Slim-Fast and Medifast are weight loss programs that depend on branded processed diet products to cut calories. On the Slim-Fast 3-2-1 Plan, you eat three snacks, two meal replacement products and one regular meal per day. On the Medifast 5 & 1 Plan, you eat five Medifast meals and a regular meal. The programs both provide online tools, such as weight trackers and meal planners, and your doctor may be able to help you decide which, if either, is right for you.
Weight Control
Slim-Fast is a 1,200-calorie diet, and the plan is designed to help most individuals lose about 1 to 2 lb. per week. Medifast provides about 900 calories per day, and the company claims you can lose 2 to 5 lb. per week. Slim-Fast does not provide a program to gradually transition you from the 3-2-1 plan to your own foods; Medifast has transition plans to gradually introduce more regular foods into your diet as you reduce your Medifast meals.
Diet Meals
Slim-Fast has two daily 180- to 200-calorie meal replacement bars; ready-to-drink shakes or shake mixes prepared with skim milk; and two 100-calorie snacks, which can be 100-calorie Slim-Fast snack bars or regular food. Medifast has five 100-calorie meal replacements with choices such as scrambled eggs, oatmeal, pudding and pretzels. On Slim-Fast and Medifast, meal replacement products have at least 10 g protein, and they are fortified with at least 20 percent of the daily value for most essential vitamins and minerals.
Composition of Meals
For your 500-calorie balanced meal on Slim-Fast, fill half of your plate with vegetables, such as eggplant, broccoli, carrots or spinach. Have some lean protein, such as chicken, fish, tofu or pork, and a whole grain, such as brown rice or whole wheat bread, or a starchy vegetable like potatoes or corn. Your Medifast meal consists of 5 to 7 oz. of lean protein, such as chicken, fish, lean beef or eggs, and up to three cups of vegetables, like eggplant, cabbage, spinach, lettuce or yellow squash. The meal may also include some olive oil or another healthy fat.
Snacks and Customization
Instead of Slim-Fast snack bars between meals, you can choose 100-calorie portions of healthy foods such as nuts, vegetables or fruit. A snack on Medifast can be dill pickle spears, celery sticks, sugar-free gum, sugar-free gelatin or a sugar-free iced frozen dessert. You can make Slim-Fast higher protein or lower carbohydrate by choosing shakes with extra protein or fewer carbohydrates, by having more protein and vegetables instead of starch for your meal, and by having cottage cheese, yogurt or eggs for your snacks. Medifast shakes are options for customizing your Medifast plan. Up to two of your Medifast meals can be Medifast Health Management shakes, such as Medifast Plus for Joint Health with glucosamine and chondroitin.
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