HOW TO CREATE A BODY TYPE-FRIENDLY MEAL PLAN THAT WORKS FOR YOU!

Want to construct your own body type-friendly meals? You can — and it's even easier than you think! If you've gone beyond the one-week sample menu for your type and need a little menu planning help, we've got everything you need for dietary inspiration.

Ready to get started? In six simple steps, you'll be planning healthy, nutritious and balanced meals in no time!

1. Review the Dietary Profile for your body type.
   The Dietary Profile section provides the backbone of your eating plan, outlining important information such as how many calories should come from fat, special eating tips for weight loss/gain and total caloric intake. Armed with this knowledge, you've got the dietary information you need for every meal of your day — making meal planning a snap!



2. Decide what foods you love - and the foods you can live without.
   Did you review the "Ultra-Support" and "Basic Support" for your type and find some elicited a definite "Yuck" response? That's OK. Just because a particular food is good for your type doesn't mean you have to like it — or even eat it! Simply find other foods that provide what you need (like dense protein) and eat those instead.



3. Start slowly
   Are you the type that immediately jumps into a diet? Relax! It's actually better to take your new eating plan slow and easy. If you change your eating style too fast and get overwhelmed, you'll get frustrated and give up.
   
   To be safe, the best thing to do is to start eating one body type-friendly meal a day (like breakfast). That way, you get used to choosing and combining foods for only one meal and you start yourself on a healthy diet plan. Once you get the hang of creating yummy, healthy breakfasts, it's easier to plan lunchtime and dinnertime. You'll be successfully integrating your new eating habits in no time!



4. Discover how to schedule your meals for maximum effectiveness.
   It's easy to give your body the right food it needs at the right time! For instance, types like the Pituitary, Kidney, Medulla, Pineal and (sometimes) the Pancreas do not assimilate dense protein in the evenings. Some other types crave dense protein in the morning for that extra energy boost. The "Scheduling Meals" section for your type demonstrates what types of foods should be eaten at what times.



5. Pay attention to food combinations.
   Ever enjoyed a meal only to feel tired and groggy later? That's because the wrong combinations of foods can cause symptoms ranging from mild indigestion, a heavy or sluggish feeling, nausea, weight gain or fatigue. If you pay attention to your body and notice these signs, you'll quickly learn what food combinations energize you — and what combinations leave you feeling flat.



6. Rotate your foods
   Escape from a food rut! It's important to add as much variety to your diet as possible. That's because your body gets different nutrients from different foods, so rotating your foods is crucial. If you eat the same foods all the time, even if they're great for your type, you're not getting the nutrients your body needs. For more about rut eating and how to avoid it, check out our article "Breaking Free from Rut Eating,” today!

Is your family a mish-mash of different body types? Don't worry - you don't have to cook separate meals for each family member. For tips on how to make mealtime harmonious, check out our article, "Conquering the Picky Eater Challenge." You'll discover how to make mealtime a happy time for the entire family — and still eat right for your type!