Family-Friendly Meals

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Family-Friendly Meals

The following Daily Dish is part of a series on The South Beach DietT Family.

For more family-friendly information, log onto southbeachdiet.com and click on

Diet Tips in the left-hand navigation bar. You'll find an entire section devoted

to The South Beach DietT Family.

Worried about the thought of preparing two separate meals - one South

Beach DietT-friendly meal for you and a separate meal for the family - each time

you sit down to eat? Whether or not your

family members are following The South Beach DietT alongside you, you CAN

succeed at meeting your goals while also meeting your family's food needs -

without doing double duty in the kitchen! With a little forethought and

planning, you can purchase and prepare South Beach DietT-friendly foods the

whole family will enjoy. And as a side benefit, your loved ones will enjoy

better health as you lose weight and become more vital. Just keep these

guidelines in mind when preparing your morning meal.

Breakfasts

a.. Eat eggs! Eggs make a savory and satisfying meal, and they're

approved for all Phases of The South Beach DietT. Whether you scramble them,

poach them, or create delicious omelets and frittatas, eggs are an excellent

choice for everyone.

South Beach DietT-style: serve your eggs with a serving of veggies (just

a half cup of sautéed veggies or a glass of vegetable juice will do).

b.. Enjoy oats. Once you transition into Phase 2, you - and your family

- can enjoy steel-cut oats and rolled or old-fashioned, slow-cooking oats.

South Beach DietT-style: Add pizzazz with a dash of cinnamon and a

sprinkling of artificial sweetener..

c.. Select whole-grain cereals. Whole-grain, high-fiber, low-sugar

cereals are the healthiest option. In general, cereals that contain 3 to 4.9

grams of fiber per serving are considered " good " fiber sources; those with 5

grams or more per serving are considered " high. " Try to find a cereal on the

upper end of the " good " fiber category, reaching toward " high. " Sugar content is

important, too. Opt for one with 8 grams or less of sugar per serving.

South Beach DietT-style: Make you cereal sweeter - and more

nutrient-dense - by adding fresh berries or other seasonal fruit. .

d.. Look for low-fat dairy products. If nonfat dairy products are too

watery for your family, the whole gang can enjoy low-fat dairy products,

including milk, plain yogurt (or artificially sweetened yogurt beginning in

Phase 2), and cheese.

South Beach DietT-style: Eat 2 servings of low-fat milk or yogurt daily

in Phase 1; up to three servings per day beginning in Phase 2. .

e.. Reserve the juice for family members. When selecting juice for

family members, opt for the healthiest choices, including pomegranate juice, and

fresh orange and grapefruit juice, which are allowed in limited quantities once

you begin Phase 3. No matter which variety you choose, be certain to select only

100 percent juice without any added sugars.

South Beach DietT-style: As an alternative to juice, enjoy sugar-free

flavored drink mixes. Beginning in Phase 3, enjoy 4 ounces of juice per week..

Next up in the series? Family-friendly lunch ideas.