Check out these Foods for Weight Loss! Is your fav. on the list?

One of the nice things about learning what foods can help you lose weight is that it is a positive focus. It can be easier to handle the idea of learning what you should eat rather than hearing about what you must not eat. So here are some foods that, when incorporated into your diet, may help you in your weight-loss efforts.

Foods for Weight Loss

Check out these 5 Foods for Weight Loss:

1. Potatoes

Surprise! These Vitamin C-rich tubers are high in fiber and tasty besides. Good news right? Because of their fibre, they are pretty filling, just make sure you leave the peelings on! Try them baked, boiled, or grilled. You can chop them, toss them with a little olive oil and herbs, and roast them in the oven. BUT – chips and fries don’t count! Avoid highly processed and high fat items!

2. Whole grains

Brown rice, millet, quinoa, oats, wheat berries, and other whole grains can help fill you up and provide you with fibre and protein. Oatmeal is an excellent choice for breakfast because of the high fibre content, it helps get your day off on the right foot! Adding a healthy serving of whole grains to your meal may help you eat less too, because it helps to fill you up.

3. Healthy fats

Healthy fats may help you lose weight by improving your overall health, and also by helping you feel satisfied longer. Foods with healthy fats include:

Avocados (check out these yummy Chocolate Avocado Muffins here!)
Fish (e.g. salmon, sardines – also high in omega 3s!)
Cold-pressed safflower, flax, canola, and other oils, as well as olive oil
Raw nuts and seeds (my fav. is sunflower seeds!)

4. Whole foods in general

Pre-packaged and pre-prepared meals are so easy for us now-a-days. Go through a drive thru for a value meal or pop something in the oven and you are eating in no time.. But experts agree that whole foods made from scratch are MUCH healthier, and it’s worth noting that when you cook from scratch you increase the number of calories you burn to “earn” your meal. 😉

For example, it burns a lot more calories to grind grain, mix the dough, and knead bread than it does to open a plastic package of store-bought bread. Cooking and grilling out may help you burn even more calories in the preparation of food. Chopping, cutting, washing, and otherwise preparing food generally burns more calories than opening a package.

When preparing your meals at home you are much more likely to eat a healthier meal.

5. Fresh fruit

The natural sugar in fresh fruit can be satisfying for those trying to lose weight, and fruits are considered a healthy choice for dieters. You can freeze fresh fruit and blend it into a thick smoothie, or freeze pureed fruit into popsicles. Frozen grapes taste almost candy-like. And of course, just eating fruit as is, is tasty and helps keep you from reaching for the chips or candy. (Want prepping fresh fruits and veggies to be super easy? Check out these gadgets!)

I think it goes without saying, but I’m gonna say it anyway. Eating at home is MUCH healthier then eating out, choosing whole grains over white is the way to go, and fresh fruits and veggies are never a bad idea!!