| The Review Process | | | | Spectrum Diet and Jenny Craig. The South Beach |
| Consumer Reports, Forbes and CNN independently | | | | Diet focuses on healthy portions and nutrient density. |
| rated a total of 61 diet plans, and each group | | | | The cornerstone of the Zone Diet is its unique ratio |
| published their recommendations separately. Forbes | | | | of food types: carbohydrates, 40%; fat, 30%; and |
| and CNN used panels and behavioral studies to | | | | proteins, 30%. Dr. Barry Sears, creator of the |
| evaluate the plans. In addition to those methods | | | | program, believes this ratio maintains balanced |
| Consumer Reports looked for clinical studies and | | | | hormones and consistent glycemic levels. |
| adherence to nutritional guidelines. | | | | The Spectrum, developed by Dean Ornish, MD, |
| Best of the Best Diets | | | | focuses on nutrition, physical activity, relationships and |
| All three reviewers recommended Weight Watchers | | | | stress management. Participants eat a regimented |
| and The Sonoma Diet. Weight Watchers was the | | | | vegetarian diet and focus on building a balanced |
| highest rated of any of the plans, and clearly still the | | | | lifestyle |
| gold standard. | | | | Key tenets of the Jenny Craig program are personal |
| Foods in the Sonoma wine country are heavily | | | | coaching and Jenny Craig brand foods. Participants |
| influenced by Mediterranean, Latin American and | | | | also eat fruits, vegetables, milk and cereal. |
| Asian cuisines. Adapted from the Sonoma region, the | | | | Best Vegeterian Diet Plans |
| diet focused on "power foods," including: wine, whole | | | | The Spectrum Diet, with two recommendations, and |
| grains, tomatoes, strawberries, spinach, olive oil, | | | | the Macrobiotic Diet, with one recommendation, are |
| broccoli, grapes, lean protein, feta cheese, almonds, | | | | the best choices for vegetarians. |
| bell peppers and blueberries. | | | | Low fat and high fiber are the hallmarks of the |
| Weight Watchers is composed of group meetings, | | | | Macrobiotic Diet. Because of its focus on seasonal |
| online support, personal consultants and two flexible | | | | vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds, it is |
| food plans. The Flex plan is based on a point system. | | | | easily adaptable for vegetarians. The diet does include |
| The Core plan places no limits on food quantity, but | | | | moderate amounts of fish, however. |
| required the member to eat only nutrient dense | | | | Conclusion |
| foods. | | | | There are no short term fixes. With 80 million |
| Excellent Diet Plans | | | | Americans going on a diet each year, all three groups |
| Diets recommended by two of the three reviewers | | | | agreed that the best diet is the one you can live |
| are The South Beach Diet, The Zone Diet, The | | | | with. |