Making the HCG Diet more Decadent

The HCG Diet food market is ever expanding and I am always up for using doing clinical trials with things that I am 99% sure will work on the program.  Here are some of my favorite tools to make the HCG Diet program more fun, more creative, more versatile and more flavorful.

Tools for  HCG Diet Meal Prep

Have you ever tried a SPIRALIZER!  It can be fun to make noodles on the HCG Diet program with Zucchini which is the latest vegetable that I have approved on the Natural Path HCG Diet protocol.

LEMON PRESS – I prefer to add fresh lemon or lime juice to my recipes or even to make some lemonade.  This is something I use in my kitchen almost daily.

SILIPAT – these are great when you bake your chicken, fish or beef as it makes the clean up really simple.

GEORGE FOREMAN GRILL – I have not used this in my house, however, many of my patients LOVE this simple, easy to use grill to make their HCG Diet friendly protein options.

ELECTRIC TEA KETTLE – being able to splurge and enjoy the many tea options out there can be fun for many people on the HCG Diet program. These kettles heat water quickly!

HIGH POWERED BLENDER – I love using a blender to make many of the HCG Diet recipes.  They are also great if you want to whip up a smoothie with HCG Diet ingredients of course.

SODA STREAM – this is a nice investment for those who like bubbly water.  The water is really bubbly and with some flavored stevia drops it can be a refreshing treat.  It also helps to cut back on single use plastic and aluminum cans.

PORTABLE MEDICAL  COOLER – these can be handy for those who do a fair amount of travelling. There is a little cooler by Medicool specifically made for insulin syringes.  There are also other Portable Medical Coolers  by Goldwheat which is slightly bigger.

DRY SKIN BRUSH – I recommend a natural bristled brush to use before the shower or even in the shower.  Scrub your skin with some vigor. I find this to help the loose skin that can appear as the fat stores beneath get broken down while on the HCG Diet program.

MYOTAPE TAPE MEASURE – this is a great tape measure for the body. It is ergonomic and easy to use.

STEVIA OPTIONS – I have been experimenting with different kinds of Stevia for years.  My preference is the liquid form and my favorite brand is Trader Joes.  When it comes to powdered Stevia, I feel the best blend is “Trim Healthy Mama” Stevia.  The only thing is that it does come in a bag. I would suggest transferring it to a smaller container that is easy for you to use.

• Sweet Leaf Stevia drops – these come in many flavors and can be added to water or sparkling water to make a delightful, refreshing beverage. Some of the favorites that I have heard about from my patients and learned on my own are: grape, valencia orange, chocolate, vanilla cream  in coffee and rootbeer  in sparkling water).
• Stur Stevia Flavored Extracts: these come in many flavors and I have heard patients tell me that it helps tremendously with getting water down.

OTHER HCG DIET FLAVOR BOOSTERS

VANILLA EXTRACT – I prefer a pure, organic vanilla extract and a little bit goes a long way. This can be added to smoothies, HCG DIET friendly protein powders, coffee, etc.

COCOA POWDER – if you have a sweet craving this can help!  I recommend the Rapunzel brand as the macronutrient profile fits the HCG Diet bill!  I would suggest no more than 1 tsp daily!

GLUCOMANNAN POWDER – this is the same ingredient that are used in MIRACLE NOODLES. It is 100% fiber!  It can be used in small amounts as a thickening agent to dressings, sauces, etc.  It also will help add some fullness.  The brand NOW makes an 8 ounce container.

TABASCO or FRANKS HOT SAUCE – if you are one who likes spicy these can be nice additions to your HCG Diet plan.

NUTRITIONAL YEAST – this can add a nice cheesy and savory flavor to your food.  I would suggest keeping it to 1-2 tsp max each day.

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR – makes a great HCG Diet friendly salad dressing base.  This is also part of the HCG Diet morning cocktail (optional). 3 oz. water with 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar and 1 tbsp lemon juice.

Pacific Foods ORGANIC, LOW SODIUM BROTH – these come in the tetrapacks in the soup section of the store. As long as it has non fat. no sugar and low sodium you can use about 1 cup per day for all purpose. There is also a BONE BROTH that can be used. READ LABELS carefully as some varieties will have sugars, calories and lots of sodium.

BRAGGS LIQUID AMINO’S – this is an HCG Diet soy sauce alternative that can be used to flavor veggies or proteins. It is high in sodium and therefore, I recommend getting the spray bottle. One or two sprays will evenly coat your food without giving you a sodium hit!  This is great for those who enjoy the salty taste.

UNSWEETENED ALMOND MILK – this is a new addition to the HCG Diet protocol at The Natural Path. I have been allowing my patients to have 1/2 cup of unsweetened vanilla almond milk daily as a creamer alternative and I have not seen any stalls as of yet with this addition.

POMI CHOPPED TOMATOES – these can add some flavor to HCG Diet friendly dishes without adding  many calories or a sodium hit.  Add in small amounts for flavor to some of your favorite HCG Diet dishes.

BARE FOODS DRESSINGS – these are fabulous!  They contain no oil, sweetened with Stevia and they are vegan. This company also has a nice line of herbs and spices that work on the program.  Check out www.barefoodsinc.com

SKINNY GIRL DRESSINGS – these are great and a tablespoon or two is all you need to add a little flavor to your HCG Diet salad or vegetable dish. My fave is the honey mustard.

SALSA – as long as it is fresh and there is no sugars added and sodium is low you can add small amounts to your dishes to add flavor.

ZEVIA – these are stevia sweetened soda’s. They are sweet and can surely help with a sweet craving. My suggestion would be to have one every other day if you choose to add these to your program.

DR. PRICES ELECTROLYTE POWDER – these come in convenient travel packs and contains over 72 trace minerals and electrolytes. It is also sweetened with only stevia and comes in many flavors. These can help with muscle cramps and hydration.

SIMPLE “FREE” SNACK/MEAL IDEAS

MIRACLE NOODLES – miracle noodles are 100% fiber.  They are great at filling you up without adding any additional calories, carbs or fats to your program.  The only thing to be aware of is that they can hold up to 10% of their weight in water and if you have not moved your bowels before you weigh in the morning the scale might show a gain due to the mass in your intestines that simply has not moved through yet.  Add some Pomi tomatoes or pan fry them with your favorite protein or vegetable and enjoy!

SPINACH SMOOTHIE – Spinach is a free vegetable on the Natural Path HCG Diet Protocol. It is also tasteless in a smoothie.  Try adding a giant handful of spinach, some ice, water and flavored stevia drops to taste in a blender and blend it up.  You can also add one of your daily fruit options if you choose.

ORANGE CREAMSICLE DRINK OR POPSICLE – Blend up some water, ice and 1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk and some valencia orange stevia in a blender and enjoy as a drink or place it into popsicle molds for a refreshing treat.

STEVIA SODA – get some bubbly water and add your favorite flavored stevia drops, fresh lemon or lime or some vanilla extract and enjoy!  You can also get fancy and add mint leaves, etc.

EGG WHITE BITES – on the Natural Path HCG Diet program you can have 2-3 free egg whites each day. These can be whisked with salt, pepper and spices of your choice and placed into a silicone muffin pan and baked in the oven. These little bites are a handy, on-the-go snack when you need it.

SUN WARRIOR COFFEE/MOCHA DRINK – this would count as a protein option – blend 1.5 scoops of Sun warrior classic or Sun Warrior Plus protein powder with ice and water in a blender.  You can add in 1 tsp of finely ground coffee, a splash of vanilla extract and stevia drops to taste and enjoy!  You could also try 1 tsp of Rapunzel unsweetened cocoa powder and enjoy!

SIMPLE HCG DIET HONEY MUSTARD DRESSING: this is a staple in my house. I love this on spinach salads and broccoli or cauliflower. In a blender, mix 1 cup apple cider vinegar, 3 tbsp of your favorite mustard with no sugar, 1/2 lemon squeezed and stevia drops to taste.  I also like to add horseradish root from time to time. If you prefer a thicker consistency, you can add glucomannan powder

Categories: Body Composition, hCG Diet, HCG Diet Weight Loss, HCG Weight Loss, Weight Loss