Cutting out the carbs
I need to lose some weight, and I think I’m going to try the South Beach Diet. This is a lower-carb diet, though less restrictive on carbs than the meat-athon that is the Atkins Diet. I know my diet is far too heavy on carbs—pasta, bread, cookies, fruit. This seems to be a common problem with many vegetarians, as we often substitute starches for the meats in meals. This is especially an issue when dining out. I simply don’t eat enough tofu and tempeh and beans, although I do eat them a fair amount.
Phase One of the South Beach Diet, which lasts two weeks unless you decide to stay on it longer, calls for the elimination of all carbs and starches (even fruit). Some carbs are added back in for Phase Two, and yet more for Phase Three. That Phase One is going to be a challenge for me, because I do love my sweets and all carbs, really. I’ve been looking up recipes using beans and tofu.
I’m curious if any you vegetarian readers have tried the South Beach Diet. Did you have problems following it? Were you able to get enough vegetarian variety without carbs in Phase One? Did you get good results?
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