It doesn't really matter if you've chosen to work with the HCG injection diet or the homeopathic HCG diet...it can be tough to stick to the VLCD. The list of approved foods is short. But variety is still allowed. Dieters can absolutely take advantage of the full list of approved foods. Dieters should never cut out any foods for silly reasons like they don't think they like it or they didn't like it that one time they tried it. The list is too short for that silliness. There are also recipe guides that can be very careful. But many forget that they are allowed many spices on the diet. And there are many ways to use the approved spices to add variety to the limited diet. And that goes for both the homeopathic HCG diet and the HCG injection diet.

Think about your list of approved spices and then apply them to your approved list of meats. Yesterday's article discussed poultry and the appropriate spices and seasonings that will maximize the taste and enjoyment that can be had from this simple protein. Today we'll discuss just what to do with lean cuts of beef that will maximize their taste without breaking the HCG injection diet and homeopathic HCG diet rules.
Spices that work well for beef that are HCG approved are: chili powder, garlic, basil, bay leaf, oregano and thyme. Amongst the list of approved lean beef cuts are the roast and a few different popular steaks. So try these popular options.

Preparing a roast? You cannot add your usual potatoes and carrots, but you can absolutely toss in your traditional onions and celery. We have heard of some who will cook their roast with onions and then right before it is completed they will add a chopped up head of cabbage. While the most traditional spice for this type of meal is salt and pepper (use good quality sea salt and freshly ground peppercorns) there are some additional options.

You might enjoy drizzling a mixture of vinegar and thyme over the roast/veggies before cooking it. Use the vinegar that is approved according to the protocol. Chop up the thyme and mix it in with the vinegar. Such a mixture leaves the meat tenderized and adds flavor.
Spice/herb combinations can be used regardless of the cut of beef you are working with. If you are working with a less expensive cut of beef you may need to cook it longer or marinate it longer. You will also need to adjust the "amount" of spice/herb depending upon the cut of meat. You'll stumble upon these things as you go.

Even if you use the drizzled mixture mentioned above you will still need a spice combo to use as a roast rub. Here's a basic mixture to try rubbing directly on the roast before cooking: 3 tbsp minced fresh parsley, 1 tsp dried basil, 1 tsp dried rosemary, 4 tsp minced fresh garlic, 2 tsp salt, 1 tsp ground pepper.

Mix the combination well in a small bowl. Rub the mixture directly onto the outside of the roast and then place it in the pan or slow cooker. The amount of spice listed above should be appropriate for a roast weighing between 5 and 8 pounds. Before applying the seasonings pat the roast dry.

This is just a start on what you can do with all the approved spices on your HCG injection diet or homeopathic HCG diet. If you make use of everything you are allowed on the diet you will be able to go much farther than you expect when it comes to providing tasty meals that provide you with the satisfaction of sticking to your diet and feeling like you had something "good for dinner."