There are several weight loss plans out there that claim to be based on the French Diet. One of the first to make this claim was a diet plan by Michel Montignac. His plan is based on the glycemic index and on how food combinations interact with the digestive system.

What I love about this method of losing weight is that you can actually eat tasty foods. Yes you are slightly limited in Phase I of the weight loss plan but even then you never feel as if you are missing out on anything. This is not about counting calories. It is about knowing how food interacts with your body chemistry and your sugar levels.

Here are a few things to keep in mind on this diet.

1) If you are going to have a carb based meal have it early in the day and avoid proteins. Carbs with a high glycemic index do not mix well with proteins.

2) Plan on having your biggest meal at lunch time. If possible have a high protein meal with low glycemic carbs as an accompaniment.

3) Have a light protein heavy meal for dinner.

4) If you are going to have fruit, eat it by itself. Fruit does not digest properly when eating with other foods. If you are going to eat fruit eat it 15 minutes before or 15 minutes after a meal. In other words it should be eaten by itself.

5) You are not eating a high fat diet, like Atkins. You can have fats but they should be good fats like olive oil.

6) In phase two you can have wine and dark chocolate with this diet. Everything in moderation but these are both low glycemic foods.

7) Drink your beverages after your meal. Liquid can obstruct the digestion process, according to this weight loss program.

8) Cut out breads from your diet. They are high glycemic and will raise your blood sugar levels. The only exception seems to be whole wheat bread. You can have this in the morning with a bit of olive oil for breakfast.

9) Switch to decaf coffee, if you must drink coffee. Caffeine has been shown in many studies to raise the glycemic index of foods.

10) Ask for sauces on the side, as many of them have a high glycemic index. Choose an oil and vinegar dressing for your salads instead of the other dressings. Olive oil has been shown to lower the glycemic index of other foods.

I would also suggest getting the GI app for your iphone. It is very inexpensive and can help you make quick food decisions when out at restaurants. It is an easy way to stay on the French diet without having to guess your way through a meal.