Nutrisystem is a weight loss plan consisting of pre-packaged foods for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks in individual servings. To follow the Nutrisystem, you select a 28-day plan that meets your dietary requirements and customize the menu according to your favorite meals and foods. While this system provides an easy-to-follow approach to nutrition and weight loss, the minimum cost is about $11 per day. However, by using portion control and choosing a variety of foods for a balanced diet, you can make your own meals that are comparable to Nutrisystem.
Menu
The Nutrisystem follows a balanced approach to nutrition for improved weight loss that also teaches you healthy nutrition habits. As a result, the menu of comparable meals to Nutrisystem must also follow this balanced approach. The entrees and menu choices use a combination of low-glycemic carbohydrates, lean protein, dietary fiber, low sodium and low fat foods. Nutrisystem also allows you to add fresh grocery items and dairy items.
Breakfast
Nutrisystem breakfast options consist of a variety of cereals such as granola and oatmeal or golden French toast. For example, the Nutrisystem low-fat granola cereal contains 160 calories, 2.5 g of fat, 31 g of carbohydrates and 4 g of protein. You can create your own granola cereal using a granola cereal and adding skim milk and fruit such as sliced apples. A comparable meal to the golden French toast includes making your own French toast using multi-grain bread and topping it with peanut butter for healthy fats.
Lunch
Lunch options for Nutrisystem vary among your individual plan, but common choices include soups or quesadillas. For example, the Nutrisystem chili with beans contains 230 calories, 6 g of fat, 27 g of carbohydrates and 18 g of protein. Making your own chili with a variety of fresh vegetables such as tomatoes, carrots and hot peppers combined with vegetable juice and lean ground beef can provide a comparable lunch option. You can also create your own sandwich, wrap or quesadilla by using a whole wheat tortilla wrapped with a blend of pepper, onions and cheeses.
Dinner
Similar to lunch, the dinner options for Nutrisystem center on wraps or soups. The New Orleans-style rice and chicken breast entrée, for example, contains only 140 calories, 2.5 g of fat, 17 g of carbohydrates and 13 g of protein. By using brown rice for a low-glycemic carbohydrate source and chicken for a lean protein source along with a few spices, you can create a comparable dinner meal to the New Orleans-style Nutrisystem entrée. Another comparable dinner option is a buffalo chicken wrap using a whole wheat tortilla filled with strips of chicken breast and complemented with a side salad of mixed greens.
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