Moderate Diets for Weight Loss

The zone diet works temporarily, because it is low in calories. It involves planning and keeping track of your portions for each meal.

Basic concept

The Zone Diet promotes eating a balanced amount of protein, carbohydrate, and fat every time you eat. The idea is to keep your blood sugar in check, within a tight “zone.”

How it works

Divide your plate into three equal sections. Fill one section with low-fat protein. Fill the remaining sections with vegetables and fruit. Add a “sprinkle” of fat. That’s it. Some people call it the 40-30-30 plan. You get 40% of your meal from carbohydrate, 30% from protein, and 30% from fats.

Other guidelines include:

• Eat within 1 hour of waking.
• Eat three meals and two snacks a day.
• Keep bread, pasta, grains, and starches to a minimum.
• Drink at least eight 8 fl oz (236.6 ml) glasses of water a day.

On the menu

• Lean meat and protein
• Fruits and vegetables
• Olive oil
• Low-fat dairy

Off the menu

• Sugar
• Processed foods
• High-fat dairy