South Beach Diet Phase 1 at KFC

Phase 1 of the South Beach Diet is basically a low-carb diet. That makes dining out challenging, but even more so if you venture into a fast foot joint like KFC. KFC is the moniker for Kentucky Fried Chicken, and when talking about SBD Phase 1, it's like an oxymoron. However, if you wind up at KFC with your family or for a (cheap) business lunch, fear not, because there are a handful of things you can choose from if you're on South Beach. You won't be able to eat any of the fried chicken, because it's all breaded and deep-fried, and the sandwiches are also off-limits because of the bread. Even the wraps are taboo on Phase 1. With that, here are the choices you do have on South Beach Diet's first phase:

Roasted Caesar--Crisp iceberg & romaine lettuce with their signature oven-roasted chicken, topped with Parmesan cheese, and served with Caesar dressing and croutons on the side. Just omit the croutons and you have a South Beach Phase 1 winner here.

Roasted BLT Salad-Like the Caesar, iceberg and romaine lettuce are topped with oven-roasted chicken, but also with diced tomatoes and bacon bits. It comes with your choice of dressing on the side, so be sure to ask for something low-carb such as ranch or blue cheese.

Caesar side salad-A smaller version of the Caesar, but with no chicken-just lettuce, Parmesan and croutons with Caesar dressing. Ask for the croutons to be omitted on this one, too.

House Side Salad-Just lettuce and tomato with your choice of dressing, which again should be a low-carb choice.

Southern-style Green Beans-This was a recipe created by Colonel Sanders himself, and KFC boasts that this side tastes as good today as it did back then.

Beverages-Stick to water, Diet Pepsi or black coffee.

Dessert-Sorry, but everything KFC offers for dessert is full of sugar or fat or both. Have some coffee and go back to work before the cravings do you in. Or take a piece of sugarless candy with you.