Bistro MD , Jenny Craig or Nutrisystem?

BlissedMama
BlissedMama Posts: 25 Member
edited December 23 in Food and Nutrition
I work so many hours and have found myself throwing together not ideal weight loss meals lately. Am considering Nutrisystem, Bistro MD or Jenny Craig. Any input on these three options? Thanks!

Replies

  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,458 Member
    edited October 2019
    $$$$$$

    You can spend a couple hours on the weekend and prep some chicken, casseroles, soups, stews etc. Much better food and save a fortune. All those meals they offer are high-salt, processed. You can use fresh ingredients.

    Really, I have 20 or so meals I can partially pre-prep and then prepare to eat in 15-30 minutes. I cook a lot of chicken at one time, make a large batch of rice or pasta, cut up vegetables, have salad mix and frozen vegetables and fruits always on hand, etc.
  • COGypsy
    COGypsy Posts: 1,365 Member
    I've never considered or tried any of the brands you mentioned, but I'm always on the run and hate cooking. I order my meals from Freshly. They're fresh, not frozen and I've found a decent variety of meals I like from them. Most meals have a calorie count around 500 - 600, so I find them perfect for my two main meals of the day. They're delivered once a week and freeze well if you don't happen to use them all. I've been ordering for several months now and it's worked out very well for me.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    None of the above? The reviews on Nutrisystem meals are dismal. A co-worker tried it and it was painful watching him try to eat some things.

    Healthy Choice, Lean Cuisine, Weight Watchers and even some "regular" frozen meals can help you plan meals. There are even breakfast options. Add fresh veggies and fruit and you have well rounded meal.

    Batch cook as time permits. Freeze individual servings. A crockpot (soups & stews) can be simple to put together.
    https://www.skinnytaste.com/crock-pot-recipes/

    Batch cook (or buy) shredded chicken, add a salad kit. I do this for lunch quite often.
  • kristen8000
    kristen8000 Posts: 747 Member
    I get that you work a lot, so do I. But I do know I have at one day "off". I spend it meal prepping, like cmriverside.

    It's rare that I have to even think about what I'll eat because thing are already, pre-weighed and ready.

    All those "diet" companies you've mentioned aren't the healthiest (very low calorie, high sodium and kinda taste nasty). If you take a few hours one time a week you can save a ton of money and eat what you like. To lose weight you don't have to eat food that tastes "ehhh".
  • seska422
    seska422 Posts: 3,217 Member
    I have several problems with systems like that. They are expensive, you are stuck eating what they think you should eat rather than what you are in the mood to eat, and you have to stay subscribed to continue to get the benefits of a calorie-appropriate, pre-portioned meal plan. When you unsubscribe, you haven't learned how to put together meals that will let you avoid regain.

    The suggestions given above are good. If you don't want to cook at all, you could go the frozen dinner + frozen veggies route. I fill my freezer with a variety of Lean Cuisine and sauceless steam-in-bag veggies to throw together for a filling meal.
  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,011 Member
    If you're going to use prepared meals, I would get the frozen meals at the grocery store over those programs. There is so much variety and they are way cheaper, especially if you watch for sales/coupons.

    I mix it up between frozen meals, Campbells's Chunky soups, and batch cooking something in the slow cooker on Sunday. I google slow cooker recipes (got some great ones on budget bytes .com) with 6-8 servings, keep 4 or 5 in the fridge and put the rest in the freezer for the following week. Add in bags of frozen veggies, an occasional rotisserie chicken, tuna sammies, the occasional stir fry when the mood hits, and I've got a pretty good variety for days that cooking a traditional meal just ain't happening!
  • LyndaBSS
    LyndaBSS Posts: 6,964 Member
    I consider all of those options fake meals. I would much rather eat real foods that I prepare.

    Find the time where you can. You can toss cut up veggies and chicken thighs or another protein on a sheet pan and it's cooked in 20 minutes, enough food for days. I also make rice or another grain ahead of time. Again, multiple servings.
  • jahouch
    jahouch Posts: 3 Member
    I am currently doing Jenny Craig and have been for the past 8 weeks. I work 2 jobs, run and own horses which, leaves me very little time for meal-prep. And, honestly, I hate cooking.
    The food is frozen meals... nothing exciting or even excellent but, it is easy and the weekly weigh-ins keep me accountable. I have lost 11 pounds so far. Anything you do to lose weight takes dedication, motivation and patience.
  • corinasue1143
    corinasue1143 Posts: 7,460 Member
    edited October 2019
    Bistro MD = no experience, but have heard very expensive, too low calorie, not much food.

    Nutrisystem = about $20 worth of food for about $50, and about 600 calories a day for the weekend size you can buy at Walmart without subscribing. They give you a grocery list to buy and prepare things to round out your meals. If you are going to be shopping and cooking anyway, why bother?

    Jenny Craig = possibly the best choice of the 3. Still, you shop at Jenny Craig for the meals you want. Why not shop at the grocery store. It’s cheaper, and you can get frozen veggies and fruit to add to your frozen dinners when you are hungrier, as well as a few fresh things.

    You didn’t ask this, so maybe I’m overstepping, but take the time one time to make out a list of low calorie things you like that are easy to make, like cottage cheese and fruit, yogurt and apples to dip, eggs, packets of tuna, instant oatmeal. Google the nearest restaurant or take out food with healthy choices near you. (I have a Subway and two healthy meals to go places within blocks of me).

    Use this long list to make out your weekly grocery list. Go once a week, buy several frozen dinners, some frozen veggies you like. Make your own personalized version of these diet plans. You’ll like it better because you have so much more choice, and it will take less time and energy in the end.

  • fitoverfortymom
    fitoverfortymom Posts: 3,452 Member
    I use frozen meals from the store all the time and just manage them as part of my calorie goal. There's ones from a brand called Frontera that have a good calorie profile and are quite filling. I usually have an apple as "dessert" after for a sweet treat. I feel like all those special programs don't give you tools you need to keep the weight off once you've lost it (because you don't really understand why you've lost weight), and the food tastes terrible which makes it harder to be compliant.
  • Melwillbehealthy
    Melwillbehealthy Posts: 894 Member
    I used Jenny Craig for about 8 months a couple of years ago. Lost weight nicely. Went back recently to try it and found the quality had changed. I just couldn’t ‘palate’ the meals. Didn’t like the new tastes or textures. Seems they’ve cheaped out in Canada. It might be better quality if you’re American. As I don’t have a kitchen yet, I’m now ordering out a lot, but fresh delicious, healthy meals. Not frozen or full of sodium.
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