One of the first things someone notices when reviewing a diet menu to see if they think they can do it is what to have and what not to have. You will soon form the opinion that you will not get very far on a diet when it is not varied and boring and all the things you would normally enjoy eating are off the menu. However, this is not the case with the South Beach Diet.
When you take a look at the South Beach Diet, you’ll be delighted to see that both the allowed and forbidden foods are, in fact, varied in an interesting way, and you’ll feel confident that you can use the “can haves” to get to some great food options.
The diet has taken into account the fact that most people enjoy eating meat of some kind. Foods like boiled ham, chicken breasts, Cornish hen, lean cuts of beef, and turkey are all on the list of items you can eat, even during Phase 1, when there’s more focus on eliminating bad carbs and saturated fats.
For seafood lovers, you will be happy to discover that all kinds of seafood are allowed in the diet and oily fish such as cod and mackerel are well worth a place on your menu as they will provide you with your necessary omega-3 . intake of fatty acids.
Fruits and many types of grains aren’t on the menu during Phase 1, but for those of you who really miss these foods, don’t worry, they’re gradually reintroduced during Phase 2. The fact that you no longer crave them foods will mean that you will significantly reduce your serving size when you are allowed to eat them again.
Dairy products, such as fattier cheeses, will also reappear on the menu during Phase 2, but you’ll find that, just like fruit and grains, you won’t crave or need these types of foods as much as before.
As you study the South Beach Diet, you will see that there are numerous vegetables that you can incorporate into your menu. Some of the most popular are celery and kale, asparagus and cauliflower, all of which are allowed in large servings and, as long as they are sweetened with Splenda, you can even eat pickles!
By combining some of the meats and cheeses available in Phase 1 with romaine lettuce and spinach, you can create some interesting salads that are totally allowed when following the South Beach Diet and you will find that they are simply delicious.
Menu variation is one of the main reasons the South Beach Diet is popular and successful. You’ll be pleasantly surprised to find that there are many food options on the menu that you would normally eat, so take a look at the South Beach Diet and see how following this plan might work for you.