The Italian version of 7-day diet plan is slightly different from the original one. The cabbage soup for Italian has two versions, i.e. winter and summer version. The main different between the winter and summer version is the ingredients used for cooking the cabbage soup. For each of the 7 days, the Italian version diet has listed out the food for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks, also including some variations/or substitutes. The Italian version of cabbage soup diet plan says you may lose up to 5kg (12lbs) in 7 days.

Winter Version:

  • 6 leeks (or 6 onions)
  • 1 large cabbage (or 1 head of broccoli)
  • 4-5 white turnips (or 500g spinach or 500g beets)
  • 1 bunch of celery (or 1 whole fennel)
  • 1 or 2 cans of peeled whole tomatoes
  • vegetable bouillon
  • spices – whatever you please

Summer Version:

  • 6 leeks (or 6 onions)
  • 1 large cabbage (or 200g string beans)
  • 2 green peppers (or 3 zucchini)
  • 500g spinach (or 500g beets)
  • 1 bunch of celery (or 2 carrots)
  • 2 fresh peeled tomatoes
  • vegetable bouillon
  • spices – whatever you please

Direction:

  1. Cut onions and green peppers into thin slices and stir-fry with some cooking spray.
  2. Then, cut all root vegetables into cubes, add in and continue to stir-fry.
  3. Then, cut all leafy vegetables and tomatoes and add in.
  4. Add in water and bring to boil. Then, turn to low heat and continue cooking for 2 hours.
  5. After 2 hours, add in vegetable bouillon and spices according to your own taste but not too salty.

 

Day One:

Breakfast : coffee or tea; apples and pears
Mid-morning snack: unsweetened fruit juice
Lunch: CS; apples
Mid-afternoon snack: unsweetened fruit juice
Dinner: CS; pears

Variation – the apples and pears can be substituted by any fruit (except grapes and bananas) which can be cooked or dried with no added sugars.

Day Two:

Breakfast : coffee
Mid-morning snack: tea
Lunch: CS; beets, chicory greens or endive, broccoli or radicchio
Mid-afternoon snack: tea or coffee
Dinner: CS; 200g of boiled potatoes with 10g of butter

Variation – the potatoes with butter can be substituted by 350g of mushrooms cooked with 2 tsp of extra virgin olive oil.

Day Three:

Breakfast : coffee or tea; pineapple and pears
Mid-morning snack: unsweetened fruit juice
Lunch: CS; carrots and artichokes – cooked or raw
Mid-afternoon snack: unsweetened fruit juice
Dinner: CS; grilled peppers, eggplants and zucchini

Variation – the pineapple and pears can be substituted by any fruit (except grapes and bananas) which can be cooked or dried with no added sugars.

Day Four:

Breakfast : cappuccino made with 200ml skim milk; bananas
Mid-morning snack: tea or coffee
Lunch: 200g of fat free yogurt; 1 banana
Mid-afternoon snack: tea
Dinner: CS; shake made with 200ml skim milk and 1 banana

Variation – the 200g of yogurt can be substituted by 150g of ricotta cheese or 120g of mozzarella or blue cheese (gorgonzola).

Day Five: Drink at least 1.5 – 2 liters of mineral water.

Breakfast : coffee
Mid-morning snack: tea
Lunch: 300g of steamed fish; tomatoes
Mid-afternoon snack: tea
Dinner: CS, 200g grilled fish

Variation – lunch – the 300g of fish can be substituted by 300g of grilled calamari; dinner – the 200g of fish can be substituted by 150g of tuna (in water) or 100g of smoked salmon.

Day Six: Drink at least 1.5 – 2 liters of mineral water.

Breakfast : coffee
Mid-morning snack: tea
Lunch: 1 or 2 grilled beef or veal steaks; steamed zucchini and fennel
Mid-afternoon snack: tea
Dinner: CS; 300-400g roasted skinless chicken

Variation – the roasted chicken can be substituted by 250g roasted turkey.

Day Seven:

Breakfast : coffee
Mid-morning snack: unsweetened fruit juice
Lunch: 150g brown rice with vegetables; steamed asparagus, onions and carrots
Mid-afternoon snack: unsweetened fruit juice
Dinner: CS; beets an cucumbers

Variation – for breakfast, you can add 2 slices of whole wheat toast with 2 tsp of sugarless jelly; for lunch, the 150g of rice can be substituted by 160g of whole wheat pasta.