Banana Breakfast Diet

by John Zaremba

Overview

The Banana Breakfast Diet started in Japan as one man's attempt to lose the weight that came from stress, late dinners and overtime at the office. It became a national and worldwide phenomenon popular for its simple rules, its promotion of responsible portion sizes and focus on stress relief.
Breakfast

As the name suggests, the main part of the diet is to eat a banana for breakfast. You can eat several if you like, but they must be raw and unfrozen. If you dislike bananas or are allergic to them, you may substitute other fruits, as long as they're uncooked and unfrozen.

Snacks

The diet allows a snack in the mid-afternoon, ideally around 3 p.m. The snack can be fresh fruit, but it can also be chocolate, cookies or other sweets. The diet does not specify portions for the snack. Ice cream, doughnuts and potato chips are not recommended. For salty snacks, some Japanese eat salted seaweed, but unbuttered popcorn probably is more palatable to Americans. The diet also allows an occasional after-dinner snack of fresh fruit when necessary.
Lunch and Dinner

The diet's main instruction on lunch and dinner is to eat normally--only no dessert. Healthy principles apply: Eat lean protein, avoid fried foods and don't overeat. Think of a scale of one to 10, where one is starving and 10 is uncomfortably full. Eat to a 7. Dinner must be eaten four hours before bedtime.
Beverages

Room-temperature water is the diet's main drink. Dieters should drink in small sips and avoid using water to "wash down" food. Non-caloric beverages such as tea and coffee are permitted but frowned on. Milk is discouraged. Beer and wine are acceptable on limited social occasions.
Other Aspects

The diet stresses thorough chewing and slow, mindful eating. As for exercise, the diet makes only general recommendations: Try to walk a bit every day, but don't stress about it. Exercise only if you want to, or if it will relieve stress.