Fast Food & the Zone Diet

Dr. Barry Sears, creator of the Zone diet, says that the foundation of the diet is to eat the right foods in the right proportions to keep the hormones that are generated as a result of the foods that we eat within the proper zone. The diet maintains a balance of low-fat proteins, fats and healthy carbohydrates. The Center for Science in the Public Interest debunks the theories that Dr. Sears bases the diet on, but agrees that it is a healthy diet that will help people to lose weight.

Fundamentals

• The Zone Diet operates under the premise that it can ward off heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes by maintaining a diet that consists of 30 percent protein, 30 percent fat and 40 percent carbohydrates. The diet does not require a cutback of calories, but rather rethinking the source of the calories in the current diet.

  The diet calls for three meals and two snacks (one late in the afternoon and the other in the late evening) per day. Eat a small amount of protein approximately the size of the palm of your hand at each meal and snack, and double that amount of good carbohydrates. Avoid unfavorable carbohydrates, or eat them in lesser quantities. Consult the Glycemic Index to determine favorable versus unfavorable carbohydrates.

Fast Food Options

• The time will probably come when you are forced to choose between eating a fast food meal or skipping the meal altogether. The Zone Diet forbids going more than five hours without eating, so fast food is the better choice.

  Breakfast sandwiches, such as a sausage, egg and cheese croissant, are acceptable if you remove the top half of the muffin or croissant and eat it as an open-faced sandwich. Breakfast burritos with eggs and cheese are also fine to eat.

  Order roast beef or grilled chicken sandwiches instead of hamburgers, discarding the top half of the bun. There are some exceptions, such as Wendy's Junior Cheeseburger with no bun and no additional carbohydrates. Fried fish sandwiches are generally not recommended, but the Ultimate Fish Sandwich at Long John Silver's is an exception. Order all sandwiches on whole wheat buns, flatbread or pita, if available.

  Most salads are acceptable as long as low-fat dressing is an option. Chili, chicken tacos, chicken or turkey wraps or subs are allowable as well. When ordering a sub, eat only half of the bread. A large slice of thin-crust pizza or medium slice of thick-crust pizza is fine to eat, and can be topped with chicken, ham or vegetables. At fast food fish restaurants, an order of baked cod with a hush puppy or 10 pieces of battered shrimp with no sides are fine for a meal.

  Things to avoid at fast food restaurants are mayonnaise, regular salad dressing (low-fat dressing is fine), soda and French fries. If you intend to order a dessert, cut out all carbohydrates with the meal to accommodate it.

Suggestions

• A good meal at Kentucky Fried Chicken is a chicken breast sandwich with no skin or breading, and side orders of green beans and cole slaw. At McDonald's you can enjoy a grilled chicken sandwich, eaten open-faced, and a garden salad with low-fat dressing. Quizno's small honey bourbon chicken sandwich on wheat bread eaten open-faced or Subway's turkey breast and ham wrap are both good choices.

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How to Start an Elimination Diet for Food Sensitivity

Whether it's as mild as an unsettled stomach or as serious as your throat swelling closed, food allergies and sensitivities are a common problem. You may not even know what food it is that is causing you that itchiness, headache or upset stomach. The elimination diet is one way to discover which foods may be affecting your health. As the name implies, the diet requires you to eliminate highly allergic foods from your diet to clear out your system and allow you to discover which foods you should stay away from in the future. The most common foods to be eliminated are eggs, dairy, wheat and nuts.

Tips For You

1. See your doctor. If you have concerns about a food allergy or sensitivity, bring them up with your doctor first. He may have some idea what could be causing your issues. If your doctor does believe an elimination diet is an appropriate step he can give you tips on how to follow the diet and give you some nutritional guidelines to ensure you are getting the nutrients you would normally get from the foods you eliminated.
2. Plan your meals. When shopping for the beginning of your diet, read all of the food labels of the products you are using. While you may not think that what you are buying contains something you are trying to eliminate, foods such as eggs and gluten products are common to a wide variety of prepared and packaged foods. When dining out, ask about a dish's ingredients and how it is prepared.
3. Begin eating meals without any of the foods you have eliminated in order to clear them out of your system. This can last from around two weeks to four weeks. Keep watch on how you feel as your diet progresses and if your symptoms go away.
4. Keep a journal as you start your diet. Write down what you ate and how you felt without the eliminated foods in your diet. As you reintroduce foods, you will better be able to remember the effects they have on you if you write them down.

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List of Foods to Eat on the Hydroxycut Diet

Hydroxycut is a diet supplement containing caffeine that works to burn caloric intake, increase energy and control appetite. Once banned by the FDA for containing ephedra, the ban has been lifted as a result of Hydroxycut offering ephedra-free capsules. Like many diet supplements, Hydroxycut does not specify a meal plan, but it does recommend a healthy, low-calorie diet to lose weight.

Taking Hydroxycut

• Hydroxycut should be taken with a full glass of water, three times daily. In order to ensure proper digestion and that the medication works properly, take it 30 minutes to one hour before each meal. Do not take within five hours of bedtime, as the medication contains caffeine and can disrupt sleep patterns. It may take several weeks to recognize positive changes in your body, but with a low-calorie, high-protein diet and exercise regimen, you will see a difference. Consult your doctor or nutritionist if you have a health concern that you feel might interfere with taking a caffeinated dietary supplement.

Protein Intake

• Eating low-calorie diets while taking Hydroxycut require protein with every meal. Lean meats such as fish (salmon is an excellent source) and chicken (baked or broiled, never fried) are preferred to the heavier proteins of red meat and pork. Four ounces of a light, low-fat meat should be served for lunch and dinner, and a handful of dry roasted or unsalted peanuts or cheese cubes serve as a healthy protein snack throughout the day.

Fruits and Vegetables

• Fruits and vegetables are highly recommended on the Hydroxycut diet. Eat a mixed fruit bowl for breakfast and a salad with every meal (go easy on high-fat dressings such as ranch and blue cheese). According to Harvard's School of Public Health Review, vegetables and fruits should be consumed at least nine times daily and help lower blood pressure, reduce risk of heart disease and stroke. The fruits and vegetables with the most nutritional value are often are dark green, yellow, orange and red.

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The Zone Diet Food Exchange Lists

The Zone Diet is a low-carbohydrate diet that works by balancing food combinations in a ratio of 40 percent carbohydrates, 30 percent fats and 30 percent proteins. The diet even includes some fast foods like those found on McDonalds and Wendy's menus. As long as the 40-30-30 principle is followed, food substitutions should prove relatively easy. The diet strongly emphasizes the consumption of fresh fruits, vegetables and nuts and also requires drinking eight glasses of water daily.

Breakfast Exchanges

• Exchange these items for breakfast selections that remain in the Zone: eggs with French toast, jelly and cream cheese; or Eggs Benedict including Canadian bacon; or sausage with farina and maple syrup; or spinach omelet with potatoes; or turkey bacon, egg substitute and sweet potato pancakes; or baked eggs with cheese sauce and asparagus; or a fritatta made of potato and cheddar; or tomato-basil omelet with sliced potatoes.

Lunch Exchanges

• Substitute any of the following delicious lunch foods on the Zone diet: grilled chicken-Caesar salad; or club salad made with grilled chicken, bacon, lettuce and tomato; or a fresh apple and a chef's salad; or chicken satay salad; or smoked turkey in a balanced delight salad; or Cobb salad and Swiss cheese; or blackened chicken accompanied with a Creole salad; or baked cod, Dijon and lentils.
• Dinner Exchanges

• These foods should be eaten for dinner to remain in the Zone: chicken cacciatore with red pepper polenta; or white fish crusted with almonds; or artichokes with chicken Parmesan; or green beans, barley pilaf and grilled pork loin; or stuffed peppers and chick peas (garbanzo beans); or a sloppy Joe hoagie; or pork loin with kraut; or spanakopita (Greek spinach pie).

Snack Food Exchanges

• Eating the following snack foods are acceptable while on the Zone diet: mushrooms stuffed with seafood; or raspberry swirl cheesecake; or lobster ravioli; or orange-cranberry mini-muffin; or orange-cranberry cheesecake; or granola with yogurt and honey; or peach cobbler; or Greek salad; or chili tostada made with beef.

Eating Out in the Zone

• When dining out remember the following: 1 protein block = 7 g of protein; 9 g of carbohydrates that stimulate insulin = 1 carbohydrate block; 3 g of fat = 1 fat block.

  Go ahead and enjoy foods from some popular fast-food restaurants. Many of these restaurants include a breakdown of the proteins, fats and carbs from their menu items on their websites. Here are some examples.
  Burger King:
  Small order of fries: 32 g carbohydrate, 2 g protein; 13 g fat
  Hash brown rounds: 25 g carbohydrate; 2 g protein; 15 g fat

  McDonalds:
  Small chocolate shake: 60 g carbohydrate; 11 g protein; 9 g fat
  Small French fries: 26 g carbohydrate; 3 g protein; 10 g fat

  Pizza Hut:
  Spaghetti with meatballs: 120 g carbohydrate; 37 g protein; 24 g fat

  Subway:
  6-inch meatball sub: 50 g carbohydrate; 19 g protein; 15 g fat
  Meatball salad: 16 g carbohydrate; 13 g protein; 13 g fat

  Wendy's
  Small chili: 21 g carbohydrate; 15 g protein; 7 g fat
  Small frosty: 56 g carbohydrate; 8 g protein; 8 g fat
  Ranch dressing: 1 g carbohydrate; 1 g protein; 10 g fat
  Ranch dressing (reduced fat/calorie): 2 g carbohydrate; 1 g protein; 5 g fat

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Balanced Diet Food Menu

Eating a balanced diet consists of consuming a variety of foods each day. The United States Department of Agriculture sets diet recommendations in the form of a pyramid. They recommend eating mostly vegetables, fruits and grains. You should also eat dairy foods, proteins and some fats. If you choose a combination of these foods in your diet, you will achieve a balanced diet.

Basic Guidelines

• Although everyone's needs are a little different, we all need about the same proportion of certain kinds of foods each day. The USDA suggests six to 10 servings of grains per day, three to five servings of vegetables, two to four servings of fruits, two to three servings of protein and two to three servings of fats per day. According to Michael Pollan, author of "The Omnivore's Dilemma," Americans get a huge portion of their calories from corn and corn sources. Up to 10 percent of the day's calories may come from corn sweeteners alone. Because of this, in order to eat a healthy diet, most Americans do not have to worry about trying to find more grains to consume.

  Vegetarians, pregnant women, children and older people need a slightly different diet. However, the basic guidelines do not change. Based on our size, age and nutritional needs, we each need to consume a slightly different amount of food. However, an easy general rule about portion size is that it should be about the size of the palm of your hand.

Breakfast

• Balanced breakfast menus may consist of whole or sprouted grain toast topped with butter, peanut butter or cheese. The toast provides grain, the butter provides dairy and fat, the peanut butter provides protein and some fat, and the cheese provides protein and some fat. You may add a banana or other fruit such as grapefruit, orange or apple. A bowl of yogurt with nuts and seeds sprinkled on top provides dairy and protein. Adding vegetables to breakfast can be challenging.

  It is not impossible, however. Vegetable juices are an easy place to start, and certainly count toward a balanced diet. An omelet with chopped bell peppers, mushrooms and tomatoes is a quick meal consisting of protein and vegetables. Serve with fried potatoes, yams or sweet potatoes fried in one tablespoon of coconut butter, grape seed oil or olive oil to give you a good portion of healthy fat with your vegetables. You could also shred zucchini or carrots into morning muffins to add vegetables to your morning.

Lunch and Evening Meals

• Lunch and evening meals can consist of a variety of foods. Try to add more vegetables and fruits to achieve a healthy balance. Salads can make an entire meal. They can have a base of pasta or rice, but also contain chopped chicken or fish and a variety of vegetables, including tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots and peppers. A tablespoon of salad dressing adds a serving of fat.

  Soups, too, can be an entire balanced meal. Stock provides protein. Sauteing vegetables in a tablespoon of butter or olive oil provides one serving of fat. While cooking, add pasta, rice or bulgar wheat for a serving of grain. A traditional "meat and potatoes" dinner can be a healthy balanced choice as well. A small serving of meat, with a side serving of pasta, rice or potato, and a large green salad provides protein, grains and vegetables, with a little fat either in the cooking of the meat or on the salad as salad dressing.

Snacks

• Instead of eating three main meals each day, many people enjoy grazing, or eating small meals throughout the day. Children need to eat more often because of their size, for example. Think of snacks as a way to tip the scales toward a healthy diet. For some, this may mean snacks which are high in protein such as mixed nuts, pumpkin seeds and other seeds, cheese, yogurt or a hard-boiled egg. Others may need more fresh vegetables and fruits. Though the USDA food pyramid recommends three to five servings of vegetables, many other organizations suggest more. The American Cancer Society suggests five or more servings per day. Apples, bananas, carrots and bell peppers make easy snacks. Get creative and think of ways to tip your diet toward a healthier balance.

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Full Liquid Diet Food List

A full liquid diet is an intermediary diet used to transition from a clear liquid diet to solid foods. Such a diet is typically indicated after surgery, especially on the gastrointestinal tract. It may also be used in people with wired jaws. According to the American Dietetic Association's Nutrition Care Manual, although a full liquid diet is adequate in calories, it is generally prescribed for short-term use as it is deficient in vitamins, minerals and fiber.

Dairy

• Most dairy products are allowed on the full liquid diet except for cheese. Milk, yogurt and cream contribute the greatest quantity of calories and protein.

Fruits and Vegetables

• Pureed and strained vegetable soups are included on the diet, as well as vegetable/fruit juices and nectars.

Beverages

• Due to the nature of the diet, virtually all beverages are allowed on the full liquid diet. Avoid any drinks, such as fruit smoothies, that are not completely blended or contain seeds. Nutrition supplements may be indicated to boost calories and protein intake.

Fats and Desserts

• Oil, butter and margarine can be added to the above foods to increase calories. Pudding, custard, ice cream, popsicles and gelatin are also included.

Ask Your Doctor

• Strained meats and certain grain products like cream of rice or farina may be allowed on a full liquid diet; be sure to verify the safety of these products with your doctor.

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How to Combine Food With the Lemonade Diet

The Lemonade Diet is a detox program designed to cleanse your system and help you lose weight. Different people incorporate the diet for varying amounts of time. However, it typically lasts two days and consists of only consuming lemon juice, Grade B maple syrup, cayenne pepper, water and unrefined sea salt. While combining food throughout the entire process would eliminate its purpose, you can combine food with the beginning and the end of the Lemonade Diet to ease your body into and off the diet. 

Things You'll Need

• Fruit
• Vegetables
• Orange juice
• Grade B maple syrup
• Lemon juice
• Cayenne pepper
• Water
• Unrefined sea salt
• Non-processed foods

Tips For You

1. Eat only fruits and vegetables on the first day of the diet. This will ease your body into what it will be going through over the course of the diet. The fruits and vegetables should be raw, if possible. Since you can't consume dressings at this point, pick fruits and vegetables you enjoy eating by themselves. You don't want to make the process any more difficult than it has to be.
2. Drink three liters of orange juice with two tbsp. of grade B maple syrup in it throughout the second day.
3. Decide how long you want to detox. Most people detox only for two days. During these days, you can only consume two liters of lemonade over the course of each day. To make this lemonade, combine 14 tbsp. lemon juice, 14 tbsp. grade B maple syrup, 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper and two liters of water. Drink from the lemonade when you feel hunger pains. In the evening of each day, mix 1 tbsp. unrefined sea salt into one liter of water and drink it at one time to flush out your system.
4. Drink three liters of orange juice mixed with two tbsp. of grade B maple syrup over the course of the first day after you have finished detoxing.
5. Eat only fruits and vegetables on the second day after completion of detox. The fruits and vegetables should be raw, if possible. Pick fruits and vegetables you enjoy eating by themselves.
6. Eat only fruits, vegetables and non-processed foods during the third day after you have stopped detoxing. Grains such as brown rice and oats will help to ease you back into your regular diet.

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How to Find the Best Diet Food Delivery Service

The best diet food delivery service brings hot, fresh meals to your door to help you lose weight. For people in a time crunch--that require a disciplined meal plan to help with weight loss--a meal delivery service is an essential component of healthy eating and maintaining your goal

Tips For You

1. Consider your current weight loss-eating plan. The best diet food delivery service will complement your existing weight loss plan. Your portions must include healthy food deliveries to meet the protein, fat and carbohydrate components of your diet plan.
2. Ask your weight loss coach, personal trainer or weight loss consultant for recommendations. Your weight loss support team can help with your fresh food delivery by suggesting the perfect vendor for your needs. While Los Angeles door-to-door healthy food services are abundant, you can search the internet for "fresh diet meal delivery services" and find a service that suits your wallet and your weight goals with one mouse click.
3. Determine your budget and your meal preparation needs. Some diet food delivery plans are "deliver, heat and eat" while others require food preparation. Choose a food plan that serves gourmet, organic or fresh food portions to suit your palette and your wallet. The price for 7 days of meal plans range from $113 to $300 per week.
4. Conduct a taste test. Ask for sample meals. Taste and food preparation procedures are important when considering a food delivery service. Because most food plans require a minimum of a six-week commitment, sample the food first to select the best and most palatable plan for your budget.

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About South Beach Diet Food Delivery

Arthur Agatston, is a medical doctor who created the South Beach Diet in an effort to prevent strokes and heart attacks. He claims that many other diets are only created for short-term weight loss, while his diet focuses on converting to a healthy lifestyle, with weight loss as the added benefit. The South Beach Diet is different than most diets because this plan is geared towards improving overall blood chemistry, while trimming the waistline at the same time. In his book, "The South Beach Diet," he explains how the glycemic index works and why it is important to keep it under control.

He also goes into detail about what types of good carbs and fats are needed by the body. The diet has three phases. The first phase is very strict. During the first phase of the diet. a person is very limited by what she can eat. No carbohydrates are allowed during the first phase. You are allowed to eat normal size meals several times a day. The main foods allowed during the first phase are lean meats like salmon and chicken. Low fat dairy is also allowed such as, part-skim mozzarella cheese sticks. Phase two is a more liberal phase of the diet. During this phase, healthy carbs like vegetables are added in gradually. Lean meats, eggs and proteins are the main staples during this phase. However, healthy desserts, such as chocolate-dipped strawberries are allowed. Phase three is the maintenance phase and by far the most liberal phase. The same healthy meals are recommended as well as a few treats.

South Beach Diet food delivery is a program which is set up by food delivery companies in many areas across the nation. Many of these delivery companies also deliver food for other diets such as, The Zone or the Atkins Diet. You simply place your order and the food is delivered right to your door. The cost of this service varies depending on the area that you live in. In most cases, the price ranges from $150 to $350 each week.

Benefits

• The South Beach Diet food delivery service has many benefits. The meals are pre-made for each phase of the diet. This can help make things easier for you, because there will be no cooking needed on your part. The main purpose of this diet is to achieve a healthy weight and literally change body chemistry, as well as control cravings. A person who follows this lifestyle plan will have a healthy stronger heart, lower cholesterol and a reduced risk of developing diabetes.

Time Frame

• The delivery is set on a weekly basis and it can be customized depending on your overall goals. For instance, some people stay on phase one for longer than the recommended time frame. Phase one is meant to last two weeks. Phase two lasts up until you reach your goal weight. The length of time a person stays on phase two depends on how much weight they need to lose and how long it takes. Phase three is simply a phase which is meant to help maintain your weight loss by sticking with the heart healthy lifestyle.

Warning

• Be sure to check out the facility of the diet food delivery company if possible. Some food delivery companies will ship out of state, but if the company is in your area, you may want to make sure the food is being prepared properly in a sanitary environment. This is typically not a problem, because most companies are required to have health inspections by the health department, but if you want peace of mind you might want to do more investigation yourself. Always speak to your doctor before starting any diet or weight loss program.

Prevention/Solution

• Staying on the maintenance program is the best way to prevent gaining the weight back. This diet is meant to be a lifestyle change rather than a temporary fix. If you find that you don't like the particular food delivery service for one reason or another, you always have the option to cancel and find another company to delivery your food.

Significance

• The South Beach Diet food delivery program can offer an advantage. When the food is delivered directly to your door, you are more likely to stay on track and stick to the diet. This is a health investment that will pay off for the rest of your life.

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How to Reintroduce Solid Foods

Soft, liquid diets are prescribed for numerous reasons. Individuals who have had dental work or surgery or those suffering from certain illnesses may require special diets. To avoid pain, bloating, nausea and gastrointestinal distress, you must reintroduce solid foods gradually. The amount of time it will take before you are able to eat solid foods again will depend on how well you tolerate the food as well as how long you stayed on a soft diet.

Tips For You

1. Visit your healthcare provider to discuss whether you are ready to eat solid foods again. Starting to eat solid foods before you are ready can cause gastrointestinal complications.
2. Start with a soft diet. If you were limited to only a liquid diet, eat a soft diet for two to three days in order to build up your body's tolerance. Eat foods like mashed potatoes, applesauce, ice cream, Jell-O and pudding.
3. Eat bland starches, cereals and carbohydrates. Do not add spices, seasonings or condiments. Consume unsalted crackers and plain rice and toast for one to two days. These carbohydrates will help teach teach your body to break down solid foods.
4. Add cooked vegetables into your diet. Prepare steamed or boiled vegetables while eating bland carbohydrates. Continue with this diet for one to two days.
5. Incorporate protein. Choose bland, lean meats like plain chicken or turkey and eat these proteins for one to two days.
6. Include raw vegetables and fruits. Your diet should consist of bland carbohydrates, steamed or boiled vegetables, plain, bland proteins and fruits and vegetables. Continue this diet for one to two days.
7. Return to the diet you had before it was restricted.

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How to Use the Mediterranean Diet Food Pyramid

The Mediterranean diet is based on a Grecian diet, specifically the food that natives of Crete, Greece and Southern Italy consume. It is a diet that places an emphasis on fresh fruit, plant foods, olive oil and dairy products, and has been known to prevent strokes and heart disease among other things. The Mediterranean Diet Food Pyramid serves as a guide to show which foods to eat to stay within the diet plan.

Tips For YouHow to Use the Mediterranean Diet Food Pyramid

1. Eat eight servings of grains a day, such as rice, potatoes and bread . The Mediterranean diet emphasizes this in the pyramid. Cheese and yogurt should also be consumed daily.
2. Enjoy three servings of fruit and six servings of vegetables a day. Beans, legumes and nuts are also an important part of the diet, and should be included in the diet every day.
3. Consume olive oil daily, whether it is through cooking or served over salad or fresh vegetables. This is where most of the fat in the diet comes from, but it is a healthier monounsaturated fat.
4. Eat meat or "soy meat" weekly. It is recommended to eat fish almost daily, but red meat is only allowed once a week at the most. Consumption of red meat once a month is ideal. Eggs should also be included in the diet, but on a more sparing basis; weekly instead of daily.
5. Drink wine daily, but in moderation. One following the diet should drink no more than 1 to 2 glasses of wine a day. Also, it is important to drink six glasses of water a day.
6. The diet pyramid includes sweets, but consume them in moderation. The Mediterranean Diet allows sweets weekly, but not daily.

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