Deals & Discontinuations

Well, if you missed out on the last Salad Shaker giveaway (or even if you didn't this code is new so you can have a spare when yours is in the dishwasher!), enter code TYU26MN on your a la carte order, or else on your auto delivery if you have anything in the a la carte section (even a Numi freebie!).

I was also sad to hear of some more discontinued items. There has been a lot of turnover of items lately and I hope that Nutrisystem continues to add more items, especially shelf stable items. Remember that us Canadians as well as customers in Alaska and Hawaii can't get the frozen, and we need to have some variety to choose from!

The latest discontinued items are the Turkey Pot Pie Melt, Mushroom Risotto, Creamy Beef Alfredo, Blueberry Lemon Baked Bar, and the Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal. None of them were my particular favourites but I did like the Creamy Beef Alfredo. I think that Nutrisystem generally does well with their pasta dishes and I don't think that there's a direct analogue for this one, although I would like to see some non pasta and non bar lunches- surely there are other options they could come up with.

On the other hand, I've tried some of the new frozen items and I'm super happy with them! I didn't get a photo because they disappeared too quickly, but I'll be sure to add some soon. I absolutely love the Mushroom Stuffed Chicken Breast- it tastes like the mushrooms are in a red wine sauce and I think it's so good. I've also liked the two new snack cupcakes- the Strawberry Shortcake Cupcake is SO good, especially the crumble on top. And the Cream Filled Chocolate Cupcake reminds me of a Hostess cupcake, but a lot less sweet so I think people will find it less off putting. If you haven't tried these yet, I would definitely add a few to your order!

And Even More Freebies!

It seems like an odd thing to give away, but Nutrisystem has put out a promotion code for free earbuds.

I guess if you don't have your own set, perhaps they'll encourage you to workout a little more? Or else they'll make a good backup set.

To claim your free earbuds, enter the following promotion code C8YW9AB on any a la carte order, or else in the a la carte section on your auto delivery order if you have even one other item listed there- even a free Numi Reward!

I suspect I'll be unhappier than most people here, since I don't think the Fiesta Macaroni & Cheese was all that popular, but I did receive notification that it has been discontinued. While I didn't want to eat it all the time, I thought it was a nice change and the sauce was thick enough that it was easy to add veggies and seasonings to change the flavour profile. I will miss it.

I hope NS will be bringing out more shelf stable dinners soon!

More Freebies!

If you missed out on the last cutting board giveaway from Nutrisystem, you're in luck! They released another promo code to add one free to your next order! You can add it to your auto delivery as long as you have at least one item in the a la carte section- even if it's free! Otherwise, it can be added to any a la carte order.

While it's a very small cutting board, it's useful for chopping veggies for one person and doesn't take up a lot of space to store. I probably wouldn't have purchased one, but it's a nice freebie gift from Nutrisystem.

Enter promo code XTA4EBS to receive yours free!

What Makes A Carb Smart?

I know I've written a little about this before, but I think it's worth revisiting again.

We generally have a pretty good idea of what kinds of foods constitute carbohydrates, although they can be a little sneaky sometimes! The Nutrisystem Grocery Guide will give you some great ideas of items you can use for SmartCarb servings for when you are flexing or when an entrée instructs you to add a SmartCarb (like the Turkey Ham & Cheese Omelette, the Tuna Salad, and the BBQ Seasoned Chicken).

So how do we decide what can be used for a SmartCarb? Nutrisystem has given us a very simple test to use, where they state it must be 80-120 calories and at least 1g of fiber. Is that it? No!

Keep in mind that this plan is designed around the Glycemic Index. SmartCarbs are considered "smart" because they are low glycemic. Unfortunately, working out where things stand on the glycemic index can be complicated, which is why I believe Nutrisystem is giving out the current information. However, it states right in the Grocery Guide that SmartCarbs are low glycemic carbohydrate servings, which means it is our responsibility to determine what is appropriate. Then, once we decide that an item is in fact a low GI carb, then we apply the second test to make sure the food will fit as one of our add in portions.

If you don't check first to see that a food actually is a low glycemic carbohydrate, you can wind up making some large errors that will make the program less effective. As an example, try this:

Take 1/2 cup white rice, which is considered a high glycemic index food at a score of 89. Then add a couple of nonstarchy veggies to it, and calculate the nutritionals as a whole (or add a little unflavoured fiber powder). If you look at the serving as a whole, suddenly it fits the loose standard of a SmartCarb since it's between 80-120 calories and has 1g fiber. But is it in fact a smart choice?

Definitely not. High glycemic foods defeat the purpose of the program. They will cause blood sugar spikes which give you cravings, and you will feel less full and be more likely to give into those cravings. It's important to choose foods which are within the spirit of the program and not misinterpret the definitions to add in foods which don't belong on the plan.

Again, I don't think there is anything wrong with making a mindful decision to go off plan for a meal and then going right back on afterwards. Where I think problems lie is when people try to make a food fit into the program when it does not, because then they are likely eating is far more often than they should.

Likewise, when you're evaluating an item for a flex meal and looking at it as a Powerfuel/SmartCarb combination, often I have seen people asking if they can use items that really don't include SmartCarbs at all. For example, I've seen egg frittatas talked about. Because they have vegetables in them, they do have that required gram of fiber. But is there a low glycemic carbohydrate serving in there? No- it's a protein serving that happens to have some vegetables in it. While the rules for flex guidelines make it "easy" to figure out if something is on plan, don't forget to evaluate the food on its merits and make sure it actually has the components it is supposed to have, and that it fits on plan- don't just read the label.

So remember- when you're choosing a SmartCarb, make sure that it belongs on the program before you apply the calorie count/fiber test!

More Freebies!

Nutrisystem is giving away another free gift to customers! You can use this one either on any a la carte order, or else on your auto delivery as long as you have at least one item in the a la carte section.

Use promo code SPOOKY and get a free Nutrisystem 3 piece Salad Shaker set! You don't need to add the shaker to your cart- just put in the promo code and it will be added automatically.

This set is pretty useful. It keeps your salad dressing separate so that the veggies don't get soggy, plus a fork clips right into the lid so everything is handy. It's a useful item for taking your favourite salad on the go.

Enjoy!