Atkins Diet Meal Plans

From LoveToKnow Diet

People continue to find success with the Atkins diet meal plans, although there are those who also proclaim this diet is an unhealthy way to lose weight. Take the various meal plans and food lists and decide for yourself if this diet is for you.

Secret of Success

For many dieters, the Atkins diet wasn't discovered until the 1990's although a form of this popular weight loss plan has been around since the 70's. The diet is essentially a low carb weight loss plan, but it is not without controversy. Many physicians point to the hazards associated with its low carb and often high fat content. But when it comes to results, no one can argue with the success that dieters have experienced by following Atkins diet meal plans.

Getting Started

There are numerous books and videos devoted to this diet program. You can find them on Amazon and of course eBay as well as numerous bookstores. Many of the books and videos have carb counters to aid you in figuring out which foods you can eat. Your community may offer support groups for those who follow the Atkins diet for additional motivation if you need this kind of support to find success. Regardless of whether you find diet plans on the Internet, from the book, or from your neighbor, you need to educate yourself on the list of foods considered acceptable with this weight loss plan.

Acceptable Foods for Atkins Diet Meal Plans

The selection of acceptable foods for Atkins diet meal plans is actually quite large. Be sure and consider portion amounts as you figure carb content, however. The following list of foods will get you started:

Meats-Beef, ham, lamb, pork, veal, venison, lamb, bacon
Eggs-Eggs served in a variety of ways, including deviled, fried, boiled, scrambled. (If you make an omelet, consider any additional ingredients when counting carbs.)
Cheese-American, cheddar, blue, Swiss, mozzarella, parmesan, feta, and cream cheese (You can typically have 3 or 4 ounces of cheese per day. One slice of American cheese is approximately 1 ounce.)
Fish and Shellfish-Tuna, trout, sardines, flounder, herring, salmon, shrimp, oysters, mussels, crab, clams, and squid
Fowl-Turkey, chicken, quail, goose, duck, Cornish hen, pheasant
Vegetables-Salad vegetables are usually lower in carbohydrates than other vegetables, such as peas, squash, and tomatoes.
Fats and Oils-Butter, vegetable oils, olive oil, mayonnaise
Beverages-Diet soda, club soda, herb tea, one to two cups of coffee or tea. Alcoholic drinks are not allowed during the first phase, but during phase two, one glass of wine per night is allowed.

Finding Meal Plans

There are numerous websites available online that offer meal plans for the Atkins diet. You'll need to decide on the correct amount of daily carbohydrate needs for your body weight, activity level, and weight loss goals. You'll also need to keep careful track of the amount of food you eat per serving and the carb content of each food you choose. The following sites will get you started:

Atkins Diet Advisor-Created by someone who successfully lost weight on the Atkins Diet, this website offers a comprehensive guide to what this weight loss program is all about.
eDiets-This site offers a free diet profile and sample menus for you to use.
1is2fat.com-This site has a great selection of sample menu plans and recipes. The meal plans are divided up into fat gram content as well.
Buzzle.com-This website offers links to articles on the Atkins Diet, as will as other related information and menu suggestions.

Finally, before embarking on a new diet of any kind, you should always check with your doctor.

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