Tips For Ordering Nutrisystem

Ready to order Nutrisystem?

We suggest you read the Nutrisystem Fine Print first. After you do, you can simplify the ordering process by following the steps below:

Step 1: Click the Order Now button to the right to get started!

A separate window will appear with the Nutrisystem site. These instructions will remain open in this window for you to access as you navigate the Nutrisystem site.

Step 2: On the Nutrisystem home page click on the Express Buy or Start Now button.

On the right side of the home page, choose your general diet program or click the orange “Express Buy” button next to the toll free number or the green “Start Now” button.

Step 3: Choose your plan.

You will be prompted to choose one of four plans (four options for men, four options for women). The plans include: The Basic, The Silver, The Diabetic and The Vegetarian. You can learn more about the plans by clicking on the “Learn More” link or click “Order Now” to purchase.

Step 4: Select your delivery option.

You will have three options to choose from. Nutrisystem offers auto-delivery each month without shipping charges or month to month delivery plans. The Auto-Delivery will charge your credit card each month before the food is delivered.

Step 5: Select your menu type.

After selecting you delivery method, choose between Favorites Menu or Customized Menu. The Favorites Menu is a pre-selected assortment of the “most popular” menu items. The Customized Menu is handpicked by you.

Step 6: Input your shipping and payment information.

Click “Submit My Order” when you are ready to finalize your purchase. Depending on where you live, your order should arrive approximately four to 10 business days from when you place your order.

Nutrisystem can also be ordered over the phone. The toll-free number is 1-800-435-4074. You must know your food choices before calling. Be prepared to resist the hard sell for longer term plans and more expensive packages. You can get general information from the company by emailing them at: Info@nutrisystem.com.

Nutrisystem Fine Print

Things you wouldn’t know unless you read the fine print:

Delivery Options: Shipping charges apply no matter what meal plan you choose unless you choose the auto-delivery option. So how much does shipping cost? $18.95 per month.

With Auto-Delivery, you are automatically charged and shipped your 28-Day order every four weeks unless you cancel.

If you delay the second shipment for more than 30 days or if you cancel prior to paying for your second consecutive 28-Day program delivery, your payment method will be charged the auto delivery discount you received with your first 28-Day delivery.

Each month you receive 28-days worth of food. Not every month is 28 days long.

Early Cancellation Penalties: If you signed up for the Auto-Delivery program and you decide to cancel your Nutrisystem diet before the second month you are responsible for paying back any discount you received, including the $18.95 shipping fee. If you signed up for the Select Plan and you cancel at any time you will be charged a $30 cancellation fee.

Nutrisystem Select Plan: On the Nutrisystem Select plan homepage they say the program is “All for about $4 a meal!†” Note the symbol implying that there’s a discrepancy:  You have to be enrolled in the auto-delivery program or you don’t get this price (the month-to-month plan is $30 more). But, as shown above, auto-delivery has several potential problems if you try to cancel.

Fresh frozen items are shipped separately from all other items. If you are not available to accept your food upon delivery, your frozen items will be packed on special ice packs and placed inside an insulated bag to keep your foods frozen for approximately four hours.

For the two weeks members are on fresh-frozen select items, you can’t choose the meals. Nutrisystem selects them for you, which means you could be stuck for two weeks with foods you hate (or that you’re allergic to, can’t eat because you’re a vegetarian, etc.) You can opt for the “Favorites Package”, which allows you to customize the dry food selections, but even with this plan you still can’t customize the frozen foods.

All Plans: All Nutrisystem plans appear to contain the same potential pitfalls (food substitutions, cancellation fees, etc.)

There is a 100% money-back guarantee, but you must claim this within seven days of receipt of your first order.

“Although Nutrisystem has taken every reasonable measure to have sufficient inventory to fill your order, availability of product(s) may change without notice. Nutrisystem is not responsible for unavailability of product due to popular demand, whether discontinued or still in production. In the completion of orders, Nutrisystem reserves the right to substitute a similar product.”

• Many, many people have complained that Nutrisystem makes liberal substitutions to their meals on a frequent basis.

• The site also says that “substituted food items may contain different ingredients and allergens than those in items originally ordered. Please be sure to carefully check all individual product packages for the most updated information regarding ingredients and nutritional content for any/all Nutrisystem food products, including new and improved items, if you have any food allergies or if you are otherwise concerned about any particular ingredients.”

The “typical Nutrisystem day” example provided has members adding their own food to almost every meal ( their own yogurt with a Nutrisystem breakfast muffin, a green salad with dressing with their pasta lunch, cooked broccoli with a macaroni dinner, and yogurt and blueberries as a snack). Members will still need to buy additional food.

• One thing customers may not realize when ordering a plan is that they’ll still need to buy fruit, vegetables, dairy products, and salads.

• This will significantly affect a dieter’s budget and tack on an additional $1-3 per day.

The Basic Plan says, “get four weeks of food free”, but the website doesn’t specify how this works

Women’s Basic Plan: On the homepage of this plan, a svelte “real life member” is featured. Beside her are the words “Tina lost 38 pounds.*”

• * = results not typical. It also says that individuals are remunerated.

• This may be worth noting, as it will help potential customers set more realistic expectations.

• In fine print Nutrisystem says one to two pounds per week is the typical weight loss experienced.

The plan proclaims free shipping, but you have to be enrolled in the auto-delivery plan to receive this.

Vegetarian plan: Major pasta overload in this plan.

• In the “a typical Nutrisystem day” examples provided, members are eating pasta all day long.

• For some of the days, customers are advised to eat the equivalent of a granola bar for lunch

• Very little protein on this plan. It’s almost entirely pasta, chocolate snack bars, and fruit.

• Vegetarian meals still may contain dairy and egg products and meals are high in sodium.