Introduction
The cookie diet was created by well-known author Dr. Sanford Siegal. Starting as a single recipe for a thyroid-boosting diet cookie, the diet has grown into a full-blown weight-loss plan, with Dr. Siegal's website claiming to have helped more than half a million people lose weight.
Cookies
The cookie diet revolves around eating specially developed low-calorie and low-carbohydrate cookies. Each cookie contains milk, eggs, soy, wheat and non-vegetable protein, according to the Cookie Diet website, and is advertised as being able to control hunger to help you maintain this diet. The protein in the diet includes a special blend of amino acids. The exact amino acids are a closely kept secret by Dr. Siegal’s organization, making clinical studies on the diet difficult, according to research done by "The New York Times." While on the diet, you will eat six cookies throughout the day as you feel hungry. The cost of the cookies is $59.95 per weekly box, as of 2010.
Dinner
Part of the cookie diet includes a low-calorie dinner each day. Like the cookies, your dinner will also be low in calories, consisting of foods such as chicken, fish and vegetables. The portion size and amount of calories allotted for this meal will depend on your optimal caloric intake. Dr. Siegal recommends using his 28-Day Calorie Burn Rate Self-Test to determine your caloric intake, but your doctor also can help you determine what is best for your body type. My Daily Plate also offers a calorie-goal calculator (see Resources).
Supplements
Because the necessary nutrients your body needs cannot be provided by cookies and a low-calorie dinner, each weekly supply of cookies is accompanied by a vitamin and mineral supplement. This supplement is meant to ensure adequate consumption of vital nutrients, such as potassium.
Total Calories
The cookie diet works by extreme caloric restriction. Your body needs to burn calories for energy, so when you do not consume enough calories, your body turns to fat storage. This results in weight loss. Calories on the cookie diet can be cut as low as 800 calories per day, but will vary depending on your body size and weight-loss goals. According to diet experts, such as Dr. Ovidio Bermudez of the Laureate Eating Disorders Program, low-calorie diets that reduce calories below 1,000 calories a day are often classified as a "fad" diet. Bermudez says these diets misinform the public and hinder health, rather than enhancing it.
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