Blog POP!: 5 Day @BistroMD Meal Plan Giveaway + Summary~ 8/23

Bistro MD: 5 Day Meal Plan Summary

It's no secret I'm a cheerleader for Bistro MD. I've shared horror stories of walking my ex through Nutrisystem, and the intense preparation that came with home made snacks every 2 hours, and expensive fresh ingredients. Don't get me wrong, I feel it's a great program for some, but I feel Bistro MD is more of a lifestyle program, not just for weight loss, but overall health and nutrition. You may simply be a busy professional with no time to cook, or someone who is kitchen-shy and looking to get away from generic frozen entrees.

Having now had the opportunity to try a complete Meal and Snack Bistro MD plan, I heartily suggest the $20 upgrade to include snacks. If you're new to the program, or starting a diet, it can be difficult to make wise decisions, and the structure is truly priceless. Not to mention the addition of ready-to-go snacks are a great way to mix up the monotony of my day, and a fun pep between meals. When broken down, for a 1 week plan I would receive 20 gourmet meals for an average daily cost of $22.60 a day (excluding shipping). That works out to about $7 a meal, on the meals only plan, or just over $25 a day on the complete Meal Plan. Considering the nutritional value, sheer variety, and fresh, tender ingredients that nearly always cooked perfectly (oh, and convenience!) the price is right on the money, if not a bargain!

It's important to note that Bistro MD is not geared towards the importance of weight loss, but the overall health of it's consumers. While their structured gourmet meal plans can certainly aid in meeting fitness and weight loss goals, the biggest impact is how you will feel. In all of my Bistro MD experiences I have enjoyed a week of increased energy, better sleep, and an overall mood upgrade! However, when simply crunched for time, Bistro MD is a lifesaver for even those not dieting. Paired with the FREE dietitian support, and doctor designed meals that are engineered to meet your specific restrictions it's easy to understand why Dr Phil calls this his favorite home delivery program!

I, personally, love Bistro MD for the expert support I so desperately need to guide me down the right path to healthier eating habits. Having a plan and aide like this when beginning any major lifestyle change is essential. If you can work with Bistro MD for a month or so, I feel like the program will offer a better understanding of healthy eating, and stronger footwork for a healthy lifestyle outside the program. Personally, I've replicated many of their entrees in my own kitchen, between orders. And for anyone single, or just plain busy, having gourmet meals waiting in the freezer can be a life saver when the temptation to 'just eat out' arises. Bistro MD is unlike anything you'll find in your grocer's freezer, from variety and flavor to sheer convenience!

Every time I order from Bistro MD it seems the company has taken customer feedback to redevelop their program and improve it. This time there was a comprehensive ingredient selection process where I could literally 'ban' specific ingredients from my meal plan, to match my tastes. Of course I do have to allow enough selection for the dietician to build a well rounded week of meals, so not everything selected was my 'favorite.' While each meal may have not been what I would have bought from the store, or prepared, I ate every one. The portions were perfect, and on a few occasions even more than I could eat. The meats heated conveniently in the microwave from a flash frozen state to a freshly prepared quality. I especially enjoyed how my menu crossed several continents and included new tastes and flavors. I never got bored, and in the rare instance I was less than thrilled with the types of ingredients I knew the next meal brought new promise. One thing I was especially glad to see this time around was the return of Salmon and Tilapia- executed brilliantly! I'd also be interested to find more Asian inspired dishes work their way into the line-up, and perhaps more corn?

Personally, I found less temptation while on the Bistro MD meal plan, as I was nearly always full. I had fun plating my dishes, which looked quite gourmet when out of their easy heat containers, and was thrilled to see the company has actively been working on their exterior packaging. When you receive 20+ entrees at once, organizing them is a big issue, and the more visible the contents are from the outside, the easier my meals are to prepare. Unfortunately, the labels still continue to smear when they come in contact with moisture- so be sure not to put any heated trays on top, if you plan on consulting the dietary information later. I'd also like to note I usually keep my sleeves on hand to tally my calories at the end of the day- this is so much easier than tracking points or logging in a journal.

In conclusion, I will be using Bistro MD again, and continue to recommend it offline to my personal friends and family. As far as I could determine, based on following the exact meal plan provided by Bistro MD for one whole week, I registered a weight loss of 3lbs! This may not seem so shocking, but I'm thrilled if I lose 2 a week, and the extra energy really translates to more exercise, and calories burned. Bistro MD has also caused me to look at my at home eating habits and make improvements from the schedule that had been put in place while on the meal plan. I foresee many more honest recommendations coming from me in the feature, Bistro MD exceeded my every expectation once again! Click on over to our daily journal posts to see all of the mouth-watering food I enjoyed; Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4.

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BistroMD Day 4: Curried Chicken w/Couscous + Chicken Normandy

***I received a 5 Day, meal only, plan from BistroMd for the purpose of this review series. No further compensation was provided.All content and images are original and copyright Momma Told Me 2013.
Day 4:

While I am, personally, a big champion of the BistroMD mealplans, and approved all of the possible dishes eligible for my culinary preferences, Day 4 of this round disappointed in a sense. It's not that the entrees weren't flavorful, or filling, but the specific collection of these 3 dishes, together, was a bit underwhelming. If possible, I prefer to have multiple protein sources throughout the day, and it seems this round of BistroMD meals has featured chicken predominantly. This particular day, my lunch and dinner entrees both featured a large chicken breast. I would have liked to have seen shredded or diced chicken, or even beef or pork on today's menu, but I must keep in mind that these meal schedules are designed by an actual nutritionist with the intent of providing well rounded nutrients first most. I'm sure no major harm would have come from my swapping a Day 5 entree with one of my chicken features, but I prefer to follow the plan as laid out for me.

For breakfast this day I awoke to South of The Border Egg Whites with a breakfast pinto bean medley of peppers, onions, and tomatoes. I've never had pinto beans as a breakfast side before, but I quickly realized this is not much different than a vegetarian breakfast burrito! Plating the item individually, rather in a burrito format, allows me to give them more consideration while eating, and leads to that target 'full' feeling quicker. It's always a treat when I get to enjoy egg whites in the morning, and these round patties were no disappointment. While the aesthetics weren't appetizing, to me, the zesty salsa verda smothering my entree smelled enticing and kept the fluffy eggs palatable. My only desire at the end of the meal was that thee has been more sauce to drench the beans as well.

For lunch I was greeted by a familiar entree, BistroMD's Gluten Free French Style Chicken Normandy. Okay, it sounds a little more refined than it actually is. This plate is more like what I would make for myself at home, when counting calories. It features a medium sized grilled chicken breast in a light Normandy sauce accompanied by roasted carrot sticks and an Eggplant Ratatouille. The sleeve for this entree mentions diced apples alongside the Normandy, but I couldn't find them? Regardless, the Normandy sauce baked onto the chicken sort of like a cheese and stole a little moisture form the traditionally tender BistroMD breast. Luckily the Eggplant Ratatouille was quite indulgent and rich in flavor and moisture. I consumed this lunch by wedging chunks of ratatouille alongside a fork-full of chicken. At just 310 calories for this entire meal, I was stuffed well through the afternoon, and ate every bite.

When dinner rolled around I was beginning to feel the pangs of hunger creep in and opened my fridge to pull the thawed Curried Chicken with Couscous out. This particular entree is not Gluten Free, and has a total of 330 calories. With a Thai appeal, the dish is packaged in a single compartment tray and features ingredients layered together, to be eaten as a whole component. A large chicken breast is wedged between layers of tri-colored couscous in coconut milk and torn cilantro, served atop a bed of shredded carrots, and garnished with tender raisins. It's not a culinary creation I'd ever think up, but the savory couscous compliments the sweetness of the raisins and the texture of the carrots quite well. There's a bit of chewing involved in this meal, which lends to it's hearty portioning and the content full feeling when done. I actually couldn't finish my last bite, I was so stuffed!

Day 4 wrapped with an 860 calorie count for entrees alone, and about 1350 calories overall including my snacks and a 100 calorie Skinny Cow dessert. Overall, this wasn't the most impressive day, though I enjoyed each meal, I'm looking forward to a larger variety on Day 5.

BistroMD Day 3: Blackened Salmon + Balsamic Chicken Roundup

***I received a 5 Day Meal Plan from BistroMD for the purpose of this editorial series. Regardless, no further compensation was provided, all opinions are authentic, and all images are copyright Momma Told Me Blog 2013.

Bistro MD: Day 3

It's amazing what eating 3 squares a day can do for one's energy and general outlook. It seems like I ate non-stop as a child, snacking every every few hours on schedule until I could convince Momma my tummy was 'rumbly' again. Mostly, I longed for sweets and salty snacks with minimal nutritional value but ample energy boost. The problem with growing older is the rate at which my body processes these non-essential ingredients, and the constant lagging feeling when choosing trash over actual sustenance. In college I could get away with 'power snacking,' by stashing protein bars in my binder in between classes, and relying on Ramen noodles in the evening. If I dared replicate these habits today it'd surely be a disaster- I suppose that's why the energy drink industry is hitting Millennials so hard. We find ourselves with less and less time on our hands, more and more technological distractions, and inadequate fuel to get us through the day.

I try to eat 3 'meals' a day, but it can be so hard to find those 10-20 minutes to sit down and actually eat; and the very thought of a washed out cardboard nutrition bar is unappealing enough to convince me to skip meals. Usually this means forgoing breakfast, but sometimes lunch makes the cut as well, then I'm left trying to 'make up' at dinner. Any nutritionist will tell you loading up on calories in the evening is not the way to go! Our bodies process food slower and more efficiently in our sleep, making weight loss near impossible with skipped meals and decreased metabolism. Waking up to my doctor designed gourmet breakfast with BistroMD is like a mini-vacation. Straight from the microwave today's Tomato, Ricotta, Spinach Omelet was enticing in aroma and texture. The giant white fluffy omelet was plumply stuffed with a lightly spiced tomato, onion, spinach filling, and served alongside soft baked apple slices in a balsamic glaze. These apples were a tad less sweet than the traditional apple walnut Waldorf blend, and complemented the spinach perfectly.

For lunch I had a real treat when a returning favorite appeared on my menu with a new twist side; seasoned Brussels sprouts. I've never seen Brussel Sprouts make the BistroMD menu before and was tickled to have a healthy side I'm often too afraid to prepare on my own (I know, it's easy, but I'm the only one who eats them, and I worry about over-cooking). Served alongside these deliciously grilled greens was the main course, Balsamic Chicken Breast served on Basil Pesto White Beans. The beans had some shredded red peppers cooked in, and looked a little less appealing than usual (they were mashed and in a thicker sauce than I'd expected), however had a rich pesto flavor that balanced the green flavoring of the Brussels sprouts. At only 290 calories, with 33g of protein, this was the perfect mid day Mediterranean escape! I should also note that all 3 of today's meals were gluten free!

I was surprised to see salmon land on my plate for dinner this day; usually Salmon is a lunch entree in my BistroMD meal lineups. However, I have often remarked in the past just how generous in size the salmon filets tend to be, and the large block of protein is great for a final meal. This Blackened Salmon was garnished with (a little less than I'd prefer) champagne sauce that had a slightly bitter, citrus, flavor. A side of Creole Okra and Tomato stew, that proved less spicy than it's name rounded out this dish alongside a bed of soft slow roasted cauliflower. I'd never had okra before, though I'd approved the ingredient on my initial BistroMD list; and found it to be a pleasant surprise. Not only was I able to experience new cuisine not local to my region, but discovered a new green I enjoy! The cauliflower was also cooked 'fall apart' tender and the perfect addition to the flaky, blackened, salmon fillet. In all, I wrapped this day with 780 calories in BistroMd meals, and an average of 1380 calories post snacks and desert (water was the chosen beverage of the day).

Keep checking back for more of our BistroMD series!

BistroMD: Day 2, Jerk Pork, Garlic Chicken, + Pulled Pork Crepes

***Note: I was provided a 5 Day BistroMD meal plan for the purpose of this editorial feature. No further compensation was provided. All opinions and photos contained there in are property of Momma Told Me Blog 2013.

BistroMD: Day 2 Journal

When I was a child it seemed that nutrition was the last thing I my mind when it came to food. Some days my parents would have to bargain and bribe just to get me to clear my plate; others, I ate everything in site I could palette. Most often I was drawn to foods including chocolate and nuts, or neon cheesy powder- hardly the building blocks for a successful day. Looking back, now that I've essentially become Momma, I long for the days when I didn't have to think about my next meal. Food would appear before me at the designated time, and my biggest concern was whether I would eat it willingly or not. Nowadays, if 3 square meals were to land on my table without provocation I'd eat each and every one happily. But there is no magic replicator, and Momma has long grown out of preparing my 3 squares a day. Alas, I am left to fend for myself between hunting down poster boards and league practice.

That's precisely where the value of BistroMD weighs in for me. While first most regarded as a diet delivery program, BistroMD averages a little over $7 per meal, which is certainly more than I'd pay investing in Hungry Man frozen entrees. However, if you consider that's about $25 a day (and how much the average American spends on 'fast' convenience meals each week, alone), there are some clear benefits to the value of having a BistroMD meal plan around. Each day's meal plan averages just shy of 1200 calories, offering an 800 calorie leeway for the suggested 2000 daily limit, and plenty of wiggle room for those looking to shave a pound or two while enjoying gourmet meals on the run. Preparing these flash frozen, nutritionist hand selected, entrees is as easy as operating your microwave or oven; only freezer storage space presents and issue.Most meal plans offer free shipping promotions, and you're always in control of the featured ingredients; so you'll never get stuck with an undesirable meal.

I've used the BistroMD meal delivery program on and off over the past several years. I usually gravitate towards their 5 Day Meal Plans, without snacks, during especially busy professional periods, or times when my family calls for some extra attention. On Day 2 of this week's meal plan I awoke to a new dish; Pulled Pork Crepes with BBQ Sauce and Apple Chutney. The apple chutney, while a common breakfast side for BistroMD, actually featured apples and onions, a new culinary experience for me that seemed to balance out the sweetness of the BBQ in the crepes. The Pulled Pork Crepes proved different than I'd expected, more of a pork hash with a sweet apple glaze and blue cheese layering. They were extremely light and fluffy, but a wonderfully filling start to my day at just 320 calories in total.

For lunch I indulged in one of my favorite BistroMD entrees; Jerk Pork served alongside a bell pepper medley with roasted plantains and mango salsa. I am consistently impressed with the texture of proteins in the BistroMD meal plan. Even from my microwave the meat is juicy, tender, and flavorful down to the last bite. One slight dislike with dishes like this is the excess moisture that accumulates from the large amount of fruit and vegetables, when microwaved. Dishes with such a high 'salsa' and vegetable content work best in the oven; though most excess fluid can be drained with some effort, directly from the trays. It would also be my preference to exclude mango from my meals, but in an effort to provide the nutritionist enough creative room I had left this ingredient on my 'okay' list. As it turns out the mango added a wonderful natural sweetness to the pork that baked into the meat when reheating.

I concluded Day 2 with a flavorful, yet visually plain, meal of Grilled Chicken Breast and Garlic Veloute. The familiar Ratatouille side of squash and summer veggies made a nice base to slice and spoon the chicken over. At an astounding 310 calorie total, bringing my daily meal caloric total to a mere 930, I had wiggle room to add a little salt or butter to my roasted baby carrots. BistroMD is very free in allowing additional seasoning and condiments for it's customers; this is never forbidden in any meal plan. The Garlic Veloute did seem to bake onto the chicken breast a little thinner than I'd hoped, but offered the right amount of flavoring for this modest sized protein.

How I Stay Fueled and Focused With @BistroMD Meal Delivery

**Note: I was provided a 1 week BistroMD meal only plan for a follow up feature here on Momma Told Me. No additional compensation was provided. All images and screen captures are copyright Momma Told Me 2013.

Momma Told Me: Food is fuel.

I have bee a fan of BistroMD for near 3 years now. I have been a reviewer, receiving complementary weeks for journalling purposes; but  most importantly, this has made me a paying consumer. For this reason alone, the following praise is of the highest regard. You see, I don't part with my money easily, let alone for meals I did not cook. My loyal readers know I have a passion for food, and enjoy sharing secret family recipes, and crazy new Pinterest favorites. But the simple truth is that Momma can not be 'on' 365 days a year. There are simply some times when life calls for more attention in one department or the other and compromises have to be made. You see, a meal delivery program such as BistroMD, while quite a valuable aid for those committed to weightless, does not have to center around losing weight at all. In fact, one week of BistroMD meals can successfully keep a new nursing mother focused on baby, and out of the kitchen, with healthy meals. Or perhaps a busy professional fed through their most important season of the year. Yes, I rely on BistroMD for specially tailored, gourmet, meals that save me time and keep me fueled with the vital energy and nutrients I need in the 'hairy' times.

Of course the primary initiative behind BistroMD is a highly tailored diet delivery program. This is how I first came to utilize the food delivery and online resources; dropping 8.5lbs over a 2 week commitment my first round. It's amazing for me to reflect back on where the company began, considered Dr.Phil's top diet delivery back even back then, and how much the brand has grown since. Every time I work with them to share my personal thoughts and experiences I notice they have integrated new consumer feedback directly int their business model. BistroMD is a forward moving company that is constantly fine tuning something that is wonderful to begin with! For example, when I most recently logged into the all new BistroMD customer portal I was taken through an ingredient screening process that put me in control of the ingredients that would appear on my plate. With this revolutionary new process I can actually preview the available BistroMD entrees and expressly forbid specific ones from showing up on my menu. Naturally, one needs to be a little pliable to give the nutritionist enough leeway to build a well balanced menu, but the end result is a night and day difference to me.

You may recall BistroMD was in fact founded by a licensed MD and nutritionist Caroline Cederquist; but it is also very much guided by her foodie husband Ed. Well say he's one of the main reasons the flash frozen, licensed chef made, small batch entrees are so trendy and flavorful. There is no comparison with these meal trays to store bought 'gourmet' meals. Not only does each and every hand picked ingredient bring an engaging flavor and texture to the meal, but the tailored meal plans ensure I receive a delectable balance of worldwide cuisine and protein. I'll admit, if it were up to me, during a busy week, I'd probably eat the same 2-3 meals day in and out. With BistroMD I know I am getting well balanced nutrition, and the added variety keeps me determined and motivated to move on towards the next meal. Whenever I find myself on a BistroMD week I know I will be packed with needed energy for each day, treated to fuss free microwave (or oven ready) meals, and taken around the globe for a culinary adventure.

When BistroMD meal delivery first began the prepared meals arrived in black double compartment trays hidden inside a khaki sleeve. The meals were identified on a nutritional label on the wide face of the sleeve, alone. Receiving 21 meals at a time can be overwhelming space wise, but even more frustrating when trying to organize them! Thankfully, the past year has seen a wonderful design overhaul that has the meal titles placed on the spin of the sleeve as well. Now I can easily pull out the meals for the following day (and allow them to thaw overnight as recommended), without spending time fighting piles of frozen food. This time around I was happy to see one of my returning favorites land on my table for breakfast, Day 1; Ham and Swiss Omelet with Waldorf Apples. This egg white omelet is stuffed with small natural ham cubes and Swiss Cheese for a light and fluff entree that clears my plate in minutes. I am constantly amazed as to just how fluffy, and fresh. the eggs always cook from flash frozen with BistroMD. Accompanying this omelet was a slightly sweet Apple, Craisin, Walnut cup dusted with cinnamon.

You'll notice I serve all of my BistroMD meals on actual dining plates. The portions are filling, yet modest, and usually work well on an appetizer plate, which makes me feel like the portion is bigger, mentally, on comparison to a dinner plate. I feel plating the food makes it seem more appetizing, and helps one to focus more on each bite, leading to a quicker realization of portions and one's full state. For lunch I had the chance to enjoy another returning classic, and also a Gluten Free meal; Mediterranean Chicken. This lemon infused chicken breast is served over Mediterranean style quinoa made with Kalamata olives, sun dried tomatoes, chopped leaf spinach, and feta cheese. It looks a little odd at first, but is truly quite delicious! BistroMD seems to be sparing with any sauces they choose to accompany their proteins, and while the breast was exceptionally tender, I do reach for a little pureed squash from time to time. Assorted grilled vegetables, primarily consisting of multicolored squash accompanied my main dish for a colorful and delicious meal that kept me full into the evening.

My final meal of the day felt like one of the lightest; Cheese Ravioli; which is not how I amused to eating dinner, but stays true to the suggested daily pyramid. Breakfast should be the heaviest in calories, and subsequent meals should taper, seeing as it makes the most sense to stock up on calories and energy at the beginning of the day. In any case, my BistroMd caloric total for the day rounded out at 865, leaving plenty of room for 2 snacks, or a snack and a dessert, to fill in the remaining 500 calories (for a weight loss goal of 1400 a day). My Cheese Ravioli was accompanied by a Green Bean and Slivered Almond side. Because I prefer my green beans softer I microwaved these an additional 45 seconds on high with a TBS of water, post preparation. In all, Day 1 was nothing short of what I would expect from the BistroMD brand, and I cleared every plate thanks to the new Ingredient Approval process.

What Daughter Says: BistroMd keeps me fueled throughout the week so I can stay focused on the things that matter most.