I've been on the Zone Diet since the end of June and have lost 22 pounds so far. I drink a Zone Shake every morning and have Zone-Perfect PeanutButter Bars in between. I recently found out that Zone-Perfect is in no way affiliated with The Zone but continue to buy the Zone Perfect Bars since I did loose weight and they are more affordable. Now there is a recall on them and the fact that they use cheap peanutbutter paste, I would like to know what "bars" may be close and keep me going the hour or so between meals. Kashi Bars have less Carbs and Fat but also less protein. The problem is, is they are NOT very filling. I know you do not endorse others' products but as it is I spend 90-$100 a month on real Zone produts. Thank you in advance!

Hi Jim!


I've never found one that works for me besides the real thing.

Another tip, you can rest assured that the peanut products from Zone Labs are safe to consume, and are not involved in the current peanut butter recall. The CEO of Zone Labs stated this in a recent email that went out to customers.

Congrats on your success in the Zone!

Thank you. Yes, I received that email this morning and am glad to hear that! Any ideas on what may be a good between meal balance on the road? When I started the Zone, I'd bring a 8oz Skim Milk and a jar of olives and ate three of them and two macadamia nuts and that seemed to hold me an hour or so but I was hoping for another "quick fix". The real bars are almost $2 a piece once you add shipping and as many as I eat now (of the ZP Bars) it would cost me $6 a day or $180 a month.

Jim, you could try Balance Bars. Check the labels, but most of them are zone-balanced. If you had success with ZP bars, then I think you would also do well with Balance.

I think some of the South Beach bars may also be zone-balanced, but again you would need to read the labels.

You're welcome Jim.

Soy nuts (they're really soy beans) come in a varitey of flavors, are a Zone balanced snack, are easy to carry with you just about anywhere, and usually provide very good insulin control. Take care to read the ingredients to be certain there are only minimal added carbs, if any. Most varieties of soy beans are pretty well Zone balanced by themselves. As with nuts, be careful not to go overboard and eat too many!

One thought would be to vary your snacks between Dr. Sears Zone bars and couple other things you can come up that would both work for you and defray the cost of the bars. That way you'd have variety and a good bar you can depend on when you really need one, for the same price youre paying now.

Aren't soy nuts a bit low in carb and a bit high in fat?

Jim, if it is a bar you are looking for (as I understand from the question you asked), then I hope my suggestions will work for you. There may also be other bars that carry the balance, as well. Just have to read some labels. My guess is that if the ZP bars work for you, then you will probably do well with these other ones, too.

Thank you both! Good advise on the real Zone bars and other snacks. I will look at Balance bars tomorrow. I know the ZP Bars are broken down Fat-7 (4 sat), Carb 25g (D Fiber 3, Sgr 17g), and Protein 14g for a 1.76z bar. That is close to what I'm looking for right? I see on a 1.9z Dr. Sears Zone bar it's..fat-6g (3 sat), Carb 25g (D fiber 3g, sgr 15,other carb 6g) and protein 15g. Also I'll look into the soynuts. Thank you again for the help.

Oh, one more thing. On the shakes, why should I use 2% milk and not 1% (like the label says)? And also I read somewhere onthis forum that you can use two different sizes of milk where it only states 8 oz on the packets. I use 8z, does a larger amount keep me in the zone longer until a snack? The shakes seem to last me about 2 hours, then I need a snack.

Thanks again!

Ok, this is not going to be to everyone's taste, but my favorite snack is tempeh. It is one of those 1/2C/1/2P foods so with a little fat it is all you need. I brown it in a wee bit of olive oil and drip a little dark soy on it. There is nothing in them that can really spoil so I put a block's worth in a plastic baggie and it is as convenient as a bar. It has a wonderful earthy taste and is very filling.

Hey guys. Just a heads up but it looks like the zone perfect bars and balance bars are being recalled, as mentioned earlier.
http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecall...01_09.html

there are still other fruit and flavored bars that do not contain peanuts in them. is it that ur just trying to still have the peanut ones. the others are still safe. so u could give those a shot.

Jim, are you speaking about the zone shakes sold on this site? I don't use them and so I can't answer the question directly, but maybe someone else can answer it with the additional information.

I used a balance bar yesterday for an afternoon snack.....I c
Also, thanks, Jim, for the inspiration!

Yes, the Zone Shakes on this site. Thank you for all the info!!!

You'r welcome Jim!


<div class='NTForums_Quote'>Posted By Jim on 01/21/2009 9:11 PM

On the shakes, why should I use 2% milk and not 1% (like the label says)? And also I read somewhere onthis forum that you can use two different sizes of milk where it only states 8 oz on the packets. I use 8z, does a larger amount keep me in the zone longer until a snack? The shakes seem to last me about 2 hours, then I need a snack.

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2% milk is suggested in order to have enough fat for Zone balance. If you use 1 cup of 1% milk plus 1 shake mix eat 2 more fat blocks with it. If you use 2 cups of 1% milk plus one shake mix, eat 2 or 3 more fat blocks with it.

One shake mix plus one cup of 2% milk is a 3 block meal.

One shake mix plus two cups of 2% milk is a 4 block meal.