Strawberries are a dieter's best friend. Low-calorie, nutrient-dense, cute and colorful, strawberries are the quintessential delicacy for healthful and satisfying diets. These versatile berries have a place in every meal of the day, from breakfast fruit dishes to dinnertime desserts, so if you are seeking a terrific food to help you lose weight, reach for the strawberries.
Strawberries: Popular and Nutrititious
According to The World's Healthiest Foods, strawberries are the most popular berry worldwide, grown and eaten throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Their popularity as a low-calorie sweet treat belies their spectacular nutritional profile and supply of anthocyanins, potent antioxidants that prevent tissue damage and protect cell structures in the body. Strawberries' unique phytonutrients boost blood health, fight environmental pollutants and provide anti-inflammatory relief, similar to aspirin, against daily wear and tear on the body.
Low-Calorie Berry-Based Breakfasts
Strawberries' high water and fiber content provide bulk and roughage for convenient, low-calorie breakfasts. With only 50 calories per half cup, plentiful fiber and 137 percent of your daily Vitamin C requirement, strawberries can satisfy hunger with fewer calories and higher vitamin potency than orange juice. Strawberries topped with cottage cheese provide a protein-packed, low-calorie replacement for the classic strawberries-and-cream. Strawberries sliced into plain yogurt provide luscious flavor for the tart dairy base, and sprinkling unsweetened cereal on top adds satisfying crunch without many extra calories.
Strawberry Snacking
Any high-calorie snack can be tweaked to yield a low-calorie one. Instead of a milkshake, blend strawberries, low-fat/non-fat milk, a dollop each of yogurt and honey, and a dash of cinnamon for a filling mid-morning or mid-afternoon refresher. Ground walnuts contribute different anti-inflammatory components and increase the smoothie's satiety level. And, of course, fresh, cold-water washed strawberries are perfect, bite-size treats unto themselves.
A Simple, Satisfying, Strawberry Lunch
Strawberry soup is a wise basis for a low-calorie meal. Soups rank high as weight-loss foods because they provide lots of volume without calories packed in, and strawberry soups, while not as thick as smoothies, are filling and flavor-filled. Savory Soup Recipes has an outstanding version with strawberries, yogurt and red rose wine, plus nutmeg and ginger. It also recommends a kids' version, substituting water and unsweetened fruit juice for the red wine.
Dinner and Dessert
Spicy meals fire up your metabolism and control your appetite, and Strawberry Chutney is a hot, aromatic replacement for high-calorie pasta-salads or fried foods, and a substantial accompaniment for lean meats such as turkey, chicken or fish. Chutney contains vinegar, which curbs your appetite during meals and has beneficial, moderating effects on post-meal blood-sugar levels. The spices ginger root and curry give strawberry chutney vibrant flavors that dismiss the need for extra salt and sugar, both of which contribute to health problems beyond weight gain. Food Services of America provides a great Strawberry Chutney recipe; you can reduce its calorie-count by omitting the raisins, brown sugar and preserves, and increasing the strawberries to five cups. Need a palate-cooling, low-calorie dessert? Try Low-calorie Strawberry Shortcake: angel food cake topped with strawberries, low-fat yogurt or ice cream, and a touch of whipped cream with cinnamon on top.
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