Thursday, July 19, 2007
Food

In the zone

Local college student dishes on popular diet delivery plan

Southwestern turkey quesadilla with salsa, a Chefs Diet special delivery CREDIT: Courtesy of Chefs Diet

For More Info To learn more about Chefs Diet, visit www.chefsdiet.com. For information on the Zone Diet, visit www.zoneliving.com. Chefs Diet is not affiliated with Dr. Sears’ Zone Diet. This is the first installment of The Skinny, an occasional series on healthy eating.

By Suzanne Wright

Diets are famously tough to adhere to because there’s always something easier—and less healthy—to get your hands on. Chefs Diet (formerly known as Zone Chefs) has emerged, delivering Zone Diet–approved foods right to your door, leaving you with fewer excuses to eat better. T. Weissenberg, a film major entering her senior year at Emory University this fall, has been on the Chefs Diet delivery plan since January 2007.

What led you to sign up for Chefs Diet?
I have insulin resistance, which is when your body doesn’t regulate blood sugar. I get tired and don’t have energy. I had been working with diet doctors in New York City and was on a very restrictive diet. It wasn’t working well and didn’t have any variety; I had to food shop twice a week and eat the same stuff. It was hard to balance with my school and eating in dining halls.

How’d you learn about the program?
When I came home this past winter, my blood sugar was getting better, but I was on medicine to regulate it. My mom thought it would better to try a diet. She had a friend who used Chefs Diet. So I tried the daily program for a week before I went back to school. I had a lot more energy. I was off medicine and was in a pretty normal range. So I continued. I had a variety of foods I hadn’t eaten in a year.

Like what?
Any sweets. I heard that Chefs Diet was originally formulated for diabetics. So I had no guilt associated with eating desserts like the low-carb cheesecake, the chocolate cookies and the peanut butter and jelly French toast. The cookies don’t taste like diet cookies.

The food is delivered with a black insulated messenger bag, which seems helpful.
It’s really discreet. I put an ice pack in there with a meal and take it to school.

What are your favorites? I tried the turkey chili with black beans and the turkey ham rice salad, and loved it.
All the food is delicious. I really like the breakfasts, like the PBJ French toast with scrambled eggs and some omelets. The lunches and dinners are interchangeable. I like the chili beef with sweet potatoes—I would say that is my favorite meal. And the turkey quesadilla, which I didn’t think I’d ever be able to eat again. It’s more of a wrap, very flavorful and well spiced. With this diet, I don’t feel like I’m missing anything.

Chef Diets also allows you to substitute meals, right?
I always put in the snacks and meals I like best. I like one sweet snack a day, and I eat it around 8 or 9 p.m. The muffins are really good.

So this has been more about health than weight loss.
More like maintenance. I’ve always been healthy. I was constantly eating nutrition bars, but this is more satisfying. I don’t have to plan my day around food, and it makes cravings go away.

This seems like an expensive way to diet.
I consider programs like this as an investment in myself. I eliminated all doctor visits, medicines, food shopping. I quit Starbucks and Red Bull, which I was using to compensate for energy—that adds up! It really pays off. It’s a really great way to spend your money if you have it. I was rewarded with more energy—I really felt the difference.

What about after you graduate?
I think it would be great to stay on the program. But if I don’t, it has taught me a way of eating and about portion control.