Nutrisystem Review: Discover if You Can Lose Weight
Nutrisystem has been helping American’s lose weight for more than 45 years. The company offers a no questions asked money-back guarantee within the first 14 days if you’re not satisfied with their diet plan. Its meals are nutritionally balanced, tasty and come backed by thousands of customer success stories.
Nutrisystem started out all the way back in 1972 as a liquid protein diet drink mail order service. Over the years, the company evolved into a calorie-controlled and nutritionally balanced meal delivery service. On average, those that stick to the Nutrisystem diet can lose an average of 15 lbs over the course of the first eight weeks. There are more than 150 meals on offer which provide enough variety to stop you getting bored. What’s more, you can sign up with a partner which can provide great motivation to start a weight loss journey together.
What is Nutrisystem?
Nutrisystem ships out pre-cooked, chilled and frozen dishes that cover every meal of the month over a four-week period. This means that you don’t need to worry about prep time or grocery shopping and can concentrate on other aspects of your diet like hitting the gym.
Two lower-tier plans are offered that only cover five days each week, leaving you to handle your meals for the weekends yourself, but a premium option offers meals seven days a week and gives you an expanded menu to choose from.
Nutrisystem Pros and Cons
- Many have lost weight following the diet
- You can cover all your meals from as little as $9.29 per day
- Large menu to choose from
- Specialist diets are available for those with diabetes
- Vegetarians are covered
- You can access diet coaches and counselors as part of your plan
- Biodegradable packaging
- Balanced mix of carbs, fat, protein and fiber
- Most meals are highly processed
- Meals don’t cater for those with allergies
- Daily calorie counts may be excessively low for some
- You may need to supplement your deliveries with purchases from the grocery store
- It can be expensive
- You’ll need a lot of freezer storage space
Who Is Nutrisystem Good For?
People trying to lose weight – The average daily calorie intake for a Nutrisystem pack is around 1,500. The meals should give you the daily minimum requirements of important nutrients and protein stipulated by the FDA whilst helping you drop those pounds. There are even special deals for couples that are looking to lose weight together
Those that want some variety – There are currently more than 150 different dishes and snacks on the menu, and more are being added all the time. The eclectic mix of meals should be enough to keep most palettes interested
People with diabetes – Nutrisystem has specialist diets to cover those with diabetes. The meals are carefully balanced, are low in sugar and have helped more than half a million Americans manage their prediabetes or type 2 diabetes
Vegetarians – Veggie lovers will find a lot on offer here, with an impressive range of plant-based dishes
Time savers – Since almost all the meals are frozen, they can be heated through in the microwave in no time at all. You can get hours of your time back each week with prep time cut down to just a few minutes per meal
Learning healthy habitss – By spending time on the program, you’ll be able to pick up healthy habits like portion control and learning how to shop for the right ingredients when you transition off the diet
Who Isn’t Nutrisystem Good For?
Those that don’t like processed food – If you don’t like processed food, you definitely won’t like Nutrisystem. All meals are processed, pre-cooked and frozen, and some customers can get pretty sick of microwave meals every day for eight weeks
People brand new to dieting – The low-calorie meals might come as a shock to those that have never tried dieting before. Some customers might find themselves taking cheat days and supplementing the meals with extra snacks from the store
People on a tight budget – Depending on the package you opt for, you’ll be spending between $250 and $350 per month. This is just the cost for meals for one person, so if you have a large family to feed as well you’ll need to factor in their needs too
How Nutrisystem Works?
Once you’ve decided whether you’d like all your meals covered for five days per week or all seven days per week, you’ll then pick and choose from the menu of more than 150 different meals and snacks.
When we say every meal is covered, we really mean every meal. You’ll be able to browse breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack menus and mix and match those meals you’d like delivered.
Options are broken down even further to cover the different calorie requirements for men and women, those suitable for diabetics and veggie choices.
We Deliver
High-quality prepared meals that taste great.
Delicious Meals
Made with the right mix of protein, carbs and fats.
You Lose Weight
And learn the healthy way to keep it off.
Nutrisystem Website and App
The website couldn’t be easier to navigate, and you’ll find full details on each of the different plans on offer. If the choice is a little overwhelming, the website gives you the option to click the ‘Chef’s Choice’ button and all of your meals will be automatically chosen for you and are a selection of the provider’s most popular meals.
Unfortunately, there’s no app for managing and paying for your orders, but you can download the ‘NuMi’ app to track your diet progress. The app uses a barcode scanner to log your Nutrisystem meals, sets reminders to record your weight, tracks your favorite meals and gives you the recipes for some of the most popular dishes that you can cook yourself.
Creating an account / Sign-up
Sign up takes a little longer than other meal delivery services as you’ll need to enter additional details that will affect your diet plan. This includes adding your gender, height and weight which will all be used to calculate the best meal recommendations for you. Still, the process is incredibly straightforward and you should be finished in no time.
Nutrisystem Meal Plans and Meal Selection Options
You can opt for a diabetic or vegetarian version of all the above plans for the same cost, and each has a male and female option. The men’s dishes are a little more expensive as portion sizes are larger.
There are four meal plans to choose from which are detailed below:
Basic: This covers all your meals for five days per week over a four-week period. Your meal selection will be limited to around 100 choices and you can access free health guidance
Partner plan: Very similar to the basic plan, only this program lasts for two weeks and is aimed at couples looking to lose weight
Uniquely yours: Like the basic plan you’ll be covered for all of your meals five days per week, but you’ll unlock access to more than 150 menu items as well as specially tailored diet advice based on your metabolism. You’ll be invited to complete a more in-depth questionnaire on sign up
Uniquely yours ultimate: Get everything from the previous plans, plus all your meals covered seven days a week instead of five
Nutrisystem Meal Types
With more than 150 meals to choose from, you’re spoiled for choice at Nutrisystem. Dishes are broken down by category and we’ve included some of the best below:
Breakfast: The first meal of the day doesn’t have to be boring, and you don’t need to stick to cereal to lose weight. You can enjoy buttermilk waffles, cinnamon rolls, apple and walnut oatmeal and turkey, sausage and egg muffins to name a few
Lunch: The most popular choices are a range of American classics including a low-fat hamburger, pepperoni pizza melt with salad, and white bean chicken chili. If this doesn’t whet your appetite you might want to try the mango Verde veggie grain blend, spicy kung pao noodles or the black bean quinoa bowl
Dinner: Tuck into an extensive range of pizza and pasta dishes alongside staples such as a hearty beef stew, mac & cheese and honey garlic butter sauced chicken
Snacks: You’ll find a surprisingly varied collection of low fat, low sugar desserts here, including chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter chocolate squares, lemon zest cake and vanilla ice cream sandwiches
Choosing Nutrisystem Recipes
While there’s an extensive selection of meals to choose from, the international and world cooking options are a little thin on the ground. However, if you like traditional US dishes, then this is the diet for you.
You can let Nurisystem choose your meals for you if you’re struggling to decide, or you can take full control over the dishes you’d like and your selections will be delivered once per month, so you’ll need to ensure you have storage space at home. You can even choose the same picks every day if you find something you particularly love!
How Much Does Nutrisystem Cost?
Prices vary depending on how many days per week you’d like your meals covered, and how large your chosen menu is. Bear in mind that the costs for men’s meals are a little higher as the portions are a little larger. Costs are broken down as follows:
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Servings and Recipes/Week
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Total Cost
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|---|---|
|
Basic Woman- Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks covered 5 days per week
1 people, 5 recipes per week |
$9.29/serving ($46.45 total + $0.00 shipping = $46.45/week)
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Basic Men- Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks covered 5 days per week
1 people, 5 recipes per week |
$10.71/serving ($53.55 total + $0.00 shipping = $53.55/week)
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Uniquely Women- Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks covered 5 days per week
1 people, 5 recipes per week |
$11.07/serving ($55.35 total + $0.00 shipping = $55.35/week)
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Uniquely Men- Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks covered 5 days per week
1 people, 5 recipes per week |
$12.50/serving ($62.5 total + $0.00 shipping = $62.5/week)
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Ultimate Women- Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks covered 7 days per week
1 people, 7 recipes per week |
$13.21/serving ($92.47 total + $0.00 shipping = $92.47/week)
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Ultimate Men- Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks covered 7 days per week
1 people, 7 recipes per week |
$14.64/serving ($102.48 total + $0.00 shipping = $102.48/week)
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Partner plan - For couples, Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks covered 5 days per week
1 people, 5 recipes per week |
$11.79/serving ($58.95 total + $0.00 shipping = $58.95/week)
|
Diet Friendliness
Nutrisystem gets a big thumbs up from us in terms of diet friendliness. The weight loss program has been proven to work in the short term, and when you transition off the plan you should have picked up some good eating habits.
We particularly like the meal options for diabetics and vegetarians, although it would be nice to see more options for those with allergens or the addition of gluten-free meals.
Add-Ons
If you find the main meals aren’t quite substantial enough for you, Nutrisystem offers quite an extensive range of weight loss shakes as an optional extra. You can pick up 28 shakes for an additional $39.99 and they make a nutritious complement to your dishes, coming packed with 15g of protein and 6g of fiber to help keep you full and fit.
Nutrisystem Customer Service
Nutrisystem’s customer service team can handle any questions you have, as well as to provide general diet and health advice. The sales agents can be contacted via a helpline which is open 7 am to 12 am EST Monday through Sunday, or you can reach out via email or live chat.
Weight-loss counselors can be contacted anytime between 8 am and 8 pm EST Monday through Friday and between 9 am and 5.30 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. They’re on hand to answer questions, set realistic goals and provide detailed exercise advice.
Nutrisystem Cancellation Policy
If for any reason you’re not happy with the service, you can cancel for a full refund within 14 days of first signing up, although you’ll need to return any unused meals at your own cost.
As meals are usually delivered once every four weeks, you’re unable to cancel for that month. You’ll need to inform Nutrisystem in advance of your next shipment being processed if you don’t want to receive future packages.
Nutrisystem Alternatives
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Meal Kit
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Price / Serving
|
Minimum order
|
Meal options
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Freshly
|
$8.49
|
8 Servings
|
2-6
|
|
Blue Apron
|
$7.49
|
4 Servings
|
2-4
|
|
HelloFresh
|
$7.49
|
4 Servings
|
2-5
|
Final Verdict
If your goal is to lose weight quickly then it might be worth trying out Nutrisystem. There are numerous stories of previous customers that have found success following their diet plan. You want to make sure you’ve got enough freezer space to store your month’s worth of meals and that the package is within your budget, as you’ll be committed once you sign up.
However, if you’re not a fan of processed food, you’d be better off trying an alternative meal service that offers fresh fruit and veg deliveries.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How Much Weight Will I Lose with Nutrisystem?
If you stick rigidly to the diet most customers lose about 2lbs per week. This means no cheat days or midnight snacks though!
Can I Supplement My Meals With Extra Vegetables?
Yes, in fact it’s encouraged. Preparing a salad to go with your meals is a great way to add extra nutrition and make you feel fuller without going over your calorie count.
Is Nutrisystem Worth the Price?
Some users will find the service quite expensive, but the price does cover all of your meals for a month and the program is only intended as a short-term plan. If you can drop the weight over the course of two to three months, and learn some new healthy eating habits, then we’d definitely say it was worth the money.
Can I Drink Alcohol on the Plan?
To stay on course Nutrisystem recommends you limit your alcohol intake to just two drinks per week.
Is Nutrisystem Healthy?
The meals are definitely low-calorie and contain the recommended daily allowances of key vitamins and minerals. However, as processed foods, they’ll always be of an inferior quality to buying the ingredients fresh.
Does Nutrisystem Deliver Every Day?
No, you’ll get four weeks’ worth of meals delivered at once, so make sure you have enough freezer and cupboard space for storage.
