Diet-to-Go Balance-D Review 2024: Is It Easy?

Overview

Sticking to a professionally recommended diet isn’t easy, especially as a diabetic. When you have a health condition like prediabetes or full-blown type 2, it can feel both lonely and challenging. In this Diet-to-Go Balance-D review, you’ll learn how this prepared meal service could help you.

I’ve extensively researched and validated Diet-to-Go’s Balance-D meal plan. I also spoke to customer service to find out everything there is to know about its recipe composition, ingredient quality, and more. Read on to find out if this plan is worth a more serious look, or if you should steer clear of this service.

I must say that, overall, Diet-to-Go’s Balance-D plan really does seem to ease the hassle of dieting. For instance, the menu is designed and approved by board-certified dietitians, which makes dieting safe, and the meals follow American Diabetes Association nutrition standards. This plan also helps you effortlessly execute your weight loss plan over the long term without hiccups.

What’s on the Balance-Diabetes Menu

You’ll find around 25 breakfasts, lunches, and dinners on a 5-week rotating menu. You can choose something different each time, or you can choose to repeat meals if you find a few favorites.

Meal Options

All the meals on the menu are prepared, single-serving dishes and follow nutrition guidelines set forth by the American Diabetes Association (ADA).

You can choose to receive 3 meals per day or just lunches and dinners. The recipes rotate every 5 weeks, and Diet-to-Go makes it very easy to replace your meals with other dishes in the same 5-week rotation.

Around half of the breakfast options are sweet, as some do have added sugar or agave. For example, the Cinnamon Walnut Cereal with Greek Yogurt contains added sugar. 

Some examples of meals this week include the Egg & Cheese Breakfast Sandwich, Sunny Breakfast Box, Chicken Roma, Greek Chicken with Quinoa, Herbed Baked Salmon with Veggie Blend, and Chicken Parmesan.

On that note, I did find that many dishes feature chicken as the main ingredient. This makes sense since chicken tends to be quite lean and supportive of diabetes control. 

You may need to choose savory dishes if you’re not interested in added sugars or excessive carbs. In that case, I recommend checking out the Kale and Swiss Frittata or Quinoa Egg Bites with Sweet Potato Hash.

I spoke to customer service about the meal rotation. They told me that some recipes repeat from one 5-week rotation to the next – particularly for breakfast.

Per the ADA’s guidelines, Diet-to-Go incorporates mostly lean meats. You’ll also find plenty of turkey, salmon, shrimp, and minimal red meat. Diet-to-Go also uses organic veggies whenever possible, but it doesn't prioritize buying organic.

The cuisine is primarily classic American, with a smattering of Mediterranean and Italian-inspired dishes. Some examples include the Lemon Herb Chicken Breast with Broccoli and Green Beans or the Basil Parmesan Chicken. Though internationally inspired, they’re still pretty Americanized for the most part.

Customization

It’s important to note that Diet-to-Go doesn’t offer recipe customization or cater to allergies. The only exception is a “no seafood” option for 2 of its 4 meal plans. But this doesn’t apply to the Balance-D menu. 

Ingredients aren’t flexible, but you can add or remove a meal from your order. You can accomplish this in 2 ways: from within your account dashboard (my Diettogo) or by calling customer service.

The list of ingredients on each dish is fairly complete as well. All ingredients are listed along with allergens for each meal, which I found respectable.

You might find ingredients like “cream cheese” or “grape jelly” in some of your meals. It may not always be easy to know whether these ingredients contain any unwanted additives.

However, the Balance-Diabetes plan isn’t for anyone with dietary needs beyond managing diabetes. I spoke to a friendly customer service representative about my gluten-free, dairy-free, sugar-free needs, and (mostly) pescatarian adherence. The agent clearly stated that Diet-to-Go wasn’t for me.

The Diet-to-Go Vegetarian plan might not be a great option for vegetarians with diabetes. Although it suits the vegetarian diet, the meals are relatively high in carbs and don’t follow the ADA guidelines. Many of the meals may still be considered appropriate for diabetics. This would be up to you and your doctor to determine.

Unboxing

Diet-to-Go’s meals arrive cooked, individually packaged, and flash-frozen to protect them during shipping. They’re shipped in styrofoam boxes with dry ice to keep them cold – so don’t worry too much if you’re not home to receive your order straight away.

You’ll receive notifications from FedEx as soon as your order is shipped.

However, you also have the option of receiving fresh meals that arrive chilled. This is only available to subscribers in certain locations – and you can find out more about that later in Shipping and Delivery.

The packaging promises to be recyclable, too. The meal trays may be placed in any recycling receptacle that accepts plastic. The styrofoam coolers may also be reused or recycled in selected facilities – you’ll need to check with your local services.

If you’ve chosen the frozen option, you should store all your meals immediately in the freezer. Just remember to leave out the meals you plan to eat in the next day or 2, as they need to be thawed before heating. Diet-to-Go doesn’t specify the length of time your meals will stay good in the freezer, though. If you need specific advice, I recommend contacting customer service.

If you order 21 meals per week, you’ll need to ensure you have enough freezer and fridge space to store them all. Once defrosted, each meal has a shelf life of 7 days.

Cooking with Diet-to-Go Balance-D

All of the food arrives prepared, so all you have to do is thaw, heat, and eat. The meals take just a few minutes in the microwave in the microwave-ready trays. If you don't have a microwave, you can always transfer the food to an oven-safe dish and reheat it in the oven.

Overall, my colleague had mixed opinions about the quality of some of the meals and the number of processed foods. She found the veggies to be watery and lacking in flavor (probably down to the reduced sugar and salt). Also, the proteins were a bit dry. Find out more about what she learned in her tested Diet-to-Go review.

You may be able to enchance the flavors to suit your palate. Try adding extra salt, herbs, soy sauce, or other flavorings, if they fit within your diet.

Shortlist of My Favorite Meals

I was pretty impressed with the range of Balance-D meals while doing my research for this review. My top choices included Waffles with Blueberry Cream Cheese for breakfast, Chicken Roma for lunch, and Blackened Salmon for dinner. 

Waffles with Blueberry Cream Cheese

This is a sweet way to start your day and definitely doesn't look like boring diet food. Served as a single portion, it's consistent with Diet-to-Go's Balance-D program standards. Key ingredients include blueberry cream cheese, whole wheat waffles, and peaches.

This recipe has a serving size of 194 grams and contains 340 calories and 15 grams of protein. It adds 17 g of fat, none of which is trans fat, 520 mg of sodium, and 45 g of carbohydrates.

Chicken Roma

Chicken Roma promises an enjoyable lunch. Ingredients include spinach, Parmesan Cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and, of course, chicken breast. The sauce is made from pine nuts and a spinach-cauliflower puree.

Chicken Roma comes in a 410 g serving, providing 410 calories. It contains 44 g of protein, making it an excellent option if you exercise regularly, and 19 g of fat, with no trans fats. Moreover, this meal has 710 mg of sodium and 14 g of carbohydrates.

Blackened Salmon

If you're a fan of fish and veggies, as I am, you're likely to enjoy Diet-to-Go's Blackened Salmon. Besides including salmon, which is one of the most nutritionally beneficial fish, the dish contains spinach and cauliflower puree, Brussels sprouts, and thyme. 

The 448-gram Blackened Salmon portion provides 420 calories and 39 g of protein. It also has 21 g of fat, 360 mg of sodium, and 19 g of carbohydrates, including 9 grams of fiber and 8 grams of sugar.

Prices

There are 4 different combinations of order sizes to choose from. With the Balance-D plan, you can choose 2 or 3 meals per day for 5 or 7 days per week. This means breakfast and lunch, or breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

However, you’ll get the best deal when you choose 3 meals a day for 7 days per week. That’s $203.99 per week before applying any discounts (accurate at the time of writing this review).

Don’t forget shipping, which is a rather hefty $19.98 per week. If you live in a zip code eligible for Fresh Home Delivery, shipping is $9.99. You can always save money by using our exclusive discount coupon: Save 50% Off.

If you place a smaller order, you’ll also need to take into account the purchase of any basic groceries that you’ll need for your remaining meals and snacks.

Shipping & Delivery

Diet-to-Go delivers to all 48 contiguous US states. At this time, shipping isn’t available to Alaska, Hawaii, or Canada.

The service actually offers 2 delivery options – Standard Home Delivery and Fresh Home Delivery. But before ordering, you’ll need to enter your zip code to confirm that Diet-to-Go delivers to your area and which options are available.

For my zip code, the Fresh Home Delivery was available on Tuesdays and Fridays. However, unlike some services I’ve tried, I didn’t get to choose a delivery day. The Fresh option is only available in and around Washington DC (including Northern Virginia and Southern Maryland), Baltimore, New Jersey, and Los Angeles.

Meals are shipped once or twice per week, depending on your location and whether you want them fresh or frozen. Once your first order is placed, it’ll be delivered 2 to 4 days later via FedEx. After that, deliveries are automatically shipped on the designated delivery days for your zip code.

For the Standard Home Delivery option, your meals arrive flash-frozen in a styrofoam box insulated with dry ice. The Fresh Home Delivery option (which, as mentioned, isn’t available in every location) means your meals arrive chilled and ready to be refrigerated. They’ll be delivered to your home twice a week for maximum freshness.

The Fresh Home Delivery option delivers your food chilled, though some ingredients may have been previously frozen – for example, the sausage patties, some of the proteins, and even some veggies. I spoke to several customer service representatives to get answers on which foods are typically frozen before they’re chef-prepared and couldn’t get a clear answer.

With the Fresh Home Delivery option, your food will arrive ready to heat and eat (as opposed to needing to be defrosted). But there’s no guarantee that your food was never frozen.

How Diet-to-Go Works

Signing up for Diet-to-Go’s Balance-D plan is super simple. Once you place your order, it’ll automatically ship each week unless you change or cancel it via the website or customer service.

How to Sign Up 

1. Head to the Diet-to-Go homepage. Then, click Order Now or Get Started. 

2. Select the Balance-D plan. It’s between the Balance and Keto-Carb30 plans. 

3. Choose the number of meals you want. Options include 2 or 3 meals per day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) for 5 or 7 days per week.

4. Enter your delivery address and other personal information, such as email and, preferably, phone.

5. Enter your payment info. You can also enter a promo code on this screen. If you click through from one of our links, our current discount code will be automatically added at this stage (Save 50% Off).

Once you’ve entered your payment details and confirmed your order, you’ll receive a confirmation email with your FedEx delivery tracking information. 

After completing payment, Diet-to-Go will automatically populate your basket with its recommended meals from the Balance-Diabetes plan. You can swap any meal out for another, however, from the 5-week rotation.

Managing Your Subscription

To make any changes to your order, you must log in through the website or contact customer service. Any changes must be completed by 12 pm EST on the cutoff day indicated in your account. The cutoff days are different for each zip code since the delivery days are different.

Customer Service

Diet-to-Go's customer service isn’t quite up-to-par with others I've tried. However, the call service is very useful.

You can contact customer service via the phone from 8 am to 5 pm ET. When I called several times to confirm plan information, I was connected with a friendly agent in less than a minute each time. Each one was very helpful and able to answer most of my questions.

I wouldn't recommend contacting Diet-to-Go's customer service through the email form, though. You're much better off looking through the FAQ – and even better off calling.

The customer service team isn't made up of healthcare experts, dietitians, or nutritionists. However, they do know a lot about diets that limit calories, and they're familiar with ADA guidelines. They also know all about how the Diet-to-Go menus and services work and they're glad to help you with your subscription.

If you want to cancel your subscription, you’re also required to contact customer service via phone or email before the cutoff date. For a detailed walk-through, check out our step-by-step guide to canceling your Diet-to-Go orders.

Diet-to-Go’s Dietitian Consultation

Diet-to-Go offers a free consultation with a board-certified registered dietitian (RD) after you’ve paid for your first order.

However, the service only has 1 RD on board. She has a couple of decades of experience in helping people optimize their health. But she’s only meant to be available should you have some difficulty with the meals you’ve ordered – such as high blood sugar spikes.

The RD can then consult on which other meals in the 5-week rotation might be better for you. You can have a follow-up appointment or 2 if necessary after you’ve tried different menu items. But that’s where the consultation and diet “coaching” ends.

How Diet-to-Go Compares to Other Meal Delivery Services

• Diet-to-Go vs. Factor: Diet-to-Go provides meal plans for various dietary needs, including keto and diabetes. Factor delivers fresh, chef-prepared meals for convenience and nutrition. Diet-to-Go is ideal for those seeking structured dietary programs, while Factor is best for those who value convenience. Factor also offers a larger menu of main meals, snacks, sides, and desserts. Learn more in my full Factor review.

• Diet-to-Go vs. Nutrisystem: Diet-to-Go's Balance-D plan specifically caters to individuals managing diabetes. Nutrisystem offers a broader, more comprehensive approach with its distinct Diabetic plan, as you’ll see in our full review. This plan not only includes portion-controlled meals and snacks but also provides access to dietitians, weight loss coaches, and an online community.

• Diet-to-Go vs. BistroMD: BistroMD offers a distinct diabetic program, designed by a physician and dietitians, with a scientific approach to stabilize blood sugar and lose weight. In contrast to Diet-to-Go's Balance-D, BistroMD's plan emphasizes macronutrient balance and provides access to dietitian support, fostering a comprehensive approach to managing diabetes.
  

The Bottom Line: Is Diet-to-Go’s Balance-D Plan Worth It?

It depends on your needs. Dealing with diabetes can be stressful, and planning and preparing suitable meals each week is time-consuming. Diet-to-Go’s Balance-Diabetes plan can support you in that journey by providing you with calorie-restricted meals.

It’s best for those okay with a low-calorie, low-carb, and classic American diet. You'll also need to have zero allergies and the budget to put toward a specialist service.

Diet-to-Go’s core philosophy is weight loss via calorie restriction, which aligns with managing type 2 diabetes. Regardless, managing type 2 diabetes also requires the assistance of your primary health provider, so I always recommend you speak with your doctor before making any diet changes.

FAQ

Are Diet-to-Go’s meals healthy?

There are no “healthy” or “unhealthy” meals, ingredients, or foods in general (barring hydrogenated veggie oils and trans fats, which are man-made). You can gain (or lose) weight by eating virtually anything, from broccoli to pie. However, weight gain, sadly, is a precursor of type 2 diabetes. Therefore, eating within a weekly calorie deficit is critical if you want to lose weight.

Fortunately, Diet-to-Go’s meals are specifically designed to help you lose weight. It accomplishes this by providing you with meals that contain the exact number of calories you need to consume on a weekly basis to lose weight properly.

Can I customize my Balance-D meal plan?

Yes, to a certain extent. You can choose whether you receive 2 or 3 meals per day, 5 or 7 days per week. The menu is rotated every 5 weeks, and you can swap 1 recipe for another within the same 5-week rotation.

Beyond that, there aren’t options to swap ingredients or accommodate allergies. You can add or subtract a meal from your plan if you call customer service before meal change cutoff days and times.

What’s the best diet to avoid diabetes?

There isn’t a single diet or ingredient you must eat (or avoid!) to avoid developing diabetes. The key to preventing the onset of type 2 diabetes is ensuring you’re maintaining the correct body weight for your height. Obesity is the precursor of type 2 diabetes.

If you’re unsure about this, please consult with your primary healthcare practitioner. This information is beyond the scope of our content. However, you could try out Diet-to-Go’s Balance-D plan if it’s authorized by your doctor. The plan lets you manage – or avoid developing – type 2 diabetes by helping you lose weight in a more effortless fashion.