Special thanks to Jenny Craig for their sponsorship of this post.
The most common questions I get since I’ve been back on the Jenny Craig program are about the food.
What do you eat? Is the food good?
I thought it might be helpful to share what an actual day looks like here. I’ll walk you through what I eat.
The Jenny Craig program strategy is heavily based on the food that they offer. Their team of dietitians and chefs work together to make sure that the food is both nutritious and delicious, while supporting their clients’ dietary needs.
I’ve shared on the blog in years’ past that I am a pretty picky eater. I have zero problems eating on this program, despite my picky palate. Seriously, the food is delicious.
The pictures I share today will literally be tied to what I ate on Friday, October 12th. No filters, no variation, no hidden meals. This is what I eat (and a variation of it) every day.
Breakfast
I love breakfast, but it’s not a meal that I like to make a lot of time for. My favorite dishes tend to be the frozen ones, which are ready to eat after just a few seconds in the microwave.
These Jenny Craig Cinnamon Rolls have been a long time favorite, and you can likely see why from the picture. Usually, I grab my breakfast item on my way out the door and eat it in the car on the way to work. Other favorite breakfast menu items include: Cinnamon Coffee Cake, Classic Waffles, New York Sesame Bagel and the Cranberry Almond Cereal.
Morning Coffee
When I get to the office, I fire up my computer and place a mobile order for my coffee. With a coffee shop just steps away from my desk, this is a luxury for sure and it really gets my day going. I order a triple espresso over ice in a large plastic cup.
I add one of the Jenny Craig Shakes to the coffee to make the most delicious iced coffee! The Chocolate Dream shake is my favorite with espresso, but I also love the Vanilla Cream shake added to my morning brew.
I drink a Jenny Craig protein shake each and every morning (typically with espresso), and I find that the combination of protein and caffeine really keep me full for a long period of time.
Fruits
When I feel my first twinge of hunger (usually around 11:30am), I reach for the first of my fruit options for the day. On the Jenny Craig program, I’m asked to eat 1 1/2 servings of fruit a day and grapes have been my go-to this summer. A 1/2 cup of grapes = 1/2 serving of fruit, and make for a perfect mid-morning snack.
I usually also have another 1/2 fruit in the afternoon, and then one in the evening to round out my fruits for the day. On Friday, I opted for a small pear to complete my daily fruit intake.
Lunch
I’ve tried this time around to not eat lunch because it’s 12pm, but instead to eat lunch when I’m hungry. Sometimes lunch is at 2pm, and that’s fine. Either way, I know that I’ll be eating something delicious!
For lunch, I decided to eat the Jenny Craig Margherita Pizza. Because I was working from home, I was able to load it up with a few extra veggies, adding spinach, artichokes, and red onion. All of these veggies are on Jenny Craig’s Fresh and Free Additions list, which means you can comfortably add them to any dish you’re enjoying!
As a protip, I’ll share that I cooked this baby in my air fryer. Simple instructions: I remove the packaging and microwave the pizza for 1 minute, add the veggies, and then finish the pizza in the air fryer for 4 minutes at 370 degrees. It gets caramelized and crispy and AMAZING this way… trust me!
Other favorite lunches on the plan include: Pepperoni Pizza, Chicken Ranch Melt, and the Classic Cheeseburger. For some reason, I prefer the handheld items for lunch.
Afternoon Snacks
When I start getting a little hungry again before dinner, I reach for my Jenny Craig Essential Nutrition Bar. These bars are high in fiber and protein which make them extremely filling. While the Peanut Butter Chocolate Crunch is my favorite, I also love the Iced Lemon and the Caramel Peanut Delight flavors as well.
My consultant suggested that I drink 8 oz. of water with my bars so I do that every day as well. I’m not sure if that keeps me fuller or not, but I’m always a fan of hydration!
Speaking of water, I drink water all day long. I love water. It’s my favorite beverage. No bubbles, no flavors, just the real deal. I use a straw cup or a Yeti-style water bottle, and keep it filled up all day long!
Dinner
Dinner time is always my favorite. I tend to get a little creative, and I love to plate it up and make it look beautiful. You literally can just eat the meals out of the container, but there’s something special (I think) to making your meal a moment, an occasion.
Having just opened some canned artichokes earlier in the day, I decided to leverage those into my dinner as well. I chose the Jenny Craig Chicken Alfredo for dinner, and I added a few more Fresh & Free Additions. Using what I had on hand, I added fresh spinach, red onion, chopped artichokes, and sun dried tomatoes. So delish!
Other favorite dinners include: Asian Style Beef with Vegetables, Classic Lasagna with Meat Sauce, and Classic Salisbury Steak, to name a few.
More Vegetables
Each day, I’m required to eat at least 1/2 cup of vegetables + 2 cups of green salad. I easily pick up my vegetable additions via what I add to my dishes. Sometimes, I’ll steam some broccoli or roast some sugar snap peas. I also grab a bag of chopped veggies to snack on when I get hungry.
As for my salad, I usually enjoy it after dinner at night and sometimes at the very end of the night. I usually prep them over the weekend so that they’re ready and free from any fuss. I top them with Jenny Craig’s Balsamic Salad Dressing, which is my favorite of the dressing choices.
Note: I didn’t save the picture I took of my salad this day, but this is a perfect example of what I usually eat.
Evening Snack
I love an evening snack. Most nights I reach for a sweet treat. I love that I have options for dessert every day on this program. This day, I opted for the White Cheddar Popcorn (which I also adore.)
Other snacks and desserts that are amongst my favorites include: Chocolate Lava Cake, Cookies & Cream Cake, and Ranch Snaps. This is an abbreviated list… I could go one for days about the snacks/desserts I love. They’re legit!
So, that’s what a day looks like. There is no way you could possibly go hungry with all this food, I certainly don’t.
Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Jenny Craig; however, all of the opinions and comments about the program are exclusively my own and do not necessarily represent that of the brand.