SONOMA DIET
The Sonoma Diet was developed by Connie Guttersen, a registered dietician who thought that current dieting programs created anxiety about food and eating. She emphasizes a Mediterranean-style menu and has a cookbook out with healthy recipes to support the diet.
Foods Emphasized: 10 " Sonoma Diet Power Foods"
Foods Restricted: Foods with added sugar, saturated fats and refined white flour
Premise and Guidelines: The Sonoma region of sunny California is not unlike the regions in the Mediterranean, with similar climate and soil. So it seems natural that this Mediterranean diet theme is carried over into the Sonoma diet. And because this region is so well-known for its wines, it does allow the imbibing of its famous fermented grape drink.
The Sonoma Diet encourages “the joy of eating", believing that a diet will be more successful when dieters are allowed to eat delicious foods, thereby increasing their chances of commitment. The diet revolves around ten "Sonoma Diet Power Foods" including almonds, bell peppers, blueberries, broccoli, grapes, olive oil, spinach, strawberries, tomatoes and whole grains, plus a glass of wine each day. Eating power foods provides you with energy you need and improves your overall health.
The Sonoma Diet is constructed of 3 phases or "waves." Wave One is ten days long and the most restrictive. This phase jumpstarts your weight-loss by restricting items such as alcohol, fruit, starchy vegetables and dairy - all allowable in the second phase. The second phase or ‘wave’ can last until the weight loss goal is achieved, and Phase Three means life-long maintenance. Calorie counting is not a part of this diet, but they do have a clever way to get around portion control. Instead of asking dieters to measure anything, they devised a simple way to keep track of overeating portions. Using a 7-inch plate for breakfast and a 9-inch plate for lunch and dinner will keep dieters from oversizing portions.
The Sonoma diet takes an unusual stance at marketing; it doesn’t attempt to create an illusion of uniqueness. It claims to be a version of a Mediterranean diet, and uses the authors dieting credentials to back up her ideas about balanced eating. The celebration of food, as the Sonoma diet puts it, does not restrict carbohydrates, making it viable for long-term use.