Complete Optavia Green Food List for Weight Loss

An Overview of Optavia's Green Food List

The Optavia diet, formerly known as Medifast, is a commercial weight loss program that involves replacing meals with shakes, bars, soups, and other pre-packaged items. An important component of Optavia is understanding which foods belong on the "green list" of approved foods.

The green food list contains nutritious whole foods that provide fiber and nutrients. Followers combine green foods with Optavia's packaged products to create balanced, low-calorie meals. Learning what’s on the green list is key to success on the Optavia diet.

What is the Optavia Green List?

The Optavia green list contains over 100 healthy, natural foods. These include non-starchy vegetables, fruits, dairy, eggs, poultry, fish, nuts, seeds, oils, and seasonings.

Green foods are considered "free foods" meaning they can be eaten without restriction. The green list provides a way to add variety and nutrients while controlling calories for weight loss.

Criteria for the Green Food List

Optavia carefully selects foods for the green list based on the following criteria:

• Low in calories
• High in nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants
• Contain fiber to promote satiety
• Support heart health and weight management
• Include lean proteins for energy and muscle building

Choosing whole, minimally processed green foods helps followers meet their nutritional needs even at lower calorie intakes for weight loss.

How to Use the Green Food List

Optavia provides six fuelings per day, which include shakes, bars, soups, entrees, snacks, and desserts. Green foods are used to complement these fuelings and create satisfying meals.

Most of the meals should consist of non-starchy vegetables, along with a moderate amount of protein, healthy fats, and fruit. For example, a meal might include grilled chicken over a salad with oil-based dressing.

Using the green food list allows dieters to have flexibility and variety in what they eat, while controlling calories for weight loss.

Complete List of Optavia Green Foods

Optavia's green food list contains over 100 items across the main food groups. Here is the full list of approved green foods:

Vegetables

• Artichokes
• Asparagus
• Bean sprouts
• Beets
• Bok choy
• Broccoli
• Brussels sprouts
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Cucumbers
• Eggplant
• Green beans
• Jicama
• Kale
• Leeks
• Lettuce
• Mushrooms
• Okra
• Onions
• Peppers
• Radishes
• Sauerkraut
• Scallions
• Spinach
• Sprouts
• Squash
• Swiss chard
• Tomatoes
• Turnips
• Water chestnuts
• Zucchini

Fruits

• Apples
• Apricots
• Blackberries
• Blueberries
• Cherries
• Grapefruit
• Kiwi
• Lemon/Limes
• Nectarines
• Peaches
• Pears
• Plums
• Raspberries
• Strawberries

Dairy and Eggs

• Eggs
• Plain Greek yogurt
• String cheese
• Milk
• Sugar-free pudding

Lean Proteins

• Chicken breast
• Turkey breast
• Wild game meats
• Most fish and seafood
• Tofu

Fats and Oils

• Avocado
• Coconut oil
• Olive oil
• Nut oils
• Olives
• Nuts and seeds

Seasonings

• Herbs
• Spices
• Mustard
• Vinegars
• Soy sauce
• Extracts
• Garlic
• Ginger

This comprehensive green food list offers endless options to combine with Optavia's fuelings for delicious, nutrient-rich meals that can support weight loss.

Tips for Following the Green Food List

Making the most of Optavia's green food list can help boost nutrition and make the diet more sustainable. Here are some tips for using the list effectively:

Fill Half Your Plate with Vegetables

Aim to make non-starchy veggies like leafy greens, broccoli, peppers, and carrots the main component of meals and snacks. They provide bulk and nutrients with minimal calories.

Include Lean Protein at Each Meal

Incorporate a lean protein source like chicken, fish, eggs, or tofu at each meal. This helps preserve muscle mass when cutting calories for weight loss.

Add Healthy Fats

Use allowable healthy fats like olive oil, avocado, nuts, and nut butters to add flavor, creaminess, and satiety to meals and snacks.

Watch High-Sugar Fruits

Fruit can be part of a balanced diet, but limit high-sugar fruits like grapes, bananas, and pineapple to avoid extra calories from sugar.

Spice Things Up

Take advantage of unlimited herbs, spices, mustards, and condiments to add lots of flavor without calories.

Hydrate with Water

Drink water, unsweetened tea, or coffee instead of juice. Staying hydrated can help manage hunger.

Read Labels for Sauces

Watch out for sugars and other additives in condiments like salad dressings, marinades, and sauces.

Following these tips can help you stick to the green food list for nutritious, balanced meals to support your weight loss journey.

Sample Optavia Green Food Meals

Here are some meal ideas showcasing Optavia’s green foods:

Breakfast

• Egg white omelet with spinach and mushrooms
• Optavia protein shake blended with raspberries and almond milk
• Scrambled eggs with turkey, salsa, and black beans

Lunch

• Optavia bar with edamame salad
• Tuna salad lettuce wraps with carrot sticks
• Optavia lean soup with mixed greens salad and balsamic vinaigrette

Dinner

• Seared salmon over zucchini noodles with pesto
• Turkey meatballs with roasted Brussels sprouts
• Chicken skewers with Greek salad

Snacks

• Apple slices with almond butter
• Celery with hummus
• Cottage cheese with blueberries
• Hard boiled eggs

Mixing and matching green foods with Optavia fuelings provides nutrient-dense meals for weight loss success.

The Benefits of Following the Green Food List

Using Optavia's green food list offers many benefits including:

Promotes Weight Loss

Filling up on low calorie green foods can help create a calorie deficit for weight loss while providing satiety.

Provides Fiber

The vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds on the list give fiber to support digestion, gut health, and heart health.

Boosts Nutrition

Green foods supply vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytochemicals missing from processed foods.

Supports Lean Muscle

Including lean proteins helps maintain valuable muscle mass when losing weight.

Reduces Inflammation

Nutrient-dense green foods contain anti-inflammatory compounds to improve health.

Balances Blood Sugar

The healthy fats, fiber, and protein in green foods prevent blood sugar spikes and crashes.

Making green foods the foundation of your diet provides extensive benefits beyond just weight loss.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you eat unlimited green foods?

While green foods are "free" foods without limits, portions still matter for weight loss. Sticking to 1-2 cups of vegetables and 1-2 servings of other green foods per meal is a good guideline.

Do you have to buy special products to follow Optavia?

Optavia sells packaged shakes, bars, and prepared meals to replace some food. But all the items on the green food list can be purchased at any grocery store.

Is the green food list suitable for vegetarians?

Yes, the Optavia green list contains plenty of plant-based proteins like beans, nuts, eggs, and dairy to meet vegetarian needs.

Can you eat grains on Optavia?

No, grains are not included in Optavia’s green food list because they are more calorically dense. Limiting grains can promote weight loss.

Is the green food list safe for people with diabetes?

The green foods are very safe, but work with your doctor to ensure the diet meets your individual diabetes needs for carbs, protein, and fat.

The Takeaway

Optavia's expansive green food list provides the foundation for creating balanced, nutritious meals to support weight loss. Focusing on unlimited non-starchy vegetables, fruits, lean proteins and healthy fats can help boost nutrition while controlling calories.

Combining green foods with Optavia’s packaged fuelings ensures dieters get quality nutrition to aid weight loss and maintenance without deprivation. Just be mindful of portions of higher calorie green list items like nuts, seeds, oils, and dairy.

Incorporating more wholesome, minimally processed foods into your diet, regardless of whether you follow Optavia, is the healthiest approach for sustainable weight management.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.