Published Clips
Chad Neuman
The Sonoma Diet Book Review
July/August 2006
Enjoy eating healthy food while trimming your waist with the latest weight-loss book, "The Sonoma Diet: Trimmer Waist, Better Health in Just 10 Days! (Meredith Books, 2005). Written by Connie Guttersen, RD, PhD, The Sonoma Diet has much in common with the diet consumed by people of Mediterranean descent since it is based on foods eaten every day by people who live in Mediterranean countries.
With an emphasis on losing weight and developing healthy eating habits, The Sonoma Diet follows a sensible plan that people can use even after reaching their weight-loss goals. The book focuses on the benefits of a diet consisting of whole grains, colorful vegetables, good fats and protein choices such as lean cuts of lamb, beef, pork, white meat poultry and fish.
The Sonoma Diet also discusses some foods you should never consume or, in some cases, consume only once in a while. Bacon, organ meats and dark meat poultry, as well as cake, mayonnaise, chips, lard, regular soda, ice cream and butter are eliminated due to their high fat contents.
The Sonoma Diet consists of three "waves." Wave 1 lasts 10 days and is meant to teach you how to enjoy healthy food and eliminate "an overdependence on highly refined foods that turn your metabolism into a body fat production factory." Instead of eating whatever is available, readers are instructed to clean out their pantry and start fresh with all new purchases. They will also avoid overeating because the diet required strict portion control. "The most important goal of Wave 1 is to break your sugar addiction." In Wave 2, a variety of foods are explored, including new vegetable, fruit and dairy choices. Designed to steadily continue weight loss in a healthy manner, Wave 2 helps you reach your target weight. Wave 3 begins the day you reach your target weight and focuses on enjoying healthy food without worrying about gaining weight.
Power foods are the backbone of The Sonma Diet because of their healthy benefits. These include almonds, bell peppers, blueberries, broccoli, grapes, olive oil, spinach, strawberries, tomatoes and whole grains.
The best parts of the book are the mouthwatering recipes from Wave 1 and 2. Wave 1 recipes include delicious dishes such as Brocolli with Almonds and Hot Pepper, Tandoori Chicken, and Roasted Eggplant Salad. Once in Wave 2, readers can enjoy Shrimp with Serranos, Sonoma Salad with Tomatoes and Feta, and Hearty Lentil Soup. Also encouraged and introduced in Wave 2 is a daily glass of wine. Modest in calories, wine encourages mealtime enjoyment and enhances the food experience.
Whether you are looking to shed a few extra pounds or trying to eat healthier, this book is definitely worth the recipes alone--with the added bonus of the common sense advice it offers.
