Lunch Box Diet

See the Lunch Box Diet on-line program.

Background

The Lunch Box Diet was created by Simon Lovell, a personal trainer, and is based on the diet that he claims he has used with great success with his clients. It has recently been featured in Elle magazine which described the diet as “set to become the biggest slimming craze of 2008″.

It is available as a 10 page E-Book at the cost of £9.95 (approximately USD21).

Lunch Box Diet Basics

The Lunch Box Diet is based around the concept of filling a lunch box with healthy foods and grazing on the contents during the day. Simon recommends snacking every hour or so, only until satisfied, and never eating until full. Breakfast and dinner are taken as normal however some general suggestions are given for healthy meals.

Simon claims that by eating food in smaller portion sizes the stomach will gradually become smaller so that you will be less likely to overeat at dinner.

Recommended Foods

The focus of the diet is on the lunch box which should include around 60% vegetables, 30% protein and 10% salad dressing / condiments.

Top recommended foods include - Broccoli, Spinach, Avocado, Chili Pepper, Sugarsnap Peas, Zucchini, Asparagus, Beetroot. Chicken or turkey breast, cod fish and balsamic vinegar. The book provides a more comprehensive list of food choices.

Foods that are high in carbohydrates such as brown rice, wholegrain breads and pasta are only recommended for people who have a physically active lifestyle.

Fruit is also recommended in moderation (a few pieces daily).

Examples are given in the book of how to construct the lunch box however there are no precise recommendations for portion sizes or calorie measurement.

Pros

This is a great diet for people who don’t like counting calories, meal planning and preparation or complicated plans.
Good for people who like snacking.
The diet plan is very flexible, allows for much personal choice and is easily adapted to suit individual needs.
The lunch box is high in low glycemic index foods which will help to keep energy levels stable during the most demanding part of the day.
It would also produce benefits for health for those that are in the habit of skipping lunch or eating convenience food while at work. This is the time of day when stress may impact on choices negatively and unhealthy foods are often selected for a quick energy boost.

Cons

Expensive for the size of the book and information provided.
No guidance in regard to portion control.
Calorie intake could easily become excessive especially if food intake at breakfast and dinner is not controlled.

Conclusion

On the whole this diet could be suitable for people who are just getting started with dieting and don’t want anything too complicated. It would be a good introduction to learn how to create healthy balanced meals and to increase vegetable intake.

However dieters who prefer a more detailed and specific plans will probably be disappointed and for a comparable of money it is possible to choose from the wide selection of in depth diet and nutrition books on the market.