George Kashou wrote The Pocket Diet and Recipe Book. It is based on eating four or five pita breads that are filled with healthy ingredients, daily. When the diet was tested on volunteers, they lost weight with an average loss of eight pounds over six weeks.
The Basics of The Pocket Diet
Breakfast is recommended every day. This will boost energy and reduce the risk of overeating later in the day. Dieters are allowed to eat three-five pita meals daily, depending on their activity levels. In between pita meals, dieters are allowed three snacks of cottage cheese, yogurt, raw vegetables, or fruits.
Recommended Foods
Whole foods such as:
- Legumes
- Vegetables
- Grains
- Fruits
- Lean meats and fish
Processed foods, packaged foods and high calorie condiments are to be avoided. Any food can be eaten on this diet, as long as it fits inside a pita pocket.
Some of the combinations and recipes provided in the book are:
- Caesar Salad
- Sausage Calzone
- Teriyaki Beef
- Honey Mustard Chicken
- Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
- Ham and Swiss Grilled Cheese
- Tuna Salad Supreme
- Honey Vanilla Fruit Salad
- Chocolate Banana Tart
Sample Diet Plan
Breakfast
Scrambled eggs in a pita pocket
Morning Snack
Low-fat yogurt or fresh fruit
Lunch
Tuna salad pita pocket
Fruit
Afternoon Snack
Fresh fruit or raw vegetables
Dinner
Philly cheese steak pocket
1 cup Vegetables
Evening Snack
Frozen yogurt
Exercise Recommendations
A combination of cardiovascular exercise, strength training and flexibility exercises are recommended.
Pros
- Easy to follow and not restrictive in terms of food choices
- Consists of well-balanced meals
- Many recipes are provided with nutritional information
- Provides guidance for planning meals
- It is inexpensive
- Two to three snacks are allowed per day, which helps in reducing hunger
- Recipes can be prepared in advance
Cons
- The diet becomes inadequate in fiber if white pita pockets are selected
- Not suitable for those with wheat allergies
Conclusions
The diet is easy to follow and centered on portion control. There is doubt whether this would be a successful plan for long-term weight loss.
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