South Beach Diet Foods

By Julia Degrassi

If you had told me that I could eat dessert on a diet and still lose weight, I would have thought you were crazy -- at least before I learned about the South Beach Diet.

Now I know that it really is possible to enjoy a rich, decadent espresso custard for  dessert without cheating on my diet.

For me the word 'diet' always meant 'die without the foods I love.' Not anymore.

Now that I've discovered the South Beach Diet I can eat a variety of great tasting (and  satisfying) foods without the reprimand - from myself or anyone else.

Dieting really doesn't have to make you feel like you're doing something wrong if you enjoy  the food you eat. In fact the list of South Beach Diet foods is quite astounding.

Learning to balance the right carbs and fats in your eating plan doesn't have to mean going  without a great dessert. The key is finding the right indulgence.

Sure, decadent desserts are basically forbidden during the first two weeks of the South  Beach Diet plan, but once you get through this initial deprivation stage, more and more  foods are available to enjoy.

I'll admit it, I'm a sweets eater. I cant resist a luscious dessert and thoroughly enjoy sinking my fork (and my teeth) into anything rich and creamy. So, I was pleasantly surprised - and very relieved - when the South Beach Diet website listed a variety of sweet dessert options for me to try in Phase Two of the program.

Now I knew my South Beach Diet menu would never be boring!

While many of the articles and websites that reviewed the program listed treats such as sugar-free popsicles and sugar-free jello as a dessert option (boring), few mentioned some  of my new dieting favorites such as:

* Mocha Ricotta Creme, which is very similar to an Italian Cannoli * Lime Cheesecake *  Chocolate Dipped Strawberries * Espresso in a Baked Custard * Poached Pears in Red Wine

Who would've thought I could enjoy two of these luscious snacks every single day without  sabotaging my dieting plan?

The only problem with many of these desserts is the time it takes to make them. If you're  not into cooking and baking, you may find the preparation time more difficult than those  who enjoy creating great recipes.

But even if you're not an expert baker, don't worry that starting the South Beach Diet means  saying goodbye to dessert -- it sure doesn't, and that's great news for all the  semi-professional dessert eaters out here.

Are you on South Beach but don't know what to eat? If you've exhausted all the choices from  the book, get more ideas at my dieting blog. I cover the South Beach Diet Plan and tons more. You wont be disappointed!