The Sonoma Diet site takes to the next level the guidelines and lessons from the bestselling book, The Sonoma Diet.

In many ways the Sonoma Diet is an anti-diet based on the premise that eating shouldn’t be complicated. Instead, The Sonoma Diet advocates finding the joy in really savoring healthful, in-season food in reasonable proportions.

The Sonoma Diet means to bring to the everyday dieter the simple, lingering meals of California’s sun-drenched Sonoma region. By focusing more on portion size and less on a list of “bad” foods, you’ll soon find yourself enjoying whole-grain bread dipped in olive oil and pasta tossed with vine-ripened tomatoes – complete with a nice glass of wine!

The Sonoma Diet emphasizes ten “power foods” - foods that are proven to be ultra-rich in disease fighting vitamins and minerals, as well as key components in the longevity of some of the oldest, healthiest civilizations on Earth.

• Almonds
• Bell peppers
• Blueberries
• Broccoli
• Grapes
• Olive oil
• Spinach
• Strawberries
• Tomatoes
• Whole grains

Wave One comprises the first ten days of the plan and is designed to decrease the consumption of large amounts of sugars, refined flour products, and other foods that probably led to your weight gain in the first place. This phase of the plan can be difficult because it challenges the way you’ve been eating, maybe over a lifetime. But it’s designed at the beginning of the program for good reason – to take advantage of the initial enthusiasm most of us have when we start a new eating plan. Don’t worry! You’ll be seeing results, feeling better, and even enjoying your meals more long before any sense of sacrifice sets in!

After Wave One is complete you will move onto Wave Two until you reach your target weight. Wave Two further solidifies The Sonoma Diet Portion Guide. This is a key element of The Sonoma Diet – the idea that maintaining a healthy weight is as much about how much we eat, and how we eat it, as it is about what we eat. To aid you in overcoming America’s “portion distortion”, The Sonoma Diet plan recommends using a 7-inch plate or 2-cup bowl for breakfast and a 9-inch plate for lunch and dinner. This amount of food is typically a “real” portion, and during Wave Two you are free to enjoy virtually any “whole” food providing you stay within the recommended portion size.

Once you’ve reached your target weight you will move onto Wave Three, where the focus is on long-term maintenance. You’ll continue choosing healthful foods while being attentive to portion size and allowing yourself treats and indulgences when it really matters. In this manner you can enjoy all the special occasions life has to offer by putting the focus on savoring a smaller amount of the foods you most enjoy.

While the website is designed as a companion to the bestselling book, the site allows you to get started on The Sonoma Diet right away without investing a dime. The site offers meal plans and menus, but they all emphasize real food that you can buy at your local grocery store or market. The site offers a free online health analysis that will enable you to hit the ground running. Members have access to 500 recipes, a fine wine guide and lots of sample menus.

For added encouragement there’s an online support system that includes Success Stories, message boards, a place to sign up for a Diet Pal – even an online nutritionist!

The Sonoma Diet is a great diet plan for anyone who’s tired of counting, tired of heating pre-packaged food, and tired of deprivation. By focusing on the intangible aspects of satisfaction – savoring your food and slowing down – you’re free to sit back and enjoy!