The Jenny Craig Diet: Pros and Cons, Cost, Foods, and More

If you watch TV, there is a good chance you’ve heard of Jenny Craig. The brand has been around since 1983, and many celebrities, like Valerie Bertinelli and the late Kirstie Alley, have appeared in its ads.

Read on to learn more about the Jenny Craig diet, including how it works, the pros and cons, and a complete guide of what snacks and meals you will be eating.

The Jenny Craig diet focuses on low-calorie prepackaged items (300 calories or less), including breakfast, lunch, and dinner entrées, plus snacks. Food choices fall into three main categories: “GLP-1 friendly” (aimed at people taking weight loss medications like Ozempic), “high protein,” and “carb conscious.”

Within these categories customers can select foods identified as good sources of fiber, vegetarian, or diabetes-friendly.

People can opt for one of three Jenny Craig plans. All include a meal guide, a set number of food options, and support from an online coach.

Like all diet plans, Jenny Craig has benefits and drawbacks. Adiana Castro, RD, a registered dietitian at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City, notes that the diet is quite restrictive, which could potentially lead a person to develop an unhealthy relationship with food.

Pros

• It’s pre-portioned. A meal that’s already prepared means your calories and macronutrients are already planned out for you.
• The program includes coaching. You have unlimited access to someone for motivation and support.
• You have a variety of food options. Jenny Craig offers dozens of meals, including GLP-1-friendly, high-protein, and carb-conscious choices.
• Meals are precooked. If you’re on the go or tired after a long day, you don’t have to worry about cooking your meals from scratch.
• It may help with weight loss. Although more research is needed on the updated Jenny Craig program, studies on the original program (which sold the same foods as the current plans) found that people lost between roughly 7 and 11 percent of their body weight over 12 months.

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Cons

• It isn’t cheap. Plans start at $153 per week, which is presumably much higher than a weekly grocery bill for a single individual.

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• Snacks don’t boost nutrition much. “Many of the snacks are nutritionally deficient. There are small portions but they lack sufficient protein, fat, or fiber to balance blood sugar,” Castro says.
• Meals could use more protein. Castro says, “The high-protein options are around 12 to 18 grams (g) of protein per meal. Clients that are looking for fat loss should aim for about 20 to 35 g of protein per meal. This will help protect as much lean muscle as possible.”

Jenny Craig offers three meal plans. Shipping costs aren’t included in plan pricing.

The Jenny Craig diet features a menu of prepackaged breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack, and dessert foods.

The brand has dozens of options, all under 300 calories per item.

Top 10 Foods to Eat

According to Catherine Gervacio, RD, a registered dietitian and certified nutrition coach, some of the best food options from Jenny Craig include:

1. Classic Chicken Carbonara
2. Margherita Pizza
3. Meatloaf and Vegetable Medley
4. Tuna Dill Salad Kit
5. Chicken Cranberry Salad with Crackers
6. Turkey Burger
7. Egg and Vegetable Sunrise Scrambler
8. Cheddar Egg & Potato Bowl
9. Salisbury Steak and Roasted Sweet Potato Wedges
10. Chicken Club Wrap

Here’s an example of a seven-day meal plan that Gervacio recommends for the Jenny Craig diet.

Day 1

Breakfast Egg and Vegetable Sunrise Scramble and black coffee
Lunch Classic Chicken Carbonara and side salad
Dinner Turkey Burger with steamed broccoli
Snack Fresh strawberries with a dollop of low-fat Greek yogurt

Day 2

Breakfast Oatmeal and a handful of blueberries
Lunch Tuna Dill Salad Kit and sliced cucumbers
Dinner Margherita Pizza and mixed greens
Snack 10 almonds and herbal tea

Day 3

Breakfast Cheddar Egg & Potato Bowl and black coffee or tea
Lunch Southwest Style Chicken Fajita Bowl and raw carrot sticks
Dinner Veggie Loaded Pizza and a side salad (arugula, cherry tomatoes, balsamic drizzle)
Snack 1 small orange and a handful of unsalted sunflower seeds

Day 4

Breakfast Breakfast Burrito and a handful of fresh berries
Lunch Grilled Chicken Sandwich and steamed green beans
Dinner Herb Roasted Chicken and roasted asparagus and zucchini
Snack Celery sticks with 1 tablespoon of peanut butter

Day 5

Breakfast Cranberry Almond Cereal and ½ cup unsweetened almond milk
Lunch Loaded Baked Potato and a side of mixed greens with light dressing
Dinner Spaghetti with Meat Sauce and roasted Brussels sprouts
Snack 1 hard-boiled egg and cucumber slices

Day 6

Breakfast Chocolate Muffin and a small banana
Lunch Chicken Club Wrap and steamed broccoli
Dinner Fish & Chips and roasted bell peppers and snap peas
Snack Low-fat string cheese and a few cherry tomatoes

Day 7

Breakfast Blueberry Pancakes and black coffee or tea
Lunch Chicken Caesar Salad Kit and extra mixed greens
Dinner Salisbury Steak and roasted sweet potato wedges and sautéed kale
Snack 2 squares of dark chocolate (70 percent or higher) and herbal tea

Whatever Jenny Craig plan you select, you will need to do at least some grocery shopping. Even plans that provide all your meals and snacks require you to buy your own fruits, vegetables, and side items to pair or mix into your prepackaged entrées. And if you are buying prepackaged meals a la carte you will likely be preparing at least some main courses yourself.

Proteins

• Beef
• Lean ground meats
• Skinless poultry
• Shellfish

Produce

• Apples
• Blueberries
• Banana
• Bell peppers
• Arugula
• Asparagus

Grains

• Beans
• Brown rice
• Wild rice

Eggs and Dairy

• Cottage cheese
• Feta cheese
• Ricotta cheese
• Greek yogurt
• Egg whites
• Egg substitutes

Condiments

• Ketchup
• Teriyaki sauce
• Barbecue sauce
• Relish

Drinks

• Oat milk
• Almond milk
• Coffee
• Tea

While Jenny Craig advises exercising 30 minutes a day, there aren’t hard guidelines from the brand for what kinds of exercises are best. Castro recommends focusing on strength training in your day-to-day activity, while Gervacio recommends creating a plan focused on your own fitness levels and goals.

Starting a diet isn’t easy, but if you’re interested in joining Jenny Craig, your best bet is to visit their website: JennyCraig.com. From there, you can find information about their program and how it works. You’ll also be able to choose a plan based on what is right for your budget and lifestyle.

Here are some more tips to help you get started.

1. Think About Your Long-Term Goals

Castro’s biggest critique of the Jenny Craig diet is that the program is restrictive and may not be suitable for long-term weight loss. If you’re someone who isn’t used to sticking to strict meals, you eat out a lot, or you don’t have a great relationship with food and healthy eating, you might want to talk to a registered dietitian or nutritionist about another weight loss plan before starting Jenny Craig.

2. Plan Meals in Advance

Take full advantage of the weekly meal guides and trackers that come with your Jenny Craig meal plan. Set aside each meal you plan to eat for the week in advance so you have an easier time sticking to the diet.

3. Focus on Whole, Nutrient-Dense Foods

Again, your weekly meal guides are a great resource when you’re planning a balanced meal. While Jenny Craig’s entrées come prepared and preportioned, you’ll likely need to add fruits and vegetables to each meal to balance it out.

4. Track Your Progress

Each Jenny Craig plan comes with an app to track your eating, water intake, and daily exercise. Using this tool helps you understand your progress and see where you are on your journey.

5. Stay Hydrated

• The Jenny Craig program allows you to choose prepackaged, low-calorie meals from a selection of menu items that are GLP-1-friendly, high protein, or carb conscious.
• Because meals contain no more than 300 calories, the program will likely lead to some weight loss if you’re following it correctly.
• Some experts don’t think the weight loss benefits of the Jenny Craig diet will last long-term. The diet is very restrictive and doesn’t allow for much variation or adjustments based on cravings or instinctual eating. It also doesn’t teach a person to eat healthfully once they are off the diet.