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Frozen meal delivery services offer a range of options for different diets. For their variety and convenience, these meals are becoming increasingly popular.

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend checking that these meals arrive at a safe temperature of under 40°F or 4.4°C and discarding the meals if this is not the case. Other safety tips include:

  • checking that the company uses insulated packaging and materials
  • checking and following the storage instructions
  • putting the meals in the freezer as soon as possible

Frozen meal delivery services usually run on a subscription basis and offer home delivery. People can choose their meals for each week online.

Companies frequently package frozen meals with dry ice to keep them at an optimal temperature during transit. They prepare and cook the meals, place them into heatproof trays, and seal and freeze them.

Below are some of the possible benefits and disadvantages of using these services:

Pros

  • less need for shopping
  • less time spent on meal planning
  • less food waste
  • less kitchen clean up
  • portion control

Cons

  • higher cost than shopping and cooking at home
  • a different experience from eating a freshly prepared meal
  • limited meal choices
  • reduced food quality, due to dehydration and exposure to air, also known as freezer burn
  • environmental concerns due to food transit and packaging
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Some factors to consider when looking for a frozen meal delivery service include:

  • Cost: Check the prices of meals, shipping costs, and minimum order amounts.
  • Ingredients: Look for transparency about ingredients and their freshness or quality.
  • Nutritional information: Check whether the company provides information such as the amounts of calories, fat, sodium, and sugar per serving of each meal.
  • Food variety: Check how well the menus suit dietary needs and preferences. For example, some companies cater to people on vegan diets or people with specific allergies.
  • Environmental impact: Frozen meals may come in a lot of packaging. Choose a company that commits to recyclable packaging and sustainable ingredients.
  • Customer reviews: A person can usually find these on third-party websites, such as Trustpilot or Better Business Bureau.

Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information presented is purely research-based and was correct at the time of publication.

Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here.

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Best frozen meal delivery for weight loss: BistroMD

BistroMD specializes in healthy frozen meals for weight management.

The company offers around 150 meal options, including breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks. They can be prepared in under 5 minutes.

Customers can choose from a full program, workweek program, or custom program, which have different meal quantities. They can also choose to skip weeks.

A person can select meals that are gluten-free, heart-healthy, or suitable for people with diabetes.

The company delivers throughout the continental United States.

Full nutritional information about meals is only available to BistroMD subscribers. The company says their meal plans provide, on average:

  • 1,200 calories a day for women
  • 1,400 calories a day for men
  • 40–50% of calories from protein
  • 30–35% of calories from carbohydrates
  • 20–25% of calories from fats

As an example, the website lists the nutritional values for the chicken marsala:

Chicken marsala

Nutritional valuePer serving
Calories290 (kcal)
Fat10 grams (g)
Protein30 g
Fiber5 g
Sodium630 milligrams (mg)
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Other sample meals include:

  • lasagna with garden marinara
  • chicken, rice, and cheddar casserole
  • seven-grain waffles with strawberry compote
  • a bagel sandwich with egg, caramelized onion, mushroom, and swiss cheese

Learn about other brands that deliver weight loss meals.

The cost can vary depending on the number of meals in an order. For example:

  • A $9.99 per-meal fee includes seven breakfasts, seven lunches, and six dinners.
  • A $11.33 per-meal fee includes five breakfasts, five lunches, and five dinners.
  • A $12.14 per-meal fee includes seven lunches and seven dinners.

Read our BistroMD review here.

Best frozen meal delivery for vegans: Veestro

Veestro makes 100% plant-based, vegan-friendly frozen meals. A person can cook them in an oven or microwave, and they are usually ready within 5 minutes.

People can choose from the following plans on Veestro’s website:

  • Á la carte: A customer chooses 10–30 meals per delivery. They can also opt for special programs, including gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free, kosher, low calorie, and high protein options.
  • Weight management: A person with this plan can choose 5 or 7 days’ worth of meals. The plan includes three meals a day, providing roughly 1,200 calories total for the day. There is a gluten-free version.

Customers can skip weeks and cancel the service at any time.

Veestro does not currently ship to Hawaii, Alaska, or Puerto Rico.

The company’s website provides nutritional information. Some sample meals contain:

Southwest BBQ chick’n

Nutritional valuePer serving
Calories360 kcal
Fat9 g
Protein30 g
Fiber6 g
Sodium800 mg

Mushroom stroganoff

Nutritional valuePer serving
Calories400 kcal
Fat12 g
Protein10 g
Fiber6 g
Sodium350 mg
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The per-serving cost of a meal depends on the plan and how many meals are in an order. For the weight loss plan, a person can order three meals a day, for five or 7 days, for a cost of $11.93 per meal.

On the à la carte plan, the per-serving cost drops when more meals are in the order. For example, a person might opt for:

  • 10 meals, starting from $12.82 per meal
  • 20 meals, starting from $11.93 per meal
  • 30 meals, starting from $11.03 per meal

Learn about other brands that deliver vegan meals.

Best frozen meal delivery for variety: Magic Kitchen

Magic Kitchen provides meals for families, with a specialized program for older adults. The service’s meals have approval from registered dietitians.

A person can place their order online or by phone and choose from an à la carte menu or complete meal package. They can opt for 1–3 meals per day.

Magic Kitchen caters to dietary requirements by offering meals that are:

  • suitable for people with diabetes
  • dialysis-friendly
  • dairy-free
  • gluten-free
  • low fat
  • low sodium
  • low carb
  • vegetarian

Sample meals and nutritional information include:

Baked tilapia, brown rice, and minted carrots

Nutritional valuePer serving
Calories320 kcal
Fat10 g
Protein28 g
Fiber4 g
Sodium390 mg

Egg patty with onions and peppers and roasted potatoes

Nutritional valuePer serving
Calories170 kcal
Fat5 g
Protein6 g
Fiber2 g
Sodium65 mg
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A person can have their Magic Kitchen frozen meals automatically shipped weekly or monthly. The company delivers throughout the U.S., including Hawaii and Alaska.

The website states that per-meal costs vary from $12–60, depending on the general menu and specific choices. This price does not include shipping.

Learn more about Magic Kitchen here.

Best frozen meal delivery for allergies: Paleo On The Go

Paleo On The Go delivers chef-prepared frozen meals suitable for people on paleo and autoimmune protocol (AIP) diets.

People can purchase individual meals, multiple meals as a bundle, or a subscription package with up to 11 meals.

All of the meals are free from dairy, soy, and gluten. There are also specific programs, including:

Bundle options include:

  • 2022 reset bundle: This contains 18 meals and four bone broths for $315, for a per-serving cost of $17.50.
  • Monthly meal bundle: The options change every month, but the bundle includes 10 complete meals, one soup, one bone broth, and one dessert for $225. This works out to $22.50 per meal, plus the soups and dessert.
  • Breakfast bundle: This includes six meals, an order of bacon, one bone broth, and one carrot cake muffin for $135, for a per-meal cost of $22.50.
  • AIP starter pack: This contains five meals, one broth, and a dessert for a one-time purchase price of $99, and a per-serving cost of $19.80.
  • Á la carte options: An empanada may cost $9.75, for example, while a complete main dish, such as Thai basil shrimp with vegetables may cost $22.

The company’s website provides the meals’ nutritional information. The information for two sample meals is below.

Hearty beef stew

Nutritional valuePer serving
Calories360 kcal
Fat11 g
Protein35 g
Fiber8 g
Sodium880 mg

Butternut squash soup

Nutritional valuePer serving
Calories320 kcal
Fat20 g
Protein10 g
Fiber5 g
Sodium420 mg
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Paleo On The Go delivers throughout the U.S., except for Hawaii and Alaska.

There is a $99 minimum fee for orders, excluding shipping.

Learn more about Paleo On The Go here.

Many frozen meal delivery services are available. Their ease and convenience may suit people with busy schedules or less capacity for home cooking.

Before committing to a subscription, it is important to consider dietary requirements and research costs thoroughly. Using a meal delivery service is often more expensive than preparing food at home.

It is also important to follow storage and preparation instructions carefully and make sure that the food is at a safe temperature when it arrives.