Is any kind of candy allowed on the Medifast diet?
I sometimes hear from people who wonder if they’ll be able to eat super comfort food on the Medifast diet. Sometimes, they are almost certain that their requested food will not be acceptable. One example of this is candy.
I might hear a comment like, “I know the answer to this is probably no, but are you allowed to eat dessert on Medifast? I have a huge weakness for dessert. I don’t eat a ton — just a couple of cups of small pieces a day — and I don’t want to give this up, although I realize that my love of dessert is probably one thing that contributes to my need to diet in the first place.”
You can have a very specific type of candy and still not be a traitor. Medifast allows you to eat five of their pre-packaged meals per day plus one meal you prepare yourself. In addition, you are allowed to have one snack each day consisting of foods such as celery, sugar-free popsicle, sugar-free gelatin, pickles, three pieces of gum or sugar-free mints. (You can also get one of the Medifast chips or chips. Examples include cheese puffs, apple chips, and vegetable crackers.
Now, by mint they usually talk about mint candies flavored with mint or spearmint. And I think they encourage chewing gum and mints because they know if you have a fresh taste in your mouth, you’re less likely to cheat. Because when your mouth feels clean and fresh, you are less likely to want to eat and to interfere with that feeling. (This is why people with cravings often brush their teeth when someone hits them.)
I know that some people extend the definition of mints to include sugar-free hard candies. I’m not sure the company would approve of this (which is why I encourage you to call and ask them), but this practice didn’t hurt their results at all. I even know people who will occasionally have a snack-sized sugar-free chocolate fudge. If you’re going this route, you’ll want to make sure you’re choosing a lower-calorie option.
Honestly people too will sometimes cheat on this diet. I know a person who allows himself a small piece of chocolate every day. In terms of compliance, this wouldn’t be perfect. But some people have that kind of willpower and they make it work for them. Others will go all out and get a full-sized candy bar or something on occasion. I don’t think this is the end of the world as long as you get back on the diet as soon as you can. This is generally what I want to try to do.
But to answer the question at hand, you can eat three sugar-free mints a day and still be in full compliance. And you don’t have to take this in place of one of your six meals. This is on top of those meals.
