Introduction

Congratulations! The fact that you’re reading this means you’ve decided to go on the G.I. Diet — the easiest, healthiest, most effective route to permanent weight loss. Whether you’ve been losing weight on the plan for a while or are just about to embark on it, The Revised G.I. Diet Guide to Shopping and Eating Out is a convenient pocket guide that will not only make following the program easier, but will show you how much fun you can have while losing weight. Being on the G.I. Diet doesn’t mean you have to radically change your lifestyle. It was designed with the real world in mind so that you can dine out, travel, celebrate special events, snack and still lose those extra unwanted pounds. No matter where you go or what the occasion, there are always delicious green-light options to enjoy, and the purpose of this book is to list them for you.2It’s intended to be a complementary tool with The G.I. Diet series of books, and not a replacement for them, since it doesn’t explain the principles of the diet or how it works. Rather it’s to be carried and consulted on your weekly grocery trip, as you grab a bite on the run or when you’re out with friends at your favourite restaurant.
 
This book is divided into two main sections. Part One, ”At the Grocery Store,“ takes you aisle by aisle through the supermarket. While the food guides in The G.I. Diet series are organized by meal or food group, this guide is organized the way a typical grocery store is, starting with the produce section and ending with frozen foods. You can start at the beginning and let the book navigate your shopping cart through the supermarket aisles, or you can look up a specific food in the index, which starts on page 93.
 
Part Two, ”Eating Out,“ lists the green-light options available at a number of popular fast food chains and also gives some helpful guide lines to follow while dining out. It lists the dishes you’d typically find at Italian, Greek, Chinese, Indian, Mexican, Thai and Japanese restaurants and points out the green-light options. Eating out should be a fun social occasion and this guide will help you enjoy it without worrying about your waistline.
 
One of the most popular features of the G.I. Diet is that you don’t have to count calories, add points or measure carbs in order to follow it. I’ve been researching glycemic ratings, fat and calorie levels, and ingredient lists of food products and menu items, and have done all the math for you. Now all you have to do is look at the colour-coded charts to find out which foods you can fill your shopping cart with or order in a restaurant. Although I’ve included the red- and yellow-light columns along with the green-light, this book is really about the green-light, about all the foods you can enjoy while slimming down. This diet isn’t about deprivation and going hungry, it’s about making the right choices and eating until you’re satisfied. Food is one of life’s greatest pleasures and you can definitely indulge in it. Enjoy!
 
As always, your feedback is extremely valuable. I can be reached through my website, at www.gidiet.com.