A: Absolutely. The South Beach Diet was designed to be flexible. You don't have to follow the meal plans to the letter — feel free to swap meals and ingredients to suit your tastes and needs. Eggs are used in the diet because they are a good source of protein, but there are many other healthy sources of protein. Since you don't like eggs, you can enjoy tofu, Canadian bacon, fat-free or low-fat cheese, peanut butter, or the chicken, fish, or beef from last night's dinner. For more ideas, check out the What to Eat — Phase 1 section of the Web site. Experiment with new ingredients and recipes until you find meals that work for you. And if you have questions about specific foods, visit the Ask the Nutritionist section of the Message Boards for answers.
Arthur Agatston, M.D.
