If you’ve followed this blog long, you know that lately, I’ve stuck to a fairly rigid paleo diet. What is a Paleo Diet- you might wonder?? Well, it’s basically about getting your calories from protein, fruit, seeds, nuts, vegetables and eggs rather than from grains, dairy, sugar or alcohol. Admittedly, during the holidays, we (hubby and I) indulged in the good stuff a little too much…however, on looking back, I still cooked and served most of our meals using the paleo style of cooking. The difference between the Zone diet and the Paleo diet is – what you can eat. On the Zone, everything is allowable (in moderation) while on the Paleo diet certain foods are off limits- such as sugar, rice, pasta, bread, beans, and cheeses.
This is the good thing about the ZONE diet- PORTION control. The trick to following the ZONE diet successfully is knowing how much you can eat. For example, six egg whites is equivalent to the amount of protein I can eat at breakfast. Along with 1 apple, 1/2 cup of salsa and 1/2 an avocado. For a snack, I can eat 2 boiled eggs (minus the yolks + 1 tablespoon of hummus). For lunch a gigantic salad with chicken and dinner could be fish + 2 vegetables. This is plenty of food, readers! And, it never felt like I was cheating myself. 1 glass of wine with dinner is the same as one serving of vegetables. 1 square of 85% dark chocolate is the same as one serving of vegetables. 2 raw sugars in my coffee is the same as one apple. 1 cup of Greek yogurt is the same as eating 3 ounces of chicken breast.
Knowing the ZONE diet can greatly benefit YOU when/if you decide to follow the paleo diet. If you want to know why, please follow these links, then, utilize the portion sizes from the Zone and apply it to the Paleo Diet. Because, when first starting on the paleo diet, I could easily overeat on the protein and the vegetables- particularly on the ones I like- sweet potatoes and dates. What’s the plan for January for this Fit Mom family? Rigid Paleo Monday -through Friday with allowances for a glass of wine on the weekends and I especially appreciate the 85% dark chocolate as being allowable on Rob Wolf’s plan (although, I’m sure you’re not supposed to eat it everyday, ha ha ha).