Crazy About the Cookie Diet

What on earth is a cookie diet? Can I really lose weight just eating a cookie diet? Does it really work? It seems it might just be true and it might just work.

The term "cookie diet” refers to a group of low calorie diets based on a hunger-controlling cookies. There are a number of different cookie diets currently available. These include Dr. Siegal’s Cookie Diet, Smart for Life and Hollywood Cookie Diet. These diets range from four to six cookies a day.

Each plan relies on specially formulated cookies as the daily main source of nutrition. The diets are based on the idea that the greatest dieter motivation is seeing quick results and that cookies are convenient, portable and easy.

Dr. Siegal’s Cookie Diet

This is probably the best known of the various cookie diets. At the very least it was the first! In 1975, Dr. Siegal introduced the first of the cookie diets simply titled “Cookie Diet” or “Dr. Siegal’s Cookie Diet” to his patients in South Florida. The plan requires patients to consume six cookies through the day in conjunction with a dinner consisting of chicken or fish and vegetables. The total calorie intake on the diet totals 840 calories a day which is pretty low (540 from the cookies and 300 from dinner). The cookies come in a variety of flavors. As a supplement to the cookies, shakes and soups are also available on the plan. No exercise is required on the program but unfortunately beer doesn’t fit in to the calorie total.

The “Cookie Diet” is distributed through three Siegal Medical Groups in South Florida and a network of doctors across the country. Due to the low calorie nature of the diet, it includes medical supervision and an initial doctor consultation.

Smart For Life

The Smart for Life weight management program was begun by Dr. Sasson Moulavi. Since the program’s creation in 2002, the company has had surprising growth: from 2 to 48 centers in North America.

This cookie diet has two programs to choose from: a Medically Supervised Program and a Home Program. Each program features the use of Smart Products include Smart Cookie Squares, muffins, shakes, soups and desserts. The Smart Cookie Squares, available in six flavors, are made with all natural, 60% organic ingredients (hmm, can you have natural organic ingredients?....suppose so). The Smart Cookie Squares consist of fiber, protein and amino acids without the use of preservatives. The plan consists of six cookies through the day with water and a dinner of protein and greens.

Patients on either program receive ongoing support and information from either the center or online/phone sessions. No exercise is required during the weight loss phase on the program. There doesn’t seem to be a calorie limit so maybe a beer or two might be ok in this cookie diet.

Hollywood Cookie Diet

The Hollywood cookie diet received its name from it’s popularity among celebrities. The diet has been featured in such media outlets as Oxygen Magazine, In Touch Magazine, and NBC's Lipstick Jungle.

The plan consists of one cookie for breakfast, one cookie as a midmorning snack, one cookie for lunch and one cookie as a mid afternoon snack along with a dinner. Each cookie is individually wrapped for portability (and excess garbage). The Hollywood Cookies include fiber, protein and 13 vitamins and minerals. One cookie consists of 150 calories so you get 600 calories per day just from cookies. These little fellas are available in Chocolate Chip, Lemon, and Oatmeal Raisin. The Hollywood cookie diet is available online and at major pharmacies. I’m not sure what exercise is recommended for this diet.

The above is a quick over view of three cookie diets. I hope you found this information useful. Please check back for further in depth articles on each of the cookie diets including price comparisons.