Every year, more people are diagnosed with Celiac disease and other gluten-sensitive conditions. Although it was rarely discussed in the past, more people than ever must adjust their diets to avoid discomfort or, in severe cases, visits to the hospital. Gluten, the protein found in wheat and other grains, is challenging to process for many people. Nevertheless, it is widespread throughout American and international cuisine, making it nearly impossible to avoid without constant vigilance.
Despite increased awareness within the food industry, it’s not unusual for a restaurant to be unaware of the measures it needs to take to prevent gluten contamination. Unlike bacterial agents, which can be killed and sanitized through high cooking temperatures, gluten is a protein that can still cause problems for those with sensitivities even after it’s been cooked. Therefore, chefs need to ensure that they thoroughly clean their cooking spaces and that there’s no crossover between ingredients containing gluten and those not.
Home-Based Gluten-Free Options
For many people, gluten sensitivities forced them to stay away from many of their formerly favorite restaurants. Depending on the severity of your sensitivity, you may be in a similar position and may be adjusting to a new diet. Otherwise, you may be looking for a way to reduce your time spent in the kitchen while adding variety to your diet. Fortunately, meal delivery services can accommodate your preference or necessity for gluten-free meals. These six services use gluten-free kitchens and workspaces to keep their ingredients from cross-contamination, letting you enjoy hearty meals without worry.
- Green Chef – Enjoy gluten-free, organic fare when you select this as your dietary restriction. Green Chef ensures you’ll have plenty of variety, as it’s designed to bring the best food options possible for numerous diets, including those suited for celiac diners. Eat confidently, as the Gluten Intolerance Group has certified Green Chef as a Gluten-Free Safe Spot. Although the dishes may take a bit more time to prepare than other services, it makes up for the timing by giving incredible flavors without any risk of a reaction. Such safety comes at a cost, however, as Green Chef is not the most affordable or flexible meal delivery service on the market.
- Trifecta – Many celiac diners have experienced that non-organic food from numerous sources — not just gluten — can trigger unwanted intestinal reactions. If you’ve experienced this, you know how important it is to source your meals from high-quality sources, and Trifecta shares your concerns. It’s recognized as one of the best organic purveyors of prepped meals and also caters to gluten-free guests with a regularly updated, varied menu. Have no fear about cross-contamination, as gluten never enters Trifecta’s kitchens at any point. Despite all these benefits, Trifecta still keeps costs relatively low, saving you money compared to dining out.
- Epicured – Named Good Housekeeping’s best gluten-free service of 2021, Epicured has kept the trend going and continues offering meals ideally suited to those who must be careful about what they consume. Nevertheless, Epicured’s emphasis on variety means that the kitchen is not 100% gluten-free, raising the possibility of slight cross-contamination. If you avoid gluten as a preference or are mildly sensitive, then you should have no worries. On the other hand, severe celiac eaters may want to consider a service that doesn’t prepare meals in a shared kitchen.
- Daily Harvest – Like Epicured, Daily Harvest aims to make variety a significant upside to its menu. Also, like Epicured, this variety means that the kitchen is shared with some gluten-containing ingredients. Nevertheless, Daily Harvest provides plant-based meals at affordable prices and lets you fully customize your weekly options. Although the meals are all single-serve, you can order them in larger quantities to share with the family. As an added perk, Daily Harvest keeps its costs low and passes on the savings, letting you enjoy meals that don’t cost much more than what you’d pay by picking up the ingredients at the supermarket.
- The Good Kitchen – This service focuses on what ingredients enter its food as it builds a menu around gluten-free and peanut-free options. Whatever allergies and restrictions you have, you can find good meals from The Good Kitchen. Despite not being a gluten-free facility, The Good Kitchen takes above-and-beyond steps to avoid cross-contamination. You can also eat paleo-friendly while avoiding the macronutrients you can’t eat. Naturally, these perks come at a cost, and you’re more likely to pay a bit more for this combination of quality, customization, and safety.
- Freshly – Taking the opposite approach of Green Chef, Freshly opts for incredibly convenient meals at a low cost. You can save money compared to other services by relying on Freshly’s gluten-free options that take as little as three minutes to prepare. These options are just as safe from a gluten-free perspective. Still, simplicity can reduce the depth of flavor, letting you decide whether you prefer convenience or the richness of a complete culinary experience in the comfort of your home.
Regardless of why you’re eating gluten-free, these options can keep your stomach and taste buds happy while ensuring you get all the nutrients you need. Eliminate the hassle of meal planning and shopping for different ingredients by welcoming meal delivery into your home.
By Christopher Gallagher
Christopher has worked at a restaurant catering specifically to gluten-free and celiac guests for more than 10 years. With friends and family who eat according to that strict dietary restriction, he understands the importance of finding delivery services that avoid cross-contamination without giving up on food’s vital flavors and textures.