A: Any diet, decaffeinated, or sugar-free sodas and drinks are allowed on Phase 1. Be sure to check out the powdered drink mixes offered in your local grocery — there's an increasing variety of flavors such as ruby red grapefruit, orange, iced tea, and pink lemonade.
In addition, you can enjoy 1 percent or fat-free milk and low-fat, plain soy milk (with 4 grams of fat or less per serving).
You can also drink caffeinated coffee or diet sodas with caffeine added — just try to limit your intake to one to two cups per day. Caffeine stimulates the pancreas to produce insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar. When too much insulin is released at once, it can result in cravings. However, one or two cups of coffee or caffeinated soda a day won't have all that great of an effect on insulin levels — so no need to completely deprive yourself!
Arthur Agatston, M.D.
