Sonoma Diet

Background

The Sonoma Diet was inspired by two key elements. The first is California’s Sonoma County, where healthy eating and active lifestyle are highlighted; and the second is the Sonoma cuisine, which is a reflection of the way of eating by the Mediterranean people.
Sonoma Diet was founded based on the Mediterranean Diet emphasizing on the consumption of food that boost the body’s vitality and improving overall health. Weight loss is not primarily due to avoidance of certain food and no ‘diet food’ is involved. The Sonoma Diet is a program that focuses on controlling portion sizes, limiting caloric intake and encourages the love for cooking and appreciation of food. It is not a newfound weight loss approach; however, it has several recommendable diet principles.
The Sonoma Diet includes three distinct phases or ‘waves’. Wave 1 includes the first ten days of the diet program. In this phase, dieters will overcome the urge to consume large amounts of sugar, food with refined flour and other food that are quickly absorbed by the body. The phase is also a period wherein the body is ‘naturally recalibrated’ and turning from bad eating habits. This is said to be the period when weight loss is at its fastest. As the body gets accustomed to new eating habits, food portions and choices are increased in Wave 2.
Wave 2 is the main part of the diet program. Dieters will continue on the Sonoma approach to eating until the target weight is reached. Weight loss at this stage is not as dramatic as in the first wave, but it has a steady effect. At this phase, the focus is on savoring the meal with an emphasis on health and pleasure.
Wave 3 is the maintenance phase of the program and begins when the target weight or the health goals have been met. An addition of occasional snacks and desserts are included at this stage. Plate-filling instructions or serving sizes and food lists are followed. Sonoma Dieters are also recommended to follow meal plans or create their own menus.
Pros

•    Diet plan is simple and easy to follow; there is no measuring of grams and plate size is used to control food portions.

•    Emphasis is given on what should be eaten rather than what is restricted

•    Focus on savoring the food and eating slowly

•    Emphasis on food varieties and nutritional components such as phytonutrients and antioxidants.

•    Good program structure

Cons

•    Can be expensive on food costs

•    Time-intensive at first

•    Dose not incorporate exercise programs

•    Little flexibility for a low-calorie diet

•    Vegetable servings are small after the initial phase

•    Many foods are banned or not allowed

•    Possibility of carbohydrate crash in the first phase

•    Takes a lot of time for preparation like shopping and preparing meals

•    Inaccuracies which include recommendations on carbohydrate levels, claims over the glycemic levels of whole wheat bread and the program’s few grain servings

Food and Recipes

The Sonoma Diet stresses enjoying and savoring food instead of avoiding it, as in the case of traditional diet routines. The large variety of foods and recipes are designed to provide health benefits to the body such as increased energy, vitality, resistance to certain diseases and weight loss. The Sonoma Diet also includes a list of Top Ten Power Foods that helps not only in weight loss but also provide nutrients needed by the body. These include almonds, bell peppers, blueberries, broccoli, grapes, olive oil, spinach, strawberries, tomatoes and whole grains. The program also includes recipes with easy-to-follow steps and instructions for preparing hearty and healthy dishes. The food lists and meal plans feature delicious and easy-to-prepare dishes.

Expense

The online subscription for the Sonoma program is $5 per week and you can cancel anytime after five weeks with no cancellation fees after that. The Sonoma Diet book is available for $15.72 USD plus shipping and handling charges at Amazon.com.

Conclusion
The Sonoma Diet plan basically encourages healthy eating as a measure for weight loss at the same time prevents diseases. Moderation of portion sizes is emphasized along with better and healthier food choices. However, it is somewhat time-consuming as one must devote some time for food and meal preparation. It also lacks the need to engage in physical activities and exercise routines, as relying solely on diet plans can lead to relapses.

Have You Tried The Sonoma Diet?

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