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Monday, January 13th
Bistro MD is a meal delivery service that's been around since 2005. The company offers meal delivery plans that include more than 150 chef-prepared meals every week.
Ready in 5 minutes
All of the Bistro MD meals are ready in just 5 minutes, according to the site. Plus, whether you're into healthy eating, need diabetes-friendly or gluten-free options, or managing weight during menopause, there are meals tailored specifically to your diet. And, Bistro MD offers a fun addition: EATS (Essential and Tasty Snacks). This way you can add some extra flavor and fun to your gluten-free journey. The goal of Bistro MD is to provide you a personal chef experience without breaking the bank.
Service Overview
Best gluten-free plan: Gluten Free
The programs at Bistro MD are specifically designed for particular diets. For the gluten-free option, Bistro MD offers a full plan that covers 5 or 7 days of meals with the flexibility to choose a full day of food (3 meals per day) or just lunches and dinners each day. Plus, all of their gluten-free meals are tested by the FDA and do not contain wheat, barley, or rye. Pricing-wise, Bistro MD is pretty competitive. The lowest priced plan is a 5-day plan which includes lunches and dinners for 5 days of the week (10 meals total). This costs $149.90 per week. The top-level plan is a 7-day plan which includes 7 breakfasts, 7 lunches, and 6 dinners, so you can have a "my night” meal on your own if you want to go off the Bistro MD selection. So, you get a total of 20 meals per week for $219.80.
Gluten-free meal choices
Here are some of the meals you can expect to see from Bistro MD's gluten-free program:
Missing a refund policy
When it comes to shipment, all the meals are made fresh, then flash-frozen, and kept cold with eco-friendly packaging and dry ice. However, if something goes wrong with an order or if you don't like the program, there aren't any clear statements about what Bistro MD is willing to do to help. The company says its customer service team is ready to assist you, but there's no mention of refunds or re-shipments. And, since the program is based on an automatic subscription, if you want to stop, you'll have to go in and cancel it yourself.
"F” rating from the BBB
Despite the company's impressive meal selection and comprehensive gluten-free plan, Bistro MD has other red flags outside of their (lack of) return policy. The Better Business Bureau has given Bistro MD an abysmal "F" rating, and there were 41 different complaints from customers on the BBB at the time of this review. Third-party review sites showed feedback that was a little higher than an "F" rating, with an average score of 3 stars across different sites.
Customer feedback shows warning signs
It's clear that customers have mixed feelings about Bistro MD. One person said the culinary experience was "boring", and many of the reviews offered no praise for the taste of the food. Others complained about the customer service. The general consensus was that it's nearly impossible to reach a representative at Bistro MD when things go wrong with the food or delivery.
Doesn't make the cut
At the end of the day, Bistro MD raises quite a few concerns. The company has a huge red flag from the BBB which awarded it an "F" rating. And since customers weren't thrilled with the taste or overall experience of the food, Bistro MD ended up at the bottom of our list. If you're not going to enjoy your delivered gluten-free meals, you might as well cook your own at that point, and worry less about the end result. Since these programs are meant to make your gluten-free experience better, Bistro MD doesn't make the cut. For these reasons, Bistro MD gets a 1.5-star rating as a Gluten Free Meal Delivery service.
With a ton of different diets for a variety of purposes out there, gluten-free eating is becoming more and more popular. Whether you're looking to cut out processed wheats, or if you're looking to support your health by avoiding foods you're sensitive to, a Gluten Free Meal Delivery program could be the ideal solution.
Joining a Gluten Free Meal Delivery service to support your health can help you avoid the extra stress and work of shopping and meal prep on a gluten-free diet. Instead of worrying about getting every item on your gluten-free shopping list at your local grocery store, you can trust that your meal delivery service will do the research and support your chosen lifestyle.
The history of gluten-free diets can be traced back to the identification of celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder triggered by the ingestion of gluten. Gluten, which is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye, appears in a lot of commonly-eaten foods even on other health-conscious diets. So, in the early 20th century, Dutch pediatrician Willem Dicke recognized the connection between wheat consumption and celiac symptoms.
The gluten-free diet gained prominence as the primary treatment for celiac disease in the mid-20th century. However, it wasn't until the late 20th and early 21st centuries that gluten-free diets gained widespread popularity beyond medical necessity. Fueled by a growing interest in health and wellness, as well as a surge in gluten sensitivity awareness, the gluten-free trend became a cultural phenomenon. This led to a variety of gluten-free products and a broader adoption of gluten-free diets in grocery stores, restaurants, and home cooking.
When you think of the word "diet”, what comes to mind? Tracking ingredients, preparing separate meals, doing extra work, and researching to make sure that foods are safe for your gluten-free diet are some of the things that become common roadblocks to staying on your chosen diet. Thankfully, meal delivery services help simplify those problems.
So, what is it you're really getting with a Gluten Free Meal Delivery service? Companies that offer Gluten Free Meal Delivery offer prepared meals or packages of ingredients designed to provide tasty meals that support your gluten-free dietary needs. Some programs include a full 7 days of meals (at three meals a day), eliminating the need to shop completely. Instead of scrutinizing food labels for gluten, you can assemble your meals (or just pop already-prepared meals into the oven) from one of these delivery services and savor the convenience.
Getting started with a Gluten Free Meal Delivery service can feel a little overwhelming. There's a lot to consider when choosing the best meal delivery service. If you're not sure where to start looking, don't worry - we've put together a list of tips to help you narrow down your options for gluten-free eating:
If you're ready to start simplifying gluten-free meals, we're here to help. Top Consumer Reviews has reviewed and ranked the best Gluten Free Meal Delivery services out there today to help you get the top gluten-free meals delivered straight to your home. This way, you can focus on discovering delightful foods that both taste amazing and make you feel good. It's time to start enjoying your gluten-free cooking experience totally stress-free!
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