Best Meal Delivery Services for Seniors

Cooking as you get older can be a real challenge, on multiple levels. For folks suffering from arthritis, even going to the store and carrying bags of groceries into the house be troublesome, and you haven’t even started cooking yet!

Opening cans, handling utensils, or reaching things both high and low may be difficult if you are disabled. Plus, forgetfulness when using the stove or cooktop, or mishandling of knives and other sharp objects can also lead to dangerous situations.

That’s why meal delivery services for seniors are so popular. The safety of knowing that you’ll be able to safely cook a healthy meal for yourself can save you a lot of anxiety and stress. As a bonus, since most meal delivery services focus on healthy meals, you can also guarantee you’ll get your daily recommended nutrients to stay healthy, boost your immune system, and fight disease.

There are many brands out there, but here are our top recommended meal delivery services for seniors.

Top 5 Meal Delivery Services For Seniors

Silver Cuisine

A meal service that’s designed specifically for seniors, Silver Cuisine knows exactly what seniors need when it comes to meal planning. Meant for ages 50 and over, Silver Cuisine comes in at about $12 a dinner. Shipping is $19.95.

You can stop and start your delivery any time you like; you’re not tied to a contract with Silver Cuisine. Orders ship Monday through Wednesday, so you need to allow two to five business days for your food to come.

The main perk of using Silver Cuisine to deliver meals is versatility. With a wide range of dietary plans and meal options, this service gives seniors a lot of choices to keep lunch and dinner delicious and different.

Meals are designed by a doctor and created by professional chefs, so they’re made to be healthy and tasty. A rotating menu means your food won’t be the same for weeks, with over 100 food options.

Meals come frozen, so keep them in the freezer until you’re ready to heat them up. This is a site with numerous favorable reviews, and the fact that it’s customized for seniors says a lot; you know you’re getting a meal that’s just for your specific age range and needs. 

You’ll get your food by FedEx and you can order as much or as little as you like. There’s no minimum order you have to meet when you’re ready to place an order. 

If you don’t have a computer or can’t get to one, you can easily call and order via the phone. This is a great option for seniors who may not have easy access to the internet but still want to ensure prompt meal delivery.

Order breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks from Silver Cuisine and enjoy your life instead of spending hours at the grocery store or in the kitchen! 

Freshology

For seniors, meal delivery services are a godsend. Freshology is one of the best because meals are delivered frozen, and all seniors have to do is pop them in the microwave. This makes meal preparation fast, easy, and healthy since meals are made to be nutritious and balanced.

A varied menu keeps lunch and dinner interesting and unique, and the meals are planned by a licensed dietician. Priced at less than $13.00, it’s an affordable option for what you’re getting, which is a meal that’s custom-tailored to each senior’s needs. 

For instance, for seniors that have special dietary issues, there are different plans available. Heart-healthy meals along with low-carb meals are some popular options for seniors watching their diet and eating healthy. 

You can order when you like, and you can stop orders when you desire. You are in control of your meal plan, which makes it nice. Each portion is perfectly measured out so you know you are getting exactly what you need. 

Seniors create an account online and with a few clicks, meals for the week or the month are set without worry. This is a great option for handicapped seniors who can’t stand in the kitchen for too long dicing and slicing vegetables or cooking for longer periods. 

Another perk of Freshology is that seniors who have questions about their diet or which foods are best for them can speak with a nutritionist to receive advice regarding their diet and help selecting the right meal for their specific needs.

Some menu choices include Turkey Meatloaf, Italian Chicken, Chicken Pasta, and Baked Salmon. You can also order breakfast and lunch. If you count calories or you’re trying to cut down on sodium, Freshology makes it easy.

Head to the website to get a discount when you sign up, too. 

Mom’s Meals

Skip the frozen and get fresh meals delivered to the door. For seniors who want to spend about three minutes preparing dinner, Mom’s Meals isn’t just quick and easy, it’s also delicious. 

This food delivery website delivers meals in special packaging that keeps them fresh until you heat them up, which only takes a few minutes. Making lunch or dinner couldn’t be any easier. If you’re waiting until the evening or the next day to eat, meals stay good in the fridge for 14 days.

Each meal measures in at a lean but healthy 700 calories and consists of nutritionally balanced dishes that are created by hand and planned by a certified nutritionist. 

The great thing about Mom’s Meals is that they cater to a variety of diets, including diabetes-friendly and renal-friendly, giving seniors with special dietary restrictions more appealing options.

You can order a three-meal trial to give Mom’s a whirl, and you can either select your own meals or let the company surprise you, if you’re not choosy and enjoy a wide variety of options.

Some meals you may enjoy include Homestyle Beef Meatloaf, Broccoli Cheese Soup, or Roasted Pork Loin. This company also supplies snacks. Order in advance for convenience.  

You may qualify for free meals if you are on Medicaid or Medicare and you have a meal plan. This plan is affordable, with each meal priced at less than $10. 

You can also select a vegetarian meal if you like. On the website, you can see the nutritional information for each meal so you know exactly what you’re getting. This is great for any food allergies or sensitivities you may have.

If you want food that tastes fresher than zapping a frozen meal, Mom’s Meals is likely as close as you can get without creating the meal yourself in your own kitchen! 

MealPro

MealPro is synonymous with flexibility. This service gives seniors a lot of input as far as creating meals. You can even choose your portion size with this service.

Meals are delivered fresh and vacuum-sealed so you can heat them up when you’re ready, and keep them cold in the refrigerator if you’re not eating yet or you’re planning a week of meals.

MealPro is great if you’re interested in eating organic, high-quality meals that don’t use any engineered or modified ingredients; it’s just simple, fresh, natural food prepared in the healthiest way possible to taste great.

Some of the meal plans you can pick from include additional protein, low-carb, and vegetarian. Meals come in boxes of either 18 or 21 meals. Choose your meals and read the list of ingredients for each one to make sure it matches your dietary needs.

MealPro avoids using allergens in their meals, which is great if you are sensitive to foods like nuts or shellfish. All meals are under $20 and most are under $15; high-dollar meals are generally meats like steaks or shrimp.

A rotating menu means dinner never gets boring. You can subscribe to the service, but you don’t have to. You can order from MealPro whenever you like. 

Another perk of MealPro is their rewards service. Each order gets you points you can redeem later for discounts. If you don’t have a long list of dietary requirements but you just want fresh, healthy, low-calorie meals, MealPro is an affordable option for delicious food that’s good for you.

You can heat up MealPro foods in either your microwave or the oven, whatever works best for you. This means you don’t have to prepare meals yourself or buy ingredients. 

MealPro does all the work for you. Just open, heat up, and enjoy homemade meals made for you! 

Magic Kitchen

Magic Kitchen strives to prepare healthy, fresh meals for seniors that are flash-frozen to ensure meals are at their peak of freshness when you get them. 

For seniors who love the quality of restaurant meals, Magic Kitchen is a good option. It’s also versatile, because there’s no contract with this service. You can stop and start meal deliveries as you like.

A bonus of this service is that you can order meals in bundles; that is, you can pay one price for two meals at the same time. It will cost around $250 give or take for a week’s worth of meals from Magic Kitchen.

Magic Kitchen doesn’t use preservatives in their foods, so everything is natural and fresh. There’s a menu designed especially for seniors, or you can order from the general menu if you know what kind of restrictions or diet you desire. 

There isn’t a flat shipping fee. Shipping is determined based on your order, though if you order over $120 of meals, you can get your order shipped for free. Order on the phone or online.

Some of the meals you’ll see at Magic Kitchen include A La Carte or Entrée options. You can put together your own meal from A La Carte, or order a complete meal with sides when you pick an Entree. This gives you even more choices.

Your selections include breakfast, dinner, lunch, and snacks. Choose from meals like Sliced Beef Brisket, Cheese Ravioli, or Chicken Cordon Bleu. Or, put together a tasty meal with soup, sides, and desserts of your choice for a customized creation.

A dedicated senior meal section means you can choose meals based on your diet, such as low sodium or low-carb. Magic Kitchen also offers senior discounts for even more cost savings. 

Magic Kitchen also offers special holiday meals.   

Choosing the Right Meal Delivery Service

Meal delivery services have been around for a while, such as Meals on Wheels, but their popularity has recently skyrocketed. This is because people lead busy lives, and it’s difficult to come home and cook dinner after a long day at work.

For seniors, it can be difficult to move about the kitchen and prepare meals and cook. Meal services can ensure older adults with disabilities or other issues can still eat a nutritious, healthy meal that meets their dietary needs without having to shop or cook.

Meal services that cater to older citizens are great because they make it super easy for seniors to heat up their own food. This can enable seniors to feel independent while still getting the nutrition they need.

One of the issues seniors have had in the past is dwindling nutrition due to not being able to cook for themselves, and this is something that should not be happening. Meal delivery services provide a welcome service for an affordable price, and they take the headache and worry out of seniors having to find a way to prepare meals or spend money hiring someone to prepare meals for them.

So why should seniors choose meal delivery services? It can be unsafe and scary for a senior alone to be using the oven, especially with agility problems associated with arthritis and other disorders. Dexterity is required when slicing vegetables, and some seniors may be compromised in this area.

Having meals delivered not only means seniors stay safe and away from the oven and cutlery, but it’s just nice to have someone drop by with a smile every week! This can be wonderful for isolated seniors who don’t see people often.

However, the most important reason for having fresh food delivered to a senior’s doorstep is to guarantee they’re eating right and staying healthy in order to live a long, happy life! Our seniors are our most valuable asset, so we have to take care of them.

Meal Delivery Service Options

There are a few considerations to keep in mind as you go to select the right meal plan for you. Weigh these factors as you make your choice.

Contracts & Recurring Fees

Some meal services come with a contract, which means you have to order a minimum of meals per month. This is also called a subscription. If you are going to be ordering meals regularly, it’s okay to get a subscription.

However, if you may order more sporadically or you’re not sure if meal delivery is for you and you don’t want to commit, choose a meal delivery service that doesn’t make you go with a contract.

Dietary Restrictions

This is a big one. You may have a very restricted diet, and not every delivery service can meet those needs. Narrow down the field based on what type of diet you’re on. For instance, if you’re diabetic or you’re dealing with kidney disease.

You may be a vegetarian or vegan, or require low-sodium meals. Keep this in mind as you shop for the right service.

Price and Affordability

Most seniors are on a fixed income or a pretty tight budget. Some of these services offer discounts or ways you can save money. Some take Medicaid or Medicare. Meal services range from $10 a meal up to $15 and $20 per meal.

Some services offer meal bundles or discounts when you order a set amount of meals. Stay within your budget by choosing the service that is most affordable for you. All in all, using a meal delivery service is just as affordable as buying and cooking ingredients, but it still needs to fit with your price range.

Delivery Range

When you sign onto a meal service site, you’ll have to enter your zip code or address. This is so you can see if the service you’re considering even delivers to your area. This can easily make the decision for you when you are choosing a meal service.

Not all services are available in all areas, though with the widespread popularity of these services, the meal delivery site you’re looking at will likely be available near you soon!

Shipping Schedule

Some services only ship on certain days. What if you need your meal sooner? You may find looking at delivery schedules a good way to pick a food service. Some services may allow you a faster shipping option, such as FedEx.

Some food delivery services may not let you ship food faster. It’s always best to check since each service has its own delivery schedule.

Especially for Seniors

Are you interested in a service that’s just for seniors? Some services like MealPro cater to a wide range of people. However, Silver Cuisine is solely for seniors, so they understand a senior’s special food needs.

Magic Kitchen also has a dedicated menu for senior diners.

Which Meal Delivery Service Should You Choose?

Let’s break it down and make it easier to choose the right meal delivery service for you.

Do you have a very specific dietary need? Freshology offers diabetic and keto meals. Silver Cuisine can fit the bill if you’re going through menopause, need a heart healthy diet, or you’re gluten-free.

Mom’s Meals offers renal friendly, diabetes-friendly, pureed, and cancer-friendly meals for a wide variety of options. Silver Cuisine supports a dairy-free, vegetarian, low-carb, or low-sodium diet.

Do you prefer frozen or fresh meals? For fresh, choose MealPro, Mom’s Meals, or Freshology. Silver Cuisine meals come frozen, as do Magic Kitchen.

Are you looking for discounts? Use your AARP discount through Silver Cuisine. Or, go through Medicaid or Medicare with Mom’s Meals. Get a discount on orders over $120 using Magic Kitchen. Magic Kitchen also offers seniors a 10% discount just for them.

If you’re a veteran, Mom’s Meals offers a discount just for you.

Picky about your choices? Tailor your meals to your exact tastes with Magic Kitchen or MealPro, and you can pick your portion size with MealPro.

You may be worried about your diet. Choose Freshology if you want access to speak to a nutritionist when it comes to planning the best meals for optimum health.

What about delivery? How much does it cost? Is shipping varied? For services like Magic Kitchen and Freshology don’t have a fixed deliver fee, but MealPro’s fees depend on your location.

Silver Cuisine does have a fixed delivery fee.

Frequently Asked Questions About Meal Delivery

Can you get weekly delivery of meals from a meal service without having to order each week?

Yes! You can set up what is known as a recurring delivery so if you don’t want the hassle of ordering each week, set up an automatic delivery and forget about it!

Can you substitute ingredients in delivered meals?

Most services don’t allow substitutions. Since ingredients are listed, it’s best to read the descriptions carefully and select the right foods for your diet.

What forms of payment can I use to order meals?

Use a credit card to order your food delivery. Some services, such as MealPro, accept PayPal as well if you are worried about your credit card information being online.

Can I send a senior a meal as a gift?

If you are reading this and you are a caregiver or family member and you want to treat your favorite senior to a meal or a week of meals, Magic Kitchen makes this happen! It’s a great gift idea for the senior in your life.

What if I can’t have seafood or I have severe food allergies?

Some services are very careful about allergies. Your best bet is to discuss this with the service before you order. For instance, MealPro doesn’t use any well-known allergens in any of their meals to avoid cross-contamination.

How long will it take to get my meals?

This varies by service. Some are shipped within two to three days, and some take up to a week to get your meals to you. This is the upside of a recurring subscription; you’ll never have to go a day without food as you’ll have your meals delivered automatically.

Silver Cuisine has certain delivery dates they ship on, but some services do not.

Can I put fresh meals in the freezer to keep them fresh for longer?

Some services, like Mom’s Meals, create meals that come fresh and not frozen. The best way to eat these meals is to keep them refrigerated for higher quality, but they can be frozen if you desire, it’s just not recommended.

Is there any preparation required with delivered meals?

No! That’s the beauty of meal delivery services. You just heat and eat!

I’m on Weight Watchers, can I get meals delivered?

Yes! Magic Kitchen actually has menu items that cater to seniors on Weight Watchers so it’s easy to stay on your diet and get healthy food delivered.

I didn’t like my meal. Can I send it back?

No, you can’t. Since food is perishable, services will not take meals back. However, make a note of this meal and avoid ordering it again and try new foods instead! There are many options and you’re sure to find meals you love!