Weight Loss Meal Delivery: Nutrisystem vs PTF

Eating right is a high priority for you. That’s why you spend so much time thinking about what to eat. And even more time shopping, prepping, cooking, packing, and cleaning up. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a healthy meal delivery service do all the work instead?

Many people are turning to diet meal delivery services as a solution to this problem. Certainly, the thought of having perfectly prepared-for-you meals magically appear when you need them is appealing. But at what cost, and can you trust them to deliver on effective weight loss too?

Today, there are two highly-regarded companies that offer weight loss meals at a reasonable price. The first is Nutrisystem, the bastion of weight loss meals. The second is Personal Trainer Food, a rising star in the weight loss industry.

Comparing these companies gives valuable insight into how weight loss meal delivery works, and how the industry is trending so you can decide if diet meal delivery is right for you.

Cost and Value: Nutrisystem v. Personal Trainer Food

*Prices as of 6/30/2017 and may have changed since this post.

Nutrisystem

Nutrisystem is the grand-daddy of all the weight loss meal delivery services out there. This is a great plan to compare to because of their reasonable price and long-trusted weight loss program.

Plans and Costs*

Nutrisystem has three plans, all offering 4 weeks of food:

1. Basic single order: $423.00
2. Core single order: $453.83
3. Choice single order: $515.00

The prices can be brought down considerably by signing up for auto-delivery:

1. Basic auto-delivery: $274.99
2. Core auto-delivery: $294.99
3. Choice auto-delivery: $334.99

When you order, you’ll find that Nutrisystem has a vast menu of 150+ items.

But there’s a catch. You can’t choose your own meals with the lower-priced Basic plan unless you pay an additional $19.99. Only the more expensive Core and Choice plans let you choose your menu. Another thing, if you want the premium frozen foods you’ll have to order the most expensive Choice plan.

Auto-delivery Plan

A major problem with many auto-delivery programs are their inflexible terms. Even with all their years of being in business, Nutrisystem hasn’t lead the way in this area. When you order auto-delivery, you will be locked into at least two shipments of food. If you cancel before that, an unwavering customer service rep will bill your card $99, regardless of your pleas.

If that makes you unhappy enough to ask for a full refund, you’ll also have to pay to ship the food back– in addition to your $99 cancellation fee.

Unboxing Nutrisystem

Fair warning: the frozen and shelf-stable foods are sent separately. As much as one week can pass before you have all your food. If you are banking on a hard start date, you’ll want to take this into account.

The frozen food comes in a huge cooler. Everything’s icy cold and looks delicious. Especially the ice cream treats, it’s hard not to sneak one as you are putting things in your freezer. (Does it really count if you do?) The shelf-stable foods go right on your shelf.

All the brightly colored boxes, packages, and tons of glossy program manuals can get you pumped about getting started.

Meal Prep

To prepare your meals, all you’ll need is access to a microwave, hot water, and some eating utensils. At work, an insulated lunch bag isn’t necessary if you bring the shelf-stable items in. An advantage to these meals is that you can confidently store them in your desk drawers for 12 to 18 months– if you wanted to.

What’s the Food Like?

Most of Nutrisystem’s menu is made up of packaged, processed foods. Dehydrated soups, TV-style dinners, and shelf-stable baked goods. Their website highlights their indulgences like chocolate, pizza, cookies, and cake. It should be noted that many of the sweets do contain sugar alcohols such as maltitol, and sorbitol. These additives can cause cramps, and gastro-intestinal disturbances. Also, since they are still a form of carbohydrates, they can spike your blood sugar levels, leading to weight gain.

Nutrisystem focuses on limiting calories and portion-control. So expect the serving sizes to be small. A breakfast muffin can be devoured in three bites.

Most of the TV dinners will have you fishing through sauces and rice for the tidbits of meat and wilted vegetables. For enough people, the taste is tolerable enough to endure so they can lose weight on their program. But a fair number of people find the meals leave them hungry and unsatisfied.

How it Works

Limiting calories and portions is one method that people can use to lose weight. As long as you are ok with the smaller portions and being a little hungry, Nutrisystem works.

However, long term maintenance can be challenging. You can’t replicate their meals in your own kitchen or find them on a restaurant menu. Continuing to order the food is your only option.

Is Nutrisystem Right for You?

Nutrisystem is great for people who like predictability from a trusted, recognizable brand. You won’t feel like you are ‘living without’ with all the desserts, breads, and carbs on the menu (although some people can detect a chemical after-taste in them). Nutrisystem also has a ton of guides with reassuring rules to follow for your program. This is the plan for you if you value structure and discipline more than the taste of the food.

Personal Trainer Food

Personal Trainer Food has grown over the last few years. Their whole food meal plans are designed to offer flexibility and great taste.

Plans and Costs*

Personal Trainer Food offers four single order 28-day plans designed to suit people’s different needs and lifestyles:

1. 28 day single order of Lunches and Dinner: $429
2. 28 day single order of Breakfasts, Lunches, and Dinners: $469
3. Single order of 140 à la carte items You Choose: $489
4. 28-day single order accelerated weight loss REV program: $519

Subscription boxes are available for all plans for 14-days of food each delivery. This allows for smaller orders that store easier, and you can schedule to have your food shipped to you every 2 or 4 weeks:

1. Lunch and Dinner subscription $199
2. Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner subscription: $229
3. You Choose à la carte subscription: $239
4. REV accelerated weight loss program: $249

When you place your order, you’ll find almost 100 menu items are available. All the breakfasts, meat entrees, and veggies are flash frozen, so you get those premium frozen foods with any plan you choose.

There are no TV dinners with pre-set combinations of food. Instead, you select your meat entrees and vegetables separately. The genius behind this is that you can mix and match those items to create 800+ different meal combinations.

Subscription Plans

Traditionally, auto-delivery plans are designed to lock you in, with punishing fees if you try to cancel.

Personal Trainer Food has designed theirs to be much more flexible and consumer-friendly. So friendly in fact, that here is no requirement to buy a certain number of boxes, and no cancellation fee.

If you call to cancel your subscription, the customer service rep will happily do so– without hassling you to stay on board. You can also skip, or pause your deliveries easily via your customer account, or by calling in and talking with a rep. This gutsy move should be the norm for all.

Unboxing Personal Trainer Food

Personal Trainer Food delivers everything at once in a recyclable Styrofoam-lined box with enough dry ice to keep the food ice cold.

Upon opening your box, you are met with a kaleidoscope of colorful foods along with a brochure. Everything is packed in clear bistro steamer bags, so you can easily identify your meals. There are also labels with cooking times on every bag.

All breakfasts, meat entrees, and vegetables are stored in the freezer. Since they are flash-frozen, they can be kept for up to six months. As you are unboxing, you’ll notice that Personal Trainer Foods are recognizable as real meats, eggs, and vegetables.

What you won’t find in the box are dehydrated or shelf-stable foods, and there are no fillers such as sauces, rice, and noodles to take the place of their whole foods.

Meal Prep

Meal prep is very easy. Just select the item(s) you want to eat from the freezer and heat in the microwave for about 3 minutes. You only need utensils and a plate to eat. You get a complimentary bottle of Sweet Garlic Butter Sauce for the vegetables that most people find tasty. Others prefer to add their own sauces and dressings. It’s easy to take to work, too: just grab an insulated cooler with an ice pack and heat in the break room microwave.

What’s the Food Like?

Absent from Personal Trainer Food are the breads, sweets, pizzas, and desserts. No decadent indulgences of carbs or sweets seems spartan to some. However, Personal Trainer Food is not a low-carb plan, it’s a ‘lower carb’ plan. There are breaded meat entrees, nuts, and beans on the menu.

Compared to Nutrisystem, Portion sizes are generous; 3-5 ounces for the meats and breakfasts, and 4 ounces for the vegetables. These are actual photos of the food:

Most people find that these meals tasty and filling. Even without breads and sweets, Personal Trainer Food is big on flavor: every one of the meat entrees can be enjoyed without further seasoning. The vegetables are picked at their peak for maximum flavor.

How It Works

The plan eliminates excess sugars and carbs in your diet. It’s focused on meats, eggs, vegetables, nuts, and cheeses. A diet based on whole foods will produce weight loss results. Many customers report a marked decrease in cravings for sweets as their taste buds ‘re-discover’ just how good healthy food tastes.

A surprise benefit of eating Personal Trainer Food is that you see and learn first hand what makes a healthy meal. This makes eating out and maintenance easy; you’d only need to order the food if you enjoy the convenience factor.

Is Personal Trainer Food Right for You?

Personal Trainer Food is a great plan if you value flavor and variety. The delicious, filling meals make it easy to stick to the program.

The entire plan is dead easy to follow– the Guidelines amount to just two pages. This plan is great for people– like Niki, Victoria, Michelle, and Manny below who are interested in learning how to lose weight and eat right for the rest of their lives.

The focus on real foods makes for a realistic, sustainable eating plan that anybody can do on their own. Personal Trainer Food is the meal delivery service for people who seriously want to lose weight.

This is a great plan for people who value ease, choice, and freedom.

Why Should You Try a Diet Meal Delivery Service?

Time-savers like prepared meals can be a tremendous way to simplify your life and help you get the results you want.

Online Ordering = Super Convenience

Unlike shopping at a store, it only takes a few minutes to order online, and can be done anywhere and any time you have a little break. Your food gets shipped right to your door, so you don’t have to waste any more time and gas running to the store for things you forgot.

Reward Your Commitment with a Gift for Yourself

There’s something about coming home to a box on your doorstep; it’s like Christmas. Meal delivery services can be viewed as a gift to yourself; they are a great way to solidify your commitment to your weight loss goals.

The Savings Add Up!

With food on hand and ready in minutes, you’re less likely to cave into the drive through. Meal prep is a snap; saving you serious time. It all adds up– easily saving you 40-120 minutes a day. If you were paid $15 an hour for that time, a well-priced meal delivery service can save you a ton of money.

No More Guesswork

With meal delivery services, the set meal plans drastically reduce the margin of error. This has a major impact on your odds of your weight loss success, making your investment in a meal delivery service that much more worthwhile.

This leaves little doubt that a diet meal delivery service can help simplify your life.

The Only Question: Which is Best for You?

That’s where Personal Trainer Food is the clear weight loss meal delivery winner:

• Real foods, nothing dehydrated
• Generous portions that fill you up
• Diet is based on science, not deprivation
• You select only the foods you like
• No hidden fees or nasty contracts
• Highly rated for taste and quality

Save now on low-carb meal deliveries

Right now, you can save 30% on any of our weight loss meal plans. Personal Trainer Food delivers everything you need to lose weight– including a Weight loss Coach who will help you get your very best results.

Enter SAVE30 in the promo code box when you check out. You’ll also enjoy fast, complimentary shipping right to your door.

Get started now — and get the RIGHT foods you need to lose those stubborn pounds.

---

About the Writer: 100 pounds ago, Jan knew what it is like to be obese, unhappy, and stuck. She has spent the last 17 years as a fitness writer, trainer, yoga teacher, and Weight Loss Coach. Today, she’s proud to be a part of the Personal Trainer Food team so she can continue her goal to help others live their fullest lives possible. Email [email protected] if you have any questions!

*Plans and costs were referenced online 6/30/17, and are subject to change.

Offer applicable for 30% off any of our meal plans. Use code SAVE30 at checkout to receive offer. May not be combined with other offers.

Weight loss results not guaranteed and are based on various factors. Copyright © 2024 Personal Trainer Food, All rights reserved.