What is the best / simplest put cook book for the zone diet. I am a 5 Blocker and just want one that breaks it down as such. Any and all information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

- Shawn

Most of the Zone cookbooks are designed for either 3 or 4 block portions. That being said, I think my favorite Zone cookbook is ZONE MEALS IN SECONDS. You could pick out a 4-block meal, and add a glass of milk for your 5th block, that would be an easy adjustment to make.

Thanks i just ordered that one actually. I guess my main concern was the book breaking it down to definite block values... I have a decent understanding of it all, so adding a p c or f should be easy as i go.

Well, I think you will be happy with this book!

Hi Shawn,

Here is a link to our blocks list ... http://www.zonediet.com/portals/0/r..._guide.pdf

There are lots of helpful tools on our site check it out!

I have a question about food portions....a weighed portion can differ from a measured portion...which is most accurate? I want to be as exact as possible...thankyou for any replies.

The ZONE is not an exact plan. the exact 30-30-40 is only a starting point that you tweak to your own needs.
That being said, weight is more accurate for solids and volume for liquids.
And weight for cooked foods is pre-cooked.
4oz (4 blocks) of pre-cooked meat is equivalent to about 3 oz post-cooked.

If I want to make a pizza is there any substitute I can use other than ordering the pizza multi grain from the Zone. Is there something in the store I can purchase that would be equivalent? Thank you.

I made a pizza crust out of eggplant and almond flour, there is a recipe around the forums somewhere with the crust recipe. It was very tasty! And best of all, NO WHEAT!!

Thank You. By-the-way, I got that pizza crust recipe recipe from Mark's Daily Apple (MDA).
And, CranCat, my wife has bought into the Spaghetti Squash as spaghetti substitute. She now buys two squash when she goes food shopping. ( I was picking them up occasionally where I pick fruit and get my pastured eggs from.) Two squash gives us enough for 4 meals.
(1/4 squash is 1 Carb block + 1 carb Block with pasta sauce.) Dead easy to make, and aside from slight difference in texture, very good.

[quote]
Posted By Carol on 05 Oct 2011 06:01 PM
If I want to make a pizza is there any substitute I can use other than ordering the pizza multi grain from the Zone. Is there something in the store I can purchase that would be equivalent? Thank you.
[/quote]


Hi Carol,

There is no product sold in stores that would be the equivalent of a Zone pizza crust.

Or use aubergines (eggplants) slices, large mushroom cups or zucchini slices as the bottom. Obviously it is not a real pizza but I can definitely recommend, especially large, flat mushroom cups. Put them on a foil, spread some tomamto salsa or pizza sauce, sprinkle with cheese, anything really. And bake

Here's the recipe that we all talked about and a bunch of us tried out back in September. The recipe was posted by John, he deserves the credit!

"Perfect Primal Pizza Crust":
.
Ingredients:
1 lb Eggplant - grated (preferably by hand, but food processor OK)
60 g Parmasian Cheese (~ 1/2 cup)
1/2 cup Almond Meal/Flour
1 egg white
Seasonings if desired (Herbs, Garlic, Oregano, Basil)
.
Directions:
Thoroughly stir all ingredients together.
Spread dough on greased parchment paper (on lightly greased cookie sheet).
Flatten and spread by hand into circle or rectangle or square, as desired.
. . . (About 15" circle)
Into pre-heated 450 deg F oven for about 15 minutes.
Remove and using parchment paper flip pizza dough onto cookie sheet.
Back into oven (450 deg F) for 5 minutes.
Remove and let stand about 10-15 minutes.
. . . (standing allows remaining moisture to evaporate and dough to finish firming up)
Top as desired and into 350 deg oven for ~ 10 min, until cheese (if used as topping) is melted.
.
That's it.
Can't wait to try it.
.
Total (sans any added toppings):
P=~22.5g, F=~33g, netC=~79g (Fiber=~16g)
8 slices / per slice (~):
P=~3g, F=~4g, netC=~10g
.
Basically 1 block of healthy Carbs & Fat per slice (sans toppings).
(Counting 3g as one full portion of Fat.)
You can consider lo-fat or reduced fat Parmasian cheese, if desired.

Thanks everyone. I think the pizza will be a thing of my past.

The Zone is NOT so strict! You can have CHEAT meals.
Some have one once a week.
Others less often.
Nothing wrong with having a god pizza, now and then.
.
My wife did (does) not follow the zone as closely as I do.
And she used to order pizza as a convenience about once every two weeks,
and because she likes it.
.
Though, now she has gotten on-board with going more grain-free,
and will not order and have the eggplant crust pizza with me.
.
However, occasionally, now, we will go out to a wood-fired pizza place and really treat ourselves to one.
Maybe 3 times a year.