Acceptable Foods:

This list comes from the Atkins website, but I  have edited it to the foods that I like as well as any adjustment in portion, frequency, etc.

These are the foods I will be eating for the next 2 weeks, minimum. Depending on how I feel, I will decide on when I will increase my carbs.


1. Unlimited foods: these are the foods you may eat liberally at any time (be sure to count carbs for eggs, etc:

• All Fish, including tuna, salmon, cod, orange roughy, and any other fish that looks good.
  
• All fowl, including chicken, turkey, duck, Cornish hen. I'm looking forward to some duck in 2007.
  
• All shellfish, including shrimp, lobster, clams.
  
• All meat, including any cut of beef, pork, lamb, venison, and any other meat that looks good.
  
• Eggs in any form. During the summer will buy from farmer's market. Will someday be setting up something with a local farmer for fresh eggs, milk and maybe even cheese.
  
• Spices and herbs that contain no sugar or additives.
  

2. Allowed, in limited quantities: For various reasons, these foods should be limited, and/or counted for carb content.

• Drinks: I believe at least 75-80% of fluid should come from plain water, but also find many other drinks acceptable
• Regular coffee or tea (Caffeine can cause stalls in weight loss, cravings, and/or blood sugar spikes with some people.  If you’re one of them, you should drink only decaffeinated beverages.)

• Diet soda made with sucralose (Splenda™); Personal limit to 2-3 bottles or cans per month. Aspartame sweetened sodas should be avoided and limited.
  

• Unsweetened alcohol limited to 1-2 oz per week

• Cheeses. Any hard, firm, soft or semi soft cheese, up to 4 ounces a day. All cheeses should be the full-fat variety.
  
• My favorites:
  
• cream cheese
• mozzarella
• Parmesan
• 4 cheese Mexican blend
• Monterrey
  

• Vegetables: Personal goal of at least 15 grams carbohydrates (net) from vegetables daily.
  
• My Favorites:
  
• alfalfa sprouts
• mushrooms
• endive
• parsley
• celery
• radishes
• chives
• lettuce
• romaine lettuce
• cucumber
• Other favorites, but higher carb:
• asparagus
• bamboo shoots
• scallions
• snow peas
• bean sprouts
• spinach
• hearts of palm
• string or wax beans
• summer squash
• Brussels sprouts
• tomato
• bean sprouts
• cabbage
• water chestnuts
• zucchini

• Additional:
• Clear broth/bouillon (not all brands; read the label)
• Cream, heavy or light (limit to two to three tablespoons a day; note carbohydrate content)
• Lemon juice or lime juice (note that each contains 2.8 grams carbohydrate per ounce); limit to two to three tablespoons
• Nuts and seeds. Limit to 1-2 ounces per day.
  
• Fats and oils:
• Animal fats:
• bacon fat, limited unless bacon is nitrate free
• beef fat (high fat ground beef, trim fat after cooking for steaks, etc)
  
• pork fat (sausage, pork cuts with fat trimmed after cooking)
  
• chicken fat (cook with skin and fat intact, can be eaten as desired)
  
• butter (lightly salted)
  
• Vegetable fats:
• olive (low heat cooking only)
• coconut
• nut oils and butters
• Artificial sweeteners:
  
• Splenda, limited use
• Aspartame, minimal use
• Sugar alcohols, minimal use
• SweetPerfection , as desired. Especially good for cheesecake!
  
• Other foods:
• EAS controlled carb shakes
• Myoplex Carb Sense RTD , 25g protein each (5g carbs)
  
• AdvantEdge Carb Control RTD , 19g protein each (g carbs
  
• Vitamin Shoppe Pro-Pudding

As I increase my carb allowance, I will add foods to this list. Note there are currently no fruits included. The first fruit I will add will be berries, which I love fresh or frozen, mixed with yogurt or topped with cream (whipped or not). I will also add a small amount of grains.