More: 5 Drinks to help you Weight Lose
1. Apples
An apple a day can keep weight gain at bay. People who chomped an apple
before a pasta meal ate fewer calories overall than those who had a different
snack. Plus, the antioxidants in apples may help prevent metabolic syndrome, a
condition marked by excess belly fat or an "apple shape."
Eat more Apples are the ideal on-the-go low-calorie snack. For a
pie-like treat, chop up a medium apple and sprinkle with 1/2 tsp allspice and
1/2 tsp cinnamon. Pop in the microwave for 1 1/2 minutes.
2. Steak
Beef has a rep as a diet buster, but eating it may help you peel off pounds.
Try to consume local organic beef; it's healthier for you and the environment.
Eat more Grill or broil a 4-ounce serving of top round or sirloin;
slice thinly to top a salad,
or mix with veggies for fajitas.
3. Eggs
Dig in to eggs,
yolks and all: They won't harm your heart, but they can help you trim
inches.
Eat more Omelets
and scrambles
are obvious choices, but if you can't cook before work, bake a frittata on
Sunday; chill it and nuke slices for up to a week. An easy recipe: Vegetable
Frittata
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4. Kale
This green has been buzzy lately. One raw chopped cup contains 34 calories
and about 1.3 grams of fiber,
as well as a hearty helping of iron and calcium.
Eat more Mix chopped raw kale into cooked black beans.
Or slice kale into thin strips, sauté it with vegetable broth and top with
orange slices. Make it a meal by tossing the mix with quinoa.
5. Oats
All oats are healthful, but the steel-cut and rolled varieties (which are
minimally processed) have up to 5 grams of fiber per serving, making them the
most filling choice. Instant oats contain 3 to 4 grams per serving.
Eat more Instead of using breadcrumbs, add oats to meat loaf—about 1
cup for a recipe that serves eight. Or try this recipe for turkey and
oatmeal meatballs.
6. Lentils
Lentils are a bona fide belly
flattener. Eating them helps prevent insulin spikes that cause your body to
create excess fat, especially in the abdominal area.
Eat more There are many varieties of lentils, but red and yellow cook
fastest (in about 15 to 20 minutes). Add cooked lentils to pasta sauce for a
heartier dish. Their mild flavor blends right in, and because they're high in
protein, you can skip meat altogether.
7. Goji berries
These chewy, tart berries have a hunger-curbing edge over other fruit: 18
amino acids, which make them a surprising source of protein. Snack
on them mid-afternoon to stay satisfied until dinner. The calorie cost? Only 35
per tablespoon.
Eat more Mix 1/4 cup of the dried berries (from health food stores)
with 1/4 cup raisins and 1/4 cup walnuts for a nourishing trail mix. Or for dessert,
pour 1/4 cup boiling water into a bowl with 2 tbsp dried berries; let sit 10
minutes. Drain, then spoon over 1/2 cup lowfat vanilla frozen yogurt.
8. Wild salmon
Not only do fish fats keep your heart
healthy, but they shrink
your waist, too. Omega-3 fatty acids improve insulin sensitivity—which
helps build muscle and decrease belly fat. And the more muscle you have, the
more calories your body burns. Opt for wild salmon;
it may contain fewer pollutants.
Eat more You don't need to do much to enhance salmon's taste.
"Simple is best. Season a fillet with salt and pepper, then cook it in
a hot pan with 2 tsp oil for 1 to 3 minutes on each side."
9. Buckwheat pasta
Swap plain noodles for this hearty variety; you'll slip into your favorite
jeans in no time. Buckwheat is high in fiber and, unlike most carbs,
contains protein, so it's harder to overeat buckwheat pasta than the regular
stuff.
Eat more Cook this pasta
as you do rice:
Simmer it, covered, over low heat. For a light meal, toss cooked buckwheat
pasta with broccoli, carrots, mushrooms and onions. Or make buckwheat crepes
using our
tasty recipe.
10. Blueberries
All berries
are good for you, but those with a blue hue are among the best of the bunch.
They have the highest antioxidant level of all commonly consumed fruit. They
also deliver 3.6 grams of fiber per cup.
Eat more Instead of topping your cereal with fruit, fill your bowl
with blueberries, then sprinkle cereal on top and add milk or yogurt.
11. Almond butter
Adding this spread may lower bread's glycemic index (a measure of a food's
effect on blood sugar). A study from the University of Toronto found that
people who ate almonds
with white bread didn't experience the same blood
sugar surges as those who ate only the slice.
Eat more Try it for a change from peanut butter in sandwiches, or
make a veggie dip: Mix 1 tbsp almond butter with 2 tbsp fat-free plain yogurt.
Or add a dollop to oatmeal for flavor and protein.
12. Pomegranates
The juice gets all the hype for being healthy, but pomegranate seeds deserve
their own spotlight. In addition to being loaded with folate and
disease-fighting antioxidants, they're low in calories and high in fiber, so
they satisfy your sweet
tooth without blowing your diet.
Eat more Pop the raw seeds on their own (many grocery stores sell
them preshucked) as a snack at your desk. Use them in salads
instead of nuts.
They're especially delicious on raw baby spinach
with lemon-poppy seed dressing. For another take on the seeds, use our easy
recipe for sweet
and spicy pomegranate salsa.
13. Chiles
One reason to spice up your meals: You'll crank
up your metabolism. A compound in chiles called capsaicin has a thermogenic
effect, meaning it causes the body to burn extra calories for 20 minutes after
you eat the chiles.
Eat more Stuff chiles with cooked quinoa
and marinara sauce, then roast them. To mellow a chile's heat, grill it until
it's almost black, peel off charred skin and puree the flesh. Add the puree to
pasta sauces for a one-alarm kick. Or stir red pepper flakes into any dish you
enjoy.
14. Yogurt
Dietitians often refer to plain yogurt
as the perfect food, and for good reason: With its trifecta of carbs, protein
and fat, it can stave off hunger by keeping blood sugar levels steady.
Eat more Use low fat plain yogurt instead of mayonnaise in chicken or
potato salad, or top a baked potato with a bit of yogurt and a squeeze of lemon
juice. You'll save 4.7 grams of fat per tablespoon. Look for Greek yogurt,
which has more protein than other versions.
15. Quinoa
Curbing hunger is as easy as piling your plate with this whole
grain. It packs both fiber
(2.6 grams per 1/2 cup) and protein, a stellar nutrient combo that can keep you
satisfied for hours.
Eat more Serve quinoa instead of rice with stir-fries, or try this
take on a scrumptious hot breakfast: Cook 1/2 cup quinoa in 2/3 cup water and
1/3 cup orange juice for 15 minutes. Top with 1 tbsp each of raisins and
chopped walnuts.
16. Sardines
These tiny fish are the unsung stars of the sea. They are high in protein
and loaded with omega-3s, which also help the body maintain muscle. And they're
low in mercury and high in calcium, making them a smart fish pick for pregnant
women. If the flavor doesn't appeal to you, soak them in milk for an hour;
it will remove any trace of fishiness.
Eat more Use sardines in recipes you like that call for anchovies,
including Caesar salad and stuffing. Or make a sardine melt: Toss whole
sardines with chopped onions, fresh herbs and diced bell peppers. Put the
mixture on top of a slice of pumpernickel or rye bread, cover with a slice of
cheddar and broil. To get fit in 2014.
17. Tarragon
You can use this herb, a staple in French cooking, in place of salt in
marinades and salad dressings. Plus, tarragon lends a sweet, licorice-like
flavor to bland foods.
Eat more Rub 2 tbsp dried tarragon on chicken before baking or
grilling. Or make a tasty dip by mixing 1 tsp chopped fresh tarragon into 4 oz
low fat plain yogurt and 1 tsp Dijon mustard.
18. Parmesan
Drop that rubbery low fat cheese
and pick up the real stuff. Women who had one serving of whole milk or cheese
daily were less likely to gain weight over time, a study in The American
Journal of Clinical Nutrition finds.
Eat more Grate Parmesan over roasted vegetables.
Or snack on a 1-ounce portion with an apple or a pear.
19. Avocado
Don't let the fat content of an avocado (29 grams) scare you—that's what
makes it a top weight loss food.
The heart-healthy monounsaturated fat it contains increases satiety. And it's
terrific party food.
Eat more Add avocado to your sandwich instead of mayo for a creamy
texture and a shot of flavor. Avocados do contain a lot of calories, so it's
best to watch your portions. One easy way to do it: Try Wholly Guacamole's
100-calorie fresh guacamole packs.
They're easy to pack in your lunch and pair with chopped vegetables.
20. Olive oil
Like avocados,
olive oil has healthy fat that increases satiety, taming your appetite. But
that's hardly its only slimming feature. Research shows it also has
anti-inflammatory properties. Chronic inflammation in the body is linked to
metabolic syndrome.
Eat more Drizzle your salad
with olive
oil and you'll increase the antioxidant power of your veggies, a study
published in the British Journal of Nutrition notes. Or toss pasta
with a few teaspoons of olive oil, fresh basil and sautéeed garlic.
“The only successful way to reach and maintain a healthy weight is to find what works for you”
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