South Beach Diet Foods Allowed and Not Allowed in Phase 2

The first phase of the South Beach Diet is the most difficult to adhere to because of restrictions in the type of foods to eat. It might be hard to remove chocolate or ice cream from your usual intake but having the right mindset will surely lead you to success in becoming healthier.

Before you even start the Phase 2 of the South Beach diet, you would have notice these changes:
1. You are already 4 - 6 kilograms lighter.
2. You have a new outlook about eating right.
3. Your body has changed its reaction towards food tat make you overweight.
4. Cravings about specific foods are overcome.
5. Your unhealthy eating habits have been corrected.

Phase 2 is very much different from phase 1 simply because it lasts longer and less restricted. It has an indefinite duration depending largely on how long it will take for you to lose and achieve you target weight. Your weight loss may not be as dramatic as in the first phase but it will be consistent and continuous. You can anticipate losing 1 to 2 pounds per week. Carbohydrate-rich foods are slowly reintroduced to your diet but intake is moderate. Provided in this article are the meal guides and food items that are allowed and not allowed in Phase 2.

Meal Guidelines

Protein intake is not limited to all meals. While vegetable intake should be minimized to ½ cup during breakfast and 2 cups each for lunch and dinner. When it comes to fruits, you can eat 1 serving a day and you can increase it to 3 servings per day after a few days of starting this phase. The same goes for starches whereas milk can be drank daily limiting to 1 - 1 ½ cups. You have the option to use fats like mayonnaise and oil but intake is restricted with only 1 teaspoon for breakfast and 1 tablespoon each for lunch and dinner meals.

Foods Allowed

Fruits: You can eat apples, dried or fresh apricots, blueberries, cantaloupe, cherries, grapefruit, grapes, kiwi, mangoes, orange, peaches, pears, plums and strawberries.

Dairy products: You can take light soy milk, fat-free or low-fat milk, and yogurts that are light, fruit-flavored, plain or low fat.

Vegetables: Included in the list are barley, beans, pinto and black-eyed peas.

Starches: These foods include whole wheat bread, cereals like Fiber One or Kellogg's Extra-Fiber; muffins, whole wheat pasta, green peas, popcorn, potato and brown rice. Such foods must be eaten meagerly.

Miscellaneous: You can eat fat-free or sugar-free pudding and bittersweet or semisweet chocolate meagerly. Alcohol beverages like red wine can be added to the diet.

Foods Not Allowed

Starches: You should avoid eating bagels, white bread, cookies, corn flakes, pasta, baked potatoes, rice cakes and white rice.

Fruits: Included in the list are bananas, canned fruit juices, fresh fruit juices, pineapple, raisins and watermelon.

Miscellaneous: You can't eat honey, ice cream or jam.

Reintroducing carbohydrate-rich foods slowly in the diet may not be easy because there's always the temptation to eat more. You are allowed to eat them but you have to watch out if you overindulge yourself. You have completed experiencing the worst scenario in this diet, which is the first phase, so it should be easy for you to adhere to Phase 2. The key to success is discipline and motivation.