Greenlane Diet

The Greenlane diet (also known as the British Heart Foundation Diet)
is a poor fad diet that has been circulating for many years. Please note that the British Heart Foundation has nothing to do with this diet whatsoever.

The diet has circulated in the form of a one page sheet that claims you can lose 10 pounds in 3 days. The diet has been popular in the UK – but it’s exact origins are unknown.

Interestingly, the diet bears a striking resemblance to the Scarsdale diet – also written in the 1970s.

Greenlane Diet Plan



The Greenlane diet is a very low calorie diet – a typical day’s eating culminates in only 700 calories. This is a crash diet – a sudden and severe reduction in calories that results in primarily fluid loss. The diet should never be undertaken for more than 3 days, any longer and your body will immediately slow down metabolism and place you on target for yo-yo dieting (and subsequent weight gain).

The Greenlane Hospital diet contains a small selection of foods; Dry toast, fruit, tuna, ‘snax’ biscuits. Snax biscuits are a cracker made by the food brand Griffins in New Zealand indicating that this diet may have originated from this part of the world (which does have a Greenlane hospital in Auckland). However this cannot be verified.

Sample Meal Plan

This diet is not recommended

Breakfast

5 ‘snax’ biscuits (dry crackers)
1 slice of cheddar cheese
1 small apple

Lunch

1 boiled egg
1 slice of dry toast

Dinner

1 cup of tuna
1 cup of beetroot
1 cup of cauliflower
1/2 melon
1/2 cup of diet vanilla ice-cream

Drinks

Black coffee/tea/water

Look here for other low calorie meal ideas.

147 Comments

  • Rita Apr 28th 2013

    Hi, I decided to go on this diet – I am on 75kg now, want to be 60kg again!! My plan is to go on it on Tuesdas, Wednesdas and Thursdays – Hope it will work for me, this is for the 1st time I am goning on a diet – I was allways 58/60 kg but picked up the last 3 years – I think due to menaupause. I’m actually looking forward to it!!

    Reply
  • Matthew Nov 28th 2012

    Is it ok to have 2 kranskys instead of frankfurts ? I love kranskys!,,,my wife and I are doing it now,just had day 2 dinner..can’t wait for a propper coffee on Friday morning…I’ve done it before it works well ..do it for 3 weeks in a row .and you will have changed,feeling lighter gives you energy..go for it..

    Reply
  • Jesika Kennedy Nov 7th 2012

    Hi guys everyones comments are confusing me.Is the ‘snax’ biscuits menu the one i follow?

    Reply
    • Keesha Nov 26th 2012

      Hi Guys,

      It is confusing I am unsure if the diet above is the same food I will eat for all 3 days sp repeat the same thing till the 2 days is over.? or is there anywhere I can find the full 3 day plan?
      Helllp :)

      Reply
      • Keesha Nov 26th 2012

        i mean 3 days.

  • Deb Oct 18th 2012

    I did this diet 3years ago for one month and lost 17kg’s, after one month I became agym bunny and didn’t need the diet. I lost a further 3kg’s and can eat what I want. I now weigh 47kg’s and exercise everyday for at least 1/2 hr to 1 hr. I found that water was best and herbal tea. Coffee without sugar just didn’t cut it for me as I love strong, sweet expresso. Go for it and exercise.

    Reply
  • Bryz Jun 17th 2012

    read about this in a book, my mum has tried it and said it is very effective. Looking forward to seeing if this works for myself.

    Reply
  • Kirsty k May 15th 2012

    Hi all

    Does this diet have 3 different meal plans
    For each day?

    Looking forward to trying it after all your comments

    Reply
  • kaysha Feb 29th 2012

    hi all, i am 20 years of age and ive had a baby whos almost 2 so i put on alot of weight. i started at 86.5kgs and in the first week after doin the greenlane i dropt 6.5kgs (i also watch what im eating on the 4 days off and walk a hour everyday) so i am doing it again this week and lost another 5kgs!! i am nw 75kgs and my goal weight is 58kgs and after doin this for only 2 weeks now i know that it works, but ive also realisd you have to have your mind focused on your goal coz temptaions every where!! jus give it a try and youl soon fall in love!! no excuses, if u dnt lyk tuna jus gt a non stik pan n fry it up with tha water it comes in and it tastes alot nicer and still works! i hope this will work for you cause it has for me and alot of family and friends :)

    Reply
  • Cath Feb 19th 2012

    Hi where is the diet plan? is this the one above?

    Breakfast
    5 ‘snax’ biscuits (dry crackers)
    1 slice of cheddar cheese
    1 small apple

    Lunch
    1 boiled egg
    1 slice of dry toast

    Dinner
    1 cup of tuna
    1 cup of beetroot
    1 cup of cauliflower
    1/2 melon
    1/2 cup of diet vanilla ice-cream

    Drinks
    Black coffee/tea/water

    Reply
    • belinda Sep 23rd 2012

      I found it the other day clearing through some paperwork after carrying it around for years. Am going to give it a go next week. This is what I have:

      This dies is used at Greenlane Hospital for overweight patients who are to undergo heart surgery. It must be followed exactly to lose (4.5kgs) in three days.

      DAY ONE
      Breakfast Lunch Dinner
      ½ Grapefruit ⅓ cup tuna 2 slices any meat
      1 slice dry toast 1 slice dry toast 1 cup string beans
      2 tsp Peanut Butter 1 cup black/tea/ 1 cup beetroot
      1 cup black tea/coffee/water coffee/water 1 small apple
      1 cup weight watchers
      vanilla ice cream Black tea/coffee/water

      DAY TWO
      Breakfast Lunch Dinner
      ½ banana ⅓ cup cottage cheese 2 Frankfurters
      1 slice dry toast 5 snax biscuits 1 cup broccoli
      1 egg Black tea/coffee/water ½ cup carrots
      Black tea/coffee/water Black tea/coffee/water ½ banana

      ½ cup weight watchers

      vanilla ice cream

      Black tea/coffee/water

      DAY THREE
      Breakfast Lunch Dinner
      1 boiled egg 5 snax biscuits 1 cup tuna
      1 slice dry toast 1 slice cheddar cheese 1 cup beetroot
      Black tea/coffee/water 1 small apple 1 cup cauliflower
      Black tea/coffee/water ½ melon slice

      ½ cup weight watchers

      vanilla ice cream

      Black tea/coffee/water

      This diet works on chemical breakdown and is proven.
      DO NOT TRY TO VARY OR SUBSTITUTE ANY INGREDIENTS
      Diet is to be used 3 days at a time. In three days you should love 4.5kgs
      After, eat normally but DO NOT OVEREAT
      After 4 days of normal eating, start back on a 3 day diet.
      You can lose 18kgs a month if you stick to it.

      Reply
  • Marsh Feb 11th 2012

    Hi all, just want to say that this diet really does work.tried it towards the end of last year and went from 90kg down to 82kg

    Reply
  • Melo Jan 23rd 2012

    I have just tried this diet(well did the first 3 days). Didn’t work for me. (didn’t loose anything, guess people are different) I didn’t like tuna before and now really don’t like it.

    Reply
  • Rhiannon Jan 22nd 2012

    This really does work, I did this for over a year once a week lost 20 kgs went from a size 16 to a size 8! but after xmas ive put a lil on :( so back on diet i go :)

    Reply
  • shelly Oct 24th 2011

    It does work, the diet listed above is only part of it though, it has three days of differant foods

    Reply
    • Kirsty k May 15th 2012

      Hi shelly

      Could you tell me the other days menus pls

      Thanks:)

      Reply
  • Georgia Sep 25th 2011

    Would some one please be able to tell me if drinking the black tea/coffee is important to the weight lose? I have just been drinking water throughout the day. Is this okay? Thank you!

    Reply
  • Lanira Aug 4th 2011

    Day one for me. 76kg’s would like to eventually get to 60kg. Your comments have given me hope & courage.
    Thanks all

    Reply
  • makeupbag Jan 10th 2011

    jessica P search in older comments and you will find it listed in full please keep in touch i too am desperate and want to do this diet with you

    Reply
  • erin Jan 5th 2011

    honestly this diet works i did it when i was 16 and i was a size 14 and after a month of doing it i was a size 6-8 its amazing but yu reali have to stik to it!!

    Reply
  • Jessica Pickering Dec 7th 2010

    Where can I get this diet meal plan?
    I am desperate!!!!

    Reply
  • Cheryl Nov 19th 2010

    I’ve did this diet a few years ago as I had to lose 40kgs (120kgs) before the would let me have the selective surgery I wanted, (I’m now 80kgs). I’m not a dieter so this 3days only worked fantastic for me. I would keep saying only 2 more days …. only 1 more day …. now I can eat haha. Thee best fast weight loss diet I’ve known.

    Reply
  • Nathan Jeune-Manning Oct 5th 2010

    Does it take the weight from muscle or fat, when it starts to come off.

    Reply
  • Emma Aug 30th 2010

    This diet has changed my life.
    Weighing 23 stone, i was depressed
    I tried the diet and lost 12lbs in 3 days.A week later i tried it again and kept going
    9 months later I weigh 10 stone and I am the happiest most confident person you will ever meet :)

    Reply
  • Kiri May 29th 2010

    Hey all. Just want to add in here, that being from NZ myself that it did originate from here. It was designed by Greenlane Hospital for thier cardiac patients to lose weight quickly before surgery. And yes, there is a lot of fluid loss on the first round of the diet. This happens with every diet I know in the first week, thats why initial weight loss is always the highest. Just make sure you drink twice as much water whilst on it. This diet has been around for years. I did a couple of times as a teen too. The key is the low kj and if you don’t go over 8000kj a day on the other 4 days then the weight will keep coming off.

    Reply
  • makz Apr 27th 2010

    hey guys

    so yrs and yrs ago i did greenlane diet for 6 months once a wk and it worked!Am doin it again to get myself bck on eating smaller portions!!gd luck to all that are tring G.L!!!!

    Reply
  • Barbara Apr 21st 2010

    I shuold add, took 6 weeks to loose the 1okg. Also, the diet was originally 3 days with different food, to be followed by 4 days normal eating, and so forth. Thats why I think it works – get used to eating less.

    Reply
  • Barbara Apr 21st 2010

    I have done this, lost 10kg easily and kept it off. When I got bored I went for similar substitutes. I think one of the reasons it works is because lots of us eat too much (as well as the ‘wrong’ foods). The first week or two were hard – because I was used to eating twice as much – this diet got me into the habit of eating less, so on my 4 days off I would eat a lot less – which is why the weight stayed off when I came off the diet.

    Reply
  • Nadia Apr 17th 2010

    Hi there

    I can’t stand tuna, is there a good substitute that I could have and still get good results?

    Thanks

    Reply
  • joe Apr 13th 2010

    ohi meant to say.. there are different varieties of the diet out there.. this is the one i follow:

    ay 1
    Breakfast:
    1 Cup black coffee or tea 0 cal
    ½ Grapefruit or 2 oz fresh squeezed juice 55 cal
    1 Slice toast 80 cal
    1 Teaspoon peanut butter OR 2 oz baked beans 30 cal
    Lunch:
    3oz plain tuna in springwater 120 cal
    1 Slice toast 80 cal
    1 Cup black coffee or tea 0 cal
    Dinner: 6 p.m.
    2 Slices Turkey (3 oz.) 75 cal
    4 oz string beans 35 cal
    4 oz grated beets 50 cal

    1 Small apple 80 cal
    3 oz Cote Dore Vanilla ice cream 200 cal (Or use Cote D’or Vanilla Light) 80 calories

    Total calorie intake Day 1 805

    Day 2
    Breakfast:
    1 Cup black coffee or tea 0 cal
    1 Hard boiled egg 80 cal
    1 Slice toast 80 cal
    ½ Banana 55 cal
    Lunch:
    3 oz cottage cheese or 3oz plain tuna 200 cal
    5 Ritz or 3 Tuc Crackers 60 cal
    Dinner 6pm
    1 Plain hot dog or Turkey hot dog(no buns) 180cal
    4 oz broccoli 35 cal
    2 oz carrots 50 cal
    4 oz sliced beets 50 cal

    ½ Banana 55 cal
    3 oz Cote Dore Vanilla ice cream 200cal (Or use Cote D’or Vanilla Light) 80 calories

    Total calorie intake Day 2 895

    Day 3
    Breakfast:
    1 Cup black coffee or tea 0 cal
    5 Ritz crackers 60 cal
    1 slice Cheddar cheese (1 0z) 115 cal
    1 Small apple 80 cal
    Lunch:
    1 Hard boiled or poached egg 80 cal
    1 Slice toast 80 cal
    1 Cup black coffee or tea 0 cal
    Dinner 6pm:
    4oz plain tuna in springwater 120 cal
    4 oz steamed beets 50 cal
    4 oz cauliflower or green-leaf vegetables 50 cal

    4 oz cantaloupe 55 cal (melon)
    3 0z Cote Dore Vanilla ice cream 200 cal (Or use Cote D’or Vanilla Light) 80 calories

    Total calorie intake Day 3 910

    Reply
  • joe Apr 13th 2010

    I’ve done this diet before and it works. Currently on day two at the moment and i’ve already lost 3 pounds. Of cours you’re going to pile the weight back on if you eat junk food straight after day 3.. but yes it does work.

    Reply
  • geegee1990 Apr 8th 2010

    Hi!!!

    I started this diet this morning but I’m not sure I have started on the right track, day two and three look easy to me but day one is not working so far.

    I am not a hot drink lover and I though id try a coffee but couldn’t even get this to my lips it smelt sooo bad! The same happened with the tea. The peanut butter, well I managed a teaspoon but couldn’t face another and as for the half a grapefruit, how bitter are they!?! I managed a little bite before giving up completely. I felt as though I had started off badly.
    I have just had dinner (the tuna I probably only ate 2oz not 4oz) but I skipped the hot drink and I was wondering if this would effect the ‘chemical breakdown’. I never thought it would be easy but I cant help feel disheartened on my first day.

    Reply
  • anni Jan 27th 2010

    on third day of diet today and have already lost 6lbs! so really excited for final weigh in tomorrow morning. finding it really good i save my ice cream for later in the evening so i have something to look forward to, otherwise i would snack!! will continue with this next week .

    Reply
  • Rachel Dec 1st 2009

    Hey guys
    If youre looking for the complete meal plan, go to the British Heart Foundation Diet on the right hand side where all the diets are listed.
    Its right near the bottom of the comments list.
    Im starting the British Heart Foundation diet today.
    Good Luck guys.

    Reply
Date Last Reviewed: April 28, 2013