Diet delivery plans simplify meal planning by delivering food to your home. Most diet delivery programs provide customizable menus for a monthly subscription. Prices vary, depending on the plan and preferences you select. Choose a diet delivery service that meets your budgetary needs, provides customer support and offers meals designed to fit your dietary needs.
Background
Diet food delivery services emerged in the 1990s, providing individuals with a variety of convenient, portion-controlled foods. When the industry first began, companies simply provided meals and customer support via phone or in-person at a delivery center. Companies now include online support from dietitians and personal trainers, online community support, food trackers and weight loss journals. Now a $1 billion dollar industry, according to Marketdata study conducted in February 2009, diet delivery plans supply prepackaged meals to millions of people across the United States.
Types
Over 20 companies offer food delivery services, including Nutrisystem, Bistro M.D., Freshology, eDiets, Biggest Loser Meal Plan and Chefs Diet. While many plans provide tools to help with weight loss, others simply offer healthy, convenient foods for on-the-go individuals. Members select and order meals online, over the phone or in person at the company's delivery center. Most companies deliver food weekly to homes across the nation. However, there are some companies that will deliver food on a daily basis in specific cities.
Plan Options
The amount of meals and snacks delivered to your door depends on your meal plan. Several companies, such as eDiets and Bistro M.D., offer both five-day and seven-day plan options. Some plans include a dessert option while others offer one to two snacks each day. Most companies offer meal plans that allow members to customize menu options based on their preferences. Diet food delivery plans are designed to accommodate a diverse range of individuals, families, dieters, singles and those with health concerns. Several programs have vegetarian meal plan options and most companies, including Nutrisystem and Jenny Craig, offer a diabetic plan for those suffering from diabetes.
Price Ranges
Each company offers a variety of weight loss tools and options for members for a paid, monthly subscription. Meal plan prices range from approximately $10 to $40 a day depending on your meal plan and level of service. Higher priced plans generally include gourmet meals that are freshly prepared and kept chilled, not frozen. Meal plans that include three full meals cost more than those that offer only two meals a day. According to Marketdata research performed in February 2009, the average monthly cost for diet food delivery is $726. Some companies offer discounts or promotions for buying online or ordering meals for the entire month. For example, Nutrisystem offers a 10 percent discount and free shipping for members who participate in its automatic delivery program.
Considerations
While diet food delivery plans offer convenient and time-saving services, their services can be expensive depending on your needs. Not all plans provide the convenience of personalized menus, meals and snacks, which often means you may receive food you do not prefer. Most companies offer a month-to-month subscription option, therefore, be aware of those who require yearly contracts that you may not be willing to fulfill. Some companies provide all the food you'll need for the day, while others leave it to you to purchase additional servings of fruit, vegetables and dairy products to meet your daily needs. These plans may be less expensive, but have the added cost of extra groceries. Many diet delivery services have made changes to make meals with fresh, healthy ingredients, however, many prepackaged meals continue to have a high sodium content and may lack flavor.
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