South Beach/Atkins - what to do for Breakfast?

[arizonacolbys]

I am considering switching tracks after reading most of the South Beach Diet book. It starts out just like Atkins - but then allows some whole grain type Carbs which would really help me. I was curious what everyone out there does for breakfast when you can't have any carbs - is anyone else sick of eggs? I have found breakfast to be the hardest meal to not have any carbs - I usually enjoy some oatmeal or whole grain Cheerios. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

 

[dizneegirl]

First of all, just to be a broken record, it isn't NO carbs... it's LOW carb. Even eggs have carbs (.6 per large egg).

Secondly, is South Beach a "low-fat" form of Atkins? If so, don't know if my suggestions will help, but here's a list of breakfast alternatives (not necessarily all for induction, mind you)...

Cheesecake
Bran/Flax muffins
Vanilla Flax muffins
Breakfast Pudding (tastes like cream of wheat!)
Lumpy scrumpy oatmeal (flax, tvp & other ingredients)
Mock danish
Breakfast burritos (using low-carb tortillas)
Plain whole milk yogurt, flavored/sweetened with DaVinci (actual carb count, 4 per cup, after the yogurt cultures have digested the lactose)
Protein shake

Hamburgers
Chicken
Soup
Steak
Tuna
Salad
Leftovers

Though, personally... I LOVE eggs!

 

[nicolep91]

Hi arizonacolbys,

dizneegirl already gave you some good ideas, but I wanted to add my thoughts. I'm only on my second week of the South Beach Diet and so far I really like it. I have been having eggs most mornings so far and I haven't got too sick of them yet but I can see that happening before too long. The nice thing is that Phase 1 is only for 2 weeks and then I'll be able to start adding some oatmeal & other whole grains back into my diet. I think eggs are pretty versatile and I've been able to cook them differently so far as to not get bored. This morning I had hard boiled egg slices wrapped in canadian bacon, but I also like them scrambled with spinach, mushrooms and some low-fat cheddar cheese melted on top. But other than eggs, you could have cottage cheese with some diced tomatoes and cucumbers (gotta get those veggies in!), ricotta cheese mixed with cinnamon, vanilla and some Splenda if you want something sweet. Or if you can get used to eating "non-breakfast food" there are limitless options!

Hope that helped some,

 

[arizonacolbys]

Dizneegirl - I know that the diet isn't "no" carbs - I was on a strict Atkins diet at the beginning of the summer, but fell off the wagon after my hubby returned home after being away for 4 1/2 months for Army bootcamp. So, I've been considering trying South Beach which has a very similar 2 week induction period. I ate eggs everyday for breakfast for 4 months & was hoping for some new suggestions that I maybe hadn't thought of yet.

nicolep91 - Thanks for the great ideas, too! How do you like South Beach so far? Has it been going well for you? I was also interested in South Beach so that I could add whole grain type carbs back into my diet in 2 weeks. I guess I can live with eggs for 2 more weeks!

Off to buy some eggs tonight!

 

[nicolep91]

arizonacolbys, I really like the South Beach Diet so far and I think it's something I'll be able to stick with since I'm not finding it too difficult. I lost 4 lbs. the 1st week but then the scale said I was up 2 lbs. this morning but I'm not sure about that. It's either water retention (hopefully!) or those 2 peanut butter cookies I ate yesterday. They were made with Splenda and had no flour but it's the only thing I did differently that I can think of. We will see, I guess!!

Anyway, I would give it a try if I were you. I actually don't have the book but I joined their website online and I'm finding lots of great info, support & ideas there!

Good luck!

 

[K and K's Mommy]

My DH and I are on Day 9 of South Beach. I am very much ready to be done with eggs in the morning, but so far, I have been following it very closely! I lost 6 pounds the first week. I am only weighing once a week. Anyway, did you ever try EggBeaters. I thought I would not like them, but they are really not bad and much easier when you are in a hurry. I like the southwest and garden vegetable for a change. I usually add a little lowfat cheese. My DH has cottage cheese in the morning, but I am not a big fan of it. If you have the South Beach book, the egg recipes I have tried are good, but most of them take too long for me in the morning! Good luck!

nicolep91- I am sure the cookies wouldn't make you gain two pounds, but I think you are supposed to limit peanut butter. You also might try weighing weekly so you don't see every little up and down, but I know that is hard if you are used to it. My DH weighs every day!

 

[nativetxn]

I often have leftovers from the night before. Pork chops or steak or even shrimp scampi.

I also eat mock danish and cheese cake for breakfast.

My husband likes the breakfast bars.

Don't confine yourself to breakfast foods for breakfast. Think outside the box

 

[nicolep91]

K & K's Mommy - You're right, I know I should weigh myself everyday. It's a bad habit I've gotten into and I can't seem to break myself from it. However, at least what the scale says doesn't usually send me into an eating binge, but it usually encourages me to try harder if I see a gain or to keep up the good work if I see a loss. And thanks for the kind words, I hope the scale is back to normal soon!

 

[pajammatam]

I have tried having an atkins shake and a couple slices of deli roast beef...........and that has been working well for the moment.



Good Luck!

 

[LuvTigger]

Sometimes I eat ham for breakfast. I find a big slice of a whole ham and cut it into the portions I can eat. They are fairly lean and have little or no carbs (but be careful, hams can vary in carb content because of the additives -- read the label).