Grey Sheet Diet Analysis

In a world of fad diets and crazy eating plans, the GreySheet food plan is a longstanding, rational structure for healthy eating and weight loss. Not a diet, but a lifestyle, the plan is less about consuming specific foods, and more about working with a sponsor, staying abstinent from unplanned eating, and attending support meetings.

Lifestyle Guidlines

• Following the GreySheet means adhering to rules governing number and content of meals.

  Adhering to the GreySheet food plan means following the abstinence guidelines. According to GreySheeters Anonymous, this requires selecting three meals from the GreySheet, a food plan distributed only to GreySheet members. Participants then weigh and measure all food, and eat only during the three allotted daily meals. Only non-caloric beverages, such as coffee, tea and diet soft drinks, are allowed between meals. Meals must be planned in advance and communicated to a sponsor to ensure the participant is following all the guidelines.

General Food Guidlines

• Healthy foods, like vegetables, are a cornerstone of the GreySheet meal plan.

  The Greysheet advocates for limited carbohydrates, and restricts man-made sugars and starches. A sample weight loss meal plan includes breakfast of one fruit serving and one protein serving, a lunch of one carbohydrate, one protein and one finger-salad as well as a dinner of one carbohydrate, one protein and vegetable serving. For weight maintenance, food choices and amounts increase.

Suggestions for Eating

• Following the GreySheet means avoiding sugar-dense foods, like cookies.

  Along with food group guidelines, the GreySheet also recommends specific behaviors to aid weight loss. They include eating slowly and taking small bites, avoiding foods that encourage binging, sitting down to eat, weighing oneself only once a month, avoiding diet foods like sugar-free cookies or low-fat dressings, calling a sponsor before the first bite and not skipping meals. Additionally, the program advocates for complete commitment to the plan, and honesty and willingness to see overeating as the symptom of a disorder that must be controlled.