You Won't Even Miss Cheese With These Dairy-Free Meal Delivery Services
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Finding time to cook all your meals from scratch can be tough. Layer in a dietary restriction like being dairy-free, and it can feel impossible. That’s where meal delivery services with dairy-free options come into play.
“If you are lactose intolerant, allergic to milk, or have another reason for choosing a dairy-free lifestyle, a meal service can help take out a lot of the guesswork with grocery shopping and make deciding what to eat much easier,” says Mary Ellen Phipps, RDN, founder of Milk & Honey Nutrition.
Plus, investing in a meal delivery service can be a time-saver and provide balance and variety to your diet, adds Kimberly Gomer, RD, director of nutrition at Body Beautiful Miami.
Meet the experts: Mary Ellen Phipps, RDN, is the founder of Milk & Honey Nutrition. Kimberly Gomer, RD, is the director of nutrition at Body Beautiful Miami.
Why might you eliminate dairy, anyway?
It’s estimated that anywhere from 65 to 70 percent of people in the world (and 36 percent in the US) experience lactose malabsorption (a reduced ability to digest lactose, which could cause unpleasant digestive symptoms), according to Phipps.
Some people may experiment with eliminating dairy products if they have other symptoms, like congestion, stomach pain, acne, brain fog, or fatigue, per Gomer.
And whether it sits well with you or not—if eaten in large amounts—dairy products like milk, ice cream, butter, and yogurt can contribute to significant amounts of cholesterol and saturated fat which can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke, Gomer cautions.
That said, a dairy-free diet is not going to directly help with weight loss and it’s not inherently healthier than a diet that contains dairy, Phipps underscores.
What should you look for in a meal delivery service?
If you do live a dairy-free lifestyle and are looking for a meal delivery service, take into account the cost, ingredient quality, meal variety, and whether you prefer prepared meals or pre-portioned meal kits, says Phipps. You also want to consider the delivery options so meals arrive when it’s convenient for your schedule, and whether you want fresh or frozen dishes, Gomer says.
Can you be dairy-free and gluten-free?
Yes, you can be dairy-free and gluten-free, says Phipps. “This is a common dietary strategy to help treat certain autoimmune conditions as well as chronic health conditions with gastrointestinal and inflammation impacts,” she explains. That said, always speak with a doctor or registered dietitian before making drastic changes to your diet.
Also remember that a gluten-free and dairy-free diet is not necessary for the typical person, adds Gomer. The goal of adopting a healthy diet is to enjoy eating a variety of foods and avoid over-restricting, she explains. Some people may experiment with eliminating dairy and/or gluten if they experience GI distress such as bloating, diarrhea, or constipation, but a gluten- and dairy-free diet does not automatically mean it’s “healthier” than a traditional diet, Phipps reiterates.
Keep reading for the 10 best dairy-free meal kits and delivery services, according to registered dietitians.
Territory Foods
Territory Foods is a go-to for Phipps because their meal plans are all gluten- and dairy-free and each meal is ready-to-go within three minutes. Plus, a group of registered dietitians and chefs curate the menu, so you can count on the dishes to be filling and balanced. Meals such as chimichurri brisket, curried split pea stir fry, or lentil and tomato stew are delivered on Wednesdays and Sundays and last in your fridge for up to a week. Oh, and the meals are never frozen, so you don’t have to sacrifice on freshness.
Territory Foods
Green Chef
Green Chef's vegan plan is great for dairy-free eaters, says Gomer. They also use recyclable, reusable, and/or compostable materials for packaging, so sustainability is a priority. Just be mindful that Green Chef is a meal prep and cook program, so each box comes with pre-portioned ingredients and all meals are guaranteed to be ready within 30 minutes or less. Previous meals include shrimp and shiitake salad, hoisin pork chops, and parmesan linguine.
Green Chef
Splendid Spoon
If you’re looking for lighter fare like smoothies, soups, and grain bowls, Gomer loves Splendid Spoon. The entire menu is plant-based, gluten-free, and dairy-free and all foods are certified non-GMO, she adds. Meals include options like a brown rice taco bowl, red curry noodles, or falafel. You can also order snacks like dragon fruit berry smoothies, wellness shots, or super green juices.
Splendid Spoon
Metabolic Meals
Metabolic Meals is one of Gomer’s favorite dairy-free recommendations because of their commitment to health. “They never use artificial flavors or dyes, MSG, soy, wheat, rye, barley, malt, triticale, brewers yeast, low grade proteins or processed vegetables oils,” she explains. All meals are delivered fresh and can be microwaved, air fried, or put in the oven, and you can customize the weekly menu. Some of the most recent meals include hot honey rotisserie turkey, cashew chicken stir fry, and black bean burrito bowls.
Metabolic Meals
Paleo On The Go
Paleo On The Go is a prepared meal delivery service that gets the thumbs up from Gomer because it offers tons of variety and all meal options are dairy-free. Transparency is also a main priority and all ingredients and nutritional information is easily accessible, she adds. Sample menu items include glazed meatballs, elk burger, or bang bang shrimp tacos and you can even order dairy-free versions of your favorite desserts like tarts, muffins, donuts, cake, and pie.
Paleo On The Go
Fresh N' Lean
Fresh N’ Lean is another top recommendation from Gomer since all meals are organic and gluten-free, and the vegan and paleo meal plans are great for dairy-free eaters. You can either choose your own meals each week or let the chefs curate a weekly selection, but you’ll always find something you love since the menu offers 100 fully cooked meals to choose from (hello, vermicelli noodles, tahini chicken, and fajita scrambles!). All meals are delivered ready to ~heat and eat~ so there’s no prep or clean up.
Fresh N' Lean
Sunbasket
Sunbasket offers a variety of customizable options, and you can easily filter to find over 20 dairy-free meals each week, says Phipps. Another perk? Sunbasket's comprehensive ingredient list is always accessible before purchasing. Fresh meals have previously included Moroccan-spiced salmon, kimchi fried rice, and miso glazed soba noodles, and you can choose between single-serving prepared meals, or two to four serving meals kits. Tasty snacks like cocoa truffle bars and dark chocolate covered almonds are also available.
Sunbasket
Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon
Looking for a gourmet, dairy-free meal? Gomer and Phipps both agree that Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon is your best bet! There are over 20 dairy-free options each week, and seasonal produce and ingredients are always a priority. Whether you love Vietnamese chicken and cabbage salad, lemon-garlic chicken thighs, or smoky Spanish pork roast, Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon will make you look forward to meal time. Oh, and all meals can be made in six steps within 30 minutes or less.
Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon
HelloFresh
HelloFresh offers a variety of meals for dairy-free eaters and is one of Phipps top recommendations. Meals like black bean soup, turkey fajita bowls, and coconut curry chicken come with easy-to-follow recipes, clear nutritional information, and high-quality ingredients sourced straight from the farm. There’s also no need to worry about fitting an awkward box into your fridge because all meal kits are specifically designed for easy storage. HelloFresh is also one of the more affordable options on this list, and they also offer a student discount.
HelloFresh
Hungryroot
Hungryroot offers easy-to-prepare meal kits that can be customized based on your dietary needs and preferences, says Phipps. Recipes like lemon pepper chicken, Korean BBQ chicken, and hummus wraps are simple to make and can be prepared within 10 minutes. Hungryroot also scores high for their healthy snacks and sweets, which are perfect to grab and go.
Hungryroot
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