Michi’s Ladder is not a diet. It’s a simple substitution plan. To lose weight, try swapping the foods you eat for similar foods in tiers 1 and 2. The more you eat in tiers 1 and 2, the more you’ll increase your chances of losing weight. There are some healthy foods in lower tiers, but they’re either calorie dense or nutrient deficient. To lose weight, you want to maximize the nutrients in every calorie you consume.

Note on frying: Foods should be eaten raw, steamed, grilled, poached, baked, or broiled. Frying automatically drops even the best foods into tier 5.

ProteinFatCarb
Tier 1: The Pious Tier
Apples, with skin
CarbArtichokes
Carb ProteinArugula
CarbAsparagus
CarbAvocados
FatBeans
Carb Fat ProteinBeets
Carb

Bok choy
Carb

Boysenberries
Carb

Bran
Carb

Broccoli
Carb Protein

Broccoli sprouts
Carb Protein

Brussels sprouts
Carb

Cabbage
Carb

Carrots
Carb

Cauliflower
Carb Protein

Celery
Carb

Cereal, whole grain
Carb Fat Protein

Chard
Carb Protein

Cherries
Carb

Citrus fruits
Carb

Collard greens
Carb ProteinCottage cheese, nonfat
ProteinCucumbers
CarbEgg whites
ProteinEndive
CarbFish, cold water (salmon, mackerel, sardines)
Fat ProteinFish, freshwater
Fat Protein

Flaxseed
Fat

Garlic, fresh
Carb

Granola, raw,

no sugar
Carb Fat Protein

Hemp seed
Fat

Kale
Carb Protein

Lettuce, romaine, green or red leaf
Carb

Milk, nonfat
Carb Protein

Milk, soy
Carb Fat Protein

Muesli, raw, no sugar
Carb Fat Protein

Mushrooms
Carb

Mustard
CarbNectarines
CarbOatmeal
Carb Fat ProteinOlive oil
FatOlives
FatOnions
CarbPears, with skin
Carb

Peas
Carb Protein

Peppers
Carb

Plantains
Carb

Prunes
Carb

Radishes
Carb

Raspberries
Carb

Refried beans, nonfat
Carb Protein

Rice, brown
Carb

Salsa, natural, no sugar
Carb

Seitan
Carb Protein

Spinach
Carb Protein

Squash
Carb Protein

Strawberries
Carb

Sweet potatoes
Carb

Tea, green or black
Tempeh
Carb ProteinTofu
Carb ProteinTomato sauce, no sugar
CarbTomatoes
CarbVinegar, WaterYams
CarbYogurt, nonfat,
no sugar
Carb Protein
Tier 2: The Happy Tier
Apples, skinless
CarbBananas
CarbBlueberries
CarbBread, whole grain
CarbCantaloupe
CarbCheese, nonfat
ProteinChicken, skinless white meat
Protein

Coffee, black or cappuccino with nonfat milk
Carb Protein

Corn
Carb

Cottage cheese,
low-fat
Fat Protein

Cream cheese, nonfat
ProteinDuck, free-range
Fat ProteinEggplant
CarbFish, farmed
ProteinGranola or energy bar
CarbGrapes
CarbHummus
Carb Fat Protein

Juice, fresh-squeezed with pulp, no sugar
Carb

Kiwifruit
Carb

Mangoes
Carb

Meal replacement
bar
Carb Fat Protein

Melon, honeydew
Carb

Milk, 1%
Carb Fat ProteinNuts, raw
Carb Fat ProteinOstrich
Fat ProteinPancakes, buckwheat
Carb ProteinPapayas
CarbPeaches
CarbPineapple
Carb

Plums
Carb

Raisins
Carb

Ricotta cheese, nonfat
Protein

Soy nuts
Carb Fat Protein

Soy sauce
Carb

Squid
Protein

String beans
Carb Protein

Sunflower seeds
Carb Fat ProteinTortillas,whole wheat
Carb Fat ProteinTurkey breast
ProteinVegetable juice
Carb ProteinVeggie burger
Carb Fat ProteinVenison, free-range
Fat Protein

Watermelon
Carb

Yogurt, no sugar
Carb Fat Protein

Zucchini
Carb

Tier 3: The Swiss Tier
A1 Steak Sauce
CarbAngel food cake
CarbApplesauce
CarbBagels
CarbBeef, eye of round
Fat ProteinBeef, London
Fat ProteinBeef, top round
Fat Protein

Canola oil
Fat

Cheese, low-fat
Fat Protein

Chicken, dark meat
Fat Protein

Chicken sandwich,
broiled
Carb Fat Protein

Chicken taco,

baked
Carb Fat Protein

Clams
Protein

Coffee, cappuccino with whole milk
Carb Fat ProteinCrab
ProteinCream cheese,low-fat
Fat ProteinEggs, whole
Fat ProteinFrench fries, baked
CarbFruit, dried
Carb

Graham crackers
Carb

Granola
Carb Fat

Honey
Carb

Jam or marmalade
Carb

Jerky, turkey
Protein

Juice, from concentrate
Carb

Ketchup
Carb

Lamb, lean
Fat ProteinLettuce, iceberg
CarbLobster
ProteinMayonnaise
FatMilk, 2%
Carb Fat ProteinMuesli
Carb FatOatmeal, flavored
Carb

Oysters
Protein

Pancakes
Carb

Pasta, plain
Carb

Peanut butter, raw
Fat Protein

Popcorn, plain
Carb

Pork tenderloin
Fat Protein

Potatoes, baked
or boiled
Carb

Pretzels
CarbRefried beans,
low-fat
Carb Fat ProteinRice cakes
CarbRice, white
CarbSauerkraut
CarbSoup, canned broth
Carb FatSteak, lean
Fat Protein

Sweet-and-sour
sauce
Carb Fat

Veal cutlet
Fat Protein

Wine, red
Carb

Yogurt, frozen,
nonfat
Carb Protein

Tier 4: The Dodgy Tier
Animal crackers
CarbBeef, filet mignon
Fat ProteinBeef, lean ground
Fat ProteinBeef, sirloin
Fat ProteinBeef Stroganoff
Fat ProteinBeer
CarbBread, refined flour
Carb

Buffalo
Fat Protein

Butter
Fat

Caesar salad, with chicken
Carb Fat Protein

Canadian bacon
Fat Protein

Cheese (including bleu and goat)
Fat

Chili
Carb Fat Protein

Chinese food
Carb Fat Protein

Chips, low-fat, baked
Carb

Coconut
Fat

Coffee, iced mocha latte with nonfat milk
Carb ProteinCoffee, latte with whole milk
Carb Fat ProteinCoffee cake
Carb FatCrackers
CarbGrilled cheesesandwich
Carb FatHam
Fat Protein

Hot dogs, turkey
Fat Protein

Ice cream, sugar-free or fat-free
Carb

Jell-O
Carb

Juice, sweetened
Carb

Lamb chops
Fat Protein

Lasagna, with meat
Fat Protein

Macaroni and cheese
Carb Fat

Margarine
Fat

Meat loaf
Fat ProteinMexican food
Carb Fat ProteinMilk, whole
Carb Fat ProteinMuffins
Carb FatNuts, salted or roasted
FatPeanut butter,
not raw
Carb FatPepper, stuffed
Fat

Pizza, meatless or Hawaiian style
Carb Fat Protein

Popcorn, with salt and butter
Carb Fat

Pork chop
Fat Protein

Potato salad or
macaroni salad
Carb Fat

Pudding, with

low-fat milk
Carb Fat

Reuben sandwich
Fat Protein

Sherbet
CarbShrimp
ProteinSloppy Joe, lean beef
or turkey
Fat ProteinSoft drinks, diet
Soup, canned creamy
Carb FatSpaghetti,with meatballs
Carb Fat ProteinSub sandwich
Carb Fat Protein

Taco salad,

with chicken
Carb Fat Protein

Tortilla, refined flour
or corn
Carb Fat

Tuna salad or
chicken salad
Fat Protein

Vegetable oil
Fat

Wine, white
Carb

Yogurt, frozen
Carb Fat Protein

Tier 5: The Newburg Tier
Alcohol, hard liquorBacon
Fat ProteinBaked beans
Carb Fat ProteinBeef, ground, regular
Fat ProteinBeef taco, fried
Fat ProteinBreakfast sandwich,
fast food
Fat ProteinCakes
Carb Fat

Candy
Carb

Cereal, sugared
Carb

Chicken a la King
Fat Protein

Chicken, buffalo wings

or nuggets
Fat Protein

Chicken or fish
sandwich, fried
Fat Protein

Chips, potato or corn
Carb FatChocolate
Carb FatCinnamon bun
Carb FatCoffee, mocha, macchiato, ice blended, frappé, triple caramel vanilla buzz bomb, etc.
Carb FatCookies
Carb FatCream cheese
FatCreamed veggies
Carb Fat

Creamer, nondairy
Fat

Doughnuts
Carb Fat

French fries
Carb Fat

Gravy
Fat

Hamburger, fast food
Fat Protein

Hot dogs
Fat ProteinIce cream
Carb FatJerky, beef, pork,
or venison
ProteinJuice, sugar added
CarbLobster Newburg
Fat ProteinNachos
Carb FatOnion rings
Carb Fat

Pastries
Carb Fat

Pies
Carb Fat

Potato skins, fried
Carb Fat

Potatoes, fried
Carb Fat

Potpie
Fat Protein

Refried beans,
with lard
Carb Fat Protein

Salad dressing, creamy
FatSausage
Fat ProteinSoft drinks, sugared
CarbTater tots
Carb FatToaster pastries
Carb
Fat