Nutrisystem Basic vs Complete 55 – Which is Best For You?

 

Trying to decide between the Nutrisystem Basic vs Complete 55 Plan?

Wondering which is the best choice for you?

You came to the right place!

Nutrisystem is always switching up their plans and adding new ones – like the new Complete 55 Diet Plan.

So a lot of people are left wondering – what’s the difference between these plans? And which should I choose?

This post will help you break down the key differences between the Nutrisystem Basic vs Complete 55 plans so you can find the right fit for you.

 

Nutrisystem Basic or Complete 55? Design

 

The main thing to start with is the plans themselves – and who they were designed for:

While the Nutrisystem Basic program is a diet plan for all women in general, the Complete 55 plan is specifically designed for women in their menopausal and perimenopausal years.

Unfortunately, as we ladies get older and hormones start to change, so does our metabolism.

Things that we might have done to lose weight in our 20s and 30s just don’t work as well anymore – because it’s not just about calories.

It’s also about things like your hormones, blood sugar and macronutrient deficiencies that crop up.

The Complete 55 plan is designed to address these issues and help women lose weight despite these challenges.

The program itself is really designed to be 3 months for maximum results (although obviously you can stop whenever you wish).

It focuses more on giving you higher protein ratios and keeping blood sugar stable – moreso than the Basic plan.

So one plan isn’t better than another from this perpective. It’s just that the Basic plan is designed to be more general. And the Complete 55 plan is more targeted at solving specific issues that women over 40 may have in their lives.

 

 

Nutrisystem Basic vs Complete 55 – Price

The Basic option is Nutrisystem’s most affordable option and comes in at the lowest price – around $10.71 per day.

If you’re on a budget that’s a really great deal considering that 90% of your food is covered for the day.

 

 

The Complete 55 plan is a more gourmet option – and offers more days of food (see below). It comes in a bit higher at around $14.29 per day.

(Nutrisystem has offered our visitors an instant discount on either plan if you use this discount link here.)

There are a few key differences here. The first is this: The Basic plan only gives you meals and snacks for 5 days a week.

You have to add in your own “Flex” meals for 2 days out of the week (like the weekend). You’re given all the necessary tips and help to do this via the app. But it’s something to be aware of.

With the Complete plan you get meals and snacks for 7 days a week for the first month. So you’re technically getting more food.

 

 

For the second month you will go down to 5 days a week – and start adding in your own Flex meals on other days. This helps to get you started transitioning off the diet once your weight loss is finished.

So while Basic is more affordable – it’s also only a 5 day plan from the start. The Complete 55 plan is a 7 day plan for the first month – with more meals covered for you (with less work for you).

With both the Basic and Complete 55 plans you can choose the meals yourself, based on your personal favorites. Or you can have them chosen for you based on Nutrisystem customer favorites.

This customization option was not offered with older versions of the Basic plan. So it’s nice to see that Nutrisystem is now giving customers this option.

 

 

Both plans also give you:

• Weight Loss Coaching with 1-on-1 support 7 days a week
• Free Numi app that helps you track everything in one place
• Free shopping lists, recipes and guides

There’s also another factor that accounts for the price difference between plans – the meal options you have:

 

 

 

Nutrisystem Basic vs Complete 55 – Meal Options

As you might suspect, you get access to a higher quality of meals on the Complete 55 vs Basic plan.

The Basic plan only offers Nutrisystem ready-to-go meals.  These meals are “packaged for portability” meaning that they don’t need to be refrigerated.

You can easily take them with you on the go.

There’s a lot to choose from including pasta, pizza, chocolate bars and more. However meals are, well…simpler than your options with Complete 55.

 

 

With Complete 55 you get an expanded menu with ready-to-go meals, fresh-frozen meals,  “Restaurant Faves” and Hearty Inspirations meals.

The ready to go meals are the same as the ones offered on the Basic plan. The fresh-frozen meals are much more gourmet and better tasting (as rated by Nutrisystem customers) than the ready-to-go meals.

For example, here are some examples of fresh-frozen meals offered on this plan:

 

• Chicken Parmesan with Pasta
• Mediterranean Flatbread
• Salisbury Steak with Mac and Cheese
• Chocolate Brownie Sundae
• Ham and Cheese Omelette
• Meatball Parmesan Melt
• Lemon Zest Cake

 

You also get access to the new Nutrisystem Restaurant Faves menu – which are a selection of gourmet meals inspired by popular restaurants. Nutrisystem is also continuously adding new options as well.

And finally you also get access to the new Nutrisystem Hearty Inspirations meals. These are high-protein, skillet-style meals that can keep you feeling full for up to 5 hours!

If you’re worried about feeling hungry as you lose weight, these meals are guaranteed to keep you satisfied until your next snack or meal.

Examples of Hearty Inspirations meals include:

• Caramelized Onion, Mushroom and Turkey Sausage Pizza
• Sesame Beef and Broccoli with Brown Rice
• Asian Style Salmon with Pasta
• Meatloaf with Potatoes and Veggies

 

 

Bottom Line?

So what’s the final word on the Nutrisystem Basic vs Complete 55 diet plans?

Well, both plans have their benefits.

The Basic plan is more affordable by about $100 a month. And if you’re not dealing with perimenopause or menopausal weight symptoms, you may prefer this option.

It’s more of a rounded calorie-controlled diet plan for women in general, regardless of age.

The Complete 55 plan is specifically designed for women who are also dealing with the added challenge of changing hormones, fluctuating blood sugars and stubborn weight that won’t come off.

Complete 55 is also for you if you want a better quality of food, more meal selections – and if you want more days of meals covered for you (at least for the first month).

So it really comes down to your personal situation, goals and preferences at the end of the day.

Regardless of which plan you choose – if you use the links below, you can also get 50% off Your Plan plus Free Shipping.

 

Click to Save on Either Nutrisystem Diet Plan

 

 

Related: Nutrisystem Plans Compared – Which Plan Is Right For You?

What Is Nutrisystem and How Does It Work?