Recent studies point out that regardless of how many times a week you hit the gym, you won’t lose weight unless you adjust your eating habits accordingly. You can actually shed a few pounds only through portion control, watching exactly what you eat and how you combine your foods. Staying hydrated also plays an essential role, so don’t neglect to take a sip of water of green tea every fifteen minutes. What else can you do to make sure you’re helping your body reach its natural weight? Start incorporating superfoods in your diet. We’re not talking about overpriced quinoa or funny tasting kale. Our following suggestions can be found in local markets, they are cheap, and most of them can be eaten in their raw state. So grab you grocery list notebook and start scribbling down these 10 superfoods for slimming down.
1. Iceberg Lettuce
With only seven calories per cup, you can practically eat as much iceberg lettuce as you want. Pack it in salads, sandwiches, rolls or tacos to add some crunch and some color. Besides being light calory wise, the iceberg lettuce is packed with water, so it will also help you stay hydrated throughout your day.
2. Grapefruit
Although shunned for its bitter flavor, grapefruit has plenty of benefits that scream “add me to your diet!” Full of vitamin A, C and B6, half of a grapefruit has only 52 calories and is the perfect snack between lunch and dinner. Don’t like it on its own? Get creative. You can make grapefruit juice, perfect for breakfast. Or you can add it to your salads that will taste even fresher.
3. Radishes
I bet you didn’t know one big radish has only one calorie. Despite this, the small red and white gem offers fiber and vitamins. You can find them in pretty much any supermarket and they’re very versatile. Their spicy flavor will add a kick to any sandwich or salad. Don’t be afraid to eat radishes on their own, as they are the ideal on the go snack.
4. Chick Peas
A.k.a garbanzo beans, these little guys are any dieter’s best friend. Half a cup of chick peas has under 130 calories, packing as much as six grams of fiber and seven grams of protein. What can you do with chick peas? Sprinkle some of them on salads, or make your own homemade hummus.
5. Oats
If you have bad memories with oatmeal from your childhood, you should give oats another chance. There are plenty of new recipes out there for you to try. Steer away from apple cinnamon or maple syrup oatmeals that come in packets. Most likely, they’re loaded with sugar.
6. Popcorn
Doesn’t really sound like a healthy choice, does it? But I’m not talking about the popcorn slathered in salt we all munch on at the cinema. You can make your own version at home for fewer calories. If you air pop your corn, a serving will have around 90 calories, so you can munch on it guilt free while watching the latest episode of “Hannibal”.
7. Frozen shrimps
We all know you can only eat so much chicken breast. But there’s another source of lean protein that’s often overlooked. Shrimps! Buy them in bags and store them in your freezer. They’re easy to thaw and add a Mediterranean kick to any salad.
8. Eggs
Oh, the much-debated eggs! Not everyone’s a big fan, but they’re a simple way to control your portions and still get all the nutrients you need. They’re versatile, quick to make and you can eat them at every meal. One hard boiled egg has only 72 calories and offers six grams of protein. If you’re worried about your fat consumption, make yourself an egg white omelet for breakfast.
9. Asian Yogurt
Now that the Greek yogurt hype has died down a bit, it’s time to look for other more advantageous alternatives. Like the Asian yogurt. What makes it better than Greek yogurt is that a six-ounce cup offers twelve grams of protein and 110 calories. Way to go, Asian yogurt! The sugar count doesn’t look too bad either. With only thirteen grams, this yogurt scores much better than many others out there.
10. Roast Beef
Provided you know how to choose your roast beef, you don’t risk getting over your calories. You can’t help craving red meat, so what’s there to do? The good news is that you can eat beef and still get closer to losing weight. Choose filet mignon or slices of roast beef to quench your thirst for red meat. A two ounce serving only has around eighty calories and will put an end to your cravings.
Reggie says
I love eggs as part of my slimming diet, especially the egg whites. Thanks for the list.