So far, my family loves this!

[sf40]

I've been following the Sonoma Diet for only a couple of days. Because I am lazy, I decided to follow the meal plans almost exactly for Wave 1. I am so happy to report that my husband loves the lunches and dinners I've prepared so far. Last night my sister had dinner with us and she was amazed at how good dinner was (the marinated flank steak).

This does not seem like a diet to me. The food is wonderful, the portions are pretty generous, and I have not been too hungry over the past couple of days. I figure the hunger is due to sugar cravings, which should go away soon. This reminds me of how I used to cook before I became so busy with work. Hmmm, I was thin then, too.

[Totally Neck-ed]

We made the marinated Flank steak last night as well. Hubby almost licked the plate. LOL What side dishes did you do?

[sf40]

I made the sauteed broccoli, roasted peppers, and goat cheese. I also baked two yams, one for my husband and one for my sister. My husband didn't even eat his because he gobbled up the steak and all the veggies!

[Leenie]

Thats wonderful, thanks for sharing your good news :)

[love black pants]

can you do that? add things to the meal plans? I am not sure that I am doing this right because I am hungry. I have the book. I am following the meal plans given because I was under the assumption that the specific combinations of food were important. Help!

[Suzanne 3FC]

You don't have to follow the exact meal plans, as long as you choose foods from the right lists. It doesn't require any combinations of specific foods, just the ratio of grains to veggies to protein to fruits (if in wave 2). It doesn't matter which foods you eat with what, just that they are on the list.

Is that what you meant?

[love black pants]

yes, that is what I needed to know - so it is not the individual food combinations, it is the food TYPE combinations. If I go by the plate rule, i can add to the menu plan if it fits on the plate and is on the wave 1 list - right?

[Suzanne 3FC]

Right :) It sounds pretty easy, once you have the list and get used to the plates. The possibilities are endless! They are going to release a Sonoma Diet cookbook later in the year, that will be helpful.

[GinaXOXO]

This is my first day. I make the flank steak and it was fantastic. I hope most of her recipes are as good--it will sure make it a lot easier to get my family to accept this change of life!


So far so good. I wish there were more vegetable recipes.

[luvs_violets]

Am glad to hear you are liking this diet, I am interested in starting it too but it will take me up to 20days to get it sent to Australia from Amazon books and i am wondering what you ate for breakfast? I suppose anything listed on the wave one foods would do ? I would like to get started monday if you can reply by then thanks Shirley in Sydney:carrot:

[GinaXOXO]

For breakfast I have cereal or oatmeal with milk. Today I tried a new one called Fiber One Honey Crunch. It was great!! I will certainly start eating this often. It is loaded with fiber.

Sometime I will have 2 eggs and whole grain toast and make a sandwich but I have loved the cereal too much to change (so far).

Yeah, just stick with the tier 1 foods and the plate method.

I would love to visit Australia!! My son wants to go there for our Christmas vacation 2006.

Good luck. Gina

[sf40]

I haven't been too adventurous with breakfast. Like Gina mentioned, whole-grain high-fiber cereal (1 cup) with skim milk (1 cup). Or a 7" plate with 75% protein, such as two eggs, and 25% whole grain, such as a slice of toast. Sometimes I add vegetables with the eggs, but to keep from overfilling the plate, I skip the toast. I also eat protein pancakes; I posted the recipe on another thread in this forum.

Edited to add the recipe:
For Wave 1 you should not add any sweetener.

I got this recipe from the Ladies who Lift forum and I think it conforms pretty close to Sonoma breakfast guidelines.

Protein Pancakes

For one serving, blend the following:
1/3 c. egg or egg whites
1/3 c. low fat cottage cheese
1/3 c. uncooked whole oats
add vanilla and cinnamon to taste
Note: the recipe also called for adding Splenda or sweetener of choice, but I don't add any

Blend till smooth. Cook in a non-stick frying pan like regular pancakes. Makes 1 large or several small.

Prior to starting Wave I, I topped the pancakes with organic fruit spread, but the other day I added more vanilla and cinnamon than normal and it wasn't too bad. Though I am looking forward to Wave 2 so I can go back to adding my fruit.

[luvs_violets]

Thanks for the answers about breakfasts. I like pancakes so will try that recipe too. Good luck everyone Shirley

[tearjerker]

This is my first day. I make the flank steak and it was fantastic. I hope most of her recipes are as good--it will sure make it a lot easier to get my family to accept this change of life!
So far ALL of her recipies are excellent. I've made the pork loin with ratatouille and my husband HATES squash but he couldn't get enough of that...next day I rolled the left overs up in a wrap! Last night I made the easy basalmic chicken. Also very very good!

So far so good. I wish there were more vegetable recipes.

so do I! (hey does trying to type with a five month old's help count for a workout? :D)

[jules1216]

Went to work out tonight and hubby asked me to bring him pizza home!!! Yikes the little Italian place in the shopping center where the gym is makes the best pizza...what's a girl to do....I went to the grocery store in that same shopping center and got me a green pepper and a portabello (mmmmmmm) and some of the laughing cow cheese I have never tried (light swiss) and broiled my pepper strips and mushroom and had one of the little cheese triangles--it was excellent--almost didn't miss having a piece of that pizza...had oatmeal with light vanilla soymilk for breakfast and a lean cuisine and a mandarin orange cup for lunch--using up my healthy stuff that doesn't quite fit Sonoma until I finish the book--should be ready to start Sonoma full on this weekend...

[LindaT]

This is my first day. I make the flank steak and it was fantastic. I hope most of her recipes are as good--it will sure make it a lot easier to get my family to accept this change of life!


So far so good. I wish there were more vegetable recipes.

Gina and Tear I'll do my best to post some vegetable recipes this weekend in the forum. There are a few side dishes there that are a combo of a grain and a veggie, but I'll try for some pure veggie ones this weekend..I have quite a few.

[Totally Neck-ed]

So I bought some eggplant.. Now what! How do I cook this thing?

[LindaT]

Let me post it in the recipe forum.. give me a bit. Should be there shortly, unless somone here at work bugs me! It will be called pasta Primavera

[GinaXOXO]

Thank you Linda. Tammy I am really having good luck with the recipes in the book. Tonight is our 4th day and each evening I have made a new recipe and each and every one of them are great.

I have read that she is going to make a Sonoma cookbook. I can't wait!

[MELODY525]

HOW DO I LOVE THEE? :love:
LET ME COUNT THE WAYS!!!:carrot:

I HAVE BEEN READING THE NEW BOOK SINCE IT ARRIVED. I LOVE THE EASE OF THE WHOLE PLAN AND THE FOOD IS NO NONSENSE COOKING. I WAS ON THE MICHAEL THURMOND PLAN AND MY DIETARY NEEDS WERE ALMOST THE SAME. BUT THIS BOOK TEACHES YOU SO MUCH MORE. AND THERE AREN'T ANY FOOD GROUPS MISSING EXCEPT FOR 10 DAYS.

I FOUND THAT IT GAVE ME A BETTER PROSPECTIVE ON WHERE I AM HEADING AND MY GOALS FOR HEALTH RATHER THAN JUST NUMBERS ON A SCALE. THE COOKING IS EASY AND INGREDIENTS RIGHT IN MY OWN KITCHEN. IT ACTUALLY COST ME LESS THAN OTHER PLANS. AND YESTERDAY A NUTRITIONIST SAID SHE LOVED THE IDEAS I GOT FROM THIS BOOK AND IT'S SO EASY TO COOK FOR ONE! I LIVE ALONE.:D

THIS BOOK IS A REAL KEEPER!! CAN'T WAIT FOR THEM TO COME OUT WITH THEIR OWN COOK BOOK IN THE FALL.

[GinaXOXO]

Melody I am really excited about the cookbook too! In the mean time I am subscribing to the sonoma diet web site so that I can get more recipes. I have liked every recipe that I made so far.

Gina

[MELODY525]

GINA....ALL THE BEST WITH THE WEBSITE!! GOOD FOR YOU!!! :encore: I WILL BE COOKING SONOMA STYLE THIS WEEK :dance: