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Gluten is a group of proteins found in grains such as wheat, barley, and rye. While most people can tolerate gluten without any problem, it causes serious symptoms for people with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity (1, 2).
For people with these conditions, following a gluten-free diet is key to preventing negative side effects.
Finding a gluten-free meal delivery service can be challenging, especially because many companies produce meals in facilities that also process gluten-containing foods, thus increasing the risk of cross-contamination.
So, what meal delivery service is best for gluten-free eaters? Here are our top picks.
Our writers, editors, and registered dieticians have tried over 25 meal kits. For this article, we chose some of the best services that offer gluten-free options.
Here’s what we considered when deciding what made the cut:
Gluten-free certification: Most meals are certified gluten-free or produced in a gluten-free facility.
Menu variety: Weekly menus offer a diverse assortment of dishes with a variety of ingredients.
Ingredient quality: Services use high quality, unprocessed ingredients that are often organic or sustainably sourced.
Availability: Shipping is available throughout most or all of the United States.
Price: Companies provide a good value for the price.
Vetting: We subject every company included in our roundups to rigorous vetting. We look at everything from business practices to medical credibility.
Every meal delivery service on our list has been reviewed by registered dietitians and vetted to ensure that it aligns with Healthline’s brand integrity standards and approach to well-being. Each service in this article:
is in compliance with the USDA and FDA food safety and manufacturing regulations
uses a trusted shipper to handle its food products
lists all ingredients, allergens, and nutrition facts on its website or product packaging
promotes a health-promoting approach to well-being
does not make unsupported health claims on its website or marketing materials
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Here are 7 of the best gluten-free meal delivery services for 2023. Note that the prices listed in this article reflect the current nonsale price per meal serving.
Gluten-free meal delivery may be a good option if you’re following a gluten-free diet and looking for an easy and convenient way to save time on cooking and grocery store runs.
Many companies even offer meal kits, which can help add diversity to your diet and increase your confidence in the kitchen by fine-tuning your cooking skills.
Gluten-free meal delivery services can be especially beneficial if you have celiac disease or another gluten-related disorder, as finding nutritious meals that are tailored to your needs may be challenging.
If you have any other dietary restrictions or severe food allergies, it’s important to consider your needs and preferences to determine whether a gluten-free meal delivery service is right for you.
Most gluten-free meal delivery services also offer options for other dietary restrictions or preferences. You’ll find that many have vegetarian, low carb, low calorie, and allergy-friendly options.
There are many factors to keep in mind when selecting a meal delivery service, especially if you follow a gluten-free diet:
Certification: In particular, if you have celiac disease or another gluten-related disorder, choose a service that is certified gluten-free or produces meals in a gluten-free facility to reduce the risk of cross contamination.
Variety: You may want to check the menu for meal variety, including options that fit your tastes. Some services also offer options for other dietary needs, such as vegetarian and keto. This may be especially important if you have other dietary restrictions.
Ingredients: If you prefer organic food or meals free of artificial ingredients and preservatives, you’ll want to browse company websites for more information about the quality of ingredients used.
Prep time: Keep in mind that the amount of preparation required may vary. While some services deliver dishes that are ready to eat, others provide meal kits that often require 20–40 minutes to cook.
Cost: Along with the price of each meal, you’ll want to consider the total cost. That means accounting for factors such as shipping and other add-ons.
A gluten-free diet is recommended for people with celiac disease, an autoimmune condition that causes the immune system to attack the small intestine in response to gluten exposure (5).
Because even small amounts of gluten can trigger symptoms for people with celiac disease, opting for meals that are certified gluten-free or produced in a gluten-free facility might also be necessary (5).
People with non-celiac gluten sensitivity may also benefit from a gluten-free diet.
Unlike celiac disease, gluten sensitivity isn’t an autoimmune disorder. However, it can cause a range of symptoms after gluten consumption, including:
Celiac disease can be diagnosed through a blood test, which looks for the presence of certain antibodies in the blood after eating gluten. If the blood test comes back positive, doctors will typically order a biopsy of the small intestine to confirm a diagnosis of celiac disease (7).
If you think you may have celiac disease, be sure to contact a doctor to get tested.
Currently, no reliable method is available to test for non-celiac gluten sensitivity, also sometimes referred to as a gluten allergy or intolerance (8).
However, if you think you may have a sensitivity to gluten, talk with a doctor or dietitian about the symptoms you experience after eating gluten to determine whether a gluten-free diet may be beneficial.
What are the best gluten-free meal delivery services?
The meal delivery services listed above all offer multiple gluten-free options. Be sure to consider your budget, dietary restrictions, and personal preferences to find a meal delivery service that meets your needs.
Are there any gluten- and dairy-free meal delivery options?
Most of the meal delivery services included in this article also offer dairy-free meals.
For example, Daily Harvest offers meals that are entirely gluten-free and plant-based. Similarly, Trifecta Nutrition provides a meal plan that is vegan and gluten-free.
What are the negative side effects of a gluten-free diet?
If you do not have celiac disease or another gluten-related disorder, following a gluten-free diet can make it more difficult to meet your nutritional needs.
It can also be expensive and may make it challenging to dine out or adhere to the diet in other social situations (9).
For some, too much of the gluten alternative of potato starch in prepared foods can cause stomach discomfort, like bloating.
What are the benefits of eating gluten-free?
Following a gluten-free diet can improve symptoms of celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity. For individuals with these conditions, eliminating gluten from the diet can help prevent:
However, there’s limited evidence to suggest that following a gluten-free diet offers any benefits for those without these conditions (9).
Should you trust a gluten-free meal delivery service even if it doesn’t have a certification?
Opting for a meal delivery service that is certified gluten-free can help reduce the risk of cross contamination, which may be important if you have celiac disease or another gluten-related disorder (10).
If you don’t have a gluten-related disorder and are simply looking to reduce your intake of foods that contain gluten, this may not be an important consideration for you.
If cross contamination isn’t an issue, there are a number of companies with gluten-free options that may work, even if the meals aren’t processed in a facility that follows gluten-free best practices.
How long do gluten-free meal deliveries stay safe to eat after shipping?
The longevity of shipped meals depends on several factors, including how long shipping takes, how foods are packaged, whether the meals are fresh or frozen, and whether you order meal kits (which come in raw ingredient form) or prepared meals (which generally arrive frozen in boxes with cold packs).
For example, Green Chef recommends using ingredients within 5 days of delivery to optimize quality. Meanwhile, Epicured recommends eating some of its meals within 3 days.
Be sure to check whether items are labeled with a best-by date or consider reaching out to the specific company you order from for more specific guidelines.
Gluten-free meal delivery services make it easy to enjoy healthy gluten-free meals at home.
When selecting a service, you may want to consider factors such as whether meals are certified gluten-free or produced in a gluten-free facility, as well as the:
cost
ingredient quality
menu variety
preparation time required
Last medically reviewed on May 9, 2023
How we reviewed this article:
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.