Dispel the notion that the Zone diet is intended only for those who eat non-vegetarian foods. If you are a vegetarian, you can convert your diet to a vegetarian Zone diet meal. This excellent diet is not based on being vegetarian or non-vegetarian. It is purely a diet based on carbohydrates, proteins and fats, but in a precisely fixed proportion. The ratio is 40:30:30. In simple words, your meal should consist of 40% carbohydrates, 30% fat, and 30% protein. What constitutes the protein portion is not the question.
If you need to know more about this, read “The Soy Zone” by Dr. Barry Sears. Dr. Barry Sears, a former research scientist at Boston University School of Medicine and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, created the Zone diet.
The vegetarian diet of the area
In general, vegetarians consume more carbohydrates than protein. It is a wrong notion that foods rich in carbohydrates help reduce weight and give you a healthy life. High carbohydrate diets lead to increased insulin levels in your body, which leads to fat gain and storage. Vegetarians need to consume plant proteins to balance the carbohydrates they eat.
Your Zone diet must be in the Right Ratio and in the Right Portion. Not only should your diet be in the 40:30:30 ratio, but your food portioning should also be precise. This is why you can consume your diet in the number of Zone blocks. The calculation of the Zone blocks depends on their weight and height in addition to other minor measurements. An average man consumes, say, 14 Zone Blocks and an average woman 11 Blocks in a day.
Suppose an average Zone diet consists of:
Skinless chicken or turkey breast (protein)
Black beans and raw broccoli (carbs)
Avocado and macadamia nuts (fat)
To turn this into a Veggie Zone meal, all you need to do is replace the protein portion with soy-based meat substitutes, like hot dogs or soy burgers. Tofu, soy-based products, cheese, nuts, and meat substitutes such as seitan and tempah are excellent protein substitutes for vegetarians. However, you must be careful when selecting vegetables. Green beans, for example, are high in protein and carbohydrates. If you opt for these, you can alter the ratio of carbohydrates and proteins. This is where you need to juggle your content.
The bottom line
Be sure to use favorable carbohydrates and fats in your Zone Diet vegetarian meals. Opt for fruits and vegetables that are low in starch and avoid bananas and prunes due to their high sugar content. Use only monounsaturated fats. You can consume avocado, macadamia nuts, peanuts, almonds and beef lard, vegetable shortenings and creams. Use olive oil and peanut butter instead.
It bears repeating that Zone diets must be eaten in the Right Ratio and in the Right Portion. This is a wellness diet that will help you reduce your weight and stay healthy. It’s never too late to make that lifestyle change.