1. Avoid Choosing Trigger Foods
By the time you reach Phase Three of the South Beach Diet, you should be well aware of which starches and carbs cause you to gain weight. Since each person is different, Phase Two teaches you how to maintain and lose weight based on your body rather than generalities. You should now be prepared to choose food without relying on lists. There are no foods to avoid in Phase Three, but you should continue eating healthy portion sizes: unlimited protein, three fruit servings daily, three or four starch servings daily, two or three milk or dairy servings and a healthy amount of vegetables and fat. While you can add things like watermelon, white potatoes (even baked potatoes) and bagels into your diet, you should remain aware of your carb intake. If you start to gain weight again, simply cut back on carbs or move back into Phase Two.
2. Options for Vegetarians
Phase Three doesn't really end. Instead, it is your new way of life when completing the South Beach Diet. Your vegetarian lifestyle should now be based on healthy eating. Add high-protein items like beans, low-fat cheese, eggs (or egg substitutes) and soy products to maintain your weight. Stick to low-fat tofu if possible, and avoid eating high-carbohydrate protein bars. As a vegetarian, the hardest part of maintaining a healthy weight is relying on easy meals. Fast-food vegetarian options almost always contain large amounts of fat and grease while packaged food has excessive sugar and carbohydrates. To maintain your weight, try to incorporate as many fresh vegetables and healthy proteins as possible.
3. Splurge Now and Then
Without restrictions in Phase Three, you can enjoy anything you want, but keep it in moderation. You don't want to unravel all the work you've done during Phase Two. Eating ice cream every day or large amounts of white bread at every meal won't help you maintain your weight. However, an occasional high-fat dessert or an extra serving once in a while won't cause you to gain weight immediately.
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