is it 3g or less of sugar per day or per item?

Depends on what phase you are in. During Phase 1 all sugar is out. I'm not too sure about Phase 2 or 3, but my guess would be 3 grams of sugar would be per day.

Hi Breanna,

No sugar is allowed on Phase I, just 75 calories per day (total) of something sweet, as in sugar-free stuff. For example, a piece of sugar-free chocolate or several pieces of gum, mints, etc. They may be sugar-free but they still have quite a few calories; I'm guessing that's why it's limited.

All sugar is out basically yes, BUT you can have a dressing with less than 3g of sugar. During Phase 1 one of my staples is a big salad with chopped turkey, romaine, tomatoes, green peppers, etc, with 2 tablespoons of hidden valley ranch, which has 3g or less of sugar. http://www.southbeachdiet.com/sbd/pu..._20080509.aspx

Told you! :-P

Some allowed foods like dairy have naturally occurring sugars. We don't worry about those. What we do watch for is any added sugar. It's really important to read labels because Chicks have found added sugars in the stupidest places (salsa, beans, pickles, etc).

But some cheese has sugar in it. I know you have to watch for less than 3g in salad dressing but some foods have sugar in it regardless. Im confused.

I've never seen a cheese with *added* sugar. What kind? Is it super-processed, like Cheez Whiz?

To clarify: There is sugar and then there is sucrose. Sucrose is real sugar. Other sugars include lactose (in milk and cheese), fructose (in fruits and some veggies) plus a whole group of other "oses" that may show as sugar in ingredient lists. Check the ingredients rather than the nutritional charts.

ok. No, not cheese wiz. i guess i just misunderstood sugar wise what we can have

I think the bottom line is to check the ingredients and make sure that sugar is not among them (for example I tried to buy beans and low-sodium V8 yesterday, but didn't end up with either because they both had sugar listed as an ingredient). The only thing I see on the food list that talks about grams of sugar is the salad dressing that was mentioned above. HTH

some of the foods i bought i thought had sugar but no ne of them do except my mozzerella and it says < 1 g

That means under a gram, and it's likely naturally occurring lactose... it's fine.

ok then i guess im okay. i knew it meant under a gram, i was just saying what it was lol

Oh lol, I'm sorry I didn't mean to come off all know-it-all lol!! Foot-in-mouth Melanie. It sounds like you're doing really good though, it's good to question everything that's in our foods and to ask about it.