Although eating junk food while on a diet defeats many of the purposes of going on a diet in the first place, everybody needs to indulge from time to time. One complaint about the Atkins diet, a plan that is otherwise popular and effective, is that the food choices are severely limited -- especially in the early stages of the diet. However, even the restrictive Atkins diet leaves room for some favorite junk foods.
Atkins Basics
The Atkins diet stimulates weight loss by pushing your body into a physiological state called "ketosis." In ketosis, your body shifts from burning carbohydrates as its chief source of energy to burning fat, including the fat cells in your body. Bringing this state about requires you to avoid carbohydrates almost entirely at early stages, which can severely limit your junk food options.
Meat Snacks
Meat snacks of all kinds are Atkins-friendly junk food options, since most contain zero carbohydrates. Some popular examples of meat snacks include beef jerky, sausages, meat sticks and bacon. Check the label for barbecue flavor meat snacks, since sugar -- a kind of carbohydrate -- is often a part of barbecue sauce.
Cheese Snacks
Cheese snacks, such as string cheese, squeekers and cheese curds, are another core Atkins junk food option. Although high in fat, dairy products like cheese have no carbohydrates unless they've been artificially added. This may or may not be true of "cheese product" like cheese spread, or of cheese-flavored options. Check packaging and labels to confirm.
Atkins Snacks
The success of the Atkins and other low-carb diet plans has spawned an industry that produces low-carb versions of virtually any food imaginable. Some Atkins junk food options made from low- and no-carb substitutes include ice cream, beer and even cookies. Even if a junk food comes with the Atkins-brand logo, check to confirm that it's okay for the Atkins stage you're currently in.
Indulgences
After the initial stage of the Atkins diet -- which typically lasts about two weeks -- dieters are allowed a limited, but growing, amount of "net carbohydrates" each week. If you truly can't resist a stack of potato chips, you can take a serving as your permitted carbohydrates. In this way, any junk food can work with the Atkins program as long as you control your portion size.
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