Seattle Sutton Examines Three Popular Weight Loss Plans for their Healthfulness

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Healthy Eating Advocate Findings Reveal NutriSystem, Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers Lacking

February 24, 2009 // Franchising.com // Ottawa, Ill. -- Seattle Sutton, healthy eating advocate, recently examined three popular weight loss plans for their healthfulness. Her findings reveal NutriSystem, Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers are severely lacking. Sutton knows a thing or two about healthy eating, after all this grandmother of fourteen is a registered nurse and founder of a healthy meal replacement company that bears her name, Seattle Sutton's Healthy Eating (SSHE).

Sutton determined to get to the bottom of infomercials and deceptive advertising, decided to examine NutriSystem, Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers to determine their healthfulness. Her findings revealed nothing worthwhile about two of the so-called diet plans – NutriSystem and Jenny Craig. Whereas with Weight Watchers, she feels and always has, that their counseling and support is helpful to many. Their biggest lacking in her opinion is the frozen meals and grocery store foods that contain their name.

"I found some very surprising things when I looked beyond the glossy ads and cutesy television commercials. With NutriSystem I found them to be hugely deceptive when it came to representing their meals shown with elements they do not provide in their plan, such as fresh fruit, vegetables and salads. They also routinely use paid models and celebrities for testimonials and include the dreaded caveat: 'Results not typical' in their ads. It would be laughable if not so many people weren't lured into their deceptive web that's funded with at least $200 million a year in advertising," said Seattle Sutton, RN, BSN, Founder and President of Seattle Sutton's Healthy Eating.

Sutton explains the shelf-stable NutriSystem foods don't need to be refrigerated. They can be stored at room temperature in a cupboard or on the countertop and have a shelf life of up to 24 months. She found their meals to contain color dyes, artificial sweeteners, high fructose corn syrup, partially hydrogenated oils (trans fat) and artificial flavors. Some of their meals and desserts are frozen. And, Sutton claims NutriSystem actually promotes taking weight loss pills containing Orlistat, which may have side effects. The NutriSystem program is not for children or anyone under 18 years old. It also excludes women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, bulimics and anorexics too.

Sutton continues with her findings of Jenny Craig, "Jenny Craig also partakes in slick advertising with paid celebrity spokespeople at a tune of $100 million a year. Their meals are frozen or vacuum-sealed. I also learned that with Jenny Craig, their clients must provide 'plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables, reduced fat milk products and heart healthy fats to their meals' according to their Web site."

According to Sutton, Jenny Craig meals contain 2,000 and 4,000 milligrams of sodium each day, depending on the meal selection. With SSHE meals, the sodium amounts are 1,355 milligrams in the 1,200-calorie portion, and 2,149 milligrams in the 2,000-calorie portion. She also found their meals contain unhealthy items like high fructose corn syrup, partially hydrogenated oils (trans fat), artificial flavors and MSG. None of those ingredients are in SSHE meals.

"With Weight Watchers, I must say, I've always thought of them in high regards – at least the non-meal aspects of their program. They have a good support group for people who have the time, and the extra money and like to go to meetings. If you're that kind of a person, here's my heartfelt suggestion. Use Weight Watchers for support and SSHE for healthy eating," said Sutton.

Sutton thinks that Weight Watchers frozen meals are not a good way to go either because they contain high fructose corn syrup, partially hydrogenated oils (trans fat), color food dyes and artificial flavors and, they do not contain fresh fruit and vegetables. SSHE provides fresh fruit, vegetables and salads in its meal plan.

SSHE offers a healthy way of eating with freshly prepared, nutritionally balanced, calorie and portion controlled meals. The SSHE meal plan follows the guidelines of health and nutrition experts and are low in fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium restricted.

The SSHE meals do not contain:

Artificial sweeteners, food dyes, harmful additives or preservatives
High fructose corn syrup
Hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils (trans fat)
Hormones or antibiotics in poultry products

About SSHE:

Seattle Sutton's Healthy Eating (SSHE), a family-owned, Illinois-based healthy meal replacement company offers a no-gimmick approach to convenient, healthy eating nationwide. The meal program is scientifically designed and taste-tested. Founded by Seattle Sutton, RN, BSN, in 1985, SSHE helps to address patients' desire to lose weight and improve overall health. Seattle Sutton's dedication to health continues today, since all SSHE menus are analyzed on an ongoing basis and adhere to recommended dietary guidelines. SSHE prepares thousands of fresh meals weekly and its innovative approach has helped thousands of people achieve and maintain weight loss without planning, shopping or cooking for themselves.

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