Abstract: A system provides via multiple communications channels flexible nutritional counseling that encourages users to adhere to a sensible diet. The system may recommend a compliant meal having nutritional content that is within certain dietary parameters applicable to the user. However, the system may also recommend a non-compliant meal having nutritional content that is not within the dietary parameters, but is a sensible choice in view of constraints that make it impossible or infeasible to select a compliant meal. Thus, the system may recommend a meal that is not an optimal selection, but that is a best selection from among a set of non-compliant options. Accordingly, the user has flexibility to deviate from optimal choices as practically necessary or desirable. The user confirms meals actually consumed, and the system can account for an indulgence when recommending a next meal, and/or send a motivational message to the user encouraging compliant behavior.