Unlike most diets, the 400 Calorie Fix diet does not require giving up certain foods or entire food groups or starving oneself to lose a few pounds only to gain them back. In fact, no food is off limits and the diet is a lifelong strategy for weight loss and weight maintenance. The authors suggest losing weight and keeping it off is as simple as controlling portions by counting calories.
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According to the authors, 90 percent of adults have no idea how many calories they should eat during the day, Americans are eating too many calories (average of 2,800 per day compared to 2,200 calories per day in 1970), and today's supersized portion sizes are to blame for what is termed "calorie creep." In 400 Calorie Fix, Vaccariello and Hermann uses visual cues to teach readers how to "eyeball" correct portion sizes, interpret food labels to find hidden calories, and how to lose weight without food cravings by eating 400 calories per meal.
The 400 Calorie Fix Meal Plans
In addition to regular 400-calorie meals, dieters can choose to follow the 2-Week Quick Slim plan included in 400 Calorie Fix. The authors suggest those who kick start their diet by following the Quick Slim plan may experience a weight loss of up to 11 pounds in just 2 weeks. For those who don’t want to count calories and come up with their own 400-calorie meals, the 400 Calorie Fix offers over 400 meal ideas that come in around 400 calories each. Those following 400 Calorie Fix will eat 4 to 5 meals per day, depending on if the goal is weight loss or maintenance.
Vaccariello and Hermann offer tips on eating from salad bars, buffets, and fast food restaurants, and advice on choosing weight-friendly prepackaged foods. All meals contain a balance of macronutrients and include complex carbs, protein, and healthy fats. No food is excluded, not even dessert, and dieters can eat any food they want as long as they stick to their allotted calories.
Readers will find menus specific to their personal needs such as a diabetic-friendly diet plan, heart-healthy menu, a vegetarian plan, a family-friendly meal plan, and meal ideas for those who are always on the run.
400 Calorie Fix Recipes
The 400 Calorie Fix also includes over 150 recipes with full-color photos. Unlike many diet books, the meals are made of everyday foods and ingredients. Some recipes included in 400 Calorie Fix are:
- Grilled Chopped Steakhouse Salad
- Sliders with Sautéed Mushrooms and Onions
- Sloppy Joes
- Chicken Fingers
- Sweet and Sour Pork
- Blackened Catfish
- Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookies
- Strawberry Shortcake
- Molten Brownie Bites
The 400 Calorie Fix Lifestyle
In addition to a sound eating plan backed by science, the authors stress the importance of exercise not only for weight loss, but also because exercise boosts energy, improves sleep, and promotes overall health. Readers are encouraged to be active not only for the health benefits, but also because the more active one is, the more 400-calorie meals they can eat.
Overall, 400 Calorie Fix is a straightforward, easy read and offers a sensible approach to weight loss and maintenance. Vaccariello and Hermann provide readers with enough information and photos that readers can easily and successfully lose weight and keep it off by simply controlling portions.
About the Authors
Editor-in-chief of Prevention magazine, Liz Vaccariello is also author of the New York Times bestseller Flat Belly Diet! She lives in New Jersey with her husband and two daughters.
Mindy Hermann, RD, MBA is a dietician, author, and food expert. She lives in New York with her husband.
Book Stats
400 Calorie Fix: Slim is Simple: 400 Ways to Eat 400 Calorie Meals by Liz Vaccariello with Mindy Herman, RD.
ISBN#: 978-1-60529-515-2
Rodale, Inc., 2010
Hardcover, 453 pages
Jennifer Murray - Jennifer Murray is a freelance writer specializing in nutrition, weight loss and fitness.
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