What Is a Ready Made Diet Food Plan?

People use diets for many different reasons. Some people diet to lose weight, while others diet in order to follow specific nutritional needs as a result of pre-existing conditions or prepare for athletic competition. There are several ways you can follow a diet. You can prepare a diet with the aid of medical professional such as a nutritionist. You can follow standard guidelines about eating and create your own diet plan. You can also purchase a ready-made diet food plan. A ready-made diet food plan is one in which most food choices are made for you in advance.

How it Works

To use a ready-made food plan, you typically start by contacting the company that provides the food. You will then often be referred to an employee of the food provider. The employee will discuss your nutritional goals, any medical conditions you have as well as how long you want to be on the diet. An employee may or may not have specific training in the field of dietary nutrition. The employee will also discuss how the plan works. Most often you will have a range of food choices. You may be given the option of picking out the appetizer and main course that you prefer from two or three choices. Once you've made the selections you prefer you can expect the food to be delivered. Food delivery can take up to a week. Many ready-made foods are frozen or require refrigeration so make room in your kitchen beforehand.

Choices

A ready made plan will usually offer you choices about exactly what particular food you would like to purchase. Some food plans provide all meals and snacks for an entire time frame, such as a month. Other food plans may provide only two meals a day or only a main course and not any additional accompaniments. Companies that do not provide complete meals will often suggest a list of foods that users can add to make to a complete meal, such as a list of vegetables or acceptable starches. You may also be able to purchase additional items from the company at a local food store.

Costs

The costs of ready-made food plans vary. In general, expect to pay more for more inclusive meals and less for meals that only include a few items. If you have very specific dietary requirements, such as gluten-free meals or kosher items, expect to pay more. Some companies charge by the week and others charge by the month. You can usually pay by check or credit card. Meal costs may be tax deductible if you are following a doctor's orders. As of September 2009, you can expect to pay about $150-$200 per week for a plan that covers all meals for a single person.