DEAR DR. GOTT: I love your No Flour, No Sugar diet but I am confused about one thing. I am a lacto-ovo-vegetarian (I don’t eat any meat but do consume eggs and dairy). Once in a while I like to eat the vegetarian meat substitutes that are on the market. Your list of approved foods in the No Flour, No Sugar book lists vegetarian meat substitutes as okay, but I have yet to find a brand that is totally void of sugars. I can tell by the ingredient list that the amount is minute, as the nutritional label lists one gram of sugar per burger. Some have a small amount of whole grain flours in them as well. Are these still okay to eat?
Also, I notice we can have low-fat mayo and soups, but again, I have yet to find a broth-based soup like lentil or veggie that doesn’t have a teeny amount of sugar it. There are no mayo products on the market that are totally sugar free, although the label lists 0 sugar gram so they must use a minute amount. Can I still eat these products? I assume so since you list them but I just wanted to make sure.
DEAR READER: I believe you are having difficulty in determining what is okay and what is not based on what you are reading on the label. When I tell NFNS dieters to read labels, I am referring to the ingredient panel. If flour or sugar is listed there, don’t consume the item. In your case, it appears you are also looking for sugars listed on the nutrition label. This can cause all sorts of confusion because all fruits and vegetables contain natural sugars within them. These sugars are allowed on my diet plan as they are absolutely healthful for the body and not a source of empty calories.
For example, if a soup, such as vegetable, doesn’t list sugar (or any form not allowed) in the ingredient panel but shows X amount of sugar grams on the nutritional panel, these sugars are coming directly from the veggies and you can go ahead and indulge.
As for meat substitutes, I suggest you stick to the ones that don’t contain whole grain flours; however, you specifically state that you only use them once in awhile so the occasional indulgence of a minute amount of flour will not harm your progress. It is important for you to have a healthful intake of protein from a variety of sources such as legumes, nuts, tofu, or other meat substitutes in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Cheating for special events or because of a craving, is okay now and then. If you are attending a party and know there will be cake, be strict for a few weeks leading up the event so that you won’t throw off your plan by indulging in a small slice. Everyone will be confronted with a time when that small slice of cake or fresh baked dinner roll is simply irresistible. Let go and have that item as a special treat. Don’t beat yourself up about it but remember that indulging too often will just lead you back to your old eating habits and the weight may return.
Readers who are interested in learning more can order my Health Report “A Strategy for Losing Weight: An Introduction to the No Flour, No Sugar Diet” by sending a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and a $2 US check or money order to Dr. Peter Gott, PO Box 433, Lakeville, CT 06039. Be sure to mention the title when writing or print an order form from my website, www.AskDrGottMD.com.
My book “Dr. Gott’s No Flour, No Sugar Diet is also available directly from me (my NFNS Cookbook is sold out, so contact your local bookstore for that item) for $10 with free shipping and handling. Simply send your request (or order form) and US check or money order to the above address.
