What can I eat on the Flat Belly Diet?

Sure, the Flat Belly Diet is probably more flexible than most weight-loss regimens, but there are still rules to follow and things you can and cannot eat.

During the initial "anti-bloat jumpstart" you will be limited to 1,200 to 1,400 calories per day plus drinking two liters a day of a spicy concoction called "sassy water." And there are restrictions on what you can eat. No sale, soda or carbonated beverages or gassy foods like cabbage or broccoli. There will be no eating of fried foods and nothing spicy, either. Sugar substitutes are right out. Raw vegetables are verboten and gum is prohibited.

After successfully completing the anti-bloat jumpstart, which may be the most will-challenging part of the Flat Belly Diet, your caloric intake can go up to 1,600 calories per day, taken in three meals and a snack, eaten in four-hour intervals. The Flat Belly Diet has recipes adhering to the guidelines and offers options to give you greater flexibility, like frozen foods, meal-replacement bars and, in some cases, fast food, as long as you add in the all-important MUFA.

How do you keep your MUFA level high enough? Consume healthy oils, particularly flaxseed, olive and canola. Nuts and seeds are good. Try almonds, dry roasted peanuts and pistachios. Olives are wonderful and so too is fruit. And yes, dark chocolate is on the list.

One thing the Flat Belly Diet does not offer is nutritional information, particularly fiber and protein content, which are very important to any diet. So be sure you are monitoring those. And, as always, check with your medical professional first.