Foods To Add When Managing Your Weight

When watching your weight, it’s easy to fall into patterns of eating the same things over and over again. You have no idea how many times we see people fail because they get bored with overly strict eating restrictions they place on themselves and end up giving up entirely. Healthy eating doesn’t have to be boring. Whether you’re managing your weight to help ease a pain condition, reduce stress on joints, have a healthy pregnancy, or just for your overall health and well-being – there is a wide variety of foods you can eat that will help keep your diet healthy and anything but boring. Here are some of our favorites:

1. Eggs

   In the past, eggs have gone both in and out of fashion with diet gurus, with people usually suggesting egg whites over whole eggs. Recent studies, however, have shown that whole eggs don’t negatively affect cholesterol, don’t cause heart attacks and can increase weight loss when a whole egg is eaten for breakfast. They are high in protein and healthy fat, the yolk is incredibly nutrient-rich and can help you feel full for a long period of time with few calories.

2. Beans

   Not all beans are helpful for weight loss, but black beans, kidney beans, lentils and others can be great for you since they are high in both protein and fiber – which will help you feel fuller while eating less. The problem is that some people don’t tolerate them well or end up serving them with large portions of rice. Skip the rice and you have a healthy food that can help you on your journey.

3. Avocado

   Unlike most fruit, which is high in carbs and sugar, avocados are high in healthy fat. The creamy flesh of this fruit is full of the same type of fat found in olive oil as well as nutrients like fiber and potassium. Interestingly, avocado also helps your body to better digest the nutrients found in foods you eat it with. Some studies have found that adding it to a salad can help you absorb UP TO FIFTEEN TIMES more nutrients from that salad than you normally would.

4. Leafy Greens

   Salads don’t have to be boring. Switch out your lettuce for some leafy greens like kale, spinach, collard greens, mustard greens or swiss chard. These greens are low calorie, low carbohydrate, high fiber choices that will help you feel full without adding unneeded calories. The fiber they contain can help keep your bowels moving and they are generally more nutrient-rich than iceburg lettuce. Don’t think you are limited to eating greens in a salad, though. They can be prepared a variety of different ways! Just be careful not to add too much unhealthy fat or calories or you negate their value. Anything is delicious with bacon, butter and cheese – but save those things for occasional treats.

5. Soup

   Soup gets overlooked quite often as part of a healthy diet. Some people joke about it being a “non-food”, but studies have shown that eating soup for a meal makes people feel more satisfied while eating significantly fewer calories. Why? Most experts think the high water content helps your body to feel fuller without you having to eat as much. Also, people tend to eat soups more slowly than other foods, allowing your body the time to recognize when it is full.