My 90-something grandma is a badass boss who lives alone, takes care of herself and loves to cook. After working as a chef and nutritionist for close to 30 years, she could tell you how to make the perfect Cornish game hen like she’s giving directions to the local Dunkin’ Donuts.
Yet, as a party of one, she’s reluctant to buy bushels of herbs or large amounts of produce she knows she won’t use. That, coupled with COVID precautions keeping her away from the store, mean her menu has been looking a little bleak. So in the name of flavor and encouraging older folks to feel independent and strong, I’m gearing up to get her a meal delivery kit for the holidays. But with more options than there are Kardashians, it’s daunting to choose the perfect one.
According to Barbara Ruhs, a registered dietitian and founder of The Market RD, it’s imperative that older folks eat consistent, nutrient-dense meals. “As we age, some nutrients are not absorbed as well,” Ruhs told HuffPost. “Pre-made meals can make it easier for seniors to consume adequate nutrition.”
Retired physical therapist and home-health care specialist Cathy Ellis added that getting nutritious food delivered at home can help with recovery illness or injury. Rather than risking falling or being in public, older folks can have their pantry stocked from the inside of their own house.
Philly resident Shelby Guercio sends meal kit deliveries to her mom, who is 62, and grandmother, who is 100, in small-town Massachusetts. “My mom lives alone and works two jobs and is so busy that I worry about her being able to eat full, fresh meals after a long day of work or in between jobs,” Guercio said. “With meal kits just showing up at my mom’s door, she can either cook it quick and drop it off for my grandma, or easily bring the ingredients over and cook them at my gram’s house.”
Guercio said that sending over meal kits is easier than having her mom and grandmother drive a long way to the grocery store. Additionally, using meal kits means her mom and grandma are introduced to new foods they wouldn’t be able to get at their local store. “They live in an area where [meal] delivery takes an extra day, but still shows up fresh,” she said.
Chef Jake Minigiello says meal kits can be a low-stakes way to introduce older folks to different, but doable, ingredients and methods of cooking, especially because the pre-portioned ingredients allow you to try something new without committing to buying a whole container of it. “It’s good how they just send you the exact amount of ingredients you need for a recipe to cut that waste out,” Minigiello said.
Although meal kits may cut down on food waste, the packaging and shipping required has been the subject of criticism. And the costs of these kits can be a barrier for many shoppers. While delivery makes food more readily available, the high price points mean it’s only really available to those who can afford it. (It’s also import to note that Amazon Fresh, Top Box and Hungry Harvest, all listed below, accept EBT/SNAP.)
When exploring meal kit and food delivery options, you may also want to consider the work behind the scenes, and how those employees are treated. If worker’s rights are important to you as a consumer, find a brand that works for your kitchen and your ethics.
“Of course, a local, subsidized, sustainable alternative would be amazing, but let’s be real ― if that existed, it definitely wouldn’t exist [in rural areas] for all the old people,” Guercio said. “You can hardly even get Grubhub out there.”
If you’re looking to get a loved one started on a meal kit or trying to find the perfect one for yourself, we’ve rounded up the best meal kits for smaller portioned food and dietary restrictions.
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How it works: Ten days before the food come to you, you get an email telling you to choose your dinners from 40 weekly recipes. You can chose up to six meals a week and portions come for two people or for four. (The more meals you order, the cheaper each becomes.) You can skip or decline an order up to five days before its scheduled delivery date, and can plan meals up to seven weeks in advance. Deliveries are made to most of the contiguous U.S. states, but you should check your zip code before ordering.
How much? Shipping is always $8.99. For a two-person portion, meals range from $9.49 to $11.99 per portion, depending on how frequent the deliveries are.
Check out Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon.
How it works: After creating an account, you log on to choose your recipes and which day you want your ingredients delivered. There tons of dietary options like no meat, low-carb, dairy-free and low-calorie, and easy-cook options like "under 30 minutes" and "one-pot" meals. It's important to note that Dinnerly uses digital recipes; there is not a paper flyer like other kits, so some understanding of a smartphone or computer is needed.
How much? Shipping is $8.99 and two-portion meals range from $5.59 to $5.89 per portion.
Check out Dinnerly.
How it works: As of now, Hungry Harvest only delivers in Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, Greater Philadelphia, Southern New Jersey, Northern Delaware, South Florida, the Triangle area and Charlotte in North Carolina and the Detroit metro area. Select the size of harvest you want and weekly or biweekly deliveries.
How much? The mini harvest is $15 per box with $3.49 shipping. Shipping is free on orders over $29.99.
Check out Hungry Harvest.
How it works: First, you choose between meal kits or prepared meals. For kits, you pick your number of servings (two or four) and how many dinners you want (three or four). Prepared meals come in single servings and you can get six, eight or 10 a week. There are options like high-protein, gluten-free, "easy" meals or "Chef’s Choice" meals, where you don't choose. To skip a delivery, just alert the website before 11 p.m. ET on Tuesdays.
How much? For meal kits, servings are $9.99 to $11.99 per serving depending on how frequent the meals are delivered. Prepared meals are $12.99 each, regardless of frequency.
Check out Purple Carrot.
How it works: Amazon Fresh delivers in most of the continental U.S., but check the zip code to make sure. Then, like ordering anything from Amazon, click around and find what you like. Delivery is often available same-day or the next day. Check out the SNAP-eligible page to use your SNAP/EBT on Amazon Fresh.
How much? Just like the grocery store, each item is priced separately. When using SNAP/EBT, delivery is free even if you're not an Amazon Prime member.
Check out SNAP-Eligible Amazon Fresh.
How it works: Upon signing up, you take a quiz to develop your grocery plan. Select "fresh veggies" for a vegetable selection every week, and "premium proteins" for meatballs, chicken breasts, Beyond meats and more. You can select "ready to eat" meals for things that only need the microwave or heating up on a stovetop. Every week Hungry Root will send you their suggestions for foods they think you'd like, and recipes you can make with the groceries.
How much? Plans start at $65 and are totally customizable.
Check out Hungry Root.
How it works: First, decide if you want the prepared meals or meal kits. Then select all your dietary preferences and restrictions, like "low sodium" or "avoid lamb." Each week, you'll get to see a bank of recipes and pre-made meals that fit your needs. Choose the one(s) you want, then pick the day of delivery.
How much? Shipping is $7.99.Prepared meals are for one, and start at $9.99 a serving for up to 10 meals week. Meal kits come in servings of two or four, for two to five dinners a week, from $11.49 to $14.49 per serving, depending on frequency.
Check out Sunbasket.
How it works: Select the "type" of meal you want — "Keto/Paleo," "balanced" (no diet restrictions) or "plant-powered" (vegan and vegetarian options) -- then choose if you want two, four or six portions and if you want three or four meals a week.
How much? Shipping is $9.99. A two-portion meal ranges from $11.49-$11.99 per serving, depending on frequency.
Check out Green Chef.
How it works: As of now, Top Box Foods delivers food around Illinois, Georgia and Louisiana. You place your order before the stated date each month and get your groceries about four days later. On the website, you can choose if you want pantry staples like oatmeal and milk or a box to make a meal. They have a bank of recipes to help you chose your groceries.
How much? Take Box Foods takes EBT/SNAP. There is no delivery fee. Boxes range from $9-$23, depending on the selection, and individual items are priced separately.
Check out Top Box Foods.
How it works: You choose your meal preferences, such as "classic" (full display recipes) "veggie" (vegetarian recipes) "family" (kid-friendly recipes) or "easy" (all under 30 minutes, often using fewer dishes). Then you decide how many meals you want a week and what day you want the delivery. You can cancel or postpone at any time online. You can even order "protein packs" alongside your meals, which are chicken breasts and cuts of meat. The minimum is three meals per week.
How much? For a two-portion meal, it's $4.99 to $5.49 per portion, depending on how many meals you get per week.
Check out EveryPlate.
Before You Go
