Eatology-What is the zone?
There are hundreds of diet philosophies out there!
Have you ever had one of those weeks where you just weren’t prepared?
You meant to do laundry, catch up on work and meal prep…but it didn’t happen.
Although there’s not a personal laundry service or mini-clone of you to do the work…there is meal delivery!
Recently I tried a new meal delivery service—that drops delicious food off, right at your door: Eatology.
I’m all about easy (and tasty)—so I decided to give it a go.
- Italian Goulash w/Spinach
- Spinach BBQ Pizza with Carrot Fries
- Coconut Turkey Burgers
- Turkey Sausage with Sweet Potatoes and Coconut Milk
- And, Apple Cinnamon Bacon Breakfast Hash
The consensus?
Deliciousness.
Definitely foods that I don’t typically make on the regular—so if you’re all about variety and needing something different—someone else’s home cooking (like Eatology) is a way to mix it up. (They mix it up regularly—check out the current menu here)
Something that separates Eatology from most meal delivery services out there is the labels are not about calories.
Many food companies are often associated with “weight loss” or body composition changes—taking the focus more off of nourishing your body with yummy, real foods, and making it more about eating as a matter of “calories in, calories out.”
Instead, Eatology is all about giving folks a better idea of what balanced eating can look like (proteins, carbs and fats) included through “Zone” portions (blocks) as opposed to calories and macro counting.
You’ve heard this concept before, but your body REALLY does thrive upon balance.
In a world FULL of noise and debates over low-carb ketogenic diets, carb cycling, low-carb AND low-fat clean eating, vegetarianism, veganism, paleo-ism, and more…it can be downright confusing as to what your body REALLY does need for vitality.
Get Back to the Basics
Let’s get back to the basics people: Balance. Proteins, fats and carbs.
As a baby, you knew this…So what happened?!
Did you know that your mom’s milk was the PERFECT food for you at the time?
Human breast milk contains all nutrients– 39% carbohydrates, 54% fat and 7% protein.
Balanced for your body’s needs at the time—you craved exactly what your body needed.
Since brain growth is critical at this season in life, it makes sense that the “perfect” balance of nourishment from our mom’s milk would break down this way (a little more glucose-carbs-and fat than proteins in order to help get it there).
Fast-forward to “being an adult”—and while your body STILL knows what it needs (balance of all food groups), things get complicated:
You as an adult actually have to decide what balance (or imbalance) goes in your body (unlike the baby who knows one option).
So how do you find this balance (without going crazy over counting macros or calories)?
This is where something like the Zone, for some, can be beneficial.
The Zone 101
While I am no advocate of a one-size-fits-all approach to a diet, if you are a person who struggles with what a portion size of anything looks like or counting calories obsessively, the Zone can help for a time to see a clearer picture of what a “balanced” plate looks like (and yes, it does include carbs and fat).
In short, the Zone is a nutrition prescription for helping people get a “clear” idea of what a “healthy balanced” plate should look like, without counting calories.
Generally speaking, it includes: 3 meals and 2 snacks each day, in allotted portions. Each with a mix of protein, like chicken, turkey, beef, or fish; carbs (mostly fruits and veggies); and healthy fats, like olive oil, almonds, coconut oil and avocado. Instead of counting calories, it prescribes “blocks” to help folks get a better picture of portion sizes.
For instance:
7 grams of protein = 1 block.
14 grams = 2 blocks.
21 grams = 3 blocks.
9 grams of carbs= 1 block.
18 grams = 2 blocks.
27 grams = 3 blocks.
And, 1.5 grams of fat=1 block.
3 grams = 2 blocks.
4.5 grams = 3 blocks.
Individuals eat a balance of all three macronutrients (protein, carbs and fat) at each meal, based on their body type and energy needs—like this chart:
And even though the Zone can be helpful for some, want an even EASIER way to think about portions?
Portions 101:
Check out Thrive’s food portion chart:
Protein= 1-2 hand sizes
Starches= Fist size
Fruits = Fist size
Veggies=Half your plate
Fats= ½ avocado, 1-2 spoonfuls of oil or nutbutter, fistful of nuts and seeds
No weighing, measuring or counting needed.
The bottom line? Keep it simple.
Eat a balance of these foods at each meal (proteins, fats and veggies)—and sometimes your bod will ask for more (hungrier than others). It’s ok to listen.
Keep it simple.
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