HelloFresh is a popular meal kit delivery service that provides pre-portioned ingredients and recipes to customers’ doors. With its convenient and customizable offerings, HelloFresh appeals to many different diets and lifestyles.
One common question from potential HelloFresh customers is whether the service can accommodate a gluten-free diet. For those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, adhering to a strict gluten-free diet is essential. Knowing whether meal kit companies like HelloFresh offer gluten-free options can help customers make an informed decision.
What is gluten?
Gluten is a protein found in grains like wheat, barley and rye. For most people, consuming gluten is not a problem. However, for those with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, gluten can cause serious health issues.
When someone with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity consumes gluten, it causes damage to the small intestine. This damage interferes with the absorption of nutrients from food. Symptoms of gluten intake can include diarrhea, bloating, abdominal pain, vomiting, constipation, fatigue, headache and skin rashes.
The only treatment for celiac disease or gluten sensitivity is following a strict lifelong gluten-free diet. This requires avoiding foods and products containing wheat, barley, rye and sometimes oats.
Gluten-free diet overview
Following a gluten-free diet entails avoiding all foods and products containing gluten. Some grains, starches and foods that are naturally gluten-free include:
- Rice
- Quinoa
- Buckwheat
- Corn
- Potatoes
- Meat
- Poultry
- Fish
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Beans
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Eggs
- Dairy products
However, gluten can often hide in unexpected places like sauces, dressings and seasonings. Checking labels is key to avoid inadvertent gluten consumption. Foods labeled “gluten-free” must contain less than 20 parts per million of gluten.
Cross-contamination risks
When preparing gluten-free foods, cross-contamination with gluten is a major concern. Even tiny amounts of gluten can trigger symptoms and damage. Cross-contamination can occur if gluten-free foods come into contact with surfaces, utensils or equipment exposed to gluten.
Using shared kitchen equipment and surfaces poses a high risk. For example, spreading peanut butter with a knife that touched bread can transfer gluten to the peanut butter. Fried foods cooked in oil used for breaded products can also pick up traces of gluten.
Being aware of cross-contamination risks and taking steps to avoid it is vital when cooking gluten-free meals at home. Thorough cleaning of cooking surfaces and utensils is a must. Isolating gluten-free ingredients from sources of gluten is also recommended.
Can HelloFresh offer gluten-free meal kits?
The short answer is yes. HelloFresh does offer gluten-free meals and menus to accommodate customers with celiac disease or food sensitivities.
According to HelloFresh, their gluten-free meal options are designed for those adhering to a gluten-free or wheat-free diet due to celiac disease, gluten sensitivity or other health and lifestyle reasons. The gluten-free meals are crafted with care to avoid gluten cross-contamination.
Gluten-free meal options
HelloFresh offers a wide variety of gluten-free recipes across all its plans. Customers can choose from seven recipes each week. Options span various cuisines and dietary preferences like vegetarian, low carb and more.
Types of gluten-free meals offered include:
- Breakfasts: Frittatas, pancakes, breakfast bowls
- Lunches: Burgers, sandwiches, grain bowls, salads
- Dinners: Meat, poultry, fish and veggie main dishes with sides
- Snacks and desserts
- Kid-friendly meals
Ingredients provided with gluten-free meals are verified to be gluten-free. HelloFresh also gives the full ingredient list upfront, so customers can double check for allergens.
Gluten-free substitutions
For meals that cannot be made gluten-free, HelloFresh offers substitute ingredients. Common replacements for wheat-based ingredients include:
- Gluten-free breads, pizza crusts, wraps or pasta for regular varieties
- Gluten-free flour blends for all-purpose flour
- Cornstarch for wheat flour thickeners
HelloFresh notes the meal is gluten-free and lists the exact subs made. Customers can also choose to skip any non-gluten-free meals in their plan.
Gluten-free tags and filters
To easily view gluten-free options, HelloFresh marks these recipes with a “Gluten Smart” tag. Users can filter search results by this tag to see all gluten-free meals.
The recipes also highlight “gluten-free” in green text for added visibility. Icons show if meals are dairy-free, nut-free and allergen-free as well.
Avoiding cross-contamination
HelloFresh takes steps to avoid cross-contamination of gluten-free meals during prep and delivery. Some of these precautions include:
- Preparing gluten-free items first before other meals
- Using separate, sanitized workspaces and equipment
- Wearing fresh gloves and changing aprons
- Packing gluten-free meals in separate boxes and bags
However, as HelloFresh cannot control what happens after delivery, they do not guarantee zero cross-contamination. Customers with celiac disease may wish to take extra precautions when handling and preparing the meals.
Gluten-free meal plan options
In addition to individual gluten-free recipes, HelloFresh offers a few different gluten-free meal plans:
1. Gluten-Free Favorites
This plan features five gluten-free meals each week. It provides an easy way to enjoy gluten-free HelloFresh recipes without having to handpick them. Some sample meals include:
- Turkey meatballs with gluten-free spaghetti and marinara
- Bunless cheeseburgers with oven fries
- Shrimp pad thai with rice noodles and veggies
2. Vegetarian Gluten-Free
Ideal for vegetarians avoiding gluten, this plan provides five weekly plant-based, gluten-free meals. Examples include:
- Veggie rice pilaf with chickpeas and apricots
- Margherita pizza on a gluten-free crust
- Lentil-stuffed peppers with quinoa
3. Gluten-Free Custom Plan
For ultimate flexibility, customers can create a custom gluten-free plan. This allows choosing any five gluten-free meals to be delivered each week.
Additional costs
Opting for gluten-free meals and substitutions does come with a small upcharge. HelloFresh charges an extra $3 per gluten-free meal for the cost of specialty ingredients. For a 5-meal plan, this can add $15 or more to the weekly total.
HelloFresh’s basic plans start around $50-60 per week for three 2-serving meals (6 servings total). Gluten-free upgrades would add $9-15 onto this base price. Overall though, most customers seem to find the upcharge reasonable for the ability to customize a fully gluten-free meal plan.
What do customers say?
Thousands of HelloFresh customers report positive experiences with the gluten-free meal options. Some benefits they highlight include:
- Huge variety of gluten-free recipes to choose from
- Ability to customize entire meal plan
- Convenience of ingredients and recipes provided
- Clear labeling of gluten-free items
- Tasty flavors appealing to different palates
Many also appreciate the peace of mind from having meals prepped in an allergen-safe environment. While customers with celiac disease often take extra precautions, HelloFresh’s gluten-free diligence is reassuring.
Some customers do note inconsistencies in the substitution quality. For example, the gluten-free bread or pasta provided is sometimes subpar. Quality seems to depend on the specific meal. But overall, most customers find the gluten-free meal options delicious and satisfying.
Gluten-free customer reviews
Here are a few example gluten-free HelloFresh reviews from real customers:
| ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “The gluten free options are amazing! I never feel limited by my disease when ordering from HF.” |
| ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Being gluten-free can be expensive and difficult. Not with HelloFresh! Tons of GF options that are clearly labeled.” |
| ⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Most meals are great but some gluten-free sub ingredients are not that tasty. But I’m still happy to have the gluten-free choice.” |
Tips for getting the most out of gluten-free HelloFresh
Here are some tips to maximize satisfaction with HelloFresh’s gluten-free offerings:
- Pick the Gluten-Free Favorites plan – Get a full week of guaranteed gluten-free meals made simple.
- Read all ingredients – Double check for any allergens even on meals marked “gluten-free.”
- Avoid add-ons – Stick to listed ingredients to prevent cross-contamination from items like garlic bread.
- Seek substitutions if needed – You can sub any non-GF meal for a gluten-free option.
- Take extra precautions – Use clean cookware and prep surfaces to be safe.
Is HelloFresh worth it for gluten free diets?
For those adhering to a gluten-free diet, HelloFresh can provide significant value. The breadth of gluten-free options from easy breakfasts to gourmet dinners is unmatched. Having ingredients and recipes conveniently provided can be a lifesaver.
Compared to the effort of gluten-free meal planning and grocery shopping, HelloFresh offers a major time-saver. The meals take the guesswork out of putting together tasty gluten-free plates.
While not 100% guaranteed gluten-free, the meal kits eliminate most of the cross-contamination risk. The allergen-safe kitchen protocols provide significant peace of mind.
For the quality, variety, and convenience provided, most customers find the small upcharges worthwhile. Overall, HelloFresh’s gluten-free meal kits earn high marks for making gluten-free eating more exciting, affordable and sustainable.
The bottom line
HelloFresh offers a wide variety of meal options for gluten-free diets. Hundreds of recipes are specially crafted to be wheat and gluten-free. Dedicated gluten-free plans provide an easy way to enjoy allergy-friendly meals.
While unable to guarantee zero cross-contamination, HelloFresh takes steps to avoid gluten exposure. Their gluten-free meals give those with celiac disease and food sensitivities more flexibility and delight. For most customers, the convenience and taste make the small fees worthwhile.
Overall, HelloFresh’s gluten-free meal kits enable eating well while avoiding gluten. The varied menus and customized plans make gluten-free cooking easier and more enjoyable.
