Lifestyle programs can provide a helpful structure for your health journey when you feel out of control with unhealthy habits. In particular, they can be especially useful in helping you achieve your weight goals. Programs are a great way to join individuals going on the same journey, which can be incredibly motivating.
Everyone is different, and there’s not a one-size-fits-all approach to choosing a weight management program. It ultimately depends on what suits your individual needs and what fits into your lifestyle. Some people want rigid rules and a quick fix, whereas others like more flexibility and a long-term lifestyle change.
To save you some tiresome research and help to answer some important questions, this guide compares two popular online weight loss meal delivery programs; Nutrisystem and Jenny Craig.
Both Nutrisystem and Jenny Craig are subscription-based meal plan programs that provide pre-packaged low-calorie meals and snacks which are delivered to your door, taking away the need to plan or prepare healthy meals yourself.
However, pre-packaged foods are not sustainable in the long term and the long-term aim is to transition from pre-packaged meal plans to cooking meals again for yourself.
When you do choose to start preparing your own meals again, you haven’t had the chance to learn skills such as meal planning, and how to prepare healthy meals. This can make it more difficult to stay healthy and maintain your weight after finishing your program.
We’ve also included comparisons with the Second Nature program. Second Nature is an easy-to-follow lifestyle change program that can help you achieve your weight goals sustainably, with scientific articles, in-app tracking, and dedicated support from a coach with expertise in nutrition and wellness. Second Nature gives you the tools you need to achieve their weight goals sustainably.
Reviews
Trustpilot is a platform where consumers can leave reviews and scores reflect overall customer satisfaction. Jenny Craig only has one review on Trustpilot, so we’ve included Site Jabber reviews instead.
| Nutrisystem | Jenny Craig | Second Nature | |
| Star rating |  |
 |
 |
| Score | 1.5 / 5 read reviews |
3.5 / 5 read reviews |
4.8 / 5 read reviews |
Signing up
| Nutrisystem | Jenny Craig | Second Nature | |
| Money back guarantee | If you’re not satisfied with your first order, contact their customer service within 14 days and return any remaining food for a full refund minus shipping. | Under the 100% Satisfaction Guarantee you can contact customer service within the first 7 days and return the remaining food to get a full refund. | Full refund if cancelled within 14 days. After this point, any charges are non-refundable. |
| Clear breakdown of costs | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Clear cancellation policy | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Length of program | The program is 4 weeks but can be repeated until you reach your goal | Ongoing subscription (minimum 4 weeks) | Ongoing subscription (minimum 12 weeks) |
| Easy to cancel | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Refer-a-friend scheme | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Easy to include family | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
Nutrition
| Nutrisystem | Jenny Craig | Second Nature | |
| Dietary approach | Pre-packaged meals and snacks (low calorie) | Pre-packaged meals and snacks (low calorie) | Lower carb |
| Caters to vegetarian | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Caters to vegan | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Vegetarian/vegan recipe section | ✓ (only vegetarian) |
✓ (only vegetarian) |
✓ |
| Supplements encouraged | ✓ | ✓ (immune boosting supplements are available to be purchased, here) |
✗ Other than Vitamin D |
Support
| Nutrisystem | Jenny Craig | Second Nature | |
| Tailors the plan around diabetes | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tailors the plan around other health issues | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Face-to-face meetings | ✗ | ✓ (for the Rapid Results Max program only) |
✗ |
| Access to a qualified nutrition specialist | ✓ (for ad-hoc enquiries) |
✗ | ✓* |
| Daily support from a coach | ✗ | ✗ (weekly consultations available on the Rapid Results Max program) |
✓ (weekdays only) |
*Second Nature coaches are all UK registered dietitians or nutritionists. This means they have completed university accredited degrees to gain this professional title. However, coaches are not registered in the US, so don’t meet the regulatory requirements to be considered US registered dietitians or nutritionists.
Program features
| Nutrisystem | Jenny Craig | Second Nature | |
| App | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Exercise videos in app | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Recipe videos in app | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Tracks sleep | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Tracks steps | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tracks exercise | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tracks water intake | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tracks custom habits | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Education of nutrition science | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Requires calorie counting | ✗ (pre-packaged food is calorie controlled on your behalf) |
✗ (pre-packaged food is calorie controlled on your behalf) |
✗ |
| Food diary feature | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Meal planning tool | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| In-app journalling tool | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
Pricing
When programs provide price plans in different formats, it can be hard to accurately compare prices. To make this easier, we have calculated the price of monthly digital price plans on each program to show you how costs compare (as of May 2021). All admin fees are included in these prices.
Nutrisystem’s pricing is based on their ‘Uniquely Yours Max+ programme’ and Jenny Craig’s pricing is based on their ‘Rapid Results Weight Loss Plan’.
Both programs include delivery of all meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and desserts) and some degree of include coaching.
Jenny Craig’s ‘Rapid Results Weight Loss Plan’ is their only program that includes coaching. Coaching is weekly with your personal Jenny Craig consultants. However, Jenny Craig consultants aren’t nutrition experts and are typically from a sales background, rather than health experts.
Nutrisystem coaches are either specially trained weight loss coaches, dietitians, or certified diabetes educators. There’s no ongoing coaching option so you aren’t assigned a personal coach, but you can contact a coach by phone or online as and when you need extra support.
Second Nature doesn’t include pre-packaged food. Instead, the Second Nature program offers an education in nutrition science, helping you to build better habits and develop a better relationship with food. Daily coaching is also included.
All Second Nature coaches are qualified nutrition specialists. Having a coach with an expertise in nutrition and wellness to support and guide you makes achieving your weight goals easier.
Another option to get support with your diet would be to see a registered dietitian. Weekly face-to-face sessions with a registered dietitian can be very expensive ($70-$100). We have added a column representing this to compare costs (Weekly RD – WRD).
Monthly digital subscriptions:
| Nutrisystem | Jenny Craig | Second Nature | WRD | |
| Access to a qualified nutrition specialist | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| The same, personal coach throughout the program | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Price | $409.99 / month | $805.69 / month | $60 / month | $350 / month |
Pricing for Nutrisystem is based on their ‘Uniquely Yours Max+’ program, priced at $12.50 each day, based on 31 days in a month. The program includes 3 meals a day, plus snacks.
Pricing for Jenny Craig is based on the ‘Rapid Results Max’ program priced at $25.99 per day, based on 31 days in a month. The program includes 3 meals a day, plus snacks.
Take home message
- When choosing a weight management program, it is important to consider what would fit into your lifestyle and help you achieve your goals
- Nutrisystem, Jenny Craig, and Second Nature are all app-based programs although face-to-face meetings are available with Jenny Craig
- Pre-packaged meal plans, although convenient, are difficult to include your family and you may feel restricted when eating out
- Second Nature provides ongoing coaching with a qualified nutrition specialist to support you throughout your health journey
- There’s no ongoing coaching option with Nutrisystem
- Weekly coaching is available on Jenny Craig, but coaches do not have to have any relevant qualifications
- Nutrisystem and Jenny Craig on rapid weight loss, Second Nature tackles weight loss holistically, including education on exercise, nutrition, sleep, and mindset
- Second Nature provides you with an education of nutrition, allowing you to make informed decisions yourself and develop a healthy relationship with food in the long-term
