I'm new and just getting used to the zone way...I'm not purchasing the prepackaged food just using regular. I'm struggling with how big all the portions are. To get all my carbs, using favorable carbs it is just too much food. Even my husband is saying it is too much food. When using favorable carbs how do you use less portions. I'm trying to stay away from bread products and pasta. My stomach can't take the huge amounts of food. Any suggestions?

I stuggled with that initially! I ended up eating only 2 blocks for breakfast. To reduce the volumes of favourite carbs mix and match them or replace one with another e.g. 1 cup of strawberries = 1/2 cup of blueberries. Or, in case of veggies, 1 tomato + 1 pepper is 1 block as is 10 cups of green luttuce . For dinner/lunch - replace one block of any carbs you wanted to use with 1/4 cup of chickpeas or beans.

I also use a variety of things to decrease the overall volume, such as chickpeas or the addition of a tomato sauce. Also, cooking your meals will reduce the volume. Another tip, if you can only eat 2 block's worth, then just eat that and have a glass of milk for your 3rd block.

thank you for the ideas. Much appreciated.

Some more:
Black beans 1/4 cup
Green beans 1 cup
tomatoes 2
If you're not real sensitive to fruits,
add fruit as one of the favorable carbs.
Nor as low glycemically as vegetables, but still favorable.
Sweet potato split it in half each.