10% PROTEIN / 10% FAT / 80% CARBS
The Giraffe Diet is typically used therapeutically for people who have alkaline blood pH, and are slow oxidizers with normal insulin levels, and often to help autoimmune conditions. To have optimal health and energy, a Giraffe must primarily consume carbohydrates because they are broken down more quickly and help lower blood pH.
Of the five Hauser Diet Types, this is the highest in carbohydrates and lowest in fat and protein. Thus, it includes a lot of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. This is a strict vegetarian, or even vegan, diet. It is very similar to what a giraffe would eat, and that’s how we came up with the name!
General Guidelines To Following The Giraffe Diet
Below is a pyramid that you can use as a guideline for which foods are most important in following the Giraffe Diet. As you can see, your meals should consist of mostly fresh produce and other vegetarian foods. For instance, a good Giraffe meal example is tofu and vegetable skewers over a wild rice and vegetable pilaf, with a side of fruit salad. You are getting plenty of vegetables and fruit, complex carbs from the rice, and a little vegetarian protein from the tofu. Notice this meal does not consist of meat or other animal products, nor a lot of fat.
KEY POINTS
• Giraffes need to lower blood pH into the normal range, by eating more carbohydrates, not a lot of protein and fat.
• Giraffes get the maximum amount of energy from plant based foods.
• This is a strict vegetarian diet!
How to Make Your Giraffe Diet More Energy Efficient
“To have more energy” is the number one goal of most patients we see here for the Hauser Diet program. For various reasons, their energy just seems depleted. It is an effort to make it through the day, and no matter how “healthy” they feel they eat, they feel tired.
Let’s review the basics of “energy efficiency” on the Giraffe Diet:
SMART FAT INTAKE
Before you start thinking about switching over to “fat free” sour cream, salad dressing, cream cheese, and the like, we should set the record straight. The Giraffe Diet is about eating low fat, naturally. While fats are necessary, the real thing should always be eaten, and in small amounts. A diet too high in fat slows a Giraffe down. This means oils, cream and cheeses are limited.
EAT PLENTY OF PLANT-BASED FOODS
Giraffes, you may not realize how the vitamins and antioxidants from fruits and vegetables can really make you feel great. Often we have people who just do not feel they can cook vegetables to make them taste good. Hence, they do not eat a lot of them and continue to eat foods not recommended for this diet.
AVOID SKIPPING TOO MANY MEALS
While some Giraffes only like to eat one meal per day, and feel energized, others don’t- especially those who exercise! Having a veggie-based snack, such as a salad can add a nice boost of energy to your day. One of our favorite vegetables is arugula, a salad green. Tossed in just a little olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt, it is the tastiest snack. Add in some black beans, tomatoes and shredded carrots and you’ve got a great little salad pick-me-up!
DUMPING THOSE PROCESSED FOODS
The Hauser Diet is all about bringing fresh, whole foods back to the table. It is amazing the difference we often see in patients after getting them to drop the processed diet foods: “meatless” meats, “fat-free” foods, frozen and boxed meals, and get them to start cooking more from scratch. We are talking simple meals that take the same amount of time to cook as it would to wait for the pizza delivery guy. Now, we are not saying a Giraffe can’t enjoy a nice veggie pizza now and then- who doesn’t?! But eating pizza 4 times a week, along with canned/boxed, and pre-made meals is not conducive to an energy efficient Giraffe Diet.
What Should A Giraffe Eat For Breakfast?
You may think you don’t always have time for breakfast, but giving yourself just a few extra minutes in the morning can make a big difference.
Over time, not having breakfast will wear on you. As a Giraffe, you may not have to eat as often as some of the other Hauser Diets, but going more than 10 hours (counting sleep) without food not the best for your metabolism.
One thing you have on your side is that most quick breakfast foods are right up your alley. Those foods tend to be carb based. So even if you don’t have time to sit and enjoy a meal in the morning, you can grab something before you leave the house pretty easily. Here are some meal ideas for when you have to time to sit and when you don’t!
SPICED UP OATMEAL
Oatmeal doesn’t have to be boring. Cook up your plain oatmeal and then add a little skim milk, honey, dash of vanilla, cinnamon, and your favorite fruit. This concoction has so many flavors. You’ll never consider oatmeal to be plain again!
BEAN AND VEGGIE QUESADILLA
Use whole wheat tortillas to make this Mexican style breakfast. Mash up some black beans, throw in some sautéed onions, tomatoes, peppers, and garlic and add to a warm tortilla. Scoop on a bit of mango salsa for a sweet addition. This combo can be eaten at breakfast or any other time of the day!
CRUNCHY FRENCH TOAST
Add a little crunch with some corn flakes to your whole wheat French toast. Top off with berries and a little bit of syrup to make ordinary French toast extra tasty and crunchy.
FRUITY SMOOTHIE
Get out the blender for a quick on the go breakfast. Pour in a little fruit juice, add some low fat yogurt, and then bring on the fruit. Use what ever you like best. Good choices are peaches and plums, mixed berries, bananas and kiwi. Blend and pour in a “to go” bottle. You’re on your way in a meal made in less than 10 minutes!
You have a lot of options for breakfast so use them. In time it will be doing your body a world of good.
Can I Drink Coffee & Caffeinated Beverages On The Giraffe Diet?
CAN I DRINK COFFEE?
Well, here is some good news for you coffee drinkers! Giraffes actually feel fine when drinking coffee. Because they tend to be alkaline blood types, they can consume the acidic coffee and not be adversely affected by it.
IS ALL COFFEE CREATED EQUAL?
Nope! Of course, we feel that the best coffee to purchase is coffee that has been organically grown, without pesticides and chemicals.
DECAF COFFEE?
Nope! We don’t recommend it. Most decaf coffee is even more laden with chemicals that have even been linked to autoimmune disorders. If you do drink decaf coffee, we recommend you drink Swiss Water decaf. You can read more about this issue in the Hauser Diet book.
WHAT’S IN YOUR COFFEE?
Watch what you put in your coffee – as you can easily add unwanted calories and fat with lattes and other creamy coffee treats.
WHAT ABOUT CAFFEINATED SODAS AND TEAS?
Our opinion on drinking sodas and sugared teas is that they just provide extra unneeded calories. Most of us do not need that! Giraffes tend to tolerate sugar okay, but we feel that it is not something that should be used regularly.
CAN’T I JUST DRINK “DIET” SODA?
Nope! Again, if you are trying to eat as healthy as you can and put into your body what it can use best for energy, diet drinks are not included! Although this is a controversial opinion, we feel that artificial sweeteners should not be consumed on a regular basis. You can read more about this in Chapter 8 of the Hauser Diet book called “Shop Smart”.
As with any food or beverage, don’t overdo it. If you are addicted to coffee, you drink too much of it. If you must have a Diet Coke in the afternoon, you’re addicted to it.
WHAT ABOUT SPORTS DRINKS?
Are you an avid exerciser or athlete? Or do you just occasionally go to the gym or take a walk around the block? If you are relying on sports drinks, such as Gatorade and PowerAde to replenish you during and after workouts, you might be counteracting the good you’re doing by working out. Sports drinks do replenish much needed electrolytes that can be lost during an intense workout, intense being the key word here. But the main ingredient in these drinks is sugar. Just 8 ounces of a typical sports drink contains 14 grams of sugar. Yes, Giraffes must focus on a high carbohydrate diet, but more specifically, the diet should be a high complex carbohydrate diet. Giraffes should be careful to not take in too much sugar because it is very easy to do! If you are just barely breaking a sweat, you really do not need a sports drink. Stick to plain water.
IS JUICE OKAY FOR GIRAFFES?
Although Giraffes are allowed to eat some fruit, we recommend that they limit the amount of fruit juice that they drink. Why? Because fruit juice is basically sugar – even though it is more natural. If you are looking to lose a few pounds, drinking a large volume of fruit juice every day can really pack on the pounds. A small 4 ounce glass of orange juice is allowable, but certainly not 12 or 16 ounce bottles! Vegetable juices are lower in calories and are allowed on the Giraffe Diet, but we still recommend that you eat more fresh vegetables vs. juice.
The Giraffe in the Restaurant
Eating out Giraffe Style is all about the veggies!
FOUR GIRAFFE TIPS FOR EATING ITALIAN:
- Choose pasta dishes with marinara and light wine sauces; steer away from the high fat sauces such as Alfredo and Marsala.
- Want an appetizer? Bruschetta or roasted vegetables are great choices!
- Alcohol in moderation is okay for Giraffes. Order one glass of red wine.
- Dessert? An occasional desserts is allowed on the Giraffe Diet (and splitting it is even better) – but if you had wine with the meal you should pass on dessert, especially if you are trying to lose weight. A lower fat Italian ice would be a good choice for you.
Sample Italian Giraffe Meal: Linguine and grilled veggies tossed with a white wine sauce, dark greens and tomato salad with balsamic vinegar dressing, along with some sautéed Italian spinach! Yum!
FOUR GIRAFFE TIPS FOR EATING ASIAN:
- Giraffes need veggies! Tofu is a great low fat protein choice for Giraffes too! Stir fry dishes with veggies and tofu are great Giraffe choices. Add some rice noodles for a change too!
- Vegetable spring rolls make a great start to an Asian meal! Skip the fried egg rolls though!
- Be sure to include one of the delicious herbal teas that are on the menu!
- You can read your fortune and eat it too – one small fortune cookie is fine for a Giraffe.
Sample Asian Giraffe Meal: Vegetable potsticker appetizer, tofu and vegetable pad thai with fresh ginger ale.
FOUR GIRAFFE TIPS FOR EATING MEXICAN:
- Start with your meal with a delicious bowl of black bean soup.
- Don’t skimp on the salad – try a Mexican Salad in a crisp flour tortilla “bowl” filled with lettuce, tomato, shredded carrots, red cabbage, and marinated onions. Skip eating the bowl though – too much fat!
- Salsa with a few chips or marinated vegetables are good Giraffe appetizers.
- Iced tea or water with lime makes a refreshing beverage!
Sample Mexican Giraffe Meal: Fish tacos filled with sweet pineapple and black beans with a side of fresh shredded red cabbage.
FIVE GIRAFFE TIPS FOR EATING AMERICAN:
- Choose a delicious veggie sandwich with a soup or salad.
- Craving a burger? Go for a black bean or vegetarian burger.
- Love that brew? An occasional beer is okay for most Giraffes, but if you are trying to lose weight, you’ll want to nix the brew!
- VEGGIES are your friends! There are many great sides out there nowadays of which you can order a couple and use for your meals if you don’t see any appropriate entrees on the menu. Steamed broccoli, sautéed spinach, mixed vegetables, baked potatoes, baked beans, sautéed mushrooms. Just take a look around the menu!
- Looking for something sweet? Have a dish of fresh berries or a quarter of a cantaloupe with a sprinkle of salt?
Sample American Giraffe Meal: Portobello mushroom sandwich on a whole grain bun; mesculin greens salad with pears and craisins; and a cup of vegetable soup.
