KDKA 2 - Station Info KDKA News Radio 1020 - Station Info 93-7 The Fan - Station Info Pittsburgh-CW-Logo

Latest News

Consumer Reports Puts Diet Food To The Test

View Comments
(Photo Credit: KDKA)

(Photo Credit: KDKA)

Featured Gallery
May Is Asthma Awareness Month: Celebrities With Asthma

For more trusted health

news and information,

visit CBS Pittsburgh's

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Some people may make jokes, but for many, weight loss is no laughing matter.

The industry was shaken up last month when Weight Watchers announced changes to its points system.

But, what about the other big-name diet plans such as Jenny Craig and Nutrisystem?

Consumer Reports just did a taste-off of their heavily advertised diet foods.

Jason Alexander’s so happy with his weight loss on the Jenny Craig diet plan that he’s taking his clothes off and singer Marie Osmond is promoting diet meals for Nutrisystem.

But, how good do the meals from these two diet plans actually taste?

Consumer Reports asked its experienced taste testers to sample 65 products from breakfasts and dinners to snacks.

“Our testers didn’t know which products they were testing. They didn’t even know they were eating diet-plan foods,” Amy Keating from Consumer Reports said.

The results were that most of the foods weren’t all that tasty. Testers found the Nutrisystem meatloaf and tomato sauce had an “old flavor.”

A Jenny Craig Salisbury steak was better and had flavorful potatoes and vegetables, but the mushrooms were slightly rubbery.

Neither company’s snacks and desserts were much of a treat.

“Jenny Craig’s Soft Chocolate Cookie was dry and crumbly, without much flavor and Nutrisystem’s nacho crisps didn’t have much flavor either, and were hard and dry,” Keating said.

In the end, only five of the products Consumer Reports tested received a very good score. All were from Jenny Craig.

“Overall Jenny Craig edged out Nutrisystem with respect to taste, but not by much,” Keating said.

Still, for some people like Amy Knox, these plans can work. She lost 51 pounds in just over seven months using Jenny Craig meals.

“Coming to a place that everything is measured out for you really made the difference for me,” Knox said.

Consumer Reports said on the downside, you spend weeks eating food that doesn’t always taste so terrific.

One of the big advantages of diet-plan food is that it’s portion-controlled, and portion control is key to losing weight. However, frozen diet meals offer that, too and previous Consumer Reports tests have found many are quite tasty.

View Comments
  • http://update.ladiesdesign.com.br/2011/01/06/lastest-diet-news-135/ Lastest Diet News | Ladies

    [...] Consumer Reports Puts Diet Food To The Test PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Some people may make jokes, but for many, weight loss is no laughing matter. The industry was shaken up last month when Weight Watchers announced changes to its points system. But, what [...] Read more on KDKA Pittsburgh [...]

  • http://bhoakl.com/01/lastest-weight-loss-news-13/ Lastest Weight Loss News

    [...] Consumer Reports Puts Diet Food To The Test PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Some people may make jokes, but for many, weight loss is no laughing matter. The industry was shaken up last month when Weight Watchers announced changes to its points system. But, what [...] Read more on KDKA Pittsburgh [...]

  • http://dietexpertsonline.com/?p=1885 Guidance for the Frisco a couple of weeks weight loss program — Diet Experts Online

    [...] last month when Weight Watchers announced changes to its scoring system. But [...] Read more KDKA pittsburgh Filed Under frequently asked questions Tagged With couple, Frisco, Guidance, Loss, Program, [...]

  • http://www.aahaamedia.com/uncategorized/lastest-jokes-news-10? Learning Media – Lastest Jokes News

    [...] Consumer Reports Puts Diet Food To The Test PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Some people may make jokes, but for many, weight loss is no laughing matter. The industry was shaken up last month when Weight Watchers announced changes to its points system. But, what [...] Read more on KDKA Pittsburgh [...]

  • muriel395

    Very interesting. I do ww online and it really is a good program. I heard that the food was so so on those diet plans but acording to your article they must not taste to good. I like that I can prepare my own food and still lose weight.

  • http://howtogetabsforgirls.com/?p=1830 How to Get Abs for Girls | Consumer Reports Puts Diet Food To The Test

    [...] Consumer Reports Puts Diet Food T&#959 Th&#1077 Test « Recommended Supplement for Successful Diet Plan » ReviewLutions Dotcom [...]

blog comments powered by Disqus
Listen Live!

TV Schedule

Full Program Grid
7:00 PM CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley
7:30 PM omg! Insider
8:00 PM NCIS: Los Angeles
9:00 PM NCIS
10:00 PM NCIS
11:00 PM KDKA-TV News at 11
11:35 PM Late Show with David Letterman

Now On KDKA-TV:

follow us Now On KDKA TV: video on demand Now On KDKA TV: weatherbug small Now On KDKA TV: waitingchildsm Now On KDKA TV: ptls Now On KDKA TV: driving skills for l41d84c Now On KDKA TV:  Now On KDKA TV: heinzredzonerecipes3 Now On KDKA TV: hometownhighq Now On KDKA TV: 50261 pitts kdka local alleghenygeneralhospital extraeffort 140x85 2012 0817 Now On KDKA TV:

Select a Live Stream