Meal delivery services are an easy way for seniors to have nutritious, professionally prepared food delivered right to their door.
During the pandemic meal delivery services provided countless seniors with a vital lifeline that helped them avoid going out and endangering their health.
But meal delivery services are not just for seniors. Everyone from busy professionals to stay at home moms and holiday merry-makers are discovering the many benefits of meal delivery services.
20 Benefits Of Meal Delivery Services
Recent events proved beyond a doubt the value of meal delivery services. Today people from all walks of life are taking advantage of the convenience and quality offered by these services. Here are 20 benefits of meal delivery as determined by our experts.
1: Meal delivery services help seniors unable to cook for themselves.
Too many seniors are going to bed hungry every night. They have arthritis that prevents them from cooking. Or they have mobility issues that prevent them from food shopping. Or some other malady interferes with their ability to buy and prepare the food they need. Meal delivery services enable these folks to get the high-quality, nutrient-rich food they need to maintain optimal health.
2: A meal delivery service lets you rest easy knowing your loved one is eating well.
The children of elderly parents often have conflicting priorities. They have to take care of themselves and their kids, but they also have elderly parents who may no longer be able to cook for themselves. Trying to balance these interests can be too much. Meal delivery services let you rest easy knowing your parent or parents are getting the high-quality meals they need.
3: A meal delivery service may be covered by Medicare Advantage.
Many seniors are not aware of it, but Medicare may pay for their meal service, if they can prove a medical necessity. Some Medicare Advantage plans (1) specifically cover home food deliveries to seniors in need. So if you were drawn to meal delivery services out of physical necessity and you have Medicare Advantage, check to see if your plan will cover the cost.
4: Meal delivery services save you trips to the grocery stores.
Even for young, healthy individuals making the trek to the grocery store can be an unwanted ordeal. It takes time, you have to search for parking, jostle with crowds, wait in checkout lines. It’s all too much. For seniors, it’s even worse. Whether you’re 26 or 76 meal delivery services save you the time and trouble of the supermarket shuffle.
5: A meal delivery service makes it easy to eat well.
Whether you are a senior living on your own or a busy professional trying to juggle home and career, it’s not always easy to get the nutritious food you need to maintain optimal health. In fact, sometimes it can be nearly impossible. Meal delivery services enable you to meet your nutritional needs in a safe and convenient way, that also allows you to expand your culinary horizons.
6: Meal delivery services provide healthy, well-balanced meals.
A lot of people, young and old, default to fast food because it’s, well, fast. It’s also familiar and, let’s face it, it tastes good. The problem is, with fast food, taste and nutrition aren’t really on speaking terms. Most fast foods are loaded with empty calories, salt, carbs, and sugar (2). None of which do seniors any good. Meal delivery service meals are typically low in calories and nutrient-rich.
7: There’s a meal delivery service to suit your tastes.
Want a vegetarian meal? No problem. Want something low in sodium? You got it. Looking for straight-up comfort food like mom used to make? You’ll find a meal service that can provide it for you. The variety of foods offered by meal delivery services these days is staggering. So no matter what you have in mind, you’re sure to find it.
8: Meal delivery services are convenient.
This is another significant draw when it comes to meal delivery services. You simply order the food you want for the next week, weeks, or month and then get on with your life. The food arrives in a few days, and any time you want a delicious, nutritious meal, you have it right there at your fingertips. A few minutes in the microwave, and you’re ready for gastronomic bliss.
9: A meal delivery service is a great idea for keto dieters.
The low-carb keto diet (3) is simple in concept and guaranteed to work if you stick to it. But while the keto diet is simple, it can be difficult to find low-carb foods that are both delicious and nutritious. Not to worry. Meal delivery services like SendaMeal offer plenty of delicious keto-friendly items, while other services allow you to check the carb content of items before ordering.
10: Meal delivery services are the perfect complement to your busy lifestyle.
For a lot of people, a 9-5 life is a quaint idea that went the way of the dinosaur around the turn of the century (4). They work harder and longer than their parents ever imagined. And they often don’t have time to prepare nutritious meals, even if they work from home. Meal delivery services enable these dedicated professionals to get their work done and provides them a tasty, nutritious treat when it comes time to eat.
11: A meal delivery service can help people achieve their weight loss goals.
The CDC and WHO have both declared obesity an epidemic (5)(6). Hundreds of millions of people are now obese, and the implications for both individuals and healthcare are grave. Losing weight has become a priority for many people, and meal delivery services can help with healthy, low-cal, highly nutritious foods delivered right to their door.
12: Meal delivery services can help prevent obesity.
Speaking of obesity, it’s not a phenomenon confined only to the young. More than a third of all seniors are now considered obese (7), but it has little to do with them eating too much. It has to do with them defaulting to calorie-rich, nutrient-poor fast food because it tastes good, frees them from cooking, and is readily available. Meal delivery services provide healthy, nutrient-rich meals for seniors that can help prevent them from putting on excessive weight.
13: A meal delivery service fulfills an essential need in times of crisis.
Grieving families need time to heal, and often the last thing on anyone’s mind is cooking. Yet they still have to eat. A meal delivery service can ensure that everyone eats well and keeps up their strength during trying times.
14: Meal delivery service meals figure out the portion control for you.
Often times people put on weight simply because they’ve lost track of how much they’re eating. In addition, many people who do a lot of cooking find themselves sampling the product before it gets to the table. This can also contribute to unwanted weight gain. Meal delivery services take the cooking out of your hands and do all the portion control for you.
15: A meal delivery service is perfect for diabetics.
According to the CDC 25% of those over 65 have diabetes (8). Every one of them needs to keep a close eye on what they eat. Unfamiliar foods, a change in eating schedule, eating more or less than usual, vitamin B3 levels, and more can all send the blood sugars through the roof. Most delivery services offer numerous items designed specifically to meet the dietary needs of people with diabetes. They can help take the guesswork out of mealtime and restore blood glucose order.
16: Meal delivery services help older folks stay in their homes longer.
One reason some seniors are forced to give up their homes and wind up in assisted living facilities is because they are no longer able to shop for food or cook for themselves. Meal delivery services can put an end to that trend and enable seniors to stay in their homes where they are typically happier and enjoy a higher quality of life (9).
17: A meal delivery service reduces food waste.
Regardless of age, people often prepare more food than they need. This excess food often winds up in the garbage disposal. Food waste is a hidden cost most people absorb without even being aware of it (10). Meal delivery services can dramatically reduce the amount of food waste in a house, with the savings offsetting the cost of the meal service.
18: Meal delivery services are dependable.
Meal delivery services like the ones on our list do not mess around when it comes to delivery. They use proven delivery services, including FedEx, UPS, DHL, and others with rock-solid reputations for dependability. If the meal delivery service says your food will be there Tuesday, it will be there Tuesday.
19: A meal delivery service is a step above normal take out.
Take out is fun. And supporting a favorite local restaurant is always a good idea. But sometimes you want something more. Something different. The incredible variety offered by most meal delivery services puts them head and shoulders above average, everyday take out. You’ll expand your culinary horizons while also reaping the other benefits listed above.
20: Meal delivery services can be surprisingly affordable.
While some meal delivery services are relatively expensive, others are surprisingly affordable. And because there are so many high-quality meal delivery services on the market today, you are sure to find one that will fit your budget. As we mentioned above, some are covered by Medicare Advantage plans, which can reduce the price to less than what you’d pay to cook yourself.
Conclusion
Meal delivery services proved their immense worth during recent lockdowns when they became the an important source of daily sustenance for countless people. Today, everyone from busy executives with no time to cook for themselves to college students in need of a nutritious meal and everyone in between is discovering the the value and convenience of the modern meal delivery service.