The Sonoma Diet is a weight loss plan that promotes the healthy and flavorful eating style of the Mediterranean and Sonoma Valley. Flavorful foods are an important part of the plan and they help you stick to the plan, loose weight and choose a healthier new lifestyle.

The core of the Sonoma Diet is the power foods which are incorporated into many meals and recipes in the book. They are almonds, bell peppers, blueberries, broccoli, grapes, olive oil, spinach, strawberries, tomatoes and whole grains. They are all not only delicious but are in the right portions, essential to good health and weight loss. Whole grains and breads are allowed on the diet from day one. But some foods with saturated fat, added sugar and refined white flour are not allowed on the program.

Connie Guttersen, PhD, RD, is the author of The Sonoma Diet: Trimmer Waist, Better Health in Just 10 Days! Guttersen offers a creative approach to encourage people to change their eating behaviors. Her emphasis is food enjoyment, portion control, food label reading and eliminating trans-fats. She identifies the diet as neither low- fat nor low- carbohydrate. She indicates it has the right balance of nutrients to ensure health, weight loss and satisfaction.

The Sonoma Diet has three waves to Weight loss. Wave 1 is a 10-day period in which dieters can eat certain vegetables, lean meats, seafood, limited dairy, some grains, thee daily servings of olive or canola oil, a small amount of nuts, black coffee, tea, and an unlimited amount of herbs and spices. This wave is the most extreme and its purpose is to wean the body from sugar. This wave will produce rapid weight loss depending on the person and the amount of weight they need to loose.

Wave 2 allows the same foods as Wave 1, but adds more fruits, more vegetables, fat-free yogurt, some sugar free sweets, some dark chocolate, honey and some wine. In this wave weight loss is more gradual and approximately -1.5 pounds a week. Dieters stay in this wave until they reach their target weight.

The final stage-wave 3- promotes the same principles of healthy eating as the prior waves but recommends increasing servings of fruits and vegetables and indulging in occasional treats. It also recommends more experimentation with different foods and different ways of enjoying meals.

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