Healthy and Convenient Zone Snacks

When Mike first got on The Zone Diet, he hated it. He hated the quantities in which he had to eat. Since Mike was a big guy he didn't think this was going to be a problem. Then he finished that giant bowl of salad, and felt like he was going to be sick. However, after Mike did some research, he found out that there was an upside to the diet he did not expect.

The Zone Diet is specific a balance of fats, carbohydrates and protein. When you eat too much of one of these food groups, you're not really in The Zone, and you won't lose weight as quickly as you would if you keep your diet balanced. The diet requires you eat 3 meals and 2 snacks; one before bedtime, and one between lunch and dinner. 

The snacks are light. Since The Zone Diet is broken down into 3 to 4 blocks per meal. A block is a specific amount of a food group. For instance, if you want to eat a quick meal, mix 3/4 cup to 1 full cup of lowfat cottage cheese with 3/4 cup to 1 full cup of unsweetened applesauce, and 18 to 24 peanuts and you're set. However, a snack only requires you eat one block. That would be 1/4 cup cottage cheese, 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce and only 6 peanuts. Then if you really don't have the time, there is always the best alternative in the pharmacy department of your local grocery store.

Mike discovered the easiest Zone snack was the brand named Zone snacks right on the shelves. They're called ZonePerfect bars. They come in many different flavors, and they're all priced about the same. In box form they're about $4 to $5. Individually, these tasty treats are $1 to $2. Flavors include Chocolate Almond Biscotti, Chocolate Caramel Cluster, Fudge Graham, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Peanut Toffee, Chocolate Coconut Crunch (highly recommended), Cinnamon Roll, Strawberry Yogurt, Apple Cinnamon Crunch, Caramel Apple, Chocolate Mint, Peach Yogurt, and Peach Apricot Parfait.

Then of course, there's the slower and maybe even more nutritious snacks... homemade.

For great Zone carbs: