Diet Tips for South Beach

The South Beach diet is one of the most popular diet plans in the United States. Developed by Dr. Arthur Agatston, a cardiologist, this diet is a less severe take on the low-carb trend, and advocates healthy choices with an emphasis on protein and good fats. It takes some work to incorporate the South Beach diet into your lifestyle, but with a few tips and tricks it can be accomplished.

Plan Ahead

• It is very easy to get off-track on a diet like South Beach when you don't take the time to plan ahead. You should sit down every weekend and plan your upcoming week. Whether you're using pen and paper or a computer spreadsheet, it is vital to staying on track that you know what you're eating and when you're eating it. During your planning, you should make a grocery list based on the meals you're planning on eating. Additionally, you should make sure to plan snacks as well. Be prepared for unexpected situations--if you know that your office is planning a catered lunch, or if you have tentative plans for dinner with friends on Friday night, create two plans for those days. There will always be variables, but if you have a plan in your head it is much easier to stay focused on your goal and make the right diet choices.

On-the-Go

• Dieting can be difficult when you are out of the house for eight hours a day. It doesn't matter if you're running errands or working a 9 to 5 job: eating on the go can be difficult. In a perfect world, everyone on South Beach would have a diet friendly meal delivered to them at every junction, but unfortunately we have to take care of ourselves. The best idea is to make your lunches and snacks the night before. Stick to the standards like low-fat cheese sticks, veggies and hard-boiled eggs for your snacks. For lunch, a salad is a great bet. Throw some lettuce in a container and fill Ziploc bags with your other ingredients. Bring a can of water-packed tuna to drain and toss on top. Luckily, with South Beach, you can enjoy a reasonable portion of any dressing, so buy a bottle and keep it in the fridge at work.

Eating Out

• Eating out can be intimidating when you're on a low-carb plan like South Beach. Most restaurants have a bread basket followed by lots and lots of high fat and carb options. You can always find substitutions, however, and a little advance planning goes a long way. Call the restaurant beforehand and check online for their menu. You can plan out what you want to eat before you even get there. If your dining companions don't mind, ask them to hold the bread basket. When you order, be sure to ask for substitutions. For example, if you want a burger, ask for it without the bun, and substitute some beans for the French fries. Fish is always a great choice, especially on a salad--ask for a piece of grilled salmon on a salad, but leave off the croutons and other high-carb options that may come with it.