Explore our dietitians’ picks for meal delivery that can help older adults meet their medical or convenience needs.
Share on PinterestQuick look at the best meal delivery for seniors
Prepared meals:
- Best variety: Snap Kitchen | Skip to review
- Best for older adults with medical conditions: Magic Kitchen | Skip to review
- Best affordable: Mom’s Meals | Skip to review
- Best nutritionally balanced: Silver Cuisine by Bistro MD | Skip to review
Meal kits:
- Best low prep meal kit: Home Chef | Skip to review
- Best organic: Sunbasket | Skip to review
- Best gluten-free: Green Chef | Skip to review
As you age, following a nutritious diet is essential for maintaining optimal health. However, many older adults may find it difficult to prepare nutrient-dense meals themselves, which can lead to poor calorie and nutrient intake.
Healthy meal delivery services may help. These companies deliver prepared meals or meal kits straight to your door. Here are seven of the best meal delivery services for seniors.
Best prepared meals for seniors
Some older adults may prefer convenient premade meals that only require heating before they’re ready to eat. The following companies offer tasty prepared meals that are ready in just a few minutes.
Best variety
Snap Kitchen
- Price per serving: $11.88–$14.67
- Meals per week: 6 or 12
- Menus: High Protein, Low Carb, Keto, Paleo, Vegetarian, Vegan
- Healthline score: 3.6 out of 5
Snap Kitchen offers fully prepared meals that are a great option for older adults. Registered dietitians review the service’s meals to ensure that each meal offers the necessary nutrients for optimal health.
Unlike some other meal delivery services, Snap Kitchen offers a variety of breakfast, lunch, and dinner options, so it’s easy to create a nutritionally complete menu. You can also add extras, such as hard-boiled eggs, oatmeal, soups, snacks, sides, and additional protein sources.
Each meal can be refrigerated for 4 to 6 days or frozen for future use. You can heat them in the microwave or oven after transferring them to an oven-safe dish. “I appreciated how quick and easy it was to prepare the meals,” says Healthline writer and registered dietitian Lauren Manaker, who tested the service.
She did note that she found some of the meals a bit spicy, and wished they included more vegetables.
All Snap Kitchen meals are gluten-free, and you can filter menu items by ingredient, sodium content, protein amount, and more. The company offers Low Carb and High Protein menus that are suitable for older adults who have diabetes or need more protein.
Once you decide how many weekly meals you want to receive (6 or 12), you can choose individual meals to include in your box.
It’s easy to change your order, and you can cancel your subscription anytime. Plus, you can choose a delivery day that works best for you.
For customers who live within 10 miles of a Snap Kitchen retail store, the company offers a Local Plan — you can choose a 3-, 5-, or 7-day meal plan and pick up your meals at your local Snap Kitchen store.
“Overall, I think Snap Kitchen is a convenient option for people who want to save time in the kitchen,” Manaker says.
Our score breakdownSign-up, delivery, and cancellation processes3.5Meal variety3.5Nutrition3.8Sustainability2Ingredient quality3.8Ease of preparation5Taste4.5Affordability3Pros & cons
- offers breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and extras
- meals reviewed by registered dietitians
- not suitable for those who have kidney failure or are following renal diets
- delivers to only certain U.S. states
- offers breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and extras
- meals reviewed by registered dietitians
- not suitable for those who have kidney failure or are following renal diets
- delivers to only certain U.S. states
Product details
- Shipping fees: free
- Servings available: 1
- Personalization: specialty diet filters
- Diet friendliness: high protein, keto, low carb, paleo, gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan
- Delivery area: only available in select areas
- Shipping fees: free
- Servings available: 1
- Personalization: specialty diet filters
- Diet friendliness: high protein, keto, low carb, paleo, gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan
- Delivery area: only available in select areas
Best for older adults with medical conditions
Magic Kitchen
- Meals per week: 7, 14, 21, or a la carte
- Menus: Signature Meals, Senior Meals, Portion Controlled, Diabetic-Friendly, Dairy-Free, Low Sodium, Low Carbohydrate, Low Fat, Renal Diet, Dialysis-Friendly, Gluten-Free, Vegetarian
- Price per serving: $5 to $28
Magic Kitchen caters to older adults and is a great choice for those who want a variety of meal options. The company provides fully prepared frozen meals and offers two menus — A La Carte and Complete Meals.
The A La Carte menu lets you mix and match soups, main courses, side dishes, and desserts, while the Complete Meals menu provides full meals with entrees and side dishes packaged together. You can choose as many meals as you want.
Cooking may be challenging for seniors with medical conditions such as chronic kidney disease and heart failure, as well as those on dialysis, because of the dietary restrictions involved.
Notably, the Magic Kitchen menu accommodates specific diets, including low sodium, low carb, diabetes- and dialysis-friendly, vegetarian, and renal diets (for those with kidney conditions). Dietitians review each meal to ensure that it’s nutritionally complete.
The company offers a variety of meals, sides, and desserts, as well as options that serve just one person.
Most meals simply need to be heated in the microwave, but some — including the chicken pot pie — need to be cooked in an oven.
For the most part, meals are convenient and easy to prepare, according to 86-year-old Betty Boler, the grandmother of Healthline editor Kristin Currin-Sheehan. Boler takes coumadin and is on the Warfarin diet, which limits vitamin K intake. She also manages type 1 diabetes.
“I really enjoyed the meals,” she says. “I liked that they were delivered directly to my home.”
While Boler notes that “spices needed to be added for flavor,” she also says that the food tasted good and the meals were tender and moist.
Pros & cons
- caters to older adults
- accommodates specific diets, including renal and dialysis-friendly diets
- offers meals and a la carte items
- varying delivery times depending on where you live
- potentially high shipping cost
- not suitable for those with specific food allergies
- caters to older adults
- accommodates specific diets, including renal and dialysis-friendly diets
- offers meals and a la carte items
- varying delivery times depending on where you live
- potentially high shipping cost
- not suitable for those with specific food allergies
Product details
- Servings available: 1
- Personalization: option to set ingredient preferences, mix-and-match meal plans
- Diet friendliness: diabetes, dialysis, renal diet, dairy-free, gluten-free, low fat, low sodium, low carb, vegetarian
- Delivery area: contiguous United States
- Shipping: shipping calculated at checkout
- Servings available: 1
- Personalization: option to set ingredient preferences, mix-and-match meal plans
- Diet friendliness: diabetes, dialysis, renal diet, dairy-free, gluten-free, low fat, low sodium, low carb, vegetarian
- Delivery area: contiguous United States
- Shipping: shipping calculated at checkout
Best affordable
Mom’s Meals
- Meal type: prepared meals
- Menus: General Wellness, Diabetes-Friendly, Vegetarian, Heart-Friendly, Cancer Support, Lower Sodium, Renal-Friendly, Gluten-Free, and Pureed
Healthline's review
Mom’s Meals caters to older adults and specializes in fully prepared, dietitian-designed meals. Most meals cost $8 per serving, making this one of the most budget-friendly services available.
The meal plans suit older adults with medical conditions such as diabetes, chronic kidney disease, cancer, and dysphagia (difficulty swallowing). It also provides a pureed menu that best suits older adults who have difficulty chewing or need a pureed diet due to a medical condition.
Mom’s Meals products are refrigerated and designed to last up to 2 weeks in the fridge, but you can also freeze each meal if needed.
A significant perk is that health insurance programs like Medicare and Medicaid may cover all or part of the cost of Mom’s Meals under a “home-delivered meals” benefit, which provides free hot meals for seniors delivered to home. You can contact your insurance company to learn more.
Pros & cons
- may be covered by health insurance
- appropriate for seniors with medical conditions such as dysphagia and kidney disease
- available for any delivery area in the contiguous United States, including rural areas
- potentially high shipping cost
- limited information about ingredient quality
- may be covered by health insurance
- appropriate for seniors with medical conditions such as dysphagia and kidney disease
- available for any delivery area in the contiguous United States, including rural areas
- potentially high shipping cost
- limited information about ingredient quality
Product details
- Servings available: 1
- Personalization: option to set ingredient preferences
- Diet friendliness: gluten-free, low carb, low calorie, vegetarian
- Delivery area: United States (Alaska and Hawaii included)
- Shipping: $14.95 for shipping
- Servings available: 1
- Personalization: option to set ingredient preferences
- Diet friendliness: gluten-free, low carb, low calorie, vegetarian
- Delivery area: United States (Alaska and Hawaii included)
- Shipping: $14.95 for shipping
Best nutritionally balanced
Silver Cuisine by BistroMD
4.4 (2.6k+) from Silver Cuisine- Meals per week: flexible
- Menus: Heart Healthy, Gluten Free, Diabetic Friendly, Low Sodium, Low Carb, Menopause, Dairy Free, Mediterranean, Vegetarian
Healthline's review
Silver Cuisine is a senior meal delivery service catering to people over age 50. It offers a rotating menu with 150 alternating meal options that are flash-frozen to maintain freshness.
The breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack options are nutritious and balanced, making Silver Cuisine a smart choice in a meal delivery for seniors to cover most of their calorie and nutrient needs.
This meal delivery service also offers meals that suit specific diets, including low carb, low sodium, gluten-free, and more.
There are no contracts or minimum orders, so customers can choose exactly what works for their lifestyle and nutrition needs.
According to Silver Cuisine, each meal will stay fresh for up to 1 year after the date of production when stored in the freezer.
Pros & cons
- caters to older adults
- accommodates specific dietary needs, including low sodium and diabetes-friendly
- offers breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks
- expensive shipping — regular shipping costs $20
- ships meals on only certain days
- caters to older adults
- accommodates specific dietary needs, including low sodium and diabetes-friendly
- offers breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks
- expensive shipping — regular shipping costs $20
- ships meals on only certain days
Product details
- Personalization: specialty diet filters, allergy-friendly
- Diet friendliness: gluten-free, vegetarian, low carb, low calorie
- Delivery area: contiguous United States
- Shipping: $20 (free on orders over $99)
- Personalization: specialty diet filters, allergy-friendly
- Diet friendliness: gluten-free, vegetarian, low carb, low calorie
- Delivery area: contiguous United States
- Shipping: $20 (free on orders over $99)
Best meal kits for seniors
Although heat-and-serve prepared meals make for easy meal planning, senior meal kit delivery services are an excellent option for those who enjoy home-cooked meals. The following companies deliver meal kits that make delicious, healthy dishes without the hassle of grocery shopping or prep work.
Best low-prep meal kit
Home Chef
- Price per serving: $9.99 to $13.95
- Meals per week: 2 to 6
- Menus: Calorie-Conscious, Carb-Conscious, Protein-packed, Keto-friendly, Pescatarian, Paleo-friendly, Vegetarian, Family, Gluten-Smart
- Healthline score: 4.3 out of 5
Home Chef provides prepped and portioned ingredients along with easy-to-follow recipe cards, and many of the meals are ready to eat in less than 30 minutes.
But the company also provides salads, grill-ready meals, and oven-ready meals that require no prep work for people who want to save time in the kitchen. These meals are available on the “Fresh & Easy” option.
Home Chef offers a variety of recipes each week and provides low carb, low calorie, and vegetarian entrees. Recipes vary in skill level, but most are appropriate for beginners.
“The meals on the Home Chef menu are grouped by how long they take to prepare, so it’s easy to find convenient options,” says Healthline writer SaVanna Shoemaker, MS, RDN, LD. “I tried the Chicken Lorraine and Turkey Burrito Skillet, and both meals took about 30 minutes to prepare. Once the vegetables were chopped, the meals came together pretty quickly.”
She adds that compared with other meal kit services she’s tested, “I found that Home Chef’s recipes generally took less time and required less prep work.”
Read our comparison of Home Chef and HelloFresh.
Our score breakdownSign-up, delivery, and cancellation processes4.5Meal variety4.5Nutrition5Sustainability4Ingredient quality4Ease of preparation4.5Taste5Affordability3Pros & cons
- solid choice for people who like to cook
- offers a variety of weekly meal options
- more affordable than many other services
- not appropriate for those who have severe food allergies or are following restrictive diets
- requires more effort to prepare meals than some might like
- solid choice for people who like to cook
- offers a variety of weekly meal options
- more affordable than many other services
- not appropriate for those who have severe food allergies or are following restrictive diets
- requires more effort to prepare meals than some might like
Product details
- Diet friendliness: vegetarian and carb- and calorie-conscious
- Personalization: option to set ingredient preferences, mix-and-match weekly meal plan
- Delivery area: contiguous United States
- Servings available: 2, 4, 6
- Shipping: $9.99 to $11.99
- Diet friendliness: vegetarian and carb- and calorie-conscious
- Personalization: option to set ingredient preferences, mix-and-match weekly meal plan
- Delivery area: contiguous United States
- Servings available: 2, 4, 6
- Shipping: $9.99 to $11.99
Best organic
Sunbasket
- Price per serving: $9.99 to $25.99
- Meals per week: 2 to 5
- Menus: Gluten-Free, Paleo, Carb-Conscious, Mediterranean, Pescatarian, Vegetarian, Keto-Friendly, and Diabetes-Friendly
- Healthline score: 4.6 out of 5
Sunbasket’s certified organic meal kits are a good choice for health-conscious older adults who prefer organic food. “While Sunbasket’s meal kits are more expensive, the meals were incredibly flavorful, and the freshness and quality of the ingredients stood out from other meal kit delivery services I’ve tried,” says Healthline nutrition editor Kelli McGrane, MS, RD.
Sunbasket offers several meal plans, including Vegetarian, Mediterranean, Diabetes-Friendly, and Gluten-Free, which provide around 550 calories per serving. You can either choose your meals from a specific meal plan or just pick the recipes that appeal to you each week.
These weekly meal kits are available in 2- or 4-portion sizes. Each recipe takes about 30 minutes to prepare.
The company also provides a variety of breakfast and snack items, such as premade oatmeal, soups, nut butters, wraps, extra proteins, and nuts.
Sunbasket also offers Fresh & Ready meals that are fully prepared and can be heated in the microwave or oven.
You can skip or cancel your order at any time. Meals can be scheduled for delivery on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Pros & cons
- suitable for a variety of dietary needs, such as low carb, gluten-free, and vegetarian
- also offers Fresh & Ready; meals that only need to be heated before being enjoyed
- does not deliver to Alaska, Hawaii, Montana, North Dakota, or parts of New Mexico
- not all delivery days are available in all areas
- not suitable for people who have severe food allergies or are following strict diets such as a renal diet
- suitable for a variety of dietary needs, such as low carb, gluten-free, and vegetarian
- also offers Fresh & Ready; meals that only need to be heated before being enjoyed
- does not deliver to Alaska, Hawaii, Montana, North Dakota, or parts of New Mexico
- not all delivery days are available in all areas
- not suitable for people who have severe food allergies or are following strict diets such as a renal diet
Product details
- Shipping fees: $9.99
- Servings available: 1, 2, or 4
- Personalization: specialty diet menus, specialty diet filters, option to set ingredient preferences
- Diet friendliness: gluten-free, vegetarian, pescatarian, paleo, keto, low carb, Mediterranean, diabetes-friendly
- Delivery area: contiguous United States except for Montana, North Dakota, and parts of New Mexico
- Shipping fees: $9.99
- Servings available: 1, 2, or 4
- Personalization: specialty diet menus, specialty diet filters, option to set ingredient preferences
- Diet friendliness: gluten-free, vegetarian, pescatarian, paleo, keto, low carb, Mediterranean, diabetes-friendly
- Delivery area: contiguous United States except for Montana, North Dakota, and parts of New Mexico
Best gluten-free
Green Chef
4.7 (22k+) from App Store- Price per serving: $11.99 to $13.49
- Meals per week: 2 to 4
- Menus: Keto, Mediterranean, Plant Based, Protein Packed, Gluten Free, Gut & Brain Health, Calorie Smart, and Quick & Easy
- Healthline score: 4.2 out of 5
50% off + First Box Ships Free + 20% Off For 2 Months with code HEALTH50
GET STARTED WITH GREEN CHEF4.3out of 5healthline scoreHealthline’s reviewGreen Chef is a certified organic meal kit delivery company that offers meal plans that suit a variety of dietary restrictions, including gluten-free, keto, paleo, vegetarian, and vegan. It also has Mediterranean and Fast & Fit meal plans.
All meal plans that provide three to four recipes per week for two to six people. Each order box contains all of the ingredients needed to create tasty, filling, and nutritious recipes, designed to take less than 30 minutes.
Green Chef also offers add-ons, including breakfast items like oatmeals, egg bites, and muffins, and proteins like ground beef, salmon, and chicken cutlets.
“While some of the ingredient proportions were a bit off and the timing of some of the steps could’ve been better, I overall think this is one of the best meal delivery services thanks to the quality ingredients and flavorful dishes,” says Healthline Nutrition Editor Kelli McGrane, MS, RD.
She adds that she appreciated that the meals “contain a good amount of vegetables. Plus, all of the meals I tried were flavorful and satisfying to eat.”
Healthline Editor Christy Snyder also had a positive experience with Green Chef and notes that the meals were high quality and tasted great.
“I was really satisfied with the delivery, packaging, quality of ingredients, and the way the meals cooked up,” says Snyder. “I wouldn’t change a thing!”
Although Green Chef is certified organic, it may use conventional substitutes when an organic ingredient isn’t available. The service will notify customers if a conventional ingredient is used instead.
In addition to using high quality organic ingredients, Green Chef uses recyclable packaging and offsets 100% of its direct carbon emissions. This makes it a good choice for older adults who want to lower their carbon footprint.
Pros & cons
- offers gluten-free options
- certified organic
- high quality ingredients
- tasty, satisfying meals
- a bit pricier compared with other meal kit delivery companies
- requires more preparation than most premade meals
- offers gluten-free options
- certified organic
- high quality ingredients
- tasty, satisfying meals
- a bit pricier compared with other meal kit delivery companies
- requires more preparation than most premade meals
Product details
- Shipping fees: $10.99
- Servings available: 2, 4, or 6
- Personalization: specialty diet menus
- Diet friendliness: vegetarian, vegan, Mediterranean, gluten-free, and keto
- Delivery area: contiguous United States
- Shipping fees: $10.99
- Servings available: 2, 4, or 6
- Personalization: specialty diet menus
- Diet friendliness: vegetarian, vegan, Mediterranean, gluten-free, and keto
- Delivery area: contiguous United States
A comparison of the best meal delivery services for seniors
Service: best forPrice per servingMeals per weekShippingSnap Kitchen: variety$12–$156 or 12freeGreen Chef:gluten-free diet $12 per serving for 6-serving meals to $13.49 per serving for 2-serving meals2–4, with 2, 4, or 6 servings per meal$11Magic Kitchen:medical conditions$10–$15 for Complete Meals and $2–$60 for A La Carte items (most A La Carte items contain 2 servings)flexiblestarts at $19 (fees depend on package weight and delivery area)Mom’s Meals: affordability$8 for self-pay ($9 for Pureed, Gluten-Free, and Renal-Friendly)10, 14, or 21$15Silver Cuisine: nutritionally complete meals$8–$19no minimum order$20 (free for orders over $99)Home Chef:beginner cooks$10–$122–6 with 2, 4, or 6 servings each$11Sunbasket: organic ingredientsstarts at $10 for Fresh & Ready Meals and $12 for meal kits2–5 with 2–4 servings each $10How we chose these meal delivery services
While researching the best meal delivery services for older adults, we considered the following factors:
- Price: We included services at a variety of price points to accommodate different budgets.
- Meals per week: Because some older adults may find it difficult to regularly shop for food and make healthy meals at home, we included services with various subscription options that will allow you to choose the number of meals you need per week.
- Variety of healthy options: We looked for services that provide nutritious meals and meal kits and offer recommended meals and diets for specific health conditions.
- Taste and ease of preparation: We looked for services that offer meals that are easy to prepare, and we tried many of them to find out whether the flavors and textures held up well to refrigeration and reheating.
- Customer reviews: We considered customer satisfaction with these services and looked at reviews based on experience with customer service, food taste and variety, and more.
- Vetting: The services on our list have been vetted to ensure that they align with Healthline’s brand integrity standards and approach to well-being. You can read more information about our vetting process.
How to choose the best meal delivery service for seniors
Choosing a food delivery service ensures that there will always be a balanced and filling meal option available, which is important for older adults who don’t want to cook or cannot do so. Many older adults have poor nutritional intake, which can cause and worsen health conditions, such as osteoporosis, muscle loss, and malnutrition.
Meal delivery services can help older adults meet their daily needs for essential nutrients, including protein, a macronutrient that’s especially important for older adults. As we age, we lose muscle mass and strength faster. Because of this, experts in the field of aging recommend that older adults consume more than the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of protein (0.36 grams [g] of protein per pound per day), up to 0.45–0.54 g of protein per pound per day.
Adding high protein ingredients to meals and snacks, like chicken, seafood, Greek yogurt, and lentils, can help older adults meet their protein needs. Though every person has different nutrition needs, most older adults will benefit from meals with a higher content of protein and fiber, a nutrient that’s essential for digestive health.
Older adults with health conditions, such as diabetes and kidney disease, may benefit from meal services designed to help manage their symptoms. For example, Magic Kitchen offers low sodium and dialysis- and renal-friendly meals.
Additionally, those who live alone may prefer a meal service that offers fully prepared, one-person meals that can be frozen for future use.
For those who enjoy preparing home-cooked meals, a meal kit delivery service can provide ingredients to make nutritious meals without the need for shopping.
Note that some older adults may qualify for a home-delivered meals benefit through their health insurance plans. Contact your health insurance company for more information.
Frequently asked questions about senior meal delivery
Does Medicare cover home-delivered meals?
Yes, Medicare will cover the cost of certain home-delivered meals. Health insurance programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, may fully or partially cover the cost of Mom’s Meals for seniors.
Yes, Medicare will cover the cost of certain home-delivered meals. Health insurance programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, may fully or partially cover the cost of Mom’s Meals for seniors.
What are good meal ideas for older adults?
Healthy meals for older adults should generally be rich in protein, fiber, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. Most older adults benefit from a higher-protein diet, which can help support lean body mass.
Nutritious meal ideas include protein-rich one-pot meals, such as chilis and soups, high-fiber grain dishes, like Buddha bowls, and simple one-sheet recipes, like baked chicken with vegetables.
Healthy meals for older adults should generally be rich in protein, fiber, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. Most older adults benefit from a higher-protein diet, which can help support lean body mass.
Nutritious meal ideas include protein-rich one-pot meals, such as chilis and soups, high-fiber grain dishes, like Buddha bowls, and simple one-sheet recipes, like baked chicken with vegetables.
What is the healthiest meal delivery program?
The healthiest meal delivery program for older adults depends on their dietary and health needs.
For example, an older adult with a medical condition that requires a specialized diet, such as kidney disease, would benefit from a meal delivery program that offers meals designed to suit specific dietary needs, like Magic Kitchen.
Each meal delivery service on this list provides nutritionally complete, healthy meals for older adults, though some do focus more on ingredient quality.
For example, Sunbasket and Green Chef use high quality ingredients, such as organic produce, which some older adults may prefer.
The healthiest meal delivery program for older adults depends on their dietary and health needs.
For example, an older adult with a medical condition that requires a specialized diet, such as kidney disease, would benefit from a meal delivery program that offers meals designed to suit specific dietary needs, like Magic Kitchen.
Each meal delivery service on this list provides nutritionally complete, healthy meals for older adults, though some do focus more on ingredient quality.
For example, Sunbasket and Green Chef use high quality ingredients, such as organic produce, which some older adults may prefer.
Does HelloFresh have a seniors discount? Does any meal service?
HelloFresh offers a 10% discount for older adults.
Only a handful of other meal delivery services also provide a discount for seniors, including Blue Apron, which offers 50% off your first 4 weeks for those age 55 and older.
Though not on this shortlist, Blue Apron, is a service vetted by Healthline. You can read Blue Apron’s full review, here.
HelloFresh offers a 10% discount for older adults.
Only a handful of other meal delivery services also provide a discount for seniors, including Blue Apron, which offers 50% off your first 4 weeks for those age 55 and older.
Though not on this shortlist, Blue Apron, is a service vetted by Healthline. You can read Blue Apron’s full review, here.
The bottom line
For older adults, a meal delivery service is a great way to ensure that healthy and tasty meals are always available.
Numerous senior meal delivery services offer either fully prepared meals or meal kits, and some provide specialized dietary plans.
If you want more information about meal delivery services or need help choosing the best meal delivery service for your needs, it’s a wise idea to contact a healthcare professional or a local registered dietitian for advice.