The Atkins diet is a low-carb diet. Described by MayoClinic.com, a menu low in carbohydrates typically limits beans, pastas, breads and starchy vegetables, and highlights meat, fish, poultry, cheese and eggs. When choosing foods, you need to consider the amount of carbohydrates in each selection. The diet plan is broke down into four phases, each phase progressively adding more carbohydrates and food choices to allow a greater variety of diet ideas.
Breakfast
The Atkins diet claims eggs as a staple in its diet menu. This makes breakfast ideas relatively easy. Bacon and eggs, a cheese and mushroom omelet or scrambled eggs and ham fit in with all phases of the Atkins meal plans. If you're past the induction phase, add a piece of toast with butter. If you're on the go, Atkins has a number of bars that are suitable for all levels of the program. For something different, try mushrooms sauteed in olive oil with onions over half a slice of toast, or a half a cup of strawberries or raspberries with cream.
Lunch
Salad is always an acceptable choice on any of the levels of the Atkins plan. Cover your greens with thin slices of turkey or ham, red onions, crumbled goat cheese and a sprinkle of nuts. Top with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, or your favorite low-carb dressing. Salads are easily portable lunch, making them ideal to take to work. Soup recipes available on the Atkins site include blue cheese and bacon, asparagus and leek, chicken noodle, avocado and zucchini and cream of celery.
Dinner
Pieces of steak, ham or shrimp on a skewer interspersed with red and green peppers, thick onion slices and mushrooms, basted with sesame oil, is great for the evening meal. If you're on phase two, add some cherry tomatoes. Atkins also suggests Buffalo chicken wings, baked chicken with artichokes, beef stew or stroganoff, pasta primavera and stir-fried Thai chicken with basil. Always check to see which phase a recipe is suitable.
Dessert
Selections for dessert on phase one may be minimal, but strawberries with some whipped cream is a sweet choice. Another option for phase one might include a chocolate cream frosty made with cream, ice cubes, water and sugar-free chocolate syrup whipped in a blender until frothy. For phase two or higher, Atkins includes recipes such as cinnamon custard, double berry ice pops, pecan-orange macaroons and Italian ricotta cheesecake.
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