Top Ten Diet Plans :: Reviews

The Sonoma Diet, by Registered Dietitian Connie Guttersen, takes its name from the Sonoma Valley region, renowned for its wine industry. This diet has a distinctly Mediterranean flare.

The Joy of Eating

The Sonoma Diet is dubbed "the most flavorful weight loss plan under the sun" - and emphasizes the joy of eating. The diet emphasizes 10 key foods - the "Sonoma Diet Power Foods".

Almonds
Bell peppers
Blueberries
Broccoli
Grapes
Olive oil
Spinach
Strawberries
Tomatoes
Whole grains

And yes, the grapes can be fermented - as with all Mediterranean diets - wine is on the menu with Sonoma.

Chopped Salmon Salad (Wave 1)
Nonstick olive oil cooking spray
3⁄4 cup flaked smoked salmon
1⁄4 cup thinly sliced green onions
1⁄2 cup coarsely chopped yellow bell pepper
1 1⁄3 cups chopped seeded tomatoes
1⁄4 cup chopped onion

1 medium cucumber, coarsely chopped (2 cups)
2 tablespoons chopped ripe olives
2 teaspoons small capers, drained
Lemon Vinaigrette

1. Coat four 6-ounce coffee cups with nonstick cooking spray. Equally divide and layer ingredients in each cup in the following order: salmon, green onions, bell pepper, tomatoes, onion, and cucumber. Cover tops with plastic wrap and firmly press mixture into cups with a soup can or similar object slightly smaller than diameter of cup.

2. To serve, invert salads onto 4 salad plates; carefully lift off cups. Sprinkle salads with olives and capers; drizzle with Lemon Vinaigrette.

Lemon Vinaigrette: In a screw-top jar combine 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 teaspoons finely shredded lemon peel, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, sugar substitute to equal 1⁄2 teaspoon sugar, 1⁄4 teaspoon kosher salt, and several dashes bottled hot pepper sauce. Shake well before serving.

Nutrition Facts per serving: 135 cal., 9 g total fat (1 g sat. fat), 7 mg chol.,
429 mg sodium, 9 g carbo., 2 g fiber, 7 g pro.

The 3 Waves

The diet is composed of 3 waves or phases. The first wave is 10 days long and is more restrictive. The second wave is the main weight loss phase, and the third is the maintenance phase. The main emphasis is on portion control using particular plate and bowl sizes rather than measuring amounts or calories. Using a 7-inch plate for breakfast, and a 9-inch plate for lunch and dinner, for example. The plan teaches you how to appropriately fill the dishes for each wave of the diet.

Online Program

The book contains 500 recipes, and the subscription-based online version has well over 1000. The online version also includes valuable tools such as meal planners, shopping lists, diaries, and trackers, community forums, and many more. Subscription costs are $5 per week with a minimum 5 week charge and no cancellation fees. See the Sonoma Diet Online here..

A Wine Guide?

Very rarely can you finds a diet that teaches you how to select the right wines. Whether it's red, white, or sparkling - wine is on the menu from Wave 2 onwards.

Why This Diet?

The Sonoma diet is not unique by any means - nor does it teach any 'radical new approaches'. There are many resources available on Mediterranean diets as well as healthy portion control, but Guttersen does have impressive credentials, probably the most impressive of which is that she is a nutritional consultant to the Olive industry.

Where to get it:
Sonoma Diet at Amazon
TThe Sonoma Diet on-line program