Diet Programs And Meals - The Special K Diet

The Special K Diet is low in calories and rich in calcium and, no surprise, cereal products. This fifteen-day diet is addressed to everyone who wants to lose weight. It proposes two meals a day based on Special K products, a snack, and a balanced meal. Here are some of the diet principles.

Start the day with a bowl of Special K cereal accompanied by skim milk, orange juice, half a grapefruit, or another fruit. Eat a balanced meal consisting of raw sliced vegetables, a serving of lean meat, fish, or two eggs, vegetables, a pat of butter, 40 grams (well over an ounce) of whole grain bread, fat-free dairy products, and a piece of fruit. Eat a Special K snack in the afternoon. Eat a Special K supper.

This diet has several advantages. It provides balanced meals, which don't take a long time to prepare. The meals are rich in fiber and so aid digestion. A disadvantage is that its meals are overly repetitive, especially breakfasts. You will probably get very tired of eating cereal.

Here are two sample menus:

Menu 1
Breakfast: 30 grams of Special K cereal. 125 milliliters of skim milk. 125 milliliters of orange juice. Tea or coffee.

Lunch: Spinach and tomato salad. Turkey. Ratatouille. 40 grams of whole-grain bread. A plain, fat-free yogurt. An apple.
The mid-afternoon snack is 40 grams of whole-grain bread, a pear, and a plain, fat-free yogurt.
Supper: Vegetable soup. 45 grams of Special K cereal and 125 milliliters of skim milk. A fat-free fruit yogurt. Half a cantaloupe.

Menu 2
Breakfast: 30 grams of Special K cereal. 125 milliliters of skim milk. Half a grapefruit. Tea or coffee.
Lunch: Asparagus. A serving of salmon. Leeks and butter. 40 grams of whole-grain bread. A fat-free fruit yogurt. A nectarine.
The mid-afternoon snack is a Special K bar, an apple, and a plain, fat-free yogurt.
Supper: Celery and carrots. 45 grams of Special K cereal and 125 milliliters of skim milk. A fat-free fruit yogurt. A pear.

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 more than 80 diets and weight reduction programs. Each diet is presented with 5 menu plans, a detailed discussion of its advantages and disadvantages, and lots more. La Bible des Regimes is presently available only in French.


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Levi Reiss authored or co-authored ten computer and Internet books, but would rather drink fine French wine with friends. He teaches classes in computers at an Ontario French-language community college. Visit his Italian travel, wine, and food website www.travelitalytravel.com and his global wine website www.theworldwidewine.com featuring a weekly review of $10 wines and new sections writing about and tasting organic and kosher wines.