Pre-packaged diet plans offer a convenient solution for busy dieters. These plans provide you with pre-portioned and prepared meals, designed to fit within a particular calorie range. While the costs of these diet plans are high, they do eliminate the cooking, questions and planning associated with weight loss.
The Diets
A number of companies, many with a long history in the diet industry, offer pre-packaged meal plans. One of these plans, Jenny Craig, got a top diet ranking from Consumer Reports. Depending upon the diet you choose, you select your meals and pick them up at a local center or they are delivered directly to your home. Phone or in-person consultations, nutrition education, and regular weigh-ins round out your pre-packaged diet program.
How It Works
Pre-packaged diet food comes in vacuum-packed bags or freezer meals. Meals are portion-controlled and nutritionally balanced. When it's time to eat, simply open the package and warm the meal in a microwave oven. You round out your diet with fresh foods from the grocery store, including fruit, vegetables and skim milk. As you approach your weight-loss goal, you will need to learn how to choose your own foods and prepare healthier meals so you can maintain your weight loss for the long term.
Options
Many pre-packaged plans offer options designed to suit special needs, including the higher calorie requirements of teens or breast-feeding mothers. Special menus for diabetics can help control calories and meet appropriate diet guidelines. While vegetarians may have a less varied diet, they can also opt for a pre-packaged diet plan by selecting meatless meals. Most plans allow you to customize your menu, choosing foods you prefer and avoiding those you dislike.
Drawbacks
While diet meals work for weight loss, they tend to be expensive. In most cases, you'll pay for the diet plan as well as your meals. If you're a budget shopper, you may find the total food costs are much higher than you're used to at the grocery store. While pre-packaged meals are nutritionally complete, they may also be high in sodium, additives and preservatives. After a while, pre-packaged meals may get boring and you may find it hard to transition to fresh foods.
Member Comments