Low Carb & Smart Carb Dieting. Glycemic Index, Low Carb Fat Burning Index, and many more successful diet approaches
Thursday
Wednesday
Tuna and Spinach Salad With Yogurt-Dill Dressing
From the Zone Diet
Many people associate canned tuna solely with tuna fish sandwiches. But in the Zone canned tuna is a pantry staple that can be dressed up for elegant salads, providing the protein portion of your meal at an extremely reasonable cost. When buying canned tuna, be sure to choose "water-packed" instead of "oil-packed." Some companies also sell tuna marinated in pouches -- Starkist, for instance, offers tasty hickory-smoked and garlic-and-herb tunas. These are a good option, too.
To help you break out of the tuna fish sandwich mold, try this delicious salad -- and serve it with a Melon-Berry Cooler to complete your Zone meal:
Tuna and Spinach Salad With Yogurt-Dill Dressing and Melon-Berry Cooler
Prep: 20 minutes
Yield: 4 meals
Ingredients
Yogurt-Dill Dressing
1 cup organic low-fat yogurt
1/3 cup Nayonnaise (soy-based sandwich spread)
4 teaspoons fructose powder
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley leaves
1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh dill weed or 1/3 teaspoon dried dill
1/4 teaspoon finely ground white or black pepper
Finely ground sea salt (to taste)
Tuna and Spinach Salad
10 cups baby spinach, washed, spun dry
2 medium-size Roma tomatoes, thinly sliced or diced
1 cup bottled artichoke hearts, drained
2 cups English cucumber, peeled, quartered, thinly sliced
1 cup minced scallions (green onions)
12 ounces water packed, no-salt tuna, drained
18 lightly toasted walnut halves, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup capers, rinsed and chopped (optional)
Melon-Berry Cooler
2/3 cup apple juice
3 cups cubed honeydew or cantaloupe melon
1 1/4 cups fresh, rinsed and drained, or thawed frozen blueberries
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
6 ice cubes
Instructions
1. Combine the dressing ingredients in a small bowl or wide-mouth16-ounce jar and whisk or shake well.
2. Layer and divide the salad ingredients among 4 large dinner plates or in 4 (1-quart) bowls with snap-on lids for pack lunches. Toss with dressing just before serving.
3. Combine the Melon-Berry Cooler ingredients in a blender. Cover and process until smooth, then pour into 4 tall glasses or chill in Thermo bottles for meals to go.
Monday
5 Carb Grams Chicken Recipe
Chicken Soup With Lime
From Sonoma DietGive your usual chicken noodle soup a Mexican-inspired makeover for a taste that's muy caliente!
START TO FINISH: 30 minutes MAKES: 4 servings
12 ounces skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces Kosher salt (optional)
Freshly ground black pepper (optional)
3 cloves garlic, minced (1 1/2 teaspoons minced)
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon hot chili powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds, crushed, or 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional)
2 14-ounce cans chicken broth
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1 large tomato, chopped
3 tablespoons lime juice
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
If desired, season chicken with kosher salt and black pepper. In a Dutch oven, cook chicken and garlic in hot oil over medium-high heat until chicken is no longer pink. Stir in chili powder, cumin seeds, and, if desired, crushed red pepper. Cook and stir for 30 seconds. Stir in chicken broth and green onions. Bring to boil; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in tomato, lime juice, and cilantro.
Nutrition Facts per serving: 178 cal., 8 g total fat (1 g sat. fat), 45 mg chol., 719 mg sodium, 6 g carbo., 1 g fiber, 21 g pro.Salmon with Pesto Mayo, 5 carb grams
Makes 4 servings Start to Finish: 20 minutes Source: Better Homes and Gardens Ingredients |
4 5- to 6-ounce skinless, boneless fresh or frozen salmon fillets |
2 tablespoons crumbled firm-textured bread |
1/4 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing |
3 tablespoons purchased basil pesto |
1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese |
Directions |
1. Thaw fish, if frozen. Preheat broiler. Place the bread crumbs in a shallow baking pan. Broil 4 inches from heat for 1 to 2 minutes or until lightly toasted, stirring once. Set bread crumbs aside. |
2. Measure thickness of fish. Place fish on the greased unheated rack of broiler pan, tucking under any thin edges. Broil 4 inches from heat for 4 to 6 minutes per 1/2-inch thickness or until fish just begins to flake easily with a fork. Turn over 1-inch-thick fillets halfway through broiling. |
3. Meanwhile, in a small bowl stir together mayonnaise and pesto; set aside. Combine toasted bread crumbs and cheese. Spoon mayonnaise mixture over fillets. Sprinkle with crumb mixture. Broil 1 to 2 minutes more or until crumbs are lightly browned. Makes 4 servings. Nutrition facts per serving: calories: 363 total fat: 24g saturated fat: 3g cholesterol: 84mg sodium: 309mg carbohydrate: 5g fiber: 0g protein: 31g vitamin A: 6% calcium: 4% iron: 7% |
Friday
Low Carb Wraps: Waldorf salad-style wrap
Wraps -- meats and veggies wrapped in a tortilla -- have almost replaced sandwiches as America's most popular lunch food. While many of the wraps found in delis and fast-food restaurants are made with healthy-sounding ingredients, most are not Zone Diet friendly. Tortillas contain unfavorable carbs, and wrap fillings are often high in fat.
You can easily make wraps at home that are in the Zone Diet by skipping the tortilla altogether and using a large cabbage leaf in its place. Here's what to do: Lay the leaf on a cutting board and then stuff it with the filling of your choice. For example, a Zone-balanced, Waldorf salad-style wrap might include 1/4 cup of chopped grapes, 1/4 chopped apple and a handful of salad greens tossed with 1/3 teaspoon olive oil and vinegar, as well as salt and pepper to taste. Add 1 1/2 ounces of shredded turkey, chicken, or ham, then close the leaf, securing with a toothpick. Feel free to substitute with the fruits, veggies and protein of your choice, either tossing with olive oil or sprinkling nuts into the mix to keep your wrap Zone-balanced.
Thursday
Zoned Cocoa-Banana Cherry Freeze
From the Zone Diet
Ingredients
1/2 cup Edensoy Original Soy Milk or similar brand, chilled
1 teaspoon unsweetened almond or macadamia nut butter
14 grams unflavored or unsweetened vanilla soy protein powder
1 heaping tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1/3 ripe, medium banana, peeled, sliced, and frozen
3/4 cup frozen, unsweetened cherries
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Optional ingredients
1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon stevia extract powder or 2 to 4 drops stevia extract liquid
1 tablespoon apple-fiber powder
3 to 4 ice cubes
Instructions
1. Pour soy milk into a blender container. Add nut butter, protein powder, unsweetened cocoa, vanilla, and stevia. Add apple-fiber powder if desired (for added thickness and blood sugar control). Cover and blend until smooth. Stop and scrape down the sides with a spatula.
2. With the motor running, add the frozen fruit through the top feeder. When blended, add ice cubes one or two at a time, blending on the ice-crushing setting until you achieve desired thickness. Stop and start blender, pushing the pulse button repeatedly until ice is completely crushed and mixture is smooth and thick. Try a spoonful. Add more stevia if a sweeter taste is desired.
3. Pour into 4 custard cups or dessert dishes and serve immediately, or 4 to 8 small paper cups, then freeze until firm, about 3 hours. If frozen solid, remove from freezer 10 to 15 minutes before serving, or as needed to soften to an ice cream texture. Alternatively, pour into a tall fountain glass to serve one person for breakfast.
MEMBERS GET MORE! You'll find hundreds of cooking tips and recipes on Dr. Sears Zone Diet Advantage.Tuesday
Coleslaw with Tofu Mayonnaise, 11 carb grams
Creamy Coleslaw with Tofu Mayonnaise
2 Servings
This healthy version of an American classic is good with sandwiches. Cabbage is a cruciferous vegetable providing indoles which may be related to a reduced risk of breast cancer.
Ingredients:
4 cups shredded cabbage 1 cup shredded carrot 1/4 cup tofu mayonnaise (recipe follows) 1 tsp celery seed (optional)
Instructions:
In a medium bowl, mix together the cabbage and carrot. Add the tofu mayonnaise and celery seed, if you use it, and stir gently to mix well.
Tofu Mayonnaise
Ingredients:
1 cup tofu, regular or silken, drained
2 tsp cider vinegar
2 tsp Dijon mustard
2 tsp honey (or sugar)
1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil preferably
1 tsp herb blend
Instructions:
Mix all ingredients together until creamy. Refrigerate.
Nutritional Information:
Per serving:
99 calories
3 g total fat (0 g sat)
0 mg cholesterol
16 g carbohydrate
5 g protein
5 g fiber
71 mg sodium
Saturday
Zone Diet Appetizers. Zoned Hummus and Veggie
Entertaining and staying in the Zone are not mutually exclusive. In fact, this Zone recipe, which was originally designed for lunch, also makes the perfect party platter — in place of typical, high-fat hors d'oeuvres. Keep in mind that the recipe below gives you individual lunch portions, so be sure to reduce the amounts if you plan to eat it as a snack. Enjoy!
Zoned Hummus and Veggie Plate
Prep: 20 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients
Hummus
2 cups drained, canned, cooked chickpeas (save juice)
14 ounces drained, canned, no-salt, water-packed tuna
2 hard-boiled eggs
1/2 cup raw or toasted, unsalted sesame tahini
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice (1 lemon)
1/4 cup fresh parsley, minced
3 garlic cloves, minced1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper1 cup chickpea juices or filtered water
1/2 teaspoon sea salt (optional)
Ground paprika for garnish
Vegetables
5 cups romaine lettuce or baby greens salad mix
2 cups peeled, sliced cucumber
2 tomatoes, sliced
2 cups celery sticks
2 whole-wheat pita pockets, halved
Instructions
1. To make the hummus, combine the chickpeas, tuna, eggs, tahini, lemon juice, parsley, garlic, cumin, pepper, and chickpea juices or water in the work bowl of a food processor. Add sea salt if desired. Cover and process until smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides with a spatula. Add additional water as needed to blend. Taste and adjust the seasonings. Divide into 4 containers with lids, garnish with paprika, cover, and refrigerate.
2. Divide the vegetables among 4 containers with lids. Place each pita bread half in a small plastic or wax-paper bag. Cover and chill.
3. At lunch, spoon the hummus over the lettuce, tomato, and cucumbers. Stuff a portion of this mixture in a pita half and eat the rest on the side with the celery sticks.
MEMBERS GET MORE! You'll find hundreds of healthy eating tips and ideas on Dr. Sears' Zone Diet Advantage.
Wednesday
Zone Diet Recipe: Bed and Breakfast Waffles
On summer weekends, there's nothing nicer than a relaxing breakfast served in bed or at an outdoor table. We've adapted this classic waffle recipe so that it's Zone-friendly. Serve with turkey bacon and the fruit of your choice.
You can double this recipe and freeze the waffles in plastic bags. Just pop a couple in the toaster and top with fruit when you're ready to eat them. If you're planning to do this, be sure to slightly undercook them and cool completely before bagging and freezing.
Bed and Breakfast Waffles
Yield: 2 waffles (1 serving)
Ingredients
1/4 cup cottage cheese
1/4 cup egg substitute (or 2 egg whites)
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup oatmeal
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon fructose
3 slices turkey bacon
1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce or 1 cup strawberries, slightly mashed, or 1 cup raspberries
Instructions
1. Blend cottage cheese, egg substitute, water, vanilla, and olive oil in a food processor until smooth.
2. Put oatmeal, baking powder, and sweetener in food processor or blender and process until powdered.
3. Mix the dry and the wet ingredients to form a batter. As the mixture stands, it will thicken and it may be necessary to add more water (a tablespoon at a time) to get a smooth consistency.
4. Cook in a waffle iron to the iron's specifications, usually about four minutes each.
Tuesday
Sweet-and-Sour Thai Shrimp Salad, 9 carb grams
From the ChangeOne Diet Coconut and lime juice balance the spicy bite of crushed red pepper in this summer cooler. PREPARATION TIME: 20 minutes COOKING TIME: 5 minutes NUMBER OF SERVINGS: 4 |
INGREDIENTS: DRESSING 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste 1/4 cup bottled clam juice 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice SHRIMP SALAD 12 ounces peeled and deveined medium shrimp 1 small head Savoy cabbage or iceberg lettuce, shredded (4 cups) 1 large carrot, peeled and grated (1 cup) 4 ounces bean sprouts 3 tablespoons unsalted dry-roasted peanuts 3 tablespoons flaked sweetened coconut 1 scallion, including top, thinly sliced |
DIRECTIONS: 1. Bring a large saucepan of water to boil. 2. Make dressing: Meanwhile, heat oil in a small saucepan over low heat. Add red pepper flakes and cook, swirling occasionally, 3 minutes. Strain oil into a small bowl (discard red pepper flakes) and whisk in clam and lime juices; set aside. 3. Make shrimp salad: Drop shrimp into the boiling water, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 2 minutes, until shrimp turn opaque. Drain shrimp and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process; drain well. Transfer shrimp to a large bowl; add cabbage, carrot, bean sprouts, peanuts, coconut, and scallion. Pour dressing over salad and toss to coat. |
Nutrition Per Serving: Per serving: Calories 210, fat 9 g, saturated fat 3 g, cholesterol 130 mg, sodium 190 mg, carbohydrate 12 g, fiber 3 g, protein 21 g. |