The Sonoma Diet Review

Ten Power Foods with Flavor

If you have trouble staying on diets because of the restrictions, the calorie counting, and the bland food, you'll be thrilled to discover the Sonoma Diet. The Sonoma Diet was created by Connie Guttersen and is based on the Mediterranean diet. Connie was tired of diets that lacked flavor. As a registered dietician and a culinary expert, she set out to change that.

The Sonoma diet isn't about avoiding food, but incorporating tasty and healthy food into your life. There are ten power foods that you center your meals around. The powerful ten are whole grains, almonds, bell peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, grapes, spinach, blueberries, strawberries, and olive oil. These are some of the best diet foods for losing weight while getting all the nutrition your body needs.

Whole grains, such as brown rice, barley, bulgur, oatmeal, wild rice, and whole-wheat breads, crackers, and pastas are rich in niacin, riboflavin, iron, zinc, magnesium, thiamin, vitamin E and contains fiber, protein and carbohydrates.

Almonds are the most nutritionally dense nut. A handful of almonds will give you a healthy amount of vitamin E and magnesium, as well as fiber, calcium, potassium, phosphorous, iron, monosaturated fat, and protein.

Bell peppers are an excellent source of vitamin C and A, and a good source of vitamin B6, dietary fiber, vitamin K, manganese, folate, potassium, vitamin B1 and vitamin E.

Tomatoes are full of lycopene, vitamin C, and vitamin A.

Broccoli is a powerful anticancer food and rich in calcium, iron, magnesium, vitamin A, and vitamin C. Grapes can help protect you against heart disease, bad cholesterol, and tumors with their polyphenols.

Spinach has lutein, niacin, zinc, protein, and vitamins A, C, E, K, and B6.

Blueberries are the number one food for antioxidant benefits.

Strawberries are great for vitamin C and flavonoids.

Olive oil contains the good fats and antioxidants.


Plate size for portion control

Although you won't be counting calories with the Sonoma diet, you will be practicing portion control. To help you control your portion, you use a 7-inch plate for breakfast and a 9-inch plate for lunch and supper. This will help you avoid overeating, but without the tedium of calorie counting.

There are three waves of the Sonoma diet. The first wave is made for a maximum weight less jump start. It lasts for ten days and is the most restrictive in which foods are allowed. The second wave is more lenient, but still cuts out things like dessert. Once you reach your ideal weight, you'll move on to the maintenance wave. During this wave, an occasional dessert is allowed.

Easy weight management

In many ways, this is one of the easiest diets to maintain. The food is delicious and there are many recipes available. Since it is normal food, your whole family can join you on the Sonoma plan without them feeling like they are on a diet.

The only downside to this plan is that it does require a lot of cooking. The majority of meals are not complicated, but if you hate being in the kitchen you will have trouble sticking to this diet.