The pitch is that if you're sick of planning meals and cooking, you choose one of these plans that provide all your food in prepackaged meals. Just heat and eat.

You buy prepackaged foods daily or weekly that provide all of your meals and snacks. You don't need to worry about meal planning or portion control, and the meals are planned to meet most health guidelines.

There are several prepared meal plans that are available. Some allow consumers to buy a week's or a month's worth of breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks. Others offer individually priced meals that you can buy in your supermarket .

• You don't have to do anything - all the calorie counting and portion control is done for you.
  
  
• Nowadays there is a huge selection of prepared meals available in supermarkets, offering everything from mac and cheese to chicken tikka masala.
  
  
• Some prepared meals are healthy and can provide you with a balance of protein, carbohydrates and fiber - if you make sure to read the nutrition facts label and list of ingredients.

• These plans are expensive. Some dinners can cost close to $5 each, and subscriber-based meal plans may cost even more.
  
  
• Prepared meals do not teach habits for lifelong weight control. When you stop buying the meals, you're likely to go back to old habits.
  
  
• Some prepared meals have a very high sodium content, which can lead to high blood pressure and other health conditions.
  
  
• In some places, there may be limited variety. And if you've bought a month's worth of food and you don't like the meals, you're stuck with them.