The first step in transitioning to the South Beach Diet lifestyle is to educate yourself about the many healthy, delicious foods you can enjoy and learning how to incorporate these foods into your everyday meals. Learn about South Beach Diet-friendly foods:
6 Foods that Will Change Your Life
These top 6 antioxidant-rich, disease-fighting foods not only help with weight loss but improve your overall health and prevent the risks of cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
Curb Hunger With Lean Protein
On the South Beach Diet, eating lean protein is an important part of your meal plan because it can curb hunger and cravings, while stabilizing blood sugar levels.
Make Over Your Salads
Packed with colorful, nutritious vegetables and a flavorful mix of ingredients, salads can be enjoyed in a variety of ways.
Salad Dressing Guidelines
Salads can be one of the healthiest meals you can enjoy, but what can derail your weight-loss efforts is your choice of salad dressing. Although there are different varieties of store-bought, low-fat dressings out there, the truth is that the best choice of salad dressing is homemade.
Guidelines for Nuts and Seeds
As a great source of "good" monounsaturated fat, nuts are perfect for snacking on all Phases of the South Beach Diet. However, because of their high fat content, nuts can delay weight loss if not eaten in moderation.
All About Olive Oil
Olive oil is one of the healthiest cooking oils you can use — it's good for your heart and can be used to make a delicious homemade salad dressing. However, there are many different types of olive oil out there, and it’s important that you choose the right one.
Which Is Better: Butter or Margarine?
Butter and margarine have been in an endless health battle for years; one is high in saturated fat while the other is high in trans fat. So which is a healthier choice?
Go Fish for Your Health!
A good source of protein and rich in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, fish can be enjoyed on all Phases of the South Beach Diet. Learn how your health can benefit from eating fish.
3 Tips for Choosing the Best Cold Cuts
Buying cold cuts at the deli can be confusing at times because some cuts of meat have added sugars and fillers. Get tips on what to consider when shopping for cold cuts.
Condiments: Which to Enjoy, Which to Avoid
Condiments are great for enhancing the flavors of your meals, but be aware that some store-bought varieties have added sugars and trans fats. When you’re shopping for condiments, be sure to check the ingredients list before purchasing any product. Here's our cheat sheet of what condiments to enjoy and avoid.
All About Eggs
Eggs are a great source of lean protein and can be enjoyed on all Phases of the South Beach Diet. What you may not know is that there are many different types of eggs. From brown eggs to white, jumbo to small, here is a guide to buying eggs.
A Spotlight on Quinoa
You may already be familiar with whole grains like whole-wheat bread and brown rice, but quinoa is often overlooked. As the “mother grain,” quinoa has the most protein of all whole grains and is also a good source of B vitamins and zinc.
Curious About Canola Oil?
Like olive oil, canola oil is high in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids and low in saturated fat. Canola oil can be used for all types of cooking, including sautéing and baking, and is a healthier alternative to vegetable oil.
Summer’s Must-Have Fruit: Berries
Colorful and bursting with vitamins and antioxidants, berries come in different varieties and are small nutritional powerhouses that make perfect additions to salads, breakfast dishes and dessert.
Iced Tea: More Than Just a Refreshing Drink
If you’re craving a refreshing drink on a hot summer day, go for iced tea. Packed with disease-fighting polyphenols, drinking iced tea can help reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer.
What Are Nut Butters?
Nut butters are creamy spreads made from crushed nuts. Some varieties include peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter and macadamia nut butter.
Summer’s Freshest Produce: Tomatoes
Vibrant and rich in color, tomatoes come in different forms and sizes. From sun-dried tomatoes to cherry tomatoes and plum tomatoes, they are excellent for preparing healthy, delicious dishes.
The Scoop on Sugar Substitutes
While the South Beach Diet recommends that you eliminate processed foods from your diet, it also encourages everyone to enjoy something sweet once in awhile. The good news is that sugar substitutes, which are just as sweet or sweeter than regular sugar, can be enjoyed on all Phases of the South Beach Diet.
Curb Hunger With Filling Foods
One of the biggest challenges to dieting is eating foods that will leave you feeling satisfied. Fiber-rich foods like fruits and vegetables, nuts, lean protein and acidic foods can help slow down your digestion of sugar and keep your blood sugar levels balanced so you won’t go feeling hungry after a short period of time.
Get Cooking With Barley
If you’re looking to makeover your selection of whole grains, barley is a nice change from other popular grains like buckwheat and quinoa. Barley can be added to soups, salads, stews and baked goods.
Learn About Eggplant
Whether it’s long and purple or green and striped, eggplant is an excellent source of antioxidants and fiber. It can be enjoyed on all Phases of the South Beach Diet and makes great dishes for soups, dips and tomato sauces.
Why You Should Eat Wild Salmon
Unlike farmed salmon, wild salmon does not contain industrial by-products, pesticides and agents known as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which is in the food that is given to the salmon while in captivity.
3 Reasons to Try Pomegranates
Seasonal all-year round, pomegranates are one of the top foods with antioxidants. Packed with vitamins A, C, and E, pomegranates are also rich in fiber and heart-disease-fighting antioxidants like anthocyanins, tannins, and polyphenols.
The 7 Best Greens for You
Eating dark, leafy greens can lower your blood pressure and cholesterol levels, while also reducing the risk of heart disease and cancer. Incorporate these top 7 dark-green vegetables into your meal plan.
Facts on Fish
Fish is a healthy source of protein and is rich in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, but there are also some health risks to consider before incorporating certain fish into your diet.
Are You Getting Enough Vitamins?
Because your body isn’t able to produce most vitamins on its own, it’s important to make sure you’re eating a well-balanced diet that will provide you with a variety of essential nutrients.
Top Foods Packed With Potassium
Potassium is an important mineral that helps regulate your metabolism while also stabilizing your blood pressure levels. Although bananas are known for being an excellent source of potassium, there are plenty of fruits and vegetables you may already be eating that can provide you with just as much potassium.
3 More Reasons to Love Dark Chocolate
Craving a piece of chocolate? Have some dark chocolate. Studies show that dark chocolate is rich in the antioxidant flavonoids, which are shown to lower blood pressure and reduce insulin resistance.
The Must-Have Fall Fruit
Brightly colored in red, green and yellow, apples are a superfood because they are packed with fiber, and the antioxidant quercetin, which protects against heart disease. Apples are particularly in abundance during the fall season and can be enjoyed in different varieties.
Get Carb Smart
Contrary to most diet myths, not all carbs are bad for you. Foods like whole grains, starchy vegetables and fruits all contain “good” carbs that are essential for maintaining your overall health and play a big role in weight loss.