Hi -- I am trying to eat a Zone diet but have two problems -

One is the cost. I was on Weight Watcher points system on and off for several years (obviously didn't work) and this is much more expensive, mainly due to the amounts of good carbs. I actually like vegetables and fruits and thought I ate a decent amount before starting this! I've heard some people say it isn't more expensive for them -- but either I am doing something different or else their grocery bills before included lots of junk and processed food while mine didn't.

So -- any suggestions for cutting down?

Also on the matter of protein powder. I have, admittedly, not tried kind you get from the Zone store but the kinds I have tried, have a taste that I have a hard time adjusting to. I love smoothies and pre-Zone, I made them with just fruit and Almond Breeze and sometimes, plain yogurt. But to get the protein balance, I, of couse, want to use the powder. But it totally ruins the taste - it is kind of medicine like. It's hard for me to even get the whole thing down. Have tried two different brands, both whey (I was told whey tasted better than the egg based ones). The one I bought recently has a vanilla flavor -- thought that might help, but it doesn't.

Any suggestions?

I use a basic one from Jarrow.
Comes in both unflavored and Vanilla
(& chocolate which I do not purchase.) .
No added anything. Just basic protein powder.
And unlike most, the Vanilla is not too sweet.
Available from several on-line like Vita-Cost and Swanson.

Hi linda,


To keep it within your budget, shop sales, buy in season, buy in bulk, etc.


Protein powder qn...try Dr. Sears Zone protein powder. It doesn't have an offensive taste or texture. You could also have chaser of lean protein with your shake.

Linda, have you considered using cottage cheese in your smoothie? An idea would be to blend in 2 blocks of fruit (I use frozen berries, much less expensive than fresh), a block of yogurt, and 2 blocks of cottage cheese. I also blend in EVOO and my fish oil into it. Knowing that there is only 2g carb and 1g protein in an 8 oz almond breeze, you could work that in and probably only count it as a fat.

I can't really tell you much about the cost, as everyone's grocery bills are different. But it does cost a bit more to eat healthier, unfortunately.

As for protein powder, you should look into an unflavored protein powder. If you're adding fruit, this will provide enough flavor for your smoothie. I get an unflavored protein powder from http://www.bulkfoodsdirect.com. This stuff is truly unflavored, and by buying in bulk, you are getting a better deal than the smaller containers of protein powder available in most stores. You should check it out.

Good luck!

Hello guys!

Protein powder is usually used by people who are weight training who want to build more muscle. Protein powders are ideal for building muscle because they are fast acting proteins that get to the muscle quickly which helps maximize protein synthesis within the muscle. COnsuming a fast acting protein within 30-45 minutes of your workout will ensure that the muscle gets the proper nutrients to grow. If you're not weight training, protein powders can be a good way to supplement your diet but they are more ideal for individuals looking to gain lean mass as they have higher protein requirements and will have difficulty getting enough protein through regular food alone.

Creatine is naturally produced in the body and it provides the muscle energy for high intensity muscle contractions lasting less than 10 seconds. It basically allows you to work out harder and do more work, which will in turn make your body grow bigger. This is ideal for someone who is weight training. Using creatine without weight training will do absolutely nothing for you...it's just making expensive pee.