What are the four things you should consider when choosing a delivery service? Vanessa Agosta outlines the good and bad of these programs.Chances are you could eat better than you do now. You could probably eat smaller portions, more vegetables, better proteins and you could avoid skipping meals. If only you could have someone else cook healthy, delicious meals for you and prepare them in the exact portion sizes you need, right? Sure, you think, but not everyone can afford a personal chef. Well, don’t fret. You can have the luxury of having food prepared just for you and delivered to your door. And it’s not as expensive as you think.
How They WorkDiet delivery service companies vary in terms of the number of meals, types of foods and prices that they offer. You can choose:
* A service that offers low carb meals, low fat meals, vegetarian or even diabetic friendly meals.
* Foods based on your likes, dislikes and allergies.
* Meal programs that are designed for weight loss or weight maintenance.
* Deliveries as frequent as seven days a week or as few as three days per week.
* Two or three meals per day plus snacks.
* Whether to have the meals delivered to your home or office.
The more flexible the options that a service company offers, the better off you are. This is because ultimately to get the results you want, you have to like what you eat and it has to work with your lifestyle. Otherwise you won’t stick with it.
Helping You Lose WeightYes, this type of service can help you lose weight, as long as you follow the program and eat well on the days you don’t have your food delivered. Most diet delivery services state that their clients lose between 2 to 5 pounds per week, depending on the client’s age, gender, level of activity, etc. Of course, the accuracy of these numbers may be biased, as weight loss depends on the level of adherence as well as your body’s propensity for weight loss. Some people lose weight quickly and some lose it more slowly.
The bottom line is that by having your meals already prepared, eating well becomes something you don’t have to think about. The reason why a lot of people try to lose weight and can’t seem to keep it off is because life has many factors that influence their food choices and eating behaviours. Take away those factors (like lack of time for meal preparation, skipping meals, etc.) and you have a relatively fail-safe solution.
What It CostsAccording to Statistics Canada, the average Canadian household spends about $7,000 on food a year. When you compare the costs of meal delivery services, which range from $20 to $40 per day, you may think that diet meal delivery is too expensive, but if you calculate how much the average person spends on weight loss products like supplements, diet pills and exercise equipment that only gathers dust, suddenly that original bill grows substantially.
Also, if you are the kind of person who believes time is money, then the time you save from shopping, preparing meals, researching healthy foods and recipes, and counting calories is worth it.
Key Factors When Choosing a Diet Delivery ServiceThere are many things to consider when choosing a diet delivery service. As with all investments in your health, take the time to do your homework and figure out which service is best for you based on price, taste and your specific needs.
PricePrice variety usually depends on the quality of food and its preparation. Higher priced plans are usually gourmet meals, freshly prepared (not frozen) or highly specialized in some way (for example, diabetic friendly).
Prices also vary based on whether or not you want a full plan (breakfast, lunch and dinner) or just lunch and dinner; and how many days of delivery you want (for example, five or seven days). Some delivery services give you price per week or price per month. Ordering in larger amounts may save you money if a diet delivery company offers discounts for buying in bulk.
It is cheaper to choose fewer days to have your food delivered to you, but keep in mind that the burden of responsibility falls more on your shoulders on the days that you have to prepare your own meals.
Types of Diet MealsMany diet delivery services are based on a popular diet, like the Zone Diet. Others are based on broad diet types like low carb or diabetic friendly. Some services let you choose among different diet plans like low carb, low fat or vegetarian. Regardless of diet type, most services are based on low-calorie, portion-controlled meals and snacks.
Menu variety is also important. Although it's hard to get bored on diet delivery programs, there are some services that offer better menu variety than others. For example, a program may offer a 4-week rotating menu.
SupportIf you think you may need some extra help, choose a company that offers support mechanisms like message boards, chat rooms, diet and weight loss trackers, informative articles, progress snapshots and more.
Commitment LevelSome diet delivery plans do require you to sign a contract for a certain length of time. The most popular time commitment is one month. If you are required to purchase more than that, make sure you’re getting a discount for it.
Some companies also offer a trial period of a week to 10 days. I am an advocate of the “try before you buy” strategy, so take advantage of it if you can.
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I rarely condone weight loss programs or products, because most of them do not offer long-term weight loss solutions. They also often do not offer you the opportunity to develop healthy lifestyle habits. Diet delivery services are the one exception to my rule because they are consistent, provide you with nutritious food and make weight loss an afterthought instead of an obsession.
Labels: diet, healthy eating, meal delivery service, nutrition
