Diet Delivery

Meal-delivery plans seem so great in concept. Fresh, nutritious food delivered to your doorstep - no thinking, no planning, no effort. Plus, all the virtues of eating healthfully. There's got to be a catch, right? Turns out there are a few. Epicurious reviewed five popular plans and dug out "the good, the bad, and the unhealthy": eDiets and Zone Chefs beat out Pure Foods (formerly Atkins at Home), Jenny Craig, and Nutrisystem for top spots. Here's why: eDiets gets top rating (three out of four forks) for its "tasty choices" (favorites included tuna NiÇoise salad and turkey meatballs with spaghetti squash), moderate pricing ($39.26 a day), and flexibility (though users can pick specific dishes from Zone and PureFoods menus too). Epicurious called the plan ideal for users who prefer freedom to set diet plans, and nutritionist Monica Reinagel particularly liked the fiber and protein-rich breakfasts. Zone Chefs earns two-and-a-half forks for its seafood offerings and creative dishes (berry-ricotta phyllo snacks and lemon-herb chicken were among the favorites), but loses points for its high price ($52.13 a day).