Dining Out on the South Beach Diet

An Excerpt from The South Beach Diet Dining Guide (Rodale, 2005) by Arthur Agatston

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Pick healthy cooking methods. Stay away from anything on the menu that appears to be coated or battered and fried. If the dish comes with a rich butter or cheese sauce, ask for it on the side. Stick to cooking methods – such as roasting, broiling, baking, grilling, steaming and even saut訮g – that don't add bad fats.

Have a (nonalcoholic) drink or two. When your server asks if you want something from the bar, order a glass of water or diet soda. Sip it instead of a mixed drink or beer, and order another to go with your meal. Beyond Phase 1, have a glass of red or white wine along with your food – this is a form of alcohol that's not only acceptable but good for you.

Enjoy dessert – within reason. The South Beach Diet is a lifestyle, and life without dessert would be no fun at all! But you have to make the right choices. Skip high-fat, high-sugar desserts. After Phase 1, if the menu offers fresh fruit, like berries or melon, that's your best choice. If you decide to indulge in something more decadent, use common sense. Ask the server to bring extra forks, limit yourself to three bites and then share the rest with your fellow diners. After you've been on the South Beach Diet for a while, you may well find that your sweet tooth is more than satisfied with a small portion.

Try these delicious South Beach Diet recipes!

Chocolate-dipped Apricots

Lemon Peel Ricotta Creme

Meat Loaf

Lemon Couscous Chicken

Roast Beef Wrap

Roasted Vegetables

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