The Best Bariatric Meal Delivery Services for Folks Who Need Them

BariBox is owned by registered dietitian Jana Wolff, who has worked with thousands of bariatric surgery patients. It is the only bariatric meal delivery service that provides freshly cooked food weekly and meets the exact nutritional needs of bariatric patients at least one to two months post-op (note: this highly depends on your recovery and surgical center’s recommendations). BariBox meals are 5 1/2 to 7 1/2 ounces each, soft, mild in flavor, easily digestible, and cut into smaller pieces precisely the way post-op bariatric patients need. Both the pre-op and post-op meals can be purchased individually or as a subscription. All BariBox meals provide the appropriate nutritional breakdown for bariatric patients, and the menu changes every two weeks. Customers will receive a variety of meals from the weekly menu, and while they cannot be customized, customers can specify meals they do not wish to receive when placing their order. Menu items include shepherd’s pie, smoked BBQ chicken, and a pulled pork bowl. Desserts, mocktail pops, and protein powders can also be added to any order.

Magic Kitchen offers meal delivery for various dietary restrictions, including gluten-free, low-fat, low-carb, low-sodium, dairy-free, vegetarian, diabetic-friendly, dialysis-friendly, and renal diets. It also specializes in meals for seniors and works with insurance companies to cover the costs of medically tailored meals. While it does not have meals specifically for bariatric patients, its complete meals (typically containing a main course and one or two side dishes) are on the smaller side, which would be more calorically appropriate for a bariatric patient. Magic Kitchen also has a variety of search filters, including portion control, diabetic, low-carb, and low-fat, which help narrow down meals that are better suited for a bariatric meal plan. That said, Magic Kitchen does not provide one-on-one support or diet counseling, so bariatric patients must be very diligent about choosing appropriate meals: They are best advised to work with a private dietitian to help them determine which meals will work for them. 

There are multiple ways to order meals from Magic Kitchen, including à la carte, complete meals, and subscriptions. The site provides a ton of information, which can be overwhelming and requires a lot of clicking around, although details about the meals themselves are easy to navigate.

• Vegetable caponata with orzo and spinach
• Beef and broccoli over noodles and vegetable blend
• Balsamic glazed chicken with roasted potatoes and green beans
• Chili with beans with carrots and broccoli florets

Founded by a physician who is a bariatric specialist, bistroMD is designed for weight loss with a focus on the right balance of macronutrients in the diet. The Heart Healthy program provides 40% of its calories from protein, 30% of calories from complex carbohydrates, 30% of calories from healthy fat, and less than 3.5 grams of saturated fat and less than 600 milligrams of sodium per meal, with an average of 1,200 calories for women (for three meals and two snacks) and 1,400 calories for men (for three meals and three snacks). While not explicitly marketed as a bariatric meal plan, bistroMD has provided meals for bariatric patients. The accessibility to bistroMD dietitians provides support not offered by many meal delivery services. Bariatric patients should remember that the portion sizes of bistroMD meals may be larger than recommended (they average 11 to 15 ounces per meal). Not all meals will be easily digestible, depending on the patient’s stage of recovery.

• Chicken, rice, and cheddar casserole
• Salmon with dill mustard sauce
• Turkey breast with cranberry apple chutney
• Oven-fried catfish with spicy tomato leek sauce
• Baked pasta marinara with chicken sausage

Daily Harvest is a gluten-free, vegan, and primarily soy-free meal delivery service with the primary mission of making it easier to eat more organic, sustainably sourced fruits and vegetables every day. The menu includes a variety of meal and beverage options, including smoothies, harvest bowls, harvest bakes, lattes, flatbreads, and frozen desserts. Daily Harvest focuses on the ingredients it uses rather than on nutrition protocols. Ingredients and nutrition facts are listed for all menu items, and when searching for menu items, you can filter by likes, dislikes, and some dietary needs. While bariatric patients can follow a vegan diet, it can be difficult due to their need for high-protein, low-carb, and low-calorie meals. While Daily Harvest does not have many meal options that will fully meet the nutritional needs of bariatric patients, the meals provided can be used as a foundation upon which customers can make their own meals.

• Mint and cacao smoothie
• Mango papaya smoothie
• Hazelnut and chocolate bites
• Tomatillo and pepper flatbread
• Portobello and pesto flatbread
• Sweet potato and wild rice hash
• Brussels sprouts and tahini harvest bowl
• Spinach and shiitake grits
• Tomato and zucchini minestrone soup

ModifyHealth provides fully prepared gluten-free and low-sodium meals from either a low-FODMAP diet or a Mediterranean diet menu. Working with dietitians and physicians, the approach at ModifyHealth is to look at food as medicine and develop meals that improve overall wellness and chronic conditions rather than focusing solely on weight loss. While the meals at ModifyHealth are not specifically designed for bariatric patients, meals from the Mediterranean diet menu can work, with the caveat that portions may be too big, especially in the early post-op stage.

• Greek chicken and rice
• Longevity stew with black-eyed peas and kale
• Shrimp chimichurri with black beans and rice
• Lemon thyme chicken with tahini cauliflower and za’atar quinoa
• Blackened salmon with quinoa, broccoli, and red bell pepper
• Roasted pistachio salmon with white beans and kale

CookUnity is a meal service delivery program that provides fresh, gourmet meals prepared by both well-known and up-and-coming chefs. The weekly menu has many options and accommodates various dietary preferences, including gluten-free, dairy-free, keto, paleo, vegan, and low-sodium. While meal options are not specifically for bariatric patients, customers can specify preferences for meals that are less than 600 calories and/or low-carb. However, you cannot use both filters at the same time. In addition to ingredients and nutrition facts, all menu options include macronutrient ratios, which is also helpful for bariatric patients.

• Coconut lime hanger steak
• Carnitas street tacos
• Butternut squash ravioli
• Chili roasted shrimp

My Bariatric Box is a monthly subscription box filled with food, beverage, and non-food items that are specifically designed for customers who are on a bariatric diet. Every box in the flagship subscription comes with at least seven items, including high-quality shakes, drinks, and bars high in protein and low sugar, although customers do not know what they will receive beforehand. Most boxes also include at least one non-food or specialty food item. A smaller subscription box that provides shakes and soft foods is also available. Examples of previous boxes are available on the website.

Founded by a bariatric surgeon, BariLife sells supplements specifically tailored for bariatric patients to avoid nutrient deficiencies that are common after bariatric surgery. Supplement kits are available for the various types of bariatric surgery (e.g., duodenal switch, gastric sleeve, etc.), as well as pre-op and post-op kits. BariLife also sells a whole line of protein-specific foods and beverages, including smoothie packets, pudding shakes, snacks, and breakfast, lunch, and dinner entrées. Protein meals are sold as mixes that require the addition of a liquid to be cooked. Every food product has nutrition facts and ingredients listed and icons that indicate which weight loss surgeries the items correspond with. The website also has abundant information for bariatric patients, including a blog, a section for education, and bariatric recipes. Products can be ordered individually, as samplers or bundles. A rewards program and auto-refill option are also available and provide discounts.

AmBari Nutrition is a small, family-owned business involved in medical weight loss and bariatrics for almost 30 years. AmBari sells a variety of high-protein foods and supplements for people on very low-calorie weight loss and bariatric diets. The product range offered at AmBari includes snacks, protein bars, shakes, puddings, breakfasts, entrées, and meal replacements. In addition to its own brand, AmBari Nutrition also sells products manufactured by other brands that specialize in bariatrics.