Following a balanced diet as you become older is critical to lowering your chronic disease risk and maintaining excellent health. However, many older persons may find it difficult to cook nutrient-dense meals on their own, which can contribute to nutritional fragility (muscle loss and strength). They may be more vulnerable to injury and disease as a result of this.
Furthermore, older adults who lack the energy or ability to shop or cook may consume more convenience foods, such as fast food and frozen dinners. High consumption of these processed foods may be harmful to one’s health and reduce one’s lifespan. For some elderly folks, nutritious food delivery services are an excellent alternative. They bring easy-to-prepare meals and groceries right to your door.
There are various advantages to providing food services to the elderly. These are some of them:
Hot Fresh and Tasty Meals
The biggest advantage of using a food delivery service is that all of your meals will arrive hot and fresh. For long-distance deliveries, the meal can be frozen to retain freshness, and it only takes 5 minutes to reheat before eating. In addition, the caregiver or your loved one will be able to select from a wide range of menu options.
Meals Meet Nutritional Reqirements
Senior meal delivery services guarantee that the menu items ordered meet all of the nutritional requirements specified by the client. Food services provide specially tailored plans to make meals that meet each client’s nutritional requirements. This lowers the chances of your loved one being malnourished and developing additional issues.
Customizable for Special Diets
Some diseases and illnesses that mostly affect seniors require special dietary considerations. Fortunately, most food services allow for customized orders to fit your loved ones’ exact requirements. Some services also employ nutritionists and dietitians to assist clients with particular diets.
Save Time on Cooking
Meal preparation takes a long time. Allowing your elderly loved ones to cook on their own is not a good idea because of this. Ordering ready-made meals not only saves time but also ensures that your elderly parents are fed on a regular basis with hearty, nutritious meals.
What are the Top Meal Delivery Services for Seniors?
Here’s a rundown of some of the best senior meal delivery services. Let’s get started!
1. Silver Cusine
Silver Cuisine is a restaurant that caters to people over the age of 50. An order can be placed online or over the phone. The company offers breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. Shakes and snacks are also available at Silver Cuisine.
Meals range in price from $5.99 to $19.99, and the company delivers throughout the United States for an additional $19.95 shipping fee. There are no obligations, so customers can order whenever they want.
2. Home Chef
Home Chef delivers weekly meal kits to older adults who like cooking. Some only take 5 minutes to make. The company also sells pre-cooked meals that can be heated in the oven or on the grill. Calorie-conscious or vegetarian meals can be customized by adding more protein or swapping out items.
Meals start at $6.99 per serving, while delivery prices range from $7.99 to $13.99 each order. According to the business, it serves 98 percent of the United States. A person’s subscription can be canceled at any time, and weekly meals can be skipped or delayed for as long as necessary.
3. Moms Meals
Mom’s Meals is a company that provides ready-to-eat meals. They can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 14 days. According to the company, it partners with over 500 health plans to offer meals to people on Medicare or Medicaid. Diabetes-friendly, heart-friendly, renal-friendly, gluten-free, vegetarian, pureed, lower sodium, cancer support, and general wellness alternatives are all available at Mom’s Meals.
Prices start at $6.99 per meal, plus $14.95 for shipping. There is no obligation or contract, making it simple to cancel, postpone, or skip meals. The company ships throughout the continental United States.
4. Real Eats
According to the brand, each Real Eats meal serves one adult, includes no more than 600 calories, and may be eaten for lunch or dinner. Breakfasts, brunches, and snacks are also available at Real Eats. Each meal is packaged in a bisphenol A-free pouch that can be heated in the microwave or in boiling water. Gluten-free, plant-based, and high-protein choices are available from the brand.
Meals begin at $7.99, with no additional shipping charges. Weekly deliveries are available, and customers can skip, suspend, or cancel their orders at any moment. The company, however, only ships to some states.
5. Meals on Wheels
Meals On Wheels is one of the largest and most well-known food delivery providers in the United States. The organization specializes in providing nutritional meals to the elderly for free or at a significantly reduced cost. They’ve teamed up with over 5,000 big eateries around the country to ensure that no senior goes hungry. Furthermore, all of these local programs are specifically designed to satisfy the dietary needs of all seniors in the community.
Meals On Wheels, in particular, is reliant on public donations and congressional money to run its operations. In addition, the majority of the delivery people are volunteers who have gone through extensive training and background checks to ensure that meals are served on time.
Despite the fact that Meals On Wheels is a free service, you are encouraged to pay for deliveries if you can afford it. Your contribution can go a long way toward ensuring that no senior goes hungry.
The Bottom Line
A meal delivery service is an excellent approach for older persons to guarantee that nutritious and pleasant meals are always available. Meal delivery services come in a variety of forms, including completely prepared meals and meal kits, as well as specific dietary regimens.
Contact Thrive USA Homecare at 301-882-4717 if you have any concerns about meal delivery services or need assistance selecting the right meal delivery service for your needs. For advice, we have a local licensed nutritionist on staff.
