The plan uses every food group after Phase 1. Phase 1 is the exception: no grains and no fruit for 14 days. Later phases prefer the slower carbohydrates, not a ban on carbohydrates.
| Food | Phase 1 | Phase 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Lean meat, poultry, fish, eggs | Yes | Yes |
| Non-starchy vegetables | Yes | Yes |
| Beans and lentils | Half cup | Yes |
| Low-fat dairy | Limited | Yes |
| Nuts and olive oil | Measured | Measured |
| Fruit | No | One serving, then more |
| Oats, barley, brown rice, whole-grain bread | No | One serving at a time |
| White bread, white rice, juice, sweets | No | Still limited |
| Alcohol | No | Wine with a meal, later |
Agatston's own ranking put vegetables, whole fruit, and whole grains at the base, then lean protein, low-fat dairy, and unsaturated fats. Saturated fat was next. Refined starch and trans fat were last. That is the opposite of a bacon-and-butter low-carb plan, which is the useful way to tell it apart from Atkins. The detailed Phase 1 cuts are on allowed foods.