The success of the HCG weight loss protocol depends on three very important variables, the first being the proper usage and dosage of HCG being introduced into the body.
Another important factor is maintaining a very low calorie diet, keeping it below the 500-calorie mark on a daily basis. And the most important factor that determines the success of this protocol is following a meal plan that has been carefully designed to complement the role of HCG in effective weight loss.
This last part proves to be the key to the success of this diet plan, mainly because there’s really no point in ingesting HCG if you are not going to be careful with your calorie intake.
That being said, there’s a list of foods and diet recipes that has been approved and recommended for those who are on the HCG diet protocol.
The Approved Food list
Protein
Chicken, veal, beef, white fish, crab, lobster, shrimp
Vegetables
Tomatoes, Onions, fennel, green salad, spinach, cucumbers, celery, red radishes, cabbage, asparagus, beet-greens, chicory, chard
Starches
Grissini, Melba toast
Fruit
Strawberries, apples, oranges, grapefruit
Seasonings
Thyme, pepper, salt, vinegar, parsley, marjoram, garlic
Additional Instructions
Sugar is a big no-no. You can use sugar alternatives like saccharin or stevia, but only in limited quantities.
Seasoning mixes, along with butter, oil and any kind of dressing, which usually contains small amounts of sugar, must be avoided at all times.
Lemon juice may be used as seasoning combined with salt and pepper to add more flavour to your recipes.
Milk is fine as long as you don’t go over 1 tablespoon within 24 hours. It can be added to coffee or tea but you can’t drink it in excessive amounts.
Keeping track of all these rules can be challenging, especially if you’re only a few days into the diet. Buying or downloading books about the HCG Diet, particularly the ones with HCG diet recipes or lists of dishes and meals that you can prepare while you’re on the diet, will definitely make your life a lot easier. It saves you all the time and effort of going through your meal selection and grocery list.
Why Stick to the HGC Diet Plan?
Aside from keeping your calorie intake in check, it’s also very important to be self-conscious about the different ways you consume these foods.
Each person can follow a different meal pattern as long as they remain consistent all throughout the HCG diet journey.
For example, you can arrange two meals in a day – lunch and dinner. Or you can spread your meals out and have breakfast, lunch and dinner with distributed portions of calorie consumption.
Just always bear in mind that you can’t combine different kinds of food that fall under one category. For example, you can’t have two fruits for lunch or two veggies at dinner.
Sticking to the meal plan is very important. Aside from reinforcing self-discipline, it allows you to gain control of your eating lifestyle.
One thing most people like about the HCG diet protocol is the fact that you don’t need to measure or calculate your calorie intake.
As long as you stick to your meal plan and make sure that you only eat the amount of food you need, you should be safe within the limits of your daily calorie requirement.
For a list of approved foods for HCG Diet Recipes, check out the HCG Diet Food List.
Meanwhile, here are some of the recommended recipes that you can try and prepare alternatively while you’re on the HCG diet.
Fish and Courgette Chips (480 calories per serving)
What you’ll need
800g white fish cut into finer size, 4tbsp rice flour, 2 eggs, separate egg yolks and egg whites, 100g breadcrumbs, 1tbsp milk , 4tbsp polenta, 2tsp paprika, 500g chip size stick courgettes, 4tbsp sunflower oil, and ketchup
What to do
Start by pre-heating the oven to 200 deg C. While waiting for it to heat up, cut the fish equally into desired sizes. Then beat the egg yolks in a bowl, mix it together with the milk, polenta, breadcrumbs and a pinch of paprika. On a separate plate, place the rice flour and dip the fish into it. Then dip it into the egg and milk mixture and set aside. Meanwhile, whisk the egg white to a frothy texture and dip the courgette chips. Line them up on a baking tray and bake in the oven for about 12 minutes. While baking, you can start frying the fillets in a large pan. Cook the fish for 3 minutes on each side then drain the oil onto a kitchen paper.
Chicken peperonata (250 calories per serving)
What you’ll need
2 chicken breasts, 2tbsp olive oil, 1 sliced onion, 2 cloves of crushed garlic, 125g portobellini mushrooms, 2 red peppers, 250ml chicken stock or wine, 1tbsp fresh oregano leaves
What to do
Pre-heat the oven to 190 deg C. Season the chicken and pour half the oil into a non-stick pan. Fry the chicken for 2 minutes on each side until golden. Place it into the roasting tin and leave in the oven for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, using the rest of the oil, fry the onions for about 5 mins and then add the pepper, garlic, and mushrooms. Cook for another 5 mins. Pour in the stock or wine and add the oregano. Let it boil, season, and let it simmer for 5 mins. Place the chicken on a plate and pour in the mix to serve.
These are only some of the HCG diet recipes that you can include in your planner. A restricted diet may not sound too motivating, but you can always be creative in making these recipes.