In This ArticleView AllIn This ArticleOur Top PicksWho Should Eat a Low Cholesterol Diet?Compare the Best Low Cholesterol Meal Delivery ServicesChoosing a Low Cholesterol Meal Delivery ServiceOur Search for the Best Low Cholesterol Meal Delivery ServiceCommon QuestionsOur Trusted Expertise
In This ArticleView All
In This Article
View All
Our Top Picks
Who Should Eat a Low Cholesterol Diet?
Compare the Best Low Cholesterol Meal Delivery Services
Choosing a Low Cholesterol Meal Delivery Service
Our Search for the Best Low Cholesterol Meal Delivery Service
Common Questions
Our Trusted Expertise
Photo:EatingWell
EatingWell
Keeping cholesterol levels within a proper range is an important part of maintaining a healthy heart. While current research suggests that dietary cholesterol may not directly impact blood cholesterol levels as much as once thought, other components of cholesterol-containing foods can, such as saturated fat and lack of fiber.However, navigating all of the nutrition of the numerous products at the store can be tricky, especially if you’re new to it.Luckily, there are meal delivery services that can help take the guesswork out of aligning with your nutritional goals. UsingEatingWell’s nutrition parametersfor healthy cholesterol, we rounded up the best meal delivery services that may help you lower cholesterol while also meeting a range of dietary needs and preferences, from gluten-free to organic to budget-friendly. Read on to find our top picks.Our Low Cholesterol Meal Delivery RecommendationsBest Meal Kits:Green ChefBest Organic:SunbasketBest Prepared Meals:Snap KitchenBest for Weight Loss:BistroMDBest Gourmet:Mosaic FoodsBest Gluten-Free:Daily HarvestWho Should Eat a Low Cholesterol Diet?Anyone can benefit from eating a low-cholesterol diet. In fact, the2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americansrecommends that all healthy adults’dietary cholesterolconsumption be as low as possible without compromising the nutritional adequacy of the diet. However, some individuals can particularly benefit from a low-cholesterol diet, including people who have high cholesterol levels, a family history of high cholesterol or heart disease, and high blood pressure and diabetes, as well as those who’ve had a heart attack or stroke.
Keeping cholesterol levels within a proper range is an important part of maintaining a healthy heart. While current research suggests that dietary cholesterol may not directly impact blood cholesterol levels as much as once thought, other components of cholesterol-containing foods can, such as saturated fat and lack of fiber.However, navigating all of the nutrition of the numerous products at the store can be tricky, especially if you’re new to it.
Luckily, there are meal delivery services that can help take the guesswork out of aligning with your nutritional goals. UsingEatingWell’s nutrition parametersfor healthy cholesterol, we rounded up the best meal delivery services that may help you lower cholesterol while also meeting a range of dietary needs and preferences, from gluten-free to organic to budget-friendly. Read on to find our top picks.
Our Low Cholesterol Meal Delivery Recommendations
Anyone can benefit from eating a low-cholesterol diet. In fact, the2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americansrecommends that all healthy adults’dietary cholesterolconsumption be as low as possible without compromising the nutritional adequacy of the diet. However, some individuals can particularly benefit from a low-cholesterol diet, including people who have high cholesterol levels, a family history of high cholesterol or heart disease, and high blood pressure and diabetes, as well as those who’ve had a heart attack or stroke.
Best Meal Kits: Green ChefGreen ChefSign Up NowStarting Price:$11.99 per serving |Delivery Area:48 states |Products Arrive:FreshWhat we like:The recipes are concise and easy to follow and you can mix and match meals across dietary plans.What to know:Adding animal protein to your meals costs extra, as does shipping.Since 2015, Green Chef has made a name for itself as the first certified organic meal kit on the market. The produce and eggs are organic (or they’ll notify you if they can’t source them) and there’s always an option to receive organic meats or wild-caught seafood, though for an upcharge.Green Chef’s meal kits come with pre-portioned (often prepped) ingredients and detailed cooking instructions (which include colorful photos). The recipes can be tailored to feed two, four or six—and receive three or four meals per week. You can also add items, such as ready-to-eat breakfasts, snacks, etc., to your weekly delivery.Meals We TriedSpiced chicken with lemon-yogurt sauceRoasted garlic & fennel flatbreadsBBQ sweet potato tacosChicken and mushroom ramen with fried eggHarissa chicken with apricot pan sauceHarissa-spiced shrimpSesame ginger bavette steak and shrimpMiddle Eastern-style chickpea bowlsMaple glazed carrots with figsPHOTO: EatingWell / Brierley HortonPHOTO: EatingWell / Brierley HortonPHOTO: EatingWell / Brierley HortonPHOTO: EatingWell / Brierley HortonPHOTO: EatingWell / Brierley Horton
Best Meal Kits: Green Chef
Green Chef
Sign Up Now
Starting Price:$11.99 per serving |Delivery Area:48 states |Products Arrive:Fresh
What we like:The recipes are concise and easy to follow and you can mix and match meals across dietary plans.
What to know:Adding animal protein to your meals costs extra, as does shipping.
Since 2015, Green Chef has made a name for itself as the first certified organic meal kit on the market. The produce and eggs are organic (or they’ll notify you if they can’t source them) and there’s always an option to receive organic meats or wild-caught seafood, though for an upcharge.
Green Chef’s meal kits come with pre-portioned (often prepped) ingredients and detailed cooking instructions (which include colorful photos). The recipes can be tailored to feed two, four or six—and receive three or four meals per week. You can also add items, such as ready-to-eat breakfasts, snacks, etc., to your weekly delivery.
Meals We Tried
PHOTO: EatingWell / Brierley HortonPHOTO: EatingWell / Brierley HortonPHOTO: EatingWell / Brierley HortonPHOTO: EatingWell / Brierley HortonPHOTO: EatingWell / Brierley Horton
Best Organic: Sunbasket
Sunbasket
Starting Price:$11.49 per serving |Delivery Area:46 states |Products Arrive:Fresh
What we like:The ingredients are mostly organic and Sunbasket offers meal kits and premade meals. Choose from multiple dietary patterns, such as Mediterranean, Paleo, etc.
What to know:Depending on your zip code, you might not be able to customize the day you receive deliveries and can only pause your plan, not skip individual weeks.
When we tested Sunbasket ourselves, we found the meal kits easy to prepare and all of the meals, except one, were delicious. Our experience (albeit limited) with customer service was not as on point as we’d like, but we were able to cancel our plan (or pause it) on our own easily. Sunbasket, however, won’t let you skip weeks while the plan is live.
Meal Kits
Prepared Meals
PHOTO: EatingWell / Taysha MurtaughPHOTO: EatingWell / Taysha MurtaughPHOTO: EatingWell / Taysha MurtaughPHOTO: EatingWell / Taysha MurtaughPHOTO: EatingWell / Taysha MurtaughPHOTO: EatingWell / Taysha MurtaughPHOTO: EatingWell / Taysha Murtaugh
Best Prepared Meals: Snap Kitchen
Snap Kitchen
What we like:There are lots of options to choose from for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as snacks and side dishes. We also loved how the items were packaged.
We all know that a microwaved meal doesn’t compare to one that’s cooked in the oven. But Snap Kitchen managed to deliver a fresh-tasting, flavorful meal—even when microwaved. Every meal we tasted of theirs we liked. We also really liked their food packaging, which is much more visually appealing than most other pre-made meal services.This Texas-baed company aims to make every meal “clean”: everything they make is free of refined sugar, refined oils, preservatives and gluten. Additionally, they use the highest quality ingredients they can source—many ingredients are organic, and proteins are responsibly sourced (e.g., wild-caught shrimp and cod, certified humane eggs). While you can’t search directly for meals that help lower cholesterol, every meal comes with complete nutrition information, including calories, saturated fat, fiber and more so you can make selections that fit within a healthy diet for lowering cholesterol. Snap Kitchen’s registered dietitian and nutritionist have also pre-build 1,800- and 2,000-calorie controlled meal plans.
The only two drawbacks were that the vegetarian and vegan options were limited. (This service is best for meat eaters.) And delivery date options were limited.
PHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWell
Best for Weight Loss: bistroMDBistro MDSign Up NowStarting Price:$10.99 per serving |Delivery Area:48 states |Products Arrive:FrozenWhat we like:There are more than 150 meals offered that are calorie-, fat- and sodium-controlled. Plus, you can consult with a registered dietitian if needed.What to know:The meals arrive frozen, not fresh. We found the vegetarian options to be limited.If you’re looking to better manage your cholesterol and lose weight, these premade meals are an excellent option: they are calorie-, fat- and sodium-controlled and dietitian-developed. The service offers over 150 single-serving breakfasts, lunches and dinners that can simply be heated in the microwave or oven to enjoy—no prep or cooking required.In addition to its Heart Healthy meal program, BistroMD also offers a range of plans that cater to other specific dietary needs, including Gluten-Free, Keto-Flex and Diabetes-Friendly. The company also provides you with the option to consult with a registered dietitian—setting it apart from other similar services.Meals We TriedCheese omelet with turkey sausageSteak and egg scrambleCanadian bacon and Swiss omeletChicken with smoked Gouda gravyTilapia with white wine cream sauceParmesan chicken patty with honey-glazed carrots and corn saladChicken, rice, and cheddar casseroleSalmon with dill mustard sauceTurkey breast with cranberry apple chutneyOven-fried catfish with spicy tomato leek sauceBaked pasta marinara with chicken sausageMeatloaf with honey bourbon glazeMojo pork with black beans and riceChicken pad thaiGrilled salmon with creamy pestoLasagna with garden marinaraPHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWell
Best for Weight Loss: bistroMD
Bistro MD
Starting Price:$10.99 per serving |Delivery Area:48 states |Products Arrive:Frozen
What we like:There are more than 150 meals offered that are calorie-, fat- and sodium-controlled. Plus, you can consult with a registered dietitian if needed.
What to know:The meals arrive frozen, not fresh. We found the vegetarian options to be limited.
If you’re looking to better manage your cholesterol and lose weight, these premade meals are an excellent option: they are calorie-, fat- and sodium-controlled and dietitian-developed. The service offers over 150 single-serving breakfasts, lunches and dinners that can simply be heated in the microwave or oven to enjoy—no prep or cooking required.
In addition to its Heart Healthy meal program, BistroMD also offers a range of plans that cater to other specific dietary needs, including Gluten-Free, Keto-Flex and Diabetes-Friendly. The company also provides you with the option to consult with a registered dietitian—setting it apart from other similar services.
PHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWell
Best Gourmet: Mosaic FoodsMosaic FoodsSign Up NowStarting Price:$9.43 per serving |Delivery Area:The entire East Coast, most of the West Coast and many cities in between |Products Arrive:FrozenWhat we like:All meals come with a full nutrition breakdown. Plus, they arrive fully prepared so you only have to heat and eat.What to know:There are no meat options and delivery is limited in some parts of the country.If you’re looking exclusively for plant-based options, Mosaic Foods is a great service to consider. Its entire menu consists of vegetarian and vegan foods, all of which arrive frozen (which helps prolong the meals' shelf life). Choose from veggie bowls, pizzas, soups, oat bowls, and more—the range of meals and the cuisines are varied. Also, choose how to reheat them based on what’s most convenient for you: microwave, oven or on the stovetop.While its meals are mostly designed to be single-serve, Mosaic does offer some family-sized bakeable dishes as well, from veggie potpies to eggplant moussaka to pasta bakes. During our testing, the dishes that served four turned out to be our favorites.If you have food allergies or are feeding someone with allergies, be aware that we found that some ingredients in the cooked dish weren’t listed on the packaging.Meals We TriedVeggie sausage & Gouda oatsCranberry cinnamon oatsGinger, quinoa & veggie soupTomato, rosemary & white bean soup’Sausage' & pepper pizzaFour cheese pizzaPenne alla vodkaVeggie pot pieChocolate cherry smoothiePower greens smoothieGreen curry noodlesSpicy dan dan noodlesBuffalo cauliflower pasta bake (family size)Mac and greensBBQ mac & cheesePozole verdeVeggie kebab platterCoconut chickpea curryPHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWell
Best Gourmet: Mosaic Foods
Mosaic Foods
Starting Price:$9.43 per serving |Delivery Area:The entire East Coast, most of the West Coast and many cities in between |Products Arrive:Frozen
What we like:All meals come with a full nutrition breakdown. Plus, they arrive fully prepared so you only have to heat and eat.
What to know:There are no meat options and delivery is limited in some parts of the country.
If you’re looking exclusively for plant-based options, Mosaic Foods is a great service to consider. Its entire menu consists of vegetarian and vegan foods, all of which arrive frozen (which helps prolong the meals' shelf life). Choose from veggie bowls, pizzas, soups, oat bowls, and more—the range of meals and the cuisines are varied. Also, choose how to reheat them based on what’s most convenient for you: microwave, oven or on the stovetop.
While its meals are mostly designed to be single-serve, Mosaic does offer some family-sized bakeable dishes as well, from veggie potpies to eggplant moussaka to pasta bakes. During our testing, the dishes that served four turned out to be our favorites.
If you have food allergies or are feeding someone with allergies, be aware that we found that some ingredients in the cooked dish weren’t listed on the packaging.
PHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWell
Best Gluten-Free: Daily HarvestDaily HarvestSign Up NowStarting Price:$6.79 per serving |Delivery Area:48 states |Products Arrive:FrozenWhat we like:The menu is fairly robust with over 100 vegan items.What to know:The meals are meant for individuals and may not be filling enough.Daily Harvest’s offering has grown considerably since the company first started. You can choose from a menu of over 100 items—from smoothies (their OG offering) to harvest bowls, pasta and grain dishes, soups, popsicles and more! Plus, each item is completely plant-based and gluten- and dairy-free.All items arrive frozen and minimal preparation is required, so eating more fruits and vegetables is easier. But their menu is meant to feed individuals, not families, and some of their items aren’t filling enough on their own to carry you to your next meal. If you aren’t a strict vegan or vegetarian, we found some of the smaller meals easy to supplement with protein (egg, chicken, etc.). That being said, the grain bowls, soups and pastas were the most filling and felt the most like complete meals.Daily Harvest prices are per item, which is different from many other meal services, and may feel a little pricey. Boxes come with nine, 14 and 24 items and the larger the box you order, the bigger the discount.Meals We TriedBlueberry and lemon breakfast bowlBlack sesame and banana smoothieCacao and date smoothieCarrot and cinnamon smoothieBlueberry and cacao smoothieMint and cacao smoothieMango papaya smoothieHazelnut and chocolate bitesSweet potato and black bean chiliButternut squash and rosemary soupCilantro brown rice and black bean grain bowlBroccoli and cheese harvest bowlBeet and wild rice hash harvest bowlButternut squash and cauliflower mac n' cheeze pastaTomatillo and pepper flatbreadPortobello and pesto flatbreadSweet potato and wild rice hashBrussels sprouts and tahini harvest bowlSpinach and shiitake gritsTomato and zucchini minestrone soupPHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWell
Best Gluten-Free: Daily Harvest
Daily Harvest
Starting Price:$6.79 per serving |Delivery Area:48 states |Products Arrive:Frozen
What we like:The menu is fairly robust with over 100 vegan items.
What to know:The meals are meant for individuals and may not be filling enough.
Daily Harvest’s offering has grown considerably since the company first started. You can choose from a menu of over 100 items—from smoothies (their OG offering) to harvest bowls, pasta and grain dishes, soups, popsicles and more! Plus, each item is completely plant-based and gluten- and dairy-free.
All items arrive frozen and minimal preparation is required, so eating more fruits and vegetables is easier. But their menu is meant to feed individuals, not families, and some of their items aren’t filling enough on their own to carry you to your next meal. If you aren’t a strict vegan or vegetarian, we found some of the smaller meals easy to supplement with protein (egg, chicken, etc.). That being said, the grain bowls, soups and pastas were the most filling and felt the most like complete meals.
Daily Harvest prices are per item, which is different from many other meal services, and may feel a little pricey. Boxes come with nine, 14 and 24 items and the larger the box you order, the bigger the discount.
PHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWellPHOTO: EatingWell
Price/Cost Per Meal
On average, meal delivery services range in cost from around $8 per serving to upwards of $12 per serving. Keep your budget in mind when choosing a low cholesterol meal delivery service.
Number of Meals Per Delivery
Whether you’re feeding a family or just yourself, make sure the service you choose can provide an adequate number of meals every week.
Flexibility
While many low cholesterol meal delivery services allow you to skip or change deliveries or cancel your account whenever you need to, ensure that’s the case before signing up.
Menu Selection
Many meal delivery services allow you to view the menu before placing your orders. Consider utilizing this option to ensure that the service you choose has meals that appeal to you.
Nutrition Goals/Dietary Restrictions
Whether you’re targeting specific health concerns like heart health or diabetes, or whether you simply have dietary preferences likeveganorpescatarian, verify that the meal delivery service can accommodate those needs.
We looked at 40 different meal delivery services and determined these six best fit our criteria for low cholesterol. In selecting these services, we ensured that the majority of entrees offered from each service met ourhealthy cholesterol parametersfor saturated fat and fiber. Our saturated fat parameters are based on the American Heart Association Heart-Check program recommendation for reduced saturated fat (≤5–6% of total calories). For dishes that are meant to be full meals with sides included, we used our “combination meals” numbers. Of the best low cholesterol meal delivery services we selected, we categorized them based on a range of factors including type of meals offered, availability of specialized diets, ingredients used and price point.
What is cholesterol?
There are two maintypes of cholesterol: low-density lipoprotein (LDL), often referred to as “bad” cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL), also referred to as “good” cholesterol. Too much LDL cholesterol in the blood can cause plaque buildup and blockages in the arteries and increase your risk for coronary artery disease and other heart diseases. HDL cholesterol, on the other hand, helps get rid of excess “bad” LDL cholesterol in the body.
What is considered to be high cholesterol?
Cholesterol is typically measured in milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per deciliter (dL) of blood. A total cholesterol reading of 240 mg/dL is considered high, and a total LDL cholesterol level of 160 mg/dL is considered high, both of which put you at greater risk of heart disease. Additionally, a reading of HDL cholesterol that’s below 40 mg/dL is considered a major risk for heart disease.
What foods help lower your cholesterol?
What foods should you limit if you have high cholesterol?
Mia Syn, M.S., RDN, is a national on-air nutrition expert, host of Good Food Friday on ABC News 4, founder ofNutrition By Miaand author ofMostly Plant-Based. She is one of the most recognized and trusted young dietitians in the country.
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SourcesEatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.Grundy SM, Stone NJ, Bailey AL, et al.2018 aha/acc/aacvpr/aapa/abc/acpm/ada/ags/apha/aspc/nla/pcna guideline on the management of blood cholesterol: a report of the american college of cardiology/american heart association task force on clinical practice guidelines.Circulation. 2019;139(25). doi: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000000625
Sources
EatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.Grundy SM, Stone NJ, Bailey AL, et al.2018 aha/acc/aacvpr/aapa/abc/acpm/ada/ags/apha/aspc/nla/pcna guideline on the management of blood cholesterol: a report of the american college of cardiology/american heart association task force on clinical practice guidelines.Circulation. 2019;139(25). doi: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000000625
EatingWell uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.
Grundy SM, Stone NJ, Bailey AL, et al.2018 aha/acc/aacvpr/aapa/abc/acpm/ada/ags/apha/aspc/nla/pcna guideline on the management of blood cholesterol: a report of the american college of cardiology/american heart association task force on clinical practice guidelines.Circulation. 2019;139(25). doi: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000000625
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