You’ve got MEAL!

DIABETES-FRIENDLY DELIVERY

»Whether you’re looking for help with weight loss and improving your eating habits, or just want a break from cooking, there’s an increasing number of options available to have healthy meals delivered to your door.

But are they suitable if you have diabetes and which plan should you choose?

WHAT’S ON OFFER

With plenty of meal services to choose from, it would be hard not to find one that suits your needs. Options range from full 7-day meal plans containing three meals and snacks, to individual meals and everything in between. Some cater to different dietary needs, including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free, while others have more limited choices. The good news is that none of the services we looked at have long-term contracts so (depending on where you live) you have the option of trying out a few to work out which one of them you like the best.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

With a wide range of offerings to choose from, here are a few things to consider when deciding which meal service might best suit your needs:

• Choose the right energy level/portion size. This will depend on your age, sex, activity levels and whether you are trying to lose, maintain or gain weight. Your dietitian can help you to work out which energy level is right for you.

• Look for the right plate balance. A good balance of your plate to meet nutritional needs and assist with weight and blood glucose management is half non-starchy vegetables and salads, one quarter lean protein (such as lean meat, chicken, fish, eggs, tofu or legumes) and the remaining quarter from lower Glycemic Index (GI) carbs such as wholegrains, legumes and starchy vegetables. Many of the meal-delivery services provide meals that offer this balance.

• Consider the carb content. If you use insulin and adjust your doses, packaged meals are an easy way to work out the carbs in your meals, and you have the flexibility to choose meals with different carb contents. But, if you take set doses of insulin or manage your diabetes with diet or other medications, having a regular intake of carbs across the day and from day to day is important for keeping blood glucose levels in range. With some of the meal services, ➤