Our Top 7 Affordable Meal Kits for Seniors
Alright, let’s get to the good stuff! I’ve personally tried or thoroughly researched each of these services, focusing on the criteria we just discussed. Here are my picks for the best meal kits that seniors actually love.
1. Home Chef: The King of Customization
Home Chef has become a favorite in our household, and for good reason: it’s all about choice. It strikes a wonderful balance between traditional meal kits and ultimate convenience. Their “Customize It” feature is fantastic, allowing you to swap, upgrade, or double the protein in many of their meals. Don’t like shrimp? Swap it for chicken. Want a better cut of steak? You can do that, too.
Why Seniors Love It: Their range of prep levels is the real standout. You can choose a standard meal kit that takes about 30 minutes, a “15-Minute Meal Kit” with pre-chopped ingredients, or my personal favorite for busy days, the “Oven-Ready” meals. These come in an aluminum tray that you just pop in the oven—no chopping, no mixing, and almost no cleanup. It feels like a home-cooked meal without any of the work. They also have a good selection of calorie-conscious and carb-conscious options clearly labeled each week. For lifestyle and community resources, AARP often features articles on nutrition and healthy living that pair well with services like this.
What to Consider: While they have healthy options, they don’t cater to very niche diets like vegan or keto as extensively as some other services. The cost can also creep up if you frequently use the protein upgrade options.
Average Cost: Starts around $9.99 per serving.
2. Silver Cuisine: Designed Specifically for You
This one is a game-changer because it was created with one audience in mind: adults aged 50 and over. Silver Cuisine, a service from bistroMD, is less of a “kit” and more of a prepared meal delivery service. The meals are designed by doctors and prepared by chefs to support a variety of health needs common in seniors. You just heat and eat.
Why Seniors Love It: The menu is tailored to senior-friendly diets. You can easily filter for meals that are Heart-Healthy, Diabetic-Friendly, Low Sodium, Gluten-Free, and more. The guesswork is completely removed. The meals are single-serving, which is perfect for individuals living alone. And the best part? They offer a 25% discount on your first order and 10% off all subsequent orders for AARP members.
What to Consider: Because these are pre-made, frozen meals, you lose the experience of cooking. If you enjoy the process of preparing food, this might not be for you. It’s purely about convenience and health-focused nutrition.
Average Cost: Meals range from about $10 to $14 before discounts.
3. EveryPlate: The Budget-Friendly Champion
If your primary concern is affordability, you cannot beat EveryPlate. As the most budget-friendly option on the market, it’s designed to be simpler and more affordable than traditional grocery shopping. The recipes are straightforward, classic comfort foods that are easy to make and delicious to eat. Think shepherd’s pie, hearty pastas, and tasty chicken dishes.
Why Seniors Love It: The price is the biggest draw. You can get a filling, tasty meal for a fraction of the cost of other kits. The recipes are genuinely easy, usually with just six simple steps, making them perfect for those who don’t want a complicated cooking process. The simplicity is a feature, not a bug. It’s good, honest food that doesn’t require a culinary degree to prepare.
What to Consider: To keep costs down, EveryPlate doesn’t offer much in the way of dietary customization. You won’t find dedicated menus for gluten-free, keto, or other specific needs. The ingredient quality is good, but not premium or organic.
Average Cost: Starts as low as $4.99 per serving.
4. Dinnerly: Simple, Affordable, and Unfussy
Dinnerly operates on a similar model to EveryPlate, focusing on incredible affordability and simplicity. They cut costs by using digital recipe cards instead of printed ones (which you can easily view on a tablet or print yourself) and featuring recipes with fewer ingredients. The meals are tasty, quick, and perfect for easy weeknight dinners.
Why Seniors Love It: The low price point is a huge plus. The recipes are designed for speed and ease, with most taking 30 minutes or less. George and I found their meals to be surprisingly flavorful for being so simple. It’s a great way to get a home-cooked meal on the table without overthinking it. They also offer some vegetarian and “kid-friendly” options, which are often great for seniors looking for milder, classic flavors.
What to Consider: Like EveryPlate, there are no options for specific diets. The reliance on a digital recipe card might be a drawback for those who aren’t as comfortable with technology or prefer a physical card to follow.
Average Cost: Also starts around $4.99 per serving.
5. Sunbasket: The Healthy and Organic Choice
For those who prioritize clean eating, organic produce, and high-quality ingredients, Sunbasket is a fantastic option. They are a certified organic handler and offer a huge range of meals catering to specific health-conscious lifestyles, including Paleo, Gluten-Free, Vegetarian, Diabetes-Friendly, and Mediterranean.
Why Seniors Love It: Sunbasket offers both traditional meal kits and their “Fresh & Ready” meals, which require just a few minutes in the microwave or oven. This flexibility is wonderful. You can cook when you feel like it and opt for a convenient pre-made meal when you don’t. The quality of the ingredients is top-notch, and their recipes are often packed with fresh vegetables and interesting flavors that can help you break out of a food rut. Their diabetes-friendly menu is particularly well-regarded.
What to Consider: Sunbasket is one of the more expensive services on this list. The premium, organic ingredients come with a higher price tag. Some of their traditional kit recipes can also be a bit more complex, so be sure to check the prep time before you order.
Average Cost: Starts around $11.49 per serving for Fresh & Ready meals.
6. HelloFresh: The Crowd-Pleasing All-Rounder
HelloFresh is one of the most popular meal kits in America, and for good reason. They offer a massive variety of recipes each week, clear instructions, and reliable quality. It’s a great starting point for anyone new to meal kits. Their menus are diverse, ranging from classic American to internationally inspired dishes.
Why Seniors Love It: Variety is the spice of life, and HelloFresh delivers it in spades. You’ll never get bored. Their recipe cards are large, colorful, and very easy to follow, with pictures for each step. They have several categories, including “Fit & Wholesome” and “Veggie,” which makes it easy to find healthier options. The portion sizes are generous, often leaving enough for lunch the next day.
What to Consider: While they have healthy categories, they don’t cater to specific allergies or strict diets like Celiac or Keto as well as a service like Sunbasket. It’s more about general healthy eating than medically-specific diets.
Average Cost: Starts around $9.99 per serving, but they almost always have great introductory offers.
7. Blue Apron: For the Adventurous Cook
Blue Apron was one of the original meal kits, and it has built a reputation for teaching people how to cook with unique ingredients and interesting techniques. If you see cooking as a hobby and a way to engage your mind, Blue Apron could be a perfect fit.
Why Seniors Love It: Their “Wellness” menu offers recipes approved by nutritionists, often focusing on carb-conscious or WW-recommended meals. For seniors looking to stay active and engaged, trying a Blue Apron recipe can feel like taking a mini cooking class in your own kitchen. It’s a wonderful way to learn something new and expand your culinary horizons. They also now offer “Heat & Eat” prepared meals for added convenience.
What to Consider: Some of their traditional recipes can be more time-consuming or complex than other services. It’s best suited for those who genuinely enjoy the process of cooking and want to try new things, not just get dinner on the table quickly. Opportunities to give back, like volunteering, can be found via AmeriCorps Seniors, and having easy meal solutions frees up time for such rewarding activities.
Average Cost: Starts around $9.99 per serving.
