Diet Food Programs Taste Test

How We Reviewed ThE FOOD

Like our taste tests back in October 2010 and January 2012, we anonymously ordered the "standard" meal plans from each company. These plans ran between 1200-1350 calories per day. We then recruited ten independent tasters, both male and female, of different ages, to participate in the taste test. Although some of the meal plans give you the option of cooking them in the oven, we heated all the meals in the microwave to equalize the playing field. We followed the preparation instructions for each meal, and cooked or heated them accordingly. With 5 different diet programs to try, there was a lot of food! The tests ran over a 3-day time period, with 2 different diet programs to taste each day. We did one taste testing in the morning, which included 3 breakfast meals, and another for 3 lunches and 3 dinners mid-day. The tasting was done "blind," with none of the testers knowing which plan they were sampling from. They rated each meal numerically on a scale from 1 to 10 for taste and appearance, and then provided additional comments. Finally, all the results were tallied and are shown to the left.

For complete meal delivery plan rankings, see our other diet program information and comparisons:

• Complete overall rankings of meal delivery programs
• Diet program frequently asked questions
• Diet program overview

How to choose a diet program

Are you a DIYer, or would you prefer to have someone else make your meals? If you lean towards the do-it-yourself spectrum and enjoy cooking your own meals, take a look at our DIY diet plans. If you'd like the convenience of having pre-made food delivered to your doorstep, think about a meal delivery plan instead. Meal delivery plans have the added bonus of regulating the amount of calories and fat you eat. In terms of meal delivery selection, there are several components: the food type (low fat, sodium free, low glycemic), how the food tastes, the type of support you receive and the robustness of the fitness program.

If health considerations or personal preferences mean you need to follow a specific diet, make sure you select a plan that complies with your needs. Those who have allergies, are diabetic or need a low sodium diet should pick a plan that caters to these requirements. Several, but not all, of the meal plans we review do provide health-specific choices. If you just don't like a certain type of food, choose a plan that allows you to customize according to your personal taste.

Our taste test addresses the second component, how the meal delivery plans actually taste. Keeping in mind that taste is very personal, we had 8 different men and women taste the meal plans we reviewed. Their ratings were averaged for the results you see in the chart. However, it is possible that your tastes are entirely different from those of our tasters, so if you see a plan that looks great for you but wasn't rated highly by us, don't just take our word for it, try it yourself.

The need for support varies from person to person. If you know that you'll need more personal interaction, it makes sense to select a plan that lets you talk on the phone with a real person. If you're interested in online tools, forums and support groups, pick a plan that has this functionality.

Finally, take a look at what is offered in terms of fitness. If you need more encouragement or guidance, consider a plan that provides it. If you can do it on your own, this won't be as big of a consideration.