Are you looking for a quick way to shed a few pounds before a big event or to kickstart a healthier lifestyle? The cabbage soup diet, often called wonder soup, weight loss soup, or miracle soup, might be just what you need. This 7-day diet has been around for years, with countless variations available online. This article presents a "jazzed-up" version of the cabbage soup diet recipe, promising delicious results.
Why the Cabbage Soup Diet?
Sometimes, you need a jumpstart, a cleanse, or a boost of confidence on the scale. While some people dislike quick diets, many find them effective for rapid weight loss. The cabbage soup diet can be a great way to start a more comprehensive eating plan, where you consume various healthy foods and maintain a balanced calorie intake.
One of the main draws of this diet is the unlimited soup rule. You can eat as much cabbage soup as you like, which helps combat hunger and makes the diet more sustainable. It’s important to note that consulting a doctor before drastically reducing your calorie intake is crucial.
The 7-Day Cabbage Soup Diet Plan: A Detailed Guide
The 7-day cabbage soup diet involves following a specific eating plan each day, along with unlimited quantities of cabbage soup. Remember to drink eight glasses of water each day to stay hydrated.
The Base Recipe: Cabbage Soup
While some recipes call for plain water, using chicken or vegetable broth with seasoned canned tomatoes can significantly enhance the flavor without hindering weight loss. Feel free to use salt (very lightly), pepper, lots of herbs and seasonings, olive oil, and a small amount of butter on potato days to add flavor.
Read also: Low-Carb Cabbage Roll Casserole
Day 1: Fruit Focus
Eat nothing but fruit today (except for bananas) and as much diet cabbage soup as you’d like. Stick with fruits that have lower sugar content, such as apples and blueberries. Consider baked cinnamon apples (using Gala or Honeycrisp apples) in the morning, a large fruit salad, and cabbage soup for lunch, as well as a melon salad for dinner. Dried fruits can be a great snack. Frozen pineapples and frozen grapes make delicious treats, and frozen watermelon blended makes a refreshing slushy.
Day 2: Vegetable Variety
Eat nothing but vegetables (except corn or other starchy veggies). Start the day with a baked potato (russet or sweet). Diced sweet potato cubes sprinkled with a little olive oil and cinnamon, roasted in the oven with some bell peppers and onions, make a great breakfast. Have cabbage soup for lunch, along with a salad sprinkled with salt, pepper, and olive oil. Consider rice cauliflower topped with a stir-fry of zucchini, roasted carrots, and bell peppers, all served with light soy sauce for dinner. Snack on baked spinach chips.
Day 3: Fruit and Veggie Fusion
Today, you eat fruits AND veggies (except bananas, corn, and other starchy vegetables). There is no potato today.
Day 4: Bananas and Milk/Yogurt
Eat only bananas and milk or unsweetened yogurt. For breakfast, try a banana smoothie made with bananas, almond milk, and Greek yogurt. Eat cabbage soup for lunch. For dinner, have another large banana smoothie and more cabbage soup. Make banana ice cream by freezing banana slices and then blending them. You can also eat some dried banana chips.
Day 5: Tomatoes and Protein
Eat only tomatoes (6-8) and protein like fish, turkey, and chicken. Turkey sausage patties for breakfast, topped with tomatoes, can be a good start. Grilled chicken topped with tomatoes, seasoned with salt, basil, and pepper, and served with cabbage soup for lunch, is another option. For dinner, add turkey breakfast sausage and more tomatoes to the Wonder Soup.
Read also: Easy Cabbage Soup Recipe
Day 6: Protein and Veggies
Eat protein and veggies - you can have other vegetables besides tomatoes. Turkey sausage and roasted veggies for breakfast, a stir-fry with chicken and vegetables for lunch, and spaghetti squash with tomato sauce and ground turkey for dinner are all good options.
Day 7: Fruits, Vegetables, and Juices
Eat just fruits, vegetables, and juices. For breakfast, try a huge fruit and veggie smoothie using spinach, apples, oranges, grapes, and water. For lunch, have a large salad, cabbage soup, and watermelon slushy. Prepare another riced cauliflower stir-fry with roasted vegetables for dinner.
Modifying the Diet: Substitutions and Additions
Can I substitute foods?
While the original diet is quite specific, there's room for some flexibility. For example, chicken broth can be used instead of water in the cabbage soup. Experimenting with other substitutions might work, but it's essential to monitor your results.
Can you drink coffee on the cabbage soup diet?
You’re only supposed to drink water, black coffee, or unsweetened herbal tea.
Important Considerations and Potential Issues
Can I do this beyond seven days?
It’s not recommended. Your body will start to hold on to weight if you cut its calories too much for an extended period.
Read also: Delicious Keto Meal
Can I exercise on the cabbage soup diet?
Not recommended. Your calories are minimal on the cabbage soup diet. Do not work out for the seven days while on this plan or a few days afterward.
What if I feel tired of this diet?
This diet may not be for you, especially if your days are high-energy. The cabbage soup diet has low calories. Eat as much cabbage soup as you would like to keep your stamina up, and drink plenty of water.
What if I regain the weight?
7-day diets work to eliminate mainly water weight, which is why the results are so quick. Be sure to continue drinking lots of water after the diet. Pace yourself after the diet and eat small, frequent portions of fruits, veggies, and proteins: no refined sugars and bad carbs. Don’t stuff yourself either. Start with a balanced eating plan or lifestyle that will support average weight loss along with exercise.
The Detox Element: Rainbow Detox Soup
For those interested in holistic remedies and detoxing, consider incorporating a rainbow detox soup into your diet. This soup is full of different vegetables that help rid the body of toxins, speed up that sluggish digestive system, and blast bloating.
Rainbow Detox Soup Recipe
Add chicken broth to a large pot. Add diced vegetables. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and cook for about 2-4 minutes (vegetables should still be a bit firm to the bite). Remove from heat. You can also add sliced avocado and a bit of coconut oil to your bowl when ready to serve.
Other Detoxing Tips:
- Oil pulling with coconut oil: Swish a tablespoon of organic coconut oil in your mouth for 20 minutes first thing in the morning.
- Coconut oil ingestion: Ingest 2-3 teaspoons of organic coconut oil every day, mixed in salads, soups, or spread on toast.
- Clean up your morning coffee: Use almond milk and agave or coconut syrup instead of white sugar and cream.
- Detox food and plenty of water: Replace one meal a day with a detox soup, salad, or smoothie. Drink plenty of water.
- Cut back on white sugar, white breads, and dairy: Reducing intake can help overcome cravings for sugary foods.
Southern Cabbage Recipe
Cabbage can also be used in a broader range of recipes, such as a Southern-style cabbage dish.
Southern Cabbage Recipe
- Slice cabbage into quarters, removing & discarding the hard stem at the center. Slice each quarter into 1-inch wide strips. Set aside.
- In a large pot, melt the butter and add olive oil.
- Add remaining ingredients to the pot, including the cabbage. Stir and bring to a boil, immediately reduce heat to a simmer, and cover.
- Simmer 12-15 minutes or until cabbage is tender to your liking.
For maximum flavor, use chicken broth instead of water and add spices. Simmer the cabbage gently so that it cooks slow and low, resulting in tender, flavorful results.