i am lucky to work in an office where they give us lots of free food, and have a dining room that has many options.
these are the things i always have available from the office for breakfast or lunch...first the stuff i can figure out food blocks:
mixed greens, deli meat, fruit galore (apples, oranges, bananas, berries, etc.), there's usually a helthy protein option (ie, grilled salmon or chicken, etc)

here are some prepared things i was wondering how to integrate correctly (sometimes i am short on time): full assortment of odwalla juices; odwalla food bars (they have a new one (11g fat, 22 carb, 6 fiber, 7 protein), stony field farms yogurts fat-free or low fat (lf has 7 protein, 1.5 fat, 25 carb, 2 fiber for vanilla and blueberry - no plain)

i get the protein/palm thing. i even get the carb thing when i am doing the fresh stuff. i even get the fat thing, but i am missing that a little. i am at a TOTAL lOSS for how to calculate blocks from labels. any tips?
today in a pinch i had a vanilla yogurt, 2 oz sliced turkey and a cup of strawberries, plus a spoon of peanut butter. not knowing what the diff of vanilla vs plain is i just guessed on this, how did i do?

i also feel like i am eating a grotesque amount of food. since i get up at 4:30am and go to sleep at 11pm, could i do:
5am- 1 block snack; 9am- 2 block breakfast; 12- 3 block lunch; 4pm-1 block snack; 7pm- 3 block dinner; 11pm- 1 block snack. i am working out now, so i should be adding another block in once i get to the daily hour routine.

ps - i am an atkins convert who lost 55 lbs in 1999 and kept it all off until this last year when i got a new job, in a new city, and my life turned upside down. i do not even need to lose the 20 lbs i gained - i am zoning now because i do not want to deal with my mom's heart and diabetes problems.

Hi aimee,

The breakfast and lunch buffet items will work out, as long as you go light on the fruit, and add some veggies to the salad. Hummus would be a good choice. It even comes in little snack sizes which would be easy to carry to work. You might consider bringing tomatoes, peppers or even carrots to work to boost the amount of good carbs for the salads. Use an olive oil and vinegar dressing if they have it. You could also carry almonds or macadamia nuts with you for fat.

The prepared foods you posted are all big no no's for the Zone (too much unfav C).

To calculate blocks from labels, one completely balanced block contains 7g P, 9g insulin stimulating C (total C minus total fiber), and 3g F.

Take a look at the Basic Zone rules in Quick Sart in the "Eating" tab, to help you arrange your blocks. There's too long a gap between your wakeup snack and breakfast. It's recommended to eat again 2 to 2 1/2 hrs after a 1 block snack. The 4-6 hour time frame applies to after a 3 block or larger meal.

oh jeez - i thought i was doing okay. well this helps.
this is enough info for me to make a work plan. thanks, sue!

Hi Aimee!

Try to stay away from the flavored yogurts, they are usually heavier in unfavorable carbs and too light on protein.

Glad to hear that you are interested in this for the health benefits!

Hi aimee,

You're welcome. You probably are doing fine. We were all beginners at one time, and even long time Zoners are always learning more. You're very fortunate to have so much Zone friendly food available at work.