Like other low-carbohydrate diets, the South Beach Diet restricts your intake of certain foods. In the first, two-week phase of this program, you have limited foods to choose from, and the next phase focuses on choosing the right carbohydrates for weight loss and your overall health. To make the most of the plan, you should know if you can eat healthful foods such as hummus, as well as how much you can consume.
Hummus
Hummus is a type of dip made from garbanzo beans or other beans, such as lima beans or white kidney beans. You can purchase pre-made hummus or you can make your own, adding in a number of possible flavors such as roasted peppers or garlic. This dip provides a good source of protein and is a food you can have on all phases of the South Beach Diet.
Allowance
Beans contain carbohydrates, so you should limit your hummus intake. In fact, the South Beach Diet recommends that you have a maximum serving of 2 tbsp. of hummus each day. If you follow a vegetarian diet you can have extra servings of hummus and other bean products to ensure that you have a good protein intake, butmake sure you do not over-indulge in these foods.
Serving Ideas
The versatile nature of hummus will allow you to use this food as a dip or as part of a meal. You can serve hummus with celery or other vegetables. Once you reach the second phase of the diet you may choose to have sandwich made with a slice of whole grain bread, hummus and a variety of vegetables. If you eat meat you can also add turkey breast or other low-fat meat to your sandwich.
Considerations
Before starting a low-carbohydrate diet, talk with your doctor since to evaluate the plan and your overall health to make sure this is the right weight loss program for you. If you proceed with the South Beach Diet, talk with your doctor to come up with a good meal plan to ensure you have the right intake of nutrients.
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