eDiets Diet Review

eDiets, launched in 1997, is an online weight loss service that offers professional exercise, nutrition and diet advice. Developed and run by professional dietitians, eDiets provides its members with access to several different diets, such as the Mediterranean diet and the Aktins diet.

Members are also allowed to customize their own diet plans to reflect their needs. Recently, eDiets offers customized, freshly prepared meals much like Jenny Craig or Nutrisystem.

How eDiets Works

Once individuals sign up on eDiets.com, they are allowed to browse through over 20 popular diet plans, including the Mediterranean diet, the South Beach diet, and the Atkins diet. All of the available diet plans are chosen based on their food portions and nutrients. Individuals also have the option of formulating their own diet plans using eDiets' online software.

Customized diet plans can all be adjusted based on dietary and lifestyle restrictions or personal preferences. With this option, members receive a 7-day meal plan each week along with weekly print-and-go shopping lists.

Upon joining eDiets, members are prompted to fill out a detailed personal profile, where they enter their current weight, weight loss goals, food preferences, and activity level as well as additional information. This determines which diet most suits their needs. eDiets will then display matching diets using a ranking system from best matching to worst matching.

Members can then decide if they want to use those recommended plans or not. Also displayed are members' daily caloric guidelines. Once an individual's goal weight has been met, they have the choice of following an eDiets maintenance plan.

For those who do not wish to prepare their meals or go grocery shopping, eDiets now offers a prepared meals service with over 100 meals to choose from. All of the prepared meals are custom created fresh and are delivered in a freezer pack. All of the foods contain zero MSG, artificial sweeteners, and trans fat. This option is similar to Jenny Craig and Nutrisystem, but is significantly cheaper and fresher.

What eDiets Includes

For individuals who sign up for eDiets, they have access to:

• Personalized menus and hundreds of recipes
• "Print-n-Go" shopping lists for grocery shopping
• Email and phone support from registered dietitians
• Customized fitness plans
• Virtual trainers
• Online mentors and meetings
• Video library
• Nutritional information on popular restaurants
• Weight and progress trackers
• One-on-one online fitness and nutrition consultations
• eDiets Mobile for PDAs
• Over 80 support boards, including a motivation one

eDiets also offers extensive community support, including access to nutrition and fitness experts that help any members regardless of their diet plans. These online experts provide tips, counseling, and monitoring. eDiet members also have access to diet-related stories.

eDiets prepared meal delivery service also includes online access to all of the above

Advantages

eDiets is one of the most popular online diet programs around, and has even won "Best of the Web" awards from the Boston Globe. Some of its advantages include:

• Diverse diet plans and recipes
• Diet plans that cater to diabetics, seniors and vegetarians
• Members are allowed to switch from plans at any time
• Includes a mentor program
• Online support system
• Customized diet and fitness plans
• All natural, low sodium prepared meals
• Healthy weight loss, at around 1-2 lbs/week
• Provides a maintenance plan

Disadvantages

Although eDiets has won several awards for its great services, some individuals may find that its online support system is not enough, and that its diet options are too overwhelming. Other disadvantages include:

• Their monthly fee can add up quickly
• Their plans are based on self-sufficiency
• Only suitable for independent, committed dieters
• Multiple ads on their website
• Extra fees for other programs
• No trial membership, and they charge an early termination fee
• Diet plans can be too rigid
• No online food diary available

eDiets Comparison

When compared to Weight Watchers, eDiets is best suited for individuals looking for flexible, convenient, and self-sufficient diet plans. Unlike Weight Watchers, eDiets does not offer extensive in-person peer support. Both diets, however, are centered around portion control and nutritional balance, with eDiets using caloric measurements and Weight Watchers opting for their points system.

eDiets also requires more involvement on the dieter's part, as there is no "one-size-fits-all" prescription. This could be beneficial for some individuals who want or need detailed, customized plans. In terms of pricing, eDiets is cheaper than Weight Watchers but not by much. Both weight loss programs are excellent in terms of quality and results, but are not meant for the same type of people.

Pricing

eDiets currently charges $35 for nine weeks, or $99 for one full year. Extras include eDiets Mobile, which is a $19.95 software package.

eDiet's prepared meals delivery service is approximately $19.95/a day excluding shipping, and members have the option of choosing either a 5 day meal plan or a 7 day one. Currently, eDiets is offering a special where members receive a free week of food upon signing up.

Final Thoughts On eDiets

Overall, eDiets is currently one of the most comprehensive dieting websites available. Very few online dieting programs are able to offer detailed customized diet plans, including ones for vegetarians, diabetics, seniors.

eDiets also offers customized dietary-restrictive diets such as low-sodium, wheat free and more. eDiets is the ideal program for independent, motivated individuals that do not like attending meetings or being weighed publicly. However, individuals that require a strong support system along with mentorship or are not internet savvy should look elsewhere.