What kind of oatmeal is allowed in phase 1?
You're supposed to have plain oatmeal. You can sweeten it with splenda if you need to.

Where is the protein coming from to maintain your muscles?
In phase 1, your protein comes from egg whites, chickpeas, beans, tofu, and lentils.

Are pickles allowed?
Yes but you are limited to 2 per day.

Is it ok to use canned vegetables or fruit?
Yes but fresh fruit is better. Frozen vegetables are generally better than canned.

Is it ok to have decaf coffee?
No. Coffee drinks of any kind are not allowed.

Are potatoes allowed?
No. Sweet potatoes are ok though.

Is flavored water ok?
No.

Is Jello allowed?
No.

Can I have popcorn?
3 cups of air popped popcorn is ok. No butter of course.

Can we have the quaker rice cakes? if so, what flavors?

YES, YOU CAN HAVE THE QUAKER RICE CAKES THAT ARE MADE FROM BROWN RICE. THEY RUN ABOUT 60 CALORIES PER CAKE, SO YOU'RE ALLOWED ONE CAKE AS A SNACK. YOU CAN HAVE WHATEVER FLAVOR YOU LIKE, JUST REMEMBER ONE PER SNACK!

Are black olives permitted

Sparingly, and rinsed off.

What type of lowfat yogurt is permitted. Just plain or can you eat the brands that already contain fruit

The best is plain, low-fat yogurt. You can slice in fresh fruit or add berries. If you really MUST have the yogurt that already contains the fruit, please do so sparingly.

The book says to eat 2 cups of brown rice, 1 cup of oatmeal, 4 egg whites etc. Am I supposed to eat these foods in that quantity each day or is it merely an option? Also, can I eat instant oatmeal, fat-free yogurt that has fruit in it, and red potatoes?? Thanks for your help. I want to follow the plan but am confused.

Those are the limits, you do not eat all of it. Only sweet potatoes are allowed. Red potatoes are still white potatoes and do not have the fiber content or nutritional value of sweet potatoes. White is the indicator of the "meat" or inside the skin. The lighter the color the less nutritious.

Phase 1: Can you drink Crystal Light?

Not in phase 1 but it's okay to drink in phase 2.


Is soy yogurt ok to have in Phase I? (I am lactose intolerant.)

Yes, and under the same parameters as regular yogurt.

Is peanut butter allowed in Phase 1?

No. Not until Phase 3.

Is honey allowed to sweeten drinks in Phase 1?

No, not in Phase 1. Honey is allowed in phase 2, but no more than 1 tbsp per day.

Is fruit juice allowed?

No. Fruit juice contains a lot of added sugars and preservatives and no fiber. You can have a cup of FRESHLY squeeze fruit or vegetable juice in phase 1.

Is couscous allowed in Phase 1? Couscous is a pasta.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! It's allowed in phase 3!

Is coconut milk allowed in Phase 1?

Not in phase 1, but it is allowed in Phase 3.

Is canned soup allowed? For example, Progresso's Lentil or Black Bean soups?

If you're going to have the soup that's canned, please limit yourself to no more than 2 servings a day.

Is Whey Protein allowed? I like to use whey protein (EAS-Chocolate Flavored) as a base for my strawberry smoothie for breakfast.

Protein powders and supplements have been largely untested, especially with there being so many brands and varieties. If you decide to add protein powders to you shakes, you need to make sure it is healthy protein and the product's manufacturer and their claims are reputable.

Is Splenda allowed in Phase 1?

Yes but sparingly. No more than 2 tablespoons a day.

Is Granola cereal allowed in Phase II?

No.

In the book it says that we can have legumes (i.e. beans) as a good source of protein. I was wondering how much we can have per day. I prefer canned.

As much as you want, they are beans.

In Phase 1, can you drink bottled flavored water that has been sweetened with Splenda?

No, phase I is detox. It's best to drink unflavored water. Phase II brings back a lot of the drinks.

IN PHASE 1 CAN YOU DRINK DECAF GREEN TEA

Yes. In the same quantity as herbal tea.

I'm waiting on the book- are botlhouse farms fruit smoothies allowed?

Better for Phase 2. It uses apple juice concentrate and not fresh apples. Home made would be a better choice.

I'd really dig making some no-oil, homemade hummus but I need to know if we can have sesame paste (tahini) during phase one.

YES, YOU CAN HAVE TAHINI DURING PHASE I. KEEP THE PORTIONS TO NO MORE THAN 2 TBSP PER DAY.

I tried the regular oatmeal and found that I was putting 3 tsp of sugar in it. I found the prepackaged oatmeals with 50% less sugar. Each packages has 6 grams of sugar which is = to 1.5 tsps. Is this ok?

Plain oatmeal is best, you can have it with one packet or tsp of Splenda. Prepackaged oatmeal can have added sodium and sugars that fall under a different name. If you really must use them, it might slow your weight loss down.

How about edamame (soy beans)? I'm pretty sure they are considered a legume and I absolutely love dry-roasted edamame. Thanks.

Yes, you are allowed soy beans.

Can we use flaxseed?

Yes.

Can I use honey to sweeten tea or oatmeal?

Not in Phase 1.

Can I have prepackaged oatmeal or just plain oatmeal?

Just plain oatmeal. Not presweetened.

Can Naked Juices be taken during Phase I, we enjoy the smoothie variety, and the ingredients list all fruits?

Not recommended for phase I but in phase II you can have it in moderation.

Are veggie burgers allowed in Phase I?

Veggie burger which are made of 100% veggie or tofu are allowed. Some veggie burgers have bread and/or cheese contents. You can't have those. Check out the recipe in Files for Phase I to make your own veggie burgers

Are butter and cheese powdered substitutes ok to add to foods. They seem to contain only sodium and a mere 5 cal. per serving?

Sodium is salt. Use in small amounts and you should be okay. The extra sodium though may make you retain water more easily.

Are Kidney (Red Beans) o.k. to eat in Phase 1? I was going to try to make red beans and brown rice for dinner with no meat added.

All beans are acceptable to eat in Phase 1.

Am I supposed to be eating EVERYTHING in Phase 1?

The items listed are the max that you can have, but you're not expected to eat EVERYTHING on the list EVERY day. That would be too much food. Pay attention to the serving sizes.

Trader Joe's Roasted & Salted Soy Nuts: 1/4 cup serv. has 7g fat, 1 g sugar, and 5 g fiber with 130 cal. I was wondering if these were okay they give a great crunch.

Yes, but only a couple of servings per day at most. That would be 260 calories in nuts. Enjoy.