Phoebe Jaeckels, who serves on the NutriBase Advisory Board, developed these Zone compliant Meal Plans for you. These Meal Plans provide the caloric ratio popularized by Dr. Barry Sears. A sample week from this Meal Plan Collection is available for your perusal.

The primary goal of this Meal Plan is to stay "in the Zone" - that balance among carbohydrates, protein, and fat, for all meals and snacks through out the day in the ratio of 40% carbohydrates, 30% protein, and 30% fat. Each recipe and snack is held to within 3% of being a 40/30/30 calorie ratio. This variation is well within the margin of error introduced by variations in measurements and variations in the actual nutrients found in foods (which often vary +/- 5%). These recipes, if found in Zone diet cookbooks, would be readily identified as Zone recipes.

These plans emphasize as wide variety of healthy vegetables. The leanest cuts of protein are selected in each recipe to reduce the overall saturated fat content. These plans provide the kinds of fats that our bodies need for health. These fats are provided primarily in the form of Omega fats. Olive oil is used most of the time, but you may substitute a healthy oil of your choice if you wish… Canola or flax oils may be good alternatives.

There are no grains in this Meal Plan because they are high on the Glycemic Index. The carbohydrates sources included in these plans complex carbohydrates that are low on the Glycemic Index. The higher the Glycemic Index of a carbohydrate, the quicker it enters the bloodstream as a sugar. All carbohydrates - simple or complex - have to be broken down into simple sugars before entering the blood stream being absorbed by the body. Because of this, simple carbohydrates tend to raise the insulin level very fast and cause the body to store the sugar and prevent the body from using its stored body fat. This also causes the 'highs" and" lows" of eating unbalanced meals and explains why so many people are ready for a siesta at 3:00 in the afternoon after eating fettuccini with cream sauce for lunch.

These Meal Plans can be used "as is" or serve as the starting point for you to modify into a customized plan for yourself or for your clients. Please observe the serving amounts very carefully to assure the proper calorie count… trust your measuring cup - not your eyes. :-)

This Meal Plan is included with NutriBase, version 5.1 and greater. Please email us anytime by clicking the email icon in the lower right corner of any page on this web siteif you have comments or suggestions regarding these Meal Plans. :-)