Created in the 1970s, the Scarsdale Medical Diet is a stringent two-week, low-calorie diet that leaves no room for interpretation. It is an all-or-nothing program that must be followed exactly as written, down to the last bite. Extremely restrictive in calories, the plan is based on a ratio of 43 percent protein, 22.5 percent fat and 34.5 percent carbs.  Followers have dropped up to 20 pounds in two weeks under the guidelines of the Scarsdale Diet, although the average person loses between 7 to 15 pounds consuming between 800 to 1,000 calories a day.

There is a set of rules that must be abided by. Consume only what is on the meal plan. Cut out all alcohol beverages. Snacking is prohibited unless it’s carrots, celery and low-sodium vegetable broth. Permitted beverages include plain coffee, tea, club soda, diet soda and sugar-free drinks and water. Salads should only be consumed with lemon and vinegar or the Scarsdale-approved dressings. Vegetables are to be eaten without butter, margarine or other fats. Consume only lean meats. Do not make any additions or substitutions. Only stay on the diet for two weeks at a time, alternating between the main plan and the Keep-Trim eating program, a maintenance period to reset the body’s metabolism. 

Breakfast is ½ grapefruit, one slice of protein bread and plain coffee or tea – every day. Lunch varies from cold cuts, tomatoes and coffee to tuna fish salad with lemon and vinegar dressing, grapefruit and coffee. Choices for dinner include sliced roast lamb, a salad of lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers and celery and coffee or fish, a combination salad, one slice of protein bread and coffee.

There are plenty of red flags with the Scarsdale Diet. For starters, it’s low in calories and high in protein. The program also encourages the use of artificial sweeteners and herbal appetite suppressants. Critics also point out that if you don’t get enough water when following the diet, there is a risk of kidney damage.