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  3. Jenny Craig vs. Nutrisystem vs. Weight Watchers

Jenny Craig vs. Nutrisystem vs. Weight Watchers

Compare pricing, meal options and weight loss results

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Many companies claim they can help dieters through their weight loss programs, so it can be difficult to tell which one is best for you. When weighing your diet options, remember to be honest with yourself and consider your own budget, dietary needs, personal preferences and lifestyle to determine which weight loss program is the best fit for you.

A slow, steady weight loss of 1–2 pounds per week is the standard set by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They also promote the importance of physical activity for a healthy lifestyle. Many programs are available to help with losing weight. Jenny Craig, Nutrisystem and WW (formerly Weight Watchers) are among the most popular.

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  • Food costs about $15/day
  • 5 pre-packaged meals per day
  • Lose 1–2 pounds per week
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  • Food costs about $10/day
  • Meals and snacks delivered to you
  • Lose 1–2 pounds per week
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  • Food costs vary by individual
  • Create your own meal plans
  • Lose up to 2 pounds per week

Jenny Craig vs. Nutrisystem

Jenny Craig’s portion-controlled meals are home-delivered, and consultants educate users on nutrition and diet for lifelong health. Participants meet in person, over the phone or online for consultations. Nutrisystem provides home-delivered meals that make up its 28-day program. If you enroll in Nutrisystem’s weight loss program, you’ll receive online support through consultations and forums. Jenny Craig and Nutrisystem both offer vegetarian and diabetic-friendly meal plans.

jenny craignutrisystem
Pre-packaged food home delivery
Motivation and supportDedicated personal consultantFree support through consultant, number, website and forums
ResultsAverage is 1–2 pounds per weekUp to 2 pounds weight loss per week
Customer experienceRead reviewsRead reviews
Pre-packaged food home deliveryMotivation and supportResultsCustomer experience
jenny craigDedicated personal consultantAverage is 1–2 pounds per weekRead reviews
nutrisystemFree support through consultant, number, website and forumsUp to 2 pounds weight loss per weekRead reviews

Cost of Jenny Craig vs. Nutrisystem

A cost comparison of the two programs shows Jenny Craig is more expensive than Nutrisystem. With Nutrisystem, you can expect to pay about $300–$350 per month for food. A month of food from Jenny Craig costs $450 or more.

Jenny Craig starts at $16 for a 12-week trial. The cost of food adds an additional $15–$20 per day and includes meals and a snack. Jenny Craig’s premium program normally has a $99 enrollment fee, though they often run discounts. Additionally, the program has a $19 a month subscription price with $49 cash back when you reach your goal. All programs include consulting, coaching and premium menus with five meals a day plus your own snack.

Nutrisystem’s basic plan is a 4-week program for around $10/day, including pre-packaged foods. The next tier is $11.07/day and includes more food choices along with unlimited support. The Uniquely Yours program costs $12.50/day and adds even more food choices, plus unlimited snacks and frozen meals. Their final tier is the Uniquely Yours Plus program, which adds 4 weeks of their shakes plus access to their new plan for $13.93 a day.

Which is better: Jenny Craig or Nutrisystem?

Jenny Craig promotes healthy eating for long-term health and wellness, with clients losing on average 1–2 pounds per week. You can also expect to lose 1–2 pounds per week with Nutrisystem. Both programs provide a consultant, though Jenny Craig requires a fee.

Overall, Nutrisystem offers more for your money. Nutrisystem also has more favorable ratings for their food’s taste and quality. Nutrisystem has a try before you buy option, allowing dieters to try out food before making choices for the automatic food delivery service. Dieters should do their research and seek reviews of their dieting peers.

Nutrisystem vs. Weight Watchers

Nutrisystem provides home-delivered meals, while WW (formerly Weight Watchers) provides support for dieters to make their own meals and healthy choices. Both provide education on nutrition and healthful living with exercise.

Nutrisystem and WW both offer weight loss services and diet products both in person and online. The main difference is that Nutrisystem programs consist of 28 days of home-delivered meals.

WW, on the other hand, provides a diet program along with related products and services. The program provides methods for tracking food intake, learning about nutrition and healthy dietary choices and methods for making food healthfully. The program also promotes fitness and sells athletic equipment as well.

nutrisystemweight watchers
Pre-packaged food delivered to your home
Motivation and supportFree support through consultant, number, website and forumsSupport through weekly meetings or through their online community
ResultsUp to 2 pounds weight loss per weekAverage is 1–2 pounds per week
Customer SatisfactionRead ReviewsRead Reviews
Pre-packaged food delivered to your homeMotivation and supportResultsCustomer Satisfaction
nutrisystemFree support through consultant, number, website and forumsUp to 2 pounds weight loss per weekRead Reviews
weight watchersSupport through weekly meetings or through their online communityAverage is 1–2 pounds per weekRead Reviews

Cost of Weight Watchers vs. Nutrisystem

A cost comparison of the two programs shows Weight Watchers costing much less. However, both programs have different structures. Weight Watchers offers an online program for $3.07 a month or you can add weekly in-person weigh-ins and meetings for $6.77. Weight Watchers also offers personal coaching for $8.65 a week.

Nutrisystem is about $300–$350 a month, starting at $10.18 a day with their basic plan. This is a 4-week program with pre-selected food. For $11.07 you get the Core program with more food choices and unlimited support. Uniquely Yours is the next level costing $12.50 and adding more food choices, unlimited snacks and frozen meals. Uniquely Yours Plus is their highest level and includes 4 weeks of shakes and access to their new plan with more variety for $13.93 a day.

Which is better: Weight Watchers or Nutrisystem?

For those wanting flexibility and with dietary restrictions Weight Watchers is the way to go. Making your own meals allows adaptability to meet individual needs. However, this freedom also demands planning, prepping and preparing meals.

Nutrisystem offers prepared meals that have favorable ratings for taste and quality. Nutrisystem offers a try-before-you-buy option which allows dieters to taste various food products before choosing meals through their automatic delivery service. Consider your needs as well as motivation for weight loss. Weight Watchers and Nutrisystem are just two of the many programs available to help you meet your weight loss goals.

Weight Watchers vs. Jenny Craig

Founded in 1983, Jenny Craig is a weight loss and diet management company started in Australia. The program provides in-person support as well as phone consultations and online guidance. The program also provides portioned, prepared meals which are delivered to your home. Rather than promising specific weight loss results, they promote teaching healthy living and lifelong nutrition and weight management.

Weight Watchers provides a diet program along with related products and services. It was found in 1965 in Queens, New York. Initially, the program offered weekly meetings at community locations across the United States and expanded internationally, eventually providing online support as well. The program provides methods for tracking food intake, learning about nutrition and healthy dietary choices and methods for making food healthfully.

weight watchersjenny craig
Pre-packaged food delivered to your home
Motivation and supportSupport through weekly meetings or through their online communityDedicated personal consultant
ResultsAverage is 1–2 pounds per weekAverage is 1–2 pounds per week
Customer SatisfactionRead ReviewsRead Reviews
Pre-packaged food delivered to your homeMotivation and supportResultsCustomer Satisfaction
weight watchersSupport through weekly meetings or through their online communityAverage is 1–2 pounds per weekRead Reviews
jenny craigDedicated personal consultantAverage is 1–2 pounds per weekRead Reviews

Cost of Jenny Craig vs. Weight Watchers

A cost comparison of the two programs shows Jenny Craig averaging $15 a day for food with a $99 enrollment fee while Weight Watchers offers $7 to $15 per week for in-person meetings depending on location.

WW also has an online program costing about $3 per week. WW does not have mandatory food purchases. Instead, it provides recipes and meal plans to make at home. Jenny Craig users may also pay additional fees for in-person support services through their Super Premium program while Weight Watchers includes these with their weekly meetings and online programming.

Which is better: Jenny Craig or Weight Watchers?

For those looking for easy, Jenny Craig is a clear choice. For those wanting flexibility and who have dietary concerns, Weight Watchers is the more adaptable choice. Take a look at peer reviews and see which program supports your goals and needs.

The best choice for you really comes down to your individual needs. For those with specific dietary restrictions, WW is much more flexible. However, that flexibility also forces more planning, prepping and cooking. Both programs promote healthy living and offer education and training for lifelong nutrition and diet management. However, WW support comes with the basic subscription price for in-person meetings and the online program, while Jenny Craig charges extra for that added support.

Bottom line: Which is best for you?

Remember that when choosing the best weight loss plan, it’s important to consider your budget, dietary needs and what kind of support will be most beneficial for you. If you’re still not sure which weight loss program is best for you, compare Medifast vs. Nutrisystem next.

  • Most convenient: Jenny Craig
    Jenny Craig’s program includes weekly one-on-one counseling sessions with certified consultants, plus a personalized meal and exercise plan. Convenient pre-packaged meals, which are eaten during the first half of your diet, include foods like cinnamon rolls and homestyle beef pot roast, which helps you stay on track while still indulging in your favorite foods. The second half focuses on transitioning you back to home-cooked meals.
  • Most popular: Nutrisystem
    Nutrisystem takes out the guesswork of healthy eating by mailing “perfectly portioned” meals to your door. The plan for women includes four meals per day, which means eating every two to three hours to promote greater weight loss and maintenance.
  • Most freedom: Weight Watchers
    Best for strict dieters or people with gluten-free, vegetarian or vegan dietary needs. WW encourages healthy eating through a tracking system. This point system helps you understand what you eat on a daily basis and the health of each food you eat, which teaches participants healthier eating without too much restriction.
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