Bistro MD is the home-delivery meal plan advertised on the Biggest Loser website. Last year, I considered subscribing to this service, but had one excuse after another. This year, looking at my calendar, seeing no major travels in my near future, and still needing to lose weight, I ordered one of the 4 plans. The 4 plans that are offered on the website are 5 or 7 days of breakfast, lunch, dinner and 2 snacks; and 5 or 7 days of just breakfast, lunch and dinner. I chose the 5 days of breakfast, lunch and dinner, since I knew I would want to have some meals outside of the meal plan, and I felt I could select appropriate snacks and stay within the calorie target I'd selected for myself. It was also the least expensive way to try out the program, running approximately $155 (or about $30/day) when shipping charges are taken into account. Refer to the Bistro MD website for more specific details on meal plan options and pricing. I did find out that lunch-and-dinner only options are available (through customer service), if that makes sense for you.
Shipping…
The food is sent in a cardboard box containing a Styrofoam container packed with dry ice. I understand that if you also order the snacks, there is a separate (or divided portion) that houses the room-temperature stable foods. You also receive the menu for the week, so you know which meals were designed to be eaten on the same day as other meals (which helps to balance calories and nutrients over the course of the day), and some heating instructions.
Initial Food Review…
I am in the middle of my 3rd week of the program, and so far, I am generally impressed with the quality, taste, and appearance of most of the meals that I have been sent.
Breakfasts…
I have mixed feelings about the breakfasts, but they are growing on me. They taste good but some seem to be very similar to items that could easily be purchased at the supermarket. For example, frozen waffles with sugar-free syrup. There is one breakfast that is super-fantastic however – phyllo dough pastries with fruit filling. WOW ARE THEY GOOD, and you get two for only 220 calories. I will be spending some time at the supermarket to really see if I can get quality 'substitutes' for the breakfasts (with as much protein and fiber) before I make a decision whether or not I'll continue to order the breakfasts. I may keep ordering the breakfasts just for those pastries!
Lunches and Dinners…
The lunches and dinners are generally more elaborate and have foods that would not necessarily be as easy or convenient to prepare for one person if you tried to cook for yourself. The chicken cordon bleu was outstanding, as well as one of the beef dishes. The food comes packaged either like a standard frozen meal, in a paper tray with two compartments (which is to be heated in the microwave), or, in clear plastic bags 'boil-bags' suitable for heating by boiling or by snipping a hole in the bag and heating in the microwave.
The main part of the meal (eg, the meat or pasta) is stellar in both taste and appearance. I haven't had one main meal I haven't enjoyed yet. Side dishes in (in meals provided in the paper tv-dinner style packaging) have ranged from terrific to, well, needing some help. I called customer service, and a very nice woman noted my comments about the meals that had side dishes that just weren't up to par, and 2 replacement meals were arranged for the next available delivery. She also noted that refinements of some of the meals were planned. My next shipment did not have any of the meals that were in the paper tv-dinner style packaging. Not sure if that was coincidence or just great customer service orientation!
Appearance and Portion
Size…
What I like most about Bistro MD is that the lunches and dinners generally do not taste or appear like microwave dinners that are purchased at the supermarket. Once cooked, if placed on a dinner plate, they appear like food you would receive at a restaurant, an advertising claim that I agree with.
Preparation Time…
PLEASE BOIL the food when it's an option… It is a little more work but WORTH IT! In my kitchen… the boiling method takes about 30 minutes total (about 20 minutes to boil the water and about 10 minutes to cook the food). Long enough to change your clothes after a long day of work, answer some emails, or prepare dinner for your kids. Some foods are microwavable… and some can be heated in the toaster oven (like the phyllo pastry I mentioned above…).
My Short Term Future with Bistro MD… and my Reviews…
I have committed to myself that I'll continue in the program for about four to five weeks, as when I started there were 4 weeks of rotating menus available. I noticed that now there are six rotating menus. Since I am not getting 2 of the 7 days' meals, I won't be able to critique each one, but I will write another review that will contain individual meal critiques, and more information about the nutritional content of various meals.
Summary…
In summary, Bistro MD foods have been quite satisfying so far, and customer service is responsive. I look forward to enjoying the meals waiting for me in my freezer, and writing about my continued experience with Bistro MD in the next few weeks.
Did I mention that in 1 week, I've lost about 3 pounds, combining the support of Bistro MD and my new bodybugg! Oh yes, I'll review my experience with that too!
Stay tuned. Happy progress!
Bellydancing (and Spinning) Diva
