I get a lot of emails asking about the cost of nutrisystem and how it compares to other diets. People want to know if this diet is cheaper or more expensive than diets like Jenny Craig and if so, is it worth the extra money. I'll go over these questions and concerns (as well as tally the monthly and weekly cost for both diets) in the following article.
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In General Jenny Craig Does Cost More (And Is More Expensive) Than Nutrisystem: First off, you have to pay a sort of joining fee to get started on Jenny. There are specials like "lose twenty pounds for twenty dollars," etc. This is pretty nominal but there is no such fee with the other. This is said to cover the cost of having to go to the clinic to weigh in and get support.
But what really makes Jenny Craig more expensive is the food costs. The average food cost on this plan is around $12 per day. This is about $84 per week, about $360 per month, and around $4320 per year.
On the other hand, the basic Nutrisystem monthly package is around $300 and the company is so generous with coupons that you can often get this down to around $8 per day if you are very diligent. This is $240 per month and $2880 per year. As I said before, there is no additional cost for counseling and support. This is free online or over the phone and you don't have to get the food from a clinic. They ship it to your door.
Whether you prefer going to a clinic of not is going to depend on how much support you really want. Some like the accountability of seeing the counselor face to face and some find this intimidating and stifling.
Nutrisystem Flex Is Even Cheaper: If you're really looking for the cheapest diet around, the Flex plan is probably it, but that's because you get food for only 20 days since you are allowed to take weekends (or any two random days that you chose) off. So, you'll only be dieting for five days rather than seven. Some people really like this because it gives them something to look forward to and helps them to stick with it. In general, the flex plan is around $100 cheaper than the regular women's plan which is a pretty inexpensive way to test the waters if you're unsure about which plan would work best for you.
If you're considering the NutriSystem diet and are researching its cost, chances are you've already read all about this diet plan favored by celebrities like Danielle Fishel, Jillian Barberie and Marie Osmond - a few of whom have lost over 40 pounds.
Basically, NutriSystem is a meal replacement program based on a favorable glycemic index. You eat five times per day, consuming the plan's prepackaged meals and adding your own healthful enhancements like fruits and salads. Because the foods are low in calories and high in protein, your body burns more of its own fat. My research indicates that clients typically enjoy safe and steady weight loss, averaging about 2-3 pounds per week.
The company offers many different plans, including women's, men's, vegetarian, and diabetic options. However, all of these are priced similarly, and are typically based on buying a package that consists of enough breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks, and desserts so that you have enough food to eat five times daily for an entire month.
The cost of the program averages about $8 - $10 per day, but there are usually coupons and specials running. Basically, if you are willing to order your food by the month, you will usually be offered various amounts of free food or additions. And, if you're willing to sign on for the auto ship option, you'll save even more. There is no additional cost for customizing your package with the foods you prefer, but most specialists will encourage variety. There are over 130 food choices with lots of comfort foods like pizza, tacos, and chocolate, so it's not too hard to come up with many suitable options.
The company has recently added a lot of free bonuses that will not cost your keto diet cost you anything, including a mindset makeover, exercise DVDs, and free weight loss counseling. Previously, Jenny Craig was among the few meal replacement plans that offered inclusive counseling. Jenny Craig costs more because of this. NutriSystem has evened the playing field with these additions.
Also, consider that the cost of your healthful fruit and veggie additions are going to vary depending on where you get them. You can buy these things in bulk or at farmer's markets to save money. Local food is almost always less expensive. I find that if I go ahead and assemble individual portions once I get my food home, this saves me a lot of waste and makes my food go much farther. Because so much of what you are eating is already covered, your grocery costs should come way down. Mine have. You really won't need to buy any snacks or beverages.
I understand that in today's economy, all food expenses count and we all need to be thrifty, but it is my experience that if you are careful with the additional foods you buy and and portion them out to avoid waste, this diet really does not cost any more than groceries and the gas it takes to gather them.