All About Nutrisystem Grocery Add-Ins

Designed by expert dietitians, Nutrisystem plans serve as your gateway to optimal nutrition right from the start. Our meal plans, which are both easy to follow and delicious, empower you to lose weight while simultaneously improving your health.

But that’s not all! As you savor our flavorful dishes, you’ll also gain valuable insights into the art of healthy eating. Each day, you’ll eat Nutrisystem foods and complete your daily menu with grocery add-ins.

We’ve conveniently categorized these add-ins as SmartCarbs, PowerFuels, Vegetables, Extras and Free Foods. This system simplifies the process of creating a well-rounded diet, instilling healthy habits and introducing variety to your meal plan.

To identify which category your favorite foods fall into, consult the Nutrisystem Grocery Guide. Additionally, we’ve provided comprehensive details about each category below to help you get started.

PowerFuels

Lean proteins and healthy fats can make any weight loss plan more satisfying, delicious and easy to stick to. We call them PowerFuels. These grocery add-ins provide energy, keep you satisfied and help maintain muscle.

PowerFuels consist of items like meat, fish, dairy, nuts, seeds and avocados. They are often the stars of our dinner plates and make the best smart and filling snacks.

We recommend that most of your grocery add-ins come from minimally processed, whole food choices. You can find the most nutrient dense PowerFuel options in the Nutrisystem Grocery Guide!

If you choose to include packaged foods not in the Grocery Guide, be sure they contain between 80-120 calories with at least 7 grams of protein OR at least 7 grams of total fat, with no more than ½ of the fat from saturated fat (ex. if food contains 7 grams of total fat, saturated fat should be 3.5 grams or less).

SmartCarbs

Did you know that you can still lose weight and get healthy while enjoying carbs like bread, crackers and pasta? The key is selecting nutrient-rich carbohydrates that contain fiber and sticking to proper portion sizes. We call these nutritious carbs SmartCarbs.

SmartCarbs include items like brown rice, whole wheat pasta, beans, fruit and starchy vegetables like potatoes. They are a group of carbohydrates that measure low to medium on the Glycemic Index.

The Glycemic Index is a rating system that tells you how quickly a food affects your blood sugar levels after eating it. These carbs are digested more slowly, keeping you feeling fuller longer.

We recommend that most of your grocery add-ins come from minimally processed, whole food choices. You can find the most nutrient dense SmartCarb options in the Nutrisystem Grocery Guide!

If you choose to include packaged foods not in the Grocery Guide, be sure they contain between 80-120 calories with at least 3 grams of fiber.

Vegetables

Non-starchy vegetables are a low-calorie way to stay full while you lose weight. We recommend eating at least 4 servings of non-starchy vegetables per day. Add these veggies to your Nutrisystem meals, Flex meals or snacks! They are the perfect choice to fill up and stay satisfied.

Since they are packed with nutrition and low in calories, non-starchy vegetables are unlimited on Nutrisystem. We still provide the serving sizes to help you learn what an appropriate portion looks like.

Non-starchy veggies include familiar staples like leafy greens, broccoli, onions and tomatoes. If choosing packaged vegetables, aim for no more than 25 calories per serving. Starchy vegetables like corn, potatoes and peas are higher in carbs and calories, so they count as SmartCarbs.

Extras

Adding flavor to your food can pile on calories without you even realizing it. To help you become more aware of this, Nutrisystem categorizes such foods as Extras. You can use these optional add-ins to spice up your meals or to make them more satisfying.

Extras contain 10 to 35 calories per serving. We recommend limiting your Extras to three servings per day. They include ingredients like coffee creamer, salad dressing, honey and condiments like ketchup and mayonnaise.

Please Note: Some foods in the Extra category also appear in other categories. The serving size will determine how to count it in your meal plan. For example, avocado will count as an Extra if you use ¹/₈ but if you use ¹/₃, it will count as a PowerFuel.

Free Foods

Just because you’re eating to lose weight, that doesn’t mean you have to compromise on flavor. Many ingredients that crank up the satisfaction in your meals are considered Free Foods on your Nutrisystem plan, so you can enjoy as much of them as your taste buds desire.

Free Foods contain less calories than Extras but still provide major flavor. They have less than 10 calories per serving and include spices, herbs, lemon juice, hot sauce, low-sodium broth and certain condiments and beverages. Because these foods are so low in calories, they are unlimited on your Nutrisystem plan.

For examples of each add-in category, click here for the Nutrisystem Grocery Guide! >