The Sonoma Diet

The Sonoma Diet by Connie Guttersen, Ph.D. (see the book at Amazon), is one of the most balanced and moderate diets to appear for some time. No dramatic restrictions on food groups, no calorie counting, and all with a gourmet Mediterranean flair.

"[The Sonoma Diet] is about a healthy way of eating where you're enjoying meals, often with a glass of wine, but it adds a weight loss component," Guttersen told co-anchor Julie Chen on The Early Show Wednesday [Jan 4, 2006]. "You know, flavor is part of health, and it's actually part of losing weight successfully. … And when you're eating nutrient-rich foods that are flavorful, you're more satisfied and you're not going to be hungry.

What is the Sonoma?

Sonoma is region in California, USA that is well regarded for it's quality vineyards. Author and Registered Dietitian Connie Guttersen has been consulting with the Olive industry for a number of years. Her nutritional credentials have enabled her to write a book that provides some of the most balanced and sensible weight loss advice to be found today.

The Portion Concept

Consumers are tired of counting calories, and severe food restrictions. The central premise of the Sonoma Diet is that food is to be enjoyed. A welcome sentiment when so many diets cause the dieter to hate and fear food.

Sonoma introduces a concept called the 'Plate and Bowl'. Each meal is assigned a specific plate size, with instructions on how the plate should be filled. Incredibly, the book even provides a wine guide to help select the best matching wine to accompany the meal.

The 3 Waves

The diet contains 3 waves (or phases).

Wave 1
Lasts 10 days and aims to curb specific food cravings. Note that unlike many other diets, this phase does not restrict carbohydrates but includes whole grain cereals and breads.

Wave 2
The primary weight loss phase. A broad range of foods, including wine and many fruits.

Wave 3
Once your ideal weight has been reached, this is the life-long maintenance phase.

Visit the Sonoma Diet now...

Sample Meal Plans

Sample Breakfasts
Broccoli-Pepper Frittata
Buckwheat and Pear Pancakes
Mushroom Omelet
Scrambled Eggs with Feta and Dill

Sample Lunches
Greek Pizza
Chicken-Veggie Pita Sandwich
Chile-Mint Burgers
Tangy Black Bean Soup

Sample Dinners
Marinated Flank Steak
Roasted Vegetable Medley
Grilled Bass with Strawberry Salsa
Bistro Chicken and Garlic

Sample Desserts
Peachy Berry Cobbler
Apple-Blueberry Tart
Tropical Fruit Pops
Citrus Granita

See a free selection of Sonoma Recipes...

Gourmet Food and Wine

The Sonoma Diet book contains 300 recipes. The on-line program contains an additional 500 recipes. The diet is centered around 10 'power foods':

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

Sonoma on-line

The Sonoma Diet has a full-featured on-line program featuring on-line dietitians, live support, shopping lists, customized meal plans, and message boards.

A subscription fee is required, and subscribers must pay for a minimum of 5 weeks - however there is no cancellation fee.

Look for the Sonoma Diet to be among the most popular diets in 2006.

See the Sonoma Diet program