Zone Food Blocks were created because it's nearly impossible to keep track of every gram of carbohydrate, protein, and fat that you eat. Remember, the key to reaching the Zone is in the balance of carbohydrate to protein. The balance of carbohydrate to protein is important, because carbohydrates stimulate insulin, and protein stimulates glucagon. Our goal is a balance between these two hormones. Using Zone Food Blocks makes this calculation easy.
Each Zone block contains one mini-block of each type of macronutrient - protein, fat, and carbohydrate. All blocks are calculated using grams. We've done all the calculations for you in the Food Mini-Block Guide that is available on our website, just click here. The Food Mini-Block Guide converts these grams into measurements that are more familiar.
In the ZonePerfect Nutrition Program, seven grams equals one mini-block of low fat protein. An example of one mini-block of protein is one ounce of chicken breast.
One mini-block of carbohydrates in the ZonePerfect Program equals nine grams. Examples of one mini-block of carbohydrate are either one cup of strawberries, or three cups of steamed broccoli, or 1/4 cup of pasta.
One mini-block of fat equals three grams. When you are eating a lowfat protein source, such as chicken or fish, there is some hidden fat there, about 1.5 grams per ounce. For this reason, you will often see a fat mini-block counted as 1.5 grams. Our mini block guide lists a fat block as 1.5 grams while our food block database lists a fat block as 3 grams.
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