The cabbage soup diet has been around for many years and it is a popular method to loose up to 10 pounds in a relatively short time. There are many varieties of the diet and you can experiment to see which works best for you. Stock up ahead of time and plan your meals in advance to ensure successful completion of this diet plan.
The Soup
The most important component to this diet is the soup. The basic ingredients include green onions, peppers, canned tomatoes, carrots, mushrooms, celery, cabbage, soup mix or bouillon, V8 or other vegetable juice and spices to season. You can alter this recipe in a way that is appealing to you by adding vegetables (except potatoes) or omitting anything you don't like, such as mushrooms. You will need to eat quite a lot of cabbage soup for a week, and many people make a few different batches with different ingredients.
Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and vegetable are heavily consumed during the first few days of the diet. Stock up on a variety of produce to prevent boredom. The first day of the diet allows only fruit and the soup. Get enough to sustain you through the day. Calories are not counted as part of this diet and that should not be a consideration when choosing fruits. You will eat only vegetables and the soup on the second day. Include both leafy and root vegetables on this day. You may also eat a baked potato on the second day. Day three is a combination of day one and two, but excludes the potato.
Milk and Bananas
Skim milk and bananas are consumed on the fourth day of the cabbage Soup diet. You can have as many bananas as you like on that day along with the soup. You are not allowed to eat any other fruits or vegetables, except the ones already in your soup. If you need more variety of flavors on this day, you may have unsweetened regular or herbal tea.
Meat and Vegetables
Beef and tomatoes should be consumed on the fifth day of following this diet. You can have up to 20 oz. of meat throughout the day as well as your soup. Skinless chicken can be substituted, but beef is preferred. It is also important to drink at least eight glasses of water this day. The next day, you may add all vegetables, excluding potatoes. Fish is also allowed on one of these days, but not both.
Rice and Vegetables
The final day of the cabbage soup diet allows you to have brown rice. You may also eat any vegetables and unsweetened fruit juice on this day. It is important to have the soup during one of your meals. This diet is complete after you have completed the seventh day. You may eat whatever you like afterward, so be sure to have other foods stocked in your kitchen.
Considerations
This diet severely limits your food choices for a week. Therefore, it is advisable to take a multivitamin. It would also be potentially dangerous to anyone with serious health issues such as diabetes. Talk to your doctor before you begin this or any other diet.
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