Diet Programs And Menus - The Jenny Craig Diet

The Jenny Craig Diet was invented in 1985. Today there are centers in North America, Australia, and New Zealand. Dieters work with a nutritional counselor who helps them determine personal weight loss objectives. In general they will eat smaller meals, which allows them to burn calories more efficiently. This diet is rich in fruits and vegetables. Here are some of the principles.

Start by meeting with your consultant who will help you identify your nutritional habits and your aptitude for losing weight. You'll be weighed and measured, and will obtain a personal daily program containing detailed menus with calorie counts. You meet with your consultant privately once each week. During the first four weeks each meeting focuses on one subject including food, taking care of your body, and exercise. On the fifth week your program will be reevaluated if necessary. Before actually beginning this diet, you get used to the meals by introducing them slowly. Your consultant may show you healthy cooking techniques. Your meals contain mostly fruits, vegetables, light dairy products, whole grains, and healthy cooking oils. You may also eat lean meat, poultry, fish, green beans, eggs, and nuts. Avoid foods that contain high levels of cholesterol or sodium, sugary supplements, and saturated fats. Many of the foods are prepared by Jenny Craig, Inc. Practice a sport as determined with the help of your consultant. Take on a more active lifestyle.

A major advantage of the Jenny Craig Diet is the personal trainer who provides psychological as well as nutritional support. You will acquire good eating habits, and eat a wide variety of permitted foods. Disadvantages include the cost, perhaps $80 a week for the food itself. You may not care for the program's food.

Here are two sample menus:
Menu 1
Breakfast: Oatmeal and honey breakfast bar. Tea or coffee.
The mid-morning snack is a yogurt.
Lunch: Burritos with beans and cheese. Green salad.
The mid-afternoon snack is a glass of soy milk.
Supper: Veal parmigiana. Green peas. Carrots. The evening snack is fruit salad.
Menu 2
Breakfast: Oatmeal porridge and peaches. Skim milk. Tea or coffee.
Your mid-morning snack is a muesli bar.
Lunch: A spinach and ricotta turnover. Lettuce and tomato salad.
The mid-afternoon snack is a peach.
Supper: Beef lasagna. The evening snack is a chocolate mousse.

Some information in this article comes from a fascinating new book, La Bible des Regimes, written by Jenny de Jonquieres and published by Amerik Media. Her book describes over 80 diets and weight reduction programs. Each diet is presented with 5 menu plans, a detailed discussion of its advantages and disadvantages, and a whole lot more. La Bible des Regimes is presently available only in French.


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Levi Reiss has authored or co-authored ten computer and Internet books, but prefers drinking fine French wine with the right foods. He teaches computers at an Ontario French-language community college. Visit his Italian travel website www.travelitalytravel.com and his global wine website www.theworldwidewine.com with a weekly column reviewing $10 wines and new sections writing about and tasting organic and kosher wines.