One of the first things anyone ever notices when checking out a diet menu to see if they think they can do it is the “can haves” and the “cannot haves”. You will soon form the opinion that you will not go far with a diet when it is unvaried and boring and all the things you would normally enjoy eating are off the menu. This however is not the case with the South Beach Diet.

You will be shocked and delighted when you check out the foods you can eat while on the South Beach Diet. Although some foods are restricted, the foods on the “approved” list are more than sufficient to allow for healthy and delicious dining.

The South Beach Diet is highly successful because it does not make you give up all of the foods you enjoy eating. Delicious meats like chicken breast, turkey, lean beef, Cornish game hen and boiled ham are on the “Can Eat” list, even during the most restrictive phase of the South Beach Diet, Phase 1.

And the South Beach Diet is a seafood lover’s dream come true. There are few limits to the tasty seafood you can enjoy during all phases of the diet plan. You will also learn which fish are high in super healthy omega-3 fatty acids, and be encouraged to include them on your menu regularly.

Phase 1 of the South Beach Diet takes carbs out of your system, and this means no fruits and grains for two weeks. While this may sound strict, your body will thank you for eliminating these foods that hamper digestion and prevent healthy weight loss. In Phase 2, you will begin eating some carbs again in a healthier way that will still help you lose weight.

Diary products such as fattier cheeses will also reappear on the menu during Phase 2 but you will find, as with the fruit and grains, you no longer crave and need these types of foods as you did previously.

Vegetables are found in abundance throughout the South Beach Diet. Favorites like asparagus, cauliflower, celery and collard greens can be eaten freely. Want a little treat? How about pickles sweetened with Splenda.

One of the great things about the South Beach diet is the delicious food combinations. Adding romaine lettuce or spinach to some of the meats and cheeses approved for Phase 1 will give you a smashing salad that will be satisfying and very filling.

The variation of the menu is one of the main reasons that the South Beach Diet is both popular and successful. You will be pleasantly surprised to discover that there are lots of food choices on the menu which you would normally eat so take a look at the South Beach Diet and see how following this plan can work for you.