Indulgent Atkins Meal Plan

The best part of the Atkins diet is that it need never feel like deprivation. We all have days when we want to spoil ourselves and it’s a crucial part of maintaining motivation when dieting. Atkins eating provides a multitude of ways of indulging in real sensory eating pleasure. How about the following as a treat? You can eat this way every day on the Atkins plan if you so choose – just be sure to give yourself variety, otherwise boredom will set in. 

Breakfast
For breakfast, how about a creamy, cheesy omelette made special with the addition of Boursin cream cheese in the middle. Alternatively, scrambled eggs with smoked salmon can be a wonderful start to the day.  

Lunch
A lunch of grilled chicken Caesar with lots of creamy, no-carb dressing really hits the spot. If you like anchovies, avocado slices, bacon crumbles or cubes of blue cheese with your salad then any or all of these can be added on. 

Snack
An easy-to-fix but luxurious snack can be created by wrapping 3-4 oz of Brie cheese in some smoked ham. In stage 2, you can replace this indulgence with a small handful of creamy cashew nuts.

Dinner
How about finishing your day of indulgence with a real treat such as stir-fried King prawns with ginger and mushrooms? Simply stir-fry 3 cloves of garlic, 2 tsp of finely minced fresh ginger, a cup each of sliced mushrooms and celery and around 500g of King prawns, de-veined and shelled. Add a punch of flavour with your choice of 2-3 tbsp soy sauce, ideally reduced sodium, up to 2 tbsp sesame oil and ½ tsp dried chilli flakes. 
From stage 2 onwards, you can round off your day of indulgence with a dessert of fresh mixed berries or a slice of melon. Divine!

Shopping list
Eggs
Boursin cream cheese (full-fat)
Chicken breast
Selection of anchovies, blue cheese, bacon and/or avocado
Brie cheese
Smoked ham
Cashew nuts (stage 2)
Garlic
Fresh ginger
Chestnut, Portobello or Shitake mushrooms
Celery
King prawns
Soy sauce
Sesame oil
Chilli flakes