The ediets.com website is a terrific one-stop shop for would-be dieters and those who want to live a healthier lifestyle. People who need to take off the pounds or address a particular health concern can view a wide variety of plans and determine for themselves which type of eating program is best suited to their needs and lifestyle. The information is continually updated, and a telephone line lets you access counselors live.

Among the plans included on this site are ediets.com’s own weight loss plan, which is marketed as an alternative to the expensive Jenny Craig program, and includes three meals and one snack daily, based on the five-a-day food pyramid and customized around your personal food preferences. Other diets reviewed on the site are the Atkins Diet, Bill Phillips’ Eating for Life, the Blood Type Diet, the GI Diet Plan, the Glycemic Impact Diet, the Mayo Clinic Plan,the New Mediterranean Diet and Suzanne Somers Weight-Loss Plan. Eating programs also are available for people who need to accommodate specific health concerns. Among these are wheat-free, gluten-free, lactose-free, low-fat, heart-smart, cholesterol-lowering, low-sodium, high-fiber, hypoglycemia/low sugar, soy and vegetarian plans.

Like many weight-loss web sites, ediets.com offers lots of assistance, including meal plans, sample menus, personalized shopping lists, exercise and fitness advice, chat rooms, support groups, and access to nutrition, fitness and medical experts. A free online newsletter offers participants motivation and weight-loss tips, plus recipes and video. Other perks include “Deliciously Yours,” a delivery service that will bring your favorite diet meals directly to your door, for a $15.95 per day fee. A Challenge group within the support groups sponsors friendly competitions between members. For busy adults, the site also offers eDiets Mobile, a $19.95 software package that can be downloaded to your PDA and contains your diet, exercise and weight-loss information. Specialized features include nutrition facts on nearly 10,000 individual food items, plus calorie counters and exercise logs.

Enrollment in the ediets.com program costs $4.95 per week, a fee that includes personalized weekly menus complete with “print and go” shopping lists, expert support, a customized fitness plan and access to the Delicious Recipe Club, which contains more than 6,000 recipes. The Personal Fitness Trainer Plan, meanwhile, includes animated 3-D fitness examples, personalized workouts tailored to your specific goals, and easy exercises that can be done at home.

This ediets.com plan is a good fit for people who like eating a variety of foods and who want flexibility, including the ability to eat convenience and fast foods within limits. It’s not a good idea for people who want or need to eat smaller, more frequent meals, or who are seeking a plan that’s lower in carbohydrates.