Jenny Craig has been helping people lose weight since 1983. The program works by teaching you how to control portions and make healthy food choices to help you reach your goal weight. To make dieting easier, Jenny Craig offers a line of ready-to-go pre-packaged meals that includes breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack items. But if you have food allergies, many of these items many not be suitable in helping you get to your desired weight.
Common Food Allergens
About 3 percent of U.S. adults and 5 percent of U.S. infants and children have food allergies, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Eight food groups account for 90 percent of the allergies, and include milk, wheat, eggs, soy, fish, shellfish, peanuts and tree nuts. When individuals with food allergies consume a food containing an allergen, they may experience itching, swelling or difficulty breathing. Some will need to visit the emergency room for treatment, and in severe cases, the allergic reaction can lead to death.
Food Labeling
To help consumers identify foods with potential allergens, the Food and Drug Administration began requiring food manufacturers in 2006 to clearly label their food products that may contain any of the eight most common food allergens. You can find the food allergen listing under the ingredient list. All packaged foods subject to FDA regulation, including domestic and imported items, are required to have the allergen labeling, including Jenny Craig's prepackaged food. Foods exempt include meat, poultry and egg products regulated by the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service.
Jenny Craig Prepackaged Food
The Jenny Craig weight loss system helps you lose weight by providing you with its prepackaged and portion controlled food items for all meals and snacks. This helps you control your calorie intake without having to measure your food or count your calories. Jenny Cuisine offers a variety of breakfast, lunch and dinner items, including cinnamon rolls, chicken teriyaki and lasagna. Jenny Cuisine also provides snacks to help satisfy your sweet tooth, including cake and cookies.
Jenny Craig and Allergies
Because the Jenny Craig weight loss system uses prepackaged foods, you may be concerned if you have food allergies whether it is a good weight loss program for you. According to the Jenny Craig website, Jenny Craig consultants work with individuals with some common allergens to find foods that are safe to create a weight loss menu. However, because most of the food products contain wheat, milk or soy, Jenny Craig cannot safely enroll individuals with these allergies in the program.
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