Like Jenny Craig, Nutrisystem—the choice of Janet Jackson and Terry Bradshaw—offers prepared foods. Founded as a bricks-and-mortar service in 1971, it’s now a virtual model. Counselors offer support by phone and online. (It’s free once you pay for the food.) It’s hard to avoid the site’s pop-ups that repeatedly invite you to chat.
Meals emphasize foods with “good” carbs, aka a low glycemic index. You order online for delivery. (There are still select distributors, including one in Lewes, which opened as a franchisee before Nutrisystem went cyber.)
Nutrisystem has 28-day plans for women, men and diabetics. There’s a discount for automatic renewals and numerous price options. Women on the premium Silver Select option may pay $289.99 with automatic refills. Men—who get more calories and hence more food—may pay $319.99 for the same option. You can shop a la carte, and there are frequent discount specials.
Silver Select includes the new Chef’s Table entrées. “If there’s not enough variety, people get bored,” says Dr. Bruce Daggy, senior vice president and chief science officer. Items include adobo-rubbed pork and butternut squash ravioli.
Wilmington foodie Ajit George, who’s borderline diabetic and chose the diabetic plan, says the items “taste good enough” and are “surprisingly easy to use.” By incorporating them into his diet, which involves frequent restaurant outings, he’s lost 40 pounds. (nutrisystem.com)
