Jenny Craig
Overall Rating and Grade
Due to its exorbitant price, we give the Jenny Craig weight loss program an overall grade of B-.
Clients speak favorably about their Jenny experience and cite personal coaches and a strong support system as main reasons for their success. However, if you feel you can be disciplined enough without hand holding, cheaper alternatives do exist. Food portions are also on the small side considering the price of the Jenny plan. For a comparative summary of prices, view our Weight Loss Price List.
Quick Summary
Jenny Craig offers you a variety of weight loss programs to help you achieve your goals with a sensible diet plan, balanced nutrition, and weight loss products that fit your lifestyle. Clients are encouraged to visit their local weight loss center and to meet with coaches (included in the membership plan) on a weekly basis. The Jenny Craig diet is not a fad diet or low carb gimmick. With Jenny, you reach and maintain your weight loss goal safely. It is a proven balanced nutrition plan based on a healthy relationship with food, an active lifestyle, and a balanced approach to living.
How much does all this cost and will it work for you? Continue reading our in-depth review and see where Jenny Craig ranks on our weight loss ratings chart.
Pricing Info and How It Works
Jenny Craig is a lot of things - effective weight loss program, motivational support system, long list of celebrity client endorsements - but one thing that it isn’t is cheap. Compared to other diets in the market, Jenny Craig is on the upper end of the cost spectrum. Normally, up front payments are required (sort of like an activation fee when you join a gym). The start up fees range depending on the center and the types of promotion your location is running. However, it can be anywhere from $20 (special promotions are seasonal) all the way up to $399.
After you pay your registration fee, you sit down and pick your foods for the week. On average, the cost of Jenny Craig foods is about $150 per week. That’s significantly more than the cost of Nutrisystem, another leading diet company, and about 3 times the cost of the infamous Subway Sandwich diet.
But not every can tolerate the taste of Subway sandwiches for every meal so if you’re looking for a sensible meal replacement program, we recommend the following diet plans:
1) Jenny Craig
2) Nutrisystem
3) Medifast
4) eDiets Express (now called Deliciously Yours)
5) Zone Chefs Delivery
There are pros and cons to each of the these meal replacement/home delivery services. Some are more expensive, some have better tasting foods, and some are more effective than others. You can read and compare these diets by reading our Top Home Delivery Diets.
Pros and Cons
Pros: Membership includes one-on-one weekly phone consultations with a Jenny Craig representative to discuss obstacles, motivation, exercise, and other issues with your weight loss plan. Members also receive a “Success Manual” and lots of motivational messages to keep them inspired. Furthermore, there are many online support components including Jenny Craig forums, newsletters, an interactive online journal, a weight tracker, and menu planners. Overall, this plan offers the most hand-holding so if you need help and guidance you may want to consider this diet.
The Jenny diet is marketed as a lifestyle rather than a diet, and appears to be geared towards women. Ideal for sugar lovers and people who want or need personal support. Customer service is also excellent.
Cons: Expensive; small portions. Meals are high in refined sugars and low in fiber.