Hi,
I have recently began the Zone Diet. I read the first book, The Zone, and pretty much understood and completly believed in this life style. I'm actually very excited to keep going, even though I havn't lost any weight. I have found that everything in the books is very helpful, as well as the responses to other users questions.
For the most part, its seems pretty easy for me to eat Zone favorable foods, however, as I am a banker in NYC and have lunch at work I wanted some advice on what to have for lunch.
There is a great place in NYC, which I love and go to frequently, called Europa Cafe. What I most like is that you can choose the ingredients to your own salad. The problem is, I can't really ask the people who are serving to measure 3 oz. of turkey and put them into my salad, and to make sure that there is enough broccoli in there to make it a Zone favorable meal. I try to put in enough of everything as to make it a great meal, but to some extend it is a little out of my control.
Any suggestions? Has anybody eaten there?

Its been great to read all the Q&A, many of which have answered my general concerns. So thank you everyone for being so inquisitive.

Christina,

**********Uno's Chicago Grill *****************

Uno Chicago Grill
220 E.86th Street
New York, NY 10028
212-472-5656
212-472-7669 (FAX)

*** They have a very nice feature of being able to ORDER ON LINE - that seems to work very well.

Follow the link at the web site to "locations" and you can zero right in on the NYC/central NJ area and ALL locations.

At each one there is a direct link to that locations order entry system.

----------------------------------

Uno Chicago Grill
432 Columbus Avenue
New York, NY 10024
212-595-4700
212-875-8965 (FAX

---------------------------------

Uno Chicago Grill
391 6th Ave
West Village
New York, NY 10014
212-242-5230
212-366-9737 (FAX)

----------------------------





Recently this "chain" [ please don't run away just yet ] was rated #1 by Health magazine of a survey of restaurants for "healthy offerings" on their menus.

The link to the complete article is below.

They are in MANY states and quite popular around the northeast at least. I eat in them often and completely agree with the rating as far as I can tell.

Their menu [ of course linked to here and in the article ]has numerous "Zone friendly" options but perhaps more importantly they will for all practical purposes prepare your food any way you want within reason and allow any combination of substitutions off of the menu.

When you walk in [ at least around here ] there is ALWAYS a huge bowl of fresh fruit such as apples and you are welcome to take as many as you want - coming OR going.

I am a cerfified pizza lover and their "deep dish" version is excellent but unfortunatly - too excellent.

However - they have another totally different variety called "flatbread pizza" which is VERY ZONE FRIENDLY.

TWO versions of this variety are "balanced" DEAD ON per serving :

BBQ CHICKEN

Serving Size(g) 155g Servings 3

Calories 310 Calories from Fat 100

Total Fat 11g

Total Carbohydrates 36g
Dietary Fiber 1g
Sugars 9g

Protein 22g

____________________________________

MY THAI CHICKEN

Serving Size(g) 150g Servings 3

Calories 230 Calories from Fat 60

Total Fat 7g
Saturated Fat 1.5g

Total Carbohydrates 28g
Dietary Fiber 2g

Protein 15g

_______________________________________

Link to complete "Flatbread Pizza" section of menu with nutritional analysis http://www.unos.com/kiosk/nutritionUnos.html
________________________________________


America’s Healthiest Restaurants: Our List of the Best Casual Dining Spots


Uno Chicago Grill

http://www.unos.com/index.html




If you haven’t been to your local Uno’s recently, you’re in for a great surprise. Sure, its famous deep-dish (read high-fat) pizzas still hold court, but nutrition has become the word of the day with a completely trans fat–free menu and plenty of grilled entrees (including antibiotic-free chicken). Adding to the healthy variety: whole-grain pasta and brown rice, organic coffee and tea, and flatbread pizzas that have half the calories of deep-dish ones. Plus, you can add a salad to your pizza for half-price because, according to the menu, “We want you to get some greens in your diet.” Now that’s a blue-ribbon commitment to health. Another reason Uno’s is at the top of our list: You know what you’re eating. In the lobbies of most of the restaurant’s locations, there are Nutrition Information Centers that detail ingredients, fat and sodium contents, and calories and fiber of every item, in addition to gluten-free options.

Danger zone: Deep-dish pizzas can pile on the fat.
We love: The Penne Bolognese—just 16 grams of fat (well within the daily recommended max of 65 grams of fat for a 2,000-calorie-a-day diet).


__________________________________________________

Complete article with links to other rated "chains"


America’s Healthiest Restaurants: Our List of the Best Casual Dining Spots


http://eating.health.com/2008/04/23...o-eat-out/


... from your local "Uno's Zone"

E.Wally

ewally@verizon.net


Christina - Now follow this link :

http://www.unos.com/location.html

Hi Christina!

You'll find it gets a little easier to estimate amounts once you've been eating this way for a little while. I'd suggest asking for some chick peas to the salad to be sure you get enough low density carbs in. You might ask for a little shredded cheese, too, if it looks like there might not be enough chicken. Some other places to easily eat a Zoned soup/salad type lunch are Cosi, Panera and Atlanta Bread Company. Panera will even give you an apple in place of the bread and chips bread if you ask.

Have fun with it!

Christina,

you wrote :

problem is, I can't really ask the people who are serving to measure 3 oz. of turkey and put them into my salad, and to make sure that there is enough broccoli in there to make it a Zone favorable meal. I try to put in enough of everything as to make it a great meal, but to some extend it is a little out of my control.


______________


Have you fully explored the "EATING" tab up above ?

If not - do so now.

In particular - go to the "QUICK START GUIDE" and note the "method" of putting together a "balanced" meal using what Zoners refer to as the "Plate Method".

A VERY ACCURATE amount of low fat protein for you is the amount represented [ as noted there ] by the size and thickness of the palm of your hand.

*** YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE CARRYING AROUND A DIET SCALE OR VEXING ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF PROTEIN, FOR EXAMPLE, BEYOND THE ABOVE GUIDLINE.

YOU ARE TRYING TO HIT A "RANGE" - A "ZONE" - there is a bit of forgiveness.

I'm going to "go out on a limb" [ pun intended ] and asssume you bring your LIMBS with you for lunch and would thereby have the "palm of one of your hands" available for a reference as to how much turkey to put on your plate.


HOWEVER - it would not be unusual at all for someone in the kitchen area of an active deli to be able to "guesstimate" VERY ACCURATLY 3 oz of turkey - certainly accuratley enough for YOUR PURPOSES.


... from the "HOME OF THE "HELLO DELI" ZONE

E.Wally

ewally@verizon.net