Rice Diet Shopping List

The Rice Diet prescribes a regimen high in complex carbohydrates and low in calories, sodium, protein, fat and sugar together with daily exercise. The diet recommends whole, organic foods, which are more likely to retain natural nutrients and less likely to contain salt and other additives. Since the Rice Diet does not permit between-meal snacks or much flexibility, adhering to the diet's guidelines is imperative for a successful outcome.

Breakfast

Breakfast, which energizes you at the beginning of the day, is an essential part of the Rice Diet. Look for a variety of foods at the grocery store that are on the diet's list of acceptable foods. Buying foods you like, within the diet's parameters, will help you stick to the program. Your Rice Diet shopping list should include cereals with no added salt or sugar, such as steel-cut oatmeal, all-natural shredded wheat or cream of wheat and organic puffed rice cereals. Seasonal or frozen fruits can be blended into a smoothie or eaten in your cereal or on their own. One dairy serving is allowed, including nonfat yogurt, nonfat milk or soymilk. Buy whole-grain bread, for toast, and organic fruit spread with no added sugar, for a flavorful breakfast choice.

Lunch

Lunch on the Rice Diet is larger than the other meals, because no afternoon snacking is allowed. Eating more calories at lunch provides energy necessary to sustain you until dinner. When making a shopping list for lunch foods, buy ingredients for specific dishes, such as soup, black bean burgers or burritos, rice with vegetables and salads. Look for calcium-rich, leafy green vegetables, such as spinach, kale and broccoli, uncooked beans or salt-free canned beans, fresh fruit, canned organic soups with no salt added, hummus, unsalted rice cakes and whole-grain bread, pita or tortillas. Be sure you always have a sufficient supply of salt-free seasonings and canola or olive oil for cooking. When following the Rice Diet, stock a plentiful supply of whole brown rice. The bran layer of unprocessed brown rice is rich in fiber and other nutrients that are removed when rice is processed. Brown rice also contains B vitamins, manganese, selenium, folate and iron.

Dinner

Dinner on the Rice Diet should be as satisfying as possible, because this meal must sustain you throughout the night, until breakfast. When you shop for dinner, look for organic, natural and whole-grain products. Choose the foods you need for following Rice Diet program recipes, such as butternut squash with risotto, sweet potato burgers or vegetarian chili. Good vegetable choices include dark green, leafy vegetables, zucchini, winter squashes, mushrooms and carrots. Lemons and limes add flavor to salads and pasta or rice dishes. Legumes, such as garbanzos, lentils and kidney beans are available in the dry bulk section of your grocery store or in cans, with no salt added. Select organic grain products, including quinoa, pasta, couscous and unprocessed rice. During the phase when fish, lean poultry and meat are permitted, buy fresh fish, such as salmon, choose no-salt-added canned tuna or sardines, or purchase skinless chicken breast. If you do not eat animal proteins, use firm tofu and legumes instead.

Beverages

Drinking plenty of fluids is crucial for the Rice Diet which requires five to nine 8-oz. glasses of water, decaffeinated or unsweetened herbal tea. Grocery stores offer a variety of herbal teas, so look for and try teas in your favorite flavors. The in-house Rice Diet program does not offer caffeinated beverages, because one goal is to help dieters become calmer and more focused. However, although Rice Diet nutritionists suggest that people continue to avoid caffeine when following the diet at home, some say one cup of black coffee a day probably will not cause problems.

Supplements

People following the Rice Diet at home should consult with their health practitioner before starting and during the Rice Diet. "The Rice Diet Renewal," written by registered dietitian, Kitty Gurkin Rosati, suggests that Rice Diet participants take a daily multivitamin, as well as vitamin D, calcium and, if you do not eat fish, omega-3 supplements.