NutriSystem: The Closest Thing to Food in a Pill

If you want an easy way to lose weight, without having to think about it, NutriSystem is the plan for you. The food is delicious, it is auto-delivered to your door at no additional cost, and you will lose weight if you follow the program. And, if that isn't enough incentive to sign up, maybe this will help: free food. Yep, depending on the program you select, you will get from one to four weeks of meals free, depending on which plan you choose and what specials are being offered at the time you join. You can't beat that.

Jenny Craig, another popular weight loss program, also provides you with the food to follow the program, but it is more expensive than the NutriSystem program. For that reason alone, NutriSystem is a better choice. Not only will you lose the weight, but it will cost you less as you do and, in today's economy, saving money is an important factor to consider when selecting a weight loss program.

The NutriSystem program offers the following plans, at approximately $3 a meal, to suit your needs: Basic, Silver, Diabetic, and Vegetarian for both men and women. Each of these plans provides you with 28 days of food, 3 meals plus one snack or dessert.

The NutriSystem Flex plan gives you 5 days of food and 2 days on your own. This is a great plan if you are watching your budget, you want a more flexible schedule on weekends or you find yourself eating out during the week because of business commitments. The Flex plan is about $100 less than the regular program.

The NutriSystem Select plan gives you fresh, frozen foods at a cost of approximately $4 a meal. I call this the "gourmet" plan because the fresh, frozen foods are more elaborate in ingredients and taste.

Along with the prepackaged foods on the plans, you get NutriSystem's weight loss tools, like the daily Meal Planner, and free counseling. On the NutriSystem Website, you will find interactive tools where you can keep track of your progress, join message boards, blogs and discussions with other NutriSystem members, customize your food menu and modify your auto-delivery date.

The NutriSystem foods are supplemented with regular grocery items such as milk, yogurt, cheese, fresh fruits and vegetables. This gives you the opportunity to add some of your own favorites to your menu, which helps you stay on the program.

Based on low-glycemic "good carbs," the program is a nutritionally sound , healthy way to lose weight while eating great-tasting, easy to prepare and convenient foods.

Some of my favorites on the Vegetarian plan are the lasagna, the pizza, the pastas and the mashed potatoes, definitely comfort foods, which I lean towards after a particularly stressful day. Sunday, the most relaxing day of the week for me, is "pancake" Sunday - my leisurely breakfast is always NutriSystem pancakes topped with cinnamon, fresh strawberries or blueberries, one egg, and a glass of milk. The food is delicious, filling and completely on program, even though it tastes and feels like it isn't.

The NutriSystem snacks and desserts are fabulous. The chocolate pudding, cake and brownies are dark chocolate, my favorite and the best for you. The candy bars are delicious - I don't miss Snickers or Milky Way when I am eating my NutriSystem candy bars instead. And the ice cream bar - it's the perfect summer treat on a hot day.

I've been on Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig and NutriSystem at various times over the years. For the cost, the taste and convenience of the food, and consistent weight loss, NutriSystem can't be beat.

I love the NutriSystem program and, even after I reach my goal weight, I'll continue eating the food. It tastes good, is economical, and the best thing there is to having my food in a pill.