South Beach Diet Foods For Breakfast

Family-Friendly Breakfasts

The following Daily Dish is part of a series on The South Beach Diet(tm) for the whole family. For more family-friendly information, log onto southbeachdiet.com and click on Diet Tips in the left-hand tool bar. You'll find an entire section devoted to The South Beach Diet® Family.

Worried about the thought of preparing two separate meals — one South Beach Diet(tm) -friendly meal for you and a separate meal for the rest of the family — each time you sit down to eat? Whether or notyour family members are following The South Beach Diet® with 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 Diet(tm) -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

Eat eggs! Eggs make a savory and satisfying meal, and they're approved for all Phases of The South Beach Diet®. Whether you scramble them, poach them, or create delicious omelets and frittatas, eggs are an excellent choice for everyone. South Beach Diet(tm) -style: Enjoy your eggs with a serving of veggies (just a half-cup of sautéed veggies or a glass of vegetable juice will do).

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 Diet(tm) -style: Add pizzazz with a dash of cinnamon and a sprinkling of artificial sweetener.

Select whole-grain cereals. Beginning in Phase 2, 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 Diet(tm) -style: Make your cereal sweeter — and more nutrient-dense — by adding fresh berries or other seasonal fruit.

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 South Beach Diet(tm) -style: Eat 2 servings of low-fat milk or yogurt daily in Phase 1; up to three servings per day beginning in Phase 2.

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 Diet(tm) -style: As an alternative to juice, enjoy sugar-free flavored drink mixes. Beginning in Phase 3, enjoy 4 ounces of juice per week.