Nutrisystem
October 23, 2006 
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Following a nutritious and balanced diet can take time and dedication to prepare menus, shop, cook, and stick to it. Wouldn’t it be nice if someone would do it all for you? Several diet programs can do just that. They will prepare your menus, cook the food, and ship it to you. All you need is a fork, and usually a supply of fresh vegetables and dairy products. What could be easier! The most popular of these plans include NutriSystem and Jenny Craig. With these programs, your meals will be delivered by UPS in shelf-stable packaging. A new player on the block, Fresh Cuisine, offers fresh prepared foods that are more expensive, but promise to taste better. We’ve decided to try each of these programs and we’re starting with NutriSystem.
Suzanne’s week on NutriSystem
Most of you have heard of NutriSystem. You’ve seen the commercials, or may know someone that has tried the program. You purchase most of your food from them, and buy fresh fruits, vegetables, and dairy on your own. We’ve heard mixed reviews of NutriSystem in the past, and wanted to find out for ourselves what it was like. I volunteered to try it out and share my review. After all, I LOVE the idea of someone cooking my meals for me! I enjoy cooking, but my inner diva dreams of never having to wash dishes or spend a lot of time waiting in supermarket checkout lines with common folks.
NutriSystem offers a variety of pre-planned menus, all packaged and ready to go. You can choose from programs for women, men, diabetics, and vegetarians. Most of their packages include enough food for 28 days. I placed my order for NutriSystem products using the A La Carte option on their website, and chose the 1 week option for $79.99 plus shipping, for a grand total of $90.99. I’m a picky eater, and wanted more control over my meal choices. I secretly feared mystery meats or cauliflower.
I went through the order process, and was prompted to choose 7 each of the breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks. The breakfast options sounded good. I was able to choose between a variety of muffins, granola bars, cereal, pancakes, and even scrambled eggs. I couldn’t imagine eggs packaged in anything other than an eggshell, so I chose from the other offerings. The lunch selections included mostly instant “just add water” type foods, such as instant soup or potatoes. I was also able to select meal replacement bars or shakes, if I preferred. The dinner entrees sounded good, and the photos resembled many popular frozen dinners, though these were shelf stable and not frozen. How ingenious! I could choose foods such as Cajun Style Chicken, Thai Noodles with Tofu, and even Cheese Pizza! I made my selections, placed my order, and waited on my package to arrive.
I received my NutriSystem package about a week later. The full weeks worth of food fit inside a box that measured 10×13x7. I was provided with a sample menu that required I buy plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, and milk. I made my list and spent an additional $20 at the supermarket. Over the next few pages, you’ll read about each of my meals, followed by my thoughts on the plan. The real question is would I recommend this plan to anyone that I had to look in the eye the next day?
Day 1
Breakfast included two NutriSystem baby banana muffins that weighed 2 oz total, 1 cup of skim milk, and 1/2 cup applesauce. I briefly heated the muffins in the microwave, and enjoyed the scent of banana bread as it wafted through the kitchen. The muffins were rather dry, but that’s to be expected when your breakfast comes from a warehouse instead of your oven. I walked away from the table feeling proud that I’d completed my first NutriSystem meal and felt satisfied and brimming with willpower. Lunch was NutriSystem instant “Hearty Minestrone” soup, milk, and salad. I was instantly transported back to a time when I was younger, thinner, and had high expectations for my life. It reminded me of the cheap instant soup I ate when I was in college and had a food budget of about $10 a week, and shopped at the food salvage store. I wasn’t impressed, but I finished it anyway. The soup was loaded with preservatives and other additives that tasted almost metallic, but I managed to balance the flavors by serving a large salad piled high with mesclun, grape tomatoes, and freshly roasted red bell peppers. I had a sweet Gala apple for an afternoon snack, and used my dairy selection to make a skim milk and green tea chai. I make my own chai from fresh spices and loose leaf tea, then close my eyes and pretend I’m in India. Dinner was NutriSystem cheese and spinach ravioli in meat sauce. I regret that purchase because I didn’t notice ‘meat sauce’, and I don’t eat beef. I scraped away the meat sauce and was left with two large ravioli that looked good, though they smelled and tasted like canned pasta. So I wasn’t exactly transported to Italy. The meal was saved by a delicious salad I made from butterhead lettuce, drizzled with light balsamic vinaigrette. Dessert was a NutriSystem crispy “mocha” bar which tasted pretty good.
It wasn’t a bad day, despite a few grumblings. I walked on the treadmill for an hour, and did some light weight lifting, then I planned my menu for the next day.
NutriSystem Day 2
I had NutriSystem lemon poppyseed muffins for breakfast today, along with skim milk and an orange. Once again, the muffins were dry, but the meal was still satisfying. I didn’t heat the muffins before serving, and think I probably should have, as they lacked flavor and fragrance. Lunch included another portion of instant soup, a salad, and a glass of milk. The instant broccoli and cheese soup had a somewhat scorched flavor, which I couldn’t take the blame for since I just poured boiling water in a styrofoam cup. I think it would have been much better if I had added a little bit of steamed broccoli, to add more fresh flavor and color. I began to get hungry soon after my meal. My afternoon snack included a 1-ounce packet of NutriSystem Sour Cream and Onion Soy Chips, which were very tasty. I don’t think I’ve ever had soy chips before, and I enjoyed the hard crispness and rich flavor of the snack.
For dinner, I decided to try the NutriSystem thin crust cheese pizza. The picture on their website looked good, so I had ordered two of them. I opened the box and pulled out a tiny prebaked crust, a packet of sauce not much bigger than a ketchup pack, and a packet of shredded cheese. I was shocked by the size of the pizza, and had to run get a ruler to measure it. It measured at 5 inches diameter, though it looked even smaller than that. The crust was about 1/4 inch thick and full of air bubbles. I preheated the oven, assembled my pizzette, and prepared a salad. The pizza tasted ok, though the full 3 ounce serving didn’t fill me up. Keep in mind that a 1/4 cup of water weighs 2 ounces. So I ate another salad. The pizza sells for $5.09, weighs 3 ounces, and contains 140 calories. A Lean Cuisine pizza sells for half of that, weighs twice as much, and contains about 280 calories. I also had a beautiful, deep purple blood orange that was SO good! It’s amazing how a so-so meal can make a simple, perfect piece of fruit taste so good. I also exercised, and considered it a day spent on program, even though I didn’t feel full or satisfied.
NutriSystem Day 3
I decided to have NutriSystem Granola for breakfast today. The package was very small, there may have been about 1/4 to 1/3 cup of granola in it. I added my milk and had applesauce on the side. The granola had a good flavor and crunch, there just wasn’t enough of it. I was starving by mid-morning, and wish I’d saved my fruit serving for a snack. For lunch, I chose the NutriSystem tuna salad. I was surprised to open the small flat packet and find an odd tuna paste inside. It didn’t resemble tuna salad at all.
I was allowed to add a serving of protein to my meal, so I boiled an egg then diced and added it to the tuna salad to give it a little texture. The picture on the package showed it served with 4 pieces of Melba toast, but they only included 2 pieces with my order. I wish I had a jar of pickles at hand, because the tuna salad really needed something extra. There were tiny bits of chopped water chestnuts, added for crunch, but it was still lacking zing. I also had a small salad, and the extra flavor was refreshing and much needed, though it wasn’t very filling. I really wanted those two extra melba toasts. I imagined someone in the NutriSystem warehouse stuffing his pockets with little packets of melba toast, the way the rest of us take ink pens and paper toilet seat covers from the office. Lunch ended pretty quickly, and I hopped on the treadmill to take my mind off of my growling stomach. Dinner included NutriSystem Thai Style Noodles with Peanut Sauce and Tofu. It wasn’t bad, though it tasted artificial. The tofu was too mushy, and the pasta was overdone. I didn’t finish the dish, but I had a second helping of steamed broccoli. I had a NutriSystem Toffee Bar for a snack, and it was sweet, crunchy, and made up for the lack of a complete dinner. I exercised in the evening, and kept reminding myself that at least I was staying on plan and had not eaten anything fattening.
NutriSystem Day 4
I chose the NutriSystem Pancakes for breakfast, which was actually a packet of pancake mix. It was so tiny that I was convinced it would just make one pancake, but was surprised to see it swell and make 3 average size pancakes. They recommended sugar free syrup to go on it, which I didn’t have and didn’t want to buy just for this meal. I drizzled the pancakes with 1 teaspoon of honey, which still left most bites unadorned, and pancakes should never be naked. I also had a pear and a glass of skim milk. The little packet of pancake mix cost $1.95, which is the cost of a whole box of Aunt Jemima pancake mix.
Breakfast was boring, but was satisfying enough to hold me for a few hours. For lunch I prepared the Spicy Oriental Noodles with Vegetables. This was in an instant soup type cup, and I guess it was like Cup-o-Noodles, or Ramen Noodles – another memory from college. I added the boiling water and watched the noodles and freeze-dried green beans plump up. It tasted very salty, but I think I didn’t stir it well enough, and had clumps of the seasoning mix that were overpowering. It retailed for $2.79, while a comparable box of Lipton Cup-o-Noodles costs about 50 cents. Dinner was NutriSystem Tuna Casserole. The photo on the box showed pasta with chunks of tuna, and it looked pretty good. You can’t go wrong with tuna casserole. What I received was quite different, and no mother I know would have ever served this. The pasta was there, but I didn’t find any chunks of tuna. There were bits of something, but based on the ingredient label, I think it was texturized vegetable protein. It was all in a tuna sauce, that appeared to be liquefied tuna. I reluctantly tried a small bite and wasn’t quite sure what to think. Remembering my mothers advice to always give yourself 3 bites to decide if you like it, I ate two more bites. I kept thinking about the liquefied tuna, and was reminded of a Saturday Night Live skit from the 70’s. Do you remember the Bassomatic? I couldn’t eat anymore. I decided to give it to my dog, Lola, but even she wouldn’t eat it. Lola sniffed a few times, tucked her tail between her legs as she nearly limped away, and turned around to look a few times as if to say “is it STILL there?” Dinner was a bust, so I went to McDonalds.
NutriSystem Day 5
I began the day with a bowl of NutriSystem NutriCoconut O’s cereal for breakfast. The cereal appeared to be not one, but several types of cereal combined. It was supposed to taste like coconut, which I had looked forward to, but I didn’t even taste a hint of coconut. It was still ok, for a bowl of cereal. I saved my fruit portion for a mid-morning snack, since I’ve learned by now that I need something every few hours to keep me going on this plan. Lunch was NutriSystem Tex-Mex rice and beans, another concoction in a styrofoam cup. The flavor reminded me of Van Camp’s Spanish rice, which was one of my favorite childhood foods, and I’ve not had it in 20 years. I wonder if they still make it.
I don’t think I’ve ever used my electric kettle so many times in one week. I boiled, I stirred, I ate. Cleanup was a breeze! I really am not a fan of instant foods, but I can see where this type of food would be convenient for someone that worked in an office, or even a college student. It seems almost like junk food, because it doesn’t contain anything fresh. I read the long lists of unpronounceable ingredients, and often wondered what I was putting in my body. I may be a Fat Chick, but that doesn’t mean I fill my body with junk.
We had a family birthday dinner, so I brought my second little box of NutriSystem pizza to my parents house. I wanted to show my sisters how small it was, and looked forward to serving it with a Greek salad. We all got a surprise when I opened the box and pulled out a green, moldy crust. It was still sealed in plastic, so I have no idea what went wrong. I enjoyed the Greek feast the family had prepared, all the way down to the Baklava. When I got home, I emailed NutriSystem and asked for a refund for the moldy pizza. It retailed for $5.09, and they said they would issue a $10 refund to my credit card. Customer service was very nice about it and seemed genuinely concerned about the problem.
NutriSystem Day 6
I had a NutriSystem granola bar for breakfast, along with the usual fruit and milk. I enjoyed the sweetness of the bar, and think it would have been the perfect meal on the go, if only I had somewhere to go. The breakfast buffet at Shoney’s comes to mind.NutriSystem pasta The newness of the plan has worn off, and I am no longer looking forward to the meals. I’m hungry and bored. I had the NutriSystem Chicken Noodle left for lunch, which was similar to Campbell’s soup, and that’s a good thing. It wasn’t an instant soup this time, and it was in a small microwavable container. The soup retails for $2.59 per serving. If I were planning to continue with the NutriSystem plan, I don’t think I’d buy the soup again, simply because I can buy a single serving can of Campbell’s at the supermarket for a fraction of the price. I had an afternoon snack of NutriSystem cheese curls, which were very good. They weren’t greasy, like regular cheese curls, and had good flavor – for a cheese curl. I spent the afternoon dreading dinner, which was supposed to be pasta primavera with tofu. The picture on the package looked awful and I found that I couldn’t muster up the courage to open it. So I had a Lean Cuisine frozen pizza, along with oven roasted green beans. I had NutriSystem instant pudding for dessert, which was very similar to Jello instant pudding, though not quite as flavorful or sweet. I mixed it with water in my serving bowl, and it thickened very quickly. I finished my pudding, comforted by the thought that there was just one day left on this plan.
NutriSystem Day 7
I had NutriSystem instant oatmeal for breakfast today. I would have preferred steel cut or even 5 minute rolled oats, but it was tasty enough and hit the spot on a chilly morning. I saved my fruit and milk for a mid-morning snack. I didn’t have anything left for lunch, because apparently the little NutriSystem Toffee bar I ate one night for dessert was really a lunchtime meal replacement. So I had a large salad with a chopped egg. I still had a NutriSystem dessert leftover from the night I skipped in lieu of the birthday baklava, so I had it after lunch. It was a lemon blueberry bar, and was really good. Unlike most of my friends, I happen to love the flavor of artificial lemon. My NutriSystem farewell dinner was chicken with almonds and rice. It turned out to be the best NutriSystem meal all week. It wasn’t great, and I wouldn’t want it again, but it was better than the other NS meals I tried. It tasted similar to canned LaChoy chow mein, and just needed a few dashes of soy sauce. The chicken was good, and didn’t seem overly processed. I couldn’t find any almonds in my dish, but I didn’t miss them. Afterwards, I had Nutrisystem fudge cake for dessert. It was packaged like a bar, and was about the size of a brownie. It was ok for what it was. It wasn’t Death by Chocolate, but it was good enough for diet food. I think those two words summed up the week – diet food, which you can look at as a pro or a con. When we think of diet food, we think of food that is lacking something – mainly taste and substance. Many people prefer diet food because it helps them stay focused. Others walk away feeling deprived, and are more likely to go off plan. I’m practically relieved that the week has ended.
NutriSystem – Final Thoughts
I have to admit that I’m a very picky eater. I prefer fresh foods, and avoid most processed foods, especially processed meats. The breakfast and snack foods were good, and I liked the portion control of the program. The instant lunches were not filling, and were the types of foods I would only eat if my paycheck were delayed, my cabinets were bare, and I couldn’t get a date. The dinner entrees were really awful and I hope I never have to eat another. In fact, I can’t think of one food I’ve had this week that I would intentionally ask for again – except, of course, the birthday Baklava 
I couldn’t wait to steam a head of broccoli and slide a fish filet under the broiler.
I entered my food into FitDay every day, just out of curiosity, and included the NutriSystem foods as well as the milk and produce I added. Each day averaged 1350 calories, 33 grams fat, 110 grams protein, 2800 mg sodium, and 180 carbs. I also walked on the treadmill for an hour and did 20 minutes of light weights every day. I lost 2 pounds during my week on NutriSystem, despite my Greek feast and the night I ran to McDonalds for a Cobb Salad. Salad? I’ll bet you thought I had a Big Mac! I was really a good girl that night. I was also hungry every day, which is not normal for me on any diet. I was following the NutriSystem Nourish plan which is low GI and high in protein, which they promised would help keep me full and satisfied all day. I followed the meal plan as closely as possible, other than Greek night. The week before I tried NutriSystem, I had followed the Flavor Point diet which was very filling. I ate a lot of whole grains, freshly prepared seafood and vegetables, and plenty of fruit. I also had to cook everything from scratch, but it was a lot of fun to play with new recipes. I was never hungry, and I also lost 2 pounds that week.
Not everyone shares my experience. We have quite a few members in our community that follow NutriSystem and love it. It really depends on the types of food you are used to eating, and what helps you stay committed to a diet plan. Some of the members said they also had certain food choices that they hated, but tried enough varieties so they found selections that they enjoyed and could look forward to. A few odd fellows even used the word yummy!
NutriSystem Pros: Convenience and portion control are the only things this diet plan has going for it. If you are busy, would rather not deal with menu planning, and your taste buds are comatose, this may be the plan for you. It is a calorie controlled diet, and it really does work, if you can stick with it. If you are considering NutriSystem, I really suggest that you check out comments from other members that have tried it, so you get more views than mine. You can also order a couple of items from their website without investing in a large package that you may not be able to finish, so it’s a good way for the adventurous to try it out without a commitment.
NutriSystem Cons: Most of the foods have a highly processed flavor. The quality isn’t very good. Portion sizes are controlled, but they are very small. The foods are very expensive for what you actually receive. Most of their selections have equal or better counterparts at the supermarket for about half the cost, and it would be easy to duplicate the program.
Related posts:
- Bistro MD Diet Delivery vs. Nutrisystem
- NutriSystem: Myths and Facts
- Sample Menu for Anne Collins Balanced Diet
- Free Sample Menu Plan for the 4 Day Diet
- Sample Menu for Anne Collins 14-Day Low Calorie Booster Diet
I tried Nutrisystem last year, before I was diagnosed with hypothyroidysm. One word of caution, there is research that indicates soy may further inhibit the thyroid, so Nutrisystem with it’s high level of soy may actually sabotage those with low thyroid function. I felt horrible the whole time I was on Nutrisystem and only lost 5 punds over 2 months.
I tried nutrisystems and it just isn’t worth the money. I spent a lot of money on fresh fruits, vegetables, bread and dairy. I was hungry, and disappointed at the size of the meals. If you want fast, convenient, tasty meals just get lean cuisine or weight watcher meals. They taste better, cost less which allows you to afford the other things you need.
I just tried nutrisystem for the first time and sent it back after 7 days. It is awful, gross, nothing like the photos on the food boxes and nothing like their advertisements.
I think dog food is better than this and I can’t imagine that Jenny Craig is any better.
There is far too much sodium and sugar in their meals and snacks and for breakfast mostly you get granola type bars that you can get in the store for cheaper and bran flake cereal and cake loaf that is just gross compared to store bought.
I highly suggest you save your money and just start cooking good quality food in the correct amounts!
I just finished about 9 weeks on NS. I lost 14 pounds. But, I quickly grew tired of the food and their customer service. NOTE: 99% of their lunches have anchovy and fish oils. So if you are, like me, allergic to this stuff. It will be rough. I called and ordered my food including the (horrible) vegetarian lunches. They delivered the anchovy lunches. Their customer service is really bad. It takes about 2.5 weeks to get the food if it comes from Pennsylviania. If it comes from Sparks, NV then it’s just a few days for me. So when I asked if they could ship it from Sparks they said they couldn’t request that kind of service. It was one issue after another and I finally decided to cancel my membership. If you have a small amount of weight to lose I would say – go for it. But I have about 140 pounds to lose. I’ll just do it on my own. One good thing. It taught me about portion sizes.
Boy is this lady right on target! I’d sooner eat dog food than some of the items offered on Nutri System. The only thing that lost weight was my wallet. After I saw their highly offensive commercial where a guy referred to his former self as “a big, fat slob” they added insult to injury. Obviously, they have no respect or empathy for the heavy person who struggles with the disease of obesity nor does their program offer a sensible and long lasting solution to weight control. Who can live on packaged garbage for a lifetime, and what happens when you stop buying the food–guess!
with the weight lost ads on tv were is the flab that comes when you lose large amounts of weight and do you have to eat this the rest of your life and what about the sodium intake
The food is absolutely awful……Better off to cook good food and eat less….Don”t buy it is totally not worth a penny….Bad. bad. bad……
Hi,
While reading Suzanne’s review on her week on Nutrisystem, I was at the same time listening to the Shopping Channel’s hard sell on the “system” today.
I’m so glad I came across the review because it saved me from making a stupid and costly mistake. I’m with Suzanne. I love fresh food prepared simply with the addition of herbs, spices, lemon and olive oil, etc.
I like her suggestion of duplicating the diet with the foods you. The key is a well balanced diet without excess fats. And smaller proportions are the key, not so small though that you are not satisfied.
Thank you.
Mckeylah
Victoria, BC
I am on the diet 4 days now. I think the food is pretty good. I am shocked that every single review says the opposite. Maybe Nutrisystem has improved their food but I have been pleasantly surprised so far at everything I have tried. I did select only the entrees I thought I would like. I didn’t try any of the stews or pot roasts. The ravioli’s are really good. The pancakes are better than the ones I make at home. I am never hungry and feel really good. I lost 2.8 pounds in the first 3 days but I am also exercising. This plan worked for my mother and sister. The only drawback I can see is the cost. It is really expensive and I am looking for comparable grocery items to replace some of the Nutrisystem as I wean off of the plan. If you are used to fatty, full of flavor, large portion meals, you may be disappointed. But if you are realistic about portion sizes and are interested in healthy meals including lots of fruits and vegetables and have a little money to spend, why not give it a try?
well, i’ve just started NS. and so far so good, i havent come across anything too horrible yet… but it’s only been a few days… one thing i noticed about your food choices is that for adding the dairy or protein you were adding a glass of milk – i’ve been doing cottage cheese or yogurt, or a cheese stick & i think this has helped me be less hungry. anyhoo – it costs & i knew you had to buy fresh fruit & veggies, but it’s definitely alot more than i thought it would be! if i’d read this sooner i might not have ordered it… but i’m to the point where i had to do something! so we’ll see what happens!
I am on it. Have lost 10 pounds so far, in 3 weeks. The food is NOT horrible. I don’t understand the people that say it is horrible. Write down the one’s you like so you are able to order them in your next order. And like someone else said, the portion control is perfect for someone that is trying to lose weight. After-all, wasn’t it the BIG portions that made us fat in the first place?? I say, if you are not TOO picky of an eater, and you are willing to make a change in your eating habits……go for it!!!
I just wanted to let people know the truth about NutriSystem, I wish I did before ordering. It is a good system, I can see how people CAN loose weight on it. It’s an easy way to get into a habit of eating healthy, small portioned meals few times a day. However, the food is not tasty at all (that’s a nice way of putting it)! Some foods are OK, like the breakfast and desert items on the menu taste OK, but lunch and dinners are just horrible (and I am NOT a picky eater)!!! On top of that, some meals don’t even come complete, you still have to buy and add ingredients to it, like the Cesar salad comes with only chicken and dressing, no lettuce; and chicken breast, that is pictured as a sandwich, has only chicken breast, no bun. I just called and canceled my future orders, and was charged an extra $52! if you read carefully, if you get auto delivery, you get 10% discount and free shipping, but if that will be your ONLY order, they will charge that back, like $300 for that crappy food was not enough! So beware when ordering for the first time, try it first before you commit!
Wow, it is amazing how many people complain about Nutrisystem. I lost 30 lbs and that makes it worth the money. I would rather eat boring food in small portions and be thin in my little black dress than to eat whatever and be fat. Nutrisystem has taught me to control my portions and make better food choices. If you are hungry when on the program…then add fresh veges like some carrot sticks, etc. You will feel better without going off the program. My stomach shrank over three months so when I began cooking for myself again I chose fresh healthy foods and needed to eat less to be full. Most of the time an overweight person cannot get full on a diet is either A. They are not getting enough calories or B. Their stomach is streched from eating large portions. Most people that do complain, I believe the latter to be true. Nutrisystem is not the whole answer but can help you on track to a better lifetime of eating.
I’m confused about nutrisystem, i wanted to drop some weight before my cruise and maintain a healty lifestyle. i’ve been receiving mixed signals on the reviews…. Decision,..decisions…decisions…
I’ve been doing Nutrisystem for 8 days now, and my partner is doing it as well. She is much heavier and could stand to loose over 100 pounds, and is used to greasy fried middle-american foods. Both of us though have really done a good job this week and are loosing weight. I was afraid my partner would hate the food and complian a lot, and for me – I prefer fresh organic foods. But we both decided that portion control and variety is what we need, at least for now. We have our fridge full of portioned-out produce and dairy/proteins (ham, turkey, cheesesticks, hard-boiled eggs) so we can quickly grab things for work. I now mix in veggies and ham or turkey into the soups and on top of my pizzas. My partner is eating so many mushrooms, you all should buy stock. We are talking more about food choices and are proud of ourselves. She lost 4 pounds this week, and I’ve lost two.
Don’t get me wrong…I would never buy processed, packaged foods in my “real” life. The food is mediocre at best, but it’s not completely horrible and with some creativity and preparation, it’s been easy to created decent meals. I didn’t do this so I could have gourmet meals prepared for me every day; if that were the case, I’d be paying a lot more money than this. What we are hoping is that this will break some habits we have, and get us more in the swing of eating smaller portions more frequently, and really getting daily reinforcent of what a “portion” is.
In the past I have done well on similar plans (i.e. The Zone) but I made my own ‘main courses’ and after a while got pretty sick of plain tuna and bun-less burger patties. At least with NutriSystem, there is lots of variety. We are jotting down our favorites for the next round of ordering. I think if you have realistic expectiations then it can work for you for sure.
One more thing: My partner has had acid reflux and heartburn and indigestion since I met her. She used to take some prescription drug, which is now over-the-counter, like Prilosec or something. And six months ago, i started (at 46) getting heartburn, which had never been an issue for me. Since we got together we’ve both gained 20 pounds. ugh. Anyhow….an update is that yesterday we both noticed that we have not had any heartburn or acid reflux for an entire week. I mean, she’s been taking those pills for years. So this is an opportunity for us both to understanding in a real way how our food choices affect us. We also have noticed that we are not as dopey-feeling. For me personally I don’t come home from work and collapse, feeling all zombie-ish and ready for bed at 7 pm. It’s enlightening………………..
Well I just finished day 6 on NS and am trying so hard to keep myself motivated on this plan. I too spent a small fortune and stocked up early to provide food for 2 months. I don’t have a ton of weight to lose, (would like to shed about 25 pounds) and am kind of having a hard time already with the being hungry ordeal. It really is the portions that are killing me, lol. Not too mention, I tend to stay up really late thanks to school and get super hungry around midnight!!!
But so far I have done a good job and look forward to the end result ….SUMMER! I try to exercise as much as I can (during my lil ones nap time =) and do enjoy some of the foods. For example the taste of these items (thus far) are really tasty:
Mint Chocolate Bar (Dessert)
Fudge Graham Bar (Lunch)
Bean and Ham Soup (Lunch)
Cinammon Bun (Bfast)
Vegetable Lasagne (Dinner)
Peppermint Chocolate Cookie (Dessert)
Mac & Cheese w/ lots of Pepper lol (Dinner)
I’m sure you noticed by now that chocolate is a great factor with this diet and that’s the real flavor I look forward to incorporating into my next days meal plan, lol!! Wish me luck, 60 days seems like forever but hopefully I’ll be looking good in that swimsuit with my babes at the waterpark this June =).
I’ve read all the comments about Nutrisystem. I’ve even been to other sites. If there is one thing that I’ve learned about diets and prepacked foods- they will never taste as good as a freshly home cooked meal– made by anybody LMAO…. So i think that if your trying to lose wight and develope good eating habits, then this is the way to go. If you know that your a “picky” eater from the start then i would not do the preslected foods. I would try to chose the food that i think i would like…Then again, if you know you can’t really stand frozen prepacked foods, why join a progam like this or even try it when you know that the way the food is prepared is not to your liking? In order for someone to give a true opinion of this program, you can’t dislike frozen foods or be entirley partial to fresh cooked meals… Just my thoughts.
(and this is being polite)
My husband has been on the Nutri-System diet for a week. He has done very well and appears to feel marvelous! Having said that, I am about ready to have a nervous breakdown over the stress of having to plan, shop, execute and clean up the preparation mess. I certainly can understand the wonderful reviews written–I would be quite happy to return home from work–empty lunch pail in had, throw it on the counter and sit and watch TV until it was time for a “wife” to come home–prepare my dinner and of course prepare the meals for the next day–while I stroll merrily along to watch TV. I might note that I have lost over 4 lbs this week–I only weigh 124 lbs, because I don’t have the time or energy to prepare a meal for myself. My question is why can’t people just learn portion control from the onset and not have to rely on something like Nutri System. I am so incredibly upset that I am the one that has to suffer now, because he went to his ManCave and drank beer and ordered end cuts of prime rib when we we were dinning out. I absolutely detest this diet!! I am sick and tired of it after only one week. I know my situation is compounded by the fact that I care for my 85 year old mother, who is quite demanding on her meals also, which I prepare. But obviously, my family knows how to eat–she is 85 and suffers no real medical issues, except for being tired. We never did eat a great deal of red meat–mainly vegetables and fruits. Thanks for listening. Perhaps I do feel a bit better now. Good luck to everyone attempting this diet. I hope that a lifelong lesson in portion control and food choices is well-learned.
I’m not a picky eater but I am a lazy cook. I live off of frozen food. Nutrisystem (NS)is not frozen food. It is not really food. I know it looks good on TV and the outside of the boxes but it does not in any way compare to grocery store frozen food. I like Gingers comments (above) where she explains how she adds real food to the artificial (NS). That a good idea. Seasoning helps to get it down also. You will be hungry if you don’t eat a lot of veggies. Of course you could do this with out eating (NS). I tried (NS) for a month, and had a lot left over. I read that you could order 2weeks of door delivery frozen food, along with 2 weeks NS). It is very expensive, but I thought I’d try it. (NS) food is still just as sorry, but the frozen stuff is not so bad, however, the portions are very small. Everyone needs to make up their own mind on (NS) food, but think about this. How good does a paper cup of dehydrated mashed potatoes with hot water sound? If your answer is delirious then join the program.
I’m listening to the N/S ’spokesperson’ on QVC at the moment and cannot beleive that anyone would choose this expensive pre packaged rubbish over fresh delicious healthy ingredients that would fill you up without breaking the bank! What amazes me most is that many people, while admitting the food tastes awful are still prepared to eat it,rather than spend 15 or 20 mins preparing something that fills you up and actually tastes good!
I have been on NutriSystem for one week and I have lost 5 lbs. I am used to eating fresher and tastier home cooked meals but I will admit that I know nothing about portion control. That’s why I wanted to try NutriSystem.
I just had a baby and was really getting down on myself about holding onto this extra 40 lbs. so I knew I needed to do something and I just don’t have the time with a full time job and a 4 month old to sit around and freshly prepare healthy meals. I am used to eating heavily buttered, and sauced food.
So far, I have really not minded NutriSystem. Before I began it I was spending $300/week on granola bars and frozen Weight Watcher meals and i was always hungry.
On Nutrisystem I get to eat the smae sorts of things, PLUS fresh fruits and things and I’m actually consuming less calories than I was when I was eating less. the food isn’t GREAT, but it’s not terrible. If you know how to season your food to taste you can do wonders with your meals by adding a little pepper flake and seasoned fresh veggies.
Losing 5 lbs has sealed it for me though. I walk on my treadmill for 30 minutes per day and stick to my meal plan of a Nutrisystem graola bar or cereal, fresh fruit and skim milk or an egg for breakfast, A nutriSystem lunch item, salad or side veggies and fruit for lunch, and fruit for a snack and a Nutrisystem meal for dinner paired with more seasoned fresh veggies or a salad for dinner and finish the day off with a little dessert or snack item and I’m only consuming 1200 calories/day. And I rarely feel hungry.
Granted this may not be the case for everyone as I am 4′ 11″ and weigh 140 lbs. and used to weighing 100 lbs. and have never been a fast food junky. My eating habits and body type are very different from most of the persons looking to try to plan.
All I can reccommend is to not get any of the bread items like muffins or cake as they are, as I’m sure you assumed, very dry.
I would say if you have the money, give it a try. Try the 2 week plan or A La Carte items and just see what you think. You might be as surprise as I have been.
I tried Nutrisystem for a couple of months. I lost a grand total of 10 lbs., but the truth is, I had only 12 lbs. to lose anyway. The lbs. were being very stubborn when I tried doing it on my own. Clearly, I wasn’t sticking to a strict calorie-reduction, so I opted for NS. I stuck with the program. I did not cheat. I am thinking I chose the wrong option, but still, I expected a better result than that! Think of it in terms of price-per-pound in weight loss. Let’s see, I paid almost $600 for those two months on the plan. I lost 10 lbs. Comes out to $60 per pound . . . right? On top of that, I found the food nearly inedible. Some of the offerings were bearable, like the little pizzas and the breakfast bars. Most of it was gluey and mucky and way too salty. Some of the gravy-based dishes smelled like dog food when I pulled off the cover. The best part of the plan was the fresh fruit and salads, which I provided myself. What the heck kind of sucker am I?! On the up side, I lost the final two pounds when I realized I could do the same damn thing by going to the supermarket and stocking up on Lean Cuisines, which were much cheaper and tastier. I have kept the weight off for two years and I have no intention of regaining any of it. My body is lighter. My bank account is definitely lighter. Never again.
Ok, my doctor recommended that I start the Nutrisystem plan because it was working so well for him. Me being at risk for Type 2 Diabetes and Sleep Apnia, I didn’t think about anything else but getting thinner. I started the diet on April 8, and it was alright the first week. I even lost 8 lbs! The next week was harder though. I found myself not even wanting to look at the piles and piles of pre-packaged, fat burning food, because I knew it was going to be horrible. But I managed and lost another 5 lbs. But here is the kicker. At the end of last week, I was starting to get sick. My stomach hurt ALL THE TIME and I was constantly running to the bathroom to puke. At first I thought it was my body getting ‘used’ to the ingredients or whatever, but now I realize that it’s just not good for me. Of course I was told to give it time, but now I just don’t want to eat, cause I know I will become ill. The worst part is, when I get would get sick and throw up, the FOOD would never come up, just the water I was drinking with it. And no, its not my water. Now, ask yourself, what exactly are you putting in your body, that when your body tries to reject it, it wont let it!!! Seriously… it’s really messed up, and word to the wise, don’t bother.
I could not believe my eyes when I finally started reading the backs of the packages.. Everything is loaded wih sodium! Let’s not forget packed full of cholesterol and carbs. For those of us with high cholesterol,and high blood pressure,this is not a good diet. To the gal in the article that tried it for a week, Hon you probably would have lost 2 pounds with your old eating habits with all the excersing you did. Well this waste of money can be only blamed on myself.. I should have never ordered anything off the television without checking into it more..SILLY ME. P.S My girlfriend is pre diabetic and this diet made her sick . She is borderline diabetic and also has high blood pressure and cholesterol.. A GOOD PORTION OF THE FOOD TASTES “NOT SO YUMMY”
So- this is my 2nd day on NS and let me tell you that I was expecting the food to taste like dog food but not like crap!-lol Even Jenny Craig’s food is ten times better ( I was on it, but too expensive). So yesterday when I finished eating my dinner which was loaded with tons of sodium, I started feeling hot and sweaty and I also got a headache. I’m not sure if it was the meal I ate or what but I have never experienced that before- we’ll see how it goes today? So I cancelled my future order because I know I will not stand eating this food for another month. I’m trying to lose about 10 pounds before I see my husband (he’s in the military and away). My sister lost about 12+ pounds and also warned me about the food being awful but worth loosing the pounds. Well I will finish what I have for now because I payed about $350 for it and I HAVE to eat it!- otherwise it’s like throwing away $350. The only thing ok about the food is the breakfast and the snacks but lunches and dinner… no way!
you poor darling! I’ve seen a series of videos uploaded on Youtube of a guy trying out the Nutrisystem plan and I could sum them up in few words: astronaut food. And sadly, not very tasty astronaut food, if I’m to believe you and him.
Weird part is the only tasty stuff was what you bought at the grocery store.
I’ve seen a few varieties of this stuff at Big Lots. Wonder why?
Oh, just read some other comments. Those people who claim this is a “good” plan obviously don’t know or understand how unhealthy this stuff is. Check out the ingredient list. You may be thin, but your blood pressure has probably gone sky high, and you’re taking in nothing but chemicals
. You could lose weight drinking endless cans of Coke all day long, but your health would be affected by it. Being thin doesn’t necessarily mean healthy. And just wait after you stop deciding to pay their inflated price; how soon your body will return to where it was. This isn’t teaching you good eating habits, you’re being starved and laden with chemicals.
I just want to say that the people saying that ns is good are most likely working for ns and are paid to troll and claim that it works, its awful and everyone I know has had a horrible experience, people from all over. So yeah, im not falling for “it was awesome” -_-
This is ridiculous.
The food on NS isn’t the most amazing stuff on the planet, but it’s also not inedible. In fact, it’s quite satisfying if you know anything about cooking.
I have been on the plan about a month and have lost 20, yes TWENTY pounds.
This plan is about portion control and fixing bad habits. That means that you are going to have to really think about your meals in advance, and prepare them according to the program. A little bit of creativity and the meals end up being very good.
As an example, I am on the Men’s Basic plan. Dinner is:
1 Nutrisystem Dinner Entree
1 Fruit or Vegetable
2 Vegetables
1 Carbohydrate
1 Fat
They define what each thing means, for example “fat” is 1tsp of olive oil, or one serving of peanut butter.
Here is how I make this meal, with the chicken parmesean pasta entree:
Blanch 2 serving of Broccoli in boiling water for 1 minute or so, until they turn bright green. Open the Nutrisystem Entree and pour it and the broccoli into a skillet, and heat it over medium heat. Meanwhile, get a piece of whole wheat bread, and toast it, then spread it with chunky peanut butter. You can then have an apple on the side, if you like. Once your nutrisystem+broccoli meal is heated all the way through, serve.
Also, here is the ingredient list for a black bean soup lunch on the plan…please tell me that this stuff “isn’t good for you”-
- Black Beans, Vegetables (Onion, Red Bell Pepper, Tomato, Garlic), White Rice, Modified Corn Starch, Spices (Chili Pepper, Cilantro).
And this is bad for you HOW exactly?
I really can’t believe all the whining going on here. I do *not* work for Nutrisystem, but I’m going to give the program a good review. I’ve been eating their foods for about 6 weeks now, and, whereas it’s not gourmet food, you have to be pretty picky or priviledged to say that it’s dog food or anywhere close to that. Some of the meals I don’t like — duh. I don’t order those any more. My 2nd order just came yesterday with all the things I really liked because they let you choose what you want.
TODAY:
Breakfast: NS Apple Strudel Scone, half coffee/half skim w/ Davinci sugar free vanilla syrup, small banana
Lunch: NS Macaroni & Cheese w/ Beef, large salad w cherry tomatoes and low fat raspberry vinaigrette dressing, applesauce w/ cinnamon
Snack: Kashi Chocolate and Peanut bar
Supper: NS Lasagna w/ Tomato Basil sauce w/ mozarella cheese on top, whole wheat garlic bread w/ Smart Balance butter, roasted mixed stir-fry veggies
Dessert (have before bed): will have yogurt and fresh cherries
This is a pretty typical day for anyone on NS, and, as you can see, the NS entrees are only a part of what you have. Yes, I could prepare my own lasagna and split it up into small portions, bake my own scones, & make macaroni and beef, but I am a compulsive overeater (yes, there are people who overeat, just as some people deal with their problems with too much drugs, sex, alcohol or gambling) and I’m learning that the portions given to me in the NS entrees are reasonable and *should* be the smallest part of the meal. My meals have always contained too much spaghetti, macaroni, etc., and too few veggies, dairy, & fruits.
Nutrisystem has a maintenance plan where they teach you how to transition to using your own foods *in the right porrtions* when you are close to your goal weight. Never have I seen anywhere that NS tries to get you to buy their foods forever.
Yes, NS foods has preservatives and more sodium than I would like, but the last time I ate at Subway, I got much more sodium in my meal than I get with a NS entree.
I’ve lost 15 pounds. Tell me how NS is bad for me??
I had a terrible experience with Nutrisystem.
First, I tried to customize the order, I didn’t receive what I ordered. When I called back, the lady said it was a customized order. She was going to send me some free breakfast items, which I never received.
Second, when I called back the second time 3 weeks later trying to cancel the autoshipment. At least this customer service person was honest by telling me i got a “canned’” order, that’s why the food was not to my taste.
Third, another customer service person totally did not care about my complaint. Didn’t really care how I was lied to by their own representative. Worst experience ever!!!!
Food tasted awful, full of sodium and other ingredients which I cannot pronounce. My feet have been swollen ever since I’ve been on this diet. Definitely not healthy for people who have elevated blood pressure or diabetic.
I agreed with the previous person. You can buy bars, snacks, and prepared food at a much lower price at your local grocery stores. Would NOT recommend Nutrisystems for anyone.
Thank you, 3 Fat Chicks on a Diet, for posting a TRUE Nutrisystem review!
I tried Nutrisystem during summer 2010. Horrible experience. The food was inedible – and ridiculously overpriced at that. The food tasted of preservatives, chemicals and phony flavorings with high sodium levels. And is it really necessary to put fiber in everything – including dessert? Besides the $300 for 28 days of Nutrisystem basic women’s plan food, I spent a small fortune at the grocery store buying all 77 food servings not included in the plan but required as “fresh grocery additions.”
For each 7 days period I ate 28 Nutrisystem food servings and 77 of my separately purchased food servings; during each 7 days period Nutrisystem food accounted for only 26.6% of my total food intake. $75 per week for only 26.6% of my total food intake? Crazy.
On the positive side, I really liked the idea of prepared meals so now I cook several large items on Sunday and freeze all of my lunch and dinner meals for the following week. I pick two types of lean meat (ex. a whole chicken and a turkey breast to roast), starches (ex. potatoes, rice, quinoa, pasta), and green veggies to steam (ex. green beans, sugar snap peas, bok choy, spinach) and mix-n-match the ingredients. I have daily calorie, fat, fiber and sodium limits (per my nutritionist), I faithfully measure everything and I use food containers rated for the freezer, microwave and dishwasher (beware of food containers not rated for such use). Rubbermaid’s Take Alongs are a great product. I also keep a daily food log.
Breakfast was a hurdle for me because I don’t enjoy eating solid foods in the morning. That changed after I tried Fiber One Honey Clusters cereal – it tastes wonderful (sort of like Golden Grahams) and I actually look forward to it. 13 grams of fiber in one bowl! On the mornings that solid food just won’t cut it, I rely on Carnation Instant Breakfast dry mix and add it to skim milk; the milk chocolate and chocolate malt flavors are awesome.
Bottom line: I do not recommend Nutrisystem to anyone. It’s expensive, the food is literally inedible and tastes horrible and the preservatives, chemicals, phony flavorings and high sodium content can’t be good for anyone.
I got a huge box of Nutri System food on ebay. Enough for 5 weeks for $155.00 including shipping.
The box arrived yesterday and last night I sorted the box out into bags each containing enough food for one week.
It turned out to be a great assortment too. Well, maybe a little heavy on the pasta, but how can I complain for the price?… I even had three extra “desserts’ and five extra “lunches” …So far so good.
Today was my first day. I had a thumble full of cereal and 4oz skim milk and six cherries for breakfast and becasuse I was busy and away from home I had a peanut buttter bar for lunch and soy chips for an afternoon snack. I was starving when I got home so I decided to have an additional lunch item. I decied on a cup of rice and black bean soup. It’s powered stuff in a cup you add water too. Well, it turned out that I won’t have to be concerned about the “extra calories” in my “second lunch” because it only took two bites to decide that it was inedible! It tasted like dish soap, so much so that I though maybe the kids hadn’t rinsed the spoon I was eating with and it was coated with soap. So I dumped it down the drain and ate a (not very filling) plum.
A couple of hours later I had Beef Mac and Cheese and a salad for dinner. The salad was perfect, the mac and cheese (again powder in a cup that I added water to) tasted awful. It tasted like copper pennies soaked in dish washing soap. I ate half of it. I offered the other half to the dog and maybe I need to get a clue because our dog, (a dog that eats cat poop when ever given haf a chance) refused to finish it!
I will give NutriSystem a couple of more days, but tonight I suspect that this diet works mainly by giving me an aversion to food! I mean it too… I got out some ravioli (one of the “dinner’ selections) and I am hungary but I can’t seem to make myself open it.
I have been doing a low carb diet for 10 weeks and lost 27pounds. I needed to lose 20-25 poundsbecause I need hip replacement surgery and so very motivated.
I tried NutriSystem because I was bored with eating chicken and lettuce. I need to keep the weight off and would like to lose another 10-15 pounds in the next 8-10 weeks.
I was bored with protein but at least I wasn’t hungery…or afraid to eat! I don’t think I will be recommending this plan to anyone.
Actually, my husband (optimistically) pointed out that I could sell what I don’t use on Craigslist, but right now I am not sure that I would even give this stuff away!
Due to a physical disability I can’t exercise like I would like to and have had difficulty losing the 60 extra pounds I have been dragging around. I am a type II diabetic so it is doubly important for me to lose weight. I should have known better than to take the word of a celebrity about a product but in desperation I called to order the Nutrisystem D three weeks ago. I was told I had to take what they called “the favorites”package but could choose my own selections next month. If I signed up for two months auto ship they would ship free and knock off 50.00, bringing the month supply down to 249.00. Normally I research everything online if I am thinking about making a purchase but I never even thought about checking to see if folks were liking NS. My mistake! If I had read this site and several others before I ordered I would have saved myself two weeks of misery and 249.00. I can’t believe some folks actually say this garbage tastes good. Not only does it not taste good, it is horrible in taste, texture, appearance, in every way. I didn’t expect five star restaurant food but I was not prepared for what I received. I am not a picky eater at all but this is the worst stuff I have ever put in my mouth! I was so excited about being able to lose weight and now all I feel is depressed about what crud I’m going to have to eat next. It will take all the willpower I have to finish the last two weeks worth of garbage. I can’t afford to ship it back or throw it away so I’m stuck with it. There is very little real meat in any of it, they rely on soy for protein. Soy has been linked with multiple physical problems and I never eat it. The only item I have eaten this last two weeks that isn’t truly awful is the fudge graham bar and it’s not high in nutrition. My cat took one sniff of the Stroganoff thing, jumped backward, blinked his eyes a few times and walked off, and he’ll eat anything. Also, my blood sugar has gone up considerably since I started NS, which is not a good thing. Even though I had committed myself to following through with NS as long as it takes to lose the 60 pounds, I can’t bear the thought of months of adding hot water to dehydrated soups and eating gravy with a few bits of something floating in it. I called today to cancel any further orders and was told they would cancel but would bill me 52,00 since I didn’t fulfil my two month contract. This is crap! Not only is the food hugely overpriced, they want to penalize you if you can’t eat it. Customer service is rude and could care less. Bottom line, we just need to sit down and make a menu plan we can live with and lose this fat on our own with good, nutritious food instead of taking what seems to be the easy way. There is no easy way to lose weight. We just need to use common sense and patience.