Last Updated April 2026
Welcome to the complete Cycle 1 food list for the 17 Day Diet, also known as the Accelerate Cycle.
Cycle 1 is built around lean proteins, cleansing vegetables, low-sugar fruits, probiotics, and limited healthy fats. These foods work together to help your body detox, flush excess water weight, and jumpstart rapid weight loss in the first 17 days.
The foods on this list are intentionally clean and simple. By removing added sugars, refined carbs, and starchy foods, your body shifts into fat-burning mode quickly, which is why most people see their biggest results during this first cycle.
Below you’ll find the complete food list broken down by category, along with serving recommendations and a free printable PDF to take with you to the grocery store.
Quick Overview of Cycle 1
Cycle 1 of the 17 Day Diet is the detox phase. It’s designed to eliminate foods that spike blood sugar and cause your body to store fat, replacing them with clean, nutrient-dense options that promote rapid weight loss.
During Cycle 1 you’ll eat unlimited lean proteins and cleansing vegetables — so hunger shouldn’t be an issue. You’ll also enjoy two servings of low-sugar fruit per day, two probiotic servings, and one to two tablespoons of healthy fat.
The key rules to keep in mind for Cycle 1:
- All fruit must be eaten before 2pm
- Drink hot lemon water every morning to stimulate digestion
- Drink green tea with every meal to support weight loss
- Aim for at least eight 8oz glasses of plain water daily
- Keep exercise to a minimum — just 17 minutes of low-impact activity per day
Once you’re familiar with the food list, head over to the 17 Day Diet Cycle 1 Meal Plan to see how a full day of eating comes together. Or browse Cycle 1 Recipes for compliant meal ideas your whole family will enjoy.
This is the complete 17 Day Diet Cycle 1 Food List as you see it in the 17 Day Diet Breakthrough Edition.
17 Day Diet Cycle 1 Food List
Lean Proteins
Salmon, canned or fresh
Sole
Flounder
Catfish
Tilapia
Canned light tuna (in water)
Chicken breasts
Turkey breasts
Ground turkey, lean
Eggs (2 eggs = 1 serving)
Egg Whites (4 egg whites = 1 serving)
Cleansing Vegetables
Artichoke
Artichoke hearts
Asparagus
Bell peppers, green, orange, red, yellow
Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Celery
Cucumbers
Eggplant
Garlic
Green beans
Green, leafy vegetables (including beat greens, turnip greens, collard greens)
Kale
Leeks
Lettuce, all varieties
Mushrooms
Okra
Onions
Parsley
Scallions
Spinach
Tomatoes
Watercress
Low-Sugar Fruit- 2 servings daily
Apples
Berries, all types
Grapefruit
Oranges
Peaches
Pears
Plums
Prickly pear cactus
Prunes
Red grapes
FREE PDF: Download Printable Cycle 1 Food List
Probiotic Foods- 2 servings daily
Yogurts, any type including Greek-Style, sugar free fruit flavored, plain and low-fat (6oz = 1 serving)
Kefir: similar to drinking-style yogurt; great for making smoothies (1 cup = 1 serving)
Low-fat acidophilus milk (1 cup = 1 serving)
Yakult (small 50-calorie bottle)
Breakstone LiveActive cottage cheese (1/2 c = 1 serving)
Reduced salt miso dissolved in low-fat, low-sodium broth (1 tablespoon = 1 serving)
Tempeh (a fermented cake of pressed soybeans) (4 oz = 1 serving)
Sauerkraut (1/2 c = 1 serving)
Kimichi (Korean fermented cabbage) (1/2 c = 1 serving)
Friendly Fats: 1 to 2 tablespoons daily
Olive Oil
Flaxseed Oil
Condiments: allowed in moderation
Salsa
Low-carb marinara sauce
Lite soy sauce
Low-carb ketchup
Fat-free sour cream
Low-fat, low-sodium broth
Truvia or Nectresse (non-caloric sweeteners made from natural ingredients)**
Sugar free jams and jellies
Vegetable cooking spray
Fat-free cheeses
Fat-free salad dressing
Salt
Pepper
Vinegar
Mustard
Herbs
Spices
**Changes to the 17 Day Diet per the 17 Day Diet Breakthrough Edition (published 12/31/13)
Download My Printable Cycle 1 Food List
If you’d like a handy printable PDF that contains the entire Cycle 1 Food List, you can sign up to download it below.
Once you sign up or login to your Grow Account, you’ll find the download link below on this very page…
Cycle 1 FAQ Section
Cycle 1 proteins include salmon, sole, flounder, catfish, tilapia, canned light tuna in water, chicken breasts, turkey breasts, lean ground turkey, whole eggs, and egg whites. You can eat unlimited amounts of these proteins throughout the day, which means you should never feel hungry during this cycle.
Cycle 1 focuses on cleansing vegetables. These include broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, kale, cabbage, cucumbers, bell peppers, asparagus, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, carrots, celery, lettuce, and more. Like proteins, cleansing vegetables are unlimited on Cycle 1, so load up your plate freely.
Yes, you’re allowed two servings of low-sugar fruit per day on Cycle 1. Approved fruits include apples, berries, grapefruit, oranges, peaches, pears, plums, prunes, and red grapes. The important rule is that all fruit must be consumed before 2pm.
Great snack options on Cycle 1 include a serving of no-sugar-added yogurt, a hard boiled egg, raw vegetables with mustard or salsa, or a small portion of lean protein left over from a meal. Your two daily probiotic servings, like Greek yogurt or kefir, also double as satisfying snacks.
Unsweetened almond milk is not officially on the Cycle 1 food list. Non-dairy milks are introduced in Cycle 3. That said, many people use small amounts of unsweetened almond milk in Cycle 1 without affecting their weight loss. If you do use it, keep the quantity minimal and monitor your results.
The 17 Day Diet Breakthrough Edition approves Truvia and Nectresse, both non-caloric sweeteners made from natural ingredients, as condiments on Cycle 1. Monk fruit sweetener (sold under the Nectresse brand name) is also acceptable. Avoid regular sugar, honey, agave, and artificial sweeteners not on this list.
One off-plan meal won’t derail your progress. The best approach is to get back on track at your very next meal rather than letting one slip turn into a full day off plan. If you feel like you need a reset, consider having a Transitional Day Fast, also known as a smoothie day, to get back on track quickly.
You stay on Cycle 1 for no more than 17 days before moving on to Cycle 2. If you have a significant amount of weight to lose, you can return to Cycle 1 after completing the other cycles, but it’s important to cycle through all phases as intended rather than staying on Cycle 1 indefinitely, as your body can adapt over time.
Absolutely, that’s exactly what the 17 Day Diet Cycle 1 Meal Plan is for. It shows you a full sample menu so you can see how the food list comes together into real meals throughout the day.
Looking for Food Lists for Cycles 2 and 3?
- 17 Day Diet Cycle 2 Food List
- 17 Day Diet Cycle 3 Food List
- 17 Day Diet Food Index (Alphabetical Order)
What can I eat on cycle 1 if I have cravings for something sweet? ( beside fruits)
Hi Orly, have you checked out my list of dessert recipes yet? If not, take a peek here: https://17ddblog.com/healthy-dessert-recipe-ideas/
For cycle 1 is unsweetened almond milk okay? Also, are pitted salted Manzanilla olives (little packs from Trader Joes 55 calories, 1 carb, 1 fiber, 1g sat fat, total fat 5.5 g) and bone broth okay for a snack?
Hi Mary! You won’t find unsweetened almond milk until Cycle 3 when non-dairy is allowed. With that said, there are many members who do use it in Cycle 1 and have no issue with weight loss. You can always try it and see how it goes. As far as olives and bone broth, you won’t find these on any cycles, but I personally think they’re fine for all cycles.
What would be a good late afternoon snack on C1?
Hi Carla! Sorry for the late reply. If you’re needing a pick-me-up during the afternoon, a no sugar added yogurt is always a great snack. It will give you some energy and maybe satisfy any sweet cravings you might have!
I can’t find these on the list and was wondering about these items and in what cycle they are allowed if at all.
Heavy whipping cream
Monk fruit sweetener
Coconut flour
Almond flour
Seaweed salad
Bean sprouts
Mayonnaise
Imitation crab
And for the oysters, are the canned smoked oysters allowed? Are there limits to the new protein in cycle 2.
We are finishing cycle 1 soon and have enjoyed the unlimited amounts of protein and veggies very much.
Thank you in advance
Hi Lucia – no to heavy whipping cream on the 17 Day Diet. Monk Fruit is listed under the C1 Food list under a brand name of Nectresse under the condiment section.
You won’t find coconut or almond flour on any list, but they should be fine in Cycle 3 when nuts are allowed.
Seaweed is on the Cycle 3 Food list.
Bean sprouts are not on any list, but should be fine for all cycles.
Mayonnaise is on the C3 food list.
Imitation crab is not on any list, but real crab meat is starting on C2 and I’d personally stick with real crab meat if you can to avoid the overly processed imitation type that likely has sugar/sodium and other flavorings/chemicals in it.
Canned smoked oysters are probably fine, too.
As far as Cycle 2 protein limits, the term “liberal” is used during this cycle as opposed to “unlimited” in Cycle 1. Really, the only limit to protein is starting in Cycle 3!
Hope this helps!
On the fruit….what is a serving of berries or grapes? Oz or cups would be ideal for measuring purposes.
Hi Rhonda, in the book a serving of fruit is one of the following depending on the fruit: 1 piece of fresh fruit OR 1 cup of fresh fruit cup up. For your berries/grapes, it would be 1 cup = 1 serving.
Hi Torey!
I was wondering if we can include any gluten-free (ex: almond) flour in any dessert recipes during cycle 1?
Thanks!
Hi Nour! If you’re sticking by the book, it’s best to wait until Cycle 3 to add in almond flour (or any other nut flour for that matter). Cycle 3 is when all nuts/seeds are allowed. They aren’t a part of Cycle 1 because they contain more fat and Cycle 1 is a lower fat cycle.
What about Coffee or defaf tea
Hi Loretta, you won’t find coffee or decaf tea (or even green tea!) on any food list, but they are definitely mentioned in the book (at least coffee is). Coffee is fine to drink, and is even suggested as a substitute for green tea if you’re not able to drink it. Decaf green is also fine to drink.
I’ve been drinking heavy whipping cream with my coffee. Is that not allowed? If not, is there an another option? I love my coffee, but can’t drink it black.
Hi Julie, if you’re following the 17 Day Diet 100% then it’s not approved. Technically, milk products are allowed starting in Cycle 3 with the exception of probiotic milk in cycle 1. With that said, if you’re wanting to be flexible with your diet, you can certainly use it and see how it goes. There are many other members who use all types of creamers and non dairy milks in cycle 1 and have no issues. At the end of the day, do what works best for you!
Are there any nuts approved for the 1 cycle
All nuts are approved starting in Cycle 3 as a healthy fat.
Hi Torey,
I’m starting my 17day diet, I love my coffee with milk what can I substitute with??
Hi Anastasia! Unfortunately, there really aren’t any “approved” substitutes. However, many members will still use sugar free creamers or half/half in Cycle 1 and not have any issue. Some also use unsweetened almond milk (technically approved Cycle 3) and don’t have any issues either. If you want some flexibility, you can certainly use what you prefer and see how it goes.
Is cornstarch considered to be in the cycle 2 part of the diet or can it be used in all cycles?
Hi Teresa! Technically, you won’t find cornstarch on any of the food lists. I personally think it’s OK to use every once in a while on any cycle if you need to thicken a sauce. Depending on what you’re making, a few ounces of cream cheese actually helps thicken sauce pretty well.
Hi Tory thank you so much for your guidance. I’ m about to start cycle 1 for the first time and am wondering if stevia sweetened sugar free candy is allowed?Also whether popcorn is ok on this cycle? I have a tendency to get late night munchies and the pop secret 100 calorie small portion popcorn tends to satisfy that. Thanks again and looking forward to hearing from you!
Hi Shannon, you’re very welcome! You won’t find any stevia sweetened candy on the cycle food lists, but if you want to be flexible, you can always try them if you feel like you have a sweet tooth and see how it goes. If you feel like your weight loss has stalled, maybe stop eating them to see if this helps.
Popcorn as a snack is approved starting on Cycle 3.
Cycle 1 is really about low fat, but if you increase your fat intake a little throughout the day, you’ll find that some of your sweet cravings will disappear.
Also, if you want to curb your evening munchies a bit, you might want to try increasing your calories a bit at dinner time. This usually helps me. If you still feel like you need a snack, maybe some crunchy veggies would be better at night.
Good luck!
hi how are you?
can you have passion fruit and mango on cycle 1?
You’ll need to wait until Cycle 3 to have those types of fruits.
can you have chicken bottoms and cutlets on Cycle 1?
Any white meat from chicken is allowed during cycle 1.
hi if i have eggs for breakfast every day of the phase 1 can i still have the 2 probiotic sevings as snacks through the day?
Hi Mary, yes, you can still have your two probiotics every day. This is independent of anything else you eat.
can I have a tablespoon of lite cesear dressing in my salad on phase 1 instead of the olive oil?
You can always experiment and see how it goes. You decide how much flexibility you want in your own diet.
Hi,
Cycle one, for breakfast , are you allowed to have eggs and yogurt with berries or just one or the other?
Thank you
You can have it all at the same time for breakfast! Enjoy!
Could I use bone broth protein powder for cycle 1? Ingred: coconut milk, vanilla, monk fruit, sea salt, cinnamon
It’s bovine based.
Thx
Hi Teresa! Technically, any type of non-dairy milk (coconut milk) would be approved starting in Cycle 3. However, you can always give it a try during Cycle 1 – just monitor how your weight loss goes, and if you notice you’ve stalled, maybe cut back on the powder to see if that helps.