The NutriSystem Diet

What it is: Perfect for dieters who have a demanding lifestyle or those who don’t want to spend time counting calories and following a strict diet, the NutriSystem diet is easy and convenient. Dieters select healthy meal options that are then delivered directly to their homes in microwave-ready pouches.

How it works: The NutriSystem diet emphasizes “good” carbs, low-fat, high-fiber foods that are low on the glycemic index, meaning they are believed to help stabilize blood sugar and prevent cravings, as well as keep you feeling full longer.

What you do: Dieters sign up on the NutriSystem website to select meals and have them delivered. Women are allotted 1,200 calories per day and men are permitted 1,500. (Meals average about $300 per month). As members of the NutriSystem online community, dieters also have access to fitness guides and can talk with counselors or other dieters.

Benefits: With NutriSystem, there is no need to count calories, cook healthy foods, or worry about following a strict plan. The diet is also very flexible and can be adapted for vegetarians, diabetics or older dieters.

The Down Side: Most dieters remain on the NutriSystem plan for 10 weeks, and the diet does not provide guidance on long term maintenance. This leads experts to worry that people will have a difficult time maintaining a healthy weight after they discontinue ordering NutriSystem meals.