What's on the Menu of the South Beach Diet?

by: LindaMiller
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One of biggest draw-backs to many diets is the "forbidden" foods list. It is human nature to desire the things we know we can't have, and this seems to magnify when you're on a diet. Dieting is difficult enough without the disappointment of having to eat foods you don't like.

You will be pleased to learn that this is something that cannot be said about the South Beach Diet. If the question of what you can eat on this diet arises, it would be far quicker to tell you what you cannot eat!

You can still eat the foods you love when you are on the South Beach Diet. The only difference with the South Beach Diet is that you are eating them in a way that is better for you. Let's say you're a meat lover. On the South Beach Diet menu, you can still enjoy a delicious steak, just make it a leaner cut and don't totally pig out.

When you are first considering the South Beach Diet, have a long look at Phase 1. This is the most restricted part of the diet, yet you will find it is surprisingly varied and quite a few of the things you would expect you are not allowed are there on the menu.

Low in fat or fat free cheese along with beef, pork, eggs, low fat lunch meat and poultry are all allowed so long as you avoid greasy or fatty portions. For all you seafood lovers, you will be delighted to discover that products from the sea are allowed and even encouraged throughout all phases of the South Beach Diet. If you have a sweet tooth, that's no problem, but you must keep your sweet allowance to 75 calories each day. Phase 1 is the strictest part of the diet but you still have the choice to include your favorite foods so you can see that this diet will be easy to stick to.

If home cooking is your thing, don't worry. The South Beach Diet makes only slight changes to the items you can use for cooking. During Phase 1, canola and olive oils are used to prepare meals, and other recipes call for you to use low-fat milk and yogurt. But this is only during the highly restrictive first phase of the South Beach Diet menu.

During Phase 1, you eliminate fruits, full-fat dairy foods and grains from your diet. After two weeks of this, your cravings for these foods are drastically reduced, and once your body is cleansed of these negative nutrients, your digestive system works better and you will lose weight more easily and consistently.

The most important question to ask when you are choosing a diet program is, "What will I be able to eat?" You will be more than pleased with the answer to this question on the South Beach Diet. And the weight loss that comes with it won't be so bad either.

About the Author

Linda Miller is an expert on popular weight loss diet programs. For tasty South Beach Diet Recipes, menu ideas and free south beach diet information, make sure to visit her site at South-Beach-Diet-Recipes.com  

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