Bento Is Not a Food Box or a Medically Tailored Meal Program. We’re Different. Here’s How.
In recent years, “food as medicine” has shifted from a buzzword to a real benefit that health plans are providing to their members as part of a complete strategy to manage chronic health conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and others. From fresh produce to fully prepared meals to groceries, medically-tailored food offerings are designed to improve health outcomes, reduce hospital admissions, and support people managing chronic conditions.
But not all programs are created equal. Each offers different levels of convenience, choice, and customization, so how do you choose? Let’s break it down.
Prepared Meal Delivery
Prepared meal services provide medically-tailored meals, ready to heat and eat. Meals are designed by Registered Dietitians and typically meet specific dietary needs like diabetes-friendly, low-sodium, renal-friendly, or cancer support.
Pros:
Meals are pre-prepared, which saves time
Meals are nutritious and support improved overall health
Meals can be tailored toward patients who have just been discharged from the hospital or who otherwise are not able to cook their own meals
Cons:
No flexibility to create your own meals
Less direct choice - members must select from set menus, and there’s limited personalization beyond menu selection
Since meals are pre-prepared, it doesn’t foster healthy behavior change - members don’t learn about nutrition and food preparation
Produce & Pantry Boxes
Produce and pantry box providers offer curated boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables, sometimes sourced directly from local farms. Some offerings also include pantry staples like rice, beans, or grains.
Pros:
Members receive nutritious foods
Ingredients can be used to create meals that align with members’ personal preferences
Cons:
Often, items that provide well-rounded nutrition like proteins, dairy products, whole grains, and healthy fats are not included in deliveries, meaning members might need to supplement their deliveries with these often costly ingredients.
Members might not know how to use all ingredients, or receive too much of something, leading to waste
Boxes are pre-set based on what’s available, seasonal, or plentiful. Members get healthy produce, but not the ability to pick items
Box services don’t always provide any education about how to prepare the foods that are provided, which can be challenging to members if they’re unfamiliar with the ingredients
Bento Grocery Delivery
Bento offers medically-tailored food, but in a different way. Bento members select grocery orders each week at no cost to them, delivered from their local grocery store. Each order contains foods from across the entire grocery store, and is customized by our team of Registered Dietitians to best support members’ medical conditions.
In addition, Bento offers nutrition guidance, and education, so that our members can learn how to create lasting lifestyle change that leads to better long-term health.
What Makes Bento Different:
Bento orders include all types of foods, tailored to members’ conditions: meat, fish, produce, healthy fats, grains, dairy, and even staples like spices. Everything members need to make delicious, well-rounded, healthy meals*.
Bento members select their grocery order each week, along with the date and time of delivery.
Orders come directly from local supermarkets - they are not pre-packaged in bulk. It’s a grocery delivery just like any other.
Members can customize their orders based on cultural preferences, and dietary preferences like Dairy Free, Gluten Free, and Vegetarian.
*Orders vary depending on members’ chronic condition and health plan.
Why It Matters
People have a lot of choice when it comes to medically-tailored nutrition, and it’s important to know what type of program best fits your lifestyle and preferences. Bento offers members tons of flexibility, variety, and convenience, as well as the resources to support you in your long-term health journey.
If Bento sounds like a good choice for you, you can start the enrollment process by clicking the button below.