When it comes to eating healthy, not all carbs are created equal; in fact, some are what we call “SmartCarbs.” SmartCarbs are a specific group of carbohydrates that are nutrient-rich and measure “low” on the Glycemic Index. These carbs are digested more slowly, to help keep you feeling fuller longer while promoting good health by delivering vitamins, minerals, fiber and other important nutrients.

Foods like whole grain rice, pasta, and cereals, fresh fruit, and starchy vegetables such as beans, peas, corn and potatoes all fall into the SmartCarb category. See more examples of SmartCarbs below.

What we refer to as PowerFuels can be broken down into two basic food categories:

1. High-quality proteins that contain all nine essential amino acids
2. Healthy fats from nuts

But what's so special about these PowerFuels? Well, for starters, it takes longer for your body to digest them, so they help keep you feeling full. Plus, they're good for muscle tone, which, when combined with daily physical activity, can help boost your body and get you in shape.

PowerFuels also provide an excellent source of protein and, together with your Nutrisystem Protein Drink and meals, make Nutrisystem Success our most protein-rich program ever. As we say here at Nutrisystem: “Power” to the protein!

In the world of healthy eating, vegetables aren’t always what they seem, which is why we’ve split them up into two main subgroups: starchy and non-starchy. Starchy vegetables like corn, potatoes and peas actually fall under the SmartCarbs category, while the non-starchy vegetable group includes familiar staples like leafy greens, broccoli, and tomatoes.

Each day on Nutrisystem, you’ll be eating at least four non-starchy vegetables along with your Nutrisystem meals. And since they’re packed with nutrients your body craves as well as being beneficial to an overall healthy lifestyle, many of these veggies are deemed “unlimited”—so indulge the urge to splurge!

When you can’t seem to ignore the itch to snack, or you simply want to put a new spin on an old favorite, enter our list of approved extras! What we call “Extras” or “free foods” are actually no-calorie or low-calories optional add-ins that you can use to spice up your meal plan or satisfy a craving for something more.

These optional extras are unlimited when they clock in at calorie free, or we recommend keeping it to 3 servings per day of items containing 35 calories per serving.