Nutrisystem promotes a balanced diet with low-glycemic carbohydrates for weight loss. You may be interested in the program because it delivers prepared breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks to your home, but be aware that you still need to purchase additional foods when you are on the program. The details for the exact amounts and types of extra foods are in the Meal Planner that you get when you purchase a Nutrisystem Plan.
Dairy and Protein
Nutrisystem refers to the extra foods that you need to purchase as fresh groceries for every day. Reduced fat dairy products, such as fat-free milk and cottage cheese, light yogurt and low-fat cheese can help you meet your calcium requirements, and you can use soy milk or soy cheese instead, if you are avoiding dairy. You also need to purchase lean proteins such as chicken, eggs, tuna or shrimp, and vegetarian possibilities include tofu, edamame and seitan.
Vegetables and Fruit
Your fresh groceries for every day include vegetables and fruit to decrease your hunger while providing essential nutrients. You can eat low-calorie vegetables such as zucchini, radishes and hot peppers until your appetite is satisfied. Other vegetables that you can purchase may include tomatoes, vegetable juice, broccoli and carrots, and some fruit choices include apples, orange juice, plums and cherries. If you do not like the suggested vegetables or fruit that are on your meal plan, you can contact a Nutrisystem counselor to come up with an acceptable substitution.
Healthy Fats and Carbohydrates
Nutrisystem's goal is for you to get 55 to 60 percent of your total calories from carbohydrates, 20 to 25 percent of your calories from fat and 20 to 25 percent of calories from protein. To achieve this, your plan requires you to purchase healthy fat sources, such as avocado, peanut butter, salad dressing and almonds, and low-glycemic carbohydrates in addition to Nutrisystem meals. Options for low-glycemic carbohydrates include kidney beans, oatmeal, multi-grain bread and sweet potatoes.
Nutrisystem Flex Foods
If you want the option of cooking for yourself sometimes while you are losing weight with Nutrisystem, you can sign up for Nutrisystem Flex. On this plan, your weekly shipment only includes enough Nutrisystem meals and snacks for five days. The other two days of the week are your flex days, when you purchase your own food and make meals according to instructions in the Nutrisystem My Way recipe book. You can get access to the recipes and necessary foods when you purchase the plan.
References
- Nutrisystem: Fresh Groceries for Every Day
- Nutrisystem: Frequently Asked Questions: What Is The Nutrisystem Flex Plan?
- Nutrisystem: Frequently Asked Questions: What Additional Grocery Foods Do I Need to Add to My Program?
- Nutrisystem: Frequently Asked Questions: What Is The Nutritional Composition of Carbohydrates, Protein And Fat Per Day on The Nutrisystem Program?
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