Pre-Cooked Diet Plans

If you are trying to lose weight but do not have time to prepare healthy meals, or if your past attempts have failed, a pre-cooked diet plan might be a solution. Companies offer portion-controlled, prepared foods delivered to your front door.

Significance

Nutrisystem, a supplier of portion-controlled diet meals, conducted a survey of 1,001 American adults to determine the root causes of their weight problems and how they were coping. The company asked questions to determine how important weight loss was in a participant's life. It found that 73 percent of those questioned were willing to give up daily pleasures including television, cell phone and computers if they could lose weight and look good in a bathing suit. The study also revealed that 25 percent of those interviewed would pass up a promotion at work if they were guaranteed a 10 to 20 lb. weight loss. Dr. Bruce Daggy, nutritional biochemist and vice president of research and development at Nutrisystem, summed up the findings by saying that while people are eager to lose weight, they often give up because they don't know how to reach their weight-loss goals.

Considerations

The Nutrisystem Diet Index Survey also found that 64 percent of the participants were not able to control portion sizes adequately to lose weight. If your weight is threatening your health or your self-esteem, and you have tried conventional diets in the past, nutritionally balanced, pre-cooked diet plans may be an option -- especially if you have a problem with portion control. The meals are in the correct portion size so all your food choices are balanced.

If price is a consideration, look into local plans where delivery costs are lower or pick a plan where you can pick up your food.

Features

Pre-cooked diet plans can help solve the portion-size challenge, they are time savers in the kitchen and they help you avoid fast foods. Several companies offer precooked meals -- some deliver nationally and others work in specific states or regions. If you prefer, you can pick up the food directly from the company. Menu options are available based on the number of calories you need per day. Diets include low-fat, low-carb, reduced sodium and high-protein options. Your plan can be customized to meet preferences, such as kosher or vegetarian.

Expert Insight

Pre-cooked diets are effective, according to a study published in "Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism" from a study at University of Illinois Food Science and Human Nutrition Department. Researches proved portion control is important in weight loss. The study revealed that participants who ate portion-controlled, pre-cooked, frozen meals lost more weight than those in the study who did not. The second group of study participants prepared their own meals that were not portion controlled, but were based on the USDA's food pyramid. The dietitians running the study cited portion control in the pre-cooked meals as the main reason for the weight loss difference.

Options

Choose a company based on your weight-loss goals and your budget. Companies that deliver nationally include Diet-to-Go, Bistro MD, Freshology, Chef's Diet and eDiets Fresh Prepared Meal Delivery. There are also regional plans that deliver to certain states including Fresh Diets, 5 Squares, Nutrition in Motion, Nu-Kitchen, In The Zone Delivery, LA to your Door Seattle Sutton and Eat Like the Pros.

Compare prices before you order. Some, like Jenny Craig and Nutrisystem, offer more reasonably priced freeze dried plans. Others offer organic fresh foods. If you are already following a diet, you can order precooked meals on your plan. Options include food for Atkins, Zone and Body-for-LIFE. Finally, if you are interested in philanthropy along with your precooked diet plan, check out Good Measure Meals. This diet plan donates 100 percent of its profit to Open Hand's Charity.