Weight Loss Meal Delivery Plans

Weight loss meal delivery plans take the guesswork out of what to eat to deliver maximum weight loss. These services pitch themselves as convenient and offer a variety of foods at various prices. Plans are personalized to include snacks and desserts if desired. Aside from providing easy to prepare food, counseling and nutritional guidance is also offered.

Calorie count

• Jenny Craig, BistroMD and Nutrisystem offer meals, snacks and desserts with a total calorie count of 1,200 to 1,500 a day. Medifast meal replacement plans are 800 to 1,000 calories a day.

Food plans

• Jenny Craig, Nutrisystem and BistroMD offer portion controlled meals that are designed to help the customer lose weight. Success rates vary but these plans all promise that they provide foods like pancakes, lasagna or pot roast, plus desserts that are based on protein and healthy carbohydrates.

Features

• Most plans feature on line support and nutritional guidance. Some plans also offer 24/7 live support with a nutritionist or a weight loss counselor. According to Medifast's website it is a meal replacement program featuring ready to mix shakes and soups but customers need to provide their own healthy food as advised by the Medifast diet plan.

Costs

• Medifast and Jenny Craig can cost as little as $11 a day. Nutrisystem costs about $11 a day but offers free shipping and BistroMD is pricier offering gourmet food starting at $21.42 per day.

Options

• Plans can be ordered on a weekly basis with the option of automatic delivery. If you request it, your weeks worth of meals will be automatically shipped and billed to your credit card.

Safety

• Before starting any weight loss program you should consult with your doctor. According to their websites, Medifast, BistroMD and Nutrisystem were developed with doctors and nutritionists but those with medical conditions should talk to their personal doctor before starting any diet.