HCG Diet (or any low-carb diet)-Friendly Recipes (2024)

When HCG Drops Direct sent my bottle of drops, they also emailed me a cookbook along with the book Pounds and Inches and an outline of the protocol I was to follow with regards to the drops, diet, and exercise. I only tried two of the recipes in the eBook, which were both terrible, and I didn’t want to try any others because the sounded terrible.

Fail #1: Lemon Pepper Flounder (with kale). All I could taste was lemon!

Fail #2: Baked Sole Hobo Pack. I wasn’t a fan of the radish and cucumber topping (*gag*)

Given the limited kinds of foods & condiments allowed, I had to be creative in coming up with meals that would not only keep me on plan, but keep my mouth happy. I think that you will find these quite good, whether you’re on the HCG drops, or another low-carb diet. And if you aren’t on either and are just eating healthy, change them up how you please!

Classy Finger Food: Boiled Shrimp & Asparagus
serves 1

5 ounces frozen raw shrimp, peels on
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
or
1 teaspoon garlic salt or seasoned salt
frozen asparagus spears
lemon wedge

Fill a saucepan 2/3 with water and sprinkle on the seasoning. Cover and bring to a boil. Remove cover and add shrimp and cook until they turn pink, which should take less than five minutes–they cook fast!

Meanwhile, put the frozen asparagus on your plate and microwave for 2-3 minutes, until hot. Drain the shrimp and add to the plate and enjoy hot with a wedge of lemon to squeeze over, if desired. Although this meal looks really classy, it is messy to eat since you have to peel the shrimp so I usually just use my fingers to eat the asparagus too! I love popping the hot seasoned shrimp out of their shells and into my mouth–delicious!

Favorite Salsa
This is good on meats or serves as a tasty dressing on salad–since you’re not allowed real dressing on the HCG diet! This is the same recipe I was making before the diet, so it’s good whether you’re on it or not.

1/2 small red onion, peeled and roughly chopped
1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves
1/4 cup drained jarred pickled jalapenos*
2 tablespoons lime juice
2 garlic cloves, peeled & chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained well

In the bowl of a food processor (or a blender), pulse the onion, cilantro, jalapenos*, lime juice, garlic and salt until desired consistency is reached. Add the drained tomatoes and pulse until combined. Don’t overprocess in this step if you want your salsa to remain chunky – just give it a few good 1-second pulses until everything is mixed. If necessary, place the salsa in a fine mesh strainer or sieve and drain briefly. Transfer to a bowl and serve. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to a week.

*Jalapenos are not listed as an allowable food, but I emailed the HCG Drops Direct company to see if it would interfere with weight loss if I put them in my salsa, and they said “peppers are fine.” I’ll leave it up to your discretion whether you want to use them or not, but my weight loss was never affected by this salsa.

Taco Salad

Taco Meat~makes 4 servings
1 lb. bison meat
1 medium onion, chopped
2 ½ tablespoons homemade taco seasoning (recipe follows)

For each salad:
2 cups mixed salad greens
¼ cup grape/cherry tomatoes
2 tablespoons homemade salsa

Brown the bison meat with the onion in a skillet. Once it starts to release moisture, sprinkle on the taco seasoning and continue cooking until meat is browned. There will be some moisture in the bottom of the pan—this is OK—it is not fat, only broth and moisture from the onions. Bison meat is virtually fat-free so you do not need to drain it.

Place salad greens on your plate and top with ¼ of the bison mixture. Scatter grape tomatoes over and spoon on homemade salsa. Serve while meat is still hot.

Divide the leftover meat into three individual Ziploc bags and refrigerate or freeze. To reheat for later meals, nuke the bag, opened, in the microwave about a minute.

HCG Diet (or any low-carb diet)-Friendly Recipes (6)

HCG Diet (or any low-carb diet)-Friendly Recipes (8)Homemade Taco Seasoning Mix
Since regular taco seasoning mix as cornstarch in it, you need to make your own seasoning mix. This is another recipe I used before I was on the diet–it’s great for seasoning meat and doesn’t have any scary ingredients.

¼ cup chili powder
¼ cup paprika
3 T cumin
2 T onion powder
2 T salt
1 t garlic powder
¼ t cayenne pepper

Whisk together all ingredients in a small bowl and store in an airtight container.

Hamburger Salad
I was eating this before I was on the diet because it’s my favorite way to serve a bunless burger. I was elated when I realized all the ingredients (with a little tweaking) were allowed and I could continue to enjoy it!

serves 1

4 ounces ground bison
salt and pepper
chopped red onion
dill pickle slices
chopped tomato
2 cups mixed salad greens
ketchup* & mustard

Form the bison meat into a patty and salt and pepper both sides. Cook on the grill, a Foreman grill, or in a skillet over medium heat until no longer pink in the middle. Cut into pieces. Place salad greens on a plate and top with the burger, onion, tomato and pickle. Drizzle salad with ketchup* and mustard.

*Ketchup is not an approved HCG diet food. I did use it several days on the diet and noticed my weight loss was less on those days. Tomato paste, thinned with water, can be substituted.

Cabbage Tacos (or rolls, depending on how you like to wrap them)
This filling is great stuffed in a pita if you aren’t on the HCG diet.

serves 4

Filling
1 lb. ground bison meat
2 cups shredded cabbage
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce*
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon dried basil

Sauce
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup white vinegar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce*
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
dash pepper

For serving
12 cabbage leaves, tough spines at bottom removed
2 cups chopped tomatoes

In a large skillet, combine all filling ingredients and cook over medium heat, breaking apart the meat with a spatula, until meat is no longer pink. Do not drain (as noted above, there is virtually no fat in bison and the moisture here is ony from broth, the soy sauce, Worcestershire, and liquid from the vegetables).

While the meat is cooking, combine the sauce ingredients in a small sauce pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5-10 minutes.

When ready to serve, heat the cabbage leaves in the microwave 1-2 minutes or until tender. For each serving, spoon 1/4 of the filling into three cabbage leaves and top with 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes. Drizzle with sauce (it is quite salty so start with a little and use more if needed) and either eat as tacos or roll up.

*Worcestershire sauce is not an approved condiment but it did not affect my own weight loss. If you prefer not to use it, you can just use more soy sauce in place of it.

Turkey Wraps
serves 1

4 romaine lettuce leaves
4 oz fat-free deli turkey meat, no sugar added
Mustard

Wash and dry the lettuce and remove hard stems. Divide the turkey between the leaves, squeeze on some mustard and roll, securing with a toothpick if necessary. Serve with fresh tomato wedges, green onions, and dill pickles.

HCG Burger
Lucky us, most of the ingredients in a hamburger are allowed on the HCG diet!

serves 1

4 oz ground bison meat
salt & pepper
1 large iceberg lettuce leaf
3 dill pickle slices
1 slice of red onion
1 large tomato slice
Tomato paste thinned with water & mustard

Form the bison into a patty, salt and pepper both sides, and cook low and slow either in a skillet or on the grill until cooked through, about 5 minutes per side. Put the lettuce leaf on a plate and put the cooked patty in the center. Spread tomato paste and mustard over the top , then layer pickle, onion and tomato. Fold the lettuce leaf over the top and serve hot.

Chicken & Spinach Salad
This salad has no dressing. I found that the juicy chicken and tomatoes added enough flavor that I didn’t even need it! Feel free to use lemon juice/vinegar mixed with herbs if you miss dressing here.

4 oz chicken breast
seasoned salt
2 cups fresh baby spinach
1/2 cup chopped tomato

Sprinkle both sides of the chicken with seasoned salt and grill (I use a Foreman) until cooked through (170 degrees F). Let rest a few minutes (this helps it stay juicy) then chop up and scatter over the spinach and tomato. I also made a similar salad with boiled, seasoned shrimp, and put some hot chili paste on there (pictured below). I didn’t like this version as much but it’s great if you like really spicy stuff!

HCG Diet (or any low-carb diet)-Friendly Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How much weight can you lose on HCG in 21 days? ›

How much can you lose on hCG in 21 days? Most hCG dieters report a loss of 1 to 2 lbs a day.

What happens if I take HCG and eat normally? ›

If you should go back to the normal diet when the HCG is still within your body liberating the store fat, you will end up gaining a reasonable amount of weight.

Can you eat carbs on HCG diet? ›

Only after these easy-to-access stores are depleted does the body turn to fat stores. This is one of the reasons it's so important to eat very few carbs during the HCG diet. You want to keep your body burning fat for fuel instead of the carbohydrates you eat during the day.

Does HCG get rid of belly fat? ›

Any diet that's this low in calories will make you lose weight. However, numerous studies have found that the hCG hormone has no effect on weight loss and doesn't reduce your appetite.

Will HCG help me lose belly fat? ›

As a prescription medication, HCG is used mainly to treat fertility issues. HCG is not approved for over-the-counter use, nor has it been proved to work for weight loss. HCG medications are required to carry a label from the FDA noting that the medication is not effective for weight loss.

How to lose weight fast on HCG diet? ›

With hCG injections, your body is triggered to release up to 2,500 calories or more from your fat stores each day. Assuming you normally eat 2,000 calories per day, you limit calories by 1,500 plus you burn 2,500 extra calories from the hCG. This results in a total daily loss of up to 4,000 calories per day.

Can you eat rice on HCG? ›

All foods are allowed except starch (white flours, white rice, potatoes, etc. and any kind of sugar, in any form) stay away from sweet fruit. Once the 3 week maintenance plan is over, you can do another round of 26 day Today's HCG.

Can I eat pickles on HCG? ›

For dinner you could have roasted white fish paired with pickles made from cucumbers, garlic, vinegar, lemon juice and salt. If you have a problem finding recipes that add flavor to your meat and vegetables, try making HCG-friendly sauces and marinades.

Why is HCG no longer available? ›

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Trade Commission said over-the-counter weight loss products containing human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) are fraudulent and illegal, and the agencies have told seven manufacturers to stop selling them. They have become a popular but fraudulent fad.

Can you eat cheese on HCG diet? ›

During the maintenance phase you will increase your calorie intake to 1500 calories, making up 3 meals and snacks. It is important that these meals are comprised of healthy foods. You may now consume any meats, eggs, fruits, cheeses, milk, vegetables and low sugar dairy products.

What vegetables can you eat on the HCG diet? ›

One five-ounce serving of lean protein like white fish, lean beef, egg white, or crab. Add vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, spinach, beets, radishes, celery, and cauliflower.

Can I eat hamburger on HCG diet? ›

Specifically, you can eat beef like extra lean, grass-fed ground beef or buffalo, different lean cuts of chicken, and lean fish options like scallops, whitefish, and some shellfish including shrimp, lobster, and crab. Dairy lovers will love that this diet doesn't require that they give up all forms of dairy.

Why only 500 calories on HCG diet? ›

During the main phase of the diet, you will follow the HCG 500 calorie diet meal plan. The dramatic drop in calories ensures that you lose weight quickly. The HCG diet meal plan, which was outlined in the book Pounds & Inches by Dr. A.T.W.

How long can you take HCG injections for weight loss? ›

After completing your course of injections (a maximum of 6 weeks), you should continue a low-calorie diet for 72 hours without HCG. It takes HCG 72 hours to be completely flushed from the system. After 72 hours, continue to Phase 3 of the program.

How much weight can you lose on 4 weeks of HCG? ›

Most hCG patients lose 1-2 lbs per day.

It is important to eat high-fiber foods, which will help you feel full. Drink water to aid in removing fat from the body. After about 6 weeks, the body becomes immune to the effects of hCG.

How much weight can you lose on HCG diet in 30 days? ›

You won't lose the same amount of weight every day, but at the end of 30 days, you should find yourself 15 to 40 pounds slimmer. Your weight loss depends on two factors: introducing the HCG hormone into your body to activate your hypothalamus gland and limiting the calories consumed daily.

How much weight can you lose on HCG drops in a month? ›

You can generally expect to lose between two and three pounds of fat per week throughout most of the HCG protocol. Specifically, you can expect to lose around three pounds of fat per week if you consume only 500 calories per day.

How much weight can you lose on HCG for 28 days? ›

The average hCG dieter experiences rapid weight loss averaging 1 to 3 pounds per day. In addition to loss of unwanted fat, the true benefit of the hCG protocol is its ability to help modify the dieter's relationship with food and eating, resulting in easily maintained, long-term weight loss. menstruation.)

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