Dispel the notion that Zone diet is meant only for those who eat non-vegetarian foods. If you are a vegetarian you can convert your diet into a Zone diet vegetarian meal. This excellent diet is not based on being vegetarian or non-vegetarian. It is purely a diet based on carbohydrates, proteins and fat, but in a precisely fixed ratio. The ratio is 40:30:30. In simple words your meal should consist of 40% carbohydrates, 30% fat and 30% protein. What makes up the protein portion is not the question.
If you need to know more about this, pick up Dr. Barry Sears' "The Soy Zone." Dr. Barry Sears, a former research scientist at the Boston University School of Medicine and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, created the Zone diet.
The Zone Vegetarian Diet
In the main, vegetarians consume carbohydrates more than they consume proteins. It is an incorrect notion that meals high in carbohydrates help in reducing weight and give you a healthy life. Diets high in carbohydrates lead to increased Insulin levels in your body which leads to gain and storage of fats. Vegetarians need to consume vegetable proteins to balance the carbohydrates they intake.
Your Zone diet needs to be in the Right Proportion and in the Right Portion. Not only should your diet be in the 40:30:30 ratio but your meal portion also needs to be precise. That is why you get to consume your diet in the number of Zone blocks. Calculation of Zone blocks depends on your weight and height in addition to other minor measurements. An average male consumes, say, 14 Zone blocks and an average female 11 blocks in a day.
Assume an average Zone diet consists of:
· Skinless chicken or turkey breast (proteins)
· Black beans and Raw Broccoli (carbohydrates)
· Avocado and Macadamia nuts (fat)
To make this into a vegetarian Zone meal, all you need to do is replace the protein portion with Soybean based meat substitutes, such as Soybean hot dogs or hamburgers. Tofu, Soy-based products, Cheese, Nuts, and meat substitutes, such as seitan and tempah make for great protein substitutes for vegetarians. However, you need to be careful when selecting vegetables. Green beans, for example, have high protein and carbohydrate contents. If you opt for these, you may upset the carbohydrate to protein ratio. This is where you need to juggle your contents.
The Bottom Line
Make sure you use favorable carbohydrates and fats in your Zone diet vegetarian meals. Opt for fruits and vegetables that contain low starch, and avoid bananas and prunes due to their high sugar content. Use monounsaturated fat only. You can consume avocado, macadamia nuts, peanuts, almonds and shun butter, vegetable shortenings and creams. Use olive oil and peanut butter, instead.
It is worth repeating that Zone diets should be consumed in the Right Proportion and in the Right Portion. This is a wellness diet that will help reduce your weight and keep you healthy. It is never too late to make that lifestyle change.
The author has written thousands of website content articles on various topics.
Zone diet foods are simply based on the 40:30:30 formula. Each and every meal in this diet consists of 40% carbohydrates, 30% fat, and 30% protein. According to Dr. Sears, the creator of Zone diet, food should be treated as a prescription drug. It should be taken in a fixed quantity and at a fixed time. After all, we all will be taking food three times a day for the rest of our lives! Food requires to be consumed in the Right Proportion and in the Right Portion.
The carbohydrates we select for our diet should consist of low starch fruits and vegetables; the proteins should be lean; and we should add a dash of heart friendly monounsaturated fat. Followers of the Zone diet are allowed to have 3 Zone meals and 2 Zone snacks each day, all meals strictly in the 40:30:30 ratio. Each meal is determined by the number of Zone blocks you are allowed to eat. A man is generally allowed 14 Zone blocks and a woman 11 Zone blocks every day, but this may vary from individual to individual.
Every Zone block has 3 mini blocks each of carbohydrates, proteins and fat. Each mini block has 9 grams carbohydrates; 7 grams protein; and 1.5 grams fat. Based on your weight, height and a couple of other measurements, the Zone diet calculator tells you the number of Zone blocks of protein, carbohydrates, and fat you are supposed to consume in a day.
Recommended Foods
Lean proteins are recommended. These would include, among others:
· Skinless chicken or turkey breast
· calamari
· fat free cottage cheese
· egg whites
· clams
· soy burgers
· soy sausages
Low starch carbohydrates would include, among others:
· Black beans
· Raw Broccoli
· Shredded and boiled cabbage
· Eggplant
· Boiled mushrooms
· Tomatoes
· Blueberries
Fats would include, among others:
· Avocado
· Macadamia nuts
· Olive oil
· Peanut butter
· Peanuts
· Tahini
· Almonds
Chicken and fish are the main foods recommended in the Zone diet. Vegetarians can substitute this with Soy and Soy products. Dr. Sears' 'Zone At-a-Glance™' method makes it easy for you to fix up your plate. He recommends that a third of your plate be filled with Protein; two thirds with fruits and vegetables; and round it off with a dash of Olive Oil or Almonds.
Zone diet foods follow the 'Zone 1-2-3 Method™.' This simply means that the diet consists of one gram of fat, two grams of protein and three grams of carbohydrates.
Certain proteins, carbohydrates and fats are considered unfavorable by Dr. Sears. These are to be avoided at all costs. A few among such unfavorable foods are: pork, duck, bread, pasta, butter, cream, and vegetable shortenings.
If possible, avoid sugar in all forms. Avoid fruits and vegetables that have high sugar content. These are: bananas, prunes, grapes, potatoes, carrots and corn, among others. If you opt to drink alcohol then reduce your carbohydrate intake in your meal.
The author has written thousands of website content articles on various topics.
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