and tree nuts. This makes it easy to choose meals if you have a restricted diet or food allergies or sensitivities.

Martinet found Territory’s portions to be mostly generous. And while the nutrition profiles varied, there is a huge menu to choose from. So she felt the service could accommodate many different diets and health conditions.

We appreciate that the majority of animal proteins are grass-fed or grass-fed and grain-finished, and Territory’s fish and seafood are wild-caught or sustainably sourced, according to the company. The company also follows Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch’s recommendations and uses the program’s “Best Choice” or “Good Alternatives” for its seafood selections. What's more, no processed oils, such as canola or grapeseed, or refined sugars are used in Territory’s menu items.

We feel this service is a great choice for anyone who wants to spend limited time in the kitchen but enjoys fresh, healthy meals made with quality ingredients.

Read our full review of Territory.

Tovala is unique, because it’s a smart oven and meal-delivery service in one. The Tovala Smart Oven allows you to bake, broil, toast, reheat, steam and air-fry, albeit at an added cost. The oven is controlled by an easy-to-download app on your phone that you can’t connect to without using it; so, it may require you to be more smartphone-savvy.

All meals come with a recipe card that you can scan with the app. This provides the smart oven with the cooking temperature and time, and sends a notification to your phone when it's ready.

The service offers individually portioned meals or meals for two. The delivery service caters to many different diets, including pescetarian, vegetarian, low-cal/weight loss, quick meal, gluten-free, Mediterranean, high protein, diabetes-friendly, low cholesterol, low sodium, and more. It also offers a wide variety of meals, including soups, pasta dishes, grain bowls, and simple protein dishes alongside veggie dishes.

Our tester, editor Steven Rowe, tried and enjoyed menu items like the teriyaki salmon, apricot-glazed salmon, and creamy-spinach-and-artichoke ravioli. He says the portions were generous and more than enough for one person. Plus, the prep time was always under five to six minutes.

The menu items change weekly, and Rowe found them fresh and unique each week. Some meals repeated every three to four weeks, which he didn’t mind. You can also order add-ons, including breakfast items, extra proteins, and desserts.

Rowe says that each meal comes with a quick instruction card and QR code that the oven can read to set the temperature and timer correctly. All meals required minimal prep, such as putting a sauce on top of a protein before placing it into the oven.

Rowe found the entrees to be flavorful, high-quality, and satisfying. He enjoyed “not having to work hard at all to get dinner ready.” On a few occasions, he ordered two of the same meals so he could eat with his wife, and the Tovala Smart Oven handled two meals cooking at the same time seamlessly.

Rowe recommends this service for singles or couples. We also think it would be great for tech-savvy seniors who have the extra counter space for the oven and want protein-focused meals that require minimal prep and taste great. Take note, some meals can be high in sodium.

Read our full review of Tovala.

This service stands out for offering fresh prepared meals intended for older adults who can no longer cook for themselves. Mom’s Meals offers menu items that cater to diets including vegetarian, gluten-free, protein-plus, diabetes-friendly, lower sodium, renal-friendly, and heart-friendly.

The service also offers puréed meals for people with dysphagia or trouble swallowing. This health issue can happen due to conditions including stroke, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, dental issues, and digestive disorders.

Our tester, writer Julie Cunningham, MPH, RDN, found the meals flavorful. The portions are on the smaller side, with around 450 to 550 calories per serving, but that could work well for seniors with smaller appetites. Most meals required only one to two minutes of cooking time, and they came with very clear instructions. Cunningham was impressed by the calorie, cholesterol, and sodium counts on the nutrition labels. But she felt there could be more fresh fruit and vegetables added.

She says her 72-year-old dad also tested the meals, and he loved everything he tried. We think this service would be well-suited to seniors who can no longer cook at home, have specific health conditions, or lack the energy to prepare food but still want healthy, nutritious meals. Cunningham adds that these meals would be suitable for people following moderate diabetes- or renal-friendly diets.

Read our full review of Mom’s Meals.