I found this thread incredibly helpful when I went back to South Beach at the end of January (2010).
This year, I have struggled with being away from my own home, being on the road, being in other people's spaces with lots of temptations. I sat down recently now that my life has (hopefully) calmed down a bit and tried to figure out what is the minimum I need to have on hand at all times to do what I consider a good job of eating by South Beach principles. There of lots of OTHER foods that I include sporadically but I am getting the basics down so I don't ever have an excuse for not eating well. It helps me to not get bogged down with all the things I COULD eat, but just the minimum I want to have on hand. It also helps with simplifying my shopping - I can always add stuff on, but a good place to start is to keep up with the basics.
Anyway, I don't know if anyone else operates this way, but it helps me to have a manageable, specific list of what I CAN have rather than what I have to AVOID - if I have this stuff on hand (of course with the other stuff gone) I have no excuses.
I am posting my list in hopes it helps anyone else who is just beginning to formulate their own list. I limited it to 40 items total. Like I said, there are lots more things that could be added
but I tried to keep it simple. I didn't include the really basic staples like spices, onion/garlic, oils & vinegars, lemon juice, etc etc ...
Happy Beaching!!
[NOTE: I am mostly veggie, but try to incorporate more fish in my diet.]
THINGS TO HAVE ALWAYS
1. Tea
2. Nuts, any kind, but especially almonds and walnuts
3. Peanut butter, natural
4. Tahini (to make hummus) or prepared hummus
Proteins (& dairy):
5. Tofu/tempeh
6. Eggs
7. Veggie sausage
8. Frozen fish: tuna steaks and/or salmon fillets
9. Shrimp, frozen
10. Canned tuna and/or salmon
11. Skim/lowfat milk or unsweetened soymilk
12. Cottage cheese, lowfat/nonfat
13. Parmesan cheese, shredded
14. Cheddar cheese, lowfat
15. Mozzarella cheese, fresh and/or mozzarella cheese sticks
16. Greek yogurt, fat free
Veggies:
17. Vegetable juice
18. Cucumbers
19. Tomatoes
20. Broccoli
21. Cauliflower
22. Cabbage
23. Celery
24. Red/orange Bell peppers
25. Green leaf/Romaine lettuce
26. Radishes
27. Green onion
28. Spinach, fresh and/or frozen
29. Edamame, frozen
Beans:
30. Pinto beans
31. Refried beans
32. Garbanzo beans, canned – for salads and for making hummus
Phase 2 additions
Veggies:
33. Carrots
34. Sweet potatoes
Fruits:
35. Berries (especially blueberries), fresh and/or frozen
36. Other fruits, a selection of oranges/kiwis/apples/pears
Grains:
37. Quinoa
38. Brown rice
39. Steel-cut oats
And the bonus:
40. Dark chocolate