The Sonoma Diet: Eating Phases and Portion Control

The Sonoma Diet is based on the Mediterranean food pyramid and consists of three specific phases, or waves. This diet was developed by Connie Gutterson PHD, RD as a style of healthy eating that doesn’t deprive dieters of pleasures such as wine with dinner.

The eating plan includes many foods from all different food groups and is not considered low carb. Most foods are allowed in moderation, but there is a list of ten foods that are considered power foods and should be eaten often. They include;

• Spinach
• Grapes
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Strawberries
• Bell peppers
• Broccoli
• Tomatoes
• Whole grains
• Almonds
• Blueberries

The Positives

The Sonoma Diet allows many foods that other diets do not, such as chocolate and wine, as long as they are as unprocessed as possible. Gutterson encourages dieters to eat whole grains because they are full of fiber that helps them feel full longer. Each phase has a list of allowable foods that are free of white flour and hydrogenated fat. Phase one is the most restrictive, and lasts ten days.

Phase two allows all of the same foods as phase one, plus a few more and six ounces per day of wine. Gutterson advises dieters to stay on the phase two eating plan until they have reached their goal weight. Many recipes are included in the Sonoma Diet book, helping readers have variety in their diet and gives them ideas for a meal plan.

Phase three is a method of incorporating the diet into a permanent lifestyle change.

The Sonoma Diet is restrictive, but many dieters appreciate being told what to eat because it takes the guesswork out and following the provided recipes ensures that they are eating the right foods.

The Negatives

The Sonoma Diet doesn’t focus on exercise, which is just as important for long term weight loss as healthy eating. Dieters who are following the Sonoma Diet will have to come up with their own moderate exercise plan to keep their bodies healthy and strong.

The restrictive list of allowable foods is a negative for some dieters who have trouble sticking to a specified list or have food allergies. There is also some concern by doctors that the Sonoma Diet is too low in calories for many people and will leave them feeling hungry. The diet restricts the portions of all allowable foods and doesn’t give dieters any extra leeway for treats, which can be very difficult and often leads to cheating or abandoning the diet altogether.

The foods that are allowed for dieters to follow the Sonoma Diet are healthy and good for your body, but the portions are unrealistic for many dieters and difficult to maintain for a period of time. All dieters should follow an exercise plan along with a healthy eating plan so they sculpt their bodies while losing weight and their metabolism is burning all the calories they consume so they can have a successful weight loss result.