Can I Eat Mozzarella Cheese On The South Beach Diet?

The South Beach diet combines the ideals of low carbohydrates, high fiber and healthy fats into a lifestyle designed to take off and keep off pounds. Like most diets, it requires a lifelong ban on certain foods. Pizza isn't entirely off the menu, but you'll need to pick a restaurant or recipe that accommodates the South Beach diet with a low-carb crust and low-fat mozzarella cheese.

Diet Summary

The South Beach diet consists of three phases. During the first phase, a two-week period meant to eliminate cravings, you stop eating all saturated fats and most carbohydrates. Instead, your diet focuses on lean meats, meat substitutes, high-fiber vegetables and low-fat dairy options. You also limit snacking frequency to twice a day. In the second phase, you reintroduce certain carbohydrates with a low glycemic index, such as whole-grain bread, whole-wheat pasta, brown rice and sweet potatoes. During this phase, you should lose weight at a rate of 1 to 2 lb. per week. The phase lasts until you reach your weight loss goal. The third phase isn't really a phase at all but rather a lifelong weight maintenance plan. If you find yourself regaining the weight you lost, go back to Phase 1 and start over.

Forbidden Cheese

The South Beach diet eliminates full-fat cheeses starting with Phase 1, and does not reintroduce them during Phase 2. If you choose to follow the South Beach diet, you can't have Brie, Edam or any full-fat cheese. Cream cheese is also forbidden, though dairy-free cream cheese substitutes are allowed.

Cheese to Enjoy

The good news is, a South Beach diet lifestyle is not a cheese-free lifestyle. You're still able to enjoy a wide variety of cheeses, so long as they're fat-free or low-fat: American, cheddar, feta, mozzarella, Parmesan, provolone, ricotta and string cheese. Additionally, you can have cottage cheese that's fat-free, 1 percent skim or 2 percent skim.

Mozzarella on the South Beach Diet

Your restriction to low-fat or fat-free mozzarella requires you to exercise vigilance when eating out or ordering in. Inquire as to whether your favorite pizza parlor can make your usual pie with low-fat mozzarella -- and with a whole wheat crust, since white flour crust is another no-no on the South Beach diet. Alternatively, make your own pizza or lasagna. SouthBeachDiet.com has several recipes available for you to experiment with.