How Much Should Your Diet Plan Cost?

If you want to lose weight, choosing to follow a new diet can be a great place to start. However, there are so many different types of diet it can be hard to decide which one to follow. But what if the health of your bank balance had some influence on your decision?

Dieting is big business. The American weight loss industry is estimated to be worth around $60 billion. So how do you keep more of that money in your pocket when deciding on a suitable diet plan? We take a look at three different styles of diet plans and how much they could cost you.

Subscription diet plans

There is an extensive market of subscription diet plans that you can sign up to, usually on a monthly basis. You can pay for prepared breakfast, lunch and dinner meals to be delivered direct to your door, up to seven days a week. Nutritionists, dieticians and chefs carefully create meals specifically designed to help you lose weight, taking the decision-making process out of your hands.

If you like the idea of this type of diet but you enjoy cooking there are alternative options where recipes and their ingredients are delivered to your door instead.

Benefits of subscription diet plans

• Saves time. You don’t have to research healthy recipe ideas or go to the grocery store.
• Removes temptation. By avoiding the grocery store you are less likely to buy unhealthy foods.
• Reduces waste. Prepared portions mean that you are less likely to waste food.
• Avoids take-out or eating out. Knowing that you’ve got a prepared meal ready at home could mean that you are less likely to opt for a take-out or to head to a restaurant (which could potentially save you money, as well as keeping your diet on track).

Cost of subscription diet plans

If you decide to sign up to a subscription diet plan you can expect to pay between $9.99 and $25 per day. The price you pay can vary greatly depending on the company you select and whether you choose to have just one or all three meals delivered daily.

Some companies pride themselves on only using organic and fresh ingredients which may prove to be a pricier option.

For those who feel they need extra guidance and support it is possible to sign up to meal plans that include face to face and/or telephone consultations with health consultants but again this option tends to come with a bigger price tag. You may be required to pay an enrollment fee, a monthly subscription fee and then pay for your prepared meals on top of that. This can all add up to several hundred dollars per month.

Meal replacement diet plans

Meal replacement diets such as SlimFast offer another alternative for people looking to lose weight. Instead of eating full meals at breakfast, lunch and dinner you replace some of your meals with meal replacement products such as smoothies and protein shakes. SlimFast also has a range of low calorie snacks, designed to help stave off hunger pangs in between meals. SlimFast also suggests that you eat a 500 calorie meal for dinner which you will prepare yourself.

Benefits of meal replacement diets

• Calorie control. If you follow the set diet plan you can be sure you’re taking control of your calorie intake without having to do any calculations.
• Convenience. If you’re short on time or unable to research healthy recipes and meals, meal replacement might be a good option for you. Shakes and smoothies can be bought pre-made or only take a couple of minutes to mix, making it a very convenient diet to follow.

Cost of meal replacement diets

You can expect to pay around $10 per day when following a meal replacement diet.

Non-subscription diet plans

Perhaps a more traditional approach to dieting is more your thing? There are various different plans to follow where you might control your portion size, reduce your sugar and fat intake or lower the amount of carbs you consume. However, for some, sticking to this type of diet may be more difficult because of the lack of culpability and/or support.

Benefits of non-subscription diet plans

• The world is your oyster. Or at least the grocery store is! The range of food you can eat is not necessarily restricted.
• Eating out. Following a flexible diet plan means that you should still be able to maintain your social life by just changing what you would pick on the restaurant menu.

Cost of non-subscription diet plans

If you don’t subscribe to a specific diet plan, like the other two examples listed above, there are no limits as to how much or how little you pay for the food you choose to eat.

There may be an initial expense if you decide to purchase a recipe book (up to $20), to help inspire your healthy meal choices, but after that what you spend is up to you.

The Mediterranean diet is said to be one of the world’s healthiest and is rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts and fish. One study found that by following this type of diet you may end up paying up to $1.50 more each day than those whose dietary intake includes more processed foods. If you are dedicated to losing weight and starting a healthier lifestyle $1.50 may seem a reasonable price to pay in the grand scheme of things.

The cost of the different diets discussed above may vary depending on where you live and where you shop. It is also important to remember that the rules of budgeting still apply to your grocery shop, even when you’re dieting. It could pay to spend some time doing your own research before opting for an expensive diet plan.

If you want to lose weight and wish to change your diet you should consult with your MD first.

No matter what your budget is there should be a diet plan to suit your weight-loss goals and your bank balance.

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