Nutrisystem
Lose weight with meals conveniently delivered to your home.
QUICK FACTS
Start the Diet Now Advertisement
- Established: 1972
- Founder: Harold Katz
- Headquarters: Fort Washington, Pennsylvania
- Stock Symbol: NTRI
- Accessibility: Online, Phone
- Diet Type: Low-fat, Low-calorie, Meal Delivery, Portion Control
- Gender: Male and Female
- Celebrity Endorsements: Melissa Joan Hart, Marie Osmond, Dan Marino, Jillian Barberie, Terry Bradshaw
- Get started by saving with these Nutrisystem Coupons
BACKGROUND
Nutrisystem is one of the most recognizable names in weight loss and has rightly earned its place among the top diets. Founded in 1972, Nutrisystem has helped millions of people lose weight on its convenient portion-controlled meals. This program takes the guess work out of dieting and many people find it to be an easy approach to healthy weight loss.
The brand is one of the first diets to earn its marks by offering a hassle-free way to lose weight with its meal delivery service. The diet plan takes care of the majority of grocery shopping, cooking and portioning by delivering meals and snacks that are calorie-controlled and pre-prepared. All you have to do is heat and enjoy, supplementing with a few fresh grocery store items. Nutrisystem originally offered pantry-ready, but in 2009 added a fresh-frozen line of meals; combined the two lines offer more than 150 menu options.
Nutrisystem is currently based on its SUCCESS program, which focuses on flexibility, maintenance, taste, and satisfaction.
Most health experts agree that the Nutrisystem diet is healthy and nutritionally sound. The meals in the program are low in saturated and trans fats and sodium. All the foods are portion controlled and rely on a balanced approach by offering low glycemic index eating, to control blood sugar, that is high in protein and fiber, for satiety. All of these features make up the Nutrisystem SUCCESS program.
There are a range of plans at varying price points that are tailored to suit different nutritional needs, with those specifically for men, women, teens, diabetics and vegetarians.
Plans and meals are selected and ordered from Nutrisystem's website or by phone. You'll receive 28 days worth of food that comes in pantry-ready and or frozen containers that you simply heat before eating. Some grocery purchases will need to be made for items like fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, whole grain bread, fish, and more.
When you sign up with Nutrisystem, you'll also receive a Mindset Makeover behavioral guide, a 13-week online plan to help you better understand your relationship with food. It provides steps for taking control of your eating habits. Nutrisystem customers also have online access to health information, community support, weekly newsletters, smart phone applications, and tracking tools.
In addition to the proper eating, Nutrisystem encourages 30 minutes of exercise every day or using their interval workouts called “My Daily 3.”
Nutrisystem Videos
Having trouble viewing? Click here to watch the Nutrisystem Video.
PRO
Makes it clear what you need to do to lose weight
More than 71 million pounds lost by Nutrisystem customers in the past decade
Features more than 150 meals and snacks
Customizable
Provides balanced nutrition
Promotes exercise
Convenient
Vegetarian and diabetic friendly
Promotes weight loss at a healthy rate
Complimentary access to registered dietitians and weight loss counselors
6th Most Popular Diet in 2012 at DietsInReview.com
Named "Best Convenience Diet" in USA Today's The Best of Diet & Fitness Magazine, 2013
CON
Meals may leave you feeling hungry
May be cost prohibitive for some
Limited flexibility for eating off plan (i.e. restaurants)
USER REVIEWS
A sampling of feedback and experiences shared by our community.
I tried nutrisystem in 2008 and lost 28 pounds. It was the only diet I ever went on that actually worked,yes it is a little expensive, with the veggies and dairy but if you stick to it it works. - Lori 6/28/11
I've been on NS, the diabetic program, for 3 months. I've lost 35 pounds and my blood sugar has come WAY down (from mid 200's to low 100's). And I don't find the food unpalatable at all. You can customize your order, so anything I don't like I just don't order again, and anything I like I order more off on the next shipment. Customer service has been excellent, and there is a huge member support that is extremely helpful. Plus, I AM learning how to eat properly to keep the weight off when I reach goal. Yay, Nutrisystem! - Betty 6/16/11
it absolutely works if you follow it correctly. It is easy to follow as well, but the food is horrible!!! There are only a few things that are tolerable, and even if you customize your order you will get extremely tired of eating those same things over and over. They have a plan where you get these other foods added that are frozen. They are WAY better, but you only get a couple of weeks worth of it then your back to eating the other horrible food. Totally not worth it. I've tried it three times because I did lose the weight, but I couldn't handle the food. - Whitney 5/17/11
The portion sizes are sooo small. It's not possible to just grab and go. To feel satisfied you have to add fruits and lots of vegetables. It's not as mindless as I thought it was going to be. Fruits and vegetables are expensive. Overall it works because your fat/calories are so restricted and because no one wants to wstet all the money they spent on the program. I didn't mind the food. I have don't have gourmet taste or anything. No worse than the frozen/dried meals in stores now. I will probably not buy another month worth of food. Could have probably lost weigt eating lean cuisines, protein bars etc. I think nutrisystem is a good jump start to a diet and healthier eating. - TB 1/21/11
See our in-depth Nutrisystem review completed in 2010.
Leave Your Own Review and Rating
DIET and NUTRITION
Whenever people sign up for a meal delivery diet, the big question is "What can I eat?". With Nutrisystem, there are more than 150 meal and snack options to choose from, to include pantry-ready and frozen meals. Muffins, roasted vegetable pizza, stuffed shells, macaroni and cheese, chicken noodle soup, chicken parmesan, and tacos are just a few of the entrees, while snacks include bars and pretzels. Dessert isn't out of the picture with options like oatmeal raisin cookies, chocolate, ice cream and whoopee pies. All of this is complemented by a few grocery purchases, including fresh fruits and vegetables. Each Nutrisystem meal is pre-packaged and prepared to the appropriate portion size. Many items are ready-to-eat but some require heating.
All of the Nutrisystem meals are low on the glycemic index and contain a balanced proportion of quality carbohydrates (55%), good fats (25%) and protein (20%). Meals are also low in sodium and trans fat. All of this allows customers to maintain blood sugar while maintaining a feeling of fullness, or satiety, between meals.
The women’s program contains about 1,200 calories and the men’s contains about 1,500 calories per day. Each day you’ll eat three meals and and two snacks with the addition of six servings of fresh fruits and vegetables. You can either custom select your own meals or choose an automated favorites meal and snack menu. Pantry-ready foods do not need to be refrigerated; however, fresh-frozen meals ship in a cooler and must be frozen until ready to prepare.
A typical day on the Nutrisystem SUCCESS program includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, one snack and a dessert. Below is a sample menu from the Nutrisystem Select option, which features some fresh-frozen items:
Breakfast: Granola Cereal or Honey Wheat Bagel
Snack: Hummus or an orange
Lunch: Red Beans and Rice or Chicken Tacos
Dinner: Meatloaf with Mashed Potatoes or Sweet and Sour Chicken
Dessert: Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookies or Red Velvet Whoopie Pies
In December 2012, Nutrisystem announced the addition of two dozen new and improved meal options to their menu.
- Chicken Pot Pie
- Stuffed Egg
- Cheesecake Bar
- Spicy Kung Pao
- Margarita Pizza
- Chicken Pot Pie
- Cinnamon Streusel Muffin
- Chicken Parmesan Melt
- Stuffed Apple Pie
- White Chocolate Chunk Cookies
EXERCISE
Nutrisystem sees exercise as an important component to lifelong weight management and encourages members to get 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week (or 30 minutes five days a week).
The addition of the “My Daily 3” program has helped users achieve their workout goals. The program is made up of three 10-minute interval activities each day, allowing even the busiest of schedules to easily make fitness a priority. Nutrisystem customizes a fitness plan for each customer, based on an assessment taken online, and encourages your doctor to sign off on it. An example plan for a woman looks like this:
SUN: 20 minute hike, 10 minute bike ride
MON: 10 minute treadmill, 10 minute stationary bike, 10 minute rowing
TUE: Total body circuit training workout
WED: 10 minute walk before each meal of the day
THU: Total body resistance band workout
FRI: 10 minute walk before each meal of the day
SAT: 10 minutes stairs, 10 minute treadmill walking, 10 minute stationary bike
Members receive a two-week personalized fitness plan with guidance on how to increase their activity as fitness level improves and the weight loss journey progresses.
When you eat Nutrisystem's meals, you will lose weight without exercise. However, your weight loss will be more effective and sustainable if you incorporate a consistent exercise regimen. You will see faster results, have less trouble keeping the weight off, and enjoy better overall health. Find an activity you enjoy and that interests you. This will keep you motivated and looking forward to your workouts. There are online forums available to dieters for tips and suggestions from other members. Below are just a few examples of some popular choices:
- Zumba
- Aerobics classes
- Walking with a buddy
- Kickboxing
- Yoga
- Pilates
- Biking
- Swimming
- Jogging
- Fitness video games (example Nintendo Wii Fit)
NUTRISYSTEM FAQ
Common questions asked about the NutriSystem program by our community. Click each to see the full answer.
What meals are on the menu for NutiSystem D? - Mike 5/25/11
What is the cost of NutriSystem? - David 6/4/11
Can you buy a sample of NutriSystem? - Sandy 7/6/11
CONCLUSION
Nutrisystem is a well-recognized and successful weight loss program that has helped millions of people lose weight and improve their health. It’s been calculated that in the past ten years, Nutrisystem has helped people shed more than 71 million pounds. Its convenience and portion-controlled meals are delivered to your door every month making it easy to eat healthy as you lose weight. The company has implemented many ways for members to gain support as they lose, transition, and maintain. Members are also being taught how to cook for themselves throughout the process and have access to support at all stages of the process. Exercise components to aid in faster loss and maintenance have also been added to make the program more well-rounded and allow for long-term success. While weight gain after ending a diet is common, Nutrisystem puts a lot of components in place to ensure customers have as much success during as they do after.
Nutrisystem has added many support elements so that individuals will feel comfortable to seek advice and assistance once they are past the pre-made meal stage. All variations of the Nutrisystem plans fall under the SUCCESS program and tailored to each individual, whether that be diabetes, vegetarian, men’s needs, women’s needs, budget needs, or any other issues.
NUTRISYSTEM RESOURCES
Nutrisystem Channel on DietsInReview.com
NutriSystem Review at Everyday Health
Common Misspellings
Nutri System, Nutrasystem, Nutra system, Nutresystem, Nutrisystem.com, Nutrisytem, Nutrisytem, NutriSystem
DietsInReview.com is a paid affiliate of Nutrisystem, Inc.
Author
Featured Diets
Related Diets: Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, Medifast , Nu-Kitchen Fresh for NutriSystem, NutriSystem Advanced, NutriSystem Advanced Silver , NutriSystem D, NutriSystem Flex, NutriSystem for Men, NutriSystem Select, Glycemic Index
User Feedback
(Page 7 of 12, 225 total comments)Laura
I rather like Nutrisystems. It took a lot of reading and reviews before I decided to try it. Like all diet plans some will work for certain people and not for others. I can truly say with some seasonings and veggies etc. the food is good. I have found some things not eatable however I choose not to order them in the future. I have had good success lost 8 pounds in 11 days and I am sure I will lose more. I am determined to stay with this program until I loose all the weight I need to loose.
posted Aug 23rd, 2010 12:54 pmJaneth
NS Referral
posted Aug 12th, 2010 10:53 amTina Gressel
Ok. When I rec'd my shipment it was in little cheap packaging and NOTHING was prepared. You have to add the water to the soups/ you have to prepare the puddings and pancake mixes, etc. They say it's only $300 a month to eat which is cheap but YOU have to add the fruit and vegetables and nuts and dairy. Believe me, it's NOT cheap--only the taste of the food is cheap. Alot of it is gross or tastes like cardboard. So.... I call nutrisystem and tell them I will keep this month supply (and try to choke it down) but to cancel any future orders. They are going to charge me $52 to cancel--even though I was keeping the food. Originally it gave me a supposed $33 discount for 1 week of extra food- but they wanted to charge me $52 just for canceling. So I tell them I will just send it all back and they can reimburse me then which will cost me $18. Why would I keep cheap gross food that already cost $300 and pay $52 more? Go to a grocery store and get weight watchers foods or one of the others...and save yourself tons of money! and delivery charges!
posted Aug 7th, 2010 3:21 pmDiane
I love it. It's convenient and easy. Before NS I couldn't lose a lb. I've been on it for 3 mths and have lost 16 1/2 lbs. Thank you NS!!!!!!!
posted Jul 10th, 2010 10:08 amyasmine
The food is ok. the more important thing is i lost 10 pounds in 3 weeks! granted i did up my game in the gym
posted Jul 9th, 2010 1:52 pmBetty Leach
I am amazed that I can lose weight on this program with no hunger, no cooking, no measuring, and no weighing. I am thrilled with the results. Been on NS one month
posted Jul 1st, 2010 8:52 ambernadine starken
I have stopped the program and send back my last order which came to $299.00 I do not have a credit yet on my account. Please look into this.
posted Jun 28th, 2010 11:34 amMarsha
I tried nutrisystem for about one month...well I could not get through the entire month, in fact I still have meals left over. I don't like that everything is processed and most of the food is really yucky. The other thing is that the foods are very high in sodium. The diet is expensive and you still have to buy additional supermarket items to supplement the diet.
posted Jun 27th, 2010 3:53 pmIf you can eat like this you may lose the weight, but for me a diet is a change in the way I eat forever, and I cannot eat like this every day of my life.
Lowell Hale
Sir;
posted Jun 20th, 2010 11:46 amThe following is an email that I have sent to contacts at NutraSystem
Sir;
NutraSystem has made an unauthorized charge on my credit card in the amount of $416.91.
I had previously canceled any further orders .. couple months ago..
The operator I talked to advised that I should call Nutra System before
June 25 if I wanted to order at th then existing priceing..I chose not to reorder BUT Nutra System has chosen to charge me again...Cleverly doing it at late Friday so that the order would be 'in the works' for enough time so as to make it difficult for me to reverse
NOW..
Nutra System did the same thing on the last order I recieved..at that time I relented and kept the order.
This is the second time .
Unless you remove those charges imediately I will seek legal remedy.
Nutra System has proven to be a "shady" or "tricky" outfit that should never have access to anyones credit card info.
On Monday evening...after 6:00pm..if your charghes are not removed I will be relating this story and this letter on web places ..youtube...myspace..and any other site that reaches numbers of potential NutraSystem customers to make them aware of the dangers of letting out their credit card info to NutraSystem.
I want those charges to my credit card cancelled andI will do no further business with Nutra System.
If you try to send a shipment to me,..just know that II have moved and no longer live in Texas
.
.
SO, FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS,..
WHEN DEALING WITH NUTRASYSTEM..
.
"WATCH YOUR POCKETS"..as they say
Arleigh
I thought this was an easy all inclusive meal plan. WRONG!
posted Jun 15th, 2010 9:38 amYou have to buy lots of fresh veggies and fruit. I also suffer and so does my husband from Gas and loss of sleep due to going to the bathroom 3-4 times a night because of the liquid required. I hope it works because so far I am NOT impressed.
Robert Callaway
there is a lot of the foods I just dont likeand this is not for me.It is costing me more than I can afford each month and I need to cancel my program now. Please do not ship any more food. I QUITE.
posted May 31st, 2010 5:20 pmlouie
I will take it meals delivered to to your door and I can lose weight
posted May 31st, 2010 11:10 amJen
Food is disgusting!!!
posted May 27th, 2010 2:40 pmKim
My husband and I started this diet on October 1, 2010. So far he has lost 100 lbs and has gone from a size 46 to a 36 and a XXXL shirt to a L shirt. I have lost 60 lbs and have gone from a size 18 to 8. There are a few foods that we don't care for but for the most part we like all of them. We can't believe how easy it has been and are being told by our friends that we have been an inspiration to them and they have now started NS.
posted May 20th, 2010 9:02 pmval
The portions are just right and the food is edible. I am losing weight not a ton but lost like 6 pounds over two weeks.
posted May 12th, 2010 12:22 pmJoeyCrack
Apparently the key to losing weight with any program is eating healthy and exercising. Within the first month of the program, I lost 20+ lbs. Nutrisystem helped me to maintain proper portion control, which helped me to lose weight that probably would not have come off with just exercise alone. More importantly than the scale reading is the fact that I feel great, and am no longer sweating of breathing hard after walking a short distance.
posted May 8th, 2010 1:36 pmWith Nutrisystem, I like the flexibility of being able to add your own fruits and vegetables. While on Nutrisystem, I also eat at restaurants, or cook my own foods on the grill, but I am more concious of portion sizes, or having the waiter remove unhealthy items such as mayo from a sandwhich.
I think that one of the problems that led to my own weight gain was feeling of no control over what I ate. Nutrisystem teaches you that you do have control over what you eat, and once you learn this, then you can sustain a healthy lifestyle.
rb
Lost 24 pounds. Kept it off for 2 years. Came back up to within 7 pounds of previous weight. Went back on, lost 15.
posted Apr 30th, 2010 11:52 amst
i tried this diet twice. i did lose a little bit of weight, but couldn't really stand the food. the ham & bean soup, the chili's and the pizza i liked. other than that not really. i am not a gourmet by any means, eat a lot of frozen diet dinners, but this just wasn't my taste.
posted Apr 18th, 2010 9:31 pmNick M.
Yuck! lost the weight - but it was a terrible experience and emotionally draining. i could not stand to open up one of those boxes again and eat more tasteless food. On top of that, one has to buy so much supplemental food it's not worth it. I switched to diets-to-go post-pregnancy. worth every dime. fresh food delivered to your house with everything you need (including fruit, juice, condiments) - so easy to manage what I eat while being a mom to a newborn! my husband was so impressed he's considering joining. N/S is preservative filled food that is horrible!
posted Apr 5th, 2010 12:50 amWhitney
I haven't even been on the program for a month and I have lost 17 pounds on it so far!! The food isn't bad but you just got it remember it is diet food.
posted Apr 3rd, 2010 12:21 pm