Weight loss is about eating the right foods, but these foods aren’t just vegetables and greens. It’s about choosing healthy food options that will both satisfy you and keep you feeling full until your next meal. Hunger is the enemy of weight loss.
It’s also not just about losing a few pounds one week only to gain it back the next. It’s about choosing the healthy staples in your life that will help you lose weight and maintain that weight loss.
The more you eat of the RIGHT foods, the easier and more sustainable weight loss becomes.
Here are 10 weight-loss friendly foods to add to your diet today.
1. Grapefruit
Grapefruit is a great, low-calorie way to start your morning. It contains pectin, which has been shown to curb cravings which can lead to easier, sustainable weight loss.
2. Lean Chicken Breast
Protein is not only a necessary part of your diet, it has been shown to be the most satiating food on the planet.
Higher amounts of protein will help you build muscle, which helps to burn fat and keep you full at mealtimes for far longer than other foods will.
The key is to not overcook the chicken. If you do, it will taste bland, boring, and have you dreaming of a homestyle meal like lasagna or mac and cheese. Add some light cajun seasoning and cook it with apple cider vinegar on the stove (smells amazing!).
3. Oats
Nothing is worse than the 2 pm CRASH that results in napping and reaching for sugary pick-me-ups.
Oats are high in fiber and are a carbohydrate that will provide you with sustained energy throughout your day. Note that when we say “oats,” we’re talking about whole oats (rolled or steel cut), not processed quick or instant oatmeal
Whole oats take a while to cook, but you can eat them right away if you soak them overnight. Soak oats overnight in unsweetened nut milk (cashew, almond, coconut) in the fridge.
That way it’s ready to go in the morning when you’re fighting rubberneckers on the highway. You can eat them cold or just nuke them in the microwave for a minute or two.
4. Protein Shakes
If you think drinking protein shakes will turn you into some miniature version of the hulk, think again. Protein shakes are nothing more than concentrated whey protein and are great for helping you build toned muscles and lose weight!
I wrote more about this in my article: 5 Best Tasting Protein Powders for Women
Pick a brand that does not add sugar or carbohydrates to it’s flavoring.
5. Apples
Similar to grapefruit, apples contain lots of fiber and pectin that ensure you won’t feel too hungry after eating. Eat at least 1 a day when you’re feeling hungry and trying to stay away from the chips!
6. Soups
Soups are great because you get in lots of veggies and protein and a serious amount of water. If you’re one of those people who knows they need to be drinking more but never do, try eating soups for lunch.
Make sure to go with a soup that is heavy on the veggies and protein, but light on the cheese and potatoes if weight loss is your primary goal.
7. Avocados
Avocados are one of the healthiest foods on our planet. They provide healthy fats, fiber and folic acid which, in combination, have been shown to fill you up!
Try to eat 3+ every week but be VERY careful about your serving sizes if you are trying to lose weight fast.
8. Mega Salads
Stop doing salads wrong! It’s time to woman-up and make a REAL salad.
Make sure to go overboard with leafy greens and vegetables and add some avocado slices or nuts for some healthy fats. Mega salads like these will keep you full that way you’re not craving a sandwich an hour after eating one.
Use more leafy greens than you’re used to. Not only will you feel better, but you will avoid lots of calories and hunger pains.
9. Lean Beef
Beef get’s a lot of beef these days… But it’s actually organic lean beef is an underrated source of protein and nutrients for your diet, making it an excellent weight loss food.
Make sure to cook it thoroughly and get organic, grass-fed beef!
10. Vegetable Chili
Similar to the soup recommendation above, the added water helps to fill you up and improve your hydration. You can use the organic beef you just cooked above as well along with any vegetable variety you can think of!
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