Following the pericone diet is simple. Every meal or snack must include: protein, low-glycemic carbs, healthy fats. Always eat your protein first. Reach for that shrimp cocktail or smoked salmon appetizer first—and when your Thanksgiving dinner entrée arrives, eat the turkey first, followed by your green salad and vegetables. Why? Because by eating your protein first at every meal you are helping suppress your appetite. Proteins are digested much more slowly than carbohydrates—even carbohydrates that are high in fiber. Also protein is neutral in terms of its effect on blood sugar.