I'm going South Beach! - Menus and Entertaining

Csara · #1 (**permalink**) 10-29-2003, 06:27 PM

Well today was officially my first day. DH is following along with me, but not quite as strictly. Basically we are eating the same breakfast, lunch and dinner but he is being more lenient on snacks.

Anyway....

Breakfast:
Scrambled eggs with diced tomato, red onion and reduced fat cheddar.
Coffee w/ fat-free half and half, splenda

Snack:
Pistachios

Lunch:
Turkey and Provolone wrapped in lettuce

Snack:
part-skim string cheese

Dinner:
Grilled chicken
Greek salad
South Beach Surprise mashed "potatoes" (microwave cauliflower until soft, put in food processor, add tsp of fat-free half and half, I can't believe it's not butter spray, salt and pepper to taste).

Dessert:
"carb smart" chocolate popsicle

I've also been drinking as much water as possible. So far it's very easy. The food is great and I'm not craving bread or any other carbs at all.

I am missing fruit a bit though. I will have to get some sugar free jello to hopefully curb that craving.

Mel-icious · #2 (**permalink**) 10-30-2003, 08:09 AM

Yay!! You made it!

Your menu looks great, except for the South Beach Mashers' I couldn't eat them, and I love cauliflower, texture thing for me. What did you think of them?

How you feeling so far? I have a pretty bad headache today, but other than that, I'm doing great.

That sugar free jello is a lifesaver to get your sweet tooth satisfied. You can even put a little Reddi Whip on top of it.

Keep posting your menus, we can get ideas from each other.

Csara · #3 (**permalink**) 10-30-2003, 10:55 AM

Well my fridge is so stocked that I probably won't run out to get jello this week, but I will definitely get it next week. I did get some sugar-free (sweet-n-low) hard fruit candies that have been a big help to me.

Today's plan:

BREAKFAST:
2 eggs over hard
2 slices turkey bacon

SNACK:
15 almonds

LUNCH:
Turkey and cheese wrapped in lettuce

SNACK:
celery and bluecheese

DINNER:
eggplant parmesan
salad

DESSERT:
I'm going to try that mocha ricotta creme thing

~~So far I am feeling fine, just really tired today. I did have a headache yesterday for a little while, but I don't think it had anything to do with the diet. I will definitely keep posting in this thread. It's a great way to keep track.

Mel-icious · #4 (**permalink**) 10-30-2003, 11:21 AM

Menu looks great C!

veda · #5 (**permalink**) 10-30-2003, 11:32 AM

I read that as "I'm going to South Beach!" & was like, why's she so excited? she lives so close

Yeah, how are those "potatoes"? That diet has so many good foods! Do you even feel like you're on a diet? Have you been on diets before? (just curious for comparison

) Both my mother & her husband are still on it after several months & like it. They're still seeing results too, they say.

GOOD LUCK C & J!

Csara · #6 (**permalink**) 10-30-2003, 11:37 AM

I liked the fake potatoes, but not as much as my hubby. He loved them! hahah! I don't feel like I'm on a diet at all. The food is very satisfying and I'm honestly not missing bread....yet.

And I am not hungry, which is most important, I would imagine when on a diet...b/c no, I really have never been on a diet before. Thanks for the luck.

luv to dance · #7 (**permalink**) 10-30-2003, 02:47 PM

Good for you C! Good luck!

Keep posting those menus. I haven't read much about the South Beach Diet but I'm very curious about it!

jana · #8 (**permalink**) 10-30-2003, 06:30 PM

I tried those cauli-taters tonight, and I hear ya on the texture, M. Kinda like a dry, mealy potato. I liked the first batch I made, though... I steamed the cauli until it was mushy mush and it was pretty good! Then I thought I would be clever and add some tofu to smooth out the texture.

OMG was that ever nastayy! So I ditched it. Cauliflower is NOT a strong enough flavor to mask tofu. Then I took out the extra cauliflower I hadn't cooked to be quite so soft (thinking later I would just eat it plain, and I like my veggies al dente) and the texture of those taters was not that good. Oh, well...now I know.

Csara · #9 (**permalink**) 11-01-2003, 01:20 PM

Day 3: October 31

(wasn't very hungry today....)

BREAKFAST:
cottage cheese
almonds

LUNCH:
tuna salad w/ oil and vinegar

SNACK:
part-skim mozzerella

DINNER: out
blackened grouper
green beans
salad

DESSERT:
sugar free jello w/ reddi whip

*15 minutes elliptical trainer

Csara · #10 (**permalink**) 11-01-2003, 01:22 PM

Day 4: November 1

BREAKFAST:
scrambled eggs w/ cheese, tomato, onions, cilantro
2 pieces turkey bacon

SNACK:
mixed nuts

LUNCH:
tuna salad

SNACK:
sugar-free fudgsicle

DINNER: out to Cuban restaurant
avocado salad
grilled, marinated chicken
black bean soup

DESSERT:
sugar free jello

*15 mins elliptical trainer X 2
*walk the pup

Csara · #11 (**permalink**) 11-02-2003, 04:57 PM

Day 5: 11/2

BREAKFAST:
2 eggs w/ scallions and provolone

SNACK:
pistachios

LUNCH:
leftover chicken (small piece)
shrimp cocktail

SNACK:
2 TBS garlic roasted humous

DINNER:
I just threw something together but it ended up being delish:
sauteed minced garlic, add ground turkey, kosher salt, pepper, mustard powder, thyme, fresh tomatoes chopped (makes a delicious brothy sauce), chopped onions, tabasco sauce, sliced zucchini.

DESSERT:
sugar-free jello w/ reddi whip

Mel-icious · #12 (**permalink**) 11-02-2003, 05:06 PM

What brand turkey bacon are you using? I had one, store brand I think, and it was like eating plastic. I've been using Canadian bacon instead, but I want to give it a try.

Csara · #13 (**permalink**) 11-02-2003, 05:59 PM

LOL! Well, it's definitely not good by any stretch but I don't eat real bacon so I figure I'll force myself to eat this stuff for now.

Anyway, it's Jenny-O brand. J thinks it's OK but ofcourse doesn't compare to the real thing. I think I just don't like the taste of bacon period.

Edited to ask: have you found any substitutions for breakfast? I am not a huge egg fan and there is no way I could eat them every day for 2 weeks. Any suggestions?? TIA

Mel-icious · #14 (**permalink**) 11-03-2003, 08:49 AM

Sure eat anything you like. If you like the cottage cheese/ricotta creme thingy's eat that. If you can eat a salad with some protein eat that. You don't have to eat eggs, its a suggestion, you can take lean ham or Canadian bacon and put some cheese on it and make kinda of like melted ham and cheese. Leftovers from the night before, soup, anything you want as long as its on the approved list of things to eat.

I hear ya on the Jenny-O, I tried that years ago and thought it was awful. I hear that is the worst brand, maybe I just don't like turkey bacon.

I'll stick with Canadian.

Csara · #15 (**permalink**) 11-05-2003, 09:23 AM

I've decided to not keep a daily record of what I'm eating. I don't want to get obsessive over this whole thing. So far it's been really great, but I can't wait to get to phase 2. One more week!! I cheated a tiny bit last night b/c we went out to celebrate our anni. We got a delicious dessert but to be honest, a few bites were enough to satisfy me.

Anyway, I wanted to share a new breakfast alternative we tried yesterday:

South Beach "Pancakes"
1 egg
4 egg whites
1/4 cup ricotta cheese
1/2 tsp vanilla
splenda
cinnamon

Pour into hot skillet and flip when one side is ready.
**these were pretty good...and more like crepes b/c they were very light and thin. YUM!