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A ketogenic (keto) diet focuses on foods rich in healthy fats, with adequate protein and few carbohydrates. Some meal delivery services offer nutritious and convenient ways to easily follow a keto diet.
Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products.
All quotes are provided by Nutrition and Fitness Market Editor Kelli McGrane, MS, RD, Rachael Link, MS, RD, and Lauren Manaker, RD, all of whom received free meal kits to review.
Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here.
Many meal delivery services offer keto cuisine options. Below, we look at some top options people may consider trying.
A keto diet is an eating plan that people may follow to maintain a moderate weight or reduce body fat. The principle of the plan is to limit carbs so that the body uses fats for energy by entering a state known as ketosis.
A
Learn more about a 1-week keto diet meal plan.
A meal delivery service provides customers with meal kit ingredients or ready-made meals.
Recipients prepare the food by following the instructions or heating ready-made meals in a microwave or an oven. These services can be particularly convenient for people with busy schedules or little kitchen experience.
Research suggests keto diets may help promote weight loss. Therefore, they may be beneficial eating plans for people trying to maintain a moderate weight or reduce body fat. However, it is important to note that
Other scientists suggest that this diet may also offer some protective benefits.
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Another
Meanwhile, a
Currently, researchers do not understand much about the potential long-term effects of keto diets. However, a 2019 article suggests that their potential risks and adverse effects may make them unsuitable for people in the long term.
One common short-term side effect of this eating plan is a collection of symptoms that people typically call keto flu. Some of the
Some people may also experience so-called keto diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. A
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics does not recommend the keto diet for people with:
- pancreatic disease
- liver conditions
- eating disorders or a history of eating disorders
- gallbladder disease or those who have had their gallbladder removed
Medical News Today chooses meal delivery services that fit the following criteria:
- Nutritional value: MNT chooses meal delivery services that meet the average person’s nutritional needs and promote healthy eating habits.
- Ingredient quality: MNT selects meal delivery services that use fresh, high quality ingredients. Some also use organic produce or sustainably sourced ingredients.
- Variety: MNT chooses meal delivery services that feature a range of flavors and ingredients to suit different taste preferences and diets.
- Price: MNT selects meal delivery services with different price points to suit a range of budgets.
- Availability: MNT chooses meal delivery services that are available throughout most of the United States.
- Sustainability: MNT selects meal delivery services that reduce their environmental impact by employing recyclable packaging, carbon-neutral shipping, local ingredients, and other sustainable practices.
- Reputable: MNT only chooses brands that adhere to industry best practices and have passed our medical vetting process.
The following table compares the meal services in this article
| Cost per week | Cooking time | Skip a week | Cancellation | Delivery area | Shipping cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Factor | from $10.99 per serving | within minutes | yes | any time | contiguous U.S. | $10.99 |
| HelloFresh | from $9.99 per serving | from 20 minutes | yes | any time | contiguous U.S. | $10 |
| CookUnity | from $11.09 per serving | less than 5 minutes | yes | any time | many states | free |
| Green Chef | from $13.49 per serving | around 30 minutes | yes | any time | contiguous U.S. | $10.99 |
| Trifecta | around $110.99 | 2–3 minutes | yes | any time | all 50 states | $9.99, or $49.99 for Alaska and Hawaii |
| Fresh N’ Lean | around $160 | up to 7 minutes | yes | any time | contiguous U.S. | free with orders over $100 |
| Diet-to-go | around $226 | no information | yes | any time | contiguous U.S. | $19.98 |
| Five One Eight Kitchen | from $11.49 per serving | around 5 minutes | yes | any time | all 50 states | varies |
| Snap Kitchen | from $11.34 per meal | less than 3 minutes | yes | any time | Texas and many contiguous states | free |
| Sunbasket | from $9.99 per serving | from 15 minutes | yes | any time | most ZIP codes | first delivery free |
| Performance Kitchen | $181.30 for 8 meals | within minutes | yes | any time | contiguous U.S. | $25 free on orders over $160 |
| The Good Kitchen | from $14.95 per serving | less than 5 minutes | yes | any time | all states | from $9.99 to $14.99 depending on location |
| Clean Eatz Kitchen | $53.95 for 6 meals | 3–4 minutes | yes | not applicable | all states | free |
| Pete’s Real Food | from $70 per meal plan | up to 5 minutes | yes | within a specified time frame | all states, including Alaska and Hawaii | varies by location |
A person may wish to consider the following when looking for a keto meal delivery service:
- Price: Check how much meals cost and whether there are any additional charges for extra ingredients and shipping.
- Ingredients: Check the ingredients in each meal. People with allergies should avoid buying meals containing allergens and avoid using companies that cannot ensure all hypoallergenic meals are free from contamination.
- Nutritional information: Companies should list all the nutritional values for every meal they offer. This helps people check each meal’s calorie, carb, and fat content.
- Delivery: Companies should have a shipping information page indicating the areas they deliver to and any shipping fees.
Several alternative diets to a keto diet may offer similar benefits. The following sections discuss some of these in more detail.
Paleo diet
The paleo plan is an eating program that shares some similarities with keto diets. However, instead of focusing on ketosis, this diet revolves around consuming foods humans may have eaten during the Stone Age. The aim is to eliminate modern processed foods for improved health or weight loss.
Learn more about paleo meal delivery kits.
Low carb plans
Rather than strictly following a keto diet, some people may instead consider low carb options. These diets are similar to keto but are less restrictive around carb intake and tend to feature higher protein intakes.
Learn more about low carb meal delivery services.
Other options
If a person prefers not to try a meal delivery service but still wishes to follow an eating plan similar to a keto diet, there are a few options to consider. These include:
- Mediterranean diet: This diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, typically including less dairy and meat than a Western diet.
- Dukan diet: This eating plan is a high protein, low carb weight management diet. Nutritionist Pierre Dukan created this diet to mimic how hunter-gatherers may have eaten.
- Whole30 diet: This is a 30-day program that aims to remove grains, sugar, dairy, and legumes from the diet.
Many keto meal delivery companies offer ready-made meals for people following a keto diet.
A person can choose their preferred plan or menu. Then, after receiving their order, they can either heat their food in a microwave or store it in their freezer.
Grocery stores may also offer keto-ready meals that people can heat at home.
Keto meal delivery companies state that their ready-made meals are healthy, and most are free of gluten, soy, and preservatives.
Individuals can choose dishes that meet their specific nutritional value requirements.
It is important to consider the number of calories in a meal alongside other nutritional values to ensure a person is eating a healthy, balanced diet.
The keto diet has become more popular during the last decade.
It is so popular because it may be beneficial for people with obesity and polycystic ovarian syndrome, as it may help reduce appetite and insulin resistance.
The best company for keto meals will vary between individuals. This will depend on a person’s likes and dislikes, food preparation requirements, and how many meals they require per week. This may also depend on affordability.
Meal delivery services may offer useful and convenient options for people who find it challenging to follow a keto diet. For example, they can help ensure that meals are varied and nutritious. They may also make it easier for people to achieve their health or weight goals.
Although keto diets may be beneficial in the short term, they may not be sustainable in the long term. Those who wish to continue with a similar diet over the long term can choose from several meal delivery services or other eating plans they can try at home.