The HCG diet requires more than just the drops. It requires a strict 500 calorie diet that eliminates fats, oils, sugar, and junk food while restricting carbohydrates. The diet’s main focus is on proteins, vegetables, and fruits. There is a list available of approved foods, along with instructions, shopping lists, and HCG recipes to give you direction and support so your diet can be as effective as possible.
Participants of the HCG diet are provided with a list of foods that are acceptable to eat which will help your body’s metabolism reset. It will also help you keep the weight off after the 23 or 40 days of the HCG diet. On any given day, you can start your day off with black coffee or herbal teas- chamomile, green, or yerba matte. If you are a tea or coffee lover, you are in luck. There is no limit on how much coffee and tea you can drink so you can drink as much as you want if you are feeling hungry and it is important to drink enough so you can maintain good circulation. The downside is sweeteners and sugar cannot be used. Sorry all you coffee creamer and sugar lovers out there. However, the use of stevia and one tablespoon of milk can be used every twenty-four hours.
When restricted to a strict 500 calorie diet, you may be wondering what you can and cannot eat for lunch and dinner that compliment the HCG diet. There is a wide assortment of foods available for consumption such as cooked vegetables- namely spinach, celery, and tomatoes. Acceptable meats include skinless chicken breasts, beef or veal, and approved fish. Meats need to be free of additives such as oil and breading. Every food must come from the approved list because not all fruits and vegetables are approved, i.e. grapes, melons, bananas, and pineapples. Dried or canned fruits and vegetables are prohibited as well. One minor stipulation is that you cannot eat the same foods twice in one day. For example, if you have veal and spinach for lunch, you cannot have the same meal for dinner. This is where creativity comes in handy and there are delicious HCG recipes available that have been provided in order to allow more options and leave you full and satisfied.
There are HCG recipes out there to satisfy every palette, whether you are a meat eater, vegetarian, pesco-vegetarian, or vegan. The following recipes are quick, easy, and will tide you over. This first recipe does not contain meat. All you need is zucchini, lemon juice, pepper, and salt. Thinly slice 3.5 oz of zucchini into a pan and grill over medium heat until tender. Add salt, pepper and lemon juice to taste. Just because you are doing the HCG diet does not mean that burgers are off limits. Chicken burgers are allowed and are a healthy alternative. You will need the following ingredients: 4 oz ground chicken breast (organic is ideal), 1 tsp pepper, 1 tsp dry mustard, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp onion salt, 1 tsp garlic powder, 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar, and 2 cups lettuce. Combine all ingredients and shape into small patties. Grill in a pan on medium heat until done. The buns will need to be substituted with lettuce and the balsamic vinegar can be used as a garnish.
Because HCG recipes require specific quantities of ingredients, such as 4 oz of ground chicken or 3.5 oz of zucchini, a food scale may come in handy because the more accurate the measurements the more effective the diet. It is important that meats and fish are measured before they are cooked to ensure you are eating the correction portion size. If the diet is done properly with the right foods and the right amounts, you will see and feel the results as you shed off those extra pounds and achieve your weight loss goals through the HCG diet.
Want to find out more about the HCG Diet, then visit this site on how to choose the best HCG Recipes for your needs.