In general, fresh & natural foods do cost more. However, I have found that since we are not eating those high carb packaged side dishes, cookies, crackers, icecream, frozen dinners, etc, my grocery bill is actually less. I buy extra of any meat that's on sale and freeze it. And eggs are the cheapest food going!

As for Jenny Craig, that plan was much more expensive than is this! Plus, what do you really learn? Meals already prepared doesn't teach a person to really change habits.