Being healthier doesn’t have to be hard. Instead, take a peek at this list of skinny foods that are perfect to eat when you’re trying to lose weight!
Losing weight can seem like an overwhelming task when you first start your journey. Not only do you have to find the motivation to workout, but you also need to know which foods will complement your goals. And, although moderation is the key to any diet, there are in fact certain foods that can help you shred the fat on your body.
But, what are they, you ask?
Skinny foods are those considered to be healthy for weight loss purposes. There are actually a lot of things that you can eat if you’re not on a specific diet and merely trying to lose weight. And, we’re discussing a few of them for you here.
Meanwhile you can also check this article that talks about Dr Nowzaradan’s diet regime and how other people can learn from his weight loss strategy. This article is the most in-depth guide on Dr Nowzaradan’s diet that includes full description as well as suggested meal plans.
If you’re trying to lose weight and want to know what types of foods you should be shopping for, then you’re in the right place. Here are 11 foods that actually enhance weight loss.
Top 11 Skinny Foods to Help You Lose Weight
Weight loss friendly foods are those that are low in sugar and saturated fat. And, creating a weight loss meal plan should include a variety of foods that will cater to your body’s every need.
Take a look at these foods to see if you can come up with something delicious for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a few snacks in between.
- Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is full of fatty acids called medium-chain triglycerides or MCTs. These fats are thought to boost satiety and help you burn calories faster. Use it to cook with instead of canola oil or butter.
- Fruit
Some of the best fruits for weight loss include pears, raspberries, apples, and bananas.
The important thing to note about eating fruit on a weight loss diet is to monitor your intake. Fruits are full of natural sugars which turns to carbs later on. If you’re on a ketogenic diet or other low carb diets, you’ll want to stay away as much as possible.
- Cruciferous Vegetables
Cruciferous vegetables fall in the category of vegetables that are not leafy. This includes cauliflower, broccoli, brussels sprouts, and cabbage. These vegetables are high in fiber which causes you to feel full faster and longer. Not to mention that they are also loaded with decent amounts of protein which helps build muscle mass.
- Whole Grains
Many whole grains contain fiber and a decent amount of protein. Eating fiber in the morning helps you feel full throughout the day. Oats, in particular, are loaded with beta-glucans which are soluble fibers that are thought to improve metabolic health.
Keep in mind that if you’re on a low carb diet, you should avoid whole grains as they are high in carbohydrates.
- Nuts
It’s important to note right off that nuts are actually high in calories so you shouldn’t eat a lot of them while you’re dieting. The alternative is that they are full of protein and healthy fats, not to mention fiber which makes you feel full longer. Some studies even indicate that nuts can help to promote weight loss.
- Tuna
Low in calories, high in protein, tuna is another delicious treat that you can add to your weight loss menu. Many bodybuilders and fitness models eat tuna in order to increase protein intake without the fat and calories. Tuna is a lean fish, too, so you won’t have to worry about extra fat.
- Avocados
We already mentioned fruit, but this one is special. Avocados are full of healthy fats and contain other important nutrients like fiber and potassium. Enjoy them alone or on salads and other dishes.
- Cottage Cheese
Dairy products are high in calcium which can aid in burning fat. They’re also full of protein with very little fat and few carbohydrates. Eating cottage cheese can help you feel satiated longer with relatively few calories as well.
- Chicken Breasts and Lean Beef
Both chicken and beef are high in protein which is essential for healthy weight loss and muscle gain. Protein also reduces the desire for midnight snacks by half which can amount to one pound of weight loss per week.
Low carb diets should stick to fatty meats while high carb diets call for lean meats, meaning without a lot of fat.
- Salmon
Fish is a healthy choice when you’re trying to lose weight. Salmon, in particular, is full of various nutrients, high-quality protein, and healthy fats, not to mention omega-3 fatty acids.
Omegas have been proven to reduce inflammation which could be helpful after a hard workout.
Salmon is also full of iodine which is essential for proper thyroid function which controls your metabolism.
- Whole Eggs
Eating whole foods to lose weight is one way to boost your nutrient intake at each meal. And, while you may not think of eggs as a weight loss food, they are incredibly filling with few calories and a ton of protein. This will make you feel fuller throughout the day lessening your chance of grabbing something you shouldn’t eat later.
Interestingly enough, most of the nutrients in eggs can be found in the yolk so don’t think you need only egg whites to lose weight.
Final Thoughts
Losing weight doesn’t have to be so completely overwhelming and stressful. With these foods, you should be able to come up with at least a few healthy recipes for weight loss.
If you’re still wondering what to eat for lunch to lose weight, consider leftovers from dinner the night before or an apple with peanut butter. Add a side of cottage cheese for good measure.
Losing weight goes beyond skinny foods, however. It’s also important to get enough exercise each week so that your body burns calories and builds muscle. If you have trouble with motivation, check out this blog post.
If you still have questions about losing weight with the right foods, check out our blog posts on fitness. We are dedicated to bringing you factual information about food and health.