Not at all.
One of the best things about the South Beach Diet is that it's easy to dine out-and still eat well -- while following the principles of the program. No matter what phase you're on, you can continue to lose weight and improve your health, whether you're grabbing a take-out order or enjoying dinner with family, friends, or business associates at a fine restaurant.
The first, and most important, step in sticking to the South Beach Diet when eating out is to keep the following ground rules in mind:
- Choose unprocessed, unrefined carbohydrates, such as whole grains, whole fruits, and fresh vegetables.
- Enjoy plenty of lean protein, such as chicken, fish, certain cuts of meat, low-fat dairy, and reduced-fat cheese.
- Choose foods that are high in good fats, such as fish, avocados, and nuts, and make sure your foods are prepared with healthy oils such as olive oil or canola.
- Avoid foods that are high in saturated fat, such as fatty cuts of beef, bacon, processed meats such as salami, and full-fat cheese.
- Eat plenty of fiber -- it's found in fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, seeds, and whole grains.
- Avoid refined carbohydrates such as white bread, cake, candy, white rice, and other processed foods that are high in sugar and often high in fat as well.
- Avoid added sugar. Choose diet soft drinks, for instance, and watch out for hidden sugars in salad dressings and sauces.
Once you have the ground rules down, you'll also need to master some proven strategies that will help you enjoy your restaurant meals even more.
Next page: Key Strategies for Restaurant Dining
