Diet-to-Go Review 2024: Only for Weight Loss?

Overview

Diet-to-Go is a diet-conscious meal kit delivery service. Having personally explored several alternatives, I was curious to check this service’s offerings. Diet-to-Go has been around longer than many of its competitors, boasting a remarkable track record spanning over 30 years. So, I assumed its enduring presence in the market meant it was doing something right.

Having personally tried Diet-to-Go, I have mixed feelings about my experience. It proved great for weight loss, but I expected its meals to be more flavorsome. The team meticulously formulates meals to ensure nutritional balance, and the convenience factor is undeniable. So, Diet-to-Go could be the right fit if you're seeking a strict diet plan that’ll help you lose weight.

Before delving deeper, I want to stress that I’m not a medical professional. Therefore, I strongly recommend you consult with your doctor or dietitian before making any dietary changes or switching to a new diet.

Diet-to-Go’s Menu: Weight Loss Made Simple (Though the Food Isn’t the Tastiest)

Diet-to-Go has enough options for you to replace most or all of your weekly meals. You can choose to receive 3 meals per day, or 2 if you exclude breakfast. Furthermore, you can opt to receive food for 5 or 7 days a week.

The service's plans cater to individuals, not couples or families. So, you'll find it suitable if you live alone or are the only person in your household following a strict diet. The company prepares single-serving dishes you only need to heat and eat.

Meal Options: You Can Choose From 5 Weight Loss Plans

Diet-to-Go has 5 plans designed to help dieters lose weight. Note that you can't mix and match dishes from different plans once you choose. Each plan features the meals you’ll receive for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and doesn't include snacks, sides, or any additional items. If you prefer trying different meals and complementing them with extras, you should check out Blue Apron.

The 5 plans are as follows:

• Balance – Largest selection of low-calorie, nutritionally balanced dishes

• Balance Diabetes – Low-glycemic menu for people with diabetes

• Keto-Carb30 – Low-carb, Atkins-style menu

• Vegetarian – No meat, with protein from dairy, eggs, beans, and soy

• Mediterranean – Emphasis on whole foods

The meal delivery service follows a rotating 5-week menu cycle. So you may find yourself eating the same recipes after the initial 5 weeks. This might suit picky eaters who prefer consistency. But for others, the repetition can get boring, especially if you stick to the plan for an extended period. You’ll also find some meals appear on multiple menus.

As I learned, the company focuses on being a weight-loss service that prioritizes functionality over taste. Though its menu may strike you as a bit restrictive, you should remember that the service's primary goal is to help you lose weight, not try new and exciting recipes.

The menu primarily consists of familiar American dishes. Some I found during my research were Chicken Pot Pie and Blackened Salmon. There were also some internationally-inspired options including the Mexican-style Turkey Burrito. But these may not deliver an authentic taste experience.

Customization: You Can Only Substitute Meals 

You can substitute any meal with Diet-to-Go. If there's a dish you don't enjoy, you can exclude it from your weekly order and choose a preferred alternative at no additional cost. I found that most meals have around a dozen substitutes, sometimes more. But note that you can’t personalize individual recipes.

The swaps could prove very handy if you have an allergy or wish to avoid certain ingredients. Diet-to-Go doesn't provide strong support for those with severe allergies. You won’t find any filters or special menus dedicated to allergens. So you should manually review the ingredients of each recipe to check for potential allergens.

I had a feeling that some of the images might be edited. This was something that caught my eye while I was browsing the menu. Besides not finding them very attractive, this potential editing made me slightly skeptical about the actual meals.

Companies like HelloFresh have high-quality images and a strong brand identity. But then, I remembered that Diet-to-Go prioritizes weight loss over gourmet appeal and promotes different products.

Diet-to-Go’s Menu at a Glance 

My Unboxing Experience With Diet-to-Go: There’s (Lots Of) Room for Improvement

I received meals packed in styrofoam following my initial order. While it worked great for insulation, I don’t find it a particularly eco-friendly material. Thankfully, the company has since transitioned to a more environmentally friendly foil-based insulation.

Regrettably, Diet-to-Go hasn't improved everything regarding its packaging. It still heavily uses plastic, as it did before. While it's positive that most of the packaging is recyclable, it falls to the customer to figure out the proper recycling steps. For this reason, I think that the lion's share of the packaging doesn’t make it to the recycling facility.

I noticed a lack of meal organization when my shipment arrived. All the dishes were just dropped into the box. But then again, I had fun sorting through the menu options. Each product featured a label introducing the ingredients, nutritional info, and prep instructions.

I received frozen meals since I don't live near the company's distribution center. But if you do, you may get fresh meals (more on that in the Shipping & Delivery section). You can store Diet-to-Go's recipes in the fridge for 4 or 5 days, as I found on the website. Alternatively, you can freeze them to extend their shelf life for up to 30 days.

Cooking and Eating With Diet-to-Go: I Tried a 5-Day Plan (And Wasn’t Very Impressed)

You get all the ingredients cooked, so you won't have to spend much time in the kitchen. All you'll have to do is heat the dishes in the microwave for 2 or 3 minutes, or longer if you’re reheating frozen meals.

I appreciated the convenience of quickly heating and eating food since I don't like spending money on takeout or time cooking. And that's 1 of the greatest benefits of Diet-to-Go. When you're hungry, simply warm up the meal fast instead of grabbing a snack.

I chose a 5-day plan with breakfasts, lunches, and dinners for each day.

The following is a breakdown of what I consumed during those 5 days, including 4 substitutions:

Breakfast:

• Salmon and Leek Frittata

• Tomato Mushroom Omelet

• Three Cheese Quiche

• Scrambled Eggs Benedict

• Spicy Ham and Egg Sofrito

Lunch:

• Tuna Salad*

• Lemon Herb Chicken

• Pascale Creole Shrimp

• Chimichurri Salmon

• Parmesan Chicken Wings

Dinner:

• Lemon Pepper Chicken over Zoodles

• Cumin Salmon*

• Blackened Salmon*

• Indian Turkey Tenderloin*

• Chicken Parmesan over Ratatouille

Note that the asterisks (*) indicate substitutions.

Shortlist of My Favorite Meals

First, I need to point out that none of the meals I tried blew me away. But I have to admit that I'm probably not the type of person that Diet-to-Go targets since I’m not looking to shed any weight. So, take my following thoughts and impressions with a grain of salt.

I prepared all my meals in the conventional oven since I don't have a microwave. I thawed the recipes first, as per the meal delivery service's instructions. Then I heated them for 20 to 30 minutes. If you prefer a different cooking method, like a toaster oven, check the company’s website for instructions.

Diet-to-Go's food is low-calorie and nutritionally sound, that's a fact. So, even though I don't like to compromise on flavor, there's no denying that the service is a good choice for people that want to lose weight.

On the whole, the company's dishes reminded me of food served on an airplane. They feature a peculiar processed taste that lacks flavor.

In short, nearly all the meals I tried were bland. Even the cursory dash of Cajun seasoning I added to Blackened Salmon couldn't help it. But I guess this is what a low-fat and low-sodium recipe tastes like.

Most of the veggies I tried had a watery taste. If I took a blind test, I probably wouldn't have been able to guess what they were. Besides, the proteins were on the dry side, which was yet another disappointment for me. If I had to guess, I’d say this was because they had been pre-cooked.

To sum up, this service will suit you if you're after calorie and portion control. But you need to be ready to compromise on flavor if these are your primary goals. Even though I didn’t love the taste of the meals, I can easily imagine myself resubscribing to Diet-to-Go before the beach season kicks off.

Prices: The More Meals You Order, the Less You Pay

Prices vary depending on which plan you choose and the number of meals. There’s no difference if you opt to remove seafood from your plan. The Balance-D, Mediterranean, and Vegetarian plans cost the same as the Women’s Balance plan, so you can use that information in the table below for reference.

The system calculates the price when you select the plan and the number of meals. Upon selecting the plan, you'll have to choose whether to include seafood. Also, you'll have to specify whether to get food for 5 or 7 days per week and 2 or 3 meals a day. As for the Balance plan, you'll also have to identify yourself as a male or a female because of the calorie count. The male plan is slightly more expensive than the female plan.

Diet-to-Go charges a flat-rate shipping fee of $19.98. You pay the same delivery cost irrespectively of the chosen plan, number of meals, and location.

The service doesn't accept returns because of the perishable nature of its items. But you'll get credit for any damaged or spoiled meal as a result of mishandling or late delivery. The company will also reimburse you for a meal you dislike. And if you don't like the service for whatever reason and wish to cancel your subscription, Diet-to-Go will compensate you for the most recent delivery.

Shipping & Delivery: Not Great, Not Terrible

Diet-to-Go delivers across the contiguous United States. Because of the service’s firm freshness policy and customs regulations, it doesn't ship to Alaska and Hawaii. If you live in these states, I recommend you to check Nutrisystem, another weight-loss meal delivery service.

Delivery options tend to vary between locations. And you can make changes to your order or reschedule until 12 pm ET on Friday before the shipment. As indicated on the website, the service sends an email containing the tracking info for national carriers every week it sends your shipments.

But I didn't receive any confirmation email from it, let alone tracking information. Because of that, I was uncertain if my order had been processed until FedEx contacted me. Considering the tech advancement, I find it absurd that such a mistake occurred. So I'm inclined to attribute it to an oversight, which could well be mine since I wasn’t checking the spam folder.

My meals arrived just after 11 am. I was at home when the courier arrived, but in general, the driver leaves the box at the doorstep, whether you're there to take over the shipment or not. Still, the insulation and ice packs can maintain the cold temperature for several hours if you’re absent.

But you may be able to pick your food instead. If you live anywhere near Washington DC, New Jersey, Baltimore, or Los Angeles, you can personally collect your meals from the distribution center instead of having them delivered to you.

How Diet-to-Go Works: Step by Step Guide

You can subscribe to Diet-to-Go without any hassle. Since the company prearranges menus and predetermines the delivery day, the subscription process involves only a few simple steps.

How to Sign Up (Just 4 Simple Steps)

1. Click on Order Now in the upper-right corner of the screen to get started.

2. Choose the plan and personalize your order. Customization options may vary slightly, depending on the plan you select. Once you’re done, click on Save & Continue.

3. State your personal information for delivery purposes. Note that you only need to fill in the boxes marked with the asterisk, you can leave the rest blank.

4. Enter your credit card details to finalize your order. Check the cost breakdown before placing the order.

Managing Your Subscription

Managing my subscription was a piece of cake until it came to canceling it. In fact, making any changes to the Diet-to-Go subscription requires contacting customer service. You won't find a button to click or a checkbox to uncheck to cancel your account on the website.

I had to contact customer support via phone or email to unsubscribe. Remember that the cutoff time for cancelations and order changes is 12 pm EST on Friday before the next shipment. I suggest calling to ensure that you meet the deadline. Refer to the detailed guide for a step-by-step overview of the cancelation process.

Customer Service: Diet-to-Go’s Support Is Excellent

I had a question regarding the discounted price of a meal plan. I was curious whether it's applicable for the 1st-time order only or ongoing. I assumed it was just for the initial purchase, but I wanted to be sure. I sent an email after official work hours and received an automated response in like 15 minutes, which confirmed that they'll get back to me as soon as possible.

I got a response from the customer support team during the next day's work hours. I think that’s a decent response time since many other meal delivery services take much longer to answer. The reply confirmed my assumptions stating that the discounted meal plan is indeed applicable for the initial purchase only.

I also contacted Diet-to-Go about canceling my plan. This time, I decided to give their phone number a shot. I selected option 1 for Support, and a lady named Joan verified my address. She had my plan canceled within 2 minutes.

How Diet-to-Go Compares to Other Meal Delivery Services

• Diet-to-Go vs. Factor: Factor has meal plans for 7 dietary preferences, and you can mix and match across all plans, which you can’t do at Diet-to-Go. If you’re unsure what diet you should follow, schedule a free 20-minute chat with Factor's certified nutritionist. This prepared meal delivery service has dietitians formulate its recipes and experienced chefs prepare them. And if you don't like frozen meals, you’ll like that Factor delivers only fresh food to its customers. 
• Diet-to-Go vs. BistroMD: Unlike Diet-to-Go's meals, BistroMD's food tastes really good. And while both services have gender-related meal plans, if you try BistroMD you can choose from 7 diet-specific meal plans. You may be able to choose from over 150 BistroMD meals, depending on the plan you select. And if unsure which diet suits you best, take an on-site quiz.
• Diet-to-Go vs. Nutrisystem: While Diet-to-Go delivers only to customers in the continental US, Nutrisystem ships food overseas, too. It also suits couples who wish to lose weight together as there’s a Partner Plan. You can enjoy restaurant-quality food by subscribing to Nutrisystem. And Nutrisystem has different packages per plan.

The Bottom Line: Is Diet-to-Go Worth It?

I can't provide a definitive answer because it depends on each individual’s goals. Personally, Diet-to-Go isn't going to be my preferred diet option. But, I must point out that I'm not the primary target for this service since I'm not aiming to restrict calories or lose weight.

But Diet-to-Go certainly stands as a strong contender among weight-loss services. The convenience of having all your meals taken care of is a significant advantage. I can see this service being particularly appealing to individuals with busy lifestyles who are looking to achieve short-term weight loss goals.

Diet-to-Go is also a convenient option if you have specific dietary requirements. It’s quite rare for meal delivery services to provide options for diabetics, for example. So, if you're after a low-glycemic diet, you should definitely give Diet-to-Go a try.

If you’re unsure, take advantage of a new customer discount to test the service. (This is the latest active deal I found – Save 50% Off Your First Week). The deal often brings down the price significantly, allowing you to try the dishes and see if the results are worthwhile for you.

FAQ

Are Diet-to-Go Meals Healthy?

Diet-to-Go focuses on weight loss rather than overall health. Still, each of its plans provides nutritionally balanced food supporting a healthy lifestyle. For example, the service has the Balance-Diabetes option that helps manage blood sugar levels. The Keto-Carb30 plan, on the other hand, suits eaters preferring a carb-conscious approach.

How much does Diet-to-Go Cost?

The price per Diet-to-Go meal depends on various factors. But the starting price per dish is $4.60. The actual cost you'll pay depends on the plan you choose, the number of meals, and whether you're eligible for a special deal, which is currently Save 50% Off Your First Week. Also, don't forget to add the shipping cost to get the final price of your order.

How do I cancel my Diet-to-Go?

Calling customer service by phone is the best way to cancel your subscription. Once you get in touch with an agent, your account should be terminated in a matter of minutes.