The South Beach Diet (8 page)

DESSERTS

Desserts are fairly limited on the initial phase of the South Beach Diet, although you can feel free to enjoy sugar-free gelatin or one of our healthy and satisfying ricotta cheese combinations. Fruits, particularly berries, are ideal Phase 2 desserts. Strawberries dipped in dark chocolate are a personal favorite! Remember, the darker the chocolate, the lower the sugar content.

Many food manufacturers began adding partially hydrogenated fats—trans fats—to replace the previously used saturated fats in commercial goods as a way of preserving their shelf lives. Trans fats are common in cookies and baking mixes. Trans fats are worse than saturated fats and should be avoided as much as possible.

CAKES

COOKIES

GELATIN

PIES

PUDDING AND MOUSSE

EGGS, EGG DISHES, AND EGG SUBSTITUTES

The good news is that eggs are okay. It is true that eggs are high in cholesterol, but they are also low in saturated fat. Eggs are rich in protein and the yolk is a good source of natural vitamin E. Eggs do increase cholesterol minimally, but they also increase HDL, the good cholesterol. Omelets are a great way of including lots of healthful vegetables in your breakfast, while hard-boiled eggs have the advantage of being fast and convenient. If you don’t like the yolk, egg white omelets made from Egg Beaters are good choices. So if you love eggs, go ahead and enjoy!

EGGS, FRESH

EGGS, OTHER

EGG DISHES

EGG SUBSTITUTES