Affordable Diet Delivery: A "Plan:Eat Program" Review

I know more than a few people would be able to relate with me when I tell about my struggle to lose more weight. It’s embarrassingly superficial, I know, and it’s not like I’m obese (although I have come to the point where I was already overweight. Those are two different things, by the way.), but I don’t feel comfortable whenever I see my bulging tummy in the mirror.

It’s a good thing that my efforts are starting to pay off as I have lost a significant number of pounds over the past months. I started the year at around 145 lbs and a few weeks ago I only weighed 125! Working out helped a lot, but one of the most significant contributors to my weight-loss journey was when I tried the diet delivery services of Yummy Diet some few months back. Yummy Diet has been really effective but to be honest, also a bit pricey for the regular yuppie, so I thought of giving the more affordable diet delivery services in Manila a shot.

The cheapest that I found so far, is Plan:Eat Program. The Program is pretty similar to that of Yummy Diet’s  - you can choose among Plan 1,200, 1,500, 1,800, or Plan 2,000, but unlike Yummy Diet who’s cheapest rate is Php 1,900.00, Plan Eat’s price corresponds to the Plan you’re having. For instance, Plan 1,200 costs Php 1,200.00, Plan 1,500 costs Php 1,500.00, and so on. This does not yet include the Php 100.00 delivery charge.

The menu is the same for all plans, and only the portioning makes the difference. According to them, they follow the recommendations for percentage distributions of carbohydrates (50-70%), protein (10-15%), and fat (20-30%). I tried Plan 1,200 which is good for 5 days and costs Php 1,300.00 including the delivery fee. I asked if they also offer a no-rice option, but unfortunately they don’t.  Here is my menu for the past week:

Day 1:

Breakfast: Blueberry Muffin

AM Snack: Fruit

Lunch: Beef Stroganoff Pasta

PM Snack: Nata Pandan with Chia and Flax Seeds

Dinner: Crispy Cajun Chicken with Mixed Veggies and Rice Pilaf

Feedback: The lineup sounded good but the actual food was a bit underwhelming - so much that I didn’t think it was picture-worthy. The only memorable item here was the PM Snack, while the only word that I have for the rest is “sad”.

Day 2:

Breakfast: Seafood Fried Rice

AM Snack: Fruit (apple)

Lunch: Chicken Fajita Pasta

PM Snack: Fruit Salad

Dinner: Feta Cheese, Peas, and Grapes on roasted squash with Rosemary  and Balsamic Glaze

Feedback: My menu for the day seemed to improve a little bit, and I actually liked what I had for breakfast, PM Snack, and Dinner. However, the Chicken Fajita Pasta that I had for lunch was miserable. The sauce to pasta ratio felt like a teaspoon to a medium-sized bowl.

Day 3:

Breakfast: Apple Omelet with Cheddar, thyme, and French Bread

AM Snack: Fruit (orange)

Lunch: Sotanghon with Chicken and Mushroom Medley

PM Snack: Pineapply Jelly Cups

Dinner: Sweet and Sour Pork with Red Rice

Feedback: I was actually glad when I saw what was in my paper bag! I was particularly excited about what I’m having for lunch and dinner, and it was a good thing that they did not disappoint. The orange though didn’t look appetizing, having those ugly bruises on its skin.

Day 4:

Breakfast: Corn and Cream Cheese Dip with Raisin Bread Toast

AM Snack: Fruit (mango)

Lunch: Pan-fried salmon with Garlic Tofu and Broccoli leaves on red rice

PM Snack: Jack Daniels Chocolate Brownie

Dinner: Sesame-ginger Chicken Thigh on fried canton

Feedback: It would seem that Plan:Eat’s menu gets better as the week goes by! I loved every meal that I had today, particularly what I had for breakfast. The PM snack was also something worth craving for, although at the back of my mind I’m starting to question if what I’m having is still at 1.2K calories.

Day 5:

Breakfast: Oatmeal Champorado

AM Snack: Fruit (banana)

Lunch: Tropical-grilled chicken breast with orange and cucumber side and brown rice

PM Snack: Grilled Cheese Roll

Dinner: Waldorf Salad

Feedback: Day 5 has officially redeemed Day 1, and I am happy with how tasty my meals today were. My personal favorite was the oatmeal champorado, and the waldorf salad wasn’t bad too! I just wished that the lettuce looked fresher and without dark spots on them.

If you ask me, Plan:Eat is a pretty good alternative if you’re looking for an affordable diet delivery service, yet still keep the same calorie count and portioning offered by the other more expensive options. However, you probably shouldn’t expect the menu, presentation, and taste to be as “enjoyable”. The dishes are pretty basic, although I think that should be expected given the price.

Here are a few more details you may want to know:

Covered Areas:

Makati, BGC, Eastwood, Ortigas, and some parts of Muntinlupa, Paranaque, Taguig, Pasig, San Juan, Mandaluyong, and QC (near Katipunan and Tomas Morato)

Payment:

BPI or BDO Bank deposits or online transfers only

The weekly menu is posted on Instagram (@planeat_program) and Facebook (Plan:Eat). To book, you text your name, delivery address, Plan chosen, and week(s) to be booked to 0917-305-5510. Response from their mobile hotline is a bit slow though, sometimes replying to you the day after you text.