Need to lose weight but don’t know what to eat and what to avoid? The best way to drop those pounds in a healthful way is to eat fresh, whole foods while ingesting fewer calories than you burn each day. Lots of vegetables, protein and fiber are your best food choices when it comes to losing weight. If you don’t know where to start, check out this list of low-calorie foods that satisfy. Fill up on these and you’ll be on your way to weight loss in no time.
Vegetables
Start by adding foods, not taking them away. Add five to nine servings of vegetables to your daily meal plans, including snacks. Chances are you’ll be too full to snack on less healthy alternatives like oily chips or sugary candy. When making pasta dishes, replace a cup of pasta with a cup of veggies. By reducing the amount of starches on your plate you can save 100 to 200 calories per meal. Replace regular spaghetti with spaghetti squash or dice your favorite veggies and mix them with brown rice for a flavorful side dish.
Protein
Eating protein with every meal helps satisfy hunger fast and encourages fat burning. In fact, a recent British study suggests eating protein triggers a natural weight-loss hormone known as PYY. Make sure your protein is lean and that your portion is appropriate, about the size of a deck of cards. Avoid fatty cuts of meat and keep away from gravy and sauces. Enjoy egg whites or fortified cereal for breakfast, lean turkey breast for lunch and fish for dinner. Beans, yogurt and nuts are also great sources of protein.
Fiber
Foods high in fiber will make you feel full faster and will stay in your stomach longer than low-fiber items. That full feeling can stop you from eating and save you calories. For example, one slice of whole-grain bread with a high fiber content can fill you up faster than two slices of white bread, with fewer calories. Fiber-rich foods include beans and legumes, brown rice, whole grains, plain air-popped popcorn, seeds, green vegetables and berries.