Mention the word diet and most people think celery sticks and cottage cheese. Not exactly what you would call a pleasant picture. But, the fact is that diets don’t have to be about bland and boring food. If you are going to be watching what you eat, you might as well make it as interesting as possible. And that’s where recipes come in.
Good recipes can be the difference between staying committed and getting bored. The question is – how can you find or make South Beach Diet friendly recipes? Here are some tips.
Finding South Beach Diet Recipes
The Internet is truly a wonderful thing. A simple search yields formal recipe sites (with specific South Beach Diet recipes) and sites created by “beachers”. There is a wealth of information out there often categorized by phase, type of food or meal. You can even find vegetarian friendly recipes.
Also, the South Beach Diet book itself contains a substantial amount of recipes and suggestions. For additional inspiration, you can check out an entire line of South Beach Diet cookbooks such as the Taste of Summer Cookbook, the Parties & Holidays Cookbook and the Quick & Easy Cookbook.
Modifying Existing Recipes
Sometimes, you’re not looking for something new. You just want that old favorite but it’s not very “beachy”. That’s OK – some simple modifications are often the only thing between you and culinary bliss:
1. Substitute olive or canola oil for butter or margarine.
2. Use a sweetener instead of honey or sugar.
3. Go with lean cuts of your favorite proteins.
4. Substitute whole grain or whole wheat grains for white.
5. Use non or low-fat dairy instead of full-fat.
For recipes that don’t lend themselves to modifications, the secret is to figure out what the taste is that you are really craving. Is it tacos or just the spicy beef? If it’s just the beef, mix lean beef with a taco spice packet (no added sugar) and serve it over a toasted low-carb wrap. It will satisfy your craving without blowing your diet.
Creating your own recipes
Some of us are more adventurous than others. If you would like to create your own recipes, more power to you. The best place to start is browsing through existing recipes. For the South Beach Diet, it is best to look at Mediterranean (mostly Greek and Middle Eastern) recipes for new ideas. These cuisines use a lot of olive oil and spices rather than sugar or starch for flavoring. Another benefit is that they also have many vegetarian options.
All in all, you have many recipes options on the South Beach Diet. Try as many new things as possible. Avoiding boredom and discovering new favorites are key to making your new eating habits stick.
Reggie Dunn is a long time diet enthusiast and follower of the South Beach Diet.
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