I have been looking into this program called "Good Measure Meals".

http://www.goodmeasuremeals.com/

Dd found out about it on Jillian Michaels website.

Dd plans to try one of their 3 meals a day plans but since I do fairly well for breakfast and lunch on my own, I am considering the "dinner only plan". It only cost $10 a day.

My biggest problem with dinner is that it is just such a hassle to try and cook a real meal in mother's kitchen.

I tried a similar service many years ago. The company delivered healthy lunches to my office, and the cost was about $8 a day. As a young single working gal, I was spending about $5 a day to eat out, so it was a little pricey. But I liked knowing exactly what was in it and how many calories I was eating. Unfortunately, I didn't always like the meals. And I missed leaving the office for a while every day. Ultimately, it didn't last.

quote:

Originally posted by BrenauMom:
Actually I just sent off an e-mail to the registered dietician asking if I will get a print out of the nutritional listings with my meals and also asked if she would send me some sample listings.

I had a reply when I got home from the doctor. They are sending that information to me tomorrow morning. Since it is local I should have it by Thursday or Friday.

quote:

Originally posted by BrenauMom:
It is only available in Atlanta and you don't have to sign any long term contracts. You can buy your meals one week at a time.

Here is more information from their site:

Good Measure MealsTM fits perfectly into an overall plan for individuals seeking to manage hypertension. Our meal plan integrates healthy eating guidelines of the American Heart Association and incorporates foods encouraged in the DASH eating plan.

I looked at their website a little and IF a person signed up for their 3 meal a day plan... they wouldn't get even CLOSE to the 4 servings of fruits and 4 of vegs recommended by the DASH Plan. A person would be eating a LOT of fruits, vegs, and dairy for snacks to get in their DASH servings. BUT… I think that they would get MUCH more fruits and vegs than the average American eats. If my dh did this plan… he’d probably double his fruit and veg intake.


I bought food for 3 adults for 4 nights yesterday and it came out to about $3.25 to 3.50 per person per meal… You could probably make their dinners for about $16 - $20 for 5 nights, rather than $50. But I don’t think that $50 is necessarily a horrific amount to pay for 5 meals.

I think that if it is healthier than you are eating now… and works OK with your budget… and works better with your living situation… it is worth a try. Especially if you can try it for just 1 week.

Actually I just sent off an e-mail to the registered dietician asking if I will get a print out of the nutritional listings with my meals and also asked if she would send me some sample listings.

Here some of the meals. They are not pre-made pre-packaged meals. They only cook enough for what has been ordered. They have no preservatives and are not frozen. They rotate over a five week period (and change seasonally - twice a year). The first 5 are Mondays and the second 5 are Tuesdays.

SEARED CHICKEN BREAST WITH A CREAMY MUSHROOM SUPREME SAUCE OVER BROCCOLI AND BROWN RICE. WHOLE WHEAT ROLL. MARGARINE

ROASTED SLICED TURKEY ON CRANBERRY PECAN BREAD PUDDING WITH BROWN GRAVY. COLLARD GREENS IN BROTH. SWEET CORN WITH PEPPERS AND ONIONS.

SEARED CHICKEN BREAST AND LOW FAT CREAM SAUCE COOKED IN THE FLAVORS OF LOMBARDO WITH SHALLOTS AND THYME. WILD FOREST MUSHROOM RISOTTO. ITALIAN SEASONED GREEN BEANS WITH TURKEY HAM. WHOLE WHEAT ROLL

CLASSIC FRENCH BEEF DAUBE PROVENCAL SERVED OVER EGG NOODLES AND GARNISHED WITH FRESH THYME. WHOLE WHEAT ROLL.

CLASSIC CHICKEN PARMESAN WITH RUSTIC TOMATO SAUCE, MOZZARELLA AND PARMESAN CHEESES ON WHOLE GRAIN PASTA. VEGETABLE BLEND OF YELLOW CARROTS, RED PEPPERS, BROCCOLI AND FRENCH GREEN BEANS.


HORSERADISH CRUSTED SALMON FILET TOPPED WITH A LYONNAISE ONION SAUCE. ORZO AND BROWN RICE PILAF. TARRAGON GREEN BEANS

LIGHTLY BREADED MARYLAND CRAB CAKE WITH LOW FAT LEMON CREAM SAUCE. VEGETABLE BROWN RICE PILAF. FRESH LEMON WEDGE. TUSCAN VEGETABLE AU GRATIN.

BASIL AND LEMON MARINATED POLLOCK ON MEDITERRANEAN WHOLE WHEAT PASTA WITH TOMATOES, KALAMATA OLIVES, ARTICHOKES, PINE NUTS AND ASIAGO CHEESE.

ITALIAN STYLE BROCCOLILOBSTER AND RICOTTA CHEESE RAVIOLIS SMOTHERED WITH A THYME CREAM SAUCE AND SHREDDED PARMESAN CHEESE. PRIMAVERA STYLE VEGETABLES WITH ITALIAN SEASONING. FRESH MESCLUN GREENS SIDE SALAD WITH ITALIAN DRESSING.

CREAMY CORN AND CATFISH CHOWDER TOPPED WITH TURKEY BACON CRUMBLES. OYSTER CRACKERS. PARMESAN SPINACH. CIABATTA SEEDED ROLL. MARGARINE.


Some of this stuff I have never had before, but I will give it a try .

And I like that all proceeds goes to charity .

I went to the website and read a lot of the information. They have sections on trans-fats, high blood pressure, diabetes. It seems as if they've taken all the "big" factors into consideration-salt, fat, etc. and worked out a plan that is not only lower calorie but also solid nutritionally. Unlike other pre-made meal plans, this one, from reading the site, seems very focused on healthy lifestyle vs. eating low-calorie or sugar-free stuff just to lose weight. I'd say that if it is something you want to try-go for it. I do agree that $10/day for one meal is a bit steep but if that is comfortable for you, that's great. And, if it means the difference between not cooking dinner and ordering or going out, this may be a great alternative for you. I would try a few meals, maybe a week or two. See how you feel. Can they provide you with nutritional info before you actually place your order?

Jill

Judy - still make sure you get the nutritional information. Just because they say it's healthy it still may be more calories, fat or sodium than you would ordinarily eat, especially if it's every day.

It is about what I would spend at a nice restaurant for them to do the cooking and cleaning for me.
Plus, there will be more variety than I would get doing it myself in our little 2x4 kitchen. I will post some of the dinner menus later.

Motorhomes and travel trailers have better kitchens than I do .

Maybe not the input you were looking for, but...$10 for dinner? Youch. That's a LOT. Groceries for two people cost me ~$100/week, and that's with personal and cleaning items. That's about 30 meals a week...so close to $3/meal. $10 for dinner every night wouldn't be worth it to me, although having it delivered might make it worth it.

It is only available in Atlanta and you don't have to sign any long term contracts. You can buy your meals one week at a time.

Here is more information from their site:

Good Measure MealsTM fits perfectly into an overall plan for individuals seeking to manage hypertension. Our meal plan integrates healthy eating guidelines of the American Heart Association and incorporates foods encouraged in the DASH eating plan. When combined with regular physical activity, Good Measure Meals may help you lower your overall blood pressure. A healthy, balanced diet is very important for anyone seeking to manage hypertension.



Good Measure MealsTM was started in 2003 by restauranteur Tom Murphy, who owns Murphy’s Restaurant in Virginia Highlands. Mr. Murphy saw a need in the community for a home delivered meal service that would be affordable and have an appealing menu.

In 2005 Good Measure MealsTM was purchased by Atlanta non-profit Open Hand. The purchase of Good Measure MealsTM by Open Hand is part of a growing trend in the non-profit world called social entrepreneurship. While Good Measure MealsTM is a separate business unit, all net proceeds generated by the business unit go to support the mission of Open Hand- "To help people with chronic disease or disability overcome barriers to improved health by offering home-delivered meals and prevention based nutrition programs".

Building on the initial concept created by Mr. Murphy, Open Hand invested over $100,000 in the development of a new menu that would be compliant with the healthy eating guidelines established by The American Heart Association, The American Diabetes Association and The American Cancer Society. Executive Chef Dennis Graeff worked closely with Charlotte Hayes, Registered Dietitian and Candy James, Food Technologist to ensure that recipes were developed that would deliver a “gourmet” quality meal while maintaining a healthy balance.

Good Measure MealsTM is the only home delivered meal plan in Atlanta that combines healthy, balanced nutrition with a “gourmet” menu making eating healthy, affordable and convenient.

Each meal plan that you purchase makes a difference in lives- yours and the clients of Open Hand.

Judy
I haven't heard about this service but be sure that you can find out the nutritional information, not just the calories. Many times these types of the meals are still loaded with sodium even though they are "low cal/healthy".

You may also want to see if you can have a sample meal delivered before you have to commit to a time frame.