Schwan's

Schwans Review of their Senior Meals and Prepared Meal Delivery Service

Top Rated Senior Meals

About Schwan's Food Service

Schwan's food delivery service provides family caretakers with some options over a senior prepared meal delivery that only sells cooked food. Schwan's is more like a supermarket that delivers nationwide, with about 300 food items. We based our purchases on the most likely needs of a family caretaker.

Price Per Serving

We found pricing overall, as it applies to "price per serving" to be much smaller than the average meal delivery service, including the diet delivery services. Most meals do not come as balanced meals, meaning there will be additional costs for vegetables and sides.
Very Limited Selection of Single Serving Meals

Meal delivery services specialize in single-serving trayed meals. Schwan's food service offers very little of that option, and what tried from that this category was well below the quality level we would feel comfortable serving our senior and elderly loved ones. In our food delivery, we received broken seals and cracked trays which are not only food quality issues, but a food safety issues. We found cracked pieces of plastic from the tray hidden in the food we purchased. When cheap plastic trays are packaged and shipped on dry ice, the dry ice freezes the tray so much it cracks the tray. This is something every meal delivery service knows and packs their coolers accordingly. We were surprised to see this carelessness from Schwan's.

A Limited Selection of Microwave Reheating

No doubt a family caretaker, and especially a remote family caretaker, will appreciate the convenience of reheating a single-serving meal in the microwave. Meal delivery services understand the convenience of microwave reheating. Family Caretakers are not likely to consider Schwan's prepared food convenient to reheat. Some foods are reheated on the stovetop, some are reheated in the oven, and some are a blend of both. Schwan's calls this micro-baking, which means the food item starts in the microwave and finishes in the oven. We didn't find it clever or convenient, and we didn't think it reheated the food particularly well.
Unusually Small Portion Sizes Limited Selection of Balanced Meals

Schwan's does not have standard portion sizes for most of their food, and we found the "recommended" portion size to be smaller than what the average person eats. To family caretakers, this makes senior meal planning much more difficult with managing leftovers and inconsistent amounts. 

Most family caretakers will be providing their loved ones with balanced meals. Many seniors will be on a low sodium, or diabetic diet, so ample servings of vegetables are an important part of the senior and elderly diet. You will have to buy you frozen vegetables with Schwan's separately, in order to provide your loved balanced meals.
More Food for Your Dollar, But How Good Is It?

Schwan's does have value for the family caretaker struggling to care for a loved one and on a limited budget. You can get a more prepared food in the house for less money than a single serving senior meal delivery service, but we discovered you will have work harder and spend more time to reheat and portion balanced meals. Also, we found the food to be very rich, and probably not something to serve daily.

It took us about four hours to reheat everything in our order and bag it for future meals. Something a remote family caretaker on a limited budget might consider doing on a Sunday to have ready-made meals during the week. Especially if they work or travel long distances to care for their loved ones.

Our Schwans Food Reviews

Overall, we found the prepared food from Schwan's below average with some acceptable meals. Being a family caretaker is a labor of love, and anyone who has had to fill those shoes knows that feeding their loved one is often the most anticipated part of their day. You want to serve delicious meals that are properly balanced and meet nutritional diet plans if applicable.

Schwan's does offer inexpensive food, which can seem like a solution for family caretakers on a limited budget, but considering the smaller than normal portion sizes, and what was thrown away because of cracked trays, broken seals, and poor food quality, we are not sure there is much value at all.
Our Recommendations
  • Beef Merlot - It reheats on the stovetop, and there will be leftovers, but it was very good for the price we paid. This is our second time ordering this meal, and we have enjoyed it both times. You will just need to add some green vegetables to make a balanced meal. We have it a thumbs up because of the effort to reheat. It comes two servings for $11.99, and this was one meal where the serving size was actually right on.
  • Shrimp and Broccoli Alfredo - Another Stovetop meal that scored high marks with our bloggers, as well as our loved ones. $12.99 for three valid servings.
  • Four Cheese Penne with Prosciutto - We did not find much Prosciutto in this meal, but the four cheese pasta was especially good. It comes in a paper tray that reheats in the microwave. Three servings for $10.99, but our image above is showing half the tray. A side vegetable will needed to make this a balanced meal.
  • Chicken Enchiladas - These are absolutely delicious. They come six to a paper tray, and one enchilada is considered a serving. Our 79-year-old Mom ate three with no problem. They are a little spicy, and they covered with seasoned rice and melted cheese. $12.99 per tray.
  • Chicken Alfredo - Another Stovetop prepared meal that might have just enough vegetables to qualify as a balanced meal. $12.99 serves three.
Food Items We Would Not Recommend
  • Macaroni and Cheese - $3.99 - The smallest tray we've ever seen, you can do better at the local market.
  • Roasted Turkey and Vegetables - $4.49 - Small amount of turkey pieces, no carb side, a frozen dinner at the local market would cost less and have more food.
  • Lasagna Roll-ups - $8.99 - We were fooled by the picture on the website and thought this came with sauce. It doesn't. The edges of the lasagna was "yellowed," and the cheese had a grainy texture.
  • Meat Lasagna - $5.99 - This is supposed to serve two, the worst lasagna we ever purchased from any meal delivery service.
  • Sliced Beef with Mashed Potatoes - $16.99 - The sliced beef was tough and chewy. The mashed potatoes were soupy with clumps of dehydrated potatoes to simulate homemade.
  • Grilled Chicken Marinara - $5.49 - The smallest processed chicken breast we have ever seen, you can get more and pay less at the market. 
  • Baked Ziti - $11.99 - Mostly sauce and not much ziti, not worth the money.
Our Opinion

We think you can do better at the local market for food about the same price per serving with the convenience of balanced meals, single-serving microwave meals, and a healthier menu.
Our Schwan's Food Review for Family Caretakers
Shared Experiences from Other Family Caregivers

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Submitted Reviews and Comments
  • Have any comments? We would love to hear yours! Please share your food experiences with other family caretakers below. You can upload pictures to seniormealdeliveries@gmail.com.

Your Schwan's Food Review

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