How to Space Out Your Nutrisystem Meals

So, you’ve signed up for Nutrisystem and got four weeks of food delivered to your door. You see that you’re supposed to be eating five to six times throughout the day. But how often should you be eating and how should you space these meals apart? We’ve touched base with Brooke Stewart, Weight Loss Coach at Nutrisystem, to explain a few things for you.

Here’s what Brooke told us about your Nutrisystem meal plan:

“It’s essential to space your meals two to three hours apart,” says Stewart. “Some research suggests that this will ensure that your metabolism is staying revved up and doesn’t have the opportunity to slow down between meals/snacks. If you go longer than three to four hours without eating, the metabolism rate can fall, and the next time you eat, calories might not be burned as efficiently.

This “spacing” rule of two to three hours can serve as a reminder to begin to add in your SmartCarbs and PowerFuels in between your meals. SmartCarbs are nutrient dense carbohydrates that are lower on the Glycemic Index (a measure of how much a food raises your blood sugar) such as oatmeal, whole grain bread, and fresh, whole fruit. PowerFuels are high quality proteins rich in amino acids, like lean meat, fish or poultry, and nuts and nut butters containing healthy fats.

“They can be very simple items that are just as easy to take on the go,” says Stewart. “Things such as 100 calorie packs of nuts, cups of yogurt, fruits (either fresh or no sugar added fruit cups), lean beef sticks, cheese sticks and snack bars are great, easy choices.”

Skipping these necessary additions comes at a price. “When you extend that period of time with only so many calories, you start to slow down your metabolism and then it becomes counterproductive,” she says. You want to keep your metabolism revved up so it continues to burn calories efficiently.

The best way to do that? By eating. “Adding in the PowerFuels and SmartCarbs slightly raises the calorie intake to ensure that the metabolism is just fed well enough that it can efficiently burn the calories it is taking in, rather than storing them for energy,” she explains.

You’ll also be adding in Free Foods, like herbs and spices, salsa, unsweetened iced tea, low sodium chicken and beef broth, tea and coffee with calorie-free sweeteners, and Extras, such as cream cheese, honey, chocolate syrups, ketchup, mayo, popcorn and seeds. Think of Extras as add-ins that give your meals more pizzazz.

While some dieters swear by a boring diet for weight loss, let’s face it: Most of us simply lose interest in those types of diets pretty quickly! That’s why we ensure that you are still getting enjoyable, tasty and filling food on your Nutrisystem meal plan, all while shedding the extra weight

Don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten about snacks. In addition to the ones you can add in on your own, Nutrisystem has many snacks to choose from, whether you’re in a salty mood or have a yen for sweets. They’re not just part of the program as an added bonus, they’re also smart choices that support your weight loss goals. Add your snacks in between your meals, just like SmartCarbs and PowerFuels.

Find out everything you need to know about following your Nutrisystem meal plan here! >